W♥M

Strangest Things

Stranger Things: Season 4 It's been eight months since The Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time - and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery, that if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down. Read More Stranger Things For me, synthwave started with Stranger Things. In late July I went on a date with a fellow dungeon master who mentioned this show which started with some kids playing D&D (Dungeons & Dragons). …

Read more Television.

STRANGER THINGS
netflix.com

I’ve been enjoying Stranger Things since it debut in 2016, and, personally speaking, I think Season 4 is one of their strongest season yet. The show’s really matured, and that’s not to mention how all the child actors have all really grown up in the four years we’ve known them. I mean in both story and, the fact that the real actors have really grown up. Just look at the actor Finn Wolfhard, he looks like a fully grown young man. It’s clear to me that the Duffer Brothers couldn’t possibly continue telling their stories forever.

The story of Season 4 goes back to the first time we meet 11. We’re reminded that 11 killed everyone in this secret base in a flashback. The story goes deeper, and you’re given more back stories. Somehow, at least how I perceived it, that it was that 11 created “The Upsidedown”, a twisted version of Hawkins, Indiana. It’s really cool, I bought it.

Season 4 also has some of the most horrific death scenes, featuring some gruesome body breaking/eyeballs destroying moments. I feel like sometime the show borders on Rated R and PG, especially with some of its goofy moments, like the Suzie’s mad house or the crazy greedy Russian pilot.

My biggest complaint about the new season is that they’ve introduced (or focused more on) a lot of new characters. I wish they just stick to the original group of fans. Instead, we’re seeing characters like Hellfire Club’s Eddie, Robin (who was introduced last season and plays a bigger part this season), and Argyle. With so many characters, it just seems like the writers tried to devote more time to everyone… making for very long episodes. In fact, the last two episodes (which just released by Netflix) are one and half hour, and two plus hours, respectively. They are movie length!

Stranger Things Soundtrack Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4 includes essential music tracks evoking various classic eras and styles as featured in "Stranger Things 4." The soundtrack album is conceptualized and produced by The Duffer Brothers and Nora Felder.

STRANGER THINGS: SOUNDTRACK
legacyrecordings.com

As you know, one of the best thing about Stranger Things is their amazing 80s soundtrack. With Season 4, the soundtrack helped Kate Bush back on the music charts, over 35 years after “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” was originally released!

I actually own a few Stranger Things Soundtrack, so I’m looking forward to Legacy Recordings’ release of Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4. The soundtrack is available now on digital and CD.

If you’re a vinyl collector, like I am, be on the look out for the double LP 12” on November 4th. The vinyl will come in standard black (with 12inch poster insert), or exclusive retailers’ editions.

Walmart will have a Creel House cover and puzzle, Target will have a California cover and diorama, Barnes & Noble will have a Russia cover and stickers, and Amazon will feature a Lab cover with a 12x12 Butcher Billy lithograph (details here).

Surfer Boy Pizza Surfer Boy Pizza Pepperoni Pizza, 23 oz. Each mouth-watering variety contains rich tomato sauce, delicious mozzarella cheese, and a gnarly range of toppings.

SURFER BOY PIZZA
palermovillainc.com

The first time I saw Surfer Boy Pizza, I was so confused. This is an imaginary pizza brand from Stranger Things… yet, here it is, in real life at my local Walmart. I decided to try one out.

To my surprise, it was really good. Especially for only $7. Don’t believe all the food snobs on the internet, I really like the pizza. I would cut it in thirds and air fry a piece for about 9 minutes, and it’s crisp and tastes great.

The frozen pizza is made by Palermo Villa Co. and comes with a fake pair of punch-out 3D glasses. There are four types of topping available: supreme, multi-meat, pepperoni, and pineapple & jalapeno. I’ve tried them all, they’re all pretty good, except for my least favorite, the pineapple & jalapeno. It’s just the topping, the crust is still good. The best value is the supreme, so I would recommend trying that first.

At the moment, I believe the pizza is only available from Walmart. Right now, they are phasing out the pizza, since the show is over… but you can still buy a 4-pack from their website for a high price of $50.

