VIDEO: Country Mice - “Morning Son”

CONTEST: Win Tickets To See Scars On 45 This Thursday

Minneapolis plays host to Scars On 45 this Thursday with guest Anya Marina. MFR is giving away a pair of tickets to the show so listen up:

Tweet “Scars On 45 know #MinneapolisFuckingRocks” by 5pm tomorrow to enter. See you Thursday!

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February 2, 2012
7pm // 18+
Varsity Theater

VIDEO: Feist - “The Bad In Each Other”

VIDEO: The Best Love Is Free Live - I, Colossus

[MFR Presents]

The Best Love Is Free saga continues. This week’s live performance video features I, Colossus performing the title track from the new EP, Radio Silence. The big event is around the corner and tickets are rapidly disappearing! Get your details here.

The Best Love Is Free
February 11, 2012

INTERVIEW: Los Campesinos!

Tomorrow has the makings of a pretty great Sunday. Los Campesinos! will be throwing a party at Varsity Theater in Minneapolis and the Parenthetical Girls are kicking off the night (ahem.. show up early). I talked with Ellen Campesinos! (bassist) recently, and boy is she cool. Check out our conversation below! Psst..it’s a long one, but she was really fun to talk to.

When starting a new tour, what are the biggest apprehensions you have?

I think in regard to this tour it is more like feeling homesick. I think, always, the apprehensions are how the body will cope with long drives. This tour is intense, we have one day off in a month. It’s mostly like “my body is going to be a broken mess by the end of this” and “not fucking up the songs.” It’s been really good so far. The audience has been brilliant.

As a band you appear to have a solid connection with your fans. Whether that means the Twitter account, Heat Rash, and especially performing live. How important is the focus on fan interaction for the band? How much energy goes into that?

It’s very important to us because we know that we are lucky to be able to do what we do. We are privileged, and humble. We are really grateful that people turn up who like our band. It’s like, “Really, you like it? You drove four hours? That’s amazing”. It’s really important to have that connection and it inspires loyalty in people which is also amazing. We like having more ways to connect with people other than just releasing music and touring.

Per your recent experiences (Budweiser, Letterman, etc.), what are your thoughts on the idea of a “big break”?

It’s weird because I don’t think there is such a thing as a big break. It’s changed since I was younger. A big break when I was younger mean music sales and making charts, now that all seems irrelevant. Some bands are “big” for a moment and you never hear from them again. Big breaks are deceptive. We haven’t had one, but we have been lucky from the start. It’s not “now we’ve made it,” just “we’re lucky we kind of still have a career.“ I don’t know, placements don’t translate to album sales, but maybe they help tour sales? What our parents would regard as a big break is different than us. It’s different for different people. It’s confusing.

Being around seven people and still being able to tour is a constant big break.

You’ll be in Minneapolis at Varsity Theater on January 29 with Parenthetical Girls, is there anything about Minneapolis you look forward to?

Last time it was Free Comic Book day and I went to a cool comic shop and it took me an hour to walk there. Hopefully I’ll find that place again. There was also a weird British display going on. We walked into the town square, and it was like a silly joke to us, a fair or something. That and wandering around. What would you recommend?

To visitors I usually suggest the night life (concerts, theater, etc.), but the art galleries are also wonderful. If you want to see what Minneapolis is really like, go to a local cafe or coffee shop where everyone knows each other and just hang out.

Oh! I love going to coffee. It’s nice to go to a place by yourself, have coffee, read a book. I do enjoy that. Especially when you know you’re in a place with a good reputation, it’s like a smorgasbord of the town. I’ll probably try to do that.

If you could tour with anyone in the world (living) who would it be?

Oh my god, that is a difficult question. It would be amazing to tour with a really big pop act. Someone like Lada Gaga, Pink, or Katy Perry. That would be an ABSOLUTELY MENTAL experience. If you toured with your favorite bands you would be incredibly terrified every night, or they would disappoint you if they’re idiots in real life. But a massive, stadium, corporate tour would be a really really interesting experience. 1 or 2 week tour. I would have to put make up on for it.

What was the last thing you listened to?

The Cruel Intentions soundtrack. The movie aired not too long ago, and I thought “Oh my god this soundtrack is amazing! I listened to this when I was 12!” Oh, Kristen Barry. So…I’m pretending that I’m 12 again.

Don’t tell me Bittersweet Symphony is your favorite track too?

No, the Counting Crows song ..cheesiest song in the world. I used to think “Oh my god when I’m older I’m going to be in a relationship with someone like Ryan Phillippe.” Now it’s like, “oh, he was really horrible.” So yeah, I’ve been listening to that, because I’m cool.

Pick up lines: cheesy or romantic?

If someone tries to chat you up, if you’re attracted, then whatever they say is endearing. If you weren’t, they would seem weird. It is all about context, so I don’t know. You can tell when a fellow is trying to be smooth, and it’s bullshit. You can pick it up really quickly. So yeah, context, and the person’s face.

To you, what is the perfect meal?

We get to eat a lot of great food. We’re all foodies so we have a variety on tour and eat out a lot. We don’t have to, but it’s fun. A buffet is perfect, I’m fussy and indecisive so having a bit of everything. All-you-can-eat sushi and dessert (apples and crumble things). I really like Sashimi, so maybe that.

Oh, no actually! All-you-can-eat international food buffet specializing in Mexican and Japanese. And no worries about calories.

Is there such a place?

Weirdly enough there is a place in Bristol that has the largest indoor seated restaurant which is an international food market and a buffet. Food from all over, and cocktails. I haven’t been there yet and I’m upset about it because the one day I was home and went, it was closed. I was like, “No! It was my dream!”

