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Ed Ackerson
Ed Ackerson
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Edwin C. Ackerson (July 18, 1965 – October 4, 2019)[4] was an American musician and producer from Minneapolis.[2] He produced or engineered dozens of records including works by prominent artists such as The Jayhawks, The Replacements, Motion City Soundtrack, Soul Asylum, Golden Smog, Dave Davies of The Kinks, Wesley Stace, Mason Jennings, Mark Mallman, John Strohm, Brian Setzer, Lizzo, Pete Yorn, The Wallflowers, Rhett Miller of The Old 97s, Jeremy Messersmith, and Juliana Hatfield.[5] He owned a recording studio in Minneapolis, Flowers,[3] and co-founded the Susstones record label.[6] Ackerson led several notable Twin Cities pop/rock bands including Polara and The 27 Various, and released several solo records under his own name. He was also a prolific producer of albums by Twin Cities bands, and was regarded as one of the linchpins of the Minnesota music scene.[4]

Early life

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Ackerson was born in Stillwater, Minnesota[3] and was valedictorian of his high school class.[7] In 1985, he turned down a scholarship to Yale to pursue a career in music in Minneapolis.[8]

Career

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As musician

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The Dig

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Ackerson's early band The Dig, formed in the mid-1980s, was influenced by The Jam and 1960s English mod rock like The Who. Though the Dig earned critical praise for the single "Problem With Mary,"[6] Ackerson told an interviewer in 1997 that he felt the band had been too "angry,"[9] and determined to take a more positive tack with his next project.

The 27 Various

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His next band, the 27 Various, blended Ackerson's mod influences with Syd Barrett-style psychedelia, both of which would continue to be touchstones throughout his career. The group's first two albums, 1987's Hi and 1989's Yes, Indeed, self-described by Ackerson as "whimsical,"[9] were limited releases on Ackerson's own Susstones label. The third, 1990's Approximately, moved to the larger label Clean (Twin/Tone), but despite the band's increased profile, the album suffered when Twin/Tone's distributor, Rough Trade, went out of business. Trouser Press writer Ira Robbins praised Approximately as a turning point "for Ackerson, who was on his way to becoming an assured and able multi-faceted rocker."[10] The band put out two more records in 1992, the power-pop set Up and the more dreamlike Fine, before breaking up that year. Robbins called Up "another excellent showcase for Ackerson's thoughtfully modulated guitar playing and genre-jumping songwriting," praising his ability to work in many styles, and noted that the heavy distortion effects on Fine were a sign of the sound Ackerson would pursue in his next project, Polara. Bryan Carroll of Allmusic called Fine's blend of shoegazer and Brit-pop "near-perfect" and lamented that "probably due to promotion/distribution, the record never received the praise or audience it deserved."[11]

Polara

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Polara's star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue

After a short stint as second guitarist in Blake Babies singer John Strohm's band Antenna,[12] Ackerson formed Polara with guitarist Jennifer Jurgens, bassist Jason Orris, and Trip Shakespeare's Matt Wilson on drums, continuing his interest in 1960s psychedelic pop but adding a heavy element of Krautrock-inspired electronics and keyboards.[13] Polara was Ackerson's first band to gain significant national attention. The group released a self-titled debut in 1995, which Allmusic writer Rick Anderson called "weird but lovable" and "as fresh and bracing as a bucket of ice water in the face."[14] Billboard writer Chris Morris called it "the first truly great album (I have) heard in 1995."[15] Strohm also contributed to the debut album. Critical acclaim for the album led to a bidding war by several major labels; Polara eventually signed to Interscope for its second album, C'est La Vie, in 1997,[9] with Peter Anderson replacing Wilson on drums.[10] Billboard writer Deborah Russell called Ackerson and Polara the front of "the emergence of a new local (Twin Cities) scene" more interested in pop music and postpunk than the punk rock of bands like Hüsker Dü and the Replacements.[16] Matt Hendrickson of Rolling Stone called him "the kingpin of a resurgent Minneapolis music scene."[8] Though Ackerson produced most of C'est la Vie himself, the band also worked with prominent producers Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins), Sean Slade, and Paul Q. Kolderie on several tracks. Ackerson took a holistic approach to making music, viewing composition, performance, recording and post-production all as steps in a single process of creating a song. He told an interviewer in Guitar Player magazine, "It's all part of the same thing—amps, guitars, effects. You're playing it all." Ackerson believed that constant experimentation with new sounds was at the heart of his songwriting approach with Polara, which he stated "would never make the same record twice." In contrast to Polara, his intention on C'est la Vie was to play more straightforward rock. "The first album had no lead (guitar parts), and that was very deliberate. I was kind of politicized about it. But when we started to get this record together I realized that I am a rock guitar player, and we felt like making a record more related to rock."[17] A third album, Formless/Functional, followed in 1998.[18] Despite a generally warm reception by critics (Trouser Press' Ira Robbins called it "stylish and sophisticated"[10]), the album received little support from its record label. Corporate mergers involving Interscope soon led the label to drop many bands, including Polara. Ackerson put Polara on hold in favor of other projects, but Jurgens and new bassist Dan Boen rejoined Ackerson for 2002's Jetpack Blues, released on Susstones.[13] Greg Winter of CMJ called Jetpack Blues "exquisite," with "short but sweet guitar solos and beautiful vocal harmonies."[19] A final album, Beekeeping, came out in 2008.

