W♥M

Apple Watch SE

Read More Apple The iconic iPhone 7 has been announced by Apple yesterday (September 7th). It is the latest and greatest from the company, and they are getting a lot of negative feedback about the lack of a headphone jack ....

I didn’t intend to get it, but after contemplating about the Black Friday prices for the new Apple Watch SE for about $200, I couldn’t pass it up. As you know, starting last year, Apple introduced their “budget” Apple Watch, the SE, which strips out some features.

What’s missing from the SE is a faster/latest processor, no ECG and blood oximiter sensors, no always-on display, and lacking UWB or 5GHz Wi-Fi communication capabilities. If you absolutely have to one of those things, then you need to buy the new Series 7.

My biggest complaint is that you must have an iPhone to use with the Apple Watch. I believe you can only have one active watch at one time, so if you own multiple Apple Watches, it only works with just one.

The other complaint is that battery life is absolutely bad. You need to charge it every day. To be fair, most smart watches requires you to charge once a day. My Amazfit GTR 2 advertised battery life of 7 days, but in reality, it’s really only two or three days. So battery life just sucks all across the board.

My last complaint is there aren’t many watch faces officially available from Apple. I’m assuming that it will get better over time. There are many third party watch face makers, but none of them are very good. The really good one costs subscription fees, which I would rather not pay for. If they sell individual face for, say $1, I wouldn’t mind paying for one or two… but unfortunately, there’s not many choices.

Otherwise, I’m pretty happy with the new watch. I feel it’s “fast enough” for my needs, and it has all the health tracking abilities in other smart watches. My two health focus is sleep tracking and heart beats… but obviously, you can use it to track various other things, like standing up or walking/running.

One of the coolest thing going from my Amazfit watch to the Apple Watch is that Apple has some applications built for WatchOS… which Amazfit some some Android Watches don’t have. For example, I used the calculator on my watch (for tipping) and showed up the compass on the watch to my brother.

Another perk in the Apple brand that you may not be aware of, is all the many, many, many accessories you can get for the Apple Watch. Need a new wrist band ? There are a million bands out there. Don’t want to pay $100 for Apple’s Milanese Loop ? There are knock-offs you can get for $15 (which is exactly what I did for a similar Milanese Loop at Walmart).

So, if you’re keeping track, I’m officially 100% into the Apple Echosystem, owning the new iPhone 13, iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), Apple TV (HD), and, now, the Apple Watch SE (2021).

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

Divinity: Original Sin II on the iPad

Read More Larian Studios I have been hyped about Baldur’s Gate 3 since Larian Studios announced their teaser in August 2019. I’ve already mentioned that I was a massive fan of Black Isle Studios …

You know I’m a big fan of Larian Studios, the Belgium company that is currently developing Baldur’s Gate III (which I already pre-ordered) and the successful Divinity series. While I haven’t loved the original games from 2002, I came around with 2014’s Divinity: Original Sin and its sequel Divinity: Original Sin II.

Sadly, I haven’t beaten either of the Divinity: Original Sin saga, but from all my hours of gameplay, I love it. So much that I’ve decided to spend $25 to see how Divinity: Original Sin II will work on my iPad Pro 12.9. I saw that it supported Bluetooth controller and keyboard, but I will likely just use touch to play.

In the past, I’ve played around with Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II on the iPad, but those games originally came out in 1998 and 2000 (and yes, I bought and played them back then).

With Divinity: Original Sin II, which originally came out in 2017, on the iPad, I was just eager to see a semi-recent, modern game on the iPad. We all know that Apple have never been known for video games… so I’m glad to see companies, like Larian, take a chance.

So, for some bad news, those with older iPads, they cannot run the game. The game will run on iPad Pro 2018 to 2021 (basically any iPad with the A12 Bionic chip or later). The other bad news is that the game will take up at least 18GB of storage, so if you have an 32GB iPad, it’s going to take up half your space!

Even many users might feel that $25 is expensive (especially for an iPad app), you have to understand that this is a first-class game. I’ve played the PC, I’ve paid $50 for the game originally, so $25 is really bargain, in my opinion…. But it’s true, $25 is a million times more expensive than the typical $1.99 iPad.

Yours,

- Weekend Gamer

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

Minneapolis: December 8 to December 12

12/08 Sue Foley at Turf Club Read More Sue Foley Award-winning blues guitarist/singer Sue Foley released Pinky’s Blues in October. The album features several new original songs from Foley, plus some covers of old favorite blues and roots artists. ....

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

12/08/2021 Wednesday

Sue Foley
with Ken Valdez
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Excerpt Girls Girls Girls: Diamond, Rainbow, Pink, Rose:

Award-winning blues guitarist/singer Sue Foley released Pinky’s Blues in October. The album features several new original songs from Foley, plus some covers of old favorite blues and roots artists.

To support the release of Pinky’s Blues, she’s set on doing a few live concerts…. Including a stop in St Paul on Dec 8th, at the Turf Club.

Tour Dates:

12/03 Knuckleheads Saloon Kansas City, MO
12/04 Zoo Bar Lincoln, NE
12/07 Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
12/08 Turf Club St Paul, MN
12/09 Vangarde Arts Sioux City, IA
12/10 Washington Burlington,
12/11 Coda Concert House Joplin, MO
12/17 Mercer Street DanceHall Dripping Springs, TX
12/28 Jungle Show Austin, TX
12/29 Jungle Show Austin, TX
02/11 Charles Bender Humble, TX
02/20 Blue Jay Listening Room Jacksonville Beach, FL
02/21 Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Miami, FL
03/03 ZebulonLos Angeles, CA
03/04 Hopmonk Tavern Novato, CA

12/09 GWAR at First Ave Read More Gwar GWAR fans know what to expect when they see a live GWAR show. Whether it be covered in bile and blood, or stage props that could be used in any top tier horror movie. Additionally, no two GWAR shows are the same. ....

