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shoot
lucy has played several hundred shows in front of over 25,000 fans and
played
shows at nearly every major club in the Twin Cities area, including headlining
The Cabooze, O'Garas,and the 400 bar and playing shows at The Fine Line,
Mayslacks, Lee's Liquor Lounge, Seventh Street Entry, Terminal Bar, and
Bunkers.
shoot
lucy performed before two St. Paul Saints baseball games and also performed
on the
main stage at the Bash in the Grass festival in Brookings,SD, which featured
the national acts
Soul Asylum, Slobberbone, Spacehog, Blues Traveler, Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band and
The Kentucky Headhunters.
shoot
lucy has performed live on KQRS radio in Minneapolis and KVSC radio in
St. Cloud and received airplay on KTCZ (Cities 97) and KFAI in the Twin
Cities.
shoot
lucy's music has been featured in two independent films, Bohimbled
and IceBreaker.
click
here for our official promo photo
click here for a printable band
biography/one sheet
Reviews
of our first CD, bipolar expedition
July,
2002
- Preamp.com
Right
from the get-go these Minneapolis-based boys will put a smile on your
face. Thereís nothing fancy or
pretentious here, just good ol American rock n roll poised with tongue
firmly planted in cheek. Their Midwestern charm
matched withclever wit and straight-ahead song structures recall the best
of works by early R.E.M., The Jayhawks,
The Gin Blossoms and 19 Wheels. If youíre looking for strong independent
rock with a jangly country
edge and a sense of humor, Shoot Lucy is sure to satisfy!!!! (by eric
harabadian)
February,
2002
- Roots Highway
This
was sent by the author, who translated it from the original Italian.
(Three
Stars) Another rock' n' roll band from Minneapolis, a cult-place not only
for the the
Roots-rock movement, but also and above all for the liveliness of its
richest independent
scene. The Shoot Lucy makes their debut on the immense alternative-country
world with
more credentials regarding the average, above all thanks to the professional
production of
Tom Herbers, who works in the past with Jayhawks, Honeydogs and Scott
Laurent. So we
have all the premises for a good result and even if from a formal point
of view the sound of
Bipolar Expedition stands up until the end, sometimes the songs are too
simple in the
arrangements, still lacking personality. Dave Bertson is the main songwriter
of the situation,
with a “rustic” voice which blends itself perfectly with the crude sound,
maybe too much, of
the band: a biting guitar-rock sprayed of country influences and a chasing
twang of the guitars,
that sometimes it leads to rough rock' n' roll tunes (The Man, Larry),
classic country-rock and
some ballads with a warm feeling (To little Bit Worse, Between the Lines).
This side of the band
certainly reveals itself as the most appreciable thing about Shoot Lucy.
They must still
grow, but after all they have found the right producer.
October,
2001 - Great
Lakes Twang
Someone
should tell members of the band Shoot Lucy that their Michigan representative
is a shameless country fanatic. Having listened to Bipolar Expedition,
it's clear to me that
either the band or their promo representative doesn't seem to know this.
Or maybe, and this
is my hope, niether really give a damn. In any case, call it what you
will--country,
newgrass, y'all-ternative--this CD rocks. The music itself is crisp, clear,
and very
well-produced, bearing a striking resemblence to (I dare say) the Arizone-based
Gin
Blossoms. One gets the impression that this band could be playing hard
or classic rock just as well,
and perhaps even better-than the genre they currently occupy (whatever
it may be at the present).
The guitar-work greatly compliments the vocals without overpowering them
as is the tendency
today, while the drums pound with an equally impressive balance of power.
There's even a
short drum solo at the beginning of one of the tracks, which is always
a treat for the ears when
done right. This particular track, like the album itself, does not disappoint.
Then there are the
vocals, a spooky cross between the Violent Femmes and Stan Ridgeway (Wall
of Voodoo) that
will likely linger with the listener long after the CD is over. The effect
at first is somewhat of a
shock to the system and may prove too hard to handle for the squeamish.
