Me Online.

Minus the Bear with Chin Up Chin Up at Triple Rock Social Club on 5/17/07

By: Amber Schadewald

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Minus the Bear – Publicity Photo

All ages shows are like early bird specials, minus 40 years and potatoes. Sure the food tastes the same, but it just seems a bit off; like the cook, or in this case, the bands, just hadn’t been given a chance to get into the groove.

Seattle indie-rock/experimental band Minus the Bear played to a far-from-crowded Triple Rock Thursday evening, with an opening performance by their musical step-child, Chin Up Chin Up.

Chicago rockers Chin Up Chin Up played at six, started mellow and worked their way through their more exciting, syncopated, drum-driven numbers. The slow start didn’t help the stiff crowd, and a lack of eye contact, talking and any real interaction made it hard for the audience to make a connection to the performers.

Thankfully, near the end of their set, the boys in the band woke up from their naps and even cracked a few smiles. The play between fierce guitars, occasional electronic blips, chimey keyboards and vibrating bass echoed with influence from their tour friends, Minus the Bear.

The last song of Chin Up Chin Up’s set was by far the best, finally displaying some versatility and range possibilities in Jeremy Bolan’s usually gruff voice, along with his harmonica playing skills.

Minus the Bear took stage at seven and immediately threw off everyone’s dance steps with their out of control pace and time signature variations. A band you can’t predict, Minus the Bear is fabulous for letting your body loose, throwing out your pride and shaking your stuff off beat.

The conversation between instruments, electronically generated treats from the Mac and singable lyrics were rad live, but the audience still lacked in the enthusiasm department. Lead guitar and vocalist Jake Snider even commented on the quiet, far too well behaved crowd.

In contrast to their audience, the band gave 110 percent, showcasing minor details of musical genius from all perspectives. Minus the Bear’s songs contain incredible build ups, never leaving the audience with an audible let down. Snider’s voice seemed a bit strained at times, but for the most part it only added to the organic quality of their music.

The band played a few of their new tracks which will be released in August, along with favorites like “The Fix” and “fine + 2pts” from their previous four discs. A talented group of guys, Minus the Bear is hard rock with a soft gray t-shirt; a live show anyone could appreciate for its unique variety of sounds.

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Location Info: Triple Rock Social Club
Band Info: Chin Up Chin Up, Minus the Bear

Kevin West: Actor turnerd mountain climber

by Amber Schadewald

He may be over the hill, but from his point of view, Kevin West has set up camp on the top of a mountain, and he doesn’t have plans to come down anytime soon.

“I’m in my renaissance, my prime,” he says, sipping his latte at a Dinkytown coffee shop.

It’s Friday morning and West, 41, is surprisingly upbeat in comparison to the zombie-like crowds of students waking up for classes outside. He’s got on a comfy sweatshirt, jeans and dark black shades, a few layers lighter than the costume he wore on stage the night before.

West is currently starring in The Jungle Theater’s production of “K2”, a thrilling drama about two climbers fighting to survive on the world’s most dangerous mountain. West’s role required him to take climbing lessons, preparation for the show’s almost too-real set.

During his first lesson on a climbing wall, West found how difficult it was to keep balance on the tiny simulated rocks. Shakin’ in his climbing boots, he began to question what he had gotten himself into. He was “scared as hell.”

But after six weeks of training, tying knots and learning the lingo, West proved his skills outdoors for an adventure at Taylor’s Falls. Now he makes his way up the faux mountain with confidence.

“For lack of a better term, climbing has given me big balls,” he laughed. “I’m a warrior.”

Ready for anything, West was put to the test during the second night of previews. As the curtain went up, the audience roared with laughter. Laying under a pile of snow from the previous act’s avalanche, West was quite confused. Looking up, he realized a cardboard box had somehow joined them on the slope.

“There it was. Office Max, on K2,” he said shaking his head.
A stagehand had left it accidentally after covering the men with snow for act two. West eventually pushed the box off stage, saying his lines amid the sympathetic cheers from the crowd. It’s moments like these, he said, that make live theater appealing: every show brings a new surprise.

West wasn’t embarrassed or angry that the box broke the reality of the scene, but it was thereafter his responsibility as a professional to go on, not to break the fourth wall. After the show, there were jokes, of course.

“So how does it feel to be upstaged by a box?” Director Bain Boehlke asked him.

Overall, West is enjoying his role as Taylor in “K2”, a character with a fiery temper and an even dirtier mouth. In fact his character’s vocab has been getting attention from some of the ladies in the audience. One woman came up to him after a show, telling him, “I just love the way you say those words.”

“At first I was taken back, thinking, which words?” West said, but then she gave him a little wink. “Then I was like, oh!”

…just a perk of being an actor he’s not afraid to embrace. West says he likes hearing people’s reactions to his work, yet at the same time, he refuses to read the reviews. He believes everyone’s opinion is valid, yes, but he doesn’t want anyone telling him to change.

“Either accept it or reject it,” he says. Either way, he’s giving his best in each performance.

As a child, West always knew he’d be an actor. Growing up around artistic parents, he and his siblings were exposed to all types of music, art and theater. His favorite pastime as a child was pretending to be on TV. As his imagination grew this turned into a passion for the stage. He began acting in community based theater and YMCA productions, but was let down in 7th grade when his director didn’t award him the role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a school play.
“If only Ms. Moore could see me now,” he said.

