Eclectic stylings of Culture Cry Wolf

Culture Cry Wolf is a local Minneapolis six-piece who specialize in an eclectic mash-up of a number of different sonic stylings. While the band's unique blend of sound might surprise some rap fans or punk aficionados, any curious minds with a spare Friday evening should check out Culture Cry Wolf kicking off a night of hip-hop along with Twin Cities hip-hop heavyweights MaLLy and DJ Fundo on July 13th at 7 pm, as part of the Summer Music Festival at Northrop at the Northrop Plaza on the U of M campus. Admission is free of charge, so it's the perfect place to remedy any ska-punk-rap deficiency you might be suffering.

The band effortlessly blends elements of underground hip-hop, third-wave ska, and surf punk into upbeat party-friendly numbers such as their new single, "Me, Myself and I." The band features Adam "Botzy" Botsford as emcee, Mike Daly on vocals and guitar, Druby Soho slapping the bass, Kyle Borchet on trumpet duty, Frankie Blydenburgh on the skins, and Jaime Pelaez holding down the "auxiliary percussion" (somebody's gotta take care of the tambourine!).

The genesis of the band came about when Daly, an avid 50's doo-wop fan, heard Botzy, a Boston native who also spent time in Tempe, Arizona, rapping at an Uptown party in late 2009. Since then, the band has released an EP called the Wesley Opus Sessions in August 2010, and the full-length album Día De Los Muertos in November of last year. The band is gaining buzz thanks in part to their energetic live show.

See you at the show!

~Muhammad B. Islam, SMFN Student Advisory Committee member