W♥M

Larkin Poe at Knuckleheads, Kansas City MO (2023-01-24)

LARKIN POE Tour Poster LARKIN POE Setlist  Photo of Setlist (walk-on music- "White Room" by Cream) Strike Gold Kick the Blues Summertime Sunset Holy Ghost Fire She's a Self Made Man Preachin' Blues (Son House cover) Back Down South Mad as a Hatter Bleach Blonde Bottle Blues Southern Comfort Bad Spell Might as Well Be Me Wanted Woman (w/ AC/DC riff) Blue Ridge Mountains Bolt Cutters & The Family Name Encore: Deep Stays Down GOODNIGHT, TEXAS Setlist  Tucumcari A Bank Robber's Nursery Rhyme I'm Going to Work on Maggie's Farm Forever Jesse Got trapped in a Coal Mine Submarines Uncontrolled Study Borrowed Time Hypothermic The Railroad LARKIN POE Tour Dates JAN 26 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO JAN 27 The Commonwealth Room Salt Lake City, UT JAN 28 Center for the Arts Jackson, WY JAN 30 Bozeman, MT JAN 31 Knitting Factory Concert House Boise, ID FEB 2 The Crocodile Seattle, WA FEB 3 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC FEB 4 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR FEB 7 Center For The Arts Grass Valley, CA FEB 9 The Fillmore San Francisco, CA FEB 10 House of Blues San Diego, CA FEB 11 The Fonda Theatre Los Angeles, CA FEB 23 The Echo Lounge & Music Hall Dallas, TX FEB 24 Scoot Inn Austin, TX FEB 25 George's Majestic Lounge Fayetteville, AR MAR 9 9:30 Club Washington, DC MAR 10 Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia, PA MAR 11 Webster Hall New York, NY MAR 12 Royale Boston, MA MAR 15 The Opera House Toronto, ON MAR 16 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL MAR 17 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI MAR 18 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN MAR 31 Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, TN APR 1 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA APR 6 Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 Tyagarah, Australia APR 9 Metro Theatre Sydney, Australia APR 10 The Croxton Bandroom Melbourne, Australia APR 11 Corner Hotel Richmond, Australia APR 13 Powerstation Auckland, New Zealand APR 14 The Hunter Lounge Wellington, New Zealand APR 15 James Hay Theatre Christchurch, New Zealand OCT 6 Tapperiet Scene Trondheim, Norway OCT 7 Rockefeller Music Hall Oslo, Norway OCT 8 Münchenbryggeriet Stockholm, Sweden OCT 10 Amager Bio Copenhagen, Denmark OCT 11 Grosse Freiheit 36 Hamburg, Germany OCT 12 Ancienne Belgique Brussels, Belgium OCT 14 Le 106 Rouen, France OCT 15 L’Olympia Paris, France OCT 17 O2 Academy Bristol Bristol, UK OCT 18 O2 Academy Glasgow UK OCT 20 Albert Hall Manchester, UK OCT 21 Roundhouse London, UK OCT 23 E-Werk Cologne, Germany OCT 24 Tivoli Vredenburg Utrecht, NL OCT 25 La Laiterie Artefact Strasbourg, France OCT 27 Transbordeur Villeurbanne, France OCT 28 Volkshaus Zürich, Switzerland OCT 30 Circus Krone Munich, Germany OCT 31 Forum Karlín Karlín, Czechia NOV 1 Huxleys Neue Welt Berlin, Germany NOV 3 Brauerei Ottakringer Wien, Austria NOV 4 Fabrique Milan, Italy NOV 6 Le Bikini Ramonville-st-agne, France NOV 7 Razzmatazz Barcelona, Spain NOV 8 Sala Riviera Madrid, Spain Read More Larkin Poe Nashville-based sister duo Larkin Poe will be opening up for Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band at the Xcel Energy Center the night before (December 12th). ...

As a winter storm approached the area outside, a night of the blues warmed things up inside--

Rock/Blues sisters Larkin Poe returned to a very sold-out Knuckleheads Garage in Kansas City, for a thrilling night and showcase of how refreshed and evolved this distinctly American genre of music, can sound today.

==

The early-arriving crowd was treated to a thirty-five-minute opening set from openers Goodnight, Texas, a folk-rock foursome curiously named after the town that is the geographic midpoint between the initial locations of songwriters Avi Vinocur (San Francisco) and Patrick Dyer Wolf (Chapel Hill, NC).

The band has a new album to support, How Long Will It Take Them to Die, and has toured with the headliners several times, including the last time both acts played this very venue. Highlights included their spiritual sequel to a Dylan classic, “I'm Going to Work on Maggie's Farm Forever” (that had singer Vinocur loudly singing verses off-mic directly into the crowd), the pulp noir vastness of new song, “Hypothermic”, and the chain-gang stomp of their closing “The Railroad”.

==

The buzz over Nashville’s Larkin Poe has been palpable and growing louder, but this was the first time we've managed to catch talented sisters Rebecca & Megan Lovell live, to experience their own brand of Southern roots rock and blues, after hearing good things as they’ve headlined and also supported the likes of Bob Seger, Elvis Costello, and Keith Urban.

Their prolific and impressive discography includes their newest, Blood Harmony (via Tricki-Woo Records) and their lively energetic eighty-five-minute set did not disappoint the sellout crowd, 2/3 of which were seeing them for the first time as well (per an informal show of hands).

Originally from Atlanta and currently Nashville-based, they are descendants of celebrated author Edgar Allan Poe, named for their four-times removed grandfather, who was Poe’s cousin, and came roaring out of the gate with the rousing “Strike Gold”.

“Are you ready to kick the blues tonight?” a smiling Rebecca asked, as sister Megan embellished the crowd response with her lap steel wails, both beaming with the obvious pleasure of being able to play live again after our collective isolated years.

Older sister Megan and longtime bassist Tarka Layman shined on the Son House classic, “Preachin’ Blues” and their empowering feminist theme song, “She's a Self Made Man” was next (flipped from the setlist), while the new “Back Down South” was written by Rebecca and her husband as a love letter to all the influential music that has originated from the region.

“Mad as a Hatter” dates back all the way from the sisters’ mid-teens, about mental illness, and is a song they highlight and try to play at almost every show. With alcohol brand Southern Comfort actually sponsoring the tour, the girls were rushed out drink shots and toasted the crowd (like fine brand stewards) before going into the song of the same name.

The rocking “Bad Spell” was written by Rebecca as her own response to a classic hit by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and the set continued to gain momentum, culminating in the new “Bolt Cutters & The Family Name” and its defiant chorus, “You can take me outta the fight, but you can't take the fight outta me”, which ended the main set with the crowd whoo-whoo-ing along.

The one-song encore was not some bombastic anthem; rather, a backwoods swampy Delta Blues song from the new album, that both highlighted the sisters’ harmony vocals and the dark secrets a Southern River might hold in its history.

