The Minneapolis Henrys

Despite their name, The Minneapolis Henrys make it very clear that they are indeed a Chicago band.  Though forming in the Second City, members of the band have relocated from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, but not without bringing with them baggage packed with sounds of the likes of The Replacements, Lifter Puller, and Husker Du--godfathers of the always rich MSP rock scene.  Fuzzy power chords and a driving rhythm section push songs like 'The Ballad of Robert Murdoch,' which begins with a fantastic lyrical nod to the Land of 10,000 Lakes:  Woke up near Brainerd / found my shoes and walked away / headed back to the city / 169 all the way.  Other tracks such as 'The Way of the Albatross' and 'Letters From Odysseus'--a melancholy ballad laced with twinges of Modest Mouse--demonstrate The MPLS Henrys ability to layer subtle blends of folk and pop into the mix as well.  Their debut LP, The Way of the Albatross, is available now via Grape Juice Records.  Be sure to check it out.  

The MPLS Henrys will be perfoming August 27th as a part of the Square Affair, which also features Jon Drake & The Shakes, The Shams Band, and Derek Nelson and the Musicians.  In anticipation of the event, we spoke with Henrys vocalist/guitarist Jai Henry about the band, Chicago, and the Twin Cities.

LSD:  I read that the band originally hails from the Minneapolis area. How do you compare the music scene in the Twin Cities versus that in Chicago? Are there similarities? Differences?

Jai Henry:  Well to clarify, The Minneapolis Henrys are a Chicago band. We formed here, and we love it. Chicago is a big and exciting city with a diverse population and a thriving music scene. Meanwhile Minneapolis is much smaller, but no less culturally important. Some of the coolest, cutting edge music comes out of The Twin Cities. It's hard to pick favorites, but we choose to live in Chicago

LSD:  Why did you sell out the Twin Cities?

JH:  I really don't think we did sell out the Twins.  We live in Chicago, but we pay eternal homage to our roots through our name. Whether we stay in Chicago or move to Seattle when grunge comes back, we will ALWAYS be The Minneapolis Henrys.

LSD:  You released your first LP, The Way of the Albotross, via Grape Juice Records. Can you tell me a little bit about the label?

JH:  Grape Juice started back in '06 as a San Francisco label by Nick Rush and Ian Tsan (now drummer for the MPLS Henrys and Rambos) with the release of my solo album, Shipwrecked on The Shores of Persephone. They have since relocated to Chicago and put out records by The Henrys, The Butcher's Boy, Curtis Evans, ...soihadto...., and The Lower 48.  Good kids.

LSD:  What do the MPLS Henrys have in the works right now? Any plans to tour? New record in the works? If so, what changes, if any, have been made in terms of the band's sound since the your last LP?

JH:  We are currently writing songs for what will be the first of a few EP's. Our current stuff brings more of what Henrys fans have come to expect: rhythm-centric grooves, quirky subject matter and infectious singalongability.

Tour is a different story. In these tough times, The Henrys find ourselves without the reliable transportation needed to embark on extended road trips. We've had our share and more of bad luck on the road: Accidents, lemons, gas guzzlers, money pits etc. So for the time being we focus our attention to Chicago, other regional cities and the internet. But we'll get back out soon enough!

LSD:  Can you give me some insight into the band's songwriting process? Is there a primary songwriter or is it more of a group effort? What different influences does each band member bring to the table?

JH:  So far I bring in either completed or skeletal songs, and in either case we adapt them and arrange them for the band. I don't like to bring songs in that are complete, just to have them not fit with what the other guys' feel. I prefer to bring in an outline and see how it builds organically and democratically.

LSD:  Before the formation of the MPLS Henrys, what was everybody up to, musically and/or otherwise?

JH:  I was a sensitive male folk-rock solo artist after originally being in an emo-indie type outfit back home.
Brandon was a guitar player and singer in a super-metal band called Satanic Ballerinas.  Ian was the drummer for legendary Minneapolis teen-prog band Linus

LSD:  Does the band reside in Logan Square? What are some favorite stomping grounds in the neighborhood?

JH:  We all live in Logan Square. Favorites include The Whirlaway, Lula, Logan Theater, Cozy Corner, Unity Park, Palmer Square, Two-way, Cole's. It goes on an on, this is a great neighborhood.

LSD:  Tell me a little bit about how the idea for The Square Affair came about. Have you collaborated with the other bands on the bill before?

JH:  This is the first time that the Henrys have played with any of the other acts on this bill, though Jon Drake & The Shakes played this year's Windy City Winter Ball, which was a Grape Juice production.

We wanted to do something that highlighted our community. Logan Square is on the rise and we feel proud to be a small part of what makes it such a cool place to live and/or hang out in. This is a celebration of that.

LSD:  Who would win in a fight between The Henrys and the Shakes? Be honest.

JH:  The Minneapolis Henrys would quickly and humanely vanquish Jon Drake & The Shakes in any combat situation. It would never come to that, as we are far too likeable to ever have to fight...they're pretty nice themselves! But if it did happen, then yes, we would make orphans of their children.

LSD:  You've got seven and a half words to sell The Square Affair, let people know why they should come out...go!

JH:  It will be a Square Affair to rememb