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George Perez Website: 25th Anniversary

Read More George Perez Today, December 9th, is the 20th anniversary of my little George Perez Website, a website dedicated to comic book artist George Perez. …

This Saturday, December 9th, 2023, is the 25th Anniversary of the George Perez Website.

I started this little webpage in 1998, as a means to keeping track of George Perez’s art for my own collection. It was (at the time) the first (at least that I’m aware of) website devoted to George Perez.

In 2000, George Perez had seen my webpage and contacted me through email. He loved the dedication, and through the years, made announcements exclusively on the website to keep fans informed of his latest projects.

Currently, the George Perez Website is in its fifth version, located at thegeorgeperez.com. It is being hosted on iBrave Web Hosting Service, a lifetime hosting for a one-time fee.

It’s funny, looking back, when the website just turned five years, I was incredibly proud of it, because I didn’t think it would last that long.

George Perez wrote, “I just want to congratulate Vu on the 5th Anniversary of this fan site. I have been enormously flattered by all his work and dedication and I hope that I continue to deserve such attention.”

Special thanks to George Perez, Ilke Hincer, Tony Lorenz, Marcus Mebes, Andy Mangels, Doug and Sheila, Eric S., OJ Flow, Spencer, and to all the fans I’ve met along the way.

Timeline:

12/09/1998 - Version 1 05/06/2000 - Version 2 10/27/2006 - Version 3 07/10/2007 - on break for one year 07/12/2008 - Version 4

12/09/2008 - 10th Anniversary 12/09/2018 - 20th Anniversary 08/25/2021 - Version 5 01/15/2023 - Version 6 12/09/2023 - 25th Anniversary

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

TINA- The Tina Turner Musical (Broadway Touring) at Music Hall, Kansas City MO (2023-12-05 through 12/10)

TINA TURNER MUSICAL SHOWTIMES Tuesday, December 5, 2023: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 6, 2023: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 7, 2023: 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 8, 2023: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 9, 2023: 2 p.m. Saturday, December 9, 2023: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 10, 2023:1 p.m. Sunday, December 10, 2023: 6:30 p.m. TINA TURNER MUSICAL TOUR DATES FAYETTEVILLE, AR 12/12/23 - 12/17/23 Walton Arts Center OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 12/26/23 - 12/31/23 Civic Center  HOUSTON, TX 01/02/24 - 01/07/24 The Hobby Center AUSTIN, TX 01/09/24 - 01/14/24 Bass Concert Hall SAN ANTONIO, TX 01/16/24 - 01/21/24 Majestic Theater DALLAS, TX 01/23/24 - 02/04/24 Music Hall at Fair Park FORT WORTH, TX 02/06/24 - 02/11/24 Bass Hall NASHVILLE, TN 02/13/24 - 02/18/24 TPAC NAPLES, FL 02/20/24 - 02/25/24 Artis-Naples FORT MYERS, FL 02/27/24 - 03/03/24 Mann Performing Arts JACKSONVILLE, FL 03/05/24 - 03/10/24 Jacksonville Center WEST PALM BEACH, FL 03/12/24 - 03/17/24 Kravis Center GREENVILLE, SC 03/19/24 - 03/24/24 Peace Center GREENSBORO, NC 03/26/24 - 03/31/24 Tanger Center RICHMOND, VA 04/02/24 - 04/07/24 Altria Theater DAYTON, OH 04/09/24 - 04/14/24 Schuster Center APPLETON, WI 04/16/24 - 04/21/24 Fox Cities Arts Center MILWAUKEE, WI 04/23/24 - 04/28/24 Marcus Center INDIANAPOLIS, IN 04/30/24 - 05/05/24 Murat Theater COLUMBUS, OH 05/07/24 - 05/12/24 Ohio Theater TULSA, OK 05/14/24 - 05/19/24 Tulsa PAC ROCHESTER, NY 06/04/24 - 06/09/24 West Herr Auditorium  MADISON, WI 06/11/24 - 06/16/24 Overture Center TORONTO, ON 06/18/24 - 07/28/24 CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre SCHENECTADY, NY 07/30/24 - 08/04/24 Proctors Collaborative Read More Broadway in Kansas City Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album....

“I don't want to hurt no more, don't care now who's to blame, I don't really want to fight no more, 'cause it's time for letting go…” - “I Don’t Wanna Fight'- Tina Turner

Starting a play with the ‘miracle mantra’ Buddist chant of “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo”, it’s very clear that the power of letting go can move mountains and is personified by the lows and highs in the life of legendary singer Tina Turner in TINA- The Tina Turner Musical, now playing through the weekend at the Music Hall in downtown Kansas City. We were fortunate enough to take in the production’s opening night--

Perhaps rock’s best-known, against-all-odds comeback story of redemption, the story of aka Anna Mae Bullock has ascended to legend; whether it be from the book co-written with MTV’s Kurt Loder, the award-winning 90’s movie starring Angela Bassett, or the recent acclaimed documentary, but this musical version not only maybe covers the largest scope of Turner’s life, and because of its format, is overall the most accessible in its delivery.

Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd (who basically invented the modern jukebox musical with Mamma Mia!), the musical tells the story of the 12-Time Grammy Award winner’s journey to stardom, and sheds light on the many highs and lows she experienced to get there.