“There's nothing quite like blood harmony, more than flesh, more than bone, when you sing, I don't sing alone” Larkin Poe emote on the title track of their new album, and not only do the Lovell sisters harmonize and musically connect like only siblings can, but the album and new songs solidify them as a leading voice in this next generation of blues rock.

 

(click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

LARKIN POE

LARKIN POE

LARKIN POE

LARKIN POE

LARKIN POE

LARKIN POE

LARKIN POE

LARKIN POE

GOODNIGHT, TEXAS

GOODNIGHT, TEXAS

GOODNIGHT, TEXAS

GOODNIGHT, TEXAS

John C ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package!

Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package! Re-evaluate the songs
Double-packed with a photograph, extra track (and a tacky badge)
A-list, playlist, Please them! Please them! Please them!

- The Smiths

Ivy: Apartment Life Read More Ivy The New York band Ivy is still around, they released an album, All Hours, in 2011, but recently (August 2012) unveiled "Lost in the Sun" video via YouTube. …

IVY
thebandivy.com

American indie pop trio Ivy (Andy Chase, Adam Schlesinger - RIP , and Dominique Durand) announced that Bar/None Records will be re-issuing their 1997 album Apartment Life on March 3rd.

The reissue will include two new tracks, available on digital for the first time: “Sleepling Late” and “Sweet Mary”.

About the title and origin of the sophomore album, Andy Chase explains, “This is probably the most important record Ivy ever made. Me, Dominique and Adam were in NYC going from our apt to the studio every day. It was a glorious time for us - we would just wake up inspired and excited about everything we were doing. We knew we were becoming better at our craft and were excited to show the world. I think with this album we finally succeeded in demonstrating our ability to write and produce great pop songs. It was also the first and last time the three of us smoked pot for the entire duration of an album, supplied by our good friend and co producer Pete Nashel. We also had a healthy budget from Atlantic Records so we had a blast hiring horn players, string quartets, stretching our wings as producers and creating sounds in the studio we had never done before. Songs from this album appeared in countless tv shows, commercials and movies, putting us on the map in Hollywood among the music supervisors and directors, ultimately exposing us to a much larger universe. It was without a doubt the most fun we three ever had making music together. It was a special record for us and still is probably the favorite among our fanbase. For the past 20 years they have been asking for it on vinyl, and with Adam now gone, and IVY signing to Bar None Records to re release our entire catalogue of work, it was finally time to memorialize Apartment Life on vinyl.”

Ivy at 400 Bar (08 Jun 2005)

I do own a few Ivy albums, and I have to admit Apartment Life is my favorite record of theirs. There’s some great tracks on the album, including “I've Got a Feeling”, “Get Out of the City”, and “You Don't Know Anything”, thanks to the guitar works with Dominique’s French accent.

I saw the band live a few times, in Oct 2001 and Jun 2005, describing the 2001 show, “As you can see from the setlist, the beginning and ending were good portion of Apartment Life, sandwiched in the middle were songs from Long Distance. The only songs from their debut Realistic played that night were "Get Enough" and "Shallow", which I'm fine with because it's not particularly my favorite album from the band.”

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart: Belong Read More Pains of Being Pure at Heart Opening up for the show is one of our favorite bands, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. We've been loving this band since 2007. …

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
thepainsofbeingpureatheart.com

Slumberland Records announced that they are re-pressing The Pains of Being Pure At Heart’s sophomore album Belong. The previously out of print LP will be getting some special ice blue splatter vinyl, translucent pink cassettes, as well as digital.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Webster Hall (03 Oct 2009)

We’ve been writing about TPOBPAH since 2007 and saw them in 2009 and said, “Having just finished an extensive tour, the band had all these songs –especially the LP ones—down flat, but at the same time, there was no denying their palpable energy, which easily translated to the crowd.”

Track Listing:

1 Belong
2 Heaven's Gonna Happen Now
3 Heart in Your Heartbreak
4 The Body
5 Anne With An E
6 Even in Dreams
7 My Terrible Friend
8 Girl of 1,000 Dreams
9 Too Tough
10 Strange

Eels: Hombre Lobo Read More Eels Eels recently debut the video for “Good Night On Earth”, in anticipation for the upcoming fourteenth studio album Extreme Witchcraft, available January 28 via PIAS and the band’s own E Works Records. …

Eels
eelstheband.com

Before Eels, you guys know I was a big fan of E (for the song “Hello Cruel World” from the record A Man Called E).

I’ve been following Eels’ career for a while now, and they’re just a great band.

Recently, the band announced limited-edition vinyl reissues of their earlier records, Hombre Lobo, End Times, and Tomorrow Morning through E Works/[PIAS], starting March 17, 2023.

In addition, the band also announced a long-awaited return to live concerts this year, with a UK tour in March, and returning to the USA in June. And look at that! A Minneapolis date.

Eels at First Ave (05 June 2018)

Of course, we saw them before the pandemic, in June 2018 and noted, “The return of Eels with 2018’s The Deconstruction is pretty important, because after their 2014 tour and album release, Mark Everett (aka “E”) had reconsidered retiring from music. He was simply burnt out from the constant tour and constantly producing new music. So the band took a break, and E tried out acting (appearing in Netflix’s Love), and spent time with his family. Seeing the band on stage, the four year hiatus was good for Eels, the band looked and sounded great, and they looked like they were really enjoying themselves.”

North American Tour:

June 08 – Belly Up, San Diego, CA
June 10 – Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
June 11 – The UC Theatre, Berkeley, CA
June 13 – Revolution Hall, Portland, OR
June 14 – The Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA
June 16 – Metro Music Bar, Salt Lake City, UT
June 17 – Gothic Theater, Denver, CO
June 18 – Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS
June 20 – First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
June 21 – Metro, Chicago, IL
June 23 – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, Munhall (Pittsburgh), PA
June 24 – Keswick Theatre, Glenside (Philadelphia), PA
June 25 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
June 27 – Webster Hall, New York, NY
June 28 – The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD
June 29 – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
June 30 – Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Ladies, Women, and Girls

A heartbreak of records is what you said
And all the girl bands have gone to your head
So what do you think we're trying to do?
Now it's about us, it's not about you

- Bratmobile

Read more Riot Grrrls, Girls Girls Girls.

Le Tigre 2023 Tour Read More Le Tigre Le Tigre, "The Tiger", is undoubtedly the best project that Kathleen Hanna's been involved in since Bikini Kill. Originally, this band was conceived to be a "live" version of her solo effort, Julie Ruin, but as it developed …

Le Tigre
letigre.world

Every riot grrrl fan is excited about Bikini Kill coming to St Paul this April 20th… so it’s even more exciting to hear that Kathleen Hanna’s art/dance project Le Tigre have reformed to launch their first tour in 18 years! Unfortunately, they’re not stopping by Minneapolis this year… but there’s always hope for next year.