But once West graduated high school he decided to head into the corporate world, lured in by the promise of the paycheck. A few years, and a few kids later, West became a “business school drop-out.” He dabbled between jobs, wearing ties and suffocating in cubicles, working at banks to provide for his young family. That is until the day he put on a co-worker’s lipstick.

“As a joke, I walked into my supervisor’s office, asking if she wanted to see me,” he said. “When she saw my bright purple lips she burst out laughing and told me I should be an actor— and that’s when it clicked.”

Later that week West was enrolled in an acting class.
Stashing the suits in the back of his closet, West said goodbye to the office and hello to show biz. In 1992 he took a job as a theater manager while taking on acting gigs around the Twin Cities. Currently he’s a company member at the Penumbra Theater Company in St. Paul.

West has also decided to jump back into school, taking classes at the Minneapolis Community College, planning to get his Masters in theater and one day teach at a University. As the oldest kid in class (and probably the only one with a real acting job), he’s often asked for advice by his classmates/possible future competition. And he gives it, shrugging off the idea that he’s giving away “secrets” to auditioning and getting roles.

He likes helping young actors out. For West, it’s an opportunity to make friends and let fate take care of the rest.

“Everything happens for a reason and people get the parts that are right for them,” he said. “And really, I only want the parts that are right for me.”

My big wonderful cover story!

 

Hoop dee-doo for Ruth

Nye’s celebrates another year in the life of the famed accordion player, Ruth Adams

 

By Amber Schadewald

Wanted: Energetic yet well-mannered party persons for fun in sparkly vinyl seats, groovin’ to the ones and twos and slammin’ whiskey. Me: Polish. A classy 57. Loud. Retro. Best with booze.

You: Good hopping and clapping skills. Experimental. Fan of P.D.A. and your grandparents’ record collection.

Popped collars, skanky dancers and snooty attitudes need not apply. Two-step skills appreciated.

Finding that special bar can be difficult, but the folks at Nye’s Polonaise Room have got the answer: The World’s Most Dangerous Polka Band and a musical goodie-bag that somehow appeals to just about everyone and their mother, and especially their grandmother.

More specifically, they have Ruth Adams.

Ruth Adams is kind of a big deal. The only original member in the current polka band, Adams dazzles audiences with her accordion skills.

Greg Peterson, a monthly visitor to the “Nordeast” hangout, said he doesn’t listen to polka on his iPod, but can’t resist Adams and the band.

“I’d never go out with a girl who said she wouldn’t go to Nye’s,” he said with a convincing smirk.

With fans coming from as far as Lakeville and as close as Dinkytown, Adams is a Minneapolis icon.

“People know me,” she admits.

The band, which has its own documentary, has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “The Rachael Ray Show” and will soon appear on the Food Network.

When asked how she feels about being such a celebrity, Adams replied with a meek “OK,” then took another bite of her prime rib sandwich, well done, on pumpernickel.

A few weeks ago, some young guy (who was apparently around 35 years old) proposed to Ruth. She said no.

Adams and her band aren’t getting any younger, but their aged sound and faces are what continue to impress the crowds who come to see them kick it.

Over the hill and back again, these old geezers put age back in tune.

Turning a fabulous 75 on Feb. 26, the Twin Cities’ best accordion player celebrated another year well spent on the stage with the 18th annual “Not Such a Surprise-Surprise Birthday” party Saturday night.

By 10:45 p.m., the tiny bar and dance floor were packed shoulder to shoulder as the band blasted “The Hokey Pokey” to a crowd with an average age of 30 and average blood alcohol level of .08.

Esquire Magazine’s Best Bar in America 2006 is known for attracting a wide range of weekend party animals – from dreadlocks to receding hairlines, hipsters to regular Joes, hooded sweatshirts to stilettos and married couples to sassy singles.

The stage shines bright, located next to the bathrooms and tucked tight into the corner.

Across the room, Christmas lights line the ceiling over the bar, while the comfy booths glow a dark red, both easy on the eyes and a little sexy.As the bachelorette party in front of the stage put their right hand in, a few classic Minnesotan accents could still be heard slicing through the oompa-pahs, including a “For crying out loud,” from one man who was pushed up against the wall during the song’s “shake it all around” lyric.

At 11:30 Adams made her way off the stage, slowly pushing through the crowd, who by this time were wearing Sponge Bob birthday hats and playing “Happy Birthday” on kazoos.

A big cake decorated with music notes flickered with only about a third of the candles it would take to represent Adams’ age.

She blew out all but three in the first breath, causing someone to shout from the crowd, “Ruth has three boyfriends.”

With enough cake for everyone in the bar, frosting-faced beer drinkers enjoyed the sweet treat as they raised their glasses to Adams.

After two pieces, Joe Hayden – the band’s trumpet player/vocalist – hurried Adams back up to her seat on the stage as she licked the frosting off her fingers.

Birthday or not, Adams didn’t let the excitement affect her playing. Toes tappin’ in her Velcro shoes, a dead stare and tightly pressed lips were evidence of deep concentration throughout the five-hour set. That’s just the way she does it, and, apparently, just the way the people like it.

Dancing his own version of the polka – a jig consisting of hops, fist pumping and turns – John Klesk, a Carlson MBA student, was wearing a World’s Most Dangerous Polka Band T-shirt while he danced to the blasting trumpet sounds.