For this touring production, the shared role of Tina featured an opening night appearance by Parris Lewis, a former understudy who has elevated role of Tina. Lewis’ voice starts somewhat meekly, reflecting Turner’s own initial uncertainty as a lead singer but dramatically blossoms with confidence when she and the band play Turner’s distinctive version of CCR’s “Proud Mary.”

Lewis may not have the trademark endless legs of the real Turner (who else does?!) nor the undefinable growl to her voice, but more than succeeds in embodying the stage presence and vocal range of the original.

The story starts with a career pinnacle – Turner’s record-setting audience in January 1988 at Maracana Stadium in Rio, with her nervous trepidation just before going on stage to almost 200,000 fans, resulting in some meditation that triggers memories all the way back to her beginnings near the ‘Nutbush City Limits’ of rural Tennessee.

A young Tina starts to stand out from the others due to the early quality of her voice, and as a teenager, she’s coaxed into singing a verse as bandleader Ike Turner with his group the Rhythm Kings passed around a mic at a local juke joint, which became the beginning of a six decade+ career.

Ike’s substance-filled mistreatment of Tina that went on for over sixteen years, has become well-known and her courage and resiliency was really put to the test after leaving Ike, penniless and with children in tow, forgotten by most of the music world (FYI, she even played the Grand Theater in downtown Topeka during those lean years as well).

The fortunate combination of meeting Australian business manager Roger Davies (played excitedly with a near-parody accent by Zac Freier-Harrison) and German music executive and eventual longtime partner/husband Erwin Bach (played by Max Falls) helped eventually set Turner on a redemptive path to unprecedented success and acclaim. (Comically and for the music buffs, there is a brief cameo appearance by the character of UK musician Martyn Ware of Heaven 17 during those early Capitol Records recording session scenes.)

Despite her continued and persistent reluctance to record (at least their version of) “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, the song became the true breakthrough (following a successful cover of Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’) that properly returned Turner into the international spotlight, that would continue until her recent death.

The production itself is highly skilled, briskly shifted from scene to scene (with the help of a large background video screen showing gauze-focus locations and trippy psychedelic light effects during the vintage performances), and a tight live band that mostly hides in the shadows, until taking centerstage for the final live songs.

The length of the production (with one intermission) isn’t really realized, as the all-familiar songs and strength of the performances, seem to make time fly. Lewis shines particularly on her own signature song, Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High” which she would often sing at auditions.

Though several songs are completely done out of chronological order, (i.e. the 80’s “Better Be Good to Me” and ‘90s “I Don’t Wanna Fight” sung during 1960s-set scenes), they were clearly inserted early for a reason, and gave additional gravitas to the drama of the situation.

The story culminates back behind, and on stage in Rio with her trademark song, “The Best”. But, like any good rock show, there is an encore of live performances after the group bows, so be sure not to leave until the very last note is played.

Entertaining, ultimately uplifting, and inspiring, TINA- The Tina Turner Musical playing at the Music Hall through this weekend, is a triumph and will bring additional joy during this holiday season, to anyone seeing it.

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical will run from Dec. 5-10 at the Music Hall.

 ((National Tour Photos by Matthew Murphy were provided) / Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)    

TINA- THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL (Ari Groover as 'Tina Turner')

Ari Groover and John Toney (bass)

Ari Groover performing as Tina Turner

Ari Groover performing as Tina Turner

TINA- THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL (Parris Lewis performing What's Love Got to Do with It)

Ari Groover performing Higher

Parris Lewis sings River Deep, Mountain High

Kristopher Stanley Ward as 'Richard Bullock' and Symphony King as 'Young Anna Mae'

TINA- THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL (Brianna Cameron as 'Young Anna Mae')

Roderick Lawrence as 'Ike and Roz White as 'Zelma Bullock

Parris Lewis sings River Deep, Mountain High

Roz White as 'Zelma Bullock

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / Twitter.com

The Game Awards 2023

Winners Game of the Year > Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Adaptation > The Last of Us Mobile Game > Honkai: Star Rail Ongoing Game > Cyberpunk 2077 Community Support > Baldur's Gate 3 Anticipated Game > Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Independent Game > Sea of Stars ESports Game > Valorant Narrative > Alan Wake 2 Content Creator of the Year > Ironmouse Action Game > ARMORED CORE™ VI FIRES OF RUBICON™ ESports Player > Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok Art Direction > Alan Wake 2 Family Game > Super Mario Bros. Wonder Games for Impact > Tchia Audio Design > Hi-Fi Rush Fighting Game > Street Fighter 6 Performance > Neil Newbon VR Game > Resident Evil Village VR Mode Debut Indie Game > Cocoon Innovation in Accessibility > Forza Motorsport Action/Adventure Game > The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom RPG > Baldur's Gate 3 SIM/Strategy Game > Pikmin 4 Multiplayer Game > Baldur's Gate 3 Esports Coach > Christine “potter” Chi Esports Event > 2023 League of Legends World Championship Esports Team > JD Gaming Players' Voice > Baldur's Gate 3 Read More Games Can you believe it? Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now on the PC. I paid full price ($60) for this game in Oct 2020, and have played a demo or early access of the game. I maxed out my character, and have patiently waited for the full … Fallout Fallout 3. Obviously, I'm still playing the game. At one point in the game, you have to go into Vault 112's virtual environment and it's seriously straight out of the Twilight Zone. You need a high Charisma or Speech skill …

I normally don’t do live streams, but when I got home from work today, YouTube was heavily promoting the livestream of The Game Awards (happening at exactly the time I turned on my computer).