Le Tigre at First Ave (09 Aug 2005)

I’ve seen Le Tigre twice, including their big First Avenue show in August 2005, writing, “The end of their set was really, really fun, they played all the hits: "Hot Topic", "TKO", and the finale "Deceptacon".”

Le Tigre Tour Dates

5/27: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
6/1: Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound Barcelona 2023
6/3: London, UK @ Troxy
6/5: Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
6/6: Glasgow, Scotland @ Barrowland Ballroom
6/8: Madrid, Spain @ Primavera Sound Madrid 2023
6/9: Porto, Portugal @ Nos Primavera Sound Porto 2023
6/11: Paris, France @ Le Trianon
6/14: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
6/16: Berlin, Germany @ Huxleys Neue Welt
6/17: Hamburg, Germany @ Markthalle
7/1: Oakland, CA @ Mosswood Meltdown Festival
7/3: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
7/6: Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
7/7: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
7/9: Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
7/15: Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
7/17: Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
7/18: Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
7/19: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
7/21: Toronto, ON @ History
7/22: Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia
7/24: Boston, MA @ Royale
7/28: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

Yelle: Top Fan Read More Yelle Oh how I love "Je Veux Te Voir"! Julie Budet, aka Yelle, is in New York for Fashion Week, so I'm sure you'll see her in loads of magazines. Her band will be doing a ton of dates in North America in mid-April …

Yelle
yelle.fr

I’ve been a “top fan” for French artist Yelle since I heard the song “Je Veux Te Voir”.

It was announced recently that Yelle’s new single, “Top Fan” is out now. I recently saw the official music video on YouTube and, as always, they are truly amazing.

The single is taken from their fourth album L'ère Du Verseau (aka The Age Of Aquarius) – their first new album in 6 years, that came out in 2020… Unfortunately due to the pandemic, they were not able to come to America for a tour.

Now that the pandemic is over, the upcoming Yelle tour will start at the end of February in Washington DC’s 9:30 Club, and will stop in New York for 2 Elsewhere dates, before going to the west coast to play Los Angeles and end at San Diego’s influential CRSSD Festival.

YELLE returns live to USA very soon:

Sat Feb 25: Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
Tue Feb 28: Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere Hall
Wed Mar 01: Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere Hall
Fri Mar 03: Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco
Sat Mar 04: San Diego, CA - CRSSD Festival

It’s a very brief tour… and if additional USA dates are announced, I will be sure to let you know.

Women In Music Read More Bratmobile Jen Smith from Bratmobile inspired the name "riot grrrl". The short-lived band reformed in the 2000 with Ladies, Women and Girls and I finally got to see the band live! When they first started in 1993 .…

Women In Music
womeninmusic.org

The 501(c)3 non-profit organization Women In Music announced in person chapter events for their third annual educational Summit, taking place next week, January 25-27. In person events already started on January 24 and will continue until the 27th… featuring chapters in Nashville, Chicago, Boston, and Denver in addition to the online programming scheduled from January 25-27.

The highlight for me is that Molly Neuman, from Bratmobile, will hold a panel. She’ll be discussing her career path as a drummer in Bratmobile, part of the massively influential riot grrrl movement of the 1990s.

Details below:

January 26 | WIM Chicago’s 2023 Kick-Off Party
In support of WIM Summit, Women In Music Chicago is hosting a 2023 Kick-Off Party at Midwest Brewing Company Thursday, January 26th from 6PM to 9PM! Chicago’s very own DJs will be spinning tunes and food will be provided. WIM members will receive two (2) drink tickets at the event (valid ID required)

Register: event-5103587

January 26 | WIM Boston’s Fireside Chat with President Nicole Barsalona
Join WIM Boston and WIM Northeastern on Thursday, January 26 at The Record Co. for our portion of WIM's annual Summit! This year, we're treating guests to a motivating -- and free -- evening of networking, conversation, and career advice. We will have an informative fireside chat with WIM President and Artist Manager, Nicole Barsalona, and WIM Boston leader and Artist Manager Kristina Latino.

Register: event-5126316

January 27 | WIM Denver’s Go Speed Networking
#WIMDenver has got the need for speed! Join them for a fun-filled evening of Speed Networking on Friday January, 27th at River North Brewery - Blake Street Taproom! This event incorporates a speed-networking game to make conversing easier, even for the introverts squirming in their seats as they read the word “networking”. You’ll meet more fellow industry professionals; converse with colleagues, share experiences and make connections. Plus! All attendees will receive two complimentary drink tickets upon entry (must be 21+ and provide ID for proof of age)

Register: event-5116266

As part of the nonprofit's mission to educate, empower and advance women in the music industry, this year’s Summit will highlight various panels offering diverse topics and perspectives from leading industry professionals including Samantha Kirby, Cheryl Paglierani, Mari Davies, Jenna Gaudio, Dann Liebermann, Leslie Powell, Heidy Vaquerano, Christine Osazuwa, Lauren Smith Brody, Jules Kammann, Leigh McCorkle, Acacia Diaz, Thea Raskin, Blair Miller, Temima Shames, Cassie Petrey, Sari Kohen, Tara Bendler, Maria Gironas, Neeta Ragoowansi, Moira McCarthy, Nicole Barsalona and many more.

This year’s 2023 Summit programming will be presented virtually, as it has in years past, to allow global chapters and members equal access to the educational and career development content. Alongside executive programming, a focus on those entering the industry will include a career fair on day three, inspired by Women in Music’s new collegiate expansion, the WIM Mentorship Program and the WIM Internship Program, the latter of which places diverse candidates into paid in-house industry internships at partner companies. Beyond industry-specific conversations, this year’s Summit will explore workplace culture and community in 2023, with sessions highlighting data behind remote and hybrid models. A talk from Author, Founder and CEO of The Fifth Trimester, Lauren Smith Brody, aims to help parents navigate the “new normal” of virtual work. WIM members can register for free, and tickets are available for purchase to non-members.

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: February 15 to February 18

02/15 Rubblebucket with Spaceface at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Read More Rubblebucket Rubblebucket's horn section Cassandra Jenkins The Westerlies Isaac Gillespie. All proceeds to benefit the Bushwick School of Music. …

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

02/15/2023 Wednesday

Rubblebucket
with Spaceface
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
first-avenue.com

Rubblebucket is headlining the Amsterdam Bar & Hall on February 15, 2023.

Rubblebucket semi-recently surprised fans by mailing out invites to a combination community revitalization & listening party in Brooklyn, New York. The listening party/dance party featured the band and a DJ set by Miss Alicia.

Spaceface to open.

