West of Aldine

Summer is here in the Twin Cities, and it’s the perfect opportunity to roll down the windows and put on those local summer tunes. And what better way to kick off July than blasting some West of Aldine through your speakers. The four-piece pop/acoustic group based in Minneapolis has taken their talents on the road throughout the Midwest. even SXSW, touting their new album “UNDIVIDED,” which was released in front of a packed house in February at the Fine Line Music Café. The quartet has blended catchy pop hooks, fast paced rhythms and a stellar lineup of vocals that has “UNDIVIDED” poised to be a go-to summer record. - On the Rechord - Emily Buss

"Where exactly is West of Aldine? Well, it's not really a location, more of a destination. The Minneapolis band has been working hard playing around town and their landing place is their freshman album, Undivided. It's a journey into deep, delicious pop..." - Youa Vang

"It was at 12:01am the day after Christmas when I realized just how amazing West of Aldine was. I was playing their song “Take Control” on my weekly radio show when something incredible happened. My entire audience stood from their seats almost the second the drums brought in the energetic poppy groove-rock sounds of the four piece Minneapolis band and began dancing. That is when I knew West of Aldine was on to something spectacular..." - ErrocFM - Ryan Quinn

"It was at 12:01am the day after Christmas when I realized just how amazing West of Aldine was. I was playing their song “Take Control” on my weekly radio show when something incredible happened. My entire audience stood from their seats almost the second the drums brought in the energetic poppy groove-rock sounds of the four piece Minneapolis band and began dancing. That is when I knew West of Aldine was on to something spectacular..." - ErrocFM - Ryan Quinn

"...There is a strong urge for more music like West of Aldine locally in the Twin Cities... ...Not only is West of Aldine one of the most enjoyable live local bands that the Twin Cities has to offer, but they always seem to be having fun. Whether they are covering local areas with posters so concert goers can get a free album at the door or covering one of their favorite songs, you can see the enjoyment in everything they do. Drawing people in with their lyrics, West of Aldine has a combination of great song writing along with very talented musicians that give their fans the funk and rock they ask for..." - Music Scene MLPS

Minnesota’s own West of Aldine not only provides a great show, they shares their love for both Minneapolis and St. Paul equally (yes, even you too suburban peeps). Our Former ‘Local Artists of the week’ has not only been busy getting from show to show, but talks are in about a 2012 full-length album dropping sometime this fall. Whether they will admit it or not, we’re calling West of Aldine “cat’s meow of local music” and we’re not scared to put that in print!

A special thanks to the guys for taking time out of their music-festival-outdoor-show-summer-filled-SUV-traveling lives to sit down and talk with us. West of Aldine is formed by Zach Grusznski, Anthony Maahs, Christian Hulting and Jesse Mattila. Since they are Facebook fans, make sure you check out their homepage for some free music (yup, free) as well as pictures from the road and an update of all their upcoming shows. Check out their new music videos as well as all their pictures from the road (we must say, they are very “GQ”). - Music Scene MPLS

There are big dates coming up soon, can you give us some details about that and what can fans expect?

We were privileged enough to be invited to play on the 2nd Annual Cruise for a Cause benefit show. The show consists of two stages on two double-decker ferry boats that are linked together. The acts will range from rap to reggae; varying in size from small acoustic solo songwriters to Vans Warped Tour performers. We are also thrilled to announce that we just confirmed a 10-stop High School Nation Tour this fall. Our new album will be exclusively available to the high school students before our official release party which follows the tour. We will be dropping the single from our album in just a few weeks so make sure to go download it for FREE! - Vents Magazine

There are big dates coming up soon, can you give us some details about that and what can fans expect?

We were privileged enough to be invited to play on the 2nd Annual Cruise for a Cause benefit show. The show consists of two stages on two double-decker ferry boats that are linked together. The acts will range from rap to reggae; varying in size from small acoustic solo songwriters to Vans Warped Tour performers. We are also thrilled to announce that we just confirmed a 10-stop High School Nation Tour this fall. Our new album will be exclusively available to the high school students before our official release party which follows the tour. We will be dropping the single from our album in just a few weeks so make sure to go download it for FREE! - Vents Magazine

"...This is a group that is willing to stretch boundaries and try new things in an effort to avoid becoming part of the norm. What they’ve created to this point is simply a phenomenal sound that you won’t find anywhere else. They rock without screaming. They pop without sounding poppy. They groove and funk and without realizing it, you’re foot is tapping and you’re loving their sound. I’m not suggesting you go see this band, I’m telling you to go see this band. You will not be disappointed..." - The Examiner - Todd Aarnes

Perhaps a decade ago when the Gophers played decent football, hip-hop was prevalent in Dinkytown, the Varsity Theatre was a storage warehouse, and 50 Cent was… new, I’d met Christian Hulting (lead singer of West Of Aldine). Back then he was lead singing for a young upstart band by the name of Roster McCabe. Approaching a fork in the road, it wasn’t in the cards for McCabe and Hulting. Going their separate ways, it had been years since I’d seen Christian around the metro area. Hmm, maybe he’d found a cubicle job, teamed up with Ameriprise, or enrolled in grad school… like the normals.
And then… my dilapidated flip phone buzzed. It was a text, a mysterious number prompting that they had a show at the Fine Line and wanted me to personally show up. “Who the f*** are these people that keep sending me random texts about random shows throughout the week?” I mumbled to myself. I’d received several texts in the past months from area codes all over promoting shows and art openings throughout the country, and couldn’t figure it out. I’d track this one down- “Got a new phone, who be this?” (classic non-threatening move to question an unknown number, so Minnesota Nice). “Christian” the text answered. Still no clue. I texted back. “Hulting” returned the masked texter.
West Of Aldine was his projects name, I wouldn’t check them out ’til months later. The mass texting continued and honestly worked on me. I prefer a mass text to a mass facebook event invite. No clue why, just do.
I’d finally check them out at the Fine Line. Giant stage, mass of lights beaming over, and Christian finally with a guitar in his hand again at the forefront of the ship. They’re sound amassed attention, gave the PA a run for its life whilst giving me the visual of building windows exploding due to their deviled decibels of volume. West Of Aldine layers synth over folk with the torque of a F-150. Although their major scales and upbeat rhythms surface a happy-go-lucky nature, there is an feel to their live show I assuredly will fail at putting into words. It’s the sensation that you’ve lived in Minnesota, or some state of passivity, for far too long and realized you haven’t truly moved your ass in even longer. Yes, it is the involuntary energy from this group that has made me want to dance, stand up, or do anything but go H.A.M. - iamkidfresh.com - Toussaint Morrison