This is about 2i, a band that existed at various times in Minneapolis, MN during 1980 – 2000. What follows are a handful of live recordings which the band has graciously allowed me to share on Live Music Archive with other past, present and future fans.
[links to recordings provided in posts below]
Bob Gill: Bass, Guitar, Misc. Instruments
Scott Macdonald: Drums, Misc. Percussion
Dan Kaniess: Guitar, Cornet, Vocals, Bass, Misc. Instruments
Steve Petersen: Guitar, Trumpet, Misc. Instruments
Sharon Kaniess: Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals
Dick Madden: Saxophone
Jay McHale: Saxophone, Vocals, Misc. Instruments
This is certainly just a short list of releases from the band:
Who Hears? [1983]
Boo! [1984]
Never Pet A Burning Dog [itapes • 1984]
House of Nerves [12″ vinyl LP • Goat in a Birdsuit Records • 1985]
Smile Down [7″ vinyl single • Goat in a Birdsuit Records • 1986]
2i • 1983-03-23
Minneapolis, MN • First Avenue
[01] Match Head (04:21.16)
[02] interim (00:33.05)
[03] McClellan’s Fancy (02:42.58)
[04] The Shroud Of Kenosha (02:57.10)
[05] interim (00:20.63)
[06] Java [Al Hirt] (01:44.34)
[07] interim (00:26.14)
[08] unidentified title [#5] (03:26.71)
[09] Uncle Wiggly’s Japanese Baretta (02:55.21)
[10] The Gavotte (02:38.46)
[11] interim (00:25.57)
[12] Sky Pilot [Eric Burdon & The Animals] (05:20.65)
[13] Cowboy (03:44.16)
[14] You’re Safer Up Here Than You Are In Your Car (03:40.20)
[15] interim (00:12.27)
[16] Ambulance (03:27.24)
[17] interim – encore (00:20.10)
[18] Duped (04:07.27)
soundcheck:
[19] Some Swim (04:00.02)
Bill:
James Chance & The Contortions
2i
Much gratitude to Wendell “Win” Patrick, for providing me with the master recording so I could make a copy for myself. Win worked at the venue and borrowed the tape from someone in the soundbooth because he knew I was a big fan of the band. I had recorded it from the audience, but this sounds much better. The soundcheck track was recorded using a room mic, so that gives a better idea of what my audience recording might have sounded like. I couldn’t tell you why, but apparently when I made this copy back in ’83, I moved the soundcheck to end of the set, so I reckon it’s a bonus track!
There is a brief shift in background ambience between tracks 12 & 13, indicating the original tape may have been flipped at that point [ – or paused or edited – who knows ??]
This is strictly a soundboard recording, except for the soundcheck.
Recorded by: unidentified
Transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
Just to provide some context for what the musical climate was like at the time this music was being created…
On this date in 1983, the #1 Song on the US Music Charts was Billie Jean, by Michael Jackson;.
In the UK the #1 song was Is There Something I Should Know, by Duran Duran
2i • 1983-05-17
Minneapolis, MN • Seventh Street Entry
cassette one / side A (27:23):
[01] Saving Face (06:18.21)
[02] The Shroud Of Kenosha (02:32.29)
[03] Some Swim (04:05.03)
[04] Alexis (04:22.18)
[05] The Day Of Kelly Dodd (02:52.28)
[06] Officer Judy (04:14.25)
[07] English Civil War (02:59.16)
cassette one / side B (28:16):
[08] Satin Doll (03:10.04)
[09] Match Head (05:07.32)
[10] Calvin Griffith (06:50.68)
[11] The Royal Wedding (02:27.03)
[12] The Belle Of The Ball (05:31.31)
[13] Oh, Canada (03:26.65)
[14] Java [Al Hirt] (01:42.41)
cassette two / side C (30:01):
[15] unidentified title (03:28.42)
[16] Monster Twist (02:08.02)
[17] Uncle Wiggly’s Japanese Baretta (05:27.35)
[18] Fifth (04:27.61)
[19] You’re Safer Up Here Than You Are In Your Car (03:28.29)
[20] McClellan’s Fancy (03:19.73)
[21] The Gavotte (02:43.01)
[22] unidentified title (04:58.25)
cassette two / side D (20:42):
[23] James Brown (06:23.68)
[24] Your House (06:45.32)
[25] interim – encore (00:13.02)
[26] M.I.A. (04:59.04)
[27] Sharon’s Home (02:21.02)
What I don’t remember is if anyone else was on the bill this night. Given the total duration of these tracks, It seems clear the group must have played two sets. What I do remember is Jay teasing me (good-naturedly, of course) about my efforts at being a completist, trying to get the names for all of the tracks – in particular, “Bricks Hurt” was the title he gave me for “Java”. Zoiks!