12/09/2021 Thursday

GWAR
with Napalm Death and EyeHateGod
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Even though metal is not really my thing, I absolutely love going to see Gwar. Their amazing costumes and antics are just so entertaining… and even if you don’t love their music, I guarantee that you will have a fun time at their shows.

Gwar is currently on tour in celebration of their (delayed) 30th annivesary of their album Scumdogs Of The Universe.

Show up early to check out Napalm Death and EyeHateGod. We caught Napalm Death in June 2016 and wrote, “Napalm Death has been around forever. They started in 1981 and have been around ever since. These guys were probably the most classifiable band of the night. They were metal, with a little bit of punk, a little bit of grind... well crap, now you understand why the phrase "soiree of weirdness" is a perfect way to explain the music of last night.”

Tour dates

11/26 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse
11/27 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
11/28 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
11/30 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SODO
12/1 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
12/3 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall
12/4 – Edmonton, AB – Midway Bar
12/6 – Billings, MT – Pub Station
12/7 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
12/8 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
12/9 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
12/10 – Lincoln, NE – The Bourbon Theatre
12/11 – Sauget, IL – Pop's
12/13 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club

12/10 Bad Bad Hats at First Avenue Read More Bad Bad Hats Minneapolis’ Bad Bad Hats signed with Don Giovanni Records for their brand new album, Walkman, due out September 17. …

12/10/2021 Friday

Bad Bad Hats
with Nur-D and VIAL
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Excerpt Repeat Repeat 2021:

Minneapolis’ Bad Bad Hats signed with Don Giovanni Records for their brand new album, Walkman, due out September 17.

The trio (Kerry Alexander, Chris Hoge, and Con Davison) shared their lead single “Detroit Basketball”, which you can watch on YouTube.

They sure seem to have a thing for sports, because we last saw them at Rock the Garden 2019 and mentioned, “This was the group’s first time playing at Rock the Garden, and they were both excited and seemingly nervous…. Especially, when Alexander was trying to explain/dedicate their new song “Wide Right” to the sports team Buffalo Bills.”

I’m almost certain that the group will play plenty of tracks from the forthcoming album at their hometown gigs at the end of July. There’ll be an early and late show for the Saturday date.

Tour Dates

Dec 2 High Noon Saloon @ Madison, WI
Dec 3 Fri Sacred Heart Music Center @ Duluth, MN
Dec 10 First Avenue @ Minneapolis, MN

12/12 Shiner and Spotlights at Turf Club Read More Spotlights Be sure to show up extra early to check out trio Spotlights (real life couple Sarah and Mario Quintero and drummer Chris Enriquez). They just released Hanging By Faith EP, which featured a cover of The Cure’s “Faith”. …

12/12/2021 Sunday

Shiner and Spotlights
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Kansas City’s Shiner will be in St Paul at the Turf Club on December 12th. The show is co-headlined with Spotlights.

Shiner will be play tracks from their latest album Schadenfreude, which was released earlier this year. The band’s Paul Epley shares, “Shiner, like every other band in the entire effing world, was beyond devastated when we couldn’t support our first record in 20 years, Schadenfreude last May. We barely even got it made and all of a sudden, whammy. That’s what makes these shows so much more special for us is the ability to play this record live for our fans.”

Shiner tour dates

12.7 Grand Rapids MI @ Pyramid Scheme %
12.8 Indianapolis IN @ Black Circle %
12.9 St Louis MO @ Red Flag %
12.10 Chicago IL @ Lincoln Hall %
12.11 Kansas City MO @ Record Bar %
12.12 St Paul MN @ Turf Club %
1.19 Phoenix AZ @ Rebel Lounge
1.20 Tucson AZ @ 191 Toole
1.21 San Diego CA @ Soda Bar
1.22 Palmdale CA @ Transplants Brewing
1.24 Los Angeles CA @ Zebulon
1.25 San Francisco CA @ Bottom of the Hill $
1.27 Eugene OR @ Sessions $
1.28 Portland OR @ The Doug Fir Lounge $
1.29 Seattle WA @ Substation $
1.31 Sacramento CA @ Goldfield Trading Post $
3.3 Brooklyn NY @ Zone One @ Elsewhere
3.5 Philadelphia PA @ Kung Fu Nectie
3.6 Baltimore MD @ Ottobar
3.7 Asheville NC @ Grey Eagle
3.8 Atlanta GA @ The Earl
3.9 Nashville TN @ Drkmttr
3.10 Columbus OH @ SpaceBar
3.11 Cincinnati OH @ Woodward Theater
3.12 Tolono IL @ Loose Cobra

% w/ SpotLights
$ w/ OneLineDrawing

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

Black Friday 2021

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" …

RADIOHEAD
radiohead.com

You know, Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), is tomorrow (Nov 26)… but the sales have been taking place all week (and even all month from some retailers). This used to be one of my favorite times of the year, but since the COVID restrictions… I haven’t been too enthusiastic about the shopping “holiday”. Since supplies are limited (products stuck in shipping containers), prices haven’t exactly been amazing.