If you can find it for $7, it’s worth checking out.

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

Minneapolis: July 21 to July 24

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

07/21 Savannah Conley with Secondhand Sound at 7th St Entry Read More Savannah Conley 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 …

07/21/2022 Thursday

Savannah Conley
with Secondhand Sound at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Nashville based acclaimed singer-songwriter Savannah Conley is currently on tour.

She recently released her single, “Always Gonna Happen” on Good Partners/Virgin Music.

Talking about the single, Conley said, “There was a moment when I realized that this is the first time in my life where things have actually happened to me. My co-writer and I looked at each other and talked about the sh** that has happened that we haven’t even talked about before. When you figure out the world isn’t what you thought it was, it makes you question a lot. “Always Gonna Happen” plays into that; it’s about trusting my instincts to get away from situations and people to move forward in life.”

Secondhand Sound to open.

Tour dates:

JUL 8 - The Basement East Nashville, TN
JUL 9 - Nowhere Bar Athens, GA
JUL 10 - American Vinyl Co Asheville, NC
JUL 12 - The Evening Muse Charlotte, NC
JUL 13- The Southern Cafe Charlottesville, VA
JUL 15- The Basement Columbus, OH
JUL 16 - Top Cats Cincinnati, OH
JUL 17 - White Rabbit Cabaret Indianapolis, IN
JUL 19 - Schubas Chicago, IL
JUL 21 - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
JUL 22 - The Back Room @ Colectivo Milwaukee, WI
JUL 23 - Raccoon Motel Davenport, IA
JUL 24 - Off Broadway St. Louis, MO
JUL 26 - Zanzabar Louisville, KY
JUL 27 - The Burl Lexington, KY

07/21 Christian Lee Hutson with Another Michael at Turf Club Read More Christian Lee Hutson The first act of three to take the stage was singer/songwriter Christian Lee Hutson. Hutson is a Los Angeles-based musician, just releasing a new single, ‘Northsiders’ (which Bridgers produced) from his .…

07/21/2022 Thursday

Christian Lee Hutson
with Another Michael
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles songwriter Christian Lee Hutson was recently in town with Bright Eyes in March 2022, but this time he’ll be headlining the Turf Club.

Hutson’s new album Quitters was released on April 1 via ANTI-.

Another Michael to open.

Tour dates:

7/19: Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge #
7/21: St. Paul, MN - Turf Club #
7/22: Chicago, IL – Schubas #
7/23: Ferndale, MI - Otus Supply #
7/24: Toronto, ON – Paradise #
7/26: Montreal, QC - Bar le Ritz #
7/28: Boston, MA - Cafe 939 #
7/29: Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Made #
7/30: Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live #
7/31: Washington, DC – Songbyrd #
8/2: Atlanta, GA - The Earl #
8/3: Nashville, TN - The End #
8/5: Dallas, TX – Ruins &
8/6: Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall &
8/7: Austin, TX - Parish &
8/10: Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar &
8/11: San Diego, CA – Casbah &
8/13: Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriets &
8/14: Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon &
8/15: San Francisco, CA - Cafe du Nord &
8/18: Spokane, WA - Spokane Pavilion*
8/20: Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theatre*
8/21: Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theatre*
8/23: Redmond, WA - Marymoor Park*
8/24: Redmond, WA - Marymoor Park*
8/25: Troutdale, OR - Edgefield Amphitheater*
8/27: Paso Robles, CA - Vina Robles Amphitheatre*
9/1 – Salisbury, UK – End of the Road Festival 2022

*with Phoebe Bridgers
# with Another Michael
& with Jodi

07/22 and 07/23 Motion City Soundtrack with All Get Out and Neil Rubenstein at First Avenue Read More Motion City Soundtrack Motion City Soundtrack can still qualify as a local band, despite their nationwide popularity and proof that they still connect in Minneapolis, was seen at a crowded main stage for their late afternoon set …

07/22/2022 Friday

Motion City Soundtrack
with All Get Out and Neil Rubenstein
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

07/23/2022 Saturday

Motion City Soundtrack
with All Get Out and Neil Rubenstein
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

The Motion City Soundtrack’s “Commit This To Memory 17 Year Anniversary Tour” is finally here. You see, the band decided to come back in January 2022 ... but that was delayed until now.

