W♥M

African Summer 2013

Read More African Summer 2012 I also just wanted to quickly mention that we are covering a few Cedar's "African Summer" 2012 concert series. I'll be attending Orchestre Poly-Rythmo …

AFRICAN SUMMER 2013
thecedar.org

Summer is here, and you know what that means: African Summer at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. I don't know when this began, but I'm glad to see it's a reoccurring Cedar feature. We'll try and cover at least one or two shows.

As usual, the Cedar does a great job putting together the lineup, showcasing some of the best current African musicians, schedule as follows:

06/15 M.anifest
06/26 Femi Kuti & the Positive Force
06/28 Amadou & Mariam
07/09 Vieux Farka Touré
07/10 Fendika
07/26 Chicago Afrobeat Project

About these musicians:

M.anifest won "Best Rapper" and "Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year" at the Ghana Music Award, so expect him to do that song ("Makaa Maka") this Saturday. Interesting note: I believe he's currently based in Minneapolis.

If the name Femi Kuti sound familiar, it's because he's the eldest son (as opposed to the young son Seun Kuti) of Fela Kuti.

Amadou & Mariam are a real life blind couple; they met at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind. The two now perform together as a duo.

Vieux Farka Touré - see feature below.

Fendika is an Ethiopian collective, featuring six performers (including two dedicated dancers).

If you think six is large, how about 7 to 14 in Chicago Afrobeat Project? The Cedar emphasized that the upcoming performance will also feature master drummer Tony Allen.

Read More Vieux Farka Touré About twenty minutes into the concert Israeli musician, Idan Raichel explained to the audience how he and Malian guitar virtuoso, Vieux Farka Touré, came to be on the stage of The Dakota …

VIEUX FARKA TOURE
vieuxfarkatoure.com

Vieux Farka Touré's most recent album, Mon Pays (My Country) was recorded in tribute to his homeland Mali. He wants to remind everyone of the wonderful culture and beauty that Mali is known. The ongoing fighting between Islamic rebels and the Tuareg is not what Vieux Farka Touré' wants the world to remember of his country of origin.

Mon Pays represents the acoustic blues tradition of Mali. He has made this record to preserve Mali's culture. Vieux Farka Touré' is one most thrilling artists to come out of Mali.

North American tour starts this week:

06/14/13 @ Outside At The Research Park
06/15/13 @ Takin’ It to the Streets
06/16/13 @ Great Hudson River Revival
06/19/13 @ Dirty Bourbon, Albuquerque, NM
06/20/13 @ Arroyo Seco Live, Arroyo Seco, NM
06/21/13 @ eTown Hall, Boulder, CO
06/23/13 @ Performance Works, Vancouver
06/24/13 @ Sugar Nightclub, Victoria, Canada
06/25/13 @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA
06/26/13 @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA
06/27/13 @ The Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA
06/28/13 @ Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR
06/30/13 @ Harbourfront Centre, Toronto
07/01/13 @ Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, Canada
07/03/13 @ Club Soda, Montreal, Canada
07/05/13 @ Iron Horse, Northampton, MA
07/06/13 @ Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT
07/09/13 @ Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
07/10/13 @ Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, IA
07/11/13 @ La Fete de Marquette, Madison, WI
07/13/13 @ Yoshis, San Francisco, CA
07/12/13 @ Levitt Pavilion, Pasadena, CA
07/14/13 @ California WorldFest, Grass Valley, CA
08/02/13 @ Pickathon, Happy Valley, OR
08/03/13 @ Pickathon, Happy Valley, OR
08/04/13 @ Crestone Music Festival, Crestone
08/06/13 @ Walnut Room, Denver, CO
08/07/13 @ JAS Cafe , Aspen, CO

TD SUNFEST
sunfest.on.ca

The TD Sunfest is taking place this July 4-7, 2013, at London, Ontario, in Canada. The festival highlight Africa's reggae icon Alpha Blondy and Malian vocalist Fatoumata Diawara, as two of the headliners.

The festival is so big that it has "mini-festivals" within Sunfest, including a showcase dedicated to the world’s burgeoning Afrofunk and soul scenes (Anthony Joseph & the Spasm Band; Sekoya Revisited and The Heavyweights Brass Band).

