Crankshaft has been pounding the pavement since 2008, developing his own "pork neck" style along the way. A sound heavily rooted in rock 'n' roll, blues, country, swing, and surf that "could not have been imagined prior to the early punk scene," as described by Dig In Magazine. Rock solid original lyrics, a dedicated fan base, and his 21st century twist on the American roots is pushing him to the top of the crowded Minneapolis music scene in a hurry. It's becoming clear to many that Crankshaft is "one of the best and most interesting roots, rock and blues acts playing around town these days." - Cities 97.
Born into this world from gas station cassette tape collecting semi-truck drivers, Alex “Crankshaft” Larson was introduced to a wide variety of music as a pup. In 1996 he traded a combination oil/wood stove to his uncle for his first electric guitar and amp. Since then he's been involved in many projects, including a band he started with his brother in 2001 called The Mojo Spleens. In April 2008, while self-employed as a contractor, he started practicing as a one-man band and was playing shows two months later. Larson self-produced and released three albums during the next two years. In 2010, backed with the business skills he developed running a construction company and the strong DIY ethics he learned from his connection to the underground punk scene, Crankshaft decided to hang up his hammer for good so he could focus on writing and performing music. Since then he's been earning a living playing, as both a traditional one-man band and as the leader of his trio, Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders.
Give him a listen, and if you like what you hear, tell someone (or everyone) you know. Then come to a show!

Booking: "Alex Larson" CrankshaftBooking@gmail.com

Press: "Rachel Taubert" SlabtownBooking@Gmail.com

Radio: "Pete Knapp" Pete@PeteKnapp.com

What You Gonna Do?

12 New Tracks:
When the Sun Goes Down
Boomtown
Dancin' In The Dirt
Trail Of Tears
Kingpin
I Wanna Play
Waiting For Me
Earthquake Shake
Let Me Love You
Don't Leave
Fill It Up
Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree

Crankshaft's Sampler Volume One

CD Tracks:
Earthquake Shake
When The Sun Goes Down
Neighbor Boys
Prayin' For Snow
Nail Driver
Eatin' Chili
Crankshaft

Limited copies are available at:
Down In The Valley - Golden Valley, MN
Mr. Mark Music - Anoka, MN

Lubricated Live and Loud

CD Tracks:
Crankshaft
Jaguar and Thunderbird
Junkyard Rhythm
Terraplane Blues
Nail Driver
Nasty
327
The Curse
Solid Gone
Eatin' Chili
Cadillac Man
Sleepy Town
Boogie!
Run Chicken Run
House of the Rising Sun

Junkyard Rhythm

CD Tracks:
Junkyard Rhythm
Leavin' This Town
Scrap Collectin' Man
The Curse
Prayin' For Snow
Neighbor Boys
I'm a Chainsaw
Motorcycle Woman
Phantom Ring
Overheatin'
327
Solid Gone
Ode To The '59

- $15 includes S&H -

Available at:
Cheapo - Minneapolis, MN
Down In The Valley - Golden Valley, MN
Mr. Mark Music - Anoka, MN

I Got The Curse (7" Record)

Limited copies are available at:
Mr. Mark Music - Anoka, MN

Old Photo --- Photos from past performances, tours, and art projects.

"What You Gonna Do?" Album Review - 5/17/2013 - NanoBotRock.com

"Every so often there is an artist that comes along so true to self that it seems as though they couldn't possibly play a bad song if they tried. Anything I write here is going to become irrelevant once you listen to a few songs, but allow me to break down a few notes on what makes this an instant favorite. (read more)
- by Kevin

"What You Gonna Do?" Album Review - 5/1/2013 - FreightTrainBoogie.com

Alex "Crankshaft" Larson hails from the musical melting pot that is the Twin Cities; however, you won't hear a lot of Husker Du or Replacements influence on his sound.  Rather Larson and his band, the Gear Grinders, seem to have tapped into the same vein as bands such as Jason & the Scorchers, Black Crowes, and most notably North Carolina's Southern Culture on the Skids.  On their second album, What You Gonna Do? , the Grinders mine typical SCOTS themes such as cars, bowling, and dirt surfaces.  Larson describes his sound as "pork neck blues" which, while I don't exactly know what that means, seems like as good a moniker as any. Most of the tracks on the album are performed with a basic three piece setup of guitar, bass and drums, but Alex is not afraid to throw in some electric piano, horns, and, of course, cowbell for good measure.  Highlights include "When the Sun Goes Down", "Dancin' in the Dirt" and "Kingpin".  The songs are catchy, fun and the production never overshadows the band's performance.  Overall, a worthy effort from this promising young artist.
- by Chase Barnard

