The (Local) Fresh Five: Valeska Suratt, Chatham Rise, Francine Magee, Shrive, and Peeler

For the Fresh Five we pick out five great new(ish) jams that we’re currently obsessing over. All of these songs come from local (Minnesota) bands/artists.

Valeska Suratt (named for a turn of the century silent film actress) are a local hardcore/screamo trio. They have a single short EP called Nameless to their name (no pun intended) and that was released over two years ago – however they are new to me having heard them for the first time on Radio K. VS have a dynamic sound that expertly balances moments of quiet between blistering snarls of sound via pounding drum/bass rhythms, heavy guitar riffs, and piercing vocals. 

Stream/purchase Nameless here

We’ve long been fans of local psychedelic shoegaze/krautrock band Chatham Rise and are thrilled to learn their third full length record Trillium will be finished later this month. The new record features guest appearances from guitarist Mark Refoy (of Spacemen 3/Spiritualized fame and an influence on CR’s sound) as well as percussion from Peter Anderson (Run Westy Run, The Ocean Blue) and guitar from Josh Richardson (Flavor Crystals). Check out first single “Angus Says” above which features Paula Kelley.

Details for the 8/2 release show at the 7th St Entry are here

https://infinitespinrecords.org/product/chatham-rise-trillium/Pre-order Trillium here. 

Francine Magee is a Minnesota-born songwriter currently residing in Los Angeles. Magee’s debut solo record Francine is Her Name is out now (stream here) and it’s a lovely collection of R&B accented pop songs. Magee will perform on 7/10 at Icehouse (show information here). 

Shrive are a brand new kraut/noise rock threesome from Minneapolis. The band takes a number of disparate influences from trip-hop to jazz fusion and blends them into a steady pulse of seething anger. Their musicianship is dynamic, the heaviness tangible, and the passion is real.  Shrive’s debut EP Leach is out and available now. 

Stream/purchase Leach here

Minneapolis band Peeler’s debut EP Best Kept Secret was just released last month. The group has a kind of slacker/emo aesthetic that will sound familiar to anyone who lived through the 90’s. Peeler execute it really well and Best Kept Secret demonstrates the band is far from painting themselves into a corner with their sound.  

Stream/purchase Best Kept Secret here.