We saw MCS on their last tour in June 2016 and wrote, “Longtime Minneapolis power punk band Motion City Soundtrack is breaking up as a band after nearly twenty years. They are letting fans get the chance to say goodbye to the band on their final “So Long, Farewell Tour.””

All Get Out to open. The South Carolina-based indie-rock quartet released Kodak on Equal Vision Records … the band’s first full-length offering since 2018's No Bouquet.

Neil Rubenstein will also open.

Tour dates:

06/21 — Boston, MA — House of Blues *
06/22 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore *
06/24 — Mckees Rocks, PA — Roxian Theatre *
06/25 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore *
06/26 — Atlanta, GA — Buckhead Theatre *
06/27 — Lake Buena Vista, FL — House of Blues Orlando *
06/29 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works *
07/01 — Austin, TX — Emo’s *
07/02 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues *
07/05 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren *
07/06 — San Diego, CA — House of Blues *
07/08 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues *
07/09 — Los Angeles, CA — The Belasco Theater *
07/10 — Berkeley, CA — The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall *
07/12 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades *
07/13 — Portland, OR — Crystal Ballroom *
07/14 — Seattle, WA — Neptune Theatre *
07/16 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex *
07/17 — Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall *
07/19 — Lawrence, KS — Granada Theater *
07/20 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave/Eagles Club *
07/22 — Minneapolis, MN — First Avenue *
07/23 — Minneapolis, MN — First Avenue *

* — with All Get Out

07/23 Boy Harsher with Hiro Kone at Fine Line Read More Boy Harsher Boy Harsher and DJ Grant Mayland (of Dark Energy) to open. The Soft Moon + Boy Harsher - North American Tour: …

07/23/2022 Saturday

Boy Harsher
with Hiro Kone
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Boy Harsher - the duo of Jae Matthews and producer Augustus Muller - is touring in support of their new album The Runner (Original Soundtrack) (Nude Club/City Slang).

Hiro Kone to open.

Boy Harsher Tour Dates

Sat. June 25 - Seattle, WA @ Queer/Pride Presents: The Cuff PRIDEFEST
Sat. July 16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Boiler Room New York
Sun. July 17 - Montreal, QC @ Société des Arts Technologiques ∞
Mon. July 18 - Toronto, ON @ The Opera House ∞
Tue. July 19 - Detroit, MI @ El Club ∞
Wed. July 20 - Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle ∞
Thu. July 21 - Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle
Fri. July 22 - Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle
Sat. July 23 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line ∞
Mon. July 25 - Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar ∞
Wed. July 27 - Houston, TX @ Numbers ∞
Thu. July 28 - San Antonio, TX @ Sam's Music Hall ∞
Fri. July 29 - Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room and Garage ∞
Mon. July 30 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater ∞
Sat. May 7 - Wein, AT @ Flex (Halle) √
Sun. May 8 - Bratislava, SK @ Fuga √
Mon. May 9 - Ljublbana, SI @ Kino Siska √
Wed. May 11 - Zagreb, HR @ Mocvara √
Thu. May 12 - Budapest, HU @ Akvarium √
Fri. May 13 - Belgrado, RS @ SubBeerni Centar √
Sat. May 14 - Skopje, MK @ 25th of May Hall √
Sun. May 15 - Thessaloniki, GR @ Block 33 √
Tue. May 17 - Athens, GR @ Lunar Space √
Thu. May 19 - Caserta, IT @ Lizard Club √
Fri. May 20 - Roma, IT @ Monk √
Sat. May 21 - Bologna, IT @ TPO √
Sun. May 22 - Vicenza, IT @ Totem √
Tue. May 24 - Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks √
Wed. May 25 - Munich, DE @ Freiheitshalle √
Thu. May 26 - Heidelberg, DE @ Commissary √
Fri. May 27 - Lyon, FR @ Nuits Sonores
Sat. May 28 - London, UK @ Wide Awake Festival
Mon. May 30 - Warsaw, PL @ Progresja √
Tue. May 31 - Krakow, PL @ Hype Park √
Wed. June 1 - Prague, CZ @ Archa Theatre √
Sat. June 4 - Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Festival
Sun. June 5 - Marseille, FR @ Le Bon Air Festival
Fri. June 10 - Gräfenhainichen, DE @ Melt Festival
Sat. June 11 - Wicklow Mountains, IE @ Beyond The Pale Festive
Tue. June 14 - Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset
Wed. June 15 - Malmo, SE @ Plan B
Thu. June 16 - Stockholm, SE @ Debaser
Fri. June 17 - Helsinki, FI @ Sideways Festival
Sat. June 18 - Den Haag, NL @ Grauzone Fest
Sat. Aug 13 - Basel, CH @ Polyfon Festival
Fri. Aug. 19 - Coura, PT @ Paredes De Coura
Sat. Aug. 20 - Hamburg, DE @ Dockville
Sun. Aug. 21 - Berlin, DE @ Astra †
Mon. Aug. 22 - Cologne, DE @ Gloria †
Tue. Aug. 23 - Leipzig, DE @ Werk2 †
Wed. Aug. 24 - Frankfurt, DE @ Zoom †
Thu. Aug. 25 - Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg †
Fri. Aug. 26 - Hasselt, BE @ Muziekodroom †
Sat. Aug. 27 - London, UK @ Moth Club
Sun. Aug. 28 - London, UK @ Earth ∑
Mon. Aug. 29 - Paris, FR @ Cabaret Sauvage †
Tue. Aug. 30 - Berlin, DE @ SO36
Sun. Sept. 18 @ Los Angeles, CA @ Primavera Sound LA