"What You Gonna Do?" Album Review - 4/25/2013 - JerseyBeat.com

“What You Gonna Do?” is like a spark that ignites into bonfire. It starts off kind of subliminally, but by the time you get to the fifth song “King Pin,” you're hooked! A mix of barroom piano (like The Band on “Music from Big Pink”), neo-rockabilly, and carefully placed vocal harmonies. Crankshaft and the Grinders (cool name-I can't say it enough!), popularize American folk rock by telling it straight, embracing and updating ancient traditions without phony posing. Those who like Billy Bragg's sound, or as mentioned The Band are in for a largely topical (semi-political), dose of music that has been in limbo for a while. The lo-fi production adds a certain kind of laid-back approach, but it actually raises the listening appeal. You really what to hear to the WHOLE album, rather than piece by piece. Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders are gonna sneak-up on you and blow you away one song at a time!
- by Phil Rainone

"What You Gonna Do?" Album Review - 4/25/2013 - RippleMusic.com

Plain old emotions and fun in the band's sound. And damn, it's infectious. I've listened to What You Gonna Do? in my truck a lot and the album is a straight up traffic hazard. Once I hit play I start to groove in my seat, playing all kinds of air instruments and if I wasn't wearing the seat belt I would probably try to dance...while driving! (read more)
- by Håkan Nyman

"Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree" Live Video Review - 4/18/2013 - CityPages.com

Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders have built their reputation as well as their fan base due to their exuberant live shows, and this clip of "Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree" shows what all of the excitement is all about. The live video was shot at Crankshaft's recent record release party at Famous Dave's, and with all of the energy coming from the band you can definitely tell that they were enjoying themselves, as was the crowd. (video)
- by Erik Thompson

Featured Artist of the Week - 3/19/2013 - MusicThatIsntBad.org

The group's latest album, "What You Gonna Do?",  was recorded in an early 1900's style barn in St. Francis, Minnesota.  The album making process was an eighteen month affair that gives insight on what it means to live in America, both now and in years past.  The track on the album that really caught my attention is “Kingpin” – a tune about a woman in a bowling alley.  It's not everyday bowling alleys are the backdrop for a love affair, but Larson works it well and created a song that I simply can't stop listening to. (read more)
- by Tony Porter

"What You Gonna Do?" Album Review - 3/4/2013 - OnTheRechord.com

...Kingpin ramps up the sexiness that blues has been so often correlated with, and tells the interesting story of a “lo-fi enchilada mama in a bowling alley.” At first listen, I wrote down, ‘this song is too good,' and ‘who knew bowling alleys could be so sexy?' “There is something interesting about this song that I didn't realize myself, it was actually pointed out to me by Adam Levy, this is a song that points out the vulnerability of a relationship from a man's perspective,” Larson explained. “Most songs written in this way are actually sung by women about men.” By far the best track on the album, “Kingpin” incorporates quick fingers on the guitar, a classic rock ‘n' roll style, and an unbelievably sexy sounding leading lady. At the end of the song, the listener doesn't necessarily get the full story, although it's not hard to guess. But, we're left wondering what became of the nine-frame love affair... (read more)
- by Emily Buss

"What You Gonna Do?" Album Review - 2/5/2013 - RiftMagazine.com

I gotta confess, I'm not the biggest fan of popular music; most of it hurts my ears. But when I heard a teaser of Crankshaft's “What You Gonna Do?,” I needed to hear more. Crankshaft is a breath of fresh air. He's deeply rooted in and finely spins together blazin' blues, rockabilly, a little swing, a pinch of Hank Williams country, with some punk attitude thrown in for extra flavor. It's a throwback to the heyday of a young Elvis Presley and the king of the surf guitar, Dick Dale. Surprisingly, Crankshaft isn't drowned out by these influences, quite the contrary, he draws on them, but the sound is uniquely his. I can't even come up with a comparison to who he sounds like, because he doesn't sound like anyone else. While I especially loved “When The Sun Goes Down,” my favorite is “Trail Of Tears.” It's sultry, smoky … simply devastating. I'm not one to gush about a CD – I tell you what I hear and let you make the decision to buy, but I highly recommend you buy this one. “What You Gonna Do?” is a rare CD in which there isn't one bad song on it and boasts a pretty damn cool sound.
- by Christine Mlodzik

"What You Gonna Do?" Album Review - 2/2/2013 - Examiner.com

Crankshaft is an artist that immediately grabbed my attention when I saw some of his videos as a one-man band on YouTube. Well, with this album he again immediately grabs my attention although now he is backed by a rhythm section (The Gear Grinders). The first track "When the Sun Goes Down" is an upbeat greasy blues tune that will get you shaking what you got... This is a great album that combines greasy blues with a gritty garage rock sound. If you're a fan of garage blues, this is an album you should add to your collection. (read more)
- by Gary Schwind

Alex "Crankshaft" Larson Review - 5/31/2012 - Cities 97

One of the best and most interesting roots, rock and blues acts playing around town these days. Whether Alex “Crankshaft” Larson is playing solo, as a duo, or with his full band, he is absolutely worth checking out. Three weeks ago at Famous Dave’s Uptown, the full band won the finals of a months-long Battle of the Blues Bands to earn a main stage slot at the Famous Dave’s Blues and BBQ Fest June 9 in downtown Minneapolis. Then two weeks ago at MN Music Café in St Paul, he won both the solo/duo and full band categories of the local competition to represent Minnesota at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in February, 2013.
- by Greg Burke

More Reviews