Polara has been honored with a star on the outside mural of famed Twin Cities club First Avenue.[4][20] Ackerson himself was a sound engineer at the club in the 1990s.[2] The stars recognize performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.[21] Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.[22]

Polara composed an original score for the silent film The Fall of the House of Usher, which they performed live at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre as part of the 2002 Los Angeles Film Festival.[23] Polara's song "Scorched Youth Policy" appears on the soundtrack to the 1996 Jackie Chan film Supercop.[24]

BNLX

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In 2010, Ackerson started a new group, BNLX (named after the abbreviation for Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg)[6] with his wife Ashley Ackerson. A blend of punk rock and Britpop, BNLX released about a dozen EPs and two albums on Susstones. The first four BNLX EPs, which were thematically connected and released consecutively over the course of 2010, were named No. 6 in a list of the top 10 Minnesota records of 2010 in the Star Tribune's annual survey of Twin Cities music critics.[25] The 2015 BNLX album Good Light tied for 15th place in that year's edition of the same poll.[26]

Ackerson also released two solo albums, Ed Ackerson and Ackerson2, in 2007 and 2008, as well as a 2002 instrumental album, Oblivion And Points Beyond, under the name Sideways.

As producer

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A self-described "gear freak,"[16] Ackerson's abiding interest in recording technology and studio experimentation led to a successful career as a producer. In 1999, Ackerson opened a recording studio in Minneapolis, Flowers, so named because the space had formerly been a greenhouse.[5] There, he produced or engineered records by nationally prominent artists and dozens of Twin Cities bands. With his friend John Kass, Ackerson also started a record label, Susstones, on which he would release much of his own music as well as that of many other Minneapolis bands.[27] Ackerson was known for being collaborative and inventive in his work, and was described by many who worked with him, including the Jayhawks' Gary Louris[28] and Motion City Soundtrack's Justin Pierre, as an extremely knowledgeable and experimental producer who was also humble and egalitarian.[3][2]

The Jayhawks made three albums with Ackerson, including 2000's Smile and 2003's Rainy Day Music, one of the band's most commercially successful discs.[29] 2018's Back Roads and Abandoned Motels was recorded in two sessions at Flowers, with Ackerson co-producing.[30] Ackerson also worked several times with the Jayhawks-associated supergroup Golden Smog,[31] which also included members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, and Wilco, on their 2006 and 2007 albums Another Fine Day and Blood On The Slacks.

In 2006, Ackerson was asked by the Replacements to produce two songs for the Rhino Records retrospective set Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?, the tracks "Message To the Boys" and "Pool & Dive." He worked with the group again for the 2013 five-song EP Songs for Slim, a benefit for the critically ill Slim Dunlap.[28]

Ackerson also worked frequently with Pierre, recording two of his bands at Flowers, Motion City Soundtrack's 2012 album Go[32] and ¡Hey, Hey Pioneers! by Farewell Continental.

