Deep North, film/video and sculptural installation by Chris Larson

This Sunday, I’m hitting the road with one of my favorite writers (and the only guy I know with publicly acclaimed facial hair), Andy Sturdevant; we’re taking a daytrip to Rochester Art Center to see Deep North, the new exhibition of work by St. Paul native, Chris Larson. I last saw this pop-savvy aburdist-philosopher’s work at the Creative Electric Gallery a couple of years ago – and once you see Larson’s work, you don’t quickly forget it. He’s the savant of pop-cultural margins and unlikely juxtapositions, but there’s surprising depth to his multimedia art as well. He’s especially good at revealing the weirdness inherent in mainstream American middle-class living: the strange cultural conventions of office work and modern family life, our estrangement from physical labor, our ambivalent relationships with technology. I’m eager to see his newest stuff.

So, I’m taking the carseat and trashy bits out of the old ‘99 Corolla (I’m probably going to leave the dog hair in place, though–sorry, Andy); we’ll get some bad food on the road and just make a day of it.

I’m curious – what was the last show (music, visual art, theater, whatever) you were willing to leave town to see?

(NOTE TO SELF: pick up an assortment of healthy snacks – beef jerky, pink lemonade Jolly Ranchers, powdered donuts…)

The Five Dollar Foot Long song featured on the recent Subway restaurant ads is one of the greatest ad jingles ever.  Its an earworm, scarily addictive, annoying as hell, and frustratingly memorable.  I have actually caught myself unconsciously singing the droning song just to playfully annoy my wife. If you haven’t had enough of the song yet….there is actually a dance remix of the song available to download on Subways website. The song was composed by Jimmy Harned (of the boutique music outfit Tonefarmer) taking the approach of the equally irritating and repetitive HeadON: Apply Directly to the Forehead ads. Both ads are incrediably effective in cutting through the barrage of media we see everyday to become pop culture moments. 

The ad jingle is quickly becoming a lost art. More and more companies are forgoing jingles and instead using cleverly edited tracks from hipster indie rock bands. Apple is largerly responsible for breaking bands like CSS and the Tings Tings to a broader audience through their inclusion in ipod ads.  Both sides of the debate are convincing regarding the merits of selling out to beakout, however I personally find there is something disheartening about hearing The Fall or Iggy Pop in a Chrysler ad.  However it doesn’t come close to my disappointment with Devo and Of Montreal for actually re-writing “Whip It” and “Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games)” to pitch for Swifer and Outback Steakhouse.       

So how are ad jingles commissioned and created?  How do musicians get songs into commercials, television programs and soundtracks for films? Find out this coming Saturday, November 15th, 4-6 pm at the Summit Brewery, 910 Montreal Circle in St. Paul.  mnartists.org will be presenting a FREE panel discussion titled Breaking into Commercials, Television and Film for Minnesota Musicians with several accomplished industry professionals.

The panel of industry experts includes:

Bob Hest and Steve Kramer - “The Kings of the Jingle” and founders of Hest & Kramer Music. Known for their creative and strategic ability to infuse brands with signature music that resonates with customers.  Their work has received many honors, including induction in to the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Craig Rice -  is an award-winning producer and director, and nationally recognized for his distinguished career in the television and film industry.  His work has been nominated for four Emmy Awards and a NAACP Award. Rice recently served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Film and TV Board.

Gary Rue - Songwriter, composer and founder of the internationally acclaimed pop quartet Rue Nouveau.  Rue is also a Professor of Composition at McNally Smith College of Music

Chris Beaty – Twin Cities-based composer, performer, instrumentalist, engineer and producer

After the panel discussion Radio K will DJ and Free Summit Beer will be served for those 21+, all ages are welcome to the event however. What more could you ask for on a chilly November evening.  And if you ever want to track down that catchy song within a commercial or verify your favorite band has sold out to a national steakhouse chain check out AdTunes. 

mnSPIN is presented in association with Springboard for the Arts, McNally Smith College of Music, and the Diverse Emerging Music Organization.