The (Local) Fresh Five: Deep Fakes, Dizzy Fae, Matthew Thomas & Wounded Wing, JG Everest, and Kiernen Tollefson
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.
Ever since I learned that the Blind Shake’s Dave Roper had gone on to join a new band, Deep Fakes, I have been curiously anticipating hearing their sound. The band recently released their first recorded single “Magnetic Rock” above. The band’s sound defied my expectations (given Roper’s past band) but also not in a bad way. Deep Fakes have found a unique mix of Americana and synthy new wave, building a catchy and sincere anthem about feeling at the end of your rope and trying to find connection. The band cites Springsteen as a comparison/influence and it’s a very apt one. In addition to Roper, veterans of such bands as the Umbrella Sequence, Tyte Jeff, Lunch Duchess, Curve, and more round out the rest of the group. Deep Fakes’ next show is 2/21 at the Cloudland Theater (info).
It’s been a minute since local R&B Dizzy Fae has been on my radar. I’m glad I thought to check up on what she was up to as It turns out she released a new single just a few months back. “Right Side” is a slickly produced (if short) banger featuring a memorable hook and Fae’s rapid-fire singing through vocal effects. No word on future plans/releases/show but it would be great to see Fae perform locally again soon.
Matthew Thomas & Wounded Wing are a Minneapolis-based quartet. They play Americana-tinged rock and roll music and they do it well. “Wounded Wing” is their latest single and it’s a love song that’s both catchy and bittersweet and the guitar work is lovely. The band will release their next song (“Burned Out Moon”) with a 3/1 show at The White Squirrel (I don’t see it on the calendar but am guessing they will play this show).
This one is a bit of a unique one – local composer JG Everest (who has played in a million local bands) has a new installment planned for his “Sound Gardens” series in which he composes site-specific outdoor sound concerts. The experience involves 50+ speakers, a roving band of accompanists as well as a choir. In Everest’s own words: “The WInter Sound Garden is a site-specific sound + performance installation that premiered in 2018 on frozen lake nokomis in Mpls, and has been remounted a handful of times since, with a special Luminary edition this coming Saturday at Wild River State Park from 6-9pm, FREE.”
Kiernan Tollefson is a masterful guitarist, playing in a classic fingerpicked style that combines elements of Americana and Baroque music into an enchanting blend. At least to my taste, this type of music really has to walk a fine line without veering off into either a kind of kitschy place or bland folksy background music. Tollefson walks this edge skillfully and creates vivid music that obviously requires a great deal of skill. Tiernen’s newest album I’ve Been Bleeding will be out on 2/21 and I’ve already earmarked it as one of the best local releases I have heard this year.
