Northern National

Dallas alt-pop trio Northern National — Michael Kanne, Michael Rossi and Michael Wilson (I found myself wondering if they floated “ the Three Michaels” as an early possible band name) — makes quite the impression on its lavishly produced debut album, Young & In Love. The 10-track LP sparkles throughout — the one-two punch of She and Come Back Home is radio-ready bliss — but doesn’t forsake the band’s Texas roots, mixing a bit of grit into all the pop polish. Having effectively materialized out of nowhere, seeing where Northern National goes from here will be interesting indeed. Northern National celebrates the release of Young & In Love on Sept. 15 at Dallas’ House of Blues. - DFW.com

Northern National is an Alternative/Pop band based out of Dallas, TX. Started by Michael Kanne, Michael Rossi, & Michael Wilson, Northern National’s debut album “Young & in Love” was released on September 2nd, 2014. - AR Ready

Dallas, TX trio, Northern National, uses honest lyrics and foot stomping melodies to capture audiences. The alternative/pop outfit, consisting of John Michael Kanne, Michael Ross, & Michael Allen Wilson, will be releasing their debut album “Young & in Love” on September 2nd, 2014.

The self-proclaimed “songwriters before musicians” blend acoustic-pop music with complex ideas about love. Add in a touch of southern twang and it’s easy to see why their music is so likable. On the topic of being young and in love the band states:

Love is an ancient thing. But in moments it is made brand new. Young & in Love is about those moments. Love can be intense, sweet, fun, spontaneous, whimsical, or relaxed, and the variety of sounds in the record reflects the variety of forms that a young love can take. It doesn’t all sound the same, because love never is. We wanted to capture that.

The young band spent two and a half years writing over 50 songs for their upcoming release. A certain level of maturity must be met to cover such a difficult topic but they make it look (and sound) easy. The self-taught musicians created an incredible collection of songs that, on the exterior, are catchy pop tunes, but will resonate with fans of all ages on a much deeper level.

Currently, the band is eagerly awaiting the release of Young & in Love while booking shows for the Fall and Spring 2015. Young & in Love is available for pre-order but you can preview the bands debut music video for their song “She” below. - Find My Song

Northern National is a trio hailing from Dallas, Texas comprising Michael Kanne, Michael Rossi and Michael Wilson.

Currently unsigned, Northern National have an alternative-pop vibe and below you can listen to 'She' a very nice track from the trio which is likely to be taken from their debut album 'Young & in Love', set to be released on September 2nd. Enjoy!

If you would like to learn more about Northern National and like what you hear from the clip, please check out the band's pages below. - Hearty Vibes

Northern National’s “Young & In Love” defines the phrase “the importance of being earnest”. Such energetic fully felt songs adorn the collection. The songs work together to create a tapestry of sounds. Each one evolves in its own peculiar way. With a full-fledged committed band working together the group manages to show a lot of heart over the course of the collection, from full-out raucous to quiet gentler acoustic ballads.

The aptly named “Lose Control” kicks things off with passion. Buildup happens remarkably quickly with the chugging rhythm eventually exploding into full force. “She” alternates with this emotion choosing a gentler kinder approach which is emphasized in the lyrics, a quieter moment, and a moment of reflection. Track length certainly helps “Dance With Me Endlessly” that sprawls out nicely revealing the band’s considerable talent. Northern National get a little sad with “I’ll Be Okay (Crazy World)” that displays their worries and their desires. The track has an overwhelming sense of hope of knowing that they are not alone, that there is someone out there worth struggling through life’s little tragedies. On the flipside is the title track which moves at a rapid pace without any doubt whatsoever.

