(This marks the first guest blog from our friend Greg Swan at Perfect Porridge. From time to time Greg will share interviews and thoughts surrounding local music here in the Twin Cities. Most importantly, the music discussed here is always available on Localtone Radio. Welcome Greg!)

Sitting in his home studio layering himself atop of himself, tinkering with software and overall just playing good music, Minneapolis musician Keith Lynch just keeps churning out the tunes. You don’t need pro tools when you’ve got it, you know?

Now on his seventh album under the name Unknown Component, Lynch’s newest offering, In Direct Communication, is a 10-track story problem of rockers, whiny punk, creepers and ballads.

Hear a sample of “It’s a Fine Line” on Localtone Radio

If Lynch left Minneapolis traveling at 70 mph, and I sat on my couch listening to this album, who would achieve enlightenment first? Hell, I always sucked at math, but this is one Unknown Component worth striving for.

We had the opportunity to chat with Lynch about this album. You’ll see he’s a straight to the point kind of guy…

Who is Unknown Component?
Keith Lynch

How would you describe your sound?
Melodic, Original, DIY

DIY rocks! Do you play all the instruments or did you have some friends help out?
I write and record all the music myself.

What programs do you use for recording or did you hit a studio?
I use a really basic program without any sophisticated programming.

Who are your influences?
In the past I’ve relied on musical influences, but recently I’ve relied less and less on them.

By my count, In Direct Communication is your seventh album. How does it differ from past releases?
It was written a lot faster than the previous albums.

Tell me about the haunting track “Somewhere a Light Has Gone Out.” Do I hear some Black Heart Procession influence there?
Just checked it out on YouTube, sounds good, I can hear the similarities. That song was written mainly on piano and was one of the last songs written for the album.

What do you hope listeners get out of the Unknown Component experience?
I hope they get what they want to get, it’s a complicated process of listening to music and experiencing something from it, I hope they get something meaningful.

Have any shows planned in the future?
I’ll be playing at Silvie’s Lounge in Chicago on Oct 9th.

Where can people get the album?
Songs are available for free download @ www.unknowncomponent.com

Listen and vote on Unknown Component as well as other great local music now on Localtone Radio!

You know the “album”, or CD cover…actually both, at least if you have any interest in rock music. It’s the baby floating towards a dollar bill. Ring a bell? It’s from Nirvana’s Nevermind release, the one that yielded Smells Like Teen Spirit.

According to a story by NPR that “baby” is one Spencer Elden, and he just turned 17…gulp! Yeah, it was 1991 when the “grunge” sound took the world by storm. Young Spencer who is just really getting used to the smell of teen spirit himself gets to lay claim to sharing his baby photos and his “junk” to more than just immediate family or a new girl friend who’s just meeting the folks. According to Spencer, “Quite a few people in the world have seen my penis, so that’s kinda cool. (ya gotta like this kid) He goes on to say,“I’m just a normal kid living it up and doing the best I can while I’m here.

While doing so, I hope that he has found his soundtrack like so many his age found in 1991. I’m not sure he’s “living it up” in the same musical climate. He himself says his friends spend time, “playing Rock Band on Xbox, like, that’s not a real band! That’s the difference between the ’90s and kids nowadays; kids in the ’90s would actually go out and make a [real] band!”

Before my involvement with Justin here at Localtone Radio I spent years in broadcast radio. I was programming a rock station in ‘91 and I can still remember the first time I heard Nirvana and I’ll admit it, after years of Zeppelin, Bad Company and plenty of 80’s hair, I didn’t ‘get it’ out of the box. But the younger audience sure as hell got it! They ate it up! And frankly, it’s the last time I recall when there was a real game changing sound on the radio. For a few years grunge proliferated and dominated rock stations. You couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting another group or artist wearing a flannel shirt and singing about their angst.

Beyond making me feel just a little bit old…Holy crap! No kidding that was 17 years ago?…my real thought is, why hasn’t there been such a sea change in music since then? Events like the British invasion, the summer of love, disco, hair bands all stand out. What since grunge has impacted music like that? Hip-hop? Not really, that was more a product of the 80’s. Thrash metal? Nope. Ska? Nah.

Perhaps the music is out there and it just hasn’t migrated from the many different sources from which music is now available…perhaps it’s right here on Localtone Radio. Maybe it’s the challenge of playing the hits in a “long tail” world. Maybe it’s traditional radio’s obsessions with catering to everyone over the age of 35. But it sure would be great to see a “sound” much less an album make a mark like that. Hopefully Spencer and his friends will take a break from Rock Band and get started on it.

This week we’ll try something different. I want to spend a little time to reflect and promote some of the events that Localtone Radio was, and is, going to be a part of here in the near future. Besides some shameless self-promotion, I also discuss a number of marketing ideas that I have for local bands to help promote themselves on the internet in this podcast episode. Below is reference to a few of the places I mentioned during the podcast. Hopefully you can make out the U of M for the Emerging Digerati, which we are very excited to be a part of.

Emerging Digerati

http://www.inms.umn.edu/digerati

I mention this site below at a local music wikipedia, but was not able to remember the URL in the podcast. Below is the information in case you want to check it out. If your a local band, I’d highly suggest putting a page out there on yourself.