Since I got a really nice Alienware OLED monitor, and I just picked up a Vizio M-Series All-In-One 2.1 Sound Bar (the monitor didn’t come with built in speakers)… I thought, what the hey, let’s play the live stream and see how the playback and audio sounds.

As you would expect, watching the live stream is just like watching an HD live television over the internet. Since it’s on my computer, at some point, I had the video take up 1/3 of my screen, while I do some work on the left side of the screen.

I have to say that the Game Awards show has high production, with very high-profile creators, such as Hideo Kojima with his upcoming OD game.

There were lots of advertisements… but it didn’t feel like ads, because they’re all trailers for upcoming games or for gaming products.

I also really dug seeing the Viking band Heilung play “Maidjan Song”, the main theme from the upcoming Ninja Theory’s Hellblade 2. They look so metal! And they sounded amazing, complete with fire dancers and war drums. I don’t know much about the band, but, man, the next time they are in the Minneapolis area, I want to see them live.

I was most excited to see some of the main cast (Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, and Aaron Clifton Moten) for the upcoming Fallout television show from Amazon Prime on stage. They even had a guy in a power armor suit! It looks absolutely amazing! I really want that power armor for a Halloween costume.

Apparently, the three actors will be playing three characters. Ella plays Lucy, the former Vault dweller. Walton (any Justified fans will recognize him) as The Ghoul, a gunslinger. Aaron will be playing Maximus, part of the Brotherhood of Steel. Like I said, I’m very excited for the upcoming show, I just hope that they have good writers and it’s a good show.

No surprise, but the big winner at this year’s Game Award is Baldur’s Gate 3… taking numerous awards, including the coveted “Game of the Year”. Larian Studio’s Swen Vincke, came on stage with his plate armor, along with some key staff to take the grand prize.

As I previously said in August 2023, I felt this game was my personal Game of the Year. I’m just glad everyone else agrees with me.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

Read more Weekend Gamer.

Aaron Clifton Moten, Ella Purnell, and Walton Goggins at the Game Award (07 Dec 2023)

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Neeson 2023

Read More Liam Neeson Liam Neeson plays a hitman with a heart of gold in Memory. The hitman, suffering from early stages of Alzheimer, decides to make things right after declining a contract to kill a young girl. The 2022 film is based the Belgian film The Alzheimer Case. ....

In the Land of Saints and Sinners
imdb.com

Where we last saw actor Liam Neeson, it was for the “hitman with a heart of gold” movie Memory in 2022 - a remake of The Alzheimer Case. I mentioned for an actor in his 70s he was still very believable as an action star.

Neeson is at it again, and this time, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, is one of the best films I’ve seen from Neeson in a while. This is the second film that teams Neeson up with director Robert Lorenz… and I think they have a winner formula, because I did actually enjoy their film The Marksman.

In the Land of Saints and Sinners is basically a revenge film. The film takes place in Ireland, in the mid-70s. Neeson is a retired hitman who does “one last job” and now finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game of the Irish terrorists, seeking revenge.

I think where the film really shine is with its supporting cast, including the dumb, but young hitman played by Jack Gleeson, the bartender Sinead (Sarah Greene), and the Star Trek star Colm Meaney as the handler.

Some critics might find the action/revenge film a tired cliché, but I like it and I like seeing Neeson in these roles.

Neeson’s next film is called Thug, about an aging gangster. Personally speaking, I wouldn’t mind it if Neeson revise his role as the detective in A Walk Among the Tombstones… but since that film didn’t do well in the theaters, they probably won’t revisit the character.

Retribution
imdb.com

Liam Neeson’s other 2023 film is the action thriller Retribution, which came out in August 2023 from Lionsgate with little fanfare. That’s probably because this film isn’t that great.

There is a twist in the story, but I already guessed the correct ending by this point… and I didn’t even see the original Spanish film El desconocido, which this film was based on.

The plot is about Neeson as a financier. His car is rigged with explosive that if he tries to get out of the car, that it will explode. It’s not a believable story, but you go with it, because it’s Neeson in the lead and he’s captivating to watch. Unfortunately, since he’s trapped in the car, there’s not much action that he can do.

Like I said, this is not a good film. The police are horrible at their job (equally bad acting). It is just a standard action film, the Guadian best summed it up, saying: “Liam Neeson is on autopilot in car-bomb movie.”

In the end, would I recommend this film? Probably not, but if you like Speed and looking for a new action film, check it out. You may want to also add Non-Stop and The Commuter to your watchlist, as they’re from the same people.

Read more DVD and Films.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Christmas 2023: Mistletoes

Read More Portland Cello Project Portland Cello Project (PCP) returned to Minneapolis at the Cedar Cultural Center last night, June 29th. This is one of those rare bands that is sponsored by MPR's Classical station, as noted by the Cedar's introduction. ....

Portland Cello Project
portlandcelloproject.com

Portland’s Portland Cello Project, or PCP, will be releasing Under the Mistletoe (with Prince alumni Saeeda Wright from New Power Generation) this December 8th. The holiday EP features Wright on vocals and Tyrone Hendrix on drums, as well as modern jazz musician Farnell Newtwon on “Winter Wonderland.”

