The CD is done so if any labels or distros wanna help us out with distribution that would be greatly appreciated.
You can buy the new CD, In the Wine Press (human grapes sing not nor dance), at many local Minneapolis record stores including Extreme Noise, Cheapo, Electric Fetus, and Arise Bookstore. You can also get the CD on Itunes or at CD Baby by clicking below.
Chokecherry has been playing some of these songs under different names and line-ups for the last few years. For a long time it was just Pam and Jon and we were afraid to play out. Since late 2005 Bob and Chris have distracted everyone with their ravishing good looks and we feel ok.
In the last few years we've played all sorts of different venues from punk houses, to DIY spaces and infoshops, to benefits and bars, and even the occasional festival. In the morningtimes we drink coffee and we are thinking about starting a band kombucha colony.
REVIEWS
In the Wine Press (human grapes sing not nor dance)- CD 2008
First thing you need to know about this record is: if you’re going to listen to it, you’re probably gonna have some fun. Second thing you ought to know is: if you’re having a fun time, no point in worrying about anything else, just have fun. Permission granted.
That being said let me tell you about this band a bit. Chokecherry is a four-piece, lo-fi country band with a punk rock mentality, and a mission. According to their myspace page, “Our mission is to destroy Capitalism by fermenting transcendent fun. We could also be convinced to build a snow fort.”
They may not have crushed Capitalism yet, but they’ve succeeded in having a good time and there’s proof all over this album. It consists of 16 sing-along tracks, and you get the feeling it was recorded in a basement with only a couple of mics, a case o beer, and a weekend’s worth of time.
It’s got a nice, raw feeling to it and I can’t help but wonder if much of it was recorded live in only a take or two. Don’t let that fool ya though; they’re plenty tight in their playing. They’ve got the basic country set-up going for them: guitar, drums, bass and violin (with a bit of banjo too), as well as dueling male/female vocals for many of their songs.
The songs on this album only take a listen or two before they stick with you which I find to be the quality of good songwriters. Let me throw a couple highlights at ya. 1. Refreshing take on Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ at the end of ‘Every Greyhound Station (Smells like an Ashtray)’. 2. ‘Roger’s Song’ begins with the sing-along “Sometimes I think that Jesus made me for drinking beer and acting crazy. Guess he knows the things that I do right.”
Chokecherry may drink beer and act crazy (I’m guessing the live show is energetic too), but if Jesus did in fact make them, I applaud you Jesus. Well done.
In the Wine Press (human grapes sing not nor dance)- CD 2008
from City Pages
By Loren Green
Published on November 03, 2008
With their first full-length, In the Wine Press, Chokecherry bring a wealth of old-timey sounds; the four-piece includes a guitar, bass, violin, and drums, with some banjo and horns added for good measure. The group plays a fast bluegrass hybrid with punk sensibilities and anarchist lyrics. Songs like "Teargas and Whiskey" and "Singing Along to the Radio" are reminiscent of the folk-punk group This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb, especially in the male-female harmonies. But the group isn't just a bunch of bike-riding, bandana-wearing pamphleteers: Chokecherry stays country-first with the laments "Time and Time Again" and "Work Will Never Set You Free," and the violins effectively carry the melodies. If you ignore the lyrics, it is easy to imagine the band playing in a nameless small town.
Lyrically, they wear their beliefs on their sleeve—the Crass font on the album cover is a dead giveaway—and the messages of solidarity mesh well with the old-style country. Despite all the heavy topics, however, they don't always take themselves seriously, mimicking a Whitney Houston chorus on "Every Greyhound Station." Weighing in at 16 tracks, In the Wine Press is mostly upbeat, favoring toe-tapping hoedowns over tearful ballads. Chokecherry somehow straddle the line between sorrowful country and cheery pop-punk, and the authenticity behind the twangy vocals and weepy violins is indisputable, regardless of the uniform the musicians may be wearing.
Pigs Eye and the Many-Headed Hydra- EP CD 2005
from HeartAttack 50
Chokecherry- Pigs Eye and the Many-Headed Hydra CD
I've hear so much "folk punk" lately (thanks for moving in, Larry) that it's nice to hear a band that puts the focus on folk, while still paying close attention to punk, rather than vice versa. Utiliizing instruments like the banjo and fiddle, Chokecherry will appeal to fans of This is My Fist and This Bike is a Pipe Bomb while not forgetting Woody Guthrie, Buck Owens, and everyone who made this sorta music possible. Six great late night tracks well worth picking up. (MAH)
from Razorcake 31
Chokecherry-
Pigs Eye and the Many-Headed Hydra CDR
Political country-punk stuffs. The songs are upbeat in a "she'll be coming round the mountain..." way and the lyrics are anti-system and pro-common man. Not bad. The kids at Plan-It-X would really like this, me thinks. -Mr. Z (spiderland)
from Slug & Lettuce 87
Chokecherry-
Pig's Eye and the Many-headed Hydra EP
I think this may be what the kids call old timey punk. It sounds a bit country but way more bluegrass. It's definitely catchy and fun to listen to with cool anti-authoritarian lyrics. I wish the lyrics were printed cause I really can't understand most of them under twangy vocals. Besides the normal acoustic guitar bass and drums this band has also got violin and banjo. My favorite songs are all the ones with both male and female vocals. There's also an explanation of the record title which is pretty interesting. This is good stuff. (europian)
from Profane Existence
CHOKECHERRY Pigs Eye and the Many Headed Hydra CD
Hailing from Minneapolis, MN, Chokecherry are a folksy, twangy, country-esque, acoustic political band with a damn good sense of humor. The use of fiddle and banjo gives CHOKECHERRY a particular dynamic that makes this CD quite good. Much of the lyrics are dual male and female vocals sung in harmony. The songs are fairly simple and straightforward, in a down-home-folksy sort of way, with lyrics that you can't help but sing along to, as they wail away "You and I will never be freeeeeee! 'til every boss is dead and buried!"... How could I not fall in love with this CD? Anyone who loves funny-yet profound political lyrics, twangy guitars and banjos, sultry singing fiddles, and anything remotely folk-country-punk, check this out! (Maygun)
DISCO!-GRAPHY
In the Wine Press (human grapes sing not nor dance) CD 2008
Teargas and Whiskey Split 7-Inch w/ the Knotwells 2008
Pigs Eye and the Many Headed Hydra EP 2005
Don't Fall Asleep: A DIY Minneapolis Compilation for Daybreak Newspaper 2007
These are available locally from Extreme Noise, the Seward Cafe, Arise Bookstore, Frostbite Distro (www.myspace.com/frostbitedistro). The compilation is being distributed through Profane Existence and interpunk.com. For other ordering information just email us. ..