Local Music Wikipedia

http://minnewiki.publicradio.org/index.php/Category:Group

 

 Just you and your host Justin Grammens: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week I had the opportunity to talk with Dean from The Bloody Turncoats. These guys are one of the freshman bands on Localtone Radio and have both some high energy and very unique sound. If their live performances are anything like their recorded material, people are in for a big jolt of energy when you see them perform.

Dean told us a little about the history of the band and some of what they have coming up. I’m excited to hear the new material those guys are working on and planning to put out later this year. Hope you enjoy the interview and be sure to check keep your ears and eyes open for some of their upcoming shows here both this coming weekend and later this month. All of their shows can be found on their MySpace Page.

Take some time and listen to the full interview below.

 

 Bloody Turncoats Interview: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This weeks podcast needs very little introduction - we talked with Luke Harper from Audio Altimeter on what he sees going on with local Twin Cities musicians while running his full service recording studio in downtown. Luke was nice enough to allow us to record this podcast right at his facility and is a genius when it come to capturing great audio. I would consider Audio Altimeter to be a true hidden jem among recording studios in town. Luke is an easy going guy to work with and every person I have talked to that has dealt with him in any capacity has nothing but great things to say. If you are looking for any services related to audio, you for sure will want to checkout Luke at Audio Altimeter.

Anyway, enjoy the interview as we kick it local and learn more about the history and future of recording through Luke’s eyes.

 

 Luke Harper Interview: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The interviews just keep getting better here at Localtone Radio! Only 2 days after we talked with Karl from Capital Sons, we decided to do a follow up interview with Gary, the lead guitarist.

One thing I can say is that we all are blessed to have such exciting and talented musicians here in the Twin Cities. As you listen to the interview, you’ll get a sense from Gary that he is passionate and energetic about the band and the music that they create together. You can hear it in his voice. It’s obvious that he loves playing and creating music and does some very interesting and creative parts over the rhythm and vocals created by Karl.

Capital Sons have a new album that they have already completed the basic tracking at Pachyderm Studio and now are doing guitar and vocal overdubs with Luke at Audio Altimeter. With these two studios working on this project, the sound quality and mix is going to be phenomenal.

Check out these guys in person this Saturday at the 400 Bar and in a few weeks at the Varsity Theater. More information on these and future shows can be found on their website. Enjoy the interview!

 

 Capital Sons - Part 2: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week we have the first in a two part series with the band Capital Sons. For this first part, I had the opportunity to talk with Karl Obermeyer, the lead singer and principal song writer of the group. These guys are extremely talented and I continue to see a few of their songs as some of the most voted material on Localtone Radio.

Karl fills us in on what Capital Sons is all about, what it’s like being in local band and seeing one of their shows,. As Karl states in the interview, “At a Capital Son’s show, you can expect to see four guys on stage, playing their asses off.”

Speaking of shows, Capital Sons have two shows coming up that you’ll want to check out. The first is on February 9th at the 400 Bar and the second is February 21st at the Varsity Theater. Information on both of these shows can be found on the band’s website.

Enjoy the interview and be on the lookout for part 2 in the coming days when we talk with guitarist Gary Vogel and get his perspective on what makes the up the guitar sound of this band.

 

 Capital Sons - Part 1: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Localtone Radio podcasts are continuing to heat up!

This week I had the opportunity to interview Michael Loonan. Michael is what one might call a “jack of many trades” in the local entertainment scene. From his solo work, to being a composer, producer, voice talent and jingle writer, Michael is one talented musician.

I throughly enjoyed not only the time I had speaking with Michael and learning about his background, but also in listening to the music that he creates. I’m also excited for the upcoming album he is planning to record later this year. Michael is a prime example of some of the great local talent we have right here in our own Twin Cities and be sure and keep your eyes open for him at one of the local piano bars or wedding receptions later this year.

So settle in and press the play button below to start listening to the Localtone Radio interview. Onward!

 

 Michael Loonan Interview: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week I spoke with Tom Feldmann from The Get Rites, a local Twin Cities band that has been together for a little more than 3 years. During the interview Tom stated, “The band is very loose and everyone just kind of shows up and plays.” And play these guys most certainly do! By their music, one can tell that they are very talented and put together some very creative music that I think you’ll enjoy listening to.

Minneapolis has some great bands on the local music scene, and these guys in my opinion one of the top players. Be sure and check out their website to get all of the information on their latest releases and their upcoming shows.

Enjoy the interview and feel free to leave a comment!

 

 Localtone Radio Interview with The Get Rites: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week I had the chance to talk with Mike Brant, the bass player from the local metal band Dante’s Lounge. These guys have been together for more than 9 years and have gone through some changes in their genre and style, but I think they are just beginning to bring all of the pieces together to make a very unique and style all their own. Dave the drummer lays down a solid foundation and Mike, Brent and Jason waste no time creating music that crosses between traditional metal like Mudvayne to more commercial efforts such as Nickelback.

Have a listen to the interview as Mike and I talk about the history of the band, some of their upcoming shows and what the future holds for Dante’s Lounge. You can also learn more on the Dante’s Lounge MySpace Page as well. Keep your eyes on these guys as they continue to build on their success with new songs and a possible 2nd album in the coming year.

Enjoy the interview!

 

 Dante's Lounge Interview: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download