Laura Gibson and Portland Cello Project (29 June 2013)

PCP will also be heading out on tour to promote the album. We saw the band a few times, the last from June 2013 and we said, “Check out Portland Cello Project on this tour with Laura Gibson. This a-typical show does a good mix of featuring classical and modern pop songs. If you're a Beck fan, these shows should not be missed!”

Portland Cello Project - Under the Mistletoe Tour

12/7 - Spokane, WA @ The District
12/8 - Missoula, MT @ The Wilma
12/9 - Bozeman, MT @ The Elm
12/14 - Astoria, OR @ The Liberty Theatre
12/15 - Moses Lake, WA @ Columbia Basin Allied Arts
12/16 - Corvallis, OR @ The Whiteside Theater
12/17 - Bend, OR @ The Tower Theater
12/20 - Yamika, WA @ The Seasons Performance Hall
12/21 - Kirkland, WA @ The Kirkland Performance Center
12/22 - Beaverton, OR @ Reser Center for the Arts
12/23 - Beaverton, OR @ Reser Center for the Arts

Read More Booker T Booker T Jones, the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and most famous Hammond B3 player in history takes the stage …

Stax Christmas
staxrecords.com

Stax Records, Craft Recordings, and Concord, has put together Stax Christmas, a new 12-track collection of holiday classics and originals from soul music’s biggest stars. The collection is available on vinyl, CD, and digital (including hi-res formats).

Gospel and soul music fans will instantly recognize the Stax label. Originally founded in 1957, the Memphis label help launched acts such as Sam & Dave, the Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, and many others.

The highlight of this Stax Christmas release is for two previously unreleased recording of “Blue Christmas” by Carla Thomas and an alternate mix of Otis Redding’s beloved rendition of “Merry Christmas Baby.”

Track listing:

1. Carla Thomas - Blue Christmas 03:17
2. Otis Redding - Merry Christmas Baby (Alternate Mix) 03:08
3. Rufus Thomas - I'll Be Your Santa Baby 03:32
4. Albert King - Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' 03:03
5. Booker T. & The M.G.'s - Winter Wonderland (Take 2) 02:08
6. The Staple Singers - Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas 02:36
7. Isaac Hayes - The Mistletoe And Me 03:58
8. The Rance Allen Group - White Christmas 02:48
9. Cix Bits - Season's Greetings 03:22
10. The Temprees - It's Christmas Time Again (The Christmas Song) 04:15
11. The Emotions - What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas? 03:23
12. Rufus Thomas & Carla Thomas - That Makes Christmas Day 4:41

Read More The Great Kat Extreme Guitar Shred is the new 7-song album from The Great Kat. We’re previously written about her, saying that she’s a violinist who plays classical music in a metal style… often compared to Yngwie Malmsteen. …

The Great Kat
greatkat.com

You’ve never heard Christmas until you hear the shredding guitars and violin from The Great Kat. This year the Great Kat releases Christmas Classical, featuring her versions of classic Christmas songs.

Track listing:

1. Away In A Manger
2. O Holy Night
3. Silent Night
4. Home Sweet Home For Christmas
5. Chopin’s Nocturne Night Before Christmas
6. Nutcracker Candy Cane By Tchaikovsky
7. Greensleeves Christmas Carol
8. Vivaldi’s Winter Snow Storm
9. Bach’s Jesu Joyeux Noel
10. Handel’s Hallelujah Messiah
11. Pachelbel’s Canon Christmas Eve
12. Amazing Grace Merry Christmas
13. Beethoven’s Christmas Presents Für Elise
14. Ave Maria Mistletoe
15. Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze Holiday Classic
16. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Sleigh Ride
17. Flower Duet Yuletide
18. Boccherini Merry Minuet
19. He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands Santa
20. Auld Lang Syne Christmas Hangover

Read more Christmas.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: January 10 to January 12, 2024

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

01/10 Yellow Ostrich with Bathtub Cig and Megasound at Icehouse Read More Yellow Ostrich Yellow Ostrich already blew away Justina when she covered them a few months ago in New York. Justina described the band's music and why she jumped at the chance …

01/10/2024 Wednesday

Yellow Ostrich
with Bathtub Cig and Megasound
at Icehouse
first-avenue.com

It’s Yellow Ostrich’s 3rd Annual Winter Shindig residency at the Icehouse, starting on January 10th, 2024.

Yellow Ostrich (12 Feb 2014)

We saw Yellow Ostrich at Pianos, in New York, in Feb 2014 and wrote, “I listened to Yellow Ostrich’s music the day before the show and knew immediately that I wanted to see them live. They have a lo-fi indie rock sound with vocals from Alex Schaaf (also member of The Chairs) whose voice is a mixture of fun.’s Nate Ruess and Ben Folds. Other band members include talented musicians: Jared Van Fleet (guitar/keyboard), Zach Rose (bass), and Michael Tapper (drums).”

The band writes:

Yellow Ostrich's Winter Shindig is back for a third year in January 2024, taking place over four consecutive Wednesdays. Each week will feature different setlists and surprises, along with different supporting bands each night (hand-picked by YO).