“This is my second shirt. I wore my first one out,” he said with a big grin.

Wearing a white T-shirt with glittery notes, Adams, along with Hayden sat down in one of the monstrous booths on Nye’s bar side to discuss their legendary careers as polka professionals.

Adams grew up in Mound, hating school and loving music.

“Music was always easy for me. I’d hear a piece and I could go and play it,” she said.

By kindergarten she was playing piano, learning the basics from one of her sisters and then taking lessons for a decade.

In 1946, Adams met a shoemaker who introduced her to the ol’ squeezebox, (a.k.a. the accordion) filled with buttons and a whole new world of possibilities.

“I thought, boy, it looks easy,” Ruth said when she first saw the instrument. “But then I found out it wasn’t.”

Determined, Adams started lessons and relentlessly practiced every day after school, one hour on the piano and two on the accordion.

After graduation she took classes at a couple accordion schools in Minneapolis, started playing a few gigs and ended up with the weekend spot at Nye’s – 32 years later, she’s still there and has no plans of calling it quits. Adams rarely misses a note, much less a performance.

“If the Gophers had as much dedication as Ruth, we’d win a National Championship,” Klesk insisted I write down.

Every Friday and Saturday the band plays till 1:30 a.m., hours after your average 50-year-old turns off the “Late Show” and hits the hay.

Hell, that’s later than the average freshman can hold their liquor.

But do her fingers ever get tired? Nope. How about her voice? No way.

“If you love music, you don’t get tired playing it,” Hayden answered for Adams.

Occasionally Adams has been known to fall asleep onstage (which they claim is part of the show), but the playing doesn’t stop. The snoring only adds to the band’s crazy repertoire of sound effects.

Adams also barks, Chihuahua style, during the “Barking Dog Polka,” causing a few of the newbies on Saturday night to search the room for a small pooch under their table.

Hip with every genre, Adams does a mean impersonation of Gene Simmons and even raps a little ditty during the “Too Fat Polka,” with lyrics that would be at home on an MTV music video.

“I don’t want her, you can have her, she’s too fat for me,” she huffs into the mic.

“Nobody else can pull this stuff off,” Hayden said, “but Ruthie can.”

From the U to the GU(thrie).

All the U’s a stage

The Guthrie features two U students in their latest production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’

By Amber Schadewald

eautiful lace and velvet reflect off the mirrored stage floor of a play that pretends to be patterned on love and justice. But in between those lovely, righteous topics, Shakespeare neatly sews in discrimination and revenge.With a perfect head of curls and porcelain skin, the character Jessica brings beauty to the slightly uncomfortable storyline, wearing her incredibly wide, 18th century dress, stuffed with side hoops and a laced, tight corset.

Jumping off the small stage and into a pool of controversy, University BFA senior Christine Weber wasn’t scared, but excited for the chance to speak Elizabethan English while gracing the stage at the Guthrie, taking on the role of Jessica in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice.”

Dripping with anti-Semitism, the play has historically been known to raise questions of whether theaters should be putting such dark ideas into the limelight.

During the Middle Ages, English Jews faced tough prosecution, often being portrayed on stage with crooked noses and bright red hair. The play could easily be read as a continuation of the anti-Semitic tradition, or at least a representation of it Shakespeare-style.

The “Merchant of Venice” revolves around money, while greed and revenge lurk beneath the pillars on stage. When Bassanio, a dashing poor guy, needs some dough to win the hand of Portia, a hot rich lady, B’s friend Antonio arranges a dirty deal with a Jewish moneylender named Shylock.

In short, Antonio can’t pay Shylock back and so owes him a gross sum – a pound of his flesh.

Bassanio gets his lady but has to rush off to save his beloved friend Antonio. There’s a trial, a few surprising twists and in the end, Shylock just looks like a big jerk of a Jew while the Christians live happily ever after.

Even his daughter Jessica turns against him, running away to elope with her lover Lorenzo and convert to Christianity.

Shylock is also forced to convert as punishment and the scene ends with him sheepishly consenting to his “deserved” fate.

With his monstrous temper and unwillingness to compromise in his demand for Antonio’s flesh, Shylock is easy to hate. At the same time, his miserable fate at the conclusion of the trial almost seems to deserve sympathy.

Only two weeks into the show’s production, Weber has already been asked why she, as Jessica, would “screw over her dad.” Weber said it’s been hard to defend the person she plays on stage and even harder not to pass judgment on Jessica herself.

Weber said she’s come to believe that contrary to the rest of the cast, her character acts out of love and not out of disrespect for her father.

“She’s not just pissed at daddy,” she said.

Matthew Amendt, a University graduate who plays Lorezno, said it’s not always pleasant to portray someone who has such a narrow view of the world. But despite the play’s age, its themes resonate as much as ever – racism and disrespect haven’t disappeared.

Jessica and Lorenzo occupy limited stage time and although their impact on the plot is less obvious, the relationship between their two characters possibly serves as hope for reconciliation to the cancerous ideas separating their world.

Even with the political incorrectness dominating the play, the couple’s acting did lead the audience to at least believe in love.

On stage, Amendt and Weber have an infectious chemistry, flirting across the courtyard and societal boundaries alike. They’re just as cute offstage, sitting in the Guthrie lounge on a Friday afternoon, even without the fancy gown and tights, which Amendt notes he’s down with.