Recorded / transferred / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
And just in case you were wondering….
On the date in 1986, the #1 Song on the US Charts was Let’s Dance, by David Bowie;.
In the UK the #1 Song was True, by Spandau Ballet.
2i • 1983 – 1984
Odd Man Out • live compilation
Minneapolis, MN
PLEASE NOTE: This is a live non-commercial cassette compilation created in 1984 by Dan Kaniess; therefore all of the tracks are at least one generation removed from the original source recordings. This fileset is presented here in the original cassette sequence, rather than breaking it up into the corresponding dates. Minor formatting changes were made in an effort to comply with Live Music Archive standards.
cassette side A (45:58):
7th St. Entry 1983-06-11 (4:52):
[01] Quixoquatil (01:59.32)
[02] Saving Face (02:53.37)
McCafferty’s 1983-12-04 (5:08):
[03] The Bouncing Couch (05:08.56)
Duffy’s 1983-11-12 (19:11):
[04] Water Damage (04:54.19)
[05] Always Moment (03:25.08)
[06] Get Smart (03:33.20)
[07] Primal Engagement (03:00.25)
[08] Nairobi Dick (04:18.31)
McCafferty’s [unconfirmed date] (16:45):
[09] Duped (05:28.08)
[10] Long-Legged Sailor (03:02.69)
[11] Birds Of Bremen (05:31.26)
[12] Odd Man Theme (02:43.24)
cassette side B (40:33):
The Whole 1983-11-12 (11:57):
[13] Gunslinger > (04:53.07)
[14] Cheap Motel (07:04.18)
7th St. Entry 1984-03-19 (28:35):
[15] Check Out Time (02:12.22)
[16] July (03:58.00)
[17] When The World… (03:00.71)
[18] C.I.A. Party > (01:44.61)
[19] Tent (04:59.01)
[20] American In Persia (02:47.15)
[21] Life In Springtime (04:56.35)
[22] Macaroni (02:04.52)
[23] New Guinea Cowboy (02:52.32)
The details regarding this compilation are a bit fuzzy. I don’t think this was a copy of one of the i Tapes released by the band, because there was no xeroxed art with the 2i mascot, Blacki, attached to the tape. This is one of several 2i tapes I received from Dan Kaniess over the years, many of which were limited handmade copies he gave out to friends of the band, and some of which may have even included different tracks.
At the time, Dan indicated that he was less interested in repeating the same music, and was more inclined to keep creating something new, so having the music preserved on tape could mean it was time to move on to the next idea.
When I asked Dan about the title for this compilation, he said that it came from Jay McHale, the resident baseball fan in the group.
In baseball, “odd man out” refers to a situation where a runner is left stranded on a base when the inning ends.
“Odd Man Out” is also the title of a 1947 British film noir film starring English actor James Mason, which may or may not be purely coincidental.
Some of these tracks also remind me that I made a lot more tapes of 2i than I seem to have in my archives, and there may even be a remote possibility that a few of these tracks came from tapes I had given to the group..
All these years later, it would be difficult to confirm or deny anything. Except for the fact that there are some fantastic tunes on this cassette, and to my ears, it certainly seems to be as solid a compilation of tracks as Who Hears? or Never Pet A Burning Dog. I reckon it’s best to just enjoy the music!