Yellow Ostrich is a long-running project led by Minneapolis-based songwriter Alex Schaaf, who started the band in Brooklyn in 2010 before moving it to the Midwest. The band released Soft in 2022 on Barsuk Records, the first new music in seven years to be released by Schaaf under the Yellow Ostrich moniker, since he paused the project to explore new musical identities on a handful of excellent self-released albums. This was followed by Make it Make Sense (EP) in January of 2023. The latest full-length, Soft, takes its name from the lyric that stands as a thesis for the entire album, a beautiful and haunting rumination on the pitfalls and pressures of traditional masculinity and on Schaaf's drive toward vulnerability and tenderness as core tenets of his being.

Bathtub Cig is the intimate depression pop project of Hilary James. Born in a Minneapolis bedroom the spring of 2017, it is an honest attempt at coping with her long struggle with mental health. She is joined by Dave Power on drums, Skyler Nowinski on bass, and Hannah Heble on synth, flute and harmony. Their 2018 debut EP “Old Light” draws comparisons to a synth-pop version of Frankie Cosmo with raw lyrics.

2021 Ep “bed” is both a dream-like and hazy musing on quarantine as well as a heartbreaking attempt to cope with grief. In a departure from James’ first full band EP “Old Light”, this new release is a stripped down solo voyage. Hilary is joined by Addie Strei (Adelyn Rose) on clarinet, flute, and bass to create beautiful textures to balance out the loneliness of the electric guitar. Their 2022 debut full length “Night Blindness” has been described as a clever and dark Gen Z Ode, putting our hardest thoughts into music.

Megasound is a rock band brought to you by the minds behind Bad Bad Hats (Kerry Alexander and Chris Hoge) and Party Nails (Elana Carroll).

Tour dates:

Jan 10 Icehouse
Jan 17 Icehouse
Jan 24 Icehouse

01/11 Alina Maira with Another Heaven, d'Lakes and The Envies at 7th St Entry Read More Alina Maira Tokyo Police Club and Alina Maira at 7th Street Entry, in Minneapolis, on October 27th. Canadian band, Pkew Pkew Pkew, who was originally listed to open, had cancel their U.S. appearances ...

01/11/2024 Thursday

Alina Maira
with Another Heaven, d'Lakes and The Envies
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Local singer/songwriter Alina Maira will be headlining the 7th Street Entry on January 11, 2024.

Alina Maira (13 Apr 2022)

We saw Alina Maira in 13 Apr 2022 and wrote, “ Local singer/songwriter, by the way of Philadelphia, Alina Maira end the show. She’s joined on stage by her band (and I got the impression that they are also her best friends): Tim, Seth, Jess, and Jonny. Maira first came to our attention when she opened up for Tokyo Police Club in Oct 2021. Maira described her songs as a way to provoke the human connection through shared experiences… and it would seem that many of her songs are about her past experiences and she’s singing her story.”

Another Heaven, d'Lakes, and The Envies to open.

01/12 Best New Bands of 2023 featuring Barlow • Ber • Clare Doyle • LAAMAR • L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE • REIKI • she’s green at First Avenue Read More she's green Local shoegazing band she’s green, featuring Zofia on vocals, Teddy on bass, Liam on guitars, Raines on guitars, and Kevin on drums, opened the show. Although .… Ber Opening the show was Ber. Originally from Minnesota, Ber moved to London in 2020 to work on music. With a massive fanbase on TikTok, she caught the attention of London’s Zane Lowe and Travis Mills ...

01/12/2024 Friday

Best New Bands of 2023
featuring Barlow • Ber • Clare Doyle • LAAMAR • L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE • REIKI • she’s green
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

It’s the annual Best New Bands series, which usually at First Avenue or one of their venues. This year will be hosted by The Current’s Jill Riley, Radio K’s Grace Williams, KFAI’s Krista Wax, and Jazz88’s Sean McPherson.

She’s Green (27 Sep 2023)

We’ve seen a few of these artists, for example She’s Green from 27 Sep 2023, “Local shoegazing band she’s green, featuring Zofia on vocals, Teddy on bass, Liam on guitars, Raines on guitars, and Kevin on drums, opened the show. Although, according to Zofia, the group is from the area, but it was their first time playing the Turf Club. We’ve previously mentioned their Minneapolis shows, such as in August 2023 or January 2022 … but never mentioned they’ve played St Paul. The group is still relatively new, so they’re introducing some new songs, such as “Clobber”. At least that’s the title they currently agreed on. Their debut EP, Wisteria came out in June 2023.”

Bands on the bill:

• Barlow
• Ber
• Clare Doyle
• LAAMAR
• L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE
• REIKI
• she’s green

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Pert Near Sandstone at First Ave (12-02-2023)

12/02 Pert Near Sandstone with Them Coulee Boys and Humbird at First Avenue Tour Dates 02/09/24 - White Pine, MI - 34th Annual Midwest Telefest 06/27/24 - Eau Claire, WI - 10th Blue Ox Music Festival 06/28/24 - Eau Claire, WI - 10th Blue Ox Music Festival 06/29/24 - Eau Claire, WI - 10th Blue Ox Music Festival Read More Pert Near Sandstone This was Pert Near’s Ship of Fools Release Party and a party is exactly what it was. This band brought the energy, the fun, and the talent to First Avenue on Friday night… Them Coulee Boys Them Coulee Boys were charged to warm up the crowd filtering into the venue . They are from Eau Claire, WI, Coulee being the name French Trappers called the region when they were trapping in Wisconsin. … Humbird Humbird opened the evening with Siri Undlin on lead vocal and guitar and Pat Keen on upright bass. Undlin said it was a little weird to be playing at the Fine Line for she is currently on the road, but also back in her hometown …

It was Americana folk music Saturday night at First Ave from three local bands that are making sure the form is not only relevant in the age of digital music but also a howling good time.