As usual, the best deals are with large televisions, physical media, and games. Usually games released last year can be had for 50% or more. The typical digital game store fronts have their annual sale, such as Steam and GOG. The discounts are basically the same across the board, and this year, I might not get anything. There aren’t any games that I’m interested in playing.

I take that back, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is on sale, and it’s a game (three games actually) that I’m interested in checking out the new “remaster”. It’s currently on sale for $35 on Amazon, but unfortunately, there’s no rush for me, as I played the original games when they first came out and I’m not exactly sure if I want to play the same story again.

If you don’t want to spend money at all, over at Epic, you can get Kid A Mnesia Exhibition for absolutely free. I love Radiohead, but Kid A and Amnesiac was a change in direction for their music. Although I appreciate those albums, I still prefer OK Computer-era Radiohead. Still, for $0, it’s worth checking out Kid A Mnesia Exhibition.

Read More Troye Sivan Teen idol Troye Sivan brought his Bloom tour to the State Theatre in Minneapolis on October 17th. First on the lineup was Carlie Hanson (who was a surprise as she’s not listed on the venue’s website). ..…

JORDY
jordymusic.com

Speaking of free, if you are in the area, stop by the world famous Mall of America, in Bloomington, to see Los Angeles’ Jordy and New Jersey’s WanMor on Black Friday, November 26th, for free. They’ll be performing an exclusive live performance at noon, on the Huntington Bank Rotunda. If you arrived early enough (before 10am), you can also receive special wristbands to meet and greet the musicians.

We’ve been to a few of these events, the artists usually play three or four songs. Check out more Mall of America coverages here.

Here’s additional details about the Jordy/WanMor event:

Join us for a special performance with Jordy + WanMor. Plus get the opportunity to meet the bands!

JORDY is an up +coming singer-songwriter now based in Los Angeles. Drawing influences from Lauv and Troye Sivan with catchy melodies and unforgettable hooks, JORDY has been releasing a steady supply of pop hits + features. He has been taking over media, first as one of Radio Disney’s featured artists with the release of his song “Tomorrow feat. OSTON,” + most recently on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon where he participated in and won the Songwriter’s Challenge. With a heart-on-sleeve approach to modern pop music, JORDY’s music explores themes of rejection and loneliness through the lens of hope and empowerment, such as in Is It Love?’ which asks...

WanMor, a pop + R&B group from South Jersey, features 4 brothers, Big Boy, Chulo, Tyvas + Rocco. With their powerful sound + influence of music from Boyz II Men, they are taking the stage to perform at Mall of America.

Wristbanding for the meet + greet will begin at 10 a.m. Masks will be required to participate in the meet + greet. Please check Official Event Guidelines for details.

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

Girls Girls Girls: Diamond, Rainbow, Pink, Rose

Read more Girls Girls Girls.

Read More My Brightest Diamond Show up early to check out My Brightest Diamond (aka Shara Nova). The singer just dropped her new album A Million And One on November 23rd on Rhyme & Reason Records. She’s currently .…

MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND
mybrightestdiamond.com

Shara Nova, band leader for My Brightest Diamond, announced a 10-year anniversary of her beloved song “I Have Never Loved Someone” with a brand new version, recorded live during a performance in Denmark for the Queen, with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra with German conductor Andreas Delfs.

“I Have Never Loved Someone” was originally on My Brightest Diamond’s All Things Will Unwind LP in 2011, and became one of her best-known song.

“I Have Never Loved Someone” is being released as a special vinyl, with the b-side of “Love Was There”, featuring Vincent Taurelle (Air, Beck, Christine and The Queens) on synths and Lydia Cleaver from Cass Tech Harp and Vocal Ensemble on harp.

The two-song release is the first of My Brightest Diamond’s new releases since two spring 2019 stand-alone singles “Quiet Loud” and “Dorian”.

We caught MBD in Dec 2018 and wrote about hearing “I Have Never Loved Someone” as being one of the best song on her set:

“The whole show felt more like an art performance, complete with dance sequences. I think my personal favorite is for the penultimate song, “I Have Never Loved Someone”, which was done almost like a capella. This really showcased Shara’s beautiful vocals.”

RAINBOW GIRLS
rainbowgirlsmusic.com

Bay Area trio Rainbow Girls will be releasing their EP of all-new original songs called Dumpster Fire on December 6, 2021.

If you listen to the Dumpster Fire EP from start to finish, it apparently tells a story of a single weekend, according to Erin Chapin (one-third of the trio): “The storyline moves through the events of a single weekend with two lovers finally coming together, just to be pulled apart by some unknown and unnamed force. Though written through the lens of a personal, very literal experience with romantic love, the overarching theme of 'Doesn’t Make Any Sense' is something everyone seems to be experiencing right now: the pandemic; climate change; homelessness; the refusal to treat all types of people with dignity, respect, and equality. Nothing makes any sense. How can salvation be so obvious, yet so intangible?”

Check out Rainbow Girls on tour:

January 14th — Fargo, ND — Sanctuary Events Center*
January 15th — Fargo, ND — Sanctuary Events Center*
January 16th — Omaha, NE — Slowdown*
January 17th — Omaha, NE — Slowdown*
January 19th — Iowa City, IA — Englert Theatre*
January 21st — Iowa City, IA — Englert Theatre*
January 22nd — Bloomington, IL — Castle Theatre*
January 23rd — Bloomington, IL — Castle Theatre*
January 24th — Nashville, TN — Exit/In*
January 25th — Nashville, TN — Exit/In*
January 31st — Pensacola, FL — Vinyl Music Hall*
February 1st — Pensacola, FL — Vinyl Music Hall*
February 2nd — Savannah, GA — Victory North Savannah*
February 3rd — Savannah, GA — Victory North Savannah*
March 18th-25th — Cayamo Cruise

*supporting The Dead South

SUE FOLEY
suefoley.com

Award-winning blues guitarist/singer Sue Foley released Pinky’s Blues in October. The album features several new original songs from Foley, plus some covers of old favorite blues and roots artists.

