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Podcast guest

Allisen Chloe Merrill

Concert photographer and writer behind the Big Glasses Energy Facebook page and Metro Music Mentions, a multi-genre roundup of local shows.

Allisen Chloe Merrill runs the Big Glasses Energy Facebook page, where Allisen posts concert photos with short written blurbs about the bands and people in them. Allisen also puts together Metro Music Mentions, a list of shows across every genre happening around the Twin Cities. Lyrics are what pulled Allisen into music, and as a self-described poetry nerd, Allisen sees music as poetry with a beat. Allisen got hooked on Minnesota music around 2021 after watching a podcast interview with the rapper Nerdy, then started digging into other local artists. Allisen started taking photos at jams to practice photo editing, and it grew from there. Metro Music Mentions came out of a conversation with a fellow musician about the scene needing one place to list shows of every style. Allisen also sings at local jams and is out at shows several nights a week, often catching two or three in one night.

On the Minnesota Music Note

The Minnesota Music Note - EP 31 - From Teacher to Minnesota Music Advocate with Allisen Merrill

5mo ago

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Fun facts from the interview

  • Runs the Big Glasses Energy Facebook page and posts Metro Music Mentions, a multi-genre list of local shows.
  • Bands Allisen has seen and would see again are highlighted in orange in Metro Music Mentions.
  • Writes a short blurb about the artists with each photo post.
  • Uses longer lenses so Allisen can shoot from farther back at shows.
  • Got into Minnesota music around 2021 through a podcast interview with the rapper Nerdy.
  • Sings at jams and goes to Ziggy's on Wednesdays and Mad Mike's on Thursdays; has also been to the Excelsior jam.
  • Favorite poem is Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe, and Allisen points to Tish Jones as part of Minnesota's strong spoken word scene.
  • The Used is one of Allisen's favorite bands.
  • Big fan of Exit Stage Right, Kacie Beatch's Rush tribute, and of Heed the Warning, seen at Midway Saloon.
  • Recommended guests: Zero Below's guitarist Joe, Gordy Nelson, Sarah and David Bailey of Revved Up, and guitarist Aaron Schmidt.
Twin Cities Metro

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