Chasing the Light: The Cloud Cult Story

by Mark Allister

Overview

“Cloud Cult’s grand, unkempt indie rock is at once jam band, emo, and avant-garde. Their songs, born out of personal tragedy, are otherworldly lessons in being human.” —Pitchfork

During the past decade, Minnesota-grown band Cloud Cult has become one of the most inspirational indie bands, with a deeply devoted fan base and an approach to music and the environment that is hard not to admire. Beyond a musical biography, Chasing the Light tells the story of the heartbreaking yet affirming journey of lead singer and songwriter Craig Minowa and delves into the career of the band known by music lovers as the least cynical and most idealistic band in the country.

Tracing Cloud Cult’s rise to critical acclaim, author Mark Allister details the band’s defining moments, beginning with the death of Craig and Connie Minowa’s two-year-old son and the hundreds of songs that grew out of the tragic loss. Allister describes the band’s unique philosophy and principles, including how Minowa created a zero carbon footprint for the band’s recording and touring, adopting DIY and green-sustainable practices well before the ideas became mainstream. Allister also presents a first-person account of a day in the life of a quintessential indie band and conveys the immense emotional impact of Cloud Cult’s albums and live shows. Described by a fan in the book as “the anthem for the soul searcher in us all,” Cloud Cult’s music and message are both stirring and sincere.

Featuring rarely seen photos from Cloud Cult’s history and passionate testimonials by fans, Chasing the Light is a testament to the profound influence one band’s personal evolution can have on its followers and on indie rock aficionados in search of beauty, meaning, and redemption.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780816696536
Publisher:	University of Minnesota Press
Publication date:	10/01/2014
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Mark Allister is professor of English, environmental studies, and American studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He hosts a weekly radio show, Prof Rock with Mark Allister.

Mark Wheat is a regular host on Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current.

Table of Contents

Contents

Foreword
Mark Wheat

Introduction
Seeds
From Tragedy, Art
Fans Write
Psychological and Philosophical Sojourns
Fans Write
The Message Established: Love and Light
Fans Write
Your Show Starts Now
Acknowledgments
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Listening to Cloud Cult continues to inspire me: the band has set a tone for the kind of art I wish to create. They’re a carbon-neutral band in a carbon-saturated world, and a heart-centered band in a heartbroken world. I love them dearly and I’m intensely grateful that Cloud Cult exists." —Josh Radnor, actor and filmmaker


 "As a long-time fan of Cloud Cult, I enjoyed this book and am grateful to know the band's emotional story. I have always respected their music and lyrics, and I now understand my connection to Cloud Cult's art and agenda. Their story breaks my heart but also deeply inspires me. We are all connected to the world through pain and love." —MC Sean "Slug" Daley, Atmosphere


"Chasing the Light captures the essence of Cloud Cult." —Duluth News-Tribune

"Geared not just for music fans, but for readers who are interested in Eastern spirituality and those who have grieved the death of someone close to them." —Rochester Post-Bulletin

From the Publisher