Alva Star: Best Minneapolis Band (ever?)

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I'm interested to know what this motley crew thinks of my favorite Minneapolis band. It's fronted by an experienced singer/songwriter, John Hermanson, and an all-star back-up cast from other local bands (Polara, Kid Dakota).

Alva Star @ GarageBand.com:
http://www.garageband.com/artist/alvastar

― WidgetKid (WidgetKid), Saturday, 14 February 2004 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The Replacements kthx.

― minolta (minolta), Saturday, 14 February 2004 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

They are no Savage Aural Hotbed.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 14 February 2004 19:26 (twenty-two years ago)

They sound good, but lots of the bands from that Polara clique sound the same to me. I think I prefer Polara, actually. Plus, I can never figure out why these bands get so much press -- remember when The Hot was going to be the next big thing?

As for best ever, you have to start with the Replacements, and then step down to Westerberg, Soul Asylum, Atmosphere, Lifter Puller, the Gear Daddies, and maybe Polara. And then, of course, comes the Hawaii Show.

― subgenius (subgenius), Saturday, 14 February 2004 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

put lifter puller and the fucking gear daddies in the same sentence again...

― g--ff (gcannon), Saturday, 14 February 2004 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

i wonder when the walker kong album will be released.

― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

prince and the revolution to thread!!

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:08 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, what he said. wtf.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:16 (twenty-two years ago)

with the time a close runner up.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:16 (twenty-two years ago)

third place: lipps inc.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Lifter Puller third if not second, behind not the Revolution but the Sign 'O' the Times band.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:20 (twenty-two years ago)

atlanta bliss weren't from atlanta?!!!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:26 (twenty-two years ago)

and i think camille's from st. paul

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:27 (twenty-two years ago)

haha.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Sunday, 15 February 2004 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Bob Mould weeps.

― nickn (nickn), Sunday, 15 February 2004 07:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Goddam. I forgot the Huskers and Walt Mink, the two big Mac bands. And D4. And Helva. And Superhopper. And the mighty Janis Figure.

g--ff, the Gear Daddies and LFTR PLLR made totally different music, but they were both intrinsically Minnesotan. The last two times I saw Craig Finn were (1) at the Atmosphere show at Irving Plaza, and (2) wearing a Twins jersey at a Hold Steady show on the LES. Meanwhile, generations of MIAC alumni dream of Daddies / Zellar lyrics. They go togeher like assault and battery.

BTW, I am going to make a bold statement that the major MN solo artists will wind up being, in order, Dylan, Prince, Sean Tillman, Westerberg, and Mould.

― subgenius (subgenius), Sunday, 15 February 2004 08:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Also the Magnolias had at least one good LP.

― nickn (nickn), Sunday, 15 February 2004 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

dillinger four for best band that remained local

― asfdzxc (asfdzxc), Monday, 16 February 2004 11:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Halo of Flies! The Trashmen!!!

― NickB (NickB), Monday, 16 February 2004 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

arcwelder

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Which Minnesotan artists that made it big have actually stayed in Minnesota?

Not trying to put the state down, just curious as to who have "kept it real."

― ThatGuy, Monday, 16 February 2004 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

OBLIGATORY INDIE CLOD RESPONSE!

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d603/d60355q2f2u.jpg

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Baby Astronauts are up there...

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Which Minnesotan artists that made it big have actually stayed in Minnesota?

Prince and Jimmy Jam r still down. Slug/Atmosphere. I think the guy from Information Society still lives here (or at least he did). People tend to stay in Minneapolis, mostly.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 February 2004 19:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Which Minnesotan artists that made it big have actually stayed in Minnesota?

Dan Wilson (Trip Shakespeare, Semisonic, various side stuff) still lives there. Semisonic sold over 2 million albums worldwide.

― don weiner, Monday, 16 February 2004 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

IIRC, Westerberg stayed in town. Chris Mars is still there, too. Tommy is long gone, though.

If you've never heard it, both Chris and Tommy have put out good solo records. I listen to them more often than I listen to the solo Westerberg stuff.

― subgenius (subgenius), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Happy Apple R grate

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 16 February 2004 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Matt Olson w/ Balloon Guy (made a record for Warner). Smattering, which has remained local, and is better than Balloon Guy, and still one of the best groups (either as a solo project or with other members) around.

The new Walker Kong comes out in early March, as does the Owls record (both on Magic Marker).

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Monday, 16 February 2004 22:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Alva Star never did a lot for me. I think I saw them a few times. I love Kid Dakota, however.

Low has been big for several years now, and they remain in Duluth.

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Monday, 16 February 2004 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

the owls mini-lp record is lovely, it's available now through the magic marker website.

― keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoa, new Owls??? The Cap'n Jazz = Owls Owls?

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

no, members of hang-ups and the legendary jim ruiz group, but i like it more than either of those bands.

― keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 04:31 (twenty-two years ago)

ten months pass...

Helva is the best Period!

― Clinton, Monday, 27 December 2004 04:35 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Hey, those of you that cite Atmosphere and Helva can now be satisfied with the fact that Nate from Helva is now in Atmosphere. By the way, I'm pretty sure that if you gave props to Helva you know me...unless the world is a lot smaller than I think.

I'll add (dead bands only)

The Suburbs
Housebreaker
Gneissmaker
The Cows

In the realm of the non-defunct, I'll go with Heads and Bodies, Maps of Norway, V9R9D, and Malachi Constant.

If anyone wants an update on the occassionally tragic, often triumphant path of Helva post-Helva, let me know. I keep tabs on all those guys...

― John Justen (johnjusten), Sunday, 13 March 2005 04:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Alva Snelling? Hell, yeah. But Alva Star?

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 13 March 2005 04:59 (twenty-one years ago)

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