Harvard student Matt Wilson found percussionist Elaine Harris (a Harvard grad herself) after placing an ad for someone with "wicked percussion hands". Matt left Harvard and returned home to Minneapolis to establish Trip Shakespeare along with John Munson, a Chinese-Language major at the University of Minnesota.
Only a trio at the release of their first album Applehead Man in 1986 (Re-released in 1988), the band expanded to include another Harvard student: Matt's elder brother Dan Wilson.
Trip Shakespeare's music is defined by three part harmonies, catchy guitar hooks and intelligent lyrics. "Toolmaster of Brainerd", "Reception", and "Two Wheeler, Four Wheeler" were early hits on their second release Are You Shakespearienced?
In 1990 Trip Shakespeare signed a big time recording contract with A&M and quickly released Across the Universe, which contained the minor hit "The Crane" and prompted the local PBS station to feature them in a special Minnesota Music show.
1991 saw the band release their last major work, Lulu. Lulu was a well produced "story" type disc, where each song contributed to the "whole" CD experience. "Bachelorette" was a hit single off of Lulu.
Containing studio covers of songs performed by Trip Shakespeare in concert, 1992's EP release, Volt marked the death knell for the group as a whole, although Matt, Dan, And John still work together on occasion and reunited for a Trip Shakespeare reunion (sans Elaine) in 2003. The band broke up shortly after the release of Volt. Elaine Harris returned to the Boston area and Matt Wilson began performing with several Minneapolis-area bands, including "Polara" and "The Flops", eventually becoming a well established solo artist. Eventually Dan Wilson and John Munson joined with Jacob Slichter to form "Pleasure", which subsequently became known as "Semisonic".
Dan Wilson and the Dixie Chicks "Song of the Year" Grammy Win for Co-Writing "Not Ready to Make Nice"
I just wanted to stop by to say hello and give you a little update on what Blood Root Mother is up to! We will be recording an EP of new music in August, and we recently finished recording a live DVD. The DVD is currently unreleased and I actually just saw it for the first time a few days ago. It features the last two performances with Tony Ellis still alive, and some footage from the tribute show we played on the night of his funeral.
There are some cool covers, as well as some NEW music that will be on our upcoming EP. We're very excited about the new music and we'd like to share a sneak peak with you. Here's a video of a new tune called Run Bobby Run:
Just wanted to say thanks for being a friend! Have a great day! Come by and see us play at Eclipse Records Thursday July 16th at 7pm. Othr acts are Lollipop Factory, Company Inc. and Ribbons. Stop by our page for more info and a sample of some music!
Blood Root Mother will be playing at Trocaderos in Minneapolis on Friday, June 26th. I cannot stress enough how awesome this show will be!! We're playing with three of the sweetest local rock bands: Claret, Niobium and Casanatra. If you haven't heard these guys, check them out immediately! Please come to this show!!
I recommend stopping by during happy hour for two for one drinks along with free buffet, which is delicious. We'll be hanging out at Trocs all night, so come by and chill/party with us :)
Again, here's the event info:
Friday, June 26th Trocaderos 107 3rd Ave N Minneapolis, MN 18+ // $6 // 8pm
Please come out and support some great local music!! Music starts at 9:30pm, we should go on around midnight. Invite your friends, pile into a car (or a party bus), and together we will make this one of the highlights of the summer :)
whats going on!! if you have a moment my newest project, LATIN has new music up and i would love to hear your opinion on it! we are working with jeff pickman at soundedge studios!! myspace.com/abandcalledlatin feel free to get back to me and let me know what you think! thank you again you are awesome!
Since you seem to have good taste in music and live around the cities, I wanted to let you know about our show next Thursday, February 26th. We will be burning down the house at Trocaderos Nightclub in Minneapolis (107 3rd Ave N). If you've been there before, I don't have to tell you it's one of the best venues in the Twin Cities - classy atmosphere, great drinks, and the sound is always fantastic. We're gonna be recording live for a DVD, and this is definitely gonna be the coolest show we've done yet. So COME ON DOWN! The show is 18+, it starts at 9pm, and the cover is a mere $5.
Hope to see you there!
Peace, Elliot
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." -Albert Einstein
Thank you for checking out The River Project. Please drop us a comment and let us know what you think or feel. Share our space freely if you wish. Your craft is excellent. Much Peace from Portland Oregon and TRP
High! Pablo here, reporting from Inner Space to wish you a great 2009! (we interrupt this comment with a brief announcement): The New Psychedelic Masterpiece "Take Two" Is Here! (16 tracks of sugar coated insanity) Hear 4 new songs! (P.S. the new album is best appreciated on a higher plane....;))
Lucky for me I lived in Madison back in the day and got to see them a lot. I wish I had a time machine, I'd go back and see them live again. Please post more videos if you can!