√ w/ Hide
∞ w/ Hiro Kono
† w/ Kris Baha
∑ w/ Helm

07/24 Rebelution with DENM and DJ Mackle at Palace Theatre Read More Rebelution California-based reggae/rock band Rebelution will be headlining First Avenue’s mainroom on their “Fall In Your Place” tour. Rebelution’s latest release is called Live at Red Rocks, which is a live CD/DVD. …

07/24/2022 Sunday

Rebelution
with DENM and DJ Mackle
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

Reggae/rock band Rebelution is touring in support of Live in St. Augustine (Round Hill Records).

DENM and DJ Mackle to open.

Good Vibes Summer Tour 2022:Tour Dates

6/22 – New Haven, CT– Westville Music Bowl
6/23 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion
6/24 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans
6/25 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage
6/26 – Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion
7/19 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora *
7/21 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore *
7/22 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom *
7/23 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park *
7/24 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre *
7/28 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater
7/29 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
7/30 – Houston, TX – The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall
7/31 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheater
8/4 – Fresno, CA – Woodward Park Amphitheater
8/5 & 8/6 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Pacific Amphitheatre
8/7 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
8/10 – Corning, CA – The Amphitheater
8/11 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
8/12 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre
8/13 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/14 – Avila Beach, CA – Avila Beach Resort
8/17 – Flagstaff, AZ – Pepsi Amphitheater
8/18 – Tucson, AZ – Ava Amphitheater
8/23 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rio Tinto Stadium
8/25 – Bonner, MT – Kettlehouse Amphitheater
8/26 – Redmond, WA – King County’s Marymoor Park
8/27 – Eugene, OR – Cuthbert Amphitheater
8/28 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Festival Pavilion

*No Steel Pulse

Festival Dates
5/27 – Monterey, CA – California Roots Music Festival
7/8 – Patchogue, NY – Great South Bay Music Festival
8/20 & 8/21 – Morrison, CO – Reggae On The Rocks
9/3 – Grass Valley, CA – Dry Diggings Festival
10/7 – 10/9 – Las Vegas, NV – Reggae Rise Up Las Vegas
11/27 – 12/1 – Los Cabos, Mexico – Cabo Beach Festival

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

Red White and Country Blues

In honor of Independence Day, Fourth of July, here is a new Red White and Blue article. See also Colors.