Ackerson was named Producer of the Year at the 2005 Minnesota Music Awards.[33]

Flowers Studio remains open, now run by Ackerson's family; before his death, Ackerson chose Kris Johnson, guitarist in Minneapolis band Two Harbors, to be Flowers’ head engineer and studio manager.[34]

Selected discography

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As musician

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  • The Dig, "Mr. Nobody"/"Send It Through The Post" and "Problem With Mary"/"Trains" 7-inch singles (1985, Susstones); compiled on Complete Studio Recordings 1985-86 (2002, Susstones)
  • The 27 Various, Hi (1987, Susstones)
  • The 27 Various, Yes, Indeed (1989, Susstones)
  • The 27 Various, Approximately (1990, Clean/Twin/Tone)
  • The 27 Various, Up (1992, Clean/Twin/Tone)
  • The 27 Various, Fine (1992, Clean/Twin/Tone)
  • Antenna, Hideout (Mammoth, 1993)
  • Polara, Polara (1995, Clean/Restless)
  • Polara, Pantomime EP (1996, Interscope)
  • Polara, C'est La Vie (1997, Interscope)
  • Polara, Formless/Functional (1998, Interscope)
  • Polara, Jetpack Blues (2002, Susstones)
  • Sideways, Oblivion And Points Beyond (2002, Susstones)
  • Polara, Green Shoes EP (2006, Susstones)
  • Ed Ackerson, Ed Ackerson (2007, Susstones)
  • Polara, Beekeeping (2008, Susstones)
  • Ed Ackerson, Ackerson2 (2008, Susstones)
  • BNLX, EPs #1-4 (2010, Susstones)
  • BNLX, LP (2012, Susstones)
  • BNLX, Produit Collecté (Collected Product) (2013, Susstones)
  • BNLX, Good Light (2015, Susstones)
  • Polara, "Closer To Heaven" single (Susstones, 2020)[35][36][37][38]

As producer

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[37]

As engineer

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[37]

Tribute album

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  • Various artists, Closer To Heaven: A Tribute To Ed Ackerson (Susstones, 2020)

Personal life

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Ackerson was married to his BNLX bandmate, Ashley Ackerson. The couple have a daughter.[2]

Death

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Ackerson was diagnosed in 2018 with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He kept his illness private and continued working, but revealed the diagnosis publicly after Pete Townshend of The Who wished him good health and a speedy recovery onstage during a St. Paul concert in September 2019.[4][2] Ackerson died less than a month later, on October 4, 2019. Friends and former bandmates set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for his family's medical expenses.[2] A concert celebrating Ackerson's life was held at First Avenue February 15, 2020, which was also the 25th anniversary of Polara’s debut. Ackerson's bands played, as well as the Jayhawks, the Kraig Johnson Experience, Mark Mallman, and Two Harbors.[34]

Tribute album

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On October 5, 2020, the first anniversary of Ackerson's death, the Susstones label released a 30-song tribute album via Bandcamp, Closer To Heaven: A Tribute To Ed Ackerson, featuring 30 bands reinterpreting Ackerson songs. Artists included The Jayhawks, Motion City Soundtrack, Tanya Donelly, Dandy Warhols, and The Ocean Blue. The title was taken from Polara's last single, which had been released as a digital-only track in 2009 and was nearly forgotten until its rediscovery during work on the tribute album; Susstones re-released it also on the same day as the tribute album's release. Profits from Closer To Heaven went to an education fund for Ackerson's daughter.[39][40][41]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
''Ed Ackerson'' is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and engineer known for his influential presence in the Minneapolis music scene as a bandleader, collaborator, and studio owner. He fronted several notable bands, including Polara and BNLX, and produced or engineered records for prominent artists such as The Replacements, The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum, Motion City Soundtrack, Lizzo, and Golden Smog. A native of Stillwater, Minnesota, Ackerson emerged in the Twin Cities music scene in the early 1980s with bands such as The Dig and The 27 Various before achieving wider recognition with Polara, whose shoegaze-influenced sound led to a major-label deal with Interscope Records in the 1990s. He later formed BNLX with his wife Ashley Ackerson and continued releasing music both with bands and as a solo artist. Ackerson co-founded the Susstones record label and maintained a commitment to independent, artist-driven work throughout his career. In 1998, he opened Flowers Studio in Minneapolis's Lowry Hill East neighborhood, a former greenhouse that became a key recording space for local and national acts, valued for its welcoming atmosphere and Ackerson's hands-on expertise in production and engineering. Widely respected for his generosity, technical knowledge, and mentorship of emerging artists, he was regarded as a versatile multi-instrumentalist and a guiding force in the Minnesota music community. Ackerson was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and died on October 4, 2019, at age 54, surrounded by family and friends while remaining active in music until the end.