Braver ears will be
rewarded with a memorable album laced with understated songs of the ups
and downs of life.
With lines like "Shut your lips and get out of my car," and "I'm so sad
I can't even listen to
Kiss," it's evident that Shoot Lucy take being funny very seriously. This
band could very well be the
juvenile delinquet spawn of Don Henry. If the lyrics seem crude and simple
at times, the underlying
message of perseverence and enjoying life are definitely not. Like the
band itself, understatement is
one of this CD's greatest and most enduring strengths. Grade: B. (Tony
Smith, 10/2001)
October,
2001 - All Music Guide
Minneapolis/St.
Paul natives Shoot Lucy alternate between driving rockers and country-tinged
ballads on their debut album, but what gives the band an edge in the quest
for attention are
humorous, often self-deprecating lyrics in the style of a band like They
Might Be Giants. Whether
leader Dave Berntson directs that biting humor towards himself — as in
"The Man," "All the Time",
and "Smack Me" — or against others whom he dislikes — like "Larry" and
"Shut Up" — it is the most
notable characteristic of the group. However, the band does not only play
the jester. There are some
more sobering songs, such as "A Little Bit Worse" and "Heaven and Hell,"
as well as some endearing
pop tunes like "The Sweetest Thing" and "No Regrets." "Between the Lines"
is inspirational in tone and
shows that not everything in the band's world is dreary and sarcastic.
In the end, though, one comes
back to the band's sense of humor as the most likely way it can rise above
seemingly average musical
abilities and move towards garnering wider notoriety. This debut recording
shows a band which could
easily gain a sizable cult following. All it needs is an opportunity and
the right forum. — Steven Jacobetz
August,
2001 - Alt-country
Tab
(Four
Stars) Ahh a Minneapolis band, Replacements, Jayhawks, Husker Du, Soul
Asylum...
are Shoot Lucy next? On the evidence of this possibly. Betraying their
love of idiosyncratic
self- deprecating lyrics and throwaway pop. If you don't take your too
seriously then you will
enjoy this. It isn't Son Volt but does have a charm all of itself. "Another
day in my basement...
Well, Technically my mom's but what the hell A day closer to paying rent...
With every box of
Amway crap I sell" they cry and you smile. The alt-country guitars make
an impression on songs
such as "A Little Bit Worse" but you feel they listened more to "They
Might Be Giants" than
"Uncle Tupelo " I'm not criticising, I loved it... good fun, intelligent
lyrics and strong melodies.
Shoot Lucy desperately need a place on a movie soundtrack to some smash
hit comedy film,
until them the secret will probably remain. Old 97s fans, this one may
be for you.
August,
2001 - Freight
Train Boogie
(Three
Stars) While this has many rural overtones to it, upon listening to this
CD I was more
impressed with the band's poppy and punky side than with anything they
were offering in the
Americana style. In fact, there is actually little Americana on this CD
at all. For the most
part, the band gallops at a punky pace with supremely catchy melodies
and an infectious
spirit that draws you into the album. While country fans will probably
find little to like, those with
broader tastes and a more lenient definition of what qualifies as Americana
will enjoy this album's
passion and overall joyfulness. While this is music for a Saturday night,
I am fairly sure you
wont able to limit this great CD to just one day of the week. Pick it
up!! - Scott Homewood
January
2001 - Digital City
In
the tradition of the Gear Daddies and Wilco, Shoot Lucy brings a sense
of anecdotal
American roots rock, and “y’all-ternative” with an occasional pop-rock
twist. Dave Berntson,
lead vocals/rhythm guitar, and David Nahan, lead guitar, introduce the
haunting melodies and
lonesome twang that can only be learned from growing up amongst the endless
flat prairie land in
North Dakota. Steve Schultz, drums, and Chris Berg, bass, provide solid
rhythmic footing. The
unpretentious and almost self-deprecating lyrics of Berntson, along with
the occasional Twisted
Sister cover, convey a light-heartedness to this band that makes for a
well rounded show. -- BJ Klassen
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