DEADLINE TO APPLY:  Saturday, December 17^th, 2011, 11:59 p.m. (Apply now)

Want to go to SXSW 2012? McNally Smith is looking for 2 current student or alumni solo/duo performers to tour high schools along a road trip from St. Paul to Austin and back for the 2012 South By Southwest festival in Texas. The trip would last between 11-15 days, and could include multiple performances per day. Selected students/alumni would perform solo and/or together, and would talk to groups of high school kids about pursuing careers in music.

Who’s eligible for this gig?

• Solo or duo performers, emcees/deejays who are current students or recently graduated from McNally Smith
• Current students must not be on academic probation, and must be in good standing

Benefits

• Perform at South by Southwest 2012, spending a couple days at the festival
• An all expenses paid trip to SXSW
• A per diem will be provided to cover expenses
• Opportunity for networking, gigs, going to shows, etc. while on the tour

Possible Timeline:

Dates are not yet set, but would surround the SXSW Music Festival. For example, the tour could run from Monday, March 5 – Sunday, March 18.

Possible Stops:

• Ames, IA
• Des Moines, IA
• Kansas City, KS
• Topeka, KS
• Wichita, KS
• Oklahoma City, OK
• Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
• Davenport, OK
• Tulsa, OK
• Springfield, MO
• St Louis, MO
• Chicago, IL

Policies for tour:

• Content must be age-appropriate for high school students, as determined by admissions staff, the performer and the partners at the various high schools
• The tour will be strictly drug-free. Performers may not be under the influence of alcohol for any performances or driving duty.
• Performers will share in the driving responsibility, and will need to present proof of insurance.

Questions? 

Contact Erin McLennon at 651.361.3383 or outreach@mcnallysmith.edu.

Sounds awesome, right? Apply here by Saturday, December 17^th, 2011, 11:59 p.m..

Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy at the State Theater

Not a single seat empty and not a single person sitting. This was the scene at the State Theater last night for the sold out Wilco show. It was the first night of two sold out shows for the band in Minneapolis. Tickets for the show disappeared quickly with the band flying high off the success of their most recent album The Whole Love (2011). It’s an album that, in this music blogger’s opinion, is one of the top five best albums of the year. And it seems that others agree as the band’s album was nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for “Best Rock Album.”

There was nothing fancy about the stage lighting or decor of the stage — not surprising since the band has so many well-loved songs that they could literally perform on an empty stage and it would still make fans go nuts. If you happen to be missing a dinner napkin from your meal before the Wilco show last night, it’s probably because it was used as the decor on the stage. The band touted long strands of napkin-like strings hanging from the top of the stage. They made it work.

The band played a hodgepodge of songs from their discography while also highlighting a number of new songs including “Art Of Almost,” “I Might,” “Black Moon,” “Born Alone,” “Dawned On Me,” and “Whole Love” during their encore. The band’s encore was entirely composed of older songs, which diehard fans seemed to appreciate.

Funny observation — despite the “NO PHOTOGRAPHY” signs posted all over the venue, about 95% of the folks in my section were on Facebook and Twitter posting photos of the concert. So much for following directions

COMPLETE SLIDESHOW FROM THE SHOW LAST NIGHT

Some photo highlights:

Wilco Set List (12/6/2011):

• One Sunday Morning
• Poor Places
• Art Of Almost
• I Might
• Muzzle of Bees
• Misunderstood
• Bull Black Nov
• Black Moon
• Impossible Germany
• Sky Blue Sky
• Box Full Of Letters
• Born Alone
• She’s A Jar
• Pot Kettle Black
• Handshake Drugs
• Dawned On Me
• I’m Always In Love
• War On War

Encore:

• Whole Love
• A Magazine Called Sunset
• Heavy Metal Drummer
• I’m the Man Who Loves You
• Passenger Side
• Red-Eyed and Blue
• I Got You (At The End Of The Century)
• Outtasite (Outta Mind)
• Cruel to Be Kind w/ Nick Lowe

The Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3 is here! Released today, the album features an amazing lineup of MN talent performing some of the Beatles biggest hits. The album is available at independent music retailers including all Electric Fetus locations, Minnesota-area Target stores as well as at target.com, CD Baby, Amazon, Rhapsody, Spotify and iTunes.

100% of profits from album sales and song downloads benefit art and music education programs in public schools across Minnesota. $60,000.00 in proceeds from Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 have provided the opportunity for more than 15,000 students to participate in music and art programs statewide!

Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3 Track Listing:

1. Cloud Cult – Help
2. Solid Gold – Love You To
3. White Light Riot – Hey Bulldog
4. Charlie Parr feat. Nicholas Mrozinski – Rocky Raccoon
5. Motion City Soundtrack – Here Comes the Sun
6. The Fiddle Heirs – I’ve Got a Feeling
7. Me and My Arrow – Don’t Let Me Down
8. Red Pens – Helter Skelter
9. Dark Dark Dark and Her Choir – Long Long Long
10. The Honeydogs – Dear Prudence
11. Tapes ‘n Tapes – I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
12. the 4onthefloor – Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?
13. The Arms Akimbo – You Won’t See Me
14. Cantus – Got to Get You into My Life
15. Anoka Middle School for The Arts – A Hard Day’s Night

To celebrate the release of this new album, Electric Fetus is hosting a Release Day Party today starting at 7pm featuring live music by 4onthefloor. CDs and 2xLP will be available for purchase – free limited edition 11X17 poster (included).

Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3 Release Party & 32nd Annual John Lennon Tribute
Thursday, December 8th
First Avenue Mainroom
Doors: 6pm

Featuring Curtiss A with special guests White Light Riot, Nona Marie and Her Choir and My Arrow

More Information / Purchase Tickets

All shows are FREE and open to the public. Schedule below…

December 4 — McNally Smith Auditorium

• Percussion ensemble – Dave Schmalenberger
• World Vocal ensemble – Peggy Larson
• Afro Caribbean drumming ensemble – Shai Hayo

December 5 — Minnesota Music Café (directions)

• 7:00 pm Bluegrass – Phil Nusbaum
• 7:50 pm Blues – Charles Fletcher
• 8:40 pm Rock – Charles Fletcher
• 9:30 pm Pink Floyd – Brian Metreyeon
• 10:20 pm Radiohead – Steve Jennings
• 11:10 pm Steamboat Kings – Brian Laidlaw

December 7 — Minnesota Music Café

• 7:00 pm Blues – Tim Lyles
• 7:50 pm Brass Band – Scott Agster
• 8:40 pm Rock – Steve Jennings
• 9:30 pm Fusion – Dave Jensen
• 10:20 pm Real Talk Funk – Paul Stueber
• 11:10 pm CAFÉ – Brian Metreyeon

December 8 — Artists’ Quarter (directions)

• 7:00 pm Jazz & Guitar ensemble – Olson
• 8:15 pm Jazz – Jennings
• 9:00 pm Jazz – Kristin Sponcia
• 9:45 pm Jazz creates – Peter Schimke
• 10:30 pmLatin – Liz Kuivinen
• 11 pm Hornheads – Scott Agster

December 11 — Sing Out! at the Fitzgerald (directions) — 2:00 pm

• Contemporary Vocal Ensemble – Jennifer Parker / Charlie Christenson
• World Vocal Ensemble – Peggy Larson
• Sonic – Shon Parker
• McNally Smith Singers – Judi Donaghy

December 12 — Amsterdam Bar & Hall (directions)

• 8:00 pm Hot Club – Randy Sabien
• 8:45 pm Hip-Hop – Kevin Washington
• 9:30 pm Rhythm and Bows – Randy Sabien
• 10:15 pm Rhythm and Blues – Jeff Bailey
• 11:00 pm Country – Bobby Stanton

December 14 – McNally Smith Auditorium — 7:00 pm

• Full Circle Ensemble – Sean McPherson / Chris Cunningham
• Creative Comp – Joe Horton

December 14 – Minnesota Music Café

• 8:30 pm Blues – Steve Faison
• 9:15 pm Pop – Erin Schwab
• 10:00 pm Soul – Steve Faison
• 10:45 pm Rock – Sean Parker
• 11:30 pm M-Theory – Steve Faison

December 15 – Turf Club (directions)

• 7:00 pm Comp creative – Sean McPherson
• 7:45 pm Heavy Metal – Ric Oliva
• 8:30 pm Creative Punk – Peter Schimke
• 9:15 pm G3 – Ric Oliva
• 10:00 pm Foo Fighters – Reid Kennedy
• 10:45 pm Blues/Rock – Charles Fletcher

Last night, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra rocked St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center. As part of their annual holiday tour, TSO once again succeeded in entertaining a jam-packed house for two shows on Sunday. Both shows featured an array of musical talent (under the direction of world class guitarist and music director Al Pitrelli) that kept concert goers entertained from beginning to end.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra began their nearly three-hour performance with their annual Christmas act featuring creative renditions of classic holiday songs with a rock flare. Taking the lead from deep-voiced narrator Phillip Brandon, TSO told their classical Christmas story utilizing state-of-the-art lights and stage set. At first glance, TSO’s stage prior to the show looked like the set of the next Transformers movie. The group used a state-of-the-art rigging system that essentially put lights all over the stage and performers out on platforms floating above the audience on the main floor. By the time the show ended, I had to check to see if I still had eyebrows due to the extreme amount of pyrotechnics used during the show.