Upcoming performances:

Jan 26: WASHINGTON, DC @ 9:30 Club
Jan 27: CARRBORO, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Jan 28: ATLANTA, GA @ Terminal West
Jan 30: DALLAS, TX @ Tulips
Jan 31: AUSTIN, TX @ Mohawk
Feb 3: LOS ANGELES, CA @ Lodge Room
Feb 4: SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Fillmore
Feb 7: SEATTLE, WA @ Crocodile
Feb 8: PORTLAND, OR @ Wonder
Feb 9: BOISE, ID @ El Korah Shrine
Feb 10: SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ Commonwealth
Feb 11: DENVER, CO @ Gothic
Feb 15: MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Feb 16: MADISON, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Feb 17: CHICAGO, IL @ Thalia Hall
Feb 18: GRAND RAPIDS, MI @ Elevation
Feb 19: CLEVELAND, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
Mar 16: RICHMOND, VA @ The National
Mar 17: ASHEVILLE, NC @ Salvage Station
Mar 18: NASHVILLE, TN @ Basement East
Mar 19: LOUISVILLE, KY @ Headliners
Mar 20: PITTSBURGH, PA @ Mr Smalls
Mar 23: PHILADELPHIA, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl
Mar 24: BOSTON, MA @ Big Night Live
Mar 25: BROOKLYN, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

02/18 Maggie Rogers with Del Water Gap at the Armory Read More Maggie Rogers Maggie Rogers will be playing First Avenue on Monday, October 29th. The show is sold out. Look for Rogers’ Capitol Records debut album, Heard It In A Past Life, on January 18, 2019. …

02/18/2023 Saturday

Maggie Rogers
with Del Water Gap
at the Armory
armorymn.com

Popular singer/songwriter Maggie Rogers is touring in support of her album Surrender.

Maggie Rogers at First Ave (29 Oct 2018)

We saw Rogers on her debut album tour in Oct 2018 and wrote, “Coming on stage to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” (which incidentally the Vaccines also used recently), Maggie Rogers danced wildly to her set starter “Give a Little”. Rogers explained that, “We don’t have a ton of songs out in the world, so we’re just going to play the new record.” She’s referring to her debut album Heard It In A Past Life, which isn’t going to be out until January 18, 2019 via Capitol Records. She basically played the entire album, and throwing in some songs from her EP and a John Prine cover of “Angel From Montgomery” on the encore.”

Maggie Rogers – The Feral Joy Tour – 2023

2/11 Boston, MA Roadrunner
2/13 Washington, DC The Anthem
2/15 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
2/17 Chicago, IL Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
2/18 Minneapolis, MN The Armory
2/19 Milwaukee, WI The Riverside Theater
2/22 Atlanta, GA The Eastern
2/24 New Orleans, LA Orpheum Theater
2/25 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall
2/26 Dallas, TX The Factory
3/1 Los Angeles, CA The Shrine Auditorium
3/2 San Diego, CA The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
3/5 San Francisco, CA Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

02/18 Tove Lo with Slayyyter at Palace Theatre Read More Tove Lo Swedish singer Tove Lo is headlining First Avenue. She won "Artist of the Year" and "Song of the Year" (for "Habits (Stay High)") at the Swedish Grammis earlier this year. Her latest album … Slayyyter “Dog House” is the latest single from Los Angeles’ Slayyyter. The song is taken from her debut album Troubled Paradise. …

02/18/2023 Saturday

Tove Lo
with Slayyyter
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

Internationally acclaimed, multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY® nominated artist Tove Lo is on tour in support of her fifth studio album Dirt Femme.

Tove Lo at First Ave (15 Feb 2017)

We saw Tove Lo in Feb 2017 and wrote, “Tove Lo took to the stage wearing a cinched up Beatles t-shirt and in tight yellow zippered racing pants, adorned with album’s title on the back cheeks and the album’s two chapters, Fairy Dust and Fire Fade, down each leg. Like many Swedish dance pop acts, her three-person band included two on percussion with a keyboardist rounding out the group. Fairy Dust refers to the emotional curve of anticipation and euphoria, marked by slower jams, and how she opened with ‘True Disaster’ and the album’s title track.”

Tour dates:

Feb 6 Nashville, TN, US Ryman Auditorium
Feb 8 Richmond, VA, US The National
Feb 9 Philadelphia, PA, US The Fillmore Philadelphia
Feb 10 Queens, NY, US Knockdown Center
Feb 13 Montreal, QC, Canada MTELUS
Feb 14 Toronto, ON, Canada History
Feb 15 Royal Oak, MI, US Royal Oak Music Theatre
Feb 17 Chicago, IL, US The Salt Shed
Feb 18 St. Paul, MN, US Palace Theatre
Feb 20 Denver, CO, US Mission Ballroom
Feb 21 Salt Lake City, UT, US Union Event Center
Feb 23 Seattle, WA, US Paramount Theatre
Feb 24 Vancouver, BC, Canada Commodore Ballroom
Feb 25 Portland, OR, US Roseland Theatre
Feb 27 Oakland, CA, US Fox Theater
Mar 2 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Wiltern
Mar 3 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Wiltern
Mar 17 San Isidro, Argentina Lollapalooza
Mar 17 Santiago, Chile Lollapalooza Chile
Mar 20 Santiago, Chile Teatro Teletón
Mar 23 Bogota, Colombia Festival Estereo Picnic
Mar 24 São Paulo, Brazil Lollapalooza
Apr 29 Cuernavaca, Mexico Festival Vaiven
May 6 Birmingham, UK O2 Institute Birmingham
May 19 Gulf Shores, AL, US Hangout Music Festival
May 25 San Diego, CA, US Soma
May 26 Outdoor Napa, CA, US BottleRock Napa Valley
May 26 Nappa Valley, CA, US BottleRock Napa Valley
Jun 15 Outdoor Oslo, Norway Piknik I Parken
Jun 22 Vyskov, Czech Republic Metronome Festival Prague
Jun 24 Outdoor Roskilde, Denmark Roskilde Festival

02/18 Samia with Tommy Lefroy and WHY NOT at First Avenue Read More Samia After a tour with Sylvan Esso, New York City’s Samia will be headlining her own tour… which includes Minneapolis and Kansas City. Samia ’s is touring in support of her new EP, Scout , released digitally July 23rd on Grand Jury , but arrived in physical formats in August 13rd. …

02/18/2023 Saturday

Samia
with Tommy Lefroy and WHY NOT
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Samia is tour in support of her sophomore album Honey (set for release on January 27th, 2023 via Grand Jury Music).

Samia shares the following about Honey : “This record is about learning to see the love around you. Sometimes the only thing I can be certain of is the way it feels. Even when I zoom all the way out, the little things matter the most. I was trying to imagine looking back at the end of life and what I'd have to say about it right now. This is a little bit of it. Telling stories, making amends, trying to show people I love them. It's a community record - I made it with Caleb Wright and our friends in the woods in North Carolina.”

Tommy Lefroy and WHY NOT to open.