Early life

Youth and education

Ed Ackerson was born on July 18, 1965, in Stillwater, Minnesota. As a student, he distinguished himself academically and was named valedictorian of his high school class. His early exposure to punk rock shaped his musical interests during this period. In 1985, Ackerson declined a scholarship to Yale University to pursue a career in music in Minneapolis instead. He moved to the Twin Cities in the mid-1980s to immerse himself in the local music scene, marking the beginning of his professional involvement in the region's vibrant independent music community.

Music career

Bands and performances

Ed Ackerson's performing career began in the mid-1980s with the mod-influenced band The Dig, where he performed as a young mod-style musician, periodically traveling to Chicago to play shows in the local mod scene and opening for the Jayhawks at a Minneapolis club. He went on to lead the retro-pop band The 27 Various from the late 1980s through the early 1990s, releasing multiple albums including Hi (1987), Yes Indeed (1989), Approximately (1990), Up (1992), and Fine (1992) before the group's dissolution. Following that, Ackerson briefly contributed as second guitarist to Antenna on their 1993 album Hideout. He then formed Polara in the mid-1990s, which became his most prominent and longest-running band, characterized by a blend of psychedelic pop, Krautrock, and alternative rock elements. As frontman, singer, guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist for Polara, Ackerson led the release of the self-titled debut album in 1995 on Twin/Tone Records, which garnered positive reviews and national attention, sparking a major-label bidding war and a subsequent signing with Interscope Records. The band released the Pantomime EP (1996), C'est La Vie (1997), Formless/Functional (1998), Jetpack Blues (2002), the Green Shoes EP (2006), and Beekeeping (2008), continuing to produce music independently after parting ways with Interscope due to label restructuring. Polara earned Ackerson recognition as a standout act in the Twin Cities music scene, with frequent performances at venues like First Avenue, where he became a fixture and later received tribute events. In 2010, Ackerson formed the duo BNLX with his wife Ashley, releasing EPs in 2010, the LP in 2012, Produit Collecté (2013), and Good Light (2015), and continuing to perform and collaborate while balancing family life in the Minneapolis area.

Solo and side projects

Ed Ackerson released his instrumental side project album Oblivion And Points Beyond under the name Sideways in 2002 on Susstones. The album has been described as a "top-down-Maserati excursion through Ackerson's musical imagination," highlighting its exploratory and cinematic qualities. He followed with his first vocal-oriented solo album, the self-titled Ed Ackerson, released on Susstones in November 2007. This marked his debut full-length release under his own name after years of band work and production. Ackerson released his second solo album, Ackerson2, on Susstones in November 2008. These two solo records, often bundled together in reissues, represented a personal shift toward intimate songwriting and performance outside his group projects.

Production and engineering career

Notable productions

Ed Ackerson earned recognition as one of the leading producers in the Minneapolis music scene when he was named Producer of the Year (tied with John Hermanson) at the Minnesota Music Awards in 2005. His extensive credits as a producer and engineer include significant collaborations with several influential bands and artists, particularly in alternative rock and indie circles. He worked closely with The Jayhawks, engineering Smile (2000) and Rainy Day Music (2003) while also co-producing Back Roads and Abandoned Motels (2018) alongside Gary Louris and John Jackson. Ackerson produced Another Fine Day (2006) for Golden Smog and contributed to their follow-up Blood On The Slacks (2007). He produced, engineered, and mixed The Replacements' Songs for Slim EP (2013) and contributed to two songs on their 2006 compilation Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?. Ackerson co-produced Motion City Soundtrack's Go (2012) with the band and handled production on the track "History Lesson" from My Dinosaur Life (2010). His production and engineering work extended to a wide range of other artists, including Soul Asylum, Mason Jennings, Mark Mallman, Dave Davies, Wesley Stace, Pete Yorn, The Wallflowers, Rhett Miller, Jeremy Messersmith, Juliana Hatfield, Lizzo, Brian Setzer, and Joseph Arthur.