2013 Line Up

July 4, 2013: Boogat, Briga, Calypso Rose, Drumhand, Fatoumata Diawara, Genticorum, Los Vega Son Jarocho, Palo Cruzao, Rey Vallenato Beto Jamaica, Sacha Williamson, Samba Squad, Silk Road

July 5, 2013: Baterimba, Boogat, Briga, Calypso Rose, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, Custodio Castelo, Drumhand, Fatoumata Diawara, Los Vega Son Jarocho, Genticorum, Palo Cruzao, Quique Escamilla, Rey Vallenato Beto Jamaica, Sacha Williamson, Samba Squad, Silk Road

July 6, 2013:
Amina Figarova Sextet, Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band, Baterimba, Briga, Calypso Rose, Chico Trujillo, Custodio Castelo, Drumhand, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Five Alarm Funk, Genticorum, Hasna El Becharia, Heavyweights Brass Band, Hurlevent, Kleztory, Lazo, Music Machine with Ramone Valle, Palo Cruzao, Patricia Cano, Quique Escamilla, Remi Panossian Trio, Rey Vallenato Beto Jamaica, Rommel Ribeiro, Sekoya Revisited, Sonia Johnson, The Lula All-Stars, Traeben

July 7, 2013:
Alpha Blondy, Amina Figarova Sextet, Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band,Baterimba, Boogat, Briga, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, Chico Trujillo, Custodio Castelo, Drumhand, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Five Alarm Funk, Genticorum, Hasna El Becharia, Heavyweights Brass Band, Hurlevent, Kleztory, Laura Fernandez, Lazo, Los Vega Son Jarocho, Music Machine with Ramone Valle, Palo Cruzao, Patricia Cano, Quique Escamilla, Remi Panossian Trio, Rey Vallenato Beto Jamaica, Rommel Ribeiro, Sekoya Revisited, The Lula All-Stars

I SING FOR FREEDOM
baruch.cuny.edu

"I Sing for Freedom" is a sort of Broadway show, presented by Eric Krebs, running every Monday from June 17 to August 19 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York. The show was conceived and directed by Thuli Dumakude, who brings Southern church gospel and traditional South African Township songs sung in Zulu. All the singing will be handled by Thokoza, an a cappella collective consisting of five older South African and African American.

Performances are on Mondays at 7:00 PM at the Arts Center, located at 55 Lexington Avenue . Tickets are $20, details on baruch.cuny.edu.

Trivia: Thokoza, which means "celebration" in Zulu.

gretchen + vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Kaivama and Polka Chicks at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06/09/13)

Setlists Polka Chicks Kaivama Tour Dates 06/11 Mendelssohn Performing Rockford, IL* 06/13 Vox Concert Series - Marshfield, WI* 06/14 CSPS Iowa City, IA* 06/15 Arts Center of Saint Peter 06/17 Beaner's Central Concert Duluth, MN 06/19-06/23 FinnFest 2013 Hancock, MI 07/18 Algomah Acres Farm Greenland, MI 07/19-07/21 Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival 08/08 Trinity House Theatre Dearborn, MI 08/09-08/11 Great Lakes Folk Festival * with Polka Chicks Read More The Polka Chicks The Polka Chicks is from Finland, consisting of two chicks: fiddler Kukka Lehto and accordionist Teija Niku. In 2009, the then-trio found themselves as "Band of the Year" at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, the same year …

Kaivama and the Polka Chicks did a sort of tagteam concert last night at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.

Their show can be broken down by this: The Polka Chicks did their set, with the last three songs invaded by Kaivama, then a brief intermission, followed by Kaivama's set, with the Polka Chicks coming back on to close out the last three songs, and, of course, the eventual encore song.

That actually sounds complicated, but it's really not. There's something nice about the circular feel to their plan, ending with everyone involved on stage.

Starting the show was The Polka Chicks. They play some traditional polka (some from Finland, some from "sad" Sweden, etc), and some original material. The highlight of their set was either "Ajatuksia" (Thoughts), a waltz, or "Linnanneito" (the Lady in the Castle), which is about a girl in jail and her intent on keeping her man faithful.