Tour dates:

02/06 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel *
02/07 - Washington DC - 9:30 Club *
02/08 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer *
02/10 - Boston, MA - House of Blues *
02/11 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel *
02/14 - Montreal, QC - Le Studio TD *
02/15 - Toronto, ON - Opera House *
02/17 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre *
02/18 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
02/20 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre *
02/21 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Grand *
02/23 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile *
02/24 - Vancouver, BC - Hollywood Theatre *
02/25 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom *
02/27 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 *
03/02 - LA, CA - Fonda Theatre *
03/04 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom *
03/07 - Austin, TX - Scoot Inn *
03/08 - Dallas, TX - Trees *
03/10 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse *
03/11 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl *

* w/ support from Tommy Lefroy

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: This Week (01/29/2023)

01/24 Ani DiFranco with Peter Mulvey and SistaStrings at First Avenue Read More Ani Difranco Politically conscious protest singer Ani DiFranco is headlining First Avenue. You can bet she’ll be rallying against Donald Trump. ...

Here are some shows, this week, in the Minneapolis/St Paul area.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

01/24/2023 Tuesday

Ani DiFranco
with Peter Mulvey and SistaStrings
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Highly influential protest singer Ani DiFranco is making a return to First Avenue this January 24, 2023. Her previous First Avenue show, set for August 21, 2021 (as mentioned in July 2021) was canceled due to COVID concerns. DiFranco is making up for lost time with this January 2023 show… which actually kicks off her 2023 tour.

The feminist icon and Grammy winner is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of her seminal first live album, Living In Clip (Righteous Babe Records). In addition, you can get the 25th anniversary remastered edition of the landmark double album on this tour, as well as online through her website.

Also, look for DiFranco’s children book The Knowing, out March 7, 2023, via Penguin Kids.

Peter Mulvey and SistaStrings to open.

Tour dates:

01/24 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
01/25 Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI
01/26 Embassy Theatre Fort Wayne, IN
01/27 City Opera House Traverse City, MI
01/28 Ann Arbor Folk Festival 2023 Ann Arbor, MI
03/15 Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
03/16 Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
03/18 Breckenridge Riverwalk Center Adm Breckenridge, CO
03/19 Washington’s FoCo Fort Collins, CO
03/21 Commonwealth Room Salt Lake City, UT
03/22-03/26 Treefort Music Fest 2023
03/22 The Elm Bozeman, MT
03/24 Wilma Theatre Missoula, MT

01/27-01/28 Semisonic with Chastity Brown at First Avenue Read More Semisonic Local favorites Semisonic is playing a couple hometown shows. The warmup show will be at the Turf Club on Wednesday. For Friday and Saturday, the group will be playing their record Feeling Strangely Fine in its entirety. …

01/27/2023 Friday

Semisonic
with Chastity Brown
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

01/28/2023 Saturday

Semisonic
with Chastity Brown
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Celebrating local radio station The Current’s 18th Anniversary, they’ve double booked Semisonic and Chastity Brown at First Avenue on January 27 and 28.

As soon as the dates were announced, both shows have sold out… although Semisonic said that a limited number of tickets for Friday’s show was released to the public.

Dan Wilson at Fitzgerald (22 Sept 2017)

We saw singer Dan Wilson in Sep 2017 and said, “Singer-songwriter Dan Wilson has been a Los Angeles transplant for several years now, but Minneapolis/St. Paul still claims him as one of our own, and friends, family, and fans all came out, to fill his recent concert at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. ”

Semisonic wrote:

We’re so excited that our friend Chastity Brown has been added to our shows in January at First Avenue!

Minnesota friends! A handful of tickets for our Friday Jan 27 show at The Current’s 18th Anniversary Weekend with special guest Chastity Brown at First Avenue will be released today at 2pm CT. Get your tickets if you haven’t already!

01/29 Magic City Hippies with CAPYAC at Fine Line Read More Magic City Hippies Magic City Hippies is touring in support of their debut album Modern Animal… stopping by the Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St Paul on February 1st. …

01/29/2023 Sunday

Magic City Hippies
with CAPYAC
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Indie-rock band Magic City Hippies is back on tour in support of their third album Water Your Garden.

Magic City Hippies at First Ave (12 Mar 2017)

We didn’t see the band last January 2022, but briefly saw them with Hippo Campus in Mar 2017 and said, “Opening up the show was Florida’s Magic City Hippies.... in for a treat with the snowstorm outside. Normally a trio (Robby Hunter, Pat Howard, John Coughlin), the Miami-based band was expanded to a five-piece with a keyboardist and additional guitarist. This was the band’s first national tour, and they were super excited to be billed with Hippo Campus.”

Tour dates:

1/12: Jacksonville, FL - 1904 Music Hall *
1/13: Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse *
1/14: Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *
1/15: Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *
1/18+19: New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
1/20: Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club *
1/21: Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of the Living Arts *
1/23: Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Café and Music Hall *
1/24: Cleveland, OH - House of Blues Cambridge Room *
1/26: Detroit, MI - The Shelter *
1/27: Indianapolis, IN- The Vogue *
1/28: Chicago, IL - Metro *
1/29: Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line *
2/7: St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill Duck Room *
2/8: Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar *
2/10: Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre *
2/11: Frisco, CO - 10 Mile Music Hall *
2/13: South Salt Lake City, UT - The Commonwealth Room *
2/14: Bozeman, MT - The ELM *
2/15: Spokane, WA - Lucky You Lounge *
2/17: Vancouver, BC - Hollywood Theatre *
2/18: Seattle, WA - The Showbox @ The Market *
2/19: Portland, OR - McMenamins Crystal Ballroom *
2/21: Sacramento, CA - Harlow's *
2/23: San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
2/24: San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park *
2/25: Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre *
2/26: Tempe, AZ - Innings Festival
2/28: Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad *
3/1: El Paso, TX - Lowbrow Palace *
3/3: Dallas, TX - The Echo Lounge & Music Hall *
3/4: Austin, TX - Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater *
3/5: Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall Downstairs *

* with CAPYAC

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: February 11 to February 14

02/10-02/11 RadioBody: Radiohead Danced and Played in Jazz at Amsterdam Bar Read More Radiohead Radiohead was called On A Friday in 1995 because that's when they met to rehearse. Oasis originally named themselves after a Beatles song called "The Rain" …

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

02/10/2023 Friday
02/11/2023 Saturday

RadioBody
Radiohead Danced
and Played in Jazz
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
amsterdambarandhall.com

Everybody loves Radiohead. Why not experience it in a jazz style? Let the dancing begin on Friday and continues to Saturday with a special 2pm show that is “pay as you are” pricing.

Of course, you can expect them to play all the hits, including the f***cking special “Creep” song and “Karma Police”…. But personally speaking, I would love to hear “My Iron Lung” and b-sides like “Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)” and “Killer Cars.”

