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Friday Five: New Minnesota music videos head over the river and through the woods

Liz Draper and friend.
Liz Draper and friend.Jacob Bases for MPR

by Jay Gabler

November 12, 2021

Do you know a Minnesota music video you’d like to see featured in the Friday Five? E-mail fridayfive@mpr.org.

Night Moves, “Fallacy Actually”

The VHS video grain, cassette deck, and Minnesota Twins World Series t-shirt (not to mention the sweet ‘staches, the flowing locks, and the badass bassist bod) evoke an ‘80s vibe in Night Moves’ video for their new single “Fallacy Actually.” The only 2020s tell: the hard seltzer ad on the barroom wall. Expect this track to be on the setlist when the Minneapolis band play the Fine Line on Nov. 26, part of a stacked Thanksgiving weekend lineup on local stages. The video even features a bowling night at Elsie’s, but…don’t leave us hanging, guys! Did you ever pick up that spare?

Ka Lia Universe, “Fairytale”

One good mirror ball deserves another. Ka Lia Universe has a wireless mic but a hardwired land line in a dreamy clip for her song “Fairytale,” shot by Houa Vang and Pete Stude. The song seems directed at an ex who had a princess in his shopping cart…but who’d already checked out.

Liz Draper, “Before November Reigns”

Take that, Duff McKagan! Mankato bassist Liz Draper performs her solo composition “Before November Reigns” in an intimate performance clip shot by Jacob Bases (Triple Falls Productions) - who also took the portraits appearing in our recent profile.

Allan Kingdom, “Breathless”

Allan Kingdom is back! He never really went away, but he did spend some time out of town. He hits the hometown streets (and the tracks) in Kyle Johnson’s video for “Breathless,” from Kingdom’s new project ME (The Mixtape).

James Ian, “Spaces”

You’re absolutely right: James Ian is not from Minnesota. He’s based in L.A., but…the video for his song “Spaces” features two inspiring Minnesotans.

As the Star Tribune reports, Shane and Hannah Burcaw, who run a wildly popular vlog about their life as an “interabled” couple, were part of a group convened by Genentech, a pharmaceutical company that produces a drug used for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The group members helped to brainstorm the ideas behind the song’s lyrics.

“We in the SMA community all know that we're out here living awesome, vibrant lives, but the world doesn't always see that," Shane Burcaw told the Star Tribune. "This song is a reminder that we are worthy, and we are awesome and talented."

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.