Kaivama seemed really pleased at the large turnout, with violinist Sara Pajunen keep asking "who are you?" addressing everyone. The duo formed only three-ish years ago, originally playing only instrumental folk. It would seem Kaivama is experimenting with more instruments (mandolin, banjo) and original lyrics in their songs.

Highlight of their set was a story about the near-non-existent city of "Toivoa", which in Finnish means hope.

The Polka Chicks came on stage to help Kaivama finish (or would that be funnier if I said Finnish?) the set. Oddly a Swedish title was in the mix: "I Denna Ljuva", Kaivama's latest single.

The Polka Chicks and Kaivama are currently playing some Midwest shows. Come check them out if you're into Scandinavian folk music.

Kaivama and Polka Chicks at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06/09/13)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ kaivama.com ♥ polkachicks.com

Junip at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06/08/13)

Tour Dates 06/09 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL 06/10 – Great Hall –Toronto, ON 06/12 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA 06/13 – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY 06/15 - 9:30 Club – Washington DC 06/16 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA Read More Junip Gothenburg's Junip is returning to Minneapolis, this time to promote the sophomore self-titled album, which came out April 23rd, 2013, via Mute Records. You may recall that we covered the trio's Minneapolis appearance two years ago.…

Thanks to the Current radio station, last night's Junip show at the Cedar Cultural Center, in Minneapolis, was sold out. This is both good and bad: good because it's great exposure for the band and bad because a lot of attendees aren't necessary fans. Dedicated fans without tickets were left outside the venue hoping someone had extra tickets to sell them.

BARBAROSSA

Opening up was Barbarossa, a one-man-band consisting of James Mathé, on the keys and organs. It was his first time in Minneapolis, although he confessed that he was really excited to be here because of the quality of music, citing Polica (he was on tour with them) and On An On (a band from Minneapolis and Chicago).

Barbarossa sang mostly original relationship, emotional, personal songs, like "Bloodline", "Butterfly Plague", and his set closer "The Load". The highlight of his brief set was a cover of Terence Trent Darby's hit single "Wishing Well".

ZOO ANIMAL

Next was Zoo Animal, a band that I've seen a few times. Mostly with just Holly Newsom by herself, so it's always nice to see her backed up with a full functioning band.

Highlight of their set was a brand new song, never performed live before. Newsom said it was a song she stole from another band, but then the rest of Zoo Animals made it good.

This was a triumphant return to Minneapolis for Junip.

This was a triumphant return to Minneapolis for Junip. Compared to their last appearance at the Cedar (José González with two other musicians sat down to a very quiet and intimate set), Junip was now a more traditional band with five band members, including production work from James Mathé (Barbarossa) in the background. This was a controlled show with direction in mind. Lights were minimalistic to set the mood, spotlight usually on the massive background image of deer. There was no stage banter, but this is not a surprise since González hardly spoke between songs at his previous appearance.

The band played tracks from Fields and their latest self-titled album (including "So Clear", "Your Life Your Call", "Suddenly", and their set closer "After All Is Said and Done").

Encore was "Black Refuge" and "Line Of Fire Lyrics", both from two different EPs.

Junip continues their tour through North America. Their self-titled album is available now via Mute Records.*

* Incidentally, I was over at the merchandise table to see all the stuff I could not afford. Some of the more interest releases includes a deluxe $50 art album (it's heavy clear color with two-discs), and a unique $20 silkscreen poster of the event (the poster is only sold at last night's show).

Junip at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06/08/13)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ junip.net ♥ barbarossamusic.com ♥ facebook.com/zooanimalmusic

Small Black at The Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06/04/13)

Tour Dates 06/07 Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret 06/08 Seattle WA - Bargoza 06/09 Portland OR - Bunk Bar 06/11 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw 06/13 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex 06/14 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar 06/15 Phoenix, AZ - Last Exit 06/17 Dallas TX - Club Dada 06/18 Austin, TX - Red 7 06/19 Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds 06/21 New Orleans, LA - Hiho Lounge 06/22 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn 06/23 Nashville, TN - Exit In 06/24 Chapell Hill, NC - Local 506 06/25 Washington, DC - Rock&Roll Hotel 06/30 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall Read More Small Black Small Black just released a new album titled "Limits of Desire", and are coming to the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, June 4 to play the new songs live. Small Black offers up a unique …

It was odd to attend a show at The Cedar that wasn't sold out. In fact, very few people were in attendance for the Small Black show on Tuesday, June 4, but that's not to say it wasn't extremely fulfilling.