“Gotta Dare” makes things pretty lush with smooth guitars, keyboard, and even a little bit of horns making it one of the collection’s true highlights. Finally the collection ends off with Northern National warming up to the listener with the crispness of “Crazy Now”. “Young & In Love” is an album full of heart. - Skope Magazine

Though Austin gets most of the national coverage for Texas music cities, Dallas isn't just chopped beefsteak, as proved by this indie-pop group making a highly radio-friendly first LP. - Journal Sentinel TAP Milwaukee

First on the lineup was Northern National, an indie pop trio based in DFW. Performing for only the fourth time with a full band—percussionist, electric guitarist and backup singers in tow—the three Michaels wooed the crowd with their charm and seriously catchy tunes. Michael squared (really, they’re actually all named Michael) set the stage for a great evening with a folky, somewhat pop-worthy set from their upcoming debut. - The Vinyl District

Last year, House of Blues hosted an event called Local Brews Local Grooves. It was a cool deal. Some local breweries showed off what they have, offering samples to anyone who bought a wristband (which was nearly everyone) and some great local bands played. It was almost like your typical beer fest, except it was (as the name clearly states) was all local, and best of all, it was indoors, a plus for any event that takes place in the midst of a Texas summer.

As cool as it was, attendance was so-so in 2014. It wasn’t bad (all of the bands were given free tickets to offer their fans), though I wasn’t sure if it was good enough for there to be a subsequent year or not, though I hoped it would receive another chance.

It was, info coming out a few months ago now, and for 2015, Local Brews Local Grooves was expanding. Several more bands were tapped to perform and with the spike in local breweries and just peoples’ overall love for craft beers even in the past twelve months, many more of the breweries from around DFW jumped on board. Nearly two dozen in all, offering well more than fifty different beverages to choose from. The quantity wasn’t the only thing that had grown, either.

In walking up to HOB a fence came into view. The small parking lot (reserved for valet) as well as the entrance into the restaurant was enclosed by said fence, a walkway leading from the sidewalk to the box office and entrance. More vendors were set up out there, and it did seem like a solid idea, in case anyone wanted to get away from the music and just chat with friends or something, they now had a place to go for that. I don’t know how many people fit into that category, but those who did…

I got there almost an hour after the festivities truly got under way (doors were at three this afternoon with the bands beginning at four); the first band I caught this day being The Demigs down in the Music Hall. I feel like I’ve seen them a lot this year (this was maybe the fifth time, so really not that much); and I only watched about fifteen minutes of their set this day. It was just enough to get a taste of the indie rock outfit, who played a mix of songs from their brand new album, Welcome to Hard Times, as well as some older stuff.

The entire venue was open this night. That included Crossroads (the restaurant), The Foundation Room (the VIP area, which I never made it to this day) and Cambridge Room (the smaller concert room having been closed the year before at LBLG). The last of those was now my destination, to see Northern National. Actually, it was that very room where I last saw the alternative pop/rock band who has made quite the buzz since forming in early 2014.

The Cambridge Room was packed. A line stretched almost to the doors, all people wanting to get some grub from one of the food vendors, while probably almost a couple hundred people were packed tightly in, all waiting to see the band.
Their 61-minute long set found them playing plenty of current material as well as peppering in a mix of new songs and covers; and it all began at 5:31 with “Young & in Love”. Multi-instrumentalist Michael Kanne added some additional percussion to it, heavily at the start, as he viciously struck the partial kit he used (a cymbal and a floor tom). The song has a grand scope about it, between both the climatic music bed and the lyrics; and you could tell exactly who the true NN fans were, as they sang along with lead singer and acoustic guitarist Michael Rossi on the chorus, “All I’ve ever wanted is the love you gave to me. And all I’ve ever needed is you.”

Kanne did most of the speaking between songs this night, quickly mentioning the merch they had, which included a “pay what you can" price for their Young & in Love album, where even a quarter would get you their debut album this night. “We’re gonna have some fun tonight!” he then exclaimed.

They made sure that held true, their poppy brand of indie rock love songs continuing with the aggressive “Lose Control”, which now found him shaking a tambourine and jumping about (I believe he also dabbled on his keyboard). Towards the end, Kanne even went back by the drum kit, striking some of the cymbals with the tambourine. “I broke my drummers’ cymbal,” he commented after the early fan favorite, the drummer grinning.

The three core members then introduced themselves. “I’m Michael,” began Kanne, Rossi saying the same. “And I’m Michael,” stated Michael Wilson (while being introduced, one of the MC’s for the event joked that Northern National had surely set the record for the band with the most Michael’s.)

