Media Addicts RIP

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151318406178584&id=70826293583

Hello world. Media Addicts plays its FINAL show tomorrow night (12/19) at the Artists' Quarter in St. Paul. It is a send-off to our dear friend Billy G.- guitarist for Media Addicts, as he will be moving to a bigger pond down the road (L.A.) in the coming months. Eric Miller, our original drummer, has also moved on to bigger and better things, whose part will be played by the great Jendeen Forberg. FYI, the first set will be an open jazz set with guests of Billy's choosing, then Media Addicts will hit immediately following. Again, this is your last chance to see this great band. Music starts @ 9pm

I can't be really all that surprised by this given I knew their drummer was leaving with his wife back to Montana anyway, after speaking with him at their CD Release show a few months ago. And one key member goes, it's never easy to replace them (why I am a little worried about The Book of Right On as well unfortunately..see Painted in Exile and some others whose progress has slowed since losing a band member).

And with Billy also going, I don't see how they are still a band, at least for now. Maybe a reunion will happen at some point. O well, damn.

I might add, here's another example of a far too talented and interesting group that NOBODY caught on to, save for some of the people in town who follow the Jazz scene. And I will fully confess I am guilty of not catching on to them early enough, as it really took til about 9 months ago where I fully got into them. I had their cd Elsewhere for a few years, and even saw it at KFAI, but I really wished I had seen them more often live and knew that album while they were still around.

I imagine there is these guys music, in whatever form, that may come in the future. Maybe David (sax) and Brent (bass) could form a new group? or maybe they could hook up with Mike Linden and JP from The Super Pilots who also are kind of not at a full-strength now here in Minnesota? IT'S WISHFUL THINKING I'll admit, but if the world somehow worked magic like I'd like, that maybe could happen.

Anyway, I shall attend their final show tomorrow night and maybe get a little more insight into what future they all may have music or otherwise.  And of course I will continue to enjoy both Elsewhere and their latest Autonomy, which finished rather high on my 2012 Index.

I will add though, I should credit my girlfriend with situations like these, as she's not crazy about getting attached to BANDS/GROUPS but instead SOLO ARTISTS. That way, this stuff is unlikely to occur.

Negroni's Trio - On the Way (2012)

1 On the Way           
2 Matices           
3 Blue Forest           
4 Estate           
5 Dancing With the Bass           
6 Oak Tree           
7 Expressions           
8 My Way           
9 Looking For You           
10 Retrospection


I haven't heard it, and didn't even know it was released I guess on September 18th. Kind of cool to find out about coming on the heals of seeing another great latin jazz artist, Poncho Sanchez the other night. I really enjoyed Negroni's last record Just Three as well as some of their earlier work back towards the end of 2010. Their drummer is awesome. I wonder how this will stack up for 2012, especially among the other good jazz-related records i.e. Mike Linden, Media Addicts, etc. But it should be great to hear in the coming days/weeks before the 2012 Index is published.

2012 Citypages "Picked to Click" (HAS PROG!!!!)

http://www.citypages.com/2012-10-17/music/picked-to-click-2012/

The winners of the 22nd Picked to Click poll:

1. The Chalice 83 points
2. Pony Trash 78 points
3. John Mark Nelson 71 points
3. Wiping Out Thousands 71 points
5. Heavy Deeds 63 points
6. Actual Wolf 58 points
7. Strange Names 39 points
8. Observer Drift 36 points
9. Prissy Clerks 34 points
10. Audio Perm 32 points

Hey Shittypages, thanks for getting in touch with me again to vote for this poll.

While I don't know any of these bands well, on the surface, I could name at least a few bands who deserve to at least get votes/points if not usurp some of these names. The only noteworthy name on there is Prissy Clerks, and not so much due to my interest in their music, but ex-Total Babe frontwoman Clara Sayler is a founder of that band. And I'm happy to see her at least get some recognition.

But the likes of Brice Plays Drums, The Royal Veil, Mike Linden, There Are No Words, The Bewitched, The Book of Right On, Media Addicts, Lehto & Wright, The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra,  etc ..I wasn't even able to vote. After I wasn't able to  last year as well, I EMAILED Citypages about doing it, and got NOTHING.

I mean maybe every August/September I need to frequent their website looking for Voting Forms? or maybe CALL them, because emailing them sure doesn't seem to work too well.

Hipsters, Blech.

Mike Linden - Bubble & Squeak (2012)

http://mikelinden.bandcamp.com/






1 Megajumbo 6:41
2 Mutant Butterfly 4:56
3 Paper Planes I: Kites 5:29
4 Paper Planes II: 1903 5:48
5 De Vuelta a Casa 7:32
6 Killer Robots 5:00
7 The Adventures of Uncle Penny Bags 3:51

Mike Linden on Facebook
The Super Pilots on Facebook

Okay, time is short as it always seems to be, and I'm trying to catch-up on about 17 blog entries in 1 night.

But this is a delayed review of this excellent debut album from Mike Linden, a young guitarist from Apple Valley, MN who met some-of and formed the Jazz-Fusion group The Super Pilots a couple of years ago while at school in Boston at Berklee College of Music.

And the players involved on this, his solo record (by-name) are The Super Pilots guys.

But as far as this album, it's a really well crafted and produced, jazz-fusion record of sorts. Most comparable to Return to Forever and perhaps a little Al Di Meola. But for example the Paper Planes suite/epic really reminds me of Marillion (the 2nd part 1903, I swear I hear "Runaway" from Brave at various times) or Pink Floyd.

Also the last piece "The Adventures of Uncle Penny Bags" is a bit country or bluegrass-like. I almost think of The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra when hearing that one.

Overall, every piece the writing and playing is excellent. From the drum fills and cymbal work from JP Bouvet, to the mood setting piano of Dave Mackay, to even some of the funky basslines of Jason Weiss, and Mike's outstanding shifting tones, this record works repeatedly. Very much less-is-more.

These guys are a young band, however, the membership may change depending on circumstances with location (2 members are from Minnesota, 1 from England, and 1 from out East I recall). But, having missed their show in 2011 with Brice Plays Drums, I was thrilled to catch Mike and The Super Pilots twice a few weeks ago. And Mike's supposedly staying here and will play more live, with perhaps some other musicians. The 2nd show in Burnsville "Art and All That Jazz" festival, they covered the likes of Pat Metheny, Chick Corea and even Destiny's Child. Like many Jazz groups, they excel even more live.

But for those unable to see Mike or The Super Pilots, I'd highly recommend giving the Bandcamp page a stream or 2.

The Super Pilots/Mike Linden

more to add, but all I can say is this is one of my new favorite bands. They are doing Jazz-Rock like I love it. I wish they lived in Minnesota, but at least they seem to play here once a year.

I have Mike Linden's album to review soon, but 1st I'm seeing him and The Super Pilots for free this evening in Burnsville, MN.