First Avenue ‘s annual Best New Bands concert is a winter staple. It’s also a chance to catch up on some great local acts in a single night.
The show takes place in the main room on Jan. 31 with hosts Diane from The Current, Joey Peterson from Radio K, Krista Wax from KFAI, and Sean McPherson from Jazz88.
Here’s a look at who you’ll find taking the stage during the annual showcase.
Bizhiki
While the group has played live with an expansive lineup — like its atmospheric release show at The Parkway Theater — it’s the project of three musicians. Vocalists Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings and Joe Rainey put traditional powwow singing front and center. They, along with Sean Carey (Bon Iver), create a distinctive dialogue between the Indigenous vocal music and modern styles on their debut album, Unbound. Rainey and Bizhikiins Jennings’ vocals run through modulations and combine with electronic samples and traditional rock instrumentations in what was easily one of my favorite albums of the year.