The (Local) Fresh Five: MAKR AN ERIS, Verdin Brothers, Blind History, Echo Signal, and Tuffie
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.
Artist Sophia Eris and producer Makr (Mark McGee) are both local artists with a long pedigree of works and collaborations. Over the past several years the two have been creating EPs as MAKR AN ERIS and recently the followed up with their debut record Lilith. Check out the titular single above which features Eris sultry rapping over a minimalist beat. The duo will host a release show for the album on 11/28 at the 7th St. Entry (tix/details).
We’ve already hyped local trio Verdin Brothers’ latest record The Crooked Serpent but consider this one more reminder to check out the fingerpicked folks/blues group’s upcoming release show at the Acadia on 11/5 (should be excellent and though local, the group doesn’t play that many shows here). Details here.
A Blind History are a bit of a blank slate they sell-describe as “post genre,” reference German playwright Bertold Brecht in their press missive, and they’ve already received coverage from as diverse outlets as Radio K and The Wire. The duo (consisting of “Jim” on guitar and “Eóin” on drums) makes instrumental music that plays with repetitious sonic palettes, coloring outside the lines with rock, noise, and post-punk. The group’s next performance will be 11/7 at Barely Brothers Records.
Echo Signal is a gothic post punk band that takes inspiration from all the classic bands in that you would expect (Bauhaus, Joy Division, the Cure, etc) and creates a sound that is a fitting tribute to those gods of the genre. The band released a new single “Omen” yesterday and have a show coming up on 11/14 at the 331Club.
Minneapolis band Tuffie released their self-titled debut EP earlier this year and it should merit serious consideration for one of the better local albums this year. Tuffie mix a variety of styles from power pop to emo. Where most bands in the latter category tend to lose me is in the vocals but in this case singer Ava Levy skillfully accompanies the tunes in a way that feels mature and timeless. The band next performs at the 7th St Entry on 12/5 (details/tix).
Stream/purchase Tuffie here.
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