The Keep Aways
Encyclopedia
The Keep Aways is an American punk
band from Duluth
, Minnesota
. Since releasing their debut album in 2004, the band has toured the U.S. with Black Eyed Snakes
. The Keep Aways music has been compared to Babes in Toyland
and The Gossip
by the College Music Journal.
Lead singer Mindy Johnson has also been a member of The Little Black Books. Bassist Nikki Moeller has also been a member of the band Boy Girl Boy Girl. Drummer Chris C. Dubz (often considered the cutest, smallest boned, most nancy member) has been part of numerous bands including (formally) The Acceleratti and (formally) Some Peoples Kids, and now Best Buy Customer Service.
The Keep Aways have performed at the Homegrown Music Festival
in Duluth, Minnesota
and the North vs. South Music Festival.
In 2004 and 2006, the Keep Aways were nominated for "Best Punk Band" by the Minnesota Music Awards. In 2006, the Keep Aways lost to The Plastic Constellations
.
The Keep Aways importance stems from their post-riot girl music and notably being one of the most straight up, real bands out of Duluth, Minnesota among peers and national acts Low
, Black Eyed Snakes
, Haley Bonar
, Charlie Parr
, and If Thousands
not to mention Minnesota itself.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Since releasing their debut album in 2004, the band has toured the U.S. with Black Eyed Snakes
Black Eyed Snakes
The Black-eyed Snakes is an American blues rock band from Duluth, Minnesota. Since releasing their debut album "It's the Black-eyed Snakes" in 2001, the band has toured the U.S. with Charlie Parr. Front man Alan Sparhawk also performs with Low and Retribution Gospel Choir.The Black-eyed Snakes...
. The Keep Aways music has been compared to Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland may refer to:* Babes in Toyland , an American punk rock band* Babes in Toyland , a 1903 operetta by Victor Herbert* Babes in Toyland , a musical comedy starring Laurel and Hardy...
and The Gossip
The Gossip
Gossip is a three-piece American indie rock band formed in 1999. The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing several recordings, the band broke through with their 2006 studio album, Standing in the Way of Control . A follow-up, Music for...
by the College Music Journal.
Lead singer Mindy Johnson has also been a member of The Little Black Books. Bassist Nikki Moeller has also been a member of the band Boy Girl Boy Girl. Drummer Chris C. Dubz (often considered the cutest, smallest boned, most nancy member) has been part of numerous bands including (formally) The Acceleratti and (formally) Some Peoples Kids, and now Best Buy Customer Service.
The Keep Aways have performed at the Homegrown Music Festival
Homegrown Music Festival
The Homegrown Music Festival is Duluth, Minnesota's annual showcase of local bands. The event has grown from featuring 10 acts in 1999 to 156 in 2011...
in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
and the North vs. South Music Festival.
In 2004 and 2006, the Keep Aways were nominated for "Best Punk Band" by the Minnesota Music Awards. In 2006, the Keep Aways lost to The Plastic Constellations
The Plastic Constellations
The Plastic Constellations were a Minneapolis-based band. Formed in 1995 when they met as students at Hopkins High School, they played their first shows in 1996 at the well-known First Avenue venue when they were just 15 years old...
.
The Keep Aways importance stems from their post-riot girl music and notably being one of the most straight up, real bands out of Duluth, Minnesota among peers and national acts Low
Low (band)
Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....
, Black Eyed Snakes
Black Eyed Snakes
The Black-eyed Snakes is an American blues rock band from Duluth, Minnesota. Since releasing their debut album "It's the Black-eyed Snakes" in 2001, the band has toured the U.S. with Charlie Parr. Front man Alan Sparhawk also performs with Low and Retribution Gospel Choir.The Black-eyed Snakes...
, Haley Bonar
Haley Bonar
Haley Bonar is an American alternative country singer-songwriter who hails from South Dakota. She has lived in Duluth and St. Paul, Minnesota. In July 2009, she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she spent a year writing songs for her newest album Golder, which is to be released April 19, 2011...
, Charlie Parr
Charlie Parr
Charlie Parr is an American country blues musician, born in Austin, Minnesota, United States. He started his music career in Duluth, Minnesota. His influences include Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Reverend Gary Davis, and Dave Van Ronk. He plays a National resonator guitar, a fretless open-back...
, and If Thousands
If Thousands
If Thousands is an American drone band from Duluth, Minnesota. Since releasing their debut album "Candice Recorder" in 2001, the band has toured the U.S. with Low. If Thousands' music has been featured on NPR. Christian McShane also performed with Charlie Parr in the band Devil's Flying Machine...
not to mention Minnesota itself.
Lineup
- Mindy Johnson-- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Nikki Moeller-- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Chris C Dubz-- drums, vocals
Studio albums
- The Keep Aways - (Chairkickers' Union Music, 2005)limited edition hand stamped canvas sleeve #1500/2nd pressing- screen print #500
- Decay - (TKA Records, 2008)
EPs
- ...get held back - (Shaky Ray Records, 2002) 3-track cd #100
- the keep aways/the dt's- split 7" (TKA Records, 2007) limited edition red vinyl #500
Singles
- "Hillside, Excess, and Rivalry" (splitSplit albumA split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
single with The DTs) - (Self-Released, 2007)
Compilations
- Chilly Northern Women - (Spinout Records, 2002)
- Superior Street Rocks - (Sup Records, 2002)
- 420 Massacre- Live at the Capri - (Sup Records, 2003)
- Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Lindquist's Mix - (Homegrown Music Festival, 2009)
- ARMC Presents...the Twin Ports- (ARMC, 2010)