The next two songs went hand in hand with one another. An original was up first, and they mentioned they wanted to get a funky vibe going, making a crack that they didn’t have any moves since they were all white, except for their drummer. “…And he has to sit down,” Kanne stated. That left the job of dancing and grooving to the jam up to the crowd, who did not disappoint on either it or the cover that followed, Kanne focusing on his keyboard for the latter of the two.

“Does anyone like country music?” the instrumentalist and backing singer then asked, more than a few people shouting and raising their hand in response. They would be somewhat disappointed if they thought that meant Northern National was about to delve into the country genre. “…This is the most country we will ever get,” Kanne replied; Rossi soon playing a portion of the tune, teaching everyone the simple refrain of “Wooo” and how it went, as they wanted some crowd participation on “Come Back Home”. It’s not quite a country song, though it is a lovely tune overall; Wilson and Kanne starting a clap along at one point, many of the patrons joining in.

They sought some approval before trying out a couple of new songs, mentioning they would be done more bare bones, in an acoustic format. “…We got you amped up, and now it’s like, ‘son of a bitch!’” quipped Rossi, their bassist, additional lead guitarist and drummer taking their leave.

The shared a story about the first of these new songs, Kanne pointing out they were clearly all guys before asking any members of the audience if they knew anything about women. The only person who spoke up had what the band deemed the right answer, which was knowing nothing about women. “…We also know nothing about women’s clothing…” Kanne added, saying they had wanted to work a dress in to the subject of the song, though weren’t sure what type of dress they meant, just knowing it was one girls will wear in the summer. “…It took us two hours to figure out what a sundress was,” he confessed.

The song they were talking about was the sweet and tender “Green Eyes”. The acoustic style fit the tone of the song, and I’ll be curious to see if they flesh it out to fit the full band setup or keep it an acoustic track. “I’m not crying. I just have sweat in my eyes, Rossi joked afterwards, wiping his eyes. They then brought the electric guitarist back up for the next one, a slightly louder song that was still slow and was overflowing with passion (“Love Like Fire”, or something along that line, was the title.)

The rest of their band then returned, Rossi grabbing his acoustic, which he hadn’t used for the previous song. They gave everyone a choice; either hear another original or a cover. The crowd opted for a cover, leading them to bust out the Bill Withers classic “Ain’t No Sunshine”, their rendition standing as a highlight of their performance, still having the soul and R&B flare it should, while also being a tad pop-ish; the guitar licks the guitarist ended it with sounding spectacular.

“I’ll Be Okay (Crazy World)” had been featured on the TV show Cougar Town earlier in the year, Kanne pointing that out beforehand; while of the next one, he said it was about a long-distance relationship. “…And it sucks, but it’s great,” he said, leaving it at that. Rossi chuckled a bit. “Usually, Kanne tells this really long story about how he had his heart broken…” he said, being surprised his band mate kept it short. “No I don’t…” Kanne replied, trying to deny it at first, before admitting, “Yeah, I do.”

Even if it led to heartbreak, you sure wouldn’t know it from listening to “You’re the One”, these final few songs having much of the crowd singing along, echoing, “Every time you close your eyes I’ll kiss your head and say goodnight…”, even clapping along during the lull. Even those who were just in the Cambridge Room to see what was going on felt compelled to clap, clearly feeling the music at this point.

They were about to begin “She” when Rossi realized his guitar was out of tune, Kanne killing the time by chatting with the spectators, while Wilson swapped out to a mandolin, using it for the majority of the song. They were even joined by a women who supplied some of the backing vocals on the chorus during the song that had nearly everybody in the room swaying and mouthing along to the words.

They brought it all to a close with “Crazy Now”, a song described as being about the ups and downs of a relationship, loving or hating one another at different points, with the former always triumphing. It came to one extraordinary finish when Kanne picked up the cymbal he had been using, carrying it around the stage with him as he repeatedly struck it with his tambourine.