Description:

RadioBody is a collaboration with local composer and fellow Radiohead lover Mike Lauer exploring the jazz sensibilities found in the band’s work: thanks to their rich, multilayered rhythms, unique harmonies and long-form jams, their songs are often covered by jazz composers and are conducive to jazz styling.

Together, Lauer and Liebhard selected one song from each major Radiohead album for the show, for which Lauer has created original compositions that will be played live during the show by a jazz quartet he’ll lead. Dance, jazz and Radiohead fans alike, we hope you’ll join us!

02/13 Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience at Dakota Jazz Club Read More Michael Bublé Michael Bublé T-Mobile Center The GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum superstar entertainer will be back on the road with his Higher Tour, in support of his new album of the same name, his eleventh, on which he worked …

02/13/2023 Monday

Shaun Johnson
Big Band Experience
at Dakota Jazz Club
dakotacooks.com

Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience is having a Valentine Day-ish event at the Dakota Jazz Club on Feb 13.

The band is described as a cross between Michael Bublé and The Stray Cats’ Brian Setzer, thanks to their singer, Shaun Johnson’s Emmy award-winning crooning and campiness…

Incidentally, Johnson is also the singer of Tonic Sol-fa.

Tour dates:

January 27 Historic Temple Theatre Viroqua, WI
February 09 CTC Center Pillager, MN
February 13 Dakota Minneapolis, MN
March 09 Clayton Center Maryville, TN
March 19 Pablo Center Eau Claire, WI
April 16 Shaun Johnson Marvin, SD
April 21 City Opera House Traverse City, MI
April 25 The District Sioux Falls, SD
May 18 Campanile Center Minocqua, WI

02/14 We Came As Romans at Varsity Theater Read More We Came As Romans We Came As Romans stole the show last night, playing tracks from their latest self-titled album (Equal Vision Records). They had an intense light show that pretty much blinded you at times along with great music. … ERRA I've seen Erra multiple times and have never been disappointed but last night was the best time I had seen them thus far. Maybe it was the energy in the room or maybe it's that they …

02/14/2023 Tuesday

We Came As Romans
at Varsity Theater
livenation.com

Metalcore legends We Came As Romans are touring in support of their new album Darkbloom (Sharptone Records).

The band said, "We’re so excited to finally be able to share Darkbloom with the world. After what felt like an eternity, we get to share these songs with all those who supported us through the hardest time of our lives. We wrote this record about our grieving process after we lost Kyle four years ago - all the emotions we felt, and how we found a way to move forward. This entire record is dedicated to Kyle - he’ll always be a part of our band. We hope you love these songs as much as we do.”

They are referencing singer Kyle Pavone, who died at the age of 28, which we mentioned in Aug 2018.

We Came As Romans at Skyway Theatre (30 Oct 2015)

We saw the group in Roctober 2015 and said, “We Came As Romans stole the show last night, playing tracks from their latest self-titled album (Equal Vision Records). They had an intense light show that pretty much blinded you at times along with great music. I have seen these guys a couple of times and they keep getting more and more polished with each performance I see. "Tear It Down" is a song that the unclean singer, Dave Stephens, said was written just so they could see the whole crowd jump up and down in unison. That's exactly what the crowd did.”

ERRA and Brand of Sacrifice to open.

Tour dates:

Jan 19 Pittsburgh, PA, US Mr Smalls Theater
Jan 20 Philadelphia, PA, US Theatre of Living Arts
Jan 21 Worcester, MA, US The Palladium
Jan 22 New York (NYC), NY, US Irving Plaza
Jan 24 Canceled Fort Lauderdale, FL, US Culture Room
Jan 24 Baltimore, MD, US Baltimore Soundstage
Jan 25 Richmond, VA, US Canal Club
Jan 26 Charlotte, NC, US The Underground
Jan 27 Atlanta, GA, US The Masquerade
Jan 28 Orlando, FL, US House of Blues
Jan 30 Houston, TX, US White Oak
Jan 31 Austin, TX, US Empire
Feb 1 Dallas, TX, US House of Blues
Feb 3 Mesa, AZ, US The Nile Theatre
Feb 4 Anaheim, CA, US House of Blues
Feb 5 Sacramento, CA, US Ace of Spades
Feb 7 Portland, OR, US Hawthorne Theatre
Feb 8 Seattle, WA, US The Crocodile
Feb 10 Salt Lake City, UT, US The Complex - UT
Feb 11 Denver, CO, US Summit Music Hall
Feb 13 Lawrence, KS, US Granada Theatre
Feb 14 Minneapolis, MN, US Varsity Theater
Feb 15 Chicago, IL, US House of Blues
Feb 17 Columbus, OH, US The KING of CLUBS
Feb 18 Detroit, MI, US St. Andrew's Hall

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC- January 23-31, 2023- Upcoming Concerts (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More The Lone Bellow Nashville-based country trio The Lone Bellow are returning to a sold-out show in Minnesota's The Turf Club. The band are touring in support of their second album ...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

January continues and it hasn’t exactly been the “dog days of winter” so far in terms of bad weather (which is fine w/us) and concerts are trickling in, to begin the new year.

Chiefs are continuing to win in the Playoffs (fingers crossed), it’s Restaurant Week in the metro, and the milder temps, have made going out to shows, that much easier to do, which is great.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings through the end of the month- January 23-31st.

MONDAY JAN 23

TUESDAY JAN 24

Larkin Poe w Goodnight Texas, Knuckleheads, SOLD OUT

Sisters Rebecca & Megan Lovell are singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalists creating their own brand of Southern bluesy roots rock and have a new record out, Blood Harmony (via Tricki-Woo Records). Originally from Atlanta and currently living in Nashville, they are descendants of celebrated author Edgar Allan Poe and in concert, have lately been working in covers from Robert Johnson, Allman Brothers Band, and Son House.

Openers Goodnight, Texas are a folk-rock band named after the town that is the geographic midpoint between the working locations of songwriters Avi Vinocur from San Fran and Patrick Dyer Wolf in Chapel Hill, NC. They’ve toured with the headliners previously and have a new record to promote, the spooky named How Long Will It Take Them to Die.

WEDNESDAY JAN 25

Kansas City Symphony Presents Marvel Studios’ Black Panther™ in Concert Film + Live Orchestra January 25-28, Kauffman Center, $37.50-$77.50

Wakanda Forever! Featuring Jason Seber as guest conductor, you can relive the excitement of this highly successful Marvel Studios film as T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) becomes king and battling Killmonger, (Michael B Jordan) all while the Kansas City Symphony performs composer Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar® and Grammy®-winning score live to picture.

THURSDAY JAN 26

Carlos Mencia, Jan 26, 27, 28 Comedy Club of KC, $25/$33

The Comedy Central funnyman hits the road for a new stand-up comedy tour – Mencia's show "Mind of Mencia," first premiered in 2005 and became quickly popular with his first comedy special No Strings Attached becoming the first original standup DVD to achieve platinum status for the comedy cable channel.