Meeting a few years back, the actors agreed being friends has made the production that much more enjoyable, even though Weber said Amendt “smells funny” (for the sake of his career, she was only kidding).

Both influenced by theatrical mothers, Amendt and Weber were born with scripts in hand.

The son of a theater director in Pittsburg, Amendt began his career on the stage as a “prop baby,” famous for his powerful delivery of “goo-goo ga-ga.” As a senior in high school with plans to become a chemical engineer, Amendt said he fought hard against becoming an actor.

“As a career, I thought it was stupid. I wanted to make money,” he said. “Everyone told me it would be a miserable life, but acting followed me around and didn’t really give me a choice.”

Growing up in Minnetonka, Weber knew in middle school that acting was it, and by the time she was a teenager she was acting in theaters across Minneapolis.

Busy with the production and still attending classes, Weber is dying for more time to read books (which she admits to judging by the “back” cover). Amendt, who graduated with his BFA in 2004, bragged that he’s enjoying playing unlimited hours on his Xbox.

Far from the posh lifestyles of the characters they play, Weber and Amendt are also far from greedy, noting that the key to being a young actor is faith and not the paycheck.

“If you don’t have a job, the world’s not over,” Amendt said. “As long as you can pay the rent.”

Fashion & Music: My favorite couple.

Fortissimo Fashionistas

Voltage Fashion Amplified combines bands and clothes on the catwalk

By Amber Schadewald (designers), Haily Gostas (bands)

adonna’s cone boobs. J-Lo’s plunging Versace “dress.” Angry-girl Chan Marshall of Cat Power … repping Chanel jewelry?It’s no secret that the music and fashion industries have overlapped time and time again. In the same way that a hot little look can shape a big sound, a performer’s personal style can kick off a major trend. The result? Girls dig into their daddy’s tie collection, boys apply “guy-liner,” and everyone else ponders what the boss would think if you showed up with grillz come Monday morning.

Voltage Fashion Amplified ‘07
WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: First Avenue Mainroom, 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis
TICKETS: $12 advance / $15 door, 21-plus, (612) 332-1775, www.first-avenue.com

Although a musician might be pleasing to a fifth of our senses, their guitars and tambourines aren’t the only things catching attention during a live show. And though a stack full of conceptual art sketches seems interesting in theory, a mass audience might find the final product more appealing on someone other than an anorexic catwalker.

Either way, each party’s got to have “it”: uniqueness, unconventionality, the shine of a little spotlight and a whole lot of willingness to partner up and make each other’s respective ideas come to life.

Minneapolis’ Voltage Fashion Amplified seeks to sew those seams together even further, celebrating this fabulous fusion of mediums in a way that encourages collaboration and community.

Produced again by Ruby3 designer Anna Lee, Voltage’s second installment since its 2005 debut boasts yet another, more grandiose runway rock show that offers a big-time opportunity for small-time local talents on both sides of the fence. While a host of fantastic local bands provide the soundtrack to each swagger, designers outfit them accordingly in illustration with their music.

And this fashion ain’t all frivolous either – Voltage supports some mighty nice causes too, including the Artists’ Access to Healthcare and emerging nonprofit MN Fashion, both of which provide benefits for starving visionaries.

Here are some of the highlights in Voltage’s carnival of band-designer covenants, that, though not as mainstream (or money-based) as the aforementioned, still know how to work what they’ve got.

THE MOOD SWINGS

Ashley Prenzlow, the self-described “buyer by day, rocker by night,” knows a thing or two about the Voltage aesthetic.

From 9 to 5, she lovingly selects and purchases dresses for Macy’s department store distribution. When the sun goes down, however, she hikes up her own and struts on stage as the lead vocalist and guitarist for pop rock darlings The Mood Swings.

After the 2001 dissolution of old band TheMeg, Prenzlow recalls feeling rather bummed and in desperate need of a breath of fresh air. She was tinkering around with a four-track and concentrating on new songwriting techniques when, through “a stroke of good luck,” a co-worker introduced her to Sallie Watson.

Now BFFs, the two share duties in The Mood Swings and bring a double dose of sugar to the hard-edged scraps of garage and punk. The band’s sound leaps back and forth from ’60s and ’70s staples like the Rolling Stones and the Stooges to emotive ’90s heaviness of Spiritualized and the Jesus & Mary Chain.

In addition, both women are serving on the Voltage design panel, working closely with the designers to cultivate each of their visions.

“I think collaboration is the most important element here,” Prenzlow said admiringly.

photo courtesy ISAAC GALE

The group Black Blondie dresses up their music at this year’s Voltage fashion show.

“There’s a bunch of really strong individual efforts.”Yeah, yeah – but do all these connections bring any fashion forecasts?

“Dresses are the number one item of the season!” she hints with a squeal of delight. Naturally.

BLACK BLONDIE

Black Blondie prefer their fashion the way they prefer their music – shaken, stirred and just a bit schizophrenic.

“We all have really diverse tastes,” claimed keyboardist Tasha Baron, formerly of local hip-hop gems Heiruspecs. “A bunch of different influences are brought to the table, both in how we look and how we sound.”

