Têtes Noires: The New American Dream reissue

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Active in the mid-80s, Têtes Noires—who regard themselves as Minneapolis’s “first all-female rock band”—were contemporaries of the Replacements, but sang in multi-part vocal harmonies that sounded more like the Andrews Sisters. Three decades later, Têtes Noires are back with a reissue of their 1984 album American Dream, now called The New American Dream. The album is already available for download, and the release will be celebrated at a listening party on December 26 at the Bryant-Lake Bowl. Watch for Andrea Swensson’s upcoming feature on Têtes Noires on the Local Current blog later this week.

The Jelly Project: Debaucherous

Angelica “Jelly” Thomas, the frontwoman and ringleader of ferocious four-piece rock outfit the Jelly Project, cites classic influences like Black Sabbath and Janis Joplin, the latter of whom is nearly rivaled in Jelly’s husky trademark roar. Active since 2010, the Jelly Project turned to Kickstarter to fund their second album Debaucherous, which is set for release on December 28. The album is sure to include another round of bluesy, timeless, and—yes—debaucherous rock tunes. The Jelly Project will release Debaucherous at their album release show December 28 at the Cabooze.

The Dropsteppers: “Right on Time”/”Wake Up” split 7” with the Pinstripes

Minneapolitans the Dropsteppers and Cincinnatians the Pinstripes, like-minded Midwestern reggae groups, have met in their geographic middle—at Pirate Booty Records in Sheboygan Wisconsin—to craft a groovy 7” vinyl release. The Dropsteppers, formed in 2010, also infuse soul and rocksteady influences—from both the U.S. and Jamaica—into their sound, and will bring their act, along with the Prizefighters and the Drones, to the Nomad World Pub on December 28 for their record release show.

The Mooseknuckle Brothers: Every Day is Better with Music

Based in Elk River, the Mooseknuckle Brothers demonstrated that their back-to-basics blues sound could compete in the big city when they won won the Famous Dave’s Battle of the Bands back in 2011. Two years later, this band of “knucklebrothers” rounds out 2013 with the appropriately-titled release Every Day is Better with Music, available December 28. The Mooseknuckle Brothers will return to Famous Dave’s BBQ and Blues in Uptown on the 28th to celebrate the release of the CD.

Lizzo: Lizzobangers

2013 has been, hands-down, the year of Lizzo in the local music scene: she won City Pages' Picked to Click and the Star Tribune's critics tally; her band GRRRL PRTY has just been named a Best New Band by First Avenue and Radio K; she was named an NPR artist to know; and she's currently gracing the cover of Vita.mn. She could probably have held out for the cover of Rolling Stone before actually having the release show for her debut album, but Lizzo has decided to take mercy and let Minneapolis finally, officially celebrate the release of her debut LP Lizzobangers. On December 28, the Current is sponsoring a Triple Rock release show that will include a special “LAVABANGERS” performance featuring Lazerbeak and Plain Ole Bill.

KT Lindemann is a senior at the University of Minnesota, Morris, pursuing studio art and Spanish. She is a native of the Twin Cities and is a wannabe musician, artist, and music writer.