Charlie Parr continues boot-stompin' summer touring schedule

Photo: Tin Angel

From the looks of his calendar, Charlie Parr is pounding the gas pedal this month as often as that bass-drum-pedal contraption of his. A whirlwind of shows in August have taken him from the Minnesota Zoo to festivals in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. All while not missing a week at his Wednesday residency at the Brewhouse in Duluth. This weekend, Parr brakes in the Twin Cities for a show Friday at the 331 Club in Northeast Minneapolis. After a block party in Duluth with the Black-Eyed Snakes, it's off to the U.P. for another festival, the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival.

Here's a list of upcoming shows. Check Charlie's MySpace page for more info:


Aug. 14 - Hotel Donaldson - Fargo, N.D.
Aug. 15 - 331 Club - Minneapolis, Minn.
Aug. 16 - Arrowhead Center for the Arts - Grand Marais, Minn.
Aug. 20 - Brewhouse - Duluth, Minn.
Aug. 21 - Rock the Block - Duluth, Minn.
Aug. 22 - Porcupine Mountains Festival - Ontonagon, Mich.
Aug. 23 - Porcupine Mountains Festival - Ontonagon, Mich.
Aug. 27 - Brewhouse - Duluth, Minn.
Aug. 28 - Dusty’s - Minneapolis, Minn.
Aug. 29 - The Ritual - Des Moines, Iowa
Aug. 30 - The Replay Patio - Lawrence, Kan.
Aug. 31 - Duffy’s - Lincoln, Neb.

Little Man holes up in hunting lodge to record fourth album

Little Man is back from a second trip to the Chicago area, where Chris Perricelli and crew are working on the band's fourth album, tentatively due out by sometime this winter.

The sound will be "a bit fuller with more layered vocals and guitars," Perricelli said. They have 14 songs in the hopper for the yet-to-be-named new album.

The band is working again with producer/engineer Ed Tinley, who also produced Soulful Automatic. Most of the tracks were recorded in an old hunting lodge owned by Ike Reilly. ("It looks like a 'Lincoln Log' house," Perricelli said.)

On the most recent trip, the band finished overdubs and recorded string parts for a few of the new songs -- a first for the band, but something they've always wanted to do, Perricelli said. "We used tow musicians and multitracked cello and violin."

Read more about Little Man's Chicago trip and studio progress on Perricelli's blog.

John Ewing hits the road with Western Fifth

John Ewing is hitting the road this month, heading south with fellow locals Western Fifth. They'll start at the White Water Tavern in Little Rock, Arkansas, then head back through Dallas and Wichita before converging with a slew of other local bands at this year's North vs. South Music Festival.

Here are the dates and places:

8/19 - White Water Tavern - Little Rock, Arkansas
8/20 - The Barley House - Dallas, Texas
8/21 - Kirby’s Beer Store - Wichita, Kansas
8/22 - Davey's Uptown - Kansas City, MO
8/23 - Big Al’s Speakeasy - Kansas City, MO

Crossing Guards to release digital EP at Pizza Luce Block Party

Eclectone Records is representing again at this year's Pizza Luce Block Party. Crossing Guards will go on last at 9 o'clock. Get there early. The band is marking the occasion by releasing a brand new, three-song digital EP. They'll be giving away free download cards to the first 300 people who want one. The songs were recorded at Crossing Guard headquarters in Northeast Minneapolis and include a couple from the forthcoming LP, plus an exclusive B-side.

Here's the track listing:

1.) Pretty Little Problem
2.) 51 Weeks Ago
3.) See Ya Soon

And don't miss Charlie Parr, playing earlier in the afternoon around 2:40. See ya there!