Just as a particular number could contain equal parts chilled trip-hop, smoky soul and throbbing afro beat, each of Black Blondie’s members maintains a unique individual appearance: playful, artistic and plenty sexy, certainly, but no one is trying to follow quite the same pattern.

Baron jokes that the band nearly settled for the repetitively fast-paced techno found along the atypical runway path, but eventually threw their hands up and just decided to be themselves.

“We do what we do, you know?” she said of Black Blondie’s sultry, raw and often unpredictable approach. “We have a tendency to make some pretty emotional music. Maybe we’ll make a model cry!”

THE ALARMISTS

You’d never believe it from looking at him now, but there was once a time when the Alarmists’ Eric Luvold preferred the checkered angst of a flannel grunge uniform to the dandy Keith Moon-cum-Beatles style he now sports.

“I really used to love the Smashing Pumpkins,” he admitted. “I actually bought my first drum machine because of them. I was convinced I could do anything once I had that, but I don’t think I’ve programmed a single thing in it since.”

Now, the ringleader of the British-influenced, guitar-centered psychedelic pop rock outfit dresses a bit more to impress. His band was crowned number one in City Page’s Picked to Click 2006, after all – upholding at least somewhat of an image is crucial.

“We try to present ourselves well,” said the still-modest Luvold, who always tries to don one of his grandfather’s old ties for each high-energy performance. “When you dress up, you definitely feel more confident.”

Still, the Alarmists hardly suffer for fashion.

“When you’re in a band, you can sometimes get away with looking a little crazier,” said Luvold, “but in our case, simple is better.” No frills, just good, old-fashioned rock n’ roll.

JENNY OLSON

Fascinated by antiques and vintage furniture, Jenny Olson likes to layer her designs with surprising seams, urban inspirations and swanky hints of history.

On the horizon of graduating from the University, Voltage is Olson’s first fashion show off campus.

Mirroring the band’s sound, Olson, the primary designer of Pomije, decided on a ’60s mod military look for The Mood Swings.

Olson said she and the musicians agreed from the start on a less flash, more class wardrobe. Olsen said she didn’t want them to look like they were wearing costumes, rather something they would want to wear again.

The women of The Mood Swings will be featured in slim dresses, adorned with buttons and buckles, chosen from a handful of Olsen’s designs.

ELIZABETH CHESNEY & MACKENZIE LABINE

If there were a larger cricket population in Minneapolis, you would’ve been able to hear them Friday night as Elizabeth Chesney and Mackenzie Labine worked on their line for Black Blondie in an Uptown apartment.

The on-and-off sound of the sewing machine replaced conversation as the designers concentrated on stitching black lace and perfecting hems on corsets.

While Chesney generally goes for comfort and natural fabrics, Labine likes to mix “floofy” girly stuff with dark fantasy.

Opposites in design tactics, Chesney and Labine paired up to create a sassy showgirl-esque line for Black Blondie that combines leather with tutus.

With inspirations from Moulin Rouge and daring female fashions from the prohibition era, the line made for the members of Black Blondie is tight, tasseled and curve accentuating.

“It was nice to work with real women, versus models who have the bodies of 12 year-old boys,” Labine said. “They actually have boobs to put in a dress.”

Expect to see a tasteful amount of leg and cleavage, devious hues and a dress modeled after those fancy vintage lampshades. The only male in the group will sport a fine tailored suit.

JAHNA PELOQUIN

Always on the hunt for old items that could use revamping, Jahna Peloquin prefers the term “stylist” to “designer.” Her fashions tell stories and are often inspired by classic films and then reworked with a more modern approach.

Her designs for The Alarmists will be a composition of baby blues, rich cognac and chocolate browns, slate grays and beige. Each of the indie-rockers will feature a vest and/or sweater paired with flattering button-downs, neckties and loose-yet- tailored pants.

With a bit of military inspiration fused with Brit icons like Bowie and the Clash, Peloquin says she simply took the look the band already sports as a jumping-off point.

Sharp and dashing, Peloquin’s line for the Alarmists will resemble Frank Sinatra’s character in “The Man with a Golden Arm,” a sexy heroin addict/poker dealer (armband included). A good-looking group of young men to start, their subdued sexy apparel is basically guaranteed to make the crowd swoon.

Peloquin says there’s a meaning behind each article she’s chosen and is excited to surprise the audience with the final product.

She also promises holsters will make a special appearance as an accessory … uh, hot.

OTHER FEATURED DESIGNERS:

GRETA HERMAN
A self-taught dressmaker who likes using recycled fabrics.

MICHELLE HENRY
A fan of bright prints and plush fabrics, Henry uses funky and dynamic designs to reflect her passion for life.

DAHIL LANGER
Her handmade line “reinvintaged” can be found in local boutiques such as Cliché in Uptown.

Leslie is my Hero!

All that glitters is not gold

Leslie and the Lys rap about kitsch culture and, most of all, gem sweaters

By Amber Schadewald

he gem sweater is often thought of as a ’80s fashion phenomenon – the era when the Bedazzler sought to turn every piece of fabric into a glittering sea of rhinestones.The style, however, dates back to the 1920s, when hip flapper gals started using sequins and strings to fancify their dresses. Skip past the Depression and straight to the ’50s, when cardigans became all the fashion. Lacking sparkles, these downers gave the sweater a bad reputation and kept them deep inside the closet on Friday nights. The ’60s revival of glamorous Western wear and the ascent of Elvis’ rhinestone-ridden jumpsuits inspired the Old Maids to knit something new into their warm creations.