With almost all the lights off in the auditorium, save for a few bright neon lights flashing over the band, they started their set with the song 'Photojournalist'. A rhythmic, pulsating anthem-of-sorts, it started the show off on a good foot. Already the crowd of perhaps 50 were bobbing and moving about, as they then switched to a song 'Canoe', off their brand new album 'Limits of Desire'. They switched gears and played a song off their 2008 self-titled EP, called 'Bad Lover' and that's when I really got into it. The 5-song EP solidified them as a heavy contender against all the other "electronic indie" or "chillwave" bands coming out at that same time, even if Small Black didn't garner as much buzz as the others.

They continued with a few more cuts off 'Limits of Desire', including 'Proper Spirit', which got the crowd dancing around quite a bit more than before with its 80s-style keyboard riff and ultra dance-y beat. They noted that this was their first tour with a full band, including guitars, and that the guitarists were having so much fun being able to add new layers to the music with their live shows. The bassist/guitarist impressed me more than a few times with his ability to switch between guitar and bass seamlessly and really showcase his abilities on both instruments. It was also fun to watch the singer dance around with his microphone, all while occasionally turning a knob or two on his mixer/sequencer. The fog machine and flashing colorful lights made me forget where I was a few times during the show.

They played a handful of other songs from each of their releases, including 'New Chain', Breathless', Outskirts', 'Only a Shadow', ending with 'No Stranger'. They didn't play an encore, but I believe they felt as equally satisfied in their performance as did the crowd, and that more may have taken from the amount of greatness they showcased for us.

Small Black at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06/04/13)

laurie ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ small-black.com

of Montreal at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (05/15/13)

Read More of Montreal Have you heard of NPR Tiny Desk Concert? This is basically a live performance in an office/desk area. Check out of Montreal's live performance at npr.org as they play three songs: "Feminine Effects", "Imbecile Rages", and "Amphibian Days".… Of Montreal put on a wildly inventive show at the Cedar Cultural Center last night, May 15, with Houston quintet Wild Moccasins opening. Fans in-the-know told me that this would be a toned down show, so I tried to manage my expectations waiting for Of Montreal to take the stage. Within the first handful of songs, balloons had been sent into the crowd, topless gremlins had taken the stage, and frontman Kevin Barnes had ridden a horse-like contraption through the audience. “And this isn’t even the encore!” exclaimed the Cedar volunteer next to me as we watched feathers being shot out into the crowd. The gimmicks might have been distracting from what was—without question—really great music if it weren’t for the fact that the entire band was having a really, really good time. You couldn’t miss the amusement on keyboardist Dottie Alexander’s face as two giant figures covered in stuffed animals took the stage. What it all meant? I’m not too entirely sure, but that didn’t seem to be the point. The point, it seems, was just to have a good time. As Kevin Barnes told the crowd as he left the stage, “I hope you all had a good time. I had a f*cking awesome time.” 05/16/13 - Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theatre 05/17/13 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall 05/18/13 - Covington, KY @ Madison Theater 05/19/13 - Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom 05/20/13 - Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom 05/21/13 - Boston, MA @ Paradise 05/22/13 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall 05/24/13 - Greensboro, NC @ Blind Tiger 05/25/13 - Frederick, MD @ Flying Dog Brewery 05/28/13 - Honolulu, HI @ Republik 06/01/13 - Nagano, Japan @ Taico Club Festival jamie ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ www.ofmontreal.net

Charles Bradley and the Extraordinaires with Paul and His Tall Trees at Cedar Cultural Center 5/7/2013