The performers are truly what make this performance a staple in many Minnesotans’ Christmas schedules each year. In my opinion, vocalist Chloe Lowery stole the show with her gorgeous voice and upbeat on stage presence. Keyboard masters Jane Mangini and Vitalij Kuprij put on a mind-bending solo performance, which was one of the most enjoyable portions of the show. The Shout House was not the only place to find dueling pianos in the Twin Cities last night

If you have a chance to see them next year at the Xcel Energy Center or another city, do not pass on the opportunity!

Watch Twin Cities rising singer/songwriter Aby Wolf as she takes the stage at McNally Smith tonight with her new musical project, A. Wolf & Her Claws. Aby herself said that folks can expect “big beats, keys and bass with live drums, electronically supported pop.” The entire show will be streaming live below and on McNally Smith’s Facebook page.

Aby Wolf is best known for her powerful voice and her collaboration/back-up vocals for Dessa (of Doomtree) and Dark Dark Dark. A. Wolf & Her Claws is a new vocal/electronic project that Wolf initiated with the help of synthesizer wizardry of Jesse Whitney (formerly of Dance Band), Linnea Mohn (Rogue Valley, The Alpha Centauri) on vocals, keys, and bass, and Joey Van Phillips (Mystery Palace, Volcano Insurance) on drums and vibraphone. The group assembled in the winter of 2011 when Wolf was commissioned by the Cedar Cultural Center’s 416 Club in Minneapolis to write and perform new material with artists she had never worked with before.

Watch A. Wolf & Her Claws perform live here beginning at 7pm. Just click play on the link below…

Live video from your Android device on UstreamYou can follow Aby on Twitter or A. Wolf & Her Claws on Facebook. Enjoy!

We released our 'Best of 2011' student-produced CD earlier this year. What are your favorites from 2011?

As the year draws to a close, we thought a great use of this blog would be to collect submissions from the McNally Smith community: Students, staff, and faculty on their favorite albums, new bands, shows (or anything) of this year. Get creative! We welcome you to write as much or as little on your favorites of the year — it could be just a list, or lengthy write-ups for each item. We’ll be posting your submissions on the blog throughout the month of December. This is a great way to show off your writing, share your favorite music with the world, and learn what the rest of McNally Smith is listening to and loving.

Again, there’s no limit on what you can write about — whether it’s McNally Smith-related, local, or national, we just ask that you don’t list yourself as one of your favorites! Send to Christian Betancourt and Scott Donaldson by Friday, December 2. We will accept submissions after that deadline, but the sooner you get yours in, the more likely you’ll be featured. Email us if you have any questions, and we look forward to seeing your top 10 of the year!

Watch Motion City Soundtrack perform live tonight here beginning at 7pm. As part of our 2011-12 Sound Bite Concert Series, McNally Smith College of Music is proud to present a live feed of the concert in St. Paul, Minn. Following the concert, Dave Campbell (host of 89.3 The Current’s Local Show) will lead a Q&A with the band. Enjoy!

You can also watch this livestream on Facebook or Ustream.

For updates on the Motion City Soundtrack show tonight, follow us on Facebook or on Twitter.

New curated mixtape series “We Like This” highlights some of the best music coming out of the Twin Cities music scene. As a joint project with Urban Bean Coffee and MPLS.TV, the quarterly mixtape features a number of local Twin Cities artists such as McNally Smith Alumni Danami, MaLLy, Speed’s The Name and many others.

This Friday (11/18), Urban Bean Coffee will be hosting an intimate listening party at their store on 2401 Lyndale Ave S. with live performances from featured artists on the album at 9pm. Free, open to the public.

You can listen or download the album for FREE below or by visiting: http://welikethis.mpls.tv/. We definitely “like this.”

Tickets to this week’s Motion City Soundtrack show in St. Paul are sold out. However, due to the massive amount of interest, we have decided to live stream  the ENTIRE show and post-concert Q&A with the band (moderated by 89.3 The Current’s David Campbell)! You can watch the Motion City Soundtrack concert, part of the Sound Bite Concert Series, beginning at 7pm on Thursday here, on our Facebook page or on our Ustream channel.

Enjoy!

Related Article:

Win Tickets to Motion City Soundtrack Show Next Thursday in St. Paul