The gem sweater was born; a comfortable and somewhat modest way to display your favorite bling bling (Snoop Dogg will probably be wearing one in his next video).

Ames, Iowa native Leslie Hall is dead set on saving these threads from hanging limp on rusty wire hangers in thrift stores, finding them new homes on warm bodies.

As of Monday, Leslie had 406 gem sweaters in her collection, but every day’s mail brings the possibility of another addition.

She began collecting gem sweaters in high school after a shimmering sequin caught her eye from a rack in Goodwill.

COURTESY LESLIE AND THE LYS

 

“Gems and rhinestones dribbling down it like the wind blowing a poem or sweet summer song,” she said recalling the blue beauty.

(Please note: A gem sweater is a knitted or crotched pullover, decorated with sequins, beads, rhinestones, pearls, jewels and gems. Not a sweatshirt. Puffy paint, metallic thread, iron-on transfers, ribbon, buttons or embroidery don’t count.)

In 2000, Leslie began displaying her growing collection of sweaters online, transforming her into an Internet icon and earning her a spot in VH1’s “Top 40 Greatest Web Stars.”

Leslie says she’s been training to be famous all her life, practicing in front of mirrors, singing for her grandma and hunting for the fashion to define her fabulousness.

Realizing her destiny to share her passion for the gem sweater with the world, Leslie formed a band with two of her elementary school buddies, becoming “Leslie and the Lys.”

Leslie and the Lys are currently touring the country in their Mobile Museum of Gem Sweaters, spreading awareness and education about the underappreciated garment art.

Monetary donations are gladly accepted, helping cover the dry cleaning and repair costs for the sweaters, as well as gas for the museum on wheels.

To Leslie and the Lys, a gem sweater is a work of art.

By 2099, Leslie hopes she and the sweaters can raise enough money to travel to space.Until then, here on Earth, Leslie will continue to pump up the jams … I mean, gems.

Leslie and the Lys’ first album, “Gold Pants,” was released in 2004 and the second disc, “Door Man’s Daughter,” came out last year. Both were created on Leslie’s Mac.

The pulsating wonder beats and laser sound simulations put the listener in a spacey arcade setting, as Leslie mesmerizes with her magical lady rhymes, sharing knowledge about everything from zombies to Cheetos.

With 13 tracks, “Door Man’s Daughter” is only 26 minutes short (any longer and you’d probably feel nauseous from overstimulation). The album is gem-packed full of precious hits like “Shazam I’m Glamorous” and “Holla Back Ames.”

Leslie is the white-trash version of Lady Sovereign and a less sexual adaptation of Peaches, making for a ridiculously entertaining spectacle live. Whether performing on roller skates at the rink or singing love songs in a karaoke booth at the mall, Leslie is like a Jazzercise instructor crossed with your crazy Aunt Susan who’s obsessed with collecting swans and tiny spoons.

Leslie also posts podcasts on the band’s Web site, including “Ring My Bell,” which features Leslie answering fan phone calls. Episode two consists of five glorious minutes of uninterrupted witty banter as she chomps on tortilla chips, plays with a pretend seagull and hangs upside down while strapped in a harness hanging from a 2-by-4.

On stage, Leslie doesn’t wear her precious sweaters, but rather spandex suits, each of which was made by Leslie Hall’s mother. The color: gold.

“Gold is my signature color of desire,” she said. “Gold is what makes the boys scream and the girls cry for more. Trust me.”

Exuding the ideal confidence every woman should have, Leslie is guaranteed to jiggle her voluptuous woman curves into a fury of sparkles.

In the words of the Keeper of the Gems herself, “Come watch the sweat dribble from my eyes. Watch the pain of each jam taking its toll on my 200-pound frame.”

… Just don’t forget your gem sweater.

Local Female Hip Hop Artist Review

let my tape rock

Hoist the boom box on your shoulder and turn up local rapper Spikaboxxx

By Amber Schadewald

s the hip-hop community in Minneapolis grows, females in the scene still aren’t quite getting the same attention as the boys, but Spikaboxxx says she’s not bitter about it.”I’ve just got to get in where I fit in,” she said.

Spikaboxxx

Title: “Into the City”
Label: Rautnon Industries

Easing into the scene, Spika paired up with her friend Indigo awhile back to form the hip-hop duo Bloody Black Eyes.

“Working with Indigo is better than having 10 guys back me up,” she said.

Unfortunately, being one of the guys still seems to be a plus when trying to get your voice – or your beats – heard, meaning a lot of quality hip-hop still gets overlooked.

But with her debut solo album, “Into the City,” Spikaboxxx proves herself a gal worth paying attention to.

While Minneapolis claims some prized female MCs – Desdamona, Maria Isa, Dessa – none compare to the stylings of Spikaboxxx.

Fast to slow, intimate to tough as hell, Spikaboxxx’s “Into the City” features a bit of rock, some synthesizers, a few brass instruments and bitchin’ vocal harmonies.

photo COURTESY RAUTNON INDUSTRIES

 

 

The variation might throw you off for a bit, but take a second – she’ll bring you back around.

Spika says her variety comes from growing up in a city with such eclectic musical tastes; Spika herself used to play in a punk band. For her, “Into the City” is her life in musical form, years of poetry turned into lyrics.