Tour Dates 05/09/13 Chicago, IL Metro / Smart Bar 05/10/13 Ferndale, MI The Magic Bag 05/11/13 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert 05/13/13 Montreal, QC Virgin Mobile 05/16/13 New York, NY Apollo Theater 05/17/13 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer 05/18/13 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club 06/07/13 Richmond, VA Brown's Island 06/12/13 Paris, France La Maroquinerie 06/14/13 London, UK Islington Assembly 06/15/13 Bergen, Norway Bergenhus Festning 06/16/13 Oslo, Norway Frognerparken 06/17/13 Copenhagen, Denmark VEGA 06/19/13 Hamburg, Germany Grunspan 06/20/13 Dresden, Germany Beatpol 06/22/13 Westmeath, Ireland Ballinlough Castle 06/23/13 Duisburg, Germany Landschaftspark 06/25/13 Odense, Denmark Posten 06/26/13 Berlin, Germany Huxleys Neue Welt 06/27/13 Frankfurt, Germany Batschkapp 06/30/13 Pilton, UK Worthy Farm 07/02/13 Vienna, Aus Vienna State Opera 07/03/13 Karlsruhe, Ger Tollhaus 07/05/13 Werchter, Belgium Festivalpark 07/07/13 Arras, Fr Citadel Of Arras 07/08/13 Argeles, Fr Les Deferlantes 07/09/13 Montreux, Switz Montreux Jazz 07/11/13 Bilbao, Spain Kobetamendi 07/13/13 Juan-Les-Pins, France Pinede Gould 07/14/13 Rotterdam, Netherlands Ahoy Rotterdam 07/15/13 Munich, Germany Olympiapark 07/18/13 Dour, Belgium Fest Grounds 07/20/13 Suffolk, UK Henham Park 07/21/13 Carhaix-Plouguer, Fr Les Vieilles 08/03/13 Chicago, IL Grant Park 08/10/13 Burnaby, BC Deer Lake Park 08/31/13 Seattle, WA Seattle Center Read More Charles Bradley The Screaming Eagle of Soul Lands in Minneapolis May 7th!!! Brooklyn-native funk/soul singer Charles Bradley has been making quite a name for himself these days. Having spent the last twenty years performing as a James Brown…

The Screaming Eagle of Soul sure does know how to drum up the excitement. Tuesday night at the Cedar Cultural Center, after excellent opener Paul and His Tall Trees exited the stage, folks were getting a little impatient waiting for soul maestro Charles Bradley to appear. There was definitely the feeling that the sold-out, all ages crowd were in for a real treat and as the minutes seemingly crawled by, a fevered anticipation set in. Tom Petty said that “waiting is the hardest part,” but pay-off that night was nothing short of extraordinary.

Bradley’s impressive backing band The Extraordinaires leapt on stage first, warming up the crowd with some fierce instrumentals including a cover of Lovin’ Spoonful's “Summer in the City.” The keys player stepped out from behind his instrument and strolled over to the silver mic and, sounding like Wolfman Jack, provided a stellar introduction for Bradley. Walking on stage clad in a black suit with a shimmery, sequined vest and gold decals on his shoulders and pant-legs, Bradley soaked in the love, arms outstretched and then wrapped over his chest, trying to embrace the whole room. And with a gentle melodic jingle from the guitar, the show took off.

For the next hour and a half, Bradley howled and crooned, sweat streaming down his face like tears, making his passionate wails more powerful. Songs like “The World (Is Going Up in Flames)” soared and Bradley rightly shouted, “Do you want to go to church tonight?” He also danced about doing “the Robot”, dropping to his knees twice and seductively swishing his hips around - his energy was unbelievable! This man is 64-years-old! After a triumphant “Slip Away,” he disappeared from the stage momentarily but returned with a new outfit: a blaze orange jumpsuit with little sequined designs and a slinky, red sheer wrap. The band kicked in to “No Time for Dreaming” with Bradley singing almost like it was painful, his face creased in a grimace. But when he looked out the adoring crowd, the gratitude and warmth just radiated from his smile. He even made a point to say that he didn’t consider the audience his fans, but rather his “brothers and sisters.”

