"Melt ICE" MN Music Compilation (R3R FEB18)
Welcome back to The Room3 Report: An informal newsletter keeping you up to date on all upcoming performances, music releases, merch drops, and general happenings in the world of Room3.
This past weekend, a compilation album comprised of demos, unreleased tracks, and live recordings from 110 Minnesota-based artists/bands was released under "Minnesota Artists United Against Ice." We're proud to be one of those 110! Huge shoutout to Anna Devine, Ryan Kemp, and Jonny Fuller for compiling and organizing this amazing project. It's a testament not only to the wide breadth of talent that exists in this city, but also the power of collective organizing. Album proceeds raised $10k in the first couple days of it being available!! Let's keep running up those numbers.
Our contribution is a (fairly bare-bones) demo of what was once called "Spicy Feta" but will eventually be called "On a Bike" when it appears on album 2 in its final form. The album version will sound very different, but this demo is pretty cool on its own. It definitely has some Wormdove (Beck's solo project) influence in it, particularly with the production and fast-paced breakbeat drums. Beck laid down the concept and foundation for it, and I (Eli) sprinkled some keys & pads & melodies on it. We worked on it together whilst eating takeout from our current favorite Mediterranean restaurant, Spicy Feta. In typical Room3 fashion, it was only right to name the track after the food that fueled it.
"Melt Ice" is available on Bandcamp for $10. There's a lot of really cool stuff on there. Currently listening to Lana Leone's "Isabell" as I write this, and I'm loving it. Check it out!
What's happening??
Midwest Music Fest (May 8 & 9, 2026) Lineup Announced!
We're very excited to be playing Midwest Music Fest in Winona, MN this year on Saturday, May 9! They just announced the full 45+ band lineup yesterday, and it's looking pretty sweet. Tickets for that are $55 for the early bird discount. That gets you access to the festival across all four venues, all weekend. Ticket link above.
Slum Village w/ Room3 - March 4
Just had our first Slum Village rehearsal last night. The music is sounding pretty damn tight mannn. Pumped to perform this legendary music with these legendary emcees! Like I said last week – Hip-hop heads: Don't miss this one!! Ticket link also above.
NEW DROPS
Recorded music
Album 2 is on the way... Check out our contribution to the "Melt ICE" compilation album for a tiny little taste of some new R3 music!
Concert footage
Stay tuned for footage from our opening set for The Headhunters on Feb. 4. We'll post some clips on our website and socials eventually! Look up our YouTube channel (@room3collective) to revisit some old live concerts.
Merch
New iterations of the classic “Room3” T-shirt will be available at all future shows. Now in Pink and Dark Purple for $30 a pop. “Bill’s Garden” CDs are also available for $10.
WHAT Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THIS??
One member of the group hand-selects one album and one live concert to highlight, offering insight into its significance (personal or otherwise). All of the artists highlighted in this segment have at least one thing in common: They're all innovators. These giants set the standard for what’s possible and what's hip, and they inspired us to keep reaching. We hope they do the same for you!
THIS WEEK'S PICKS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: RAWTWHYLAH
ALBUM OF THE WEEK: "Purest Form" - James Francies (2021)
Today I wanted to showcase two of my favorite modern piano players that are composing music that will push the possibilities of the instrument forward. For the album of the week, we have James Francies’ "Purest Form." This album is incredibly diverse in the styles that are showcased. From epic jazz fusion journey songs like "Levitate" and his incredible arrangement of "My Favorite Things," to smooth neo-soul style tunes like "713" and "Blown Away," and even beautiful atmospheric vibes like "Adoration" and "Stratus." This album is laced with fantastic hills and valleys of musical waves that will take you on quite the journey. If you aren’t hip to James Francies, do yourself a favor and get hip expeditiously.
LIVE CONCERT OF THE WEEK: "Live from the Seven Spheres" - Cameron Graves (2022)
This is one of my favorite concerts by a phenomenal group of musicians that I all look up to in the modern music era. The Cameron Graves Quartet consist of leader Cameron Graves on piano, Colin Cook on guitar, Max Gerl on bass and Mike “Blaque Dynamite” Mitchell on drums. Each of these musicians are extremely virtuosic on their respective instrument and together create mind blowing landscapes in their solo moments. Cameron’s music can be intricate both time signature and unison line wise, but some tunes are simpler providing the platform for expansive orchestration ideas. With that being said, all of Cameron’s music sounds HEAVY. Pulling influence from groups like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Meshuggah and Chopin as well as a combination of spiritual and cosmological ideas influenced from the Book of Urantia. You should check out Cameron Graves’ music to hear some of the most genre blending, crazy music that’s out there in the world right now.