Northern National has been busy over these last several months. They played the Music Hall opening for a national touring band not too long ago, and have played multiple shows around the metroplex. It shows, the performance this night being even more polished and intense than what I recalled. The chemistry was even more impressive; and as good as they were back in January, this gig definitely outshined that last one I had seen. That’s saying something.

They’ve found their niche rather quickly, adding to their fan base with each show. If you see them, you’ll understand why, because their they make their shows so much fun, while still keeping a raw vibe about their upbeat, high-energy performance.

Their next show is going to be August 12th at The Prophet Bar, opening for The Spill Canvas, and then you can see them in Fort Worth on September 16th at Sundance Square. For their full list of shows, go HERE; and head over to iTUNES to buy their record. They also mentioned this night that they are recording some of their new music, with plans for a new single to be released come October. - The Music Enthusiast

On Saturday night, alternative band Northern National opened for soulful artist Max Frost at the House of Blues in downtown Dallas. A room full of lighthearted people in their twenties crowded into the Cambridge Room to hear the two acts. There’s nothing like the feeling of attending a fun concert on a Saturday night in a lively venue.

But last night, I had an entirely new experience walking in and out of the show. In the main room downstairs, a certain screamo band delicately named Cannibal Corpse was playing a concert as well. Now I want you to take a second here and consider what kind of crowd a band with both cannibal and corpse in their name would draw. If you guessed a bloodthirsty, Satan-loving, and just generally hostile one, you are correct, you smart devil you (sorry, I just had to). I knew Cannibal Corpse played a “successful” set when I walked out to find two different guys clad in blood-splattered tees with bloody noses. Oh what a night.

Anyway, the point is my life and limbs were in danger, but thanks to Northern National and Max Frost, the risk of death by mosh pit was undoubtedly worth it.

Northern National’s performance surpassed most opening acts’ performances by a mile (see my interview with band member Michael Keene online). The band took the stage with confidence, passion, and talent and pumped up the scarred and scared audience (shout out to you, Cannibal Corpse). The trio of Michaels in the band opened the show with their upbeat title track of their first album released last September called “Young & in Love.” Now I don’t think it’s any secret people don’t typically bounce around for the opening artist. However, Northern National immediately impressed the crowd and got everybody moving.

Next, the band slowed things down with their groovy track “Gotta Dare.” Keyboard player and percussionist Michael Kanne led the crowd in a classic side-to-side Hitch-esque sway (if you haven’t seen the movie “Hitch” and have no clue what I am talking about, I feel sorry for you.) during this song. Next up was “I’ll be Okay,” a song “about finding love” according to lead singer Michael Rossi, which was just on the TV show “Cougar Town.” A creative mash up of cover of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and Jason Mraz’s “Remedy” followed along with their romantic tunes “Dance with Me Endlessly” and “You’re the One.” To close the show, Northern National played their hit single “She” and a song composed of only two chords called “Crazy Now.”

The Michaels of Northern National slayed their set just as the people downstairs were slaying each other and were kind enough to chat with fans before and after the show. Hopefully, they will make it to SMU this spring for a special show. Well done, guys.

I would like to take a second and give a shout out to three people who I believe deserve honorable mentions from Saturday’s show: 1. Shout out to the oldest man in the place who worked those air guitar movies the entire show. I know no one noticed your talent, but I saw you. I appreciate you, you wannabe Jimi Hendrix. 2. Shout out to the guy beside me. I have never seen a guy place his hand on his date’s head and direct her like a puppet. Thanks to you, I now know what that looks like. Thanks, man. 3. Last but certainly not least, a major shout out to artist Max Frost. I honestly had no clue who you were, but I certainly do now. You are truly one of the most talented and soulful performers I’ve ever seen. I already have your music on repeat. Mustangs, do yourself a huge favor and go check Max Frost out. You won’ t be disappointed.

So let’s review your homework (yeah I said the h-word). You have four tasks: 1. Listen to Northern National 2. Listen to Max Frost 3. Watch “Hitch” (you think I’m kidding) 4. And lastly, do not ever, unless Northern National and Max Frost are playing a show, enter the vicinity of a Cannibal Corpse concert. I prefer my readers alive. - SMU Daily Campus