To support the release of Pinky’s Blues, she’s set on doing a few live concerts…. Including a stop in St Paul on Dec 8th, at the Turf Club.

Tour Dates:

DEC 3 Knuckleheads Saloon Kansas City, MO
DEC 4 Zoo Bar Lincoln, NE
DEC 7 Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
DEC 8 Turf Club St Paul, MN
DEC 9 Vangarde Arts Sioux City, IA
DEC 10 The Washington Burlington,
DEC 11 The Coda Concert House Joplin, MO
DEC 17 Mercer Street DanceHall Dripping Springs, TX
DEC 28 The Jungle Show Austin, TX
DEC 29 The Jungle Show Austin, TX
FEB 11, 2022 Charles Bender Performing Arts Center Humble, TX
FEB 20, 2022 Blue Jay Listening Room Jacksonville Beach, FL
FEB 21, 2022 Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Miami, FL
MAR 3, 2022 Zebulon Los Angeles, CA
MAR 4, 2022 Hopmonk Tavern Novato, CA

MAGGIE ROSE
maggierosemusic.com

Nashville roots-rock soul powerhouse Maggie Rose released her third studio album Have a Seat. The album recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL, and was produced by Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes).

Rose comments, “These songs were written during a contentious time, and there are undertones to the lyrics that are influenced by the state of our world politics and the politics of the music industry. The title Have a Seat is responsorial, placing an emphasis on inclusivity — like, ‘Here, sit down. Let’s try talking to each other.’ One of the most loving things we can do is listen and make others feel heard — give people the space to speak their mind and be themselves. However, there’s also an intended meaning to the title that points to the power in occupying the seat that’s designated to you: I am claiming a seat I believe is rightfully mine, and I want others to do the same.”

Maggie Rose On Tour

12/8 @ Asbury Lanes | Asbury Park, NJ
12/9 @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn | Brooklyn, NY
12/10 @ Birchmere | Alexandria, VA
12/15 @ Knuckleheads Saloon | Kansas City, MO
12/16 @ Shank Hall | Milwaukee, WI
12/17 @ 7th Street Entry | Minneapolis, MN
12/18 @ SPACE | Evanston, IL

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

Fantasy TV

Read more Television.

Read More Squid Game If you haven’t heard, Squid Game is Netflix’s blockbuster television show. Everyone, at least over 111 million, is watching this South Korean drama/thriller. …

HELLBOUND
netflix.com

Thanks to Squid Game being the number television show at Netflix… audience looking for the next big South Korean horror/thriller series.

Enter Hellbound, a new series from Yeon Sang-ho, the person responsible for directing Train to Busan and Peninsula. The show is about these people who are given judgement sentences to hell. Three demons will appear on the date of their judgement to beat and incinerate them.

At first you think it’s only judgement against criminals or sinners… but you soon find out bad people aren’t the only ones being judged.

I find that the world’s fantasy rules aren’t exactly spelled out for the audience. In fact, it felt like the writer/creator was making up the rules as they were going along. Why were some people judged, and not others (like the cult that rose to punish the judged)? If the demons can appear anywhere and carry their punishment, why bother chasing the humans? Why haven’t the judged encased themselves in a fireproof box? What if the judged killed themselves before the demons arrived? Why are some people given weeks, while others are given only seconds to live? It just made absolutely no sense to me.

In other films, like The Ring, you have three days before the girl in the well kills you. In Death Note, if you know the person’s real name, you can write their name in a book to kill them. In One Missed Call, the supernatural phone killer will call everyone in your contact list. These rules are established so you can follow and understand what is happening. With Hellbound, it just seems like anyone can be judged… and there is no escape from it.

The ending of the show is somewhat predictable, even though it made no sense to me. I don’t want to talk about it in details, but it did leave me puzzled. You can’t approach this show with logic.

While the show will like thrilled audience, I just didn’t enjoy it.

Read More Game of Thrones HBO's Game of Thrones Season 5 is set for April 12, 2015, and traditionally they've released their Blu-Ray and DVDs just months before the premiere to get fans caught up or excited about the …

WHEEL OF TIME
amazon.com

The long-running Wheel of Time books are finally being made into a television series from Amazon Prime. If you have Amazon Prime, as I do, via my brother’s family account, then it’s free for you to watch.

I’ve never read the books by Robert Jordan, and later, Brandon Sanderson, but I understand it’s epic and spans 14 books, including a prequel and two companion books. I can only assume the television show follows the first book. So far, the pilot ends with a sneak attack by the Minotaurs (or orcs?) on this small village. I don’t know about you, but based on the snarls and brutishness of these creatures… there’s no way they can ninja their way to the village.

The two characters that I’m most interested in are the powerful sorceress and her swordsman companion. They seem to be roaming the country, searching for someone who can stop “the Dragon”. By the end of the pilot, you understand that it’s one of the four or five characters from the village that will become Dragon. We don’t know who it is, and personally speaking, I don’t really care.

The show was sold to me as the next Game of Throne-ish series, and, indeed, it does feature a cast of hundreds, based on viewing the pilot, I can tell you that it’s nowhere near the budget or scale of the HBO series.

