Dirty 930 - Live and Locked in
- Juliana Pauling
- Jan 8
- 2 min read
Photo from Dirty 930's Instagram page (credited @bvogt22)
Dirty 930 is a promising addition to the alt-rock scene. Instrumentally, they deliver an energetic and earnest sound that is nostalgic to early 2000s rock. Lyrically, the band highlights an exhausted optimism of young adulthood that is immediately relatable to listeners.
At a time when a lot of new bands lean into Midwest emo aesthetics and novelty names, Dirty 930 stands out. They’re not reinventing alt-rock – but they don’t need to. They cut through the scene with their fun arrangements, tight performances, and songs that actually translate in a live setting. Dirty 930 is more than a band whose name you are not sure if you want to know the origin of.
The band is made up of Braydon Hoffmann (lead singer and rhythm guitarist), Nick Tonjum (drums), Carson Louis (lead guitarist), and Bennett Barber (bass and backing vocals). Though they have been performing live for under a year, Dirty 930 has already built noticeable momentum. In that amount of time they’ve consistently played venues throughout Southern and Central Minnesota, and earned a feature on KMSU’s radio.
I saw Dirty 930 perform on Sunday January 4th, at the Coffee Hag in Mankato. It was truly a great show, the band knows how to work a crowd. They played familiar covers with a dash of their own originality. The audience was singing along to covers of Nirvana, Green Day, Modern Baseball, and even an alt-rock reimagining of Sweet Caroline.
Found on Instagram, created by @bbvanzee_creations
Original tracks for their debut EP, Throw Your Life Away, were the real highlights. “Moon,” stood out live for being an instrumentally complex song. While the recorded track is a satisfying alt-rock piece, when the band played “Moon” live, it became something else entirely. The band broke down their arrangement to showcase dynamic and rhythmic nuances within the song. They made the song even more interesting by dramaticizing a softer intro then building tension into something big and emotionally satisfying.
On record, the EP’s title track, “Throw Your Life Away,” is a standout. It’s upbeat and catchy, with stylistic nods to early-2000s rock. The song’s lyrics resonate strongly with a young adult audience: “I’m tired, I’m tired, I’m tired / I’ll be lying face down on my bed all weekend.” It’s honest, relatable, and doesn’t try to over-explain itself.
If you’re looking for an alt-rock band with a fun live show, Dirty 930 is more than worth your time. Catch them at their album release show at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall on January 30th!
Photo found on instagram
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