As if he couldn’t wow us with his singing and dancing alone, Bradley broke out a tannerin (electro-theremin) during a crazy-funky “This Love Ain’t Big Enough for the Two of Us.” He created some insanely wild noises while busting out some slick moves. The fiery vintage soul kept coming: “Where Do We Go From Here,” saw Bradley pleading that “we all gotta make a change.” Before we knew it, though, the band was leaving the stage. In response, the entire room exploded into stomping, clapping and yelling - people were not quite ready to leave yet. Luckily, Bradley and the band wanted to stick around as well. The Extraordinaires graced the stage once again and kicked into a sweet instrumental cover of Del Shannon’s “Runaway,” the insistent organ part played flawlessly. As the band played, the keys player stood in front of the mic for a second time and grilled the audience’s devotion. “Do you want more Charles Bradley? Here he is: the Screaming Eagle of Soul, the Victim of Love and the baddest motorbike around... Mr. Charles Bradley!” Bradley walked back out in a gold, velvet jacket and black leather pants and he and the band killed it with a smoldering “Victim of Love” and “Why Is It So Hard?” The show ended with Bradley wading into the audience; a remarkable man being overwhelmed by the love of his brothers and sisters.

Charles Bradley and the Extraordinaires at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (05/07/13)

emily () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ thecharlesbradley.com

Carrie Rodriguez at the Cedar, Minneapolis (04/14/13)

Tour Dates 05/10/13 The Woodlands, TX Dosey Doe 05/11/13 La Grange, TX The Bugle Boy 05/25/13 College Station, TX Wolf Pen 06/27/13 Eugene, OR Shedd Institute Listen W♥M177 (7 mins) Read More Carrie Rodriguez Carrie Rodriguez's latest album, Give Me All You Got, is out today via Ninth Street Opus. After listening to the best track on the album, "Lake Harriet", I can indeed verify that it is about Minneapolis' lake. … Carrie Rodriguez's last date on a very long National tour for her latest album, Give Me All You Got was at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis last night, April 14th. Opening up were Jack Torrey and Page Burkum of The Cactus Blossoms, their fifth show working for Rodriguez. They did The Cactus Blossoms songs, but stripped down to double acoustics… lending their music to sound overtly very country and western. Highlight of their set was a cover of Roger Miller's "The Moon Is High", containing the very funny word-play lyrics of "but come the dawn and it will dawn on me you're gone". As expected, fiddler and singer/songwriter Carrie Rodriguez played a lot of tracks from her latest album, Give Me All You Got. Helping Rodriguez on various instruments and sometime backing vocals was Romantica's Luke Jacobs (with Ben Kyle nowhere to be found). My favorite track off the new album, "Lake Harriet", was played fairly early in with Rodriguez explaining her love for the city. She also dedicated "Absence" with its "snow, sleet, wind and rain" lyrics as only fitting to the current climate. As mentioned in the podcast, she did a couple of covers, Merle Haggard's "Today I Started Loving You Again", John Prine's "Unwed Fathers", and the encore Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". Carrie Rodriguez is currently back home in Austin, taking a much-needed break from the tour. Her latest album, Give Me All You Got, is out now via Ninth Street Opus. Carrie Rodriguez at the Cedar, Minneapolis (04/14/13) vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ carrierodriguez.com

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside

Read More Sallie Ford Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside has been busy. They were just in Minneapolis last May, and now the band is back in here at the 7th Street Entry last night, September 5th. . ...…

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside This Portland-based band was the opener for Thao & The Get Down Stay Down on April 1st at the Cedar Cultural Center. Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside was in town promoting their newest album Untamed Beast out on Partisan Records.

Her 1950’s Rock & Roll inspired look, sound and dance moves are nostalgic of an energy from a different era, reminiscent of the youth and innocence of years past. What she does is done well, and she delivers a fun package to present times. The band is will be headed out of the country shortly before returning to the states.

Check out the remaining tour dates below.

04/05 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad*
04/06 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom*
04/07 San Diego, CA The Casbah*
04/08 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour*
04/12 Atlanta, GA Music Room
05/29 La Cave A Musique Macon, France
06/04 Connexion Café Toulouse, France
06/05 La Sirene La Rochelle, France
06/06 Chabada Angers, France
06/14 Molotow Hamburg, Germany
06/10 The Lexington London, UK
06/13 Blue Shell Cologne, Germany
06/15 Privat Club Berlin, Germany
06/23 Les Schwab Amphitheater Bend, OR
06/26 Alive After Five Boise, ID
06/28 Gillete College Gillete, WY
06/28 Hi-Dive Denver, CO
06/30 State Room Salt Lake City, UT
07/20 Green River Greenfield, MA
08/03 Pendarvis Farm Happy Valley, OR
08/04 Pendarvis Farm Happy Valley, OR

