January 21, 2012
Update: Thanks to everyone that came out to the Aster last night to support the release of our new Minor Planets record. The house was packed and the love was palpable. A special thank you to the great musicians that played the show, Richard Medek, Eric Struve, Jimmy Johnson and Seth Hogan.
Dana is releasing a new The Minor Planets record this month, entitled Shadow in the Water. The LP Release event takes place at the Aster Cafe on Saturday, January 21st.
For more info, check the Shows section!
January 19, 2012
On January 19th, Dana opened for Paul Cebar at the Real-Phonic Radio Hour.
The Real-Phonic Radio Hour is a live monthly show featuring American Roots music and conversations on poetry, music, the arts, and a world gone mad. Presented at the historic James J. Hill Reference Library in downtown St. Paul.
January 7, 2012
Natalie Lovejoy and Dana Thompson hosted a songwriting discussion and performance:
The Pursuit of Songwriting —
featuring Chris Lynch & Jon Rodine
Which took place on Saturday evening at the Aster Cafe. It was an intimate evening of music and conversation. The songwriters talked about the process of how they each channel melody, lyrics and eventually, complete songs.
December 26, 2011
Dana is playing with The Minor Planets the first and third Thursday of each month at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall. Come for the drinks and voorgerchten, stay for the folky goodness.
The Minor Planets new record, Shadow in the Water will be released on Saturday, January 21st at the Aster Cafe.
www.TheMinorPlanetsMusic.com
Born in Sandstone, raised in Hibbing, graduating from high school in Duluth, and having lived in Minneapolis for most of her adult life, Dana is truly the Girl From the North Country. Music and writing have been integral throughout her life, whether through theater, choir, singing, or writing songs with bands.
Dana has received the City Pages’ Best Female Vocalist award, and is a founding member of The Strawdogs, Hot Head Fiasco, Marina Glass, The Minor Planets, as well as fronting her own band, Dana Thompson and the North Coast. She has enjoyed touring the US and Europe in support of her critically-acclaimed first solo record, Ox.
Currently, Dana is performing with The Minor Planets in support of their new record, Shadow in the Water, and is in pre-production for her second solo record.
Sunday, January 29
Mercy Seat Residency
Banjo Liturgy w/ Greg Schaefer
5–6pm @ 1500 S 6th Street
Sunday, January 29
Late-Nite Music
Two hours of pure solo acoustic music
10–midnight @ Cafe Barbette
Thursday, February 2
Happy Hour
with Eric Christopher
5–7pm @ Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Sunday, February 5
Mercy Seat Residency
Banjo Liturgy w/ Greg Schaefer
5–6pm @ 1500 S 6th Street
Saturday, February 11
Dakota Late-Night
with The Minor Planets
11–1am @ the Dakota Jazz Club
Thursday, February 16
Happy Hour
with Eric Christopher
5–7pm @ Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Minneapolis
Star Tribune
After some impressive turns on recent House of Mercy and “Iron Country” compilation CDs, hip country crooner Dana Thompson finally has polished off her first solo CD, Ox . . .
The Iron Range native — who got her start locally in the Strawdogs — enlisted MVP guest players for the album, including Dave Boquist, Jessy Green, Eric Heywood and Rob Skoro, who produced. Plus, her full-time band includes Jimmy Johnson (Bellwether) and Bob McReedy (Volebeats).
In upbeat songs such as “Stars At Night”, Thompson’s wispy voice and imaginative lyrics recall Victoria Williams, while pretty ballads like “Straight Lines” sound more Allison Krauss-like.
St. Paul
Pioneer Press
Dana Thompson has done time with The Minor Planets, Marina Glass and the Strawdogs. Now she's branching out on her own (with her band, The North Coast, in tow), celebrating the release of her debut album, Ox, produced by former Mason Jennings Bassist Robert Skoro.
With a clear, angelic voice that exudes hope, sadness and longing from a woman who grew up on the Iron Range, Ox shows off Thompson’s skilled songwriting abilities and incredible vocal stylings. From the poppy “What Lies Ahead” and the heartbreaking ballad “Empty” to the old-school country of “When I Left You”, Thompson proves there is no reason she shouldn't be the Twin Cities’ next big thing.
PULSE
of the Twin Cities
Acoustic guitars and lighty-brushed drums flow together effortlessly, with pedal steel guitar haunting the space around them; Thompson’s wonderfully clear voice quavers above all of this, completing the melancholy tone.
. . .
The overall tone of the album seems to be one of acknowledgement that life can deliver pain from time to time, but that maybe this is OK. Like lots of the best old-timey country music, Ox would be a fine album to listen to if one had a case of the blues but didn't feel too bad about it.
City Pages
Alternative Weekly
Like [Iris] DeMent, Thompson has a voice that is at once heartbreakingly fragile and startlingly robust. Every note she sings is somehow imbued with a sense that this whole damn world could collapse at any moment.
. . .
Both Thompson and DeMent convey a fragile intimacy that's unnerving — as if they don't expect anyone else to be listening.
She's as close to a female icon as the swingers are going to get in the Twin Cities, with attitude and soul to burn.
“Best Female Vocalist” — City Pages Best Of 1999