Irie Sol: Dred Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s character Bernice ("Bernice Bobs Her Hair") is getting some life blown into her by self-declared "lit-hop" band Irie Sol. Their new Dred Scott Fitzgerald release pays homage to the character, who hails from Eau Claire. Appropriately, the band went to Justin Vernon’s April Base studios in Eau Claire to record the EP. Their single "Eau Claire Sound" is an interesting blend of warm Jamaican breezes that speaks to the Midwest you know with hip-hop blended into the mix. The release party at the Commodore in St. Paul is even tied into their EP’s story: the Commodore happens to be the former home of Fitzgerald and his wife.

The Persian Leaps: High & Vibrate EP

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The Persian Leaps’ jangly noise-pop takes the Smiths and the Minneapolis indie-pop sound and has them shake hands. It’s completely driven by guitar this time around, on their third release High & Vibrate—out via Land Ski Records. You can also catch some early '00s Strokes hiding in “Under the Lilacs.” The Persian Leaps will be at the 331 Club on Friday to release High & Vibrate.

Theo Brown Music: "Inertia"

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Theo Brown has a new single out: "Inertia." It’s a smooth jazz wave that crashes into some indie R&B. The track’s melody seems to push against the beat, creating a warbly and disorientating tension before calming to serenity. Theo Brown will also be debuting his poetry with his first book Letters of Words at the release show on Friday at the Scratch Bar & Grill.

John Louis: Drift

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Although there might not be one barn or open field left in Minneapolis, you can get a feeling there is with John Louis on Saturday at the Aster Café. Louis's song "The Barn" rides along with slide guitar and lyrics evoking a childhood nostalgia of sneaking out along county roads. Brianna Lane joins Louis at the Aster release show for his debut Drift.

Aaron Bolton is a senior at the University of Minnesota. Currently he is a co-host on Radio K’s Off The Record and is the music reporter at Radio K. He hopes to continue a career in music journalism.