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St. Cloud State University

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Home > Diversions

Concerts to rock St. Cloud

Acoustic duo comprised of musicians with connections to Trip Shakespeare and Semisonic to be the first of two bands to provide ear candy for St. Cloud and the surrounding community.

By Diana Matusewic

Published: Thursday, November 14, 2002

The acoustic duo The Flops, consisting of John Munson from Semisonic and founder of Trip Shakespeare Matt Wilson, will be performing at Pioneer Place on 5th, Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

The Flops will be playing a variety of songs, including songs from Matt Wilson’s solo release, “Burnt, White and Blue” and songs by Trip Shakespeare.

“There’s a song by one of our favorites on the album,” Munson said. “‘I’m in love with a girl,’ by Alex Chilton (from the band Big Star).”

Their first full-length, live CD, entitled Ooh La-La, includes songs from some of the Flops’ first shows. It is combined with a separate multi-media CD-Rom, which includes a story by Minneapolis writer Sam Magavern. The CD, which was released Nov. 12, is now available at independent record stores.

“We both sing, and Matt plays guitar and I play guitar and bass,” Munson said.

“It’s super-vivid, duet acoustic music, with full-on presentation in a non-mousy manner,” Wilson said.

Both musicians met in 1985 while performing together as the rhythm section in a band called E. Brown.

They were also in Trip Shakespeare together. That band stayed together for about three years, until Munson and two others formed a band called Pleasure, later to be known as the pop-rock group Semisonic.

The Flops will continue to tour. Their next stop is Duluth, where they will play the Norshor Theatre Saturday night at 9 p.m. Next is Minneapolis, Nov. 29 in the main room of First Avenue.

“If you like your life the way it is, don’t listen to the Flops, because it will change your world,” Wilson said.

The director of Atwood, Margaret Vos, came up with a definition for their sound.

“(Their sound is) progressive with roots in rock and roll,” Vos said. “They just have a fun feel to their music.”

Wilson and Munson will be making appearances in the independent film, “The Last Word” which is due out in 2003. Wilson is a lead character while Munson a supporting character. The soundtrack will, of course, be performed by The Flops.

Opening for the Flops Friday is Mason Jennings Band’s bassist, Rob Skoro who will be performing as a solo artist. This will be his first time performing in St. Cloud as a solo artist. His debut record Proof will be out Dec. 10.

“(They’re) well-produced, simple pop tunes,” Skoro said of his album.

Having played all the instruments on his record, Skoro shows off all his musical talents. He has been a trained pianist since age eight and a self-taught guitarist since age 11. At 14, Skoro began writing music and he learned to play the drums by age 19.

This concert is sponsored by KVSC, Brain Magnet, Al’s Music and DEEP. The concert is open to people of all ages. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Electric Fetus.
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Diversions Editor Britt Johnsen contributed to this story.

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