Come one, come all, roll out the barrel! DECK THE HALLS III FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 - 6pm - 2am
Featuring DJ Scotch Bonnet spinning the funky riddim and rebel sounds all night long +++ Musical acts MBIRD & Ohrella +++ free GAUNTLET LEGENDS +++ awesome beer specials like $3 Newcastles +++ The final First Friday of the year is always the best - come and see some amazing skateboard deck art!!!
Come one, come all, roll out the barrel! DECK THE HALLS III FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 - 6pm - 2am
Featuring DJ Scotch Bonnet spinning the funky riddim and rebel sounds all night long +++ Musical acts MBIRD & Ohrella +++ free GAUNTLET LEGENDS +++ awesome beer specials like $3 Newcastles +++ The final First Friday of the year is always the best - come and see some amazing skateboard deck art!!!
Come one, come all, roll out the barrel! DECK THE HALLS III FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 - 6pm - 2am
Featuring DJ Scotch Bonnet spinning the funky riddim and rebel sounds all night long +++ Musical acts MBIRD & Ohrella +++ free GAUNTLET LEGENDS +++ awesome beer specials like $3 Newcastles +++ The final First Friday of the year is always the best - come and see some amazing skateboard deck art!!!
Come check it out : this Friday October 2 - DCE willl be hosting the opening for the 2nd annual Derby City Espresso Tatto & Body Modification Art Show!
With LIVE suspentions by the kind folks at Twisted Images. Fire breathing, gravity pulls, henna tattoos & at 11pm Live music by Leftmore & The Funk Injection
THIS FRIDAY - reception starts at 6pm - suspensions at 8 - music at 11
Just to let you know, LOUDRAY is still holding church on Thursdays.
We've been holding it down there for 10 months and as our 1 year
anniversary of this residency approaches we are stepping up the
revival. For the past 8 months we've been joined by some of the finest
musicians in town (Martin Devaney, Ric Lee, Glenn Hanson, Dave Babb,
Jake Hyer, Kurt Froelich, Meg Ashling, Zach Gusa, Eric Larson, Jen Markey, Mother Banjo, Eliza
Blue, Pete Bauer, just to name a few) but for the next 2 months, it's
just going to be the classic LOUDRAY duo of Jon Stowell and Colin
Anderson. We will be digging deep into the back catalog of songs and
bringing some new light through these old windows.
We have been doing these shows in the classic "unamplified" style as of late and look to continue that trend.
So, stop in for some fellowship and true acoustic music, and wash away the week with sweet, redeeming booze.
$2.75 select taps from 5-7pm!!! Plenty of parking!!
Come on, isn't it time to slum it at the Dub!!
LOUDRAY
EVERY THURSDAY
5:30-9pm
Dubliner Pub
2162 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55114
Greetings, again, from the county of Rosewater. An unfortunate
out-break of an unidentified disease has left Rosewater closed for a
month or so, but we are happy to announce our (er...) triumphant
reopenin'! Don't worry, all the "dead" folks have been cleared away,
and chances of contracting this unfortunate ailment are only one in
three! In other, more "music-related" news, Town-Hall-Certified drum
specialist Brad Fabian and
once-village-idiot-turned-bumbling-wanderer/songwriter Caleb Ricks have
collaborated again (under the moniker of Rosewater County) to release
their much-delayed and very un-hyped "New X-Mas Record"! An album
described by The Rosewater Tribune as "unimpressive, at best..." Also
in "music-related" news, county favorites Cartoon Graveyard have
finished their much self-anticipated e.p. "Gigantopithecus" Please make
sure to pick up an e-copy on their separate myspace music profile
Just checking back with you to remind you that Powerplayed is really interested in showcasing your videos. I know I reached out some time ago but haven’t seen an upload from you as of yet. Powerplayed.com offers a free membership, free upload and gives you a platform to expose your talent to a quarter of a million people. Also, by uploading your video you are automatically entered in the running to be a part of our Friday “Independents Day” e-blast, dedicated to indie artists that exposes your work to a lengthy list of music industry execs.
If you need help or want more information please call Troy at