The Fab Four (Beatles Tribute), Prairie Band Casino- Mayetta, SOLD OUT

The California-based tribute band is one of several that pay high-level homage to The Beatles. Founded in 1997 by Ron (as John Lennon) McNeil, the group began performing first in southern California and since have played in such far-off places as Japan, Malaysia, France, Hong Kong, the UK, Germany, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil and cover the entire Beatles songbook and members' solo projects.

FRIDAY JAN 27

Angel Olsen & the Big Time Band w Erin Rae, Liberty Hall- Lawrence, $30-$50

Asheville, NC (by way of St. Louis) alternative folk singer-songwriter Angel Olsen and her distinctive voice and stage presence are back on the road again and also can be found in the record racks with new release, Big Time (co-produced by Jonathan Wilson and via Jagjaguar) and its initial singles, “All the Good Times” and the title track.

We caught her live last, just last August, in an outdoor show on the Wild Hearts Tour alongside Julien Baker and Sharon Van Etten. Live, she plays with a full band as well as solo and has recently been encoring with an older classic- from Badfinger, Harry Nilsson, and others. Nashville singer-songwriter Erin Rae opens, in support of her new full-length, Lighten Up.

Dan Cummins (comedian), Uptown, $31-$122

The stand-up comic/podcaster is out on his 2023 Burn It All Down Tour. Cummins is frequently played on Pandora with over 850,000 artist stations created and over 650 million plays. His stand-up albums also spin heavily on numerous Sirius XM comedy stations.

Shen Yun Presented by Falun Dafa Association of KC Jan. 27-29, Kauffman Center, $88.50-$158.50

Shen Yun invites you to travel back to the magical world of ancient China. Experience a lost culture through the incredible art of classical Chinese dance, and see legends come to life. Originating in 2006, a group of Chinese artists came together in New York with a vision: to revive the best of China’s cultural heritage and share it with the world. They drew courage and inspiration from their practice of Falun Dafa- a spiritual discipline based on the principles of truthfulness.

We’ve seen the show before and it is colorful, vibrant, and visually stunning, but also be aware there are also some politics injected into the show regarding China’s modern regime, the relationship with Taiwan, and its place in the current world.

SATURDAY JAN 28

Frank Foster w/ Southerland, Granada- Lawrence, $20-$25

The Louisiana-raised and fiercely independent Country singer-songwriter is on the road, with recent single, “What’s It to Ya?” from last year’s Star Spangled Bangers being among his most recent releases. Nashville-based songwriting duo Southerland, is slated as support.

Nick Swardson (comedian) Uptown, $44-$54

The Minneapolis-born comedian Nick Swardson continues his Make Joke from Face Tour.

Eddie B (comedian), The Midland, $25-$65

The comedian first hit viral status with his series of comical videos titled "What Teachers Really Want to Say", eventually taking his videos to the stage at comedy clubs, theaters, and arenas. After a series of Covid-era virtual performances, he’s back on the road with his Teachers Only Tour.

SUNDAY JAN 29

MONDAY JAN 30

TUESDAY JAN 31

The Lone Bellow w Tow'rs, Knuckleheads, $30

We continue to be big fans of this Nashville (by way of Brooklyn) trio, out in support of their fifth studio Love Songs for Losers, which was released last November (via Dualtone Records). We’ve caught their spirited and passionate live show pretty regularly over the last decade plus, most recently at this very venue in March 2020, right before the global lockdown.

Openers Tow’rs are Flagstaff, AZ-based and led by husband-and-wife pair Kyle and Gretta Miller with last full-length being 2020’s The Holly & and The Ivy but have also just released three singles from an upcoming album.

john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. David Crosby (Crosby Stills & Nash, The Byrds)

(Read more Musicians who died in 2023)

David Crosby, the influential singer-songwriter-guitarist and founding member of Rock and Rock Hall of Fame-inducted bands, The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and for a time, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), has died at the age of 81.

His wife released this statement to Variety magazine:

“It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us.

His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.”

===

David Van Cortlandt Crosby was born on August 14, 1941 in Los Angeles, the son of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby and Aliph Van Cortlandt Whitehead, a salesperson at a Macy's, and was the younger brother of musician Ethan Crosby.

While at the Crane Country Day School in Montecito, CA, he starred in HMS Pinafore and other musicals and briefly studied drama at Santa Barbara City College before dropping out in favor of music full-time, recording his first solo session in 1963.

Crosby joined The Byrds in 1964 and the group soon scored a number-one hit in April 1965 with their cover of Bob Dylan’s "Mr. Tambourine Man". Crosby would appear on the Byrds' first five albums, joining Buffalo Springfield on stage at the Monterey Pop Festival, which contributed to his dismissal from the band.

He soon co-founded Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1968 with Stephen Stills (of Buffalo Springfield) and Graham Nash of the Hollies. Their debut album won them the Grammy Award for 1969’s Best New Artist with Neil Young joining the group for live appearances, and eventually on record as well. Crosby / Nash recorded three gold albums in the 1970s, and the core trio remained somewhat active from 1976 until 2016, despite bouts of in-fighting.

Five albums Crosby appeared on are included in Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, (three Byrds, two CSN[Y]) and in addition to being outspoken politically, Crosby’s strong personality meant he could be combative, overly stubborn, and somewhat polarizing to his friends, family, and bandmates.

Crosby recorded and toured with added vigor in his later years, feeling a renewed creative spark and also knowing the end might be near, and was also the subject of the compelling 2019 documentary David Crosby: Remember My Name.

John C (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Hadestown (musical) at The Music Hall, Kansas City Jan 17-22, 2022 (review)

Hadestown Playbill   HADESTOWN Tour Dates Jan 24 - Jan 29 MADISON, WI Overture Center for the Arts Jan 31 - Feb 19 CLEVELAND, OH Playhouse Square Feb 21 - Feb 26 BUFFALO, NY Shea’s Buffalo Theatre Feb 28 - Mar 5 SCHENECTADY, NY Proctors Mar 7 - Mar 12 HARTFORD, CT Bushnell Mar 14 - Mar 19 ROCHESTER, NY RBTL’s Aud. Theatre Mar 21 - Mar 26 PROVIDENCE, RI PPAC Mar 28 - Apr 2 WORCESTER, MA Hanover Theatre Apr 4 - Apr 9 HERSHEY, PA Hershey Theatre Apr 11 - Apr 16 BALTIMORE, MD The Hippodrome Theatre Apr 18 - Apr 30 CINCINNATI, OH Aronoff Center May 2 - May 7 MILWAUKEE, WI Uihlein Hall May 9 - May 14 GRAND RAPIDS, MI DeVos Perf. Hall May 16 - May 21 LOUISVILLE, KY The Kentucky Center May 23 - May 28 FAYETTEVILLE, AR Walton Arts Center May 31 - Jun 4 RICHMOND, VA Altria Theater Jun 6 - Jun 11 WASHINGTON, DC The National Theatre Jun 27 - Jul 2 FORT WORTH, TX Bass Performance Hall Jul - Aug?? TORONTO, ON Royal Alexandra Theatre Sep 12 - Sep 17 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Orpheum Theatre Read More Anaïs Mitchell Anaïs Mitchell was put together to encourage voter engagement drive in conjunction with the League of Women Voters. The “Use Your Voice Tour 2016,” produced by Columbia Artists ....

