Pitchfork

Alan Sparhawk photo by Reverend Hans Johnson

Making music: actually not as easy as you think. But here to help guide you through the process by sharing some insight into their own are three near-legends of Minnesota music-making: Alan Sparhawk of Low, Sean "MC Slug" Daley of Atmosphere, and the guy who plays bass in Tapes 'n Tapes.

These three will partake in the latest series of talk/interview/performance spectacles known as Making Music and presented by the Twin Cities' the Whole venue. Erik Appelwick of Tapes 'n Tapes is this round's first guest, appearing September 27 (and to be fair, the bass is but one of Appelwick's specialties; he also produces, and records with Vicious Vicious). Sparhawk's up next on October 10, while Slug closes out the fall series on November 29.

All events are free and open to folks of all ages, but securing advance tickets is advised, as these things fill up. Each one goes down at the Whole, located inside the Coffman Memorial Union at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Past guests include Andrew Bird, Tapes' Josh Grier, P.O.S., Martin Dosh, and Haley Bonar.

In you're a mite confused about what you're in for, the series' website sheds some light: "Making Music...features long-format discussions with talented musicians about their art...[and] includes interviews, live demonstrations, videos, exclusive and unreleased tracks, prizes, and Q&A from the audience." Prizes! I'm so there.

Both Low and Atmosphere have plenty of dates in queue, with the latter act having extended its tour significantly since our last report. Sparhawk's Retribution Gospel Choir side project also gigs out a bit in late October. And Tapes 'n Tapes, as you may have read in these pages, play a benefit in Minneapolis on September 23.

Low:

09-19 Seattle, WA - Triple Door
09-20 Seattle, WA - Triple Door
09-21 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
09-22 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
09-25 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
09-26 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
09-28 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour *
09-29 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour *
10-01 Tucson, AZ - Plush *
10-03 Austin, TX - Mohawk *
10-04 Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom *
10-05 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar *
10-06 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews *

* with Charlie Parr

Retribution Gospel Choir:

10-11 Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club
10-12 Eau Claire, WI - House of Rock
10-13 Chicago, IL - Schubas %

% with Sea Wolf

Atmosphere:

09-20 Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head Live #
09-21 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel #
09-22 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place #
09-23 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle #
09-24 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club #
09-26 New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's #
09-27 Dallas, TX - Loft at Palladium Ballroom #
09-28 Lubbock, TX - Jake's Sports Café #
09-29 El Paso, TX - Club Blu #
10-01 Flagstaff, AZ - Orpheum Theater #
10-02 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater #
10-03 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern #
10-04 San Luis Obispo, CA - Downtown Brewing Co #
10-05 Bakersfield, CA - The Dome #
10-06 Santa Cruz, CA - Catalyst #
10-08 Bend, OR - Midtown Ballroom #
10-09 Bellingham, WA - Nightlight #
10-10 Boise, ID - Venue #
10-11 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue #
10-12 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre #
10-13 Aspen, CO - Belly Up #
10-15 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater #
10-16 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre #
10-17 Fargo, ND - Playmaker's Pavilion #
10-21 Urbana, IL - The Canopy #
10-22 Chicago, IL - Metro #
10-23 Menomonie, WI - University of Wisconsin-Stout #
10-24 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note #
10-25 Lawrence, KS - Granada #
10-27 Las Vegas, NV - Sam Boyd Stadium (Vegoose Festival)
10-28 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre #
10-30 Austin, TX - Emo's #
11-01 Oklahoma City, OK - The Conservatory #
11-02 Iowa City, IA - Picador #
11-10 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue #

# with Grayskul, Mac Lethal, Lucky I Am