Posted: 6/27/06
Local fans await show by Dunkirk Spririt
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The name is new and style has evolved, but fans of the band formerly known as ìSold Separatelyî are enthusiastic about the return of Dunkirk Spirit.
Four of the five band members are from Caledonia: James Fleischmann, Seth Gengler, Michael Bubbers, and Daniel VanRavenhorst. The fifth band member, Andrew Conway, is from Austin, Minnesota. They now live in Austin, Texas, which is a ìmecca for live music,î according to Fleischmann, interviewed by phone from Texas.
And while Northerners might get visions of country music and cowboy hats when contemplating Texas, Austin is actually a very progressive city with ìa huge music scene,î Fleischmann said.
ìWe love it down here,î he added.
The group is trying to make a name for itself in Austin.
ìItís really tough to break in,î said Fleischmann, ìBut weíre starting to poke our heads through.î
As for the name change, The Dunkirk spirit is a phrase coined by Winston Churchill following the Battle of Dunkirk in 1940. A flotilla of 700 civilian boats manned by citizens of Dunkirk, England, evacuated nearly 340,000 allied soldiers across the English Channel to escape the Nazis in just nine days. It is used to describe a leap of faith, and people who join together and work toward a common goal, said Fleischmann.
After the band adopted its new name Fleischmann, who was born in England, learned that he had a great uncle who was involved in that evacuation.
ìThat made it more personal,î said Fleischmann.
Although they still play the hard core ambient music their fans enjoy, the bandís style has changed and matured.
ìItís still the same genre with more style,î said Fleischmann. He said that funk and jazz have influenced the bandís repertoire.
The group is currently cutting a demo which will be available when they return to the area in July.
On July 15, Dunkirk Spirit will play at The Warehouse in La Crosse. Other shows include one July 14 at Bekkatanís in Austin, MN and an outdoor show at Todd Park in Austin on July 16. A date for July 13 in Minneapolis has not yet been confirmed.
All band members are excited about making the trip back to Minnesota and are looking forward to seeing their friends.
ìI canít wait,î said Fleischmann. ìItís going to a great show at the Warehouse, and our fans are great. I hope they like it.î
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com