Let It Be Records to Close in June

It’s been busy here at HowWasTheShow despite the fact we’ve published nothing in a week. We’re all day jobbers here and when things get crazy, well, the jobs that pay the bills must come first. Somehow I still managed to cull together the sixth in a series of weekly columns....

The End of an Era: Let It Be Records to close on or around June 15th



Let It Be Records opened in 1987, the year before I moved to Minneapolis. Ryan Cameron’s record store was always there for me, from its start in Loring Park to its move to its current location at 1001 Nicollet Mall. Let it Be aided me in my transition from vinyl to CD’s. I bought my first CD’s there including my first Ride CD, the Nick Drake boxed set, my first Sonic Youth.

In an email message, owner Ryan Cameron cited many reasons for his decision to close the indie record store, both personal and business, but he said it ultimately came down to a “need to change gears.” Cameron will now be concentrating on his mail order business of rare vinyl and CDs, based at www.letitbe.com.

Related link: See "Whither the indie record store?" an article by MPR's Chris Roberts from February, 2004 that features comments by Cameron.

Guitarist Bryan Ottoson of American Head Charge found dead

Bryan Ottoson, of American Head Charge, was found dead in his bunk on the band’s tour bus Tuesday. Read more here and here.

Coming up

Radio K's Powersurge raps up today with Haley Bonar playing live at 11, Dave Campbell of KQ Homegrown and 2024 Records from 12-3, and Fog plays Off The Record from 4-6PM. Tomorrow at the Turf, Haley Bonar, Fitzgerald (CD Release!), Blue-Eyed Son, Dosh play the Turf (First 10 with Music Lovers Cards get free admission.) See Chris Riemenschnider's weekly roundup for more on Fitzgerald here.

(Speaking of the Turf Club. The place was rocking Tuesday at Sonia Grover's birthday party, and I have to admit I like the changes they are making. Taking out the false ceiling over the bar really opens up the place. I look forward to seeing the rest of the changes the new owners have in store. One thing I do hope the new owner does is overhaul the Turf's website.)

The biggest news this week at Radio K is their expanded signal. At 106.5 FM, the new signal now reaches most of Minneapolis, including the U of M campus and parts of St. Paul. And it’s stereo! The signal can be picked up 24/7 on weekends, and 4:30 PM to 8AM on weekdays.

Samuel Beam of Iron and Wine to play Free in-store at Electric Fetus tonight before First Ave Show

Mandy Anderson is taking over Dave Campbell’s role that included setting up live in-store performances at The Electric Fetus (she called herself Dave #3 in a recent email). Mandy wanted to let everyone know about Samuel Beam of Iron & Wine playing an in-store tonight at 5:30 PM. Florida native Samuel Beam got his start by producing lo-fi tapes and distributing them all over Florida. The sincerity of Iron & Wine’s rustic bedroom folk didn’t go unnoticed by Subpop who were quick to add Iron & Wine to the label. Currently, Iron & Wine is on tour supporting the new CD Woman King. Iron & Wine play First Avenue tonight with Horses and Eric Johnson. For more information about Iron & Wine visit the website at www.ironandwine.com.

Details:
The Electric Fetus
2000 4th Ave. South
(612) 870-9300
www.efetus.com

At the Whole Music Club a couple weeks ago I saw the great Ash / Bravery show (that I never did get around to writing a full review of.) At that show, Whole Manager David Hill had excitedly told me about this upcoming event, the last of this school year's episodes of Making Music which features Martin Dosh. Dosh will be appearing to do both an in depth interview and a demonstration of his technique.

See this video of Dosh at work by Randy Kramer: http://www.anticon.com/dosh.mov

Here are the details of the interview/show/demo:

Making Music: hosted by JG Everest and featuring Martin Dosh
Thursday, April 28th
8pm, The Whole at Coffman Union
This event is free, but seating is limited.

The Minnesota Music Academy presents Recording Roundtable

The MMA presents Recording Roundtable featuring: Tom Herbers, Tom Garneau, Rob Genadek and Jacques Wait. Combined, Herbers, Garneau, Genadek and Wait have over 80 years of experience in the world of recording, mixing and mastering. Between them they've worked with the likes of Low, The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum, Victoria Williams, Peter Himmelman, Keri Noble, Prince, The Breeders, The Soviettes, Mason Jennings and Mike Doughty. Come hear them speak about their experiences, the recording industry, how digital technology is impacting their work, and anything else you want to ask them about.

Details
www.minnesotamusicacademy.org
Tuesday April 26th @ 7:00PM
@ I P R
$5 MMA Members; $10 Non –Members; Students Free
312 Washington Ave N
612-375-1900

A SKIN TOO FEW: THE DAYS OF NICK DRAKE

A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake, is an intimate portrait of a young man with a huge talent who was unable to handle his imminent fame. Drake, who died tragically in 1974, at the age of 26 and whose sensitivity made him unable to face audiences, is, appropriately enough, never seen or interviewed in the film but his beautiful voice and words help to tell his story. Interweaving interviews with Drake's family and friends, home movies and letters to his sister, A Skin Too Few is a must for any Nick Drake fan. Several local music videos will also be featured.

Details:
THE BELL AUDITORIUM
April 23 - April 28
Daily @ 7:15 & 9:15pm with 5:15pm
Matinees Saturday and Sunday (no late show Tues.)
17th & University Ave SE on the E. Bank of the U of MN campus.
For more information log onto http://www.mnfilmarts.org/bell/ or call 612.331.3134

The Ghost of Radio Past

Cyn Collins hosted of The Wave Project last week on KFAI. Her guest was Baby Grant Johnson, who co-hosted and performed his song, "Makin' Time" live. Go to http://www.kfai.org/kfai2/audarch.htm and scroll down to Wave Project, and click on "Most recent show. Cyn tells me, "There's some fun songs, some sad songs, and some macabre songs. Lots of songs involving rivers, creeks, and other liquids, poverty, fish, and dogs. How can you go wrong?”

The Ghost of Radio Future

www.misplacedmusic.org will feature 3 not to miss programs over the next 3 days.

Rebroadcast of LIVE at the Dinkeytowner (Friday 5PM)
A re-broadcast of our show from the Dinkytowner Cafe on the U Campus last Saturday night. The show features a performance by Lifestyle of Wigs, Reticence, and an acoustic performance by Anne Deming

LIVE from the Walker Arts Center (Saturday 4PM)
We will be coming to you LIVE from the Walker arts center in Minneapolis. The show will run from 4PM all the way until 12AM. This is a Jazz (etc) Marathon put on for the "Festival dancing in your head". (http://calendar.walkerart.org/event.wac?id=1353)

LIVE from the Turf Club (Sunday 9PM)
Once a month we bring you the best in local (mostly) Americana put on by "The House of Mercy" in St Paul. Hosted by Pastor and (published author) Russell Rathbun. This month featuring: Mike Gunther & His Restless Souls, Jack Norton & the Mullet River Boys, Randall Throckmorton, Goober Sez Hey, (MMR's own) Jared Lukes & Sam Keenan, and The House of Mercy Band.