Wandering Minnesota

Instead of blathering on about a band I fawn over, I want to discuss something more broad-reaching. I have a theory that there are bands in America achieving stardom, CD sales and attracting fans who are actually bringing the spectacle back to pop-rock music. And by pop-rock, I am not speaking of bubblegum crap, I talking about bands who have wide appeal across a broad range of ages. Veterans such as Green Day or relative newcomers such as My Chemical Romance, The Killers, AFI or even Fall Out Boy (new disc out now) and Panic! At The Disco (who received a nice feature in Rolling Stone).

These bands, among others, are busy building new fan bases and holding the attention of loyal fans. They are using every tool at their disposal to release new music, make a living, build a buzz and play some kick-ass shows. The venerable Green Day has toured for the better part of a decade and stuck it out to supposedly release a new disc late this year. Panic! is in the business of making their concerts a spectacle that their fans (many first-time concert goers) will remember for a lifetime and hopefully bring them back again and again; making these youngsters loyal music fans who buy discs, merchandise and attend more concerts. I know that's pretty much how things worked for me.

Fall Out Boy is taking a different route. Building on a few years of underground success and breaking through to the mainstream with 2005's "From Under the Cork Tree"; they have gone full-on mainstream with their refined brand of rock to appeal to the masses with the release of "Infinity on High". Rather than build slowly, Fall Out Boy took a risk and polished their sound to appeal directly to pop radio, skipping the club circuit and rock or alternative radio altogether. Success is not guaranteed but regardless of the outcome, they are definitely taking a chance and bringing the spectacle back to rock music.

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Locally speaking, Drive 105 has added a new tune by British import Amy Winehouse. "You Know I'm No Good" features backing rap vocals of Ghostface Killah and seems to be more than a bit of a departure from her roots as a jazz/soul singer. Winehouse appears to be following the lead of a certain Canadian artist who underwent a total image overhaul and infused hip-hop beats into her music to grab a massive audience and achieve big time success in the form of record sales. I like them both and it seems to be working at least moderately for Winehouse.

A quick reminder, too, that tonight is the CD release party (as I mentioned a few weeks ago) for Tim Mahoney's "Stay/Leave" at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis. "Stay/Leave" is in stores Tuesday, February 13 and is, in my opinion, his best work yet.

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FREE TUNE!
I hinted earlier to an artist who recently underwent a complete image overhaul and did a complete 180 in her musical stylings. Of course, I am speaking of Canadian songstress Nelly Furtado. Until late last year she was a relatively obscure artist relegated to Canadian radio and best known for 2000's "Whoa Nelly" which spawned the hit "I'm like a Bird". Well, with some help from her record company and super-producer Timbaland, she hit it big in 2006 and 2007 with "Loose" which produced the chart-topping Pop/Hip-Hop tune "Promiscuous" and, more recently, the breathy "Say it Right" Enjoy it and support an artist who is willing to take a chance with their music even at the risk of being billed as a sellout.

(And you thought I was all about the alt-rock!)

It's still supposed to be in the sub-zero temperature range this weekend but cold weather be damned, me and the missus have plenty of errands to tend to after last weekend's hootenanny. Stay warm wherever you all are and have a great weekend!