Sounding Off On Sound

Steve Sullivan and the Factory bring it like nobody on "Evil is a Man Made Thing"

By Dwight Hobbes, Sounding Off On Sound

Steve Sullivan and The Factory’s Evil is a Man Made Thing is a hell of a lot of good old fashioned, balls-to-walls, barroom rock-and-roll fun. You can pretty much bet that after this band got done playing its December 28 CD release show at Shamrocks in St. Paul, construction workers had to come in and put the roof back on. It’s the kind of music that mixes just fine, thank you, with whiskey, beer, and non-stop dancing. In fact, it’s got a healthy helping of boogie-woogie with some rockabilly and Stax/Volt soul thrown in for good measure.

MORE »

Kazyak's "See the Forest, See the Trees" is a strange world that's worth visiting

By Dwight Hobbes, Sounding Off On Sound

Kazyak frontman Peter Frey isn’t the greatest singer in the world. For that matter, he really isn’t, strictly speaking, all that good—but he is pretty damned interesting in a Neil-Young-ish sort of way, with a high, quirky voice that has its own distinct character. He's a strong songwriter, too. Odd with weird melodies, but nonetheless strong. To boot, Frey is an eccentric lyricist. Talented…and eccentric.

MORE »

Virtuoso guitarist Tim Sparks finally releases "The Nutcracker Suite" in the United States

By Dwight Hobbes, Sounding Off On Sound

What I know about classical music you can find on the head of a pin and have room left over. I do, however, know damned good guitar playing when I hear it, and virtuoso soloist Tim Sparks plays some damned good guitar. For that matter, you can ask iconic legend Leo Kottke, who attests, “I’m Tim Sparks’s biggest fan. His stuff is very difficult to play but it doesn’t sound difficult. I think that’s real musicianship. He really is one of the best guitar players I know.”

MORE »

Vicky Emerson returns to Minnesota with "Dust & Echoes"

By Dwight Hobbes, Sounding Off On Sound

Over the last decade of her career gifted songsmith-vocalist Vicky Emerson has lived in St. Paul, Chicago, St. Paul, New York City, the Left Coast and, now, back to Minnesota—just in time to catch the cold.

MORE »

K Jay wows at Acme Comedy Company

By Dwight Hobbes, Sounding Off On Sound

Photo by John Ballew Photography, courtesy K Jay

It has been a long time since I’ve had a chance to write about K Jay. So, when I invited him to be my guest for Tracey Ashley at Acme Comedy Company, it was a pleasant surprise to learn he was on the bill. Such a pleasure, in fact, that I didn’t bother feeling insulted. K Jay always treats me like a wet food stamp. Never gives a heads-up on his gigs—including nights he’s opened for Fancy Ray McCloney, my other favorite Twin Cities comedian. I don’t feel insulted, but I do make a mental note to accidentally forget, yet again, to give him back his album Redd Foxx Uncensored.

MORE »
Syndicate content