A journey we were happy to go down--

Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album is currently playing at The Music Hall, a historic Art Deco-era downtown Kansas City venue (which opened in 1936), and we were fortunate enough to attend the touring production’s opening night.

This fated folk opera musical was originally conceived over fifteen years ago by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell (a member of Bonny Light Horseman, and who we caught playing live solo, last May in St. Paul, MN), who brought the initial vision first to a small Vermont stage in 2006, and later turned it into a 2010 concept album with musical friends (including Ani DiFranco and Justin [Bon Iver] Vernon).

The musical would eventually graduate to larger stages and director Rachel (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) Chavkin was brought in to collaborate and help realize its finished form.

The core story dates back over 2500 years- the two mythic ancient Greek tales of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and also King Hades of the Underworld and his wife Persephone, both updated with modern flair and expert melodic songwriting.

At its heart, it is a love story and additionally highlights the dichotomy of doubt against faith, industry versus nature, and fear against love.

Set here in a depressed dust bowl town, the underworld becomes an underground mine and foundry, ruled by Mr. Hades who attracts workers with thin promises of warmth, food, and work, and who is married to the conflicted Persephone, allowed to spend six carefree months without abandon, and then has to go back underground for the remaining six months of the year.

Orpheus is a poor guitar-playing (instead of a classic lyre) musician, who relies on the goodness of others as he works on his ideal song soon falling in love with Eurydice, a drifter who ends up wooed into the underworld under false pretense.

Orpheus pledges to follow her and he eventually sings the song he’s long been writing– the essence of which helps convince Hades to..., all of which is narrated by the inimitable Hermes.

===

The touring production faithfully recreates the immersive stage design from the Broadway production, featuring a seven-piece band tucked in high corners (including strings and trombone, but with the drummer backstage for this version), and a base floor that rotates in several scenes to help drive the narrative.

Lighting was dramatic and well-planned, and each of the cast was in good voice and form. Male lead Chibueze Ihuoma was exceptional, showing a wide dexterity of pathos, good guitar skills, and a supremely honed falsetto (maybe the best we’ve heard since seeing Prince), that’s worth the ticket price alone.

Nathan Lee Graham as Hermes takes the audience jubilantly along for the ride, young female lead Hannah Whitley already shows some seasoned chops on this, her first national tour, and the workers/fates supporting cast even includes an Overland Park, KS native Lindsey Hailes.

Finally arriving on tour after the hype and Tony Award® wins, Hadestown mostly delivers with a fresh, contemporary telling of a classic tale "of the world we dream about, and the one we live in now.”

(Hadestown is playing at the Music Hall through Sunday, January 22)

(all photos courtesy of the official website, click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

HADESTOWN

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John C ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC- January 17-22, 2023- Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Anaïs Mitchell Anaïs Mitchell put together to encourage voter engagement drive in conjunction with the League of Women Voters. The “Use Your Voice Tour 2016,” produced by Columbia Artists ....

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Happy 2023!

The Year of the Rabbit (according to the Chinese Zodiac calendar), and while the concerts and events aren’t exactly racing out of the gate to start the new year, there are several worthwhile shows coming. Madonna just announced her Celebration Tour, which skips KC (again… Denver being the closest stop, why do you hate us, Madge?!) but look for many more show announcements to come.

Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City metro January 17-22nd.

TUESDAY JAN 17

Hadestown (musical), Jan 17-22, Music Hall, $76-$146

At last! The winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album comes to KC stages.

This acclaimed love story musical by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) Chavkin, it intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a journey to the underworld and back.

Mitchell also plays with Bonny Light Horseman and as a solo artist, and who we caught live, just last May in St. Paul.

WEDNESDAY JAN 18

THURSDAY JAN 19

Brett Young w Jameson Rodgers, Ashley Cooke, Shane Profitt, Uptown, $20

Local country radio station Q104 Presents Q'd Up! A benefit for SAFE KC (The Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund) with the California headliner who put out a holiday album in 2021 and duet single, “Never Til Now” with rising singer Ashley Cooke, who joins Young for this worthy benefit show, along with several other up-and-comers.

Good Morning Bedlam w Timbers, Jan 19, miniBar, $15

An indie folk trio out of Minneapolis comprising Sophia Mae on violin, Isaak Gill Elker on guitar, and Victoria Elker on bass, with all members contributing vocals and whose full-length, Lulu with lead single, “Salt,” hit about this time last year.

Though Twin Cities-based, we’ve yet to catch them live, but they do play the Turf Club in St. Paul near the end of the month, after a brief Midwest Tour.

FRIDAY JAN 20

 SATURDAY JAN 21

Lorrie Morgan w Mark Wills, Jan 21, Ameristar, $40-$55

Morgan is a longtime Country singer, having been nominated for four Grammy Awards and known for hits such as, "Something in Red," "Leave the Light On" and "Watch Me". Wills is in his third decade as a performer, known for radio hits, "19 Something," "Places I've Never Been" and "Don't Laugh at Me."

Jeezy, Jan 21, The Midland, $40-$175

Multi-platinum rapper Jeezy (no longer “Young” when you’re 45, I guess...) is on the road in support of newest and tenth album, The Recession 2, a sequel to his original LP from twelve years prior. The 15-track album features guest appearances from Rick Ross, Ne-Yo, Yo Gotti, E-40, and Demi Lovato, among others.

Barely Alive w Hi, I'm Ghost, Jan 21, Aura, $25

Globally acclaimed bass duo, Barely Alive take the throb to the next level with their 'Feel The Panic' Tour. The Massachusetts duo is made up of Willie Watkins and Matthew Meier, and whose sound combines dubstep, trap, and drum & bass influences.

SUNDAY JAN 22

Oran Etkin, “Open Arms,” Jan. 22, Polsky Theatre $17-$35

The talented Etkin has a unique musical signature whether playing the clarinet, bass clarinet or saxophone and was voted No. 1 Rising Star Clarinetist in DownBeat Magazine's 2016 Critics Poll.

In April 2020, Etkin launched the “Open Arms” project, a monthly release of singles and music videos recorded and filmed around the world with master musicians in locations such as Rio de Janeiro; Harare, Zimbabwe; Prague; São Paulo; and Paris. He also released a similar project for children, “Finding Friends Far from Home,” filming and recording on location around the world.

john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com