I think where Game of Thrones succeeds, it is that the show starts off in realism. It’s a world without magic… and slowly through the series, it introduces us to fantasy and magic (with the birth of three dragons). In Wheel of Time, you’re hit with magic and fantasy right away.

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

lovelytheband w/ CANNONS and Grady at The Truman, Kansas City, MO (2021-11-21)

Tour Dates 11/22/21 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater 11/24/21 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall 11/26/21 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall 11/27/21 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews 11/29/21 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club 12/1/21 - New York, NY - To Be Announced 12/4/21 - Washington, D.C. - 9:30 Club 12/6/21 - Nashville, TN - Cannery 12/7/21 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Heaven) 12/9/21 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues 12/10/21 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room 12/13/21 - Austin, TX - Emo’s 12/14/21 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall 12/17/21 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre 12/18/21 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren 12/19/21 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues 12/29/21 - Seattle, WA - Showbox 12/30/21 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater Read More lovelytheband lovelytheband is headlining the all-ages show at the Varsity Theater on Sunday, April 28th. Show up early to check out Flora Cash, Jagwar Twin, and OTW . … Cannons We’re loving everything we’ve heard from Cannons, whose hit single, “Bad Dream”, has been followed by by a digital-only cover album earlier this year. …

This is a placeholder and Photo Gallery for lovelytheband with CANNONS and Grady at The Truman in Kansas City, MO

full review to follow

lovelytheband Setlist

loneliness for love don't worry, you will waste idwgtyp emotion maybe, i'm afraid pity party when you're lonely (interlude) love somebody else / drivers license (Olivia Rodrigo cover) coachella make you feel pretty buzz cut these are my friends -- Encore -- your favorite one broken

CANNONS Setlist

Baby Shadows Ruthless Hurricane Bad Dream Talk Talk Purple Sun Up All Night Fire for You

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

CANNONS

Grady

Grady

CANNONS

CANNONS

CANNONS

lovelytheband Setlist

lovelytheband

lovelytheband

lovelytheband

lovelytheband

lovelytheband at The Truman, Kansas City, MO (2021-11-21)

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

Minneapolis: December 5 to December 7

12/05 Emily Wolfe at Turf Read More Emily Wolfe Crows Feet Records singer/ songwriter/ guitarist Emily Wolfe announced t hat she’ll be heading out on tour in support of her new album Outlier. …

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

12/05/2021 Sunday

Emily Wolfe
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Excerpt Lone Wolf:

EMILY WOLFE
emilywolfemusic.com

Crows Feet Records recording artist, Emily Wolfe is currently in the middle of her North American Tour in support of her new album Outlier.

We actually mentioned the album in June 2021 and said, “Wolfe is headlining the upcoming tour, with the exception of some dates with the legendary Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.”

St Paul/Minneapolis, she’ll be over at the Turf Club this December 5th.

Tour:

Dec 2: Ames, IA / Maintenance Shop
Dec 5: St. Paul, MN / Turf Club
Dec 7: Madison, WI / High Noon Saloon
Dec 8: Chicago, IL / Sleeping Village
Dec 9: Milwaukee, WI / Cactus Club

12/05 Billy Idol & Steve Stevens at Palace Theatre Read More Billy Idol Before 80s punk rock 'rebel' icon Billy Idol head out on his headlining 2015 tour, he will be doing a warm-up acoustic show with radio DJ Mary Lucia ....

12/05/2021 Sunday

Billy Idol & Steve Stevens
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

The rebel himself, Billy Idol announced his remixed and remastered Christmas album Happy Holidays, out now for the first time on vinyl and streaming platforms via Dark Horse Records. The new version is packed with new artwork and available for purchase on black vinyl, CD, digital and on limited edition white vinyl.

If you didn’t know, Dark Horse Records (no relations to Dark Horse Comics), is a newly relaunched record label. Originally created in 1974 George Harrison (you know, of The Beatles), but it is now run by Dhani Harrison and David Zonshine. Other artists on the new label includes Joe Strummer and Ravi Shankar.

Dhani Harrison (George’s son) is an Idol fan, commenting, “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Billy Idol to the Dark Horse Records family. Billy is a legend, and his music couldn’t fit the Dark Horse persona any better. I’ve loved his music throughout my whole life, so to be able to give this new music a home on our historic label is a massive honour.”

Be sure to check out Idol live at the Palace Theatre, in St Paul, on December 5th, with Steve Stevens, as part of their “Turned On, Tuned In, and Unplugged” acoustic tour.

Billy Idol & Steve Stevens Live

11/27—Indianapolis, IN—Murat Theatre*
11/29—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium*
12/01—Chicago, IL—Vic Theatre*
12/04—Madison, WI—Barrymore Theatre*
12/05— St. Paul, MN—Palace Theatre*

* acoustic

12/06 Human Impact at 7th St Read More Child Bite From Detroit, Michigan, Child Bite is heading up to Toronto to play some shows at NXNE. The most interesting thing about the band, that I've read, is that they use a gaming joystick on stage. I guess I'll have to check them out to see what that is all about. ....

12/06/2021 Monday

Human Impact
with Child Bite and Murf at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

New York’s Human Impact (featuring Jim Coleman from Cop Shoot Cop, Chris Spencer from Unsane, Chris Pravdica from Swans and Phil Puleo from Cop Shoot Cops) will stop by the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on December 6th, as part of their tour for their debut album (which came out at the eve of the COVID pandemic).

