Email Author Ian Traas

2010 Stories by Ian Traas

• Matt & Kim

  published September 15, 2010

  For a scrappy DIY pop duo, Matt and Kim have enjoyed some pretty substantial success.  Partially thanks to inescapable breakout hit... More >>

• Hot Hot Heat

  published September 8, 2010

  It seems like a big deal when major labels pick up an indie-favorite band; the fans who have been there since the beginning (rightly) start to... More >>

• Ghostland Observatory at First Ave, 9/10/10

  published Sep 13, 2010

  Ghostland ObservatorySeptember 10, 2010First Avenue, MinneapolisrIf you're a nightlife junkie, sometimes all the concerts that you've seen start to run together to the point where you're not sure what... More >>

• Kele

  published September 1, 2010

  Bloc Party isn't all the way dead—they're probably just having a bit of a nap (never mind that trickle of blood). Even so, frontman Kele... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  The Gaslight Anthem at First Avenue, 7/26/10

  published Jul 27, 2010

  The Gaslight AnthemJuly 26, 2010First Ave MainroomIf it wasn't sold out, it was damn close.  The last time the Gaslight Anthem came to town, the Cabooze played host, and there was no doubt that i... More >>

• The Dead Weather

  published July 21, 2010

  The Dead Weather is sometimes passed off as (just) another Jack White project, one where he gets to sink even deeper into the swampy blues-rock... More >>

• Bassgasm 2 at First Avenue, 7/23/10

  published Jul 26, 2010

  Bassgasm 2July 23rd, 2010First AvenueYou could feel it before you walked through the door.  The low end was turned up as far as it would go, reverberating through the black brick of First Ave, ma... More >>

• The Gaslight Anthem

  published July 14, 2010

  To Brian Fallon, frontman for Jersey boys the Gaslight Anthem, icons like Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer aren't dead and buried—they're living... More >>

• Built to Spill

  published July 14, 2010

  Right now the term "indie rock" has a nebulous definition, encapsulating a wider spectrum of music than it ever has before, so it might be hard to... More >>

• Bassgasm 2

  published July 14, 2010

  February saw First Ave bursting at the seams with all the party people who came out for Bassgasm, techno chieftain Woody McBride's mash note to... More >>

• Bear in Heaven

  published July 7, 2010

  There's something dark at the edges of Bear in Heaven's psychedelic rock, a miasma that shades what would otherwise be lush, synth-heavy songs... More >>

• Band of Horses

  published July 7, 2010

  As indie rock has steadily gained popularity over the past few years, Band of Horses emerged as a flagship act, spring-boarding toward a certain... More >>

• Hole

  published July 7, 2010

  Yes, Courtney Love has issues. The cameras have been squarely aimed at Love since Kurt Cobain's suicide, and now it seems oddly natural to think... More >>

• Cro-Mags

  published June 30, 2010

  The '80s New York hardcore scene gave rise to a slew of young bands that are now considered venerable influences in punk circles, but Cro-Mags... More >>

• The 7th Annual D-4th of July

  published June 23, 2010

  It's been a while since hometown heroes Dillinger Four have actively worked the local show circuit. That's okay; we know they're busy. Maybe... More >>

• Taste of Minnesota

  published June 23, 2010

  Providing a few crave-worthy treats to Twin Cities residents who can't wait for the fair, the Taste of Minnesota fest has gotten more music-savvy... More >>

• Why?, Deerhoof

  published June 16, 2010

  Initially, this looks like an odd combination; you could call Why? an indie-loving rap outfit (or vice versa), while Deerhoof (pictured) toys with... More >>

• The Jayhawks

  published June 9, 2010

  The Jayhawks stand alongside bands like Soul Asylum and Hüsker Dü as Twin Cities cornerstones, groups written into this area's musical... More >>

• Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby

  published June 9, 2010

  You can go to the mall and buy your jeans pre-ripped, but it's hardly a substitute for that pair that's been with you for years, worn in to... More >>

• HEALTH

  published June 3, 2010

  If you're coming from a musical background that cherishes the singer-songwriter concept above all others, you might consider HEALTH an... More >>

• Holy Fuck

  published May 26, 2010

  Sure, the name sounds like it could be a teenage basement punk band, juvenile shorthand for "Hey, look at me!," but the sound that this Canadian... More >>

• Caribou

  published May 26, 2010

  You get the feeling that Daniel Snaith, the man behind Caribou, was kind of a nerd growing up. Not only does the guy have a Ph.D. in mathematics,... More >>

• Astronautalis

  published May 19, 2010

  Indie rock just can't keep its hands to itself. After having its way with dance music, indie is lecherously ogling rap, thinking about a world... More >>

• Mystery Palace, Estate

  published May 19, 2010

  If it's tough to think about a record producer (bedroom or otherwise) as a rock star, blame the machines. Until recently, it was difficult to... More >>

• Coheed & Cambria

  published May 12, 2010

  It's true that Coheed & Cambria have toured with groups like Slipknot and Linkin Park, but don't hold that against them. While they often get... More >>