Humbird (01 Nov 2023)

Humbird opened the evening as the crowd slowly ambled in. We caught them at the Fine Line exactly a month ago, opening for Mipso. Again it was Siri Undlin on lead vocal and guitar with Pat Keen on upright bass providing some grooved solos with a “Go Pat Go!” coming from the crowd.

After launching into a funky space duo in “Free Life,” Undlin said she just released a new song “Child of Violence” and it was the first time she got hate mail, which she and Keen welcomed, but wanted to hear it face-to-face, preferably at the merch table.

To get into the holiday spirit they invited their friend, Clifton on fiddle, to the stage to play a “deranged” Xmas song. It was not so much psychotic as a haunting lament with loose strands of “Greensleeves” hemmed throughout.

Them Coulee Boys (21 Oct 2023)

Them Coulee Boys were up next and I’m glad that they were part of the festivities for I missed part of their set while trying to get into The Old Crow Medicine Show in October. It was their third time on the First Avenue stage and Beau Janke set aside his electric banjo to say being on there was not lost on him. “We’ve been down there hoping to be up here.”

They made the most of it with an electrified, rollicking good time with Janke joined by Soren Staff on guitar, Jens Staff on mandolin, Neil Krause on bass and Staš Hable on drums. Their music is infused by Americana but most definitely amped up and electrified, especially during the crowd favorite “10ft. Tall.”

You have to wonder how a traditional form of music that has roots in the southeastern part of the country found a prominent foothold in the Twin Cities. I read more than one article that says the impetus may have come from the Grammy award-winning soundtrack to the movie “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” Which is funny considering the movie was written and directed by two brothers from St. Louis Park, MN, Joel and Ethan Coen, neither who probably ever picked up a fiddle or banjo.

The members of Pert Near Sandstone are also from the Twin Cities suburbs, Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove. They first got into music by playing in heavy metal and ska bands. But as their music lessons progressed they too were caught by infectious music of bluegrass. And for almost twenty years they have been playing music that is impossible not to dance to, mainly because their percussionist, Andy Lambert, wears a pair of clogs. He was joined on stage with Nate Sipe on fiddle and mandolin, Kevin Knibel on banjo, J Lenz on guitar, Chris Forsberg on fiddle and Justin Bruhn on bass.

After a few break-neck songs, Sipe said they were going to slow things down a bit. Then they launched into “Twenty Cups of Coffee” which indicated that the band had no intention of slowing down, even inviting members of the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers to join in with Lambert throughout the evening.

Pert Near Sandstone has a new album out, their eighth, Waiting Days. And they took the opportunity with the album to expand their musical vocabulary as in “Gathering Clouds” when they invited Jason on trumpet and Max on saxophone to help add some Spanish flair to the song. Then there was “Out of Time” written by Lenz who was asked by the members of the band, “Why are your songs so dark?”

The album was produced by Ryan Young who is not only the fiddle player for Trampled by Turtles, but was a founding member of Pert Near Sandstone. He even joined the band on stage and it was the highlight of the evening to see him, Sipe and Forsberg take over with a foot-tapping trio.

Humbird Humbird Humbird

Them Coulee Boys

Them Coulee Boys Them Coulee Boys Them Coulee Boys

Pert Near Sandstone

Pert Near Sandstone

Pert Near Sandstone Pert Near Sandstone

Pert Near Sandstone Pert Near Sandstone

Pert Near Sandstone (with Them Coulee Boys) at First Avenue, Minneapolis (02 Dec 2023)

 

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

The Japanese House at Fine Line, Minneapolis (02 Dec 2023)

Japanese House Setlist Sad to Breathe Touching Yourself Something Has to Change Morning Pages Follow My Girl i saw you in a dream Boyhood You Seemed So Happy Baby goes again Over There Friends Worms Chewing Cotton Wool Maybe You're the Reason Dionne -- Encore -- One for sorrow, two for Joni Jones Sunshine Baby quinnie Setlist ripple itch baja bird better promised shape for you silver second man touch tank gold star Tour Dates December 1 - Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's December 2 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fineline December 3 - Chicago, IL @ Metro December 5 - Detroit, MI @ El Club December 6 - Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall December 8 - Montréal, QC @ Studio TD December 9 - South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground December 10 - Boston, MA @ Royale Read More The Japanese House British singer Amber Bain, billed as The Japanese House is touring the U.S.A. (heading to SXSW 2017), in support of her third EP Swim Against The Tide. She is getting great buzz for .... quinnie The evening began with a well-received forty-minute set from New Jersey folk/bedroom pop Columbia Records artist quinnie, in support of debut full-length, flounder, but also played many new ....

Buckinghamshire’s The Japanese House (Amber Bain) just headlined the Fine Line, in Minneapolis, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, in support of her sophomore album In The End It Always Does (Dirty Hit).