Singer Coleman adds, “After our debut album being released on the eve of pandemic lockdown, we are extremely happy to finally get out and start doing some live shows. We love our recorded material, but Human Impact is meant to be experienced live and in person. This fall US tour will kick off an ongoing effort to tour through the US and Europe through 2021 and 2022.”

Child Bite and Murf to open.

Human Impact tour dates:

11/26 Brooklyn, NY Market Hotel
11/27 Baltimore, MD Metro Gallery
11/28 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie
11/30 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café
12/01 Indianapolis, IN HiFi
12/02 Detroit, MI PJ’s Lager House
12/03 Grand Rapids, MI The Pyramid Scheme
12/04 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway Night Club
12/05 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
12/06 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
12/08 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
12/09 Louisville, KY Headliner’s Music Hall
12/10 Newport, KY Southgate House Revival
12/11 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop

12/07 Caroline Polachek at First Ave Read More Chairlift Chairlift played to a half-filled venue, and for the most part, the audience seemed half there mentally as well…. Lead singer, Caroline Polachek, showed off clear, hypnotizing vocals, but coupled with droning synths …

12/07/2021 Tuesday

Caroline Polachek
with Oklou at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

After Chairlift broke up in 2017, lead singer Caroline Polachek decided to strike out on her own with her debut record Pang in 2019. Unfortunately, no long after the album came out, we were hit with the COVID pandemic… so perhaps this upcoming December 7th show at First Avenue, may be the first time we’ll hear Pang live.

Show up early to check out French artist Oklou (also known as Marylou Mayniel), celebrating her first American tour with Polachek.

Tour dates (all dates with Oklou).

11/20 - Canton Hall - Dallas
11/22 - Republic - New Orleans
11/23 - Variety - Atlanta
11/24 - Cannery - Nashville
11/26 - Thalia - Chicago
11/27 - Majestic - Detroit
11/29 - Union Transfer - Philadelphia
11/30 - Royale - Boston
12/01 - Elsewhere Zone 1 - New York
12/02 - Terminal 5 - New York
12/03 - Lincoln Theatre - Washington
12/04 - Mr Smalls - Pittsburgh
12/07 - First Avenue - Minneapolis
12/08 - Bottleneck - Lawrence
12/10 - Bluebird - Denver
12/11 - Urban - Salt Lake City USA
12/13 - Showbox - Vancouver, BC
12/14 - Wonder - Portland
12/15 - Showbox - Seattle
12/17 - Fox - Oakland, USA
12/18 - Catalyst - Santa Cruz, USA
06/02 - Primavera Festival, ES

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

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting

Read More Shaw Brothers While U.S. companies have long abandoned re-releasing classic Shaw Brothers films in America (nobody will buy these Chinese films here), other countries, such as Hong Kong or the United Kingdom, they are still …

Read more Movies and Television.

THE CHINESE BOXER
88-films.myshopify.com

I’ve previously mentioned that there is just no market for high definition Shaw Brothers films in the USA. In fact, the last official BluRay release was Five Element Ninjas by Tokyo Shock in 2012… prior to this Web of Death by Well Go USA (under their Sword Masters banner) and Five Deadly Venoms by Dragon Dynasty, in 2011. Let’s just say that there is just a lack of HD representation of these classic Shaw Brothers films.

If you wanted these films in Bluray, you basically have to import them from other countries… which I have been doing with 88 Films, a company based in the UK, specializing in this niche market. Thankfully, their latest release for Jimmy Wang Yu’s The Chinese Boxer, is available domestically in the USA (their first simultaneous UK and US release).

The film came out November 9th, which arrived on my doorstep on the same day, thanks to pre-ordering it via Amazon. The retail price is $29, but these are usually discounted to $20 or $25… which is a normal price for these type of releases. Like Criterion and Arrow, the 88 Films features a full clear case in a nice slip case, featuring new artwork by “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien. For the first pressing (“Limited Edition”), it comes with a folder poster and a booklet, featuring ‘Hong Kong’s Famous Fight Life’ by Andrew Graves… as well as a nice reversible cover artwork (new artwork vs original artwork).

There is also a brand new audio commentary by journalist Samm Deighan, plus interviews with journalist David West and actor Wong Ching, which were produced by 88 Films.

Like with all the previous 88 Films releases, this HD transfer (restored HD Master in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio) is pretty amazing. I think the HD is very impressive, considering these films were produced in the 70s.

So, going forward, I’ll just purchase 88 Films’ US releases. The next Shaw Brothers film to be released in the US/UK will be Disciples of Shaolin. It is available December 13th, which I will pre-order in early December to make sure I get the film before Christmas.

I’m also hoping that 88 Film goes back and perhaps re-issue their previous UK-only releases for the US market. There are some out-of-print films that I would love to get my hands on… but unfortunately, I’m not sure if there is a big market in America for these films.

Read More Jet Li Jet Li Collection Bluray, a disappointment. The problem with buying things online, sight unseen, is that it can be disappointing. As much as I think companies like Best Buy don't stock the movies I want (they're never going to sell the B …

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA
criterion.com

I wasn’t a fan of the Once Upon A Time in China movies, simply because I don’t really like “historical” films, or films based on real events. This series is based on China in the late 19th century, and it’s most famous for introducing the (international) world to Jet Li.

Even though I didn’t like the films, the fact that all five films are collected in a nice boxset and released by Criterion, I may have to pick it up for my collection. It retails for $130, but currently it’s on sale for about $60 (which is a fair price for five films).