Flowers Studio and Susstones

In 1998, Ed Ackerson opened Flowers Studio in Minneapolis, converting a former greenhouse and florist's warehouse in the Lowry Hill East neighborhood into a professional recording facility. He designed the space as a modern interpretation of classic large-room studios from the 1960s through 1980s, emphasizing high ceilings, natural lighting, excellent sight lines, acoustic isolation, and an environment where comfort was considered essential to the creative process alongside high-quality equipment. The studio featured a large main tracking room, isolation booths, a skylit greenroom in the former greenhouse area, and capabilities for live band recording at stage volume as well as multitrack sessions with Studer analog and Pro Tools digital systems. Ackerson co-founded the Susstones record label with John Kass, serving as a platform for releasing music by independent artists, particularly those in the Midwestern jangle pop and indie rock scenes. Following Ackerson's death in 2019, Flowers Studio remained in operation under his family and with engineer Kris Johnson, whom Ackerson had selected prior to his passing to serve as head engineer and studio manager. The studio has continued to host recording sessions and maintain its role as a hub for Twin Cities musicians.

Film and television contributions

Soundtrack and music work

Ed Ackerson's contributions to film and television include soundtrack placements and audio work. His composition "Taupe" appeared on the soundtrack for the film Slaves to the Underground (1997), where he received credit as writer. Polara's song "Scorched Youth Policy" was featured on the soundtrack album for Supercop, with Ackerson credited as writer and producer of the track. As leader of Polara, Ackerson composed and performed an original live score for the silent film The Fall of the House of Usher, presented at the 2002 Los Angeles Film Festival. In television, he provided field audio for one episode of the series MN Original in 2010.

On-screen appearances and other involvement

Ed Ackerson appeared as himself in the documentary film Color Me Obsessed: A Film About the Replacements (2011), directed by Gorman Bechard. The film features interviews with fans, musicians, and associates reflecting on the influence of the 1980s rock band The Replacements, with Ackerson contributing as a notable figure in the Minneapolis music community. This appearance ties into his broader involvement in the local scene, including production work related to artists connected with The Replacements' orbit. No other on-screen appearances in film or television are documented.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Ed Ackerson was married to Ashley Ackerson, his bandmate in the group BNLX. The couple shared a deep mutual respect for each other's musicianship, with their creative collaboration serving as an expression of their love. They had one daughter, Annika, who became the center of their family life. In recognition of Ackerson's legacy, the 30-track tribute album Closer to Heaven: A Tribute to Ed Ackerson was released in 2020, with all download proceeds directed to a 529 education fund for Annika. One track on the album featured a cover of "Black and Blue," originally recorded by Ed and Ashley Ackerson with BNLX in the early 2000s.

Death and legacy

Illness and passing

Ed Ackerson was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in 2018. He kept his illness private outside his closest circle of friends for approximately one year. Ackerson publicly revealed his diagnosis on September 11, 2019, via a Facebook statement after Pete Townshend mentioned his condition from the stage during The Who's concert in St. Paul on September 6, 2019. He continued his musical work and described himself as being in an amazingly creative period with new collaborations in progress even after the public disclosure. Ackerson died on October 4, 2019, in Minneapolis at the age of 54.

Tributes and influence

Following his passing, Ed Ackerson received significant posthumous recognition through tributes that underscored his enduring influence on the Minneapolis music community. A memorial concert titled "Celebrating the Life of Ed Ackerson" took place at First Avenue on February 15, 2020, featuring performances by The Jayhawks, Kraig Johnson & The Poe-gram, Mark Mallman, Two Harbors, BNLX, a Polara reunion, and DJ Jake Rudh. The event celebrated his ongoing creative contributions and served as a release party for his final solo album Capricorn One alongside a limited-edition vinyl reissue of Polara's 1995 self-titled debut. Friends and collaborators emphasized forward momentum in honoring him, with his widow Ashley Ackerson noting the desire to keep his legacy alive and moving forward through such gatherings. A major posthumous tribute arrived with the surprise release of the album Closer to Heaven: A Tribute to Ed Ackerson by his former label Susstones on October 4, 2020. The 30-track collection featured contributions from artists including The Jayhawks, Motion City Soundtrack, Soul Asylum, Tanya Donelly, The Dandy Warhols, The Ocean Blue, Mark Mallman, and others, drawing from songs across Ackerson's career with bands such as Polara and BNLX. Proceeds from downloads were directed to a 529 education fund for his daughter Annika. Flowers Studio, which Ackerson founded in 1998, continues to operate under family oversight with Kris Johnson serving as head engineer, preserving his commitment to supporting independent musicians. Over three decades, Ackerson established himself as a central figure in the Twin Cities music scene through his production work, mentorship of emerging artists, and dedication to creative freedom.

References

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