Like the best locally produced music, Spikaboxxx sounds smooth, without fake-Washington-apple shiny that major labels like to sell. A few of the tracks have a little too much clutter and one or two get a bit whiny, but overall it sounds real, raw.

While listening to her first track, “Testify,” a head-bob is unavoidable. Vaguely audible influences from old school rappers weave in and out among the more obvious evocations of divas from a decade and a half back. The album would sound great blaring from a boom box on your shoulder.

Her dry vocals hit the mic with such ease, it’s as though she’s simply spittin’ her raps in the passenger seat of your car, tellin’ you a quick rhyme on the way to the grocery store.

Although a majority of the album is up-tempo, it still makes you wanna sit back and try to look as cool as she sounds.

The song “Player Hater’s Tea Party,” featuring local artist NinjaGator (also the album’s producer), is an in-your-face anthem about the labels people give one another. Fused with frustration, she screams among the church bells ringing in the back of the track, “You would love me, you would hate me,” sounding similar to the anger in Kelis’ song “Caught Out There.”

“Dirty Hands Prayer” slows it down, allowing Spikaboxxx’s soulful voice to stand alone with the light tap of the high hat. She’s like Corinne Bailey Rae or Alicia Keys, minus the NutraSweet industry coating. Her songs have the feel of a quiet conversation.

Spikaboxxx CD Release Party with Indigo, Bloody Black Eyes, Mavin MC, DJ Shock B, NinjaGator; B-girl dance-off with prizes

While the hip-hop charts might frequently be littered with lady MCs, none are as appealing or as genuine as the sound and lyrics of the hometown diva. Spikaboxxx can join the respectable crew of female musicians in the Twin Cities with confidence, bringing along an album well worth 40 minutes of your time.

Would you like a Downtown review? Yes, please.

The new city’s center – no riffraff please

MN Daily A&E lists all the new hotspots downtown – just make sure you have money in your wallet, or, like Fergie says, take your broke ass home

By Amber Schadewald

1 – Aqua

It’s an impressive first step into the entryway of the water “themed” club; the blue and sea green walls glitter and shimmer up to the extremely high ceiling in a watery fashion. But one step farther and you’re simply in a fancy club painted with a palette of blues and purples.

Sure Aqua is classy and decorated with nice white leather furniture, but its theme is a bit diluted. Owners and cousins, Jado Hark and George Hark, say they still plan on putting in fish tanks … someday. Until then, clubbers will have to settle for the simulated underwater scenes cast on their abundant collection of flat screens.

Even the Aqua go-go dancers skipped out on the theme. The team of ladies wear blue lingerie and white furry boots while making waves on the catwalks overhead. Where are the flippers and seashell bras?

If you’re going to claim a water theme in the land of a lot of lakes, you better be willing to go off the deep end. In this case, kitsch would’ve been key. Otherwise, you’re not a whole lot different than the red, green or orange painted club down the street.

Aqua is aimed at attracting an upscale crowd, meaning a dress code is strictly enforced and the price of hydration is high; Stoli is their rail vodka.

This club is perfect for spending some extra cash on payday and looking good while doing it, especially if you can afford the view from the VIP bottle service upstairs. (Chex Mix is included.)

Theme issue aside, Aqua’s cool color scheme is aesthetically pleasing and pairs nicely with the elaborate sound and light set-up. And note to the ladies in heels, be prepared to stand in line on the weekend.

2 – Chicken and Waffles

No surprise here: They actually serve chicken and waffles – together. The menu is plump full of comfort food, and if you don’t see something you want listed, all you have to do is ask. Manager Wendy Puckett says the most popular items are the “hot chicks” and “naked chicks,” simply wings with perverted names. For the sugar fiend: waffles stuffed with chocolaty Milky Way chunks.

Beverage wise, Chicken and Waffles has a full bar, along with classic sweet tea and overpriced glasses of Kool-Aid. Basically, Chicken and Waffles is a more glamorous version of the Southern fast food chain Bojangles.

Nice curtains, only a few bird decorations and the tall booths make the place date friendly without being too tacky. The back room, which opens later, is more of an A-bar destination, smothered in mirrors and paper lanterns, with space for a little late-night (chicken) dancing.

3 – Envy (NV)

Sexy and romantic, Envy is a great place to revel in PDA with a lover or a stranger. Tea light candles fill the wall behind the bar, which, itself, changes colors in waves.

Small, cozy and modern, the club’s tall spaces are covered in black, white and grays. Small bursts of orange highlight the VIP section, mostly kept dark and seductive.

Early in the night, Envy is more of a lounge and later turns into a packed dance party. The club is owned by the same crew who ran Fahrenheit, so it’s basically a rendition of the former and a more mature version of Spin. Envy features two rooms, one playing more top-40 hoopla and the other plays trance-house mixes. Another place that fills up fast, lines are expected and standing room might be your only option once inside.
4 – Fogo de Chão

A vegetarian’s nightmare, the new Brazilian steakhouse is a fashion show of meat. Just a glance in the window from the sidewalk, pedestrians can watch monstrous slabs of animal twirling like bloody ballerinas over the fire.

Upon taking a table at Fogo de Chão, everybody gets a coaster; one side is red, the other is green. The wait staff comes around, offering an unlimited tasting menu of meats. When your coaster is on the green side, the roasts keep a comin’. On red, you’re asking for a breather.

