Even though they landed on the cover of both City Pages and the Star Tribune A&E section, earned ample radio play on the Current, filled First Avenue as a headlining act and accomplished all sorts of things that local bands clamor to achieve – all in just about two years -- Maggie Morrison and Grant Cutler apparently didn't have what it takes to stay together. The duo are calling an end to their adored synth-pop duo, Lookbook, starting with the cancellation of their gig Saturday at Cause.
"With it only being the two of us, there needs to be an extremely strong relationship – and we didn't have that," Morrison said, hesitating to get into the personal side of the breakup. "It just had to happen." Cutler also said, "It's just a personal matter right now," and didn't want to expound on it. "I wish it wasn't this big, dramatic thing," he added. On the musical side, both band members have their own individual projects that they have already been moving toward, which Morrison admitted was part of Lookbook's undoing. She is now singing every Wednesday at Nick & Eddie with an improvisational electronic act called H.U.N.X., plus she said she has been writing some solo material. He will be releasing the first EP by Grant Cutler & the Gorgeous Lords with a party Oct. 20 at the Turf Club. The band posted a simple message to fans via Twitter: "It's a sad time, but thank you all for your continued support." Atop its Facebook page are plugs for what would become its last two gigs, one at the Current's State Fair booth and another at the Pizza Luce Block Party. The duo debuted new tunes in front of a few thousand listeners at the latter show, and would you believe it was some of their best stuff yet? Cutler said some of those tracks might get issued on down the line. "It depends on how we're feeling a few months from now," he said, adding, "I'm proud of all the music we've been making." Looking back on Lookbook's whirlwind run, Morrison said, "It always felt like it was something greater than ourselves, like we weren't really controlling it. That was the first time I've had that experience in music."
