Email Author Erik Thompson

2012 Stories by Erik Thompson

• Mark Lanegan Band

  published May 16, 2012

  Mark Lanegan has one of the most instantly recognizable voices in all of modern music. As soon as you hear his smoky, whiskey-soaked vocals, you... More >>

• Redd Kross

  published May 16, 2012

  The venerable California alt-rock quartet Redd Kross's recent reunion — they split in the late '90s — has been a welcome one. Here's a... More >>

• Xiu Xiu/Dirty Beaches

  published May 16, 2012

  Two incredibly inventive and idiosyncratic bands, the avant-garde California outfit Xiu Xiu (pictured) and the Vancouver-based one-man-band Dirty... More >>

• Neon Indian/Lemonade/Silent Diane

  published May 9, 2012

  Chillwave maven Neon Indian has graduated to the Mainroom a mere six months after selling out the Entry. But while albums by Neon Indian have a... More >>

• Big Freedia

  published May 9, 2012

  Twin Cities music fans are still shaking something after Big Freedia's wild local debut back in December. And she didn't keep us waiting too long... More >>

• Meshuggah/Baroness

  published May 9, 2012

  Two of the finest modern metal acts — Meshuggah from Sweden and Savannah, Georgia's Baroness — are sure to lay waste to the Mainroom... More >>

• The Black Keys/Arctic Monkeys

  published May 9, 2012

  It's hard to imagine the Black Keys once were small enough to play the Entry now that they're visiting arenas on their current tour in support of... More >>

• Spiritualized

  published May 2, 2012

  Spiritualized linchpin Jason Pierce has gone through hell while recording his last two records. He nearly died from a severe case of bilateral... More >>

• Black Dice/Marijuana Deathsquads/Hasps

  published May 2, 2012

  Brooklyn's Black Dice have made a career out of doing things differently. The wildly experimental trio honed their idiosyncratic, unorthodox sound... More >>

• Ty Segall & White Fence

  published May 2, 2012

  After collaborating and recording with countless San Francisco Bay Area bands early in his career, Ty Segall finally got serious about his solo... More >>

• Lights

  published April 25, 2012

  Toronto electro-pop success story Lights (born Valerie Poxleitner) has certainly flourished after touring and recording with Owl City a few years... More >>

• School of Seven Bells/Exitmusic

  published April 25, 2012

  After morphing from the ashes of Secret Machines and On!Air!Library!, School of Seven Bells have seen their share of change over the years. The... More >>

• The Drums/Craft Spells/Part Time

  published April 25, 2012

  Brooklyn's the Drums have an ebullient, edgy pop sound that hasn't lost a step on their enthralling sophomore release, Portamento. Pair... More >>

• Daryl Hall's Nu-Soul Revue

  published April 18, 2012

  Five years ago, Daryl Hall started inviting fellow musicians he'd known for years and artists just beginning their careers over to his house. The... More >>

• Howler

  published April 18, 2012

  The boys in Howler have had little trouble generating press as of late, both locally and beyond. After the young quintet signed to the tastemaking... More >>

• Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles

  published April 18, 2012

  The groundswell of local support for Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles has grown consistently over the last few years, propelling the band onto... More >>

• Tanlines/ Rewards / Wiping Out Thousands

  published April 18, 2012

  Brooklyn duo Tanlines' dynamic debut record, Mixed Emotions, is a smooth blend of the crisp, ebullient dance music that permeated the '80s,... More >>

• Perfume Genius

  published April 11, 2012

  Perfume Genius mastermind Mike Hadreas is a Seattle-based singer/songwriter who crafts spare, evocative numbers that speak plainly of the growth... More >>

• The 4onthefloor

  published April 11, 2012

  The 4onthefloor responded graciously to a recent fake kerfuffle with another local act, Howler, and continue to handle their business the only way... More >>

• Cults/ Spectrals/ Mrs. Magician

  published April 11, 2012

  Cults blossomed naturally out of the unguarded home recordings of Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin into something much bigger than the duo ever... More >>

• Heiruspecs' Third Annual Scholarship Fundraiser Show

  published April 4, 2012

  St. Paul hip-hop collective Heiruspecs still remember where they came from, and keep giving back to the students of their alma mater, St. Paul... More >>

• Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps / Retribution Gospel Choir

  published April 4, 2012

  After selling out First Avenue for the release party of Little Wind in September, and opening for Dawes's New Year's Eve gigs, Caroline... More >>

• EMA

  published March 7, 2012

  Erika M. Anderson has successfully shed her innocuous South Dakota upbringing and managed to make quite a name for herself in the indie-music... More >>

• Very Small Animal CD-Release Show

  published March 7, 2012

  The local roots-folk quartet Very Small Animal are finally set to give their fans something tangible to connect with at the record-release show... More >>

• Dropkick Murphys

  published February 22, 2012

  The Dropkick Murphys tread a fine line between celebratory, boozy anthems and inflammable punk songs. No matter which side of the fence their fans... More >>