A new concept to the Minneapolis scene, it’s option-limited, but service-concentrated. Thank goodness for the salad bar, which offers quite an array of fresh veggies, fruits and fish.

Bustling during opening weekend, Fogo de Chão glowed and glimmered in gold highlights, the walls lined with wine.

Quite a few steps up from Old Country Buffet, this carnivore paradise is spendy. Dress up and bring a bib.

5 – Sneaky Pete’s

Down the street from Drink, the “Original Fun Bar,” the new place in town is calling itself, “The Ultimate Fun Bar and Grill” – talk about cheese. A step inside and it’s actually more classy than one might expect. Wood covers every surface of the rather large space and its front windows look straight at the light rail, which is literally a step out the door.

There are enough gigantic TVs in Pete’s to arouse some excitement in any sports fan, but if not, the typical “Coyote Ugly” pretty girls working behind the bar are guaranteed to catch some attention. On the weekend nights, stripper poles are put on the dance floor for anybody to, uh, check out (an obvious influence by the neighboring Dream Girls). Manager Jesse Lusk said it seems like more guys hop on than women.

Amid the cheap thrills, Pete’s got some great weekly specials and events, including “Kill the Keg” on Wednesday and “Juke Box Hero” on Thursday, giving people a chance to sing their way through an American Idol-type competition.

If not for any of the reasons already mentioned, the

bathroom sink, or magically lack thereof, is worth checking out.

6 – Visage

The former Tropix, Visage is completely different from the trashy 18-plus venue that many have fuzzy memories of. Visage opened last May, but its somewhat awkward location in between all the nude lady bars has kept it secret.

Styled with European inspirations, Visage has two parts: the club itself and The Rosewood Room, a quieter restaurant lounge. Next month, Visage is planning a relaunch, bringing in Cirque du-Soleil type performers, go-go dancers, new VIP services and a patio.

The Rosewood Room is stylishly simple, yet stunning; the warm wood paneling and floor to ceiling alabaster fireplace, complimentary to the white leather sofas.

The main room of Visage is draped with strings of shells and long white fringes tease above you on the dance floor like the dress of a 1920s seductress.

The whole place is filled with textures begging to be stroked, most notably the fur-lined booths with snakeskin leather seats found in one of the many VIP sections.

VIP seems to rule every corner of this place. Where are the comfy chairs for the only somewhat-important people, huh? Cover is a bit steep, too, but if you can scrounge up a couple Lincolns to get in the door, you’ll probably rub elbows with a few fancy folks, or at least be able to look at them from the other side of the rope.

The Joy of Joanna

Photo by Nikki Ruddy

by: Amber Schadewald, Vita.MN, 4/26/2007

Where in the heck did all the ice cream go? That’s what Joanna James wants to know.The singer-songwriter couldn’t wait to get her fix at Caruso’s, the Italian gelato place in Calhoun Square. To her dismay, she discovers it’s been closed for a few months. Noting the “Don’t Complain” tattoo on her left wrist, she skips back outside and spots a Cold Stone Creamery across the street, but is shocked to see the windows covered in brown paper. So she walks to the Uptown Lunds. Apples, cereal, cakes … but no ice cream stand.

James is left to settle with a bottle of juice and a frown. But her playful pout lasts only a few seconds. Optimistic and sweeter than a scoop of praline pecan, James is a perfect substitute for any sweet tooth. Checking out cute skateboarders and ogling small dogs, she’s a great companion for an afternoon walk to the lake. So is her music.

Her new EP, “Back of My Mind,” is one big deep breath. Calm and collected, it’s quite a contrast to her bubbling personality: a chance to hear the soul behind the smile. Her sultry ballads make my limbs quiver. The set reflects the mature 25-year-old’s newfound confidence in herself and her music.

“It’s been a slow process. I started out playing Bush covers in high school,” James meekly admitted. “I didn’t come from a musical family, I started out playing violin in orchestra. I didn’t sing until high school.

“Singing is just where I finally found I could release all my built-up energy. Some people have sports, others have writing; for me, it’s music.”

The EP’s first track, “No Ordinary Sunday,” could be compared to Jewel’s earlier work (before she started wearing miniskirts in Miller Lite ads). The soothing guitar serves as delightful accompaniment to James’ weightless vocals whispering in your ears. It’s easy to visualize the voice seeping from her lips, like smoke rings, effortlessly swirling in slow motion above your thoughts.

“Back of My Mind” is filled with lullabies for the heartbroken: being “in love with a fantasy,” wanting to disappear after a breakup, and a song about rejection — a situation it’s hard to imagine adorable Joanna experiencing.

For James, creating this second album was about boiling it all down; keeping things “pure.” Telling stories through the lyrics, James’ music is meant for attentive listening. Live, James likes to think of her music as a two-way street, a chance for the audience and performer to collaborate. Her quirky banter keeps the audience alert in between the dreamy melodies.

“I care immensely about my audience. It’s probably a little sick how much I appreciate people coming out to my shows,” she said, grinning into the candy-colored sunset.

These days James also appreciates grocery stores (especially on sample day), juices that are heavy on the antioxidants, living with her mom, and chocolate — she’s just another sucker for sweet.

Join the club, honey.