Recorded / edited by: Dan Kaniess
Transferred / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives
Download or stream this compilation from Live Music Archive
2i • 1984-05-25
Minneapolis, MN • Seventh Street Entry
KFAI Adrenalin Solution Live!!
cassette side A (28:20):
[01] start (0:21)
[02] unidentified title (2:12)
[03] 4th Anniversary (3:27)
[04] interim (0:20)
[05] The Tent (4:49)
[06] interim (0:19)
[07] My Little Tongue (3:54)
[08] interim (0:16)
[09] Another Paradise (4:55)
[10] unidentified title (3:08)
[11] Kangaroo Head (4:35)
cassette side B (27:53):
[12] unidentified title (6:06)
[13] Life During Springtime (4:08)
[14] unidentified title (4:53)
[15] Hang On To Your Body (2:12)
[16] unidentified title (4:24)
[17] interim (0:10)
[18] Transient / Hello I Love (5:59)
Bill:
Soul Asylum
2i
This tape was parenthetically labelled “KFAI show” on the cassette, and was also subtitled “Experiments In Terror”, in my own handwriting, although I apparently cribbed that title from Jay’s opening remarks.
There is a note inside listing most of the song titles, in what I think is Dan’s handwriting. If memory serves, this was broadcast on local FM station KFAI and I recorded it off the air, then I gave Dan the tape, and he filled in most of the titles.
Jay announced the title of track 12, but I can’t quite make out what he is saying from the tape.
As a side-note, it would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall in the Entry that night, just to check out the cross-over vibe between the Soul Asylum crowd and the 2i crowd!
Recorded / transferred / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
On the date in 1986, the #1 Song on the US Charts was Let’s Hear It For The Boy, by Deniece Williams.
In the UK, the #1 Song was The Reflex, by Duran Duran.
2i • 1986-01-25
Northfield, MN • St. Olaf College
[01] start (00:18.47)
[02] The Bloodletting (05:00.35)
[03] My Little Tongue (03:42.53)
[04] Mock Anxiety (00:48.59)
[05] Steven Foster + The Soilmasters (05:12.63)
[06] Blackbird Of Happy (04:56.36)
[07] interim (00:29.62)
[08] Hit Now (04:10.65)
[09] Jeff (05:59.56)
[10] interim (01:00.02)
[11] Cold Turkey [John Lennon] (03:02.57) [end truncated]
This energetic little set was on side B of a cassette I received from Dan, appended to the end of another recording from the Continental Club in St. Paul. It seems pretty likely that it is a partial set and not complete, and Jay’s comments before track 11 indicate the group may have played one more song at the end, but if so, it is not on this tape. The tape seems to have been paused between tracks 8 and 9, so possibly something was edited out during the initial transfer.
Recorded by: Dan Kaniess
Transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
2i • 1986-03-08
St Paul, MN • Snelling Ave Continental Club
cassette side A (45:34.68):
[01] start (00:56.71)
[02] Broken Skateboard (02:28.15)
[03] Potential (Living Up To Your) (02:27.62)
[04] interim (00:15.59)
[05] Look At Me (02:53.27)
[06] Antique Tears (03:55.14)
[07] A Soul’s To Keep (03:52.49)
[08] interim (00:16.72)
[09] East Of Eden (04:28.17)
[10] interim (00:20.42)
[11] Baby, Your House (03:34.10)
[12] Ambulance (01:42.12)
[13] Blackbird Of Happiness (03:47.65)
[14] Good Cowboy (02:24.53)
[15] interim (00:16.71)
[16] My Heart’s Upside Down + Dripping (02:39.01)
[17] Extravagance (04:27.72)
[18] interim (00:31.40)
[19] Shank (04:14.66)
cassette side B (13:03.33):
[20] Smile Down (03:41.20)
encore:
[21] interim (00:55.38)
[22] The Transient (05:50.36)
[23] end runout (02:36.14)
This was a cassette tape I received from Dan, which also included a shorter [partial?] set from St. Olaf College 1-25-86 appended to side B. The venue listed on the tape was C Club, but if memory serves, it may have been called The Continental Club, whether officially or otherwise. Unless I’m thinking of a different place altogether, it was a makeshift DIY / punk space that hosted shows and other events, and may have been slightly off the mainstream radar.