*With Thao & The Get Down Stay Down

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (04/01/13)

audrey ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ sallieford.com

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down at the Cedar Cultural Center

Tour Dates 04/05 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad 04/06 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom 04/07 San Diego, CA The Casbah 04/08 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour Read More Thao & The Get Down Stay Down Did I not warn you that " the band to head out on tour in 2013 in support of the new album"? I have just received confirmed tour dates for Thao & The Get Down Stay Down for 2013. ...…

San Francisco-based band Thao & The Get Down Stay Down got down with us at the Cedar Cultural Center on April 1st and we loved every moment of it. The band is currently on tour promoting their newest record We The Common out on Ribbon Music.

This throaty voiced tiny performer fills the room with her energy and packs a punch into every song, putting on an incredible show. She ends every song in her performance with the same energy she starts with; jamming hard on whatever instrument she happens to be playing at the time. Her abilities range far beyond her voice, playing the banjo, acoustic guitar, a purple electric guitar and a slide guitar perfectly, infusing her performance with variability and raw talent, leaving us as the audience amazed.

As Thao sings, she seems to call the audience to feel with her, challenging them to be introspective, and to accompany her through her journey of discovery. There is so much feeling and depth present in every lyric and every song, and it’s apparent that this is a deeply personal album. This seems appropriate, since her last album, she has been working with the artist advocacy non-profit Air Traffic Control and volunteering with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. She is both an activist and musician, promoting OX-FAM and giving props to Minnesotans United for Families during the show. It’s obvious the love that she has for her fans and the feeling is definitely mutual. There aren’t many shows left on her tour so if you have the chance to see this little dynamo in concert, take it, she is an incredible woman, artist, and performer.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (04/01/13)

audrey ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ pertnearsandstone.com

BOY Crush: Boy at the Cedar Cultural Center Mar 19, 2013

Tour Dates 03/20 Chicago, IL @ Schubas 03/21 Chicago, IL @ Schubas 03/27 Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live 03/28 Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java 03/29 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom Read More Boy Singer Valeska Steiner (Swiss) and bassist Sonja Milena Glass (German) met randomly at a music course 8 years ago, initially playing concerts exclusively ..…

After 7 million views on YouTube of their single ‘Little Numbers’, a Lufthansa commercial, and riding the ‘Current Effect’ (aka local awareness/buzz accelerated by airplay on the local public radio station), German/Swiss pop/folk duo BOY finally came to the Twin Cities, playing the 2nd of two sold-out shows at the Cedar Cultural Center on a brutally cold Tuesday night.

Valeska Steiner and Sonja Glass brought only guitarist Deniz Erarslan and a laptop supplying beats, to accompany this stripped-down version of the band, playing an intimate acoustic performance that was just short of an hour. Staging was minimal, with the Cedar’s house lights on each end of the stage, remaining dim for most of their set.

The night began atmospherically, with Erarslan entering solo to get seated at his back station of pedals, guitars, and percussion, deadpanning ‘…I am BOY…!’ which got the audience laughing immediately. Soon after, Steiner and Glass entered, beginning the set with the unreleased “Into the Wild”, then into their latest gentle single, “Drive Darling”.

“Waitress” was prefaced by Steiner asking the audience if anyone had ever worked a job they didn't like, and it seemed like the majority of the crowd nodded in affirmation, and the delicate “Boris” told a narrative tale about being hit on by an acquaintance, while a boyfriend was out of town.

The performance crescendo’d with the infectious single about waiting for a desperate call, “Little Numbers” beginning as a piano-hand clap that had the audience singing along and stomping in time.

After a very brief pause, the threesome returned to the stage for a two-song encore, beginning with the quiet, older track “Zapping” and ending with a novel and appropriate cover of The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy”, though after their raucous reception, they won’t have any problem with loneliness in the Minneapolis area.

Both seemed genuinely surprised and pleased at the size of crowd and affection shown, and the audience’s love for the band was further proven by the merch stand completely selling out of product after the show. Definitely an act to watch in the future, and for fans of Feist, Regina Spektor, Jenny Lewis, and general alt-pop goodness.

BOY at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (03/19/13)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ listentoboy.com