Been a Loooooong Time
Posted: May 9, 2013
And we’re back.
Mark those calendars folks, we’re playing a show!
After a long hiatus, during which David made a baby and we wrote 3 new songs, we shall return to the Amsterdam. May 25 we’re helping to release the debut from Adam Svec‘s new band, Proofreader. (Congrats to Adam, et al., on an awesome band name.)
Also joining us on the bill is Dear Data.
RSVP here and keep an eye on the column to the right for more summer shows to be posted soon.
BRAAAAAAAINS!
Posted: October 12, 2012
What do we want?!
BRAINS!
When do we want ‘em?!
BRAINS!
Zombies get in free.
Olympics!
Posted: July 31, 2012
They’re playing The Small Cities during the Olympics! Well…sort of. If you live in the Twin Cities metro, though, you’ve probably heard a snippet of our song, Home is Where the Start is, during the promos for Eric Perkins’ Perk-at Play segment on Kare11. So keep watching NBC’s Olympics coverage. Go Sport Ball Team!
Check out the full song here:
Going Dutch
Posted: July 11, 2012
The new record earned a pretty good review from the Dutch website (or Belgian website? It’s a “.be,” as in Belgium, but it’s in Dutch – so you do the math) rootstime.be. If your Dutch is rusty, our favorite Nederlander, Crispijn, did a little clean-up on the Google translation. Check it out:
The Small Cities ‘is established in 2007, rock band consisting of four members from the Twin Cities’ being the nickname for the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The occupation group consists of singer-guitarist Leif Bjornson, drummer-vocalist David Osborn, bassist Jimmy Osterholt pianist and guitarist Wes Burdine.
In 2008 they released their first album in the form of a title-less EP and began working hard by doing numerous gigs to get well-known as a band. This could change soon with the release of their first full studio album ‘With Fire” in which they have a wider range of indie rock adjacent genres they are trying to explore.
This debut album consists of ten original compositions which Leif Bjornson and David Osborn have alternately written the lyrics for and in which both also occasionally alternate the lead vocal position. These two group members grew up together in Wisconsin where they also went to school together and played in a number of school bands.
“With Fire” starts with a strong rock song “Abraham” about a carefree youth under the wings of ones parents. Later they also sing about their early but quite exciting experiences of a first teenage love in the song “Wonder Years”. They are usually good guys in “The Small Cities” as shown/proven by the strong rocking “Home Is Where The Start Is” and the more sober “Sunday After Sunday” (see video).
Occasionally they work with symbolism and wordplay, as in the song “Wise Blood” where the spilling of wine as “blood of Christ” is compared with the symbol of loss of virginity and a blood stain on the cutest Easter dress of the young lady in question. Or in the song about the happiness of a newborn whom can start life without worries in “Laughter Song”.
It may sound like a contradiction, but our preference goes to the slower ballads that this rock band produces on ‘With Fire”, like in the melancholic song” Hospitals” about the emotions of a father on the loss of his son or in the songs “Last Winter”, “You Get Yours” and the melodic, darker closing song “Icebergs”.
“With Fire” can, despite the presence of some weaker moments, be seen as a successful debut album of “The Small Cities”. If this group will also get a long musical career is to be seen, because for that they will have to deliver a second strong album. That will probably be something for the next few years, so be patient for a little while.
10 Records for 15 Bucks
Posted: June 18, 2012
Have you picked up a copy of The Small Cities new album With Fire yet? You can head over to the Music page and buy it from us for ten bucks OR you can go soundsupp.ly and GET TEN RECORDS, including With Fire and albums from Asobi Seksu, Gobotron, Hellogoodbye, Tall Ships, and others, FOR JUST FIFTEEN BUCKS. You know which one you want to do.
Stone Arch Festival June 17th!
Posted: June 10, 2012
We kick off a very busy June with a free, all ages show at the Stone Arch Festival in beautiful St. Anthony Main in Minneapolis. We’re on at 12:30 PM on the Cities 97 Stage. Full festival details found here: http://www.stonearchbridgefestival.com. Stay tuned to the page for updates about other shows coming up this month. Don’t be strangers!
Art-A-Whirl
Posted: May 12, 2012
We’re playing Art-A-whirl this year! We’ll be on the outdoor stage behind the 331 on Saturday (5/19) around 4ish. So many other great bands playing that stage that day. We’re thrilled to be a part of it. We’re also thrilled to check out the new Anchor Fish and Chips food truck that’ll roll out that weekend. RSVP here.
5/4 in Green Bay and 5/5 in Milwaukee
Posted: May 2, 2012
Attention Cheeseheads!
The Small Cities are breaking out the van and heading your way. Friday 5/4 we’re playing The House of Valdar in Green Bay with Nathan Mathes (RSVP). Then on Saturday 5/5 we’re playing the Stonefly Brewery in Milwaukee with Caliope and Ivy Spokes (RSVP). We’d love to see if you if you can make it!
Playing Minneapolis TONIGHT, WI next week
Posted: April 27, 2012
we’ll be at the kitty cat klub in minneapolis tonight with lost shepherds and andy ulseth with broken bones. we play second around ten. come on down. next weekend it’s on to green bay and milwaukee. details under “shows.” hope to see you around.
With Fire Release Day!!
Posted: March 6, 2012
With Fire is now available for download via Itunes and Amazon. CDs can be purchased through our Music page, or can be found locally at the Electric Fetus. Tell your friends!