Here’s how Criterion describe the boxset:

One of the pinnacles of Hong Kong cinema’s 1990s golden age, the Once Upon a Time in China series set a new standard for martial-arts spectacle and launched action star Jet Li to international fame. It brings to vivid life the colorful world of China in the late nineteenth century, an era of immense cultural and technological change, as Western imperialism clashed with tradition and public order was upended by the threats of foreign espionage and rising nationalism.

Against this turbulent backdrop, one man—the real-life martial-arts master, physician, and folk hero Wong Fei-hung—emerges as a noble protector of Chinese values as the country hurtles toward modernity.

Conceived by Hong Kong New Wave leader Tsui Hark, this epic cycle is not only a dazzling showcase for some of the most astonishing action set pieces ever committed to film but also a rousing celebration of Chinese identity, history, and culture.

Six-Blu-ray Special Edition Collector's Set Features

• Includes "Once Upon a Time in China and America" (1997)
• Rare alternate audio tracks
• New interview with Tsui Hark
• Excerpts from audio interviews with Jet Li
• Deleted scenes, documentaries, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage
• And more

Read More Jackie Chan And let’s not forget that these guys ‚ “introduced” Jackie Chan to America using their single ‚ “Kung Fu”, as part of the promotion for his film Rumble in the Bronx. …

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
marvel.com

Critics and audiences both loved Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which recently landed on streaming (after it debut in theaters in early September). I can see why normal people would like Shang-Chi, it really introduces Kung Fu into the Marvel Universe on a massive scale (if you don’t count the Iron Fist television show). However, as someone who’s seen better martial art films, I wasn’t impressed with Shang-Chi. In fact, I hated Shang-Chi… in my opinion, it’s not a very good film.

To me, this is two films, one that took place in modern times with Shang-Chi, and the other is about his father, The Mandarin. The decision to splice the backstory with the modern story was jarring. I might be enjoying following the modern-day story and it’s suddenly interrupted with a story about the past.

Most people haven’t read or own a collection of the original Deadly Hands of Kung Fu or the Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu series, so I know the source material really well. Shang-Chi was originally Marvel’s version of Bruce Lee… if Bruce Lee’s father was Fu Manchu. Since Marvel doesn’t really have the rights to Fu Manchu anymore, they decided to re-write Shang-Chi’s story to have him as the son of the Mandarin.

I don’t mind the changes, it made sense that they would go in this direction… but I really didn’t care for the backstory to the villainous Mandarin. What I really wanted to see was the story of Shang-Chi, not his father. It’s not that I don’t find it interesting, but they really could’ve moved all the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” stuff to a special on Disney Plus or make it a stand alone movie.

As for the Kung Fu part, I’ve seen better. For normal people, I think they might be blown away by the bus fight scene (a lot of people are raving about this scene)… but I think it’s just fine. I would recommend checking out any early Jackie Chan films, to see how he would do it better and more realistic.

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

Minneapolis: December 1 to December 4

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

12/01 City and Colour at Fitzgerald Read More City and Colour Singer, songwriter and performer Dallas Green is returning to the road under his stagename/band City and Colour. ...

12/01/2021 Wednesday

City and Colour
with Lucie Silvas
at The Fitzgerald Theater
first-avenue.com

Excerpt Colors: City and Colour, Puma Blue, Black Midi, Opus Orange, Purple Disco Machine:

Singer, songwriter and performer Dallas Green is returning to the road under his stagename/band City and Colour.

Dallas wrote, “As I write this, it has been 545 days since I last stood on stage and sang for a crowd. 545 days since my touring family has had work. 545 days since our livelihood disappeared. We can’t wait to get back out on the road - the place where most of us have spent the majority of our adult lives, a place we all miss dearly. Everyone is working incredibly hard to bring live music back. That being said, the world we are returning to isn’t exactly what it used to be (at least for now). Therefore; to ensure the safety of EVERYONE involved, our shows will require proof of FULL COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to gain entry to all 2021 City and Colour concerts. This requirement applies to all venue staff, tour personnel and ticket holders.”

Tour dates:

11/18/2021 Vernon & District Perf. Arts Vernon, BC
11/19/2021 Red Deer Memorial Red Deer, AB
11/22/2021 Southern Alberta Jubilee Calgary, AB
11/23/2021 Southern Alberta Jubilee Calgary, AB
11/24/2021 Northern Alberta Jubilee Edmonton, AB
11/25/2021 Northern Alberta Jubilee Edmonton, AB
11/27/2021 TCU Place Saskatoon, SK
11/28/2021 Conexus Arts Centre Regina, SK
11/30/2021 Centennial Concert Hall Winnipeg, MB
12/01/2021 Fitzgerald Theater Saint Paul, MN
12/02/2021 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
12/04/2021 MTELUS Montreal, QC
12/05/2021 MTELUS Montreal, QC
12/09/2021 Massey Hall Toronto, ON
12/10/2021 Massey Hall Toronto, ON
12/11/2021 Massey Hall Toronto, ON
12/12/2021 Massey Hall Toronto, ON
12/14/2021 Massey Hall Toronto, ON

12/03 Steve Gunn and Jeff Parker at Cedar Read More Steve Gunn Steve Gunn & the Outliners to open. Steve Gunn’s new album and debut for Matador Records is called Eyes On The Lines. Gunn’s band the Outliners is a large ensemble, featuring Nathan Bowles on banjo, Hans Chew on wurlitzer (what the heck is that?) ...

