dKOTA, Melville, Spirit Lake

[DYSLEXIC ACOUSTIC] While the name may read more like the moniker of a Midwestern teen rap-metal band, dKOTA is a local five-piece, headed by singer-songwriter Dustin Johnsen, that trades in what might be broadly described as “Americana.” Despite an equally horrible name, the band’s self-released debut, The Self-Dyssimilar, makes up for its absence of spell check with a few really nice songs. Johnsen has an admirable vocal range, extending from breathy folk-crooning dueling with the band’s cellist to almost snarling wails against overdriven guitar, and takes the occasional psychedelic turn with some heavy mic reverb. But for my money, the group is at its best without the affectations. The album’s most memorable track, “A Shivvver Too Deep,” carries great emotional weight with just some pared-back strings and a soulful melody.

Where: Mississippi Studios
Phone: 288-3895
Address: 3939 N Mississippi Ave.
Website: www.mississippistudios.com