Is there a new book, series, or comic strip are you into right now and need to share with the world?

I’ve been reading a lot of Richard Brautigan. He’s a writer from San Francisco and he writes a lot of poetry which is amazing. He wrote a short story called The Abortion; it’s really good. The way he writes is simple, but he says the right thing. His short story is really good, his poetry is amazing, and he’s this crazy guy from San Francisco. I think other people should read him.

Also, The letters of F. Scott Fitzgerald. It’s amazing to read. The letters he writes to Ernest Hemingway. I love reading letters from writers. I’ve become fascinated by the writers rather than the books, don’t know why. They live incredibly insane, alcoholic, and interesting lives.



Interview by Laura Yurich
Sunday, January 29
7pm // 18+
Varsity Theater

INTERVIEW: Scars On 45

February is right around the corner, which means Scars On 45 are set to stroll through Minneapolis! This buzzin’ band from Yorkshire will be hanging out on Thursday, February 2 at the Varsity Theater with the talented Anya Marina. I recently had a pleasant chat with lead singer Danny Bemrose about tour, days off, and Breaking Bad. His thoughts are below.

You’re kicking off a brand new tour on January 25 in San Francisco. What are you most excited about at the start of a tour? What are your biggest fears?

The biggest fear is that no one turns up. In regard to what we look forward to and enjoy the most, it is meeting new people. We’re not one of these bands that do a gig and get to the next venue or city as quickly as possible. If people took time out of their day and spend hard earned money to watch us we want to spend as much time with them as possible. We want to have as many drinks as possible and we want to get to know them. That is always fun, it is always nice to see different people.

Do you have a favorite spot yet?

To be honest were relatively new to all of this. Every city has something to offer, even the outskirts of Montana. Every city has something unique, everyone has favorites, certain cities remind you of home, but every place offers something new. Literally.

Chop Shop/Atlantic labelmate Anya Marina will be joining you on February 2 in Minneapolis. Have you worked with her before? Can we expect any fun collaborations?

We’ve met Anya a few times. She is originally from San Diego and lives in Portland. Last Christmas we did a Chop Shop Christmas party at Alex’s house where she had a few acts perform. We were Anya’s backing band, so we spent a day learning her songs. That’s probably the most time we’ve spent together, but it will be a good show and we’re looking forward to it.

If you could tour with anyone in the world (living) who would it be?

At the moment, Adele is pretty high up there. She is something rather special. I mean, Coldplay, Death Cab For Cutie, The National, those kind of bands are the bands that are around at the moment and influence us. But if I were to pick it is probably Adele. I have to say the list is longer than my arm.

There are a plethora of bands out there struggling. Many are finding that there are different avenues of support available to continue (from sync placements to Kickstarter campaigns etc.). All that said, what does a “big break” mean to you?

I always think that there are a lot of different variations. A big break can come in many different forms. There is always a stigma about TV, commercials, etc. We were always aware of that stigma. Older artists that have been around a while might see it as selling out, but I’m thrilled. It’s having music heard by as many people as possible. TV and commercial is a way to enable us to do that; to reach as many people as possible. In this day and age it is difficult, not just in the music industry. It’s essential to get the music out there. We’re all for it. I think having music on TV shows has helped us. That CSI: New York sync enabled us to buy a computer and record an album and get it in the hands of Chop Shop. Those recordings we did are on the album. That was a big break for us. We’re certainly thankful for it.

What was the last thing you listened to?

We are all kind of about good melody, not a genre. Adele, really, is always just incredible. The National. I’m on a bit of an 80s and early 90s kick. But 21 by Adele was something special, she knocked it out of the park.

What is your idea of the perfect “day off”?

Probably wake up about 10 am, go for a run in the gym, and then go out for nice food with everyone and try to relax. When you spend 15 hours a day in a van driving from city to city a lot of people think it’s a non-stop party. The most exciting thing to do on a day off is have a few glasses of wine, a nice meal, and a nice bath.

What new book, cartoon, or TV show are you absolutely jazzed over right now?

Everyone in the band started watching Breaking Bad. We’re all hooked now, which is a bit of an issue. I’ve got quite an addictive personality. I have to clear my time for 4 days to watch the whole season. The last thing I did that with was Lost, which took over my life for about 4 years.

Final words?

It’s nice to come to Minneapolis. Every time we’ve been there we have a blast.



-Interview by Laura Yurich
February 2, 2012
7pm // 18+
Varsity Theater

VIDEO: Field Mouse - “Glass”

HOTT Mix: Band Of Skulls To Nicki Minaj In 18 Moves

You’re about to be HOTT Mix’d. Pretty much all new music on this one, so I encourage you to explore the names you don’t recognize.

Spread the word and be sure to support the artists you enjoy.

Band Of Skulls - “Sweet Sour”
Lower Dens - “Brains”
Memoryhouse - “The Kids Were Wrong”
Capybara - “Neighbor Crimes”
Shearwater - “Breaking The Yearlings”
Big Deal - “Chair”
Concrete Knives - “Brand New Start”
Oberhofer - “Heart”
Tanlines - “Brothers”
Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lapelles - “Just A Kid”
Miike Snow - “Devil’s Work”
Miike Snow - “Paddling Out”
Sleigh Bells - “Comeback Kid”
Porcelain Raft - “Unless You Speak From Your Heart”
Yellow Ostrich - “Marathon Runner”
Sures - “The Sun”
White Rabbits - “Heavy Metal”
Nicki Minaj - “Stupid Hoe”

MP3: Tennis -“My Better Self”

The new album from Tennis, Young & Old, will be out on 2/14 via Fat Possum.

VIDEO: Races - “Big Broom”