Opening the show was Quinnie (stylized as quinnie). The singer, songwriter, is joined on stage by her two best friends, Jake and Hudson… making this tour “extra special.”

Quinnie’s debut album Flounder was re-issued as a deluxe version on Columbia Records. She described the deluxe album as, “paints a more well-rounded picture of what my life looked like throughout writing this album. These are songs that still equally represent the person that I was, but otherwise didn’t contribute to the overarching themes and palette of the album.”

She spent the entire set sitting down, playing the same set as the Liberty Hall show, a few nights ago, “…the crowd seemed completely enthralled with every note. This was even more evident towards the end of the set, as they played “touch tank”, a song which went TikTok viral last Spring, and the set-closing “gold star’, an early track from a 2019 EP that was written while in high school.”

We’ve been following The Japanese House for a while now, ever since Swim Against the Tide came out in 2016.

The Japanese House (27 Feb 2017)

We saw her first headlining show in Feb 2017 at the Triple Rock Social Club, and mentioned that she basically played every song they’ve ever recorded. During the set “Bain noticed the disco ball that hung from the Triple Rock Social Club’s ceiling and asked, “Can someone work that disco ball? That would be amazing.” The request fell on deaf ears, that in the middle of ‘Leon’, the disco ball magically turned on with a massive cheer from the audience! Bain wore a massive smile on her face and struggled to continue singing.”

Since that first sold-out show, she’s been selling out all her other appearances, including her sold out Fine Line show in May 2019, when she was touring in support of her debut album Good at Falling.

With the two year pandemic break, Bain spent the time to write and record In the End It Always Does, which came out during the summer on Dirty Hit.

Setlist is the same from Kansas show on November 30: “The seventy-minute set (band on stage surrounded in a thin mist and often low lighting) began with the second single from the new record, the sullenly beautiful “Sad to Breathe” and Bain lyrically emoting, “It's sad to breathe the air when you're not there.””

Her “classic” song “Follow My Girl” had the biggest response from the fans.

Like her previous sold-out appearances, the Fine Line is incredible hard to move around, as fans packed themselves on the dancefloor. It felt like the show was over-sold, as even the balcony felt it was over crowded.

If you can’t make it out see The Japanese House live, you can pick up the recently released live EP called ITEIAD Sessions, featuring live versions of songs from her In the End It Always Does album. Pretty much all the songs on the ITEIAD Sessions were played live, including “Boyhood” and “One for sorrow, two for Joni Jones” (on the encore)… except for her ABBA cover song, “Super Trouper”.

quinnie

Japanese House Japanese House Japanese House

The Japanese House at Fine Line, Minneapolis (02 Dec 2023)

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Angel Olsen at First Avenue, Minneapolis (29 Nov 2023)

11/29 Angel Olsen with Nona Invie at First Avenue Angel Olsen Setlist This Is How It Works Ghost On Dream Thing Right Now Shut Up Kiss Me Sweet Dreams Never Be Mine Summer Give It Up Special Endgame Some Things Cosmic Unf**ktheworld Slowin' Down Love (Tucker Zimmerman cover) -- Encore -- Woman Tour Dates Nov. 30 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom Dec. 1 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Dec. 2 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Dec. 3 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Dec. 5 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall Dec. 6 - Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Dec. 7 - Birmingham, AL @ Saturn Dec. 8 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club Dec 9 - Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom Read More Angel Olsen Alternative country / folk singer-songwriter Angel Olsen and her distinctive voice, played to a loyal and raucous capacity crowd at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS, satisfying her ... Dark Dark Dark It wouldn't be a 'dark' article unless we include Minneapolis' Dark Dark Dark. Longtime readers should note that we've been covering the band ..…

North Carolina’s Angel Olsen is back in town, headlining First Avenue, in Minneapolis, on November 29th, 2023.

Nona Invie, the singer from Dark Dark Dark, opened the show.

Dark Dark Dark (05 Oct 2012)

The last proper Dark Dark Dark show we saw was a long time ago, in October 2012. We described their music as, “Ghosts, graveyards, bones, dreams, winter, drowning: this is the vocabulary of Dark Dark Dark. Water imagery abounds throughout. And why not? There has always been something rustically aquatic and 19th century about a slow accordion song. Add a gently plucked banjo and a haunting vocal and it's impossible not to imagine a foggy, moon-lit Mississippi riverboat bedecked with ethereal waltzing couples festooned in patchwork finery under flickering oil-lamps in what amounts to a macabre Mark Twain fever-dream.”

By this time (2012), the band went into hiatus for personal issues, and Nova Invie joined Anonymous Choir, which we saw in September 2013.

Currently, it would seem that Invie plays piano for Angel Olsen’s live band.

Since Invie was originally from the area, her mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother, were all in the audience.

Angel Olsen (02 Oct 2017)

Although the last time Angel Olsen was in town, it was part of the The Wild Hearts Tour in August 2022, her last actual First Avenue appearance was in Nov 2019. Before that, there was a long three-year gap at First Avenue, in October 2017.