12/03/2021 Friday

Steve Gunn and Jeff Parker
at The Cedar Cultural Center
thecedar.org

The Steve Gunn and Jeff Parker co-headlining show is taking place on December 3rd at the Cedar Cultural Center.

Gunn recently released his sixth studio album Other You on Matador Records.

Parker, earlier this year, covered David Bowie’s “Soul Love” for the Bowie tribute album, Modern Love.

Tour dates:

12/02 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
12/03 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
12/04 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
12/05 Lakeside, MI @ Lakeside Inn
12/06 Bloomington, IN @ Bishop
12/07 Nashville, TN @ Third Man
12/08 Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
12/09 Charlotte, NC @ Recover Brands
12/10 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern
12/11 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
12/12 Baltimore, MD@ Creative Alliance
12/14 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
12/15 Holyoke, MA @ Gateway City Arts
12/16 Kingston, NY @ Tubby’s
12/17 Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall
12/18 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

12/03 Dawes at First Ave Read More Dawes The three-hour evening was opened by Los Angeles-based Dawes, who considers Minneapolis one of their strongest markets, in a solid hour-long set of their own. …

12/03/2021 Friday

Dawes
with Erin Rae
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles’ Dawes is touring in support of their latest album Good Luck With Whatever (Rounder). The band will stop by First Avenue in Minneapolis on December 3rd.

Erin Rae will open the show.

Incidentally, earlier this year, Dawes’ album Nothing Is Wrong was re-issued as a special 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. Available digitally and color vinyl on ATO Records.

Tour dates:

11/18: The Showbox - Seattle, WA *
11/19: Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR *
11/21: Fremont Theatre - San Luis Obisbo, CA *
11/22: Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA *
11/23: Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA *
11/26: The Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA *
11/27: The Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA *
11/28: The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA *
11/30: Commonwealth Room - Salt Lake City, UT *
12/1: Washington’s - Fort Collins, CO *
12/3: First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN *
12/4: The Vic Theatre - Chicago, IL *
12/5: Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI *
12/7: Headliners Music Hall - Louisville, KY *
12/8: The Pageant - St. Louis, MO *
12/10: McFarlin Auditorium - Dallas, TX *
12/11: Stubb’s Waller Creek - Austin, TX *
12/12: The Heights Theater - Houston, TX *
1/14 - 1/17/22: 30A Songwriters Festival
1/16-20: Island Exodus - Runaway Bay, Jamaica
3/18-25: Cayamo Cruise - Miami, FL

* w/ Erin Rae

12/04 Anderson East at First Ave Read More Anderson East Originally this Anderson East show was booked at the Fine Line Music Café, but thanks to terrific presales, the show has been upgraded to the much larger First Avenue mainroom. …

12/04/2021 Saturday

Anderson East
with Savannah Conley
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter and performer Anderson East will stop by First Avenue in Minneapolis on December 4th. East’s new album Maybe We Never Die is out now on Elektra/Low Country Sound.

Savannah Conley to open.

Tour dates:

11/30—Indianapolis, IN—The Vogue
12/01—Detroit, MI—St. Andrews Hall
12/03—Chicago, IL—Vic Theatre
12/04—Minneapolis, MN—First Avenue
12/05—Madison, WI—Majestic Theatre
12/07—Omaha, NE—Slowdown
12/08—Des Moines, IA—Wooly’s
12/10—Kansas City, MO—Madrid Theatre
12/11—St. Louis, MO—Delmar Hall
12/12—Chattanooga, TN—Walker Theatre
12/14—Asheville, NC—Orange Peel
12/15—Knoxville, TN—Bijou Theatre
12/17—Columbus, OH—Newport Music Hall
12/18—Cincinnati, OH—Bogart’s
12/31—Birmingham, AL—Alabama Theatre
01/13—Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse
01/14—Charlotte, NC—Fillmore
01/15—Raleigh, NC—Lincoln Theatre
01/18—Washington, DC—9:30 Club
01/21—New York, NY—Webster Hall
01/22—Philadelphia, PA—Union Transfer
01/23—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theater
01/25—Burlington, VT—Higher Ground Ballroom
01/26—Portland, ME—State Theatre
01/28—Boston, MA—Paradise
02/01—Pittsburgh, PA—Mr. Smalls
02/02—Toronto, Canada—Danforth Music Hall
02/04—Louisville, KY—Mercury

12/04 Mason Jennings at Fine Line Read More Mason Jennings Local singer Mason Jennings is headlining First Avenue in Minneapolis on Saturday, December 15th. Jennings new album Songs From When We Met came out on May 11, 2018. …

12/04/2021 Saturday

Mason Jennings
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Minneapolis songwriter Mason Jennings announced his new album Real Heart, coming out February 4th on Loosegroove Records. Jennings will stop by the Fine Line this December 4th.

Regarding the album, Jennings writes, “I’m very excited to be working with Loosegroove Records and to have had Regan Hagar and Stone Gossard produce this album. We made the unabashed folk record that I have been wanting to make for years. Kind of a love letter to the acoustic guitar and to musical intimacy. Kind of a love letter to the acoustic guitar and to musical intimacy.”

If you didn’t know, Jennings and Gossard (along with Matt Chamberlain and Brittany Davis) are in a supergroup called Painted Shield.

Look for Painted Shield to release a new album for 2022, but in the meantime, you can hear their new single “4th of July”.

Tour dates:

11/20 - Fargo, ND @ Sanctuary events Center
11/21 - Duluth, NB @ Sacred Heart Music Center
11/27 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room Colectivo
11/28 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
12/04 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe

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