If this recording is from the space I’m thinking of, I may have actually been in attendance for at least part of the show, as I was in between living in Mpls and NYC at the time. Dan had a couple of mic stands set up to record in front of the stage, and asked my bandmate and I if we could keep an eye on them. At a certain point the crowd near us turned into a mosh pit (! – well, it was the ’80s, after all), and we ended up having to move to a different location, eventually leaving once things started getting a bit rowdy.
Recorded by: Dan Kaniess
Transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
2i + Friends • 1986-03-12
Minneapolis, MN • First Avenue
“Haute Noise / Artigras”
[01] part one (5:07)
[02] part two (2:55)
[03] part three (4:11)
[04] part four (4:51)
[05] part five (8:29)
[06] part six (3:10)
[07] part seven (3:23)
[08] part eight (3:24)
Dan Kaniess
Sharon Kaniess
Bob Gill
Jackie Gill [Jaqueline Hillenbrand]
Jay McHale
Ward Harper [idb]
Sean Smuda
Bill Wilson
Melne Murphy
J.Free
Chris Sattinger
Joe Orvis
Scott Macdonald
Ray Vellani
…plus three other names I couldn’t make out or recall …sorry!
This was a one-off improvisational 2i set, which Dan credits at the end to “2i and some friends”. The “friends” included past, present and future members of Arcwelder, Borrowed Time, Bathysphere, 2i, blacki, and more.
This basically ended up being one long improvised set – track divisions provided here were created during the analog > digital transfer, and were simply based on somewhat arbitrary breaks, tempo changes or rhythmic shifts.
Recorded during an “art mixer” event which was titled “Haute Noyz”, or alternately, “Artigras”, billed as “an evening of painting to music, artists, bands and dancers, and many more participants”.
Other performances which took place during the event included a chainsaw sculptor, and a brief clip from the event was broadcast on one of the local TV news stations, which I may still have in my archives. Good times!
Recorded / transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
2i • 1995-11-30
Minneapolis, MN • 7th St. Entry
cassette side A (44:45.66):
[01] start (00:38.69)
[02] China Birds (00:46.15) >
[03] Monster Twist (01:52.03)
[04] What Hat (03:03.30)
[05] interim / comments (00:37.12)
[06] Hitler In The New West (02:30.28)
[07] Ambulance (03:38.03)
[08] interim / comments (00:35.45)
[09] I Want (03:30.23)
[10] interim (00:30.34)
[11] Extravagance (06:29.74)
[12] Blackbird Of Happiness (05:00.46)
[13] Soul’s To Keep (03:28.03)
[14] interim / comments (00:43.13)
[15] Ornette Coleman’s Teenage Bedroom (05:31.19)
[16] interim / comments (00:25.66)
[17] Life In Springtime (05:24.33)
cassette side B (31:47.09):
[18] interim (00:59.10)
[19] Smile Down (03:51.32)
[20] interim / comments (01:02.29)
[21] Baby, Your House (Was Empty Long Before You Left) (03:11.12)
[22] interim (00:47.11)
[23] James Brown (05:22.38)
[24] Sharon’s Home (01:46.29)
encore:
[25] interim /applause (01:22.73)
[26] Smile Down (04:09.69)
[27] Blackbird Of Happiness (07:15.65)
[28] end runout / announcements (01:58.16)
Bill:
2i
Venison
Interstate Judy
Flour
Live Sound: Frazer Gardner
“I hope you didn’t have to wait outside for nine years – we said after the last show, we’ll be right back… and as a star is born in deep space, we were right back.”
– Jay McHale
It was announced that the only member of 2i not in attendance this evening was Bob Gill, as his wife was having a baby. Steve Peterson played bass. The encore reprised two songs played earlier in the set.
The original master tape was given to the band after the show. This transfer is from a cassette copy Dan made for me, labelled “Larkin’s tape”, referring to my former surname.
Recorded / transferred / edited / tracked / tagged / live photo by: J.Free / Sonic Archives
City Pages photo by Sean Smuda
City Pages preview by Paul Dickinson
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
Download or stream all sets by 2i from Live Music Archive
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