We wrote, “Now, let me state the obvious: Angel Olsen has a voice that makes knees weak, blind men see and dreams come true. Hyperbole aside, it truly is a stunning thing, both vulnerable and sensual, reminding me of great vocalists like Brenda Lee or Patsy Cline. With her trembling wail on the set opener “Never Be Mine” and the charged frustration of “Shut Up and Kiss Me”, Olsen dug into her chest and presented the packed First Avenue club with her heart. Enraptured, fans responded by respectfully keeping quiet before each song and then letting loose a mad wave of adulation at a song’s end.”

Olsen is glad to be back in Minneapolis and asks the audience if she can sing her sad songs. Most of the set is from her new (2022) album Big Time, which were played early in the set. The remainder of the set were songs from various releases.

She mentioned that she lived in the Midwest for a time, and you have to treat life like a joke, to laugh with all your friends. Her music is personal and she’s relieved that other people can connect with her music. As a result, she feels less alone.

Olsen’s new EP, Forever Means, is out now on Jagjaguwar.

Nona Invie

Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen at First Avenue, Minneapolis (29 Nov 2023)

juan ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: This Week (12/10/2023)

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

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

12/04 August Burns Red at Fillmore Read More August Burns Red August Burns Red's latest album, Found in Far Away Places is out now on Fearless Records. Their single "Identity" was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Metal Performance category. .…

12/04/2023 Monday

August Burns Red
at Fillmore
livenation.com

Celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Rescue & Restore album, August Burns Red will be headlining out on touring, starting November 10th in Worcester, and stopping in at the Fillmore in Minneapolis on December 4th.

August Burns Red (02 April 2016)

In those ten years, we did catch ABR a few times, the last time being in April 2016: “August Burns Red was co-headliner on this tour. These guys have been touring for years and years (much like BTBAM) and always impress the crowds with the amount of energy they have on stage. The way singer Jake Luhr is able to command the crowd is a sight to see. What's more impressive is the way he is able to scream without losing his voice. The deafening screams echoed throughout the venue and anyone who was sitting out by the merch tables quickly found themselves drawn into the auditorium portion of the venue. August Burns Red had an unusually long set and were able to play a little bit of everything which definitely kept the crowd interested. No matter what “era” of ABR they were playing, Jake kept it absolutely intense.”

Expect the band to play the Rescue & Restore album, plus other fan favorites.

Brand of Sacrifice, Spite, and Crystal Lake to open.

Tour dates:

11/10 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium
11/11 — Montreal, QC — L'Olympia
11/12 — London, ON — London Music Hall
11/14 — Fort Wayne, IN — Piere's
11/16 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
11/17 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade
11/18 — Orlando, FL — House of Blues
11/20 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ's Live
11/21 — Dallas, TX — The Factory
11 22 — Austin, TX — Emo's
11/24 — Tempe, AZ — Marquee
11/25 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues
11/27 — Sacramento, CA — Ace Of Spades
11/28 — Los Angeles, CA — The Belasco
11/29 — Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl
11/30 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
12/2 — Denver, CO — The Fillmore
12/4 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore
12/5 — Chicago, IL — Radius
12/6 — Cincinnati, OH — Bogarts
12/8 — Lancaster, PA —Christmas Burns Red
12/9 — Lancaster, PA — Christmas Burns Red

12/07 Arlo Parks Unplugged Music & Poetry at Fine Line Read More Arlo Parks BRIT Award winning artist Arlo Parks recently shared Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s remix of his single, “Too Good”. The song is taken from her critically acclaimed debut album Collapsed In Sunbeams. …

12/07/2023 Thursday

Arlo Parks Unplugged Music & Poetry
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Right before Arlo Parks’s 2024 tour in support of My Soft Machine, Parks will the special guest for The Current’s winter show. It is called “Unplugged Music & Poetry”.

Tour dates:

2/29 - San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
3/2 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
3/5 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
3/7 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
3/8 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
3/9 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
3/12 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
3/13 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
3/15 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
3/16 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
3/19 - Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
3/20 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Heaven)
3/22 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
3/25 - Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall
3/26 - Montreal, QC @ Théâtre Beanfield
3/28 - Boston, MA @ Royale
3/29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
4/2 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

12/09 Los Lobos at First Avenue Read More Los Lobos Electronic artist Marc Rebillet played eight cities in June, Los Lobos played in Southern California on July 4, Andrew McMahon just reprised his Jack Mannequin days with a pair of successful shows in Anaheim . …

12/09/2023 Saturday

Los Lobos
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com.com

Can you believe that Los Lobos (The Wolves) is celebrating their 50th Anniversary as a band? To celebrate, the group will do a special 50th Anniversary tour… stopping by Minneapolis’ First Avenue on December 9th.

Los Lobos (09 Aug 2011) - photo by Cliff Morse

We saw Los Lobos in August 2011 and wrote, “Whereas Los Lobos took their time to demonstrate a musical proficiency honed over thirty years, Los Lonely Boys got right down to business on their first song, “I’m a Man.” With only three players (Henry on electric guitar, Jo Jo on bass and Ringo on drums), they showed a nimble raw-powered tightness that only a band that has been playing together for many years can demonstrate. There was no place for a weaker musician to hide. No one could hang in the background as lead vocals bounced from Henry and Jo Jo and back to Ringo, solos came from any instrument while all three voices melded into three part harmony.”

Tour Dates

November 17 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
November 18 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
November 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Paramount
November 22 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
November 25 – East Los Angeles, CA – James A. Garfield High School
December 9 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
December 22 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
December 23 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com