The Jah-Hawks live at First Avenue's Best New Bands

We just came across this video by musician/DJ Danny Sigelman of The Jah-Hawks (a new dub-step project covering the songs of The Jayhawks) performing their three-song set ("Blue," "Waiting For The Sun" and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me") at Wednesday's Best New Bands showcase at First Avenue. The band features Zach Coulter of Solid Gold on vocals, plus Jacob Hanson of Halloween, Alaska, J.T. Bates of Fat Kid Wednesdays fame, and James Buckley.



Submitted by @jahnapeloquin

Solid Gold provides soundtrack to river revitalization project

Now, this is cool: Our favorite resident electro rockers Solid Gold has provided the soundtrack for this video from TLS/KVA for a municipal revitalization and beautification project along Old Man River in Minneapolis for the Minneapolis Riverfront Design Competition. We knew they were talented, but we had no idea they were such do-gooders. Check it out, the video not only sounds great but it's highly informative.

TLS/KVA from MRDC on Vimeo.

Via Solid Gold on Facebook

Submitted by @jahnapeloquin

OMG! We're on TV!

OMG, look who it is! Our very own Jahna Peloquin was on Kare 11 news with Metromix reporter Shayne Wells this morning to talk about her pick for the Metromix 111 things every Minnesotan should try in 2011 feature - the rose gimlet at the Red Stag Supperclub.

Photo by @ronneil

Submitted by @marrina

First Avenue's Best New Bands showcase video recap

City of Music's Dan Huiting was running around First Avenue on Wednesday for First Avenue's annual Best New Bands showcase, and he got some great footage - including The Tangential's Jay Gabler jamming to BadNraD. (For a written/photo review, check out our very own Jahna Peloquin's recap for Vita.mn here.) Bonus points for spotting the Peloquin with l'etoile music editor Robyn Lewis hanging backstage.

Best New Bands of 2010 at First Avenue from Dan Huiting on Vimeo.

M-80 Walker no-wave show poster unearthed

DEVO, Suicide, The Feelies, Joan Jett AND the Suburbs - all on the same bill? Yep, it happened - back in 1979 at the U of M FieldHouse. (Though apparently Jett didn't show.) "Marathon '80: A New-No-Now Wave Festival" certainly wasn't joking when it boasted itself as "a preview to rock in the '80s." Apparently, this show was also known as the "M-80 Festival." Click on the image (uploaded to Facebook today by local musician Adam Levy) to take a closer look and read the extensive thread featuring tidbits by locals who were there. We sooo wish we were there.


Some peeps on the thread also dug up some handy links to YouTube footage from the show.

Here's DEVO performing at "DOVE 1980":



And the Suburbs performing "Stereo":


(Click here for their "Urban Guerilla" and here for "Chemistry Set" sets.)

Submitted by @jahnapeloquin

Snoop Dogg Storms Through Minneapolis

Snoop Dogg was out and about in Minneapolis last night: he did a show at the Cabooze, posed for photos with Kevin Love and then went on to Triple Rock and apparently Nick and Eddie. OK, no he didn't, but you guys were clever enough to create an imaginary itinerary for him anyway. Here's the recap + pics:







Local artist Jesse Golfis made a painting that Snoop actually signed at the concert:


And here's a photo of Snoop and Kevin Love that Snoop posted to his Facebook page last night:


And then, there's this photo:


Sweet!

Read Chris Riemenschneider's recap of the show over at Star Tribune.
For photos, go to City Pages.

Submitted by @marrina.

111 Things to Try in the Twin Cities

The fine folks over at Metromix put together a list of 111 things to try in 2011 in the Twin Cities sourced from a host of KARE11 employees, local musicians and many other in-the-know Twin Cities residents--including LOL/OMG staffers! There isn't a bad selection in the bunch (personally, we're regretting not mentioning the Macho Nachoz from Zorbaz) and the list is full of "oh yeah, that!" and "We have to go there!" moments.

The list is well worth taking the time to read through in its entirety (and take notes on), but for now, we'll leave you with our selections:

@jahnapeloquin: The Red Stag's rose gimlet, slide #6

@TheIverson: Ginger Hop's caramelized onion cream cheese wontons at Ginger Hop, Slide #51

@brokenhalo: The butterscotch pudding at Nick & Eddie, slide #62

@marrina: Checking out a classic film at the Trylon Microcinema, slide #98

Now, we know it's cold but there are only 11.5 months left in the year, get cracking.


Submitted by @brokenhalo

Alec Soth shoots for the New York Times

In case you missed it: Renowned local photographer Alec Soth (who recently closed an exhibit at the Walker Art Center) shot the main feature in last Sunday’s New York Times Magazine. "Portraits From a Job-Starved City" is a feature on Rockford, Illinois and how it’s been affected by the recession.

See rest of the photos here and read the behind the scenes story on the Lens Blog. Way cool!

Submitted by @marrina.

Current's 6th Birthday Party video recap

Check out this video recap, "A Love Letter to Minnesota Music," put together by Ron Johnson for last Friday's 6th birthday bash for 89.3 The Current, with footage of Jeremy Messersmith, Brother Ali, and Free Energy, and commentary from the likes of Dessa, Brother Ali, Mayor R.T. Rybak and The Current's Mark Wheat.

A Love Letter to Minnesota Music from Ron Johnson on Vimeo.

Via Rhymesayers on Facebook

Submitted by @jahnapeloquin

This Week in (Uploaded) Pictures

Mark Wheat and Dave Campbell entertain the crowd at the Current's 6th birthday bash. Full slideshow by Stacy Schwartz at City Pages here.


Art seekers fog up the windows of Duluth's Ochre Ghost Gallery during the Skat Radioh Poster Retrospective.


Burlesque babes Elektra Cuete, Tomahawk Tassels, and Dahlia Dulce get shot by Dread Naught photography.


Alpha Consumer gets a new awesome/bizarre promo shot.


Crazy chick Heather Ann Harding does a swimsuit shoot on the shores of Lake Superior in -2 degree weather. Brrrr!


Benjamin Jones visits Australia and snaps some sweet street pix.


Creative cutie Jennifer Sandquist makes some black heart art.


Needle & Black designer Kerry Riley hams it up for the cam at the MNFashion media & buyers event on Thursday. Photo by Jahna Peloquin


Andy DuCett does some pre-game snow grilling! Now that's what we call a sausage party.


Photographer Chris McDuffie snaps makeup artist Nicole Fae behind the scenes at a photo shoot.


Corey Tenold snaps a dapper shot for his "Couch Series"


Sharyn Morrow's son makes some lovely art. LOL!


Danica Andler and Joe Kramm create a wild composite photo.


Natalie Gallagher gets glittery! Photo by Sohail Justin Akhavein.


Kyle Matteson captures the action at the Pond Hockey Championships.

Upload a cool pic this week? Send us the link for consideration in next week's edition to omg@letoilemagazine.com.

Submitted by @TheIverson