February 10, 2009: Thunder In the Valley - "Motherless Children"

Last month, the dearly departed Thunder In the Valley decided to offer their unreleased last album as a free download. It was recorded in Philadelphia with Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man). Some of the songs appeared on their Where Oh Where Oh Where EP, but the rest of 'em never saw the light of day during the band's active lifespan. It's a shame, too, because... wow... these boys were up to something special.

Download the Song of the Day

(Click on the picture to download the album.)


http://www.myspace.com/thunderinthevalley

December 19, 2008: Chooglin' - "You Sucked the Life Out of Me"

I never said I wouldn't use this forum for self-promotion, so here goes.

Tonight is the record release show for the newest addition to the Heart of a Champion catalog. It's a live album by the best live rock 'n' roll band in the Twin Cities, Chooglin'. Titled Nice Place, Nice Party, Nice Folks, it was recorded almost exactly one year ago at the 7th Street Entry - the same venue that hosts tonight's show. (I am disappointed and a little embarrassed that the records are not actually here in time for the show, but we do have a short run of CDs to sell and it will be a ridiculously fun night regardless!)

Chooglin' just finished recording a new studio album last weekend. It's slated to come out in 2009 on Big Legal Mess - a division of Fat Possum Records, where they will join a catalog that includes the likes of Townes Van Zandt, The Black Keys, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Andrew Bird, and Dinosaur Jr, among others. I couldn't possibly be more thrilled for them, as they're a great bunch of dudes who have been paying their dues for years in the local rock scene.

Anyway, come on down to the Entry tonight. It'll be a blast!



http://www.chooglin.net/
http://www.myspace.com/chooglinband
http://www.heartchamp.com

December 17, 2008: Lifter Puller - "Secret Santa Cruz"

I spent this morning answering questions via e-mail for a Lifter Puller interview as part of an oral history of one of my all-time favorite bands. Naturally, that put me in a Lifter Puller kind of mood today.

"Secret Santa Cruz" was one of my very favorite Lifter Puller tunes, so I was honored to have it chosen as the a-side on the 7" single that I posthumously released for the band in 2001.

Craig Finn and Tad Kubler of Lifter Puller have moved on to huge things with The Hold Steady. I adore The Hold Steady and am thrilled beyond words for their much-deserved success. I still miss Lifter Puller.



http://www.last.fm/music/Lifter+Puller/_/Secret+Santa+Cruz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifter_Puller
http://www.heartchamp.com

December 9, 2008: Eleni Mandell - "Salt Truck"

Since most of you are in the Twin Cities, where we just had our first significant snow dumping of the season, I thought I'd share something seasonal today.

Back in 2001, I drove through plenty of snow on my way to the 400 Bar to see Eleni Mandell for the first time. I had read an amazing review of her then-new album Thrill, so I ordered a copy and was completely blown away. I saw she was coming to town, and I made sure I was there. Unfortunately, few others joined me. I couldn't even convince any friends to join me on a weeknight in the middle of winter, so off I went on my own.

Eleni played a beautiful acoustic solo set. After the show, she was by herself at the merch table. I bought a t-shirt and introduced myself. I thanked her for a great show and made my pitch. "I have this little hobby record label called Heart of a Champion... if you ever have any interest in doing anything... a single, a full-length, whatever... I'd love to put something out!" We exchanged contact info and a couple weeks later I received a cassette of fantastic outtakes from the Thrill sessions.

A couple months later, we put out a 7" single. The following year, Heart of a Champion did a vinyl pressing for her album Snakebite. Now in 2008, the label has six different releases from this ridiculously talented artist. The latest one was the vinyl pressing of her 2007 album Miracle of Five, which contains "Salt Truck."

I can not even remember if I told Eleni that "Salt Truck" was my favorite song on the album before my wife and I went to see her play in L.A. on our honeymoon last June. At that show, though, she dedicated it to us. It felt perfect. I can honestly say that working with and getting to know Eleni Mandell has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my small little corner of the music industry.


Eleni and me at the Heart of a Champion 5-year anniversary party in 2004.

www.elenimandell.com
www.myspace.com/elenimandell
www.heartchamp.com

December 5, 2008: The Ghost of Sean Arthur Peterson - "True Love"

Coming off a spell of far more stress and negativity than I am accustomed to, not to mention more than the people around me are used to witnessing from me, Wednesday afternoon's call, out of the blue, from Sean Peterson was just what I needed.

Sean is just about the most positive person on this planet. He exudes goodness. I am fortunate to know many amazing musicians, but Sean was the first person I thought of to ask to sing at my wedding. He amazed Maria and I by not only singing at our wedding, but by writing a song specifically for us for the wedding. (Not this song, though it very well could have been.)

I had lunch with him yesterday. He gave me a proof of his childrens book Len, which is coming out within the month (it's amazing), gushed about his new job as a "scientist," and talked about music.

The Ghost of Sean Arthur Peterson (essentially Sean and Chad Giblin) is about to head in to the studio to record a proper album. This has been years in the making. It should be out on Heart of a Champion sometime in 2009. I am assuming that a more fleshed out version of "True Love" will appear on that album. For now, though, enjoy this exclusive demo version... today's Greatest Song of the Day.















www.myspace.com/ghostsap

December 2, 2008: Mike Gunther & His Restless Souls - "Walk All Over It"

This one really should have been yesterday's song of the day, for yesterday was the 10 year anniversary of my moving into my first apartment. It was a two-bedroom double-bungalow on 22nd and Grand in south Minneapolis and my roommate was one of my oldest and best friends, Mr. Mike Gunther.

Although I had spent a couple of years in a band with Mike and was well aware of his skills as a guitar player and singer, I was not overly familiar with his genius as a songwriter. It was in that apartment, starting 10 years ago, where I was able to hear him playing guitar and piano from the next room over. I was ecstatic when he began performing live, and jumped at the chance to release his albums on my label.

I am so proud of the two albums that Mike and his Restless Souls have produced. I still view Burn It Down For the Nails, in particular, as the crown jewel of the Heart of a Champion catalog.

In the wonderful video (directed by Restless Souls member Suzanne Vallie Scholten), you'll see cameos from many readers of this blog. It is with tremendous pride that I give you "Walk All Over It" by Mike Gunther and His Restless Souls... the greatest song of the day!



www.mikegunther.com
www.heartchamp.com