HANSON: Red Green Blue Read More Hanson Brothers band Hanson recently released their new Christmas album Finally It’s Christmas (available on 3CG/S-Curve Records). …

HANSON
hanson.net

Trio brothers Hanson (Taylor, Isaac, and Zac Hanson) finally released their Red Green Blue album. The album compiles three solo-led projects from each of the brothers and marks the band’s milestone 30th anniversary.

Red is Taylor’s songs, Green is Isaac’s songs, and finally Blue is Zac’s songs.

There will also be a massive Global tour from the trio, listed below are the North American dates:

JULY
12 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
14 – New Orleans, LA – The Joy Theater
15 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
16 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
17 – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
19 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theater
20 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
22 – Richmond, VA – The National
23 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
24 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
26 – Pittsburgh, PA – Palace Theatre (Sold Out)
28 – Albany NY – Empire Live
29 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
30 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
31 – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre

AUGUST
2 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
3 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
5 – Elizabeth, IN – Caesar's Event Center #
6 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre #
7 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre #
9 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live #
10 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre #
12 – St Louis, MO – The Pageant #
13 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom #
14 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee #
16 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre #
18 – Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cove at Harrah’s #
19 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis #
20 – Fargo, ND – Fargo Brewing Company Outdoors#
21 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theater +
23 – Calgary, AB – The Palace Theatre +
24 – Edmonton AB – Midway +
26 – Vancouver, BC – The Vogue Theatre +
27 – Seattle, WA – The Moore +
28 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom +
30 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore +
31 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues +

SEPTEMBER
2 – Los Angeles, CA – Ace Theatre +
3 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay +
4 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren +
6 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl +
7 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot +
9 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre +
10 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre +
11 – Wichita, KS – Cotillion Ballroom +
13 – Austin, TX – Emo’s +
14 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues +

# Allen Mack Myers Moore supporting
+ Zillaz supporting

Hank Williams, Jr.: Rich White Honky Blues Read More Hank Williams Hank Williams Yep, this week's theme is country music. Whenever I meet people and I ask what type of music they're into, I can tell you 90% of them will answer vaguely …

HANK WILLIAMS JR
hankjr.com

Rich White Honky Blues (Easy Eye Sound) is the new album from 72-year-old legend Hank Williams Jr.. Already the album is #1 on the Current Country, Americana/Folk and Blues Albums charts, along with reaching #2 on the Current Rock and Record Label Independent Current Albums charts. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, as the songwriter have sold over 70 million albums worldwide, including 6 Platinum albums and 20 Gold albums.

Rich White Honky Blues Track List

1. .44 Special Blues
2. Georgia Women
3. My Starter Won’t Start
4. Take Out Some Insurance
5. Rich White Honky Blues
6. Short Haired Woman
7. Fireman Ring The Bell
8. Rock Me Baby
9. I Like It When It’s Stormy
10. Call Me Thunderhead
11. TV Mama
12. Jesus, Won’t You Come By Here

Blue Cactus: Golden Age Read More Blue Cactus North Carolina duo, Blue Cactus (Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez) recently announced their sophomore album Stranger Again. The record will be out May 7, 2021, on Sleepy Cat Records. …

BLUE CACTUS
bluecactusmusic.com

North Carolina country duo Blue Cactus (Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez) recently covered Beck’s “The Golden Age” as part of Sleepy Cat Records’ upcoming compilation Cruisin’.

Currently, the band is on tour in support of their sophomore album, Stranger Again.

Tour Dates:

7.07 Saluda, NC @ The Purple Onion
7.08 Asheville, NC @ Duck Pond Pottery Concerts
7.09 Chattanooga, TN @ The Woodshop Listening Room
7.10 Crossville, TN @ Byrds Creek Music Festival
7.14 Brevard, NC @ 185 King Street^
7.15 Banner Elk, NC @ Music in the Valle^
7.16 Nashville, TN @ Cornelia Fort Pickin Party^
7.22 Athens, GA @ Flicker Theatre
7.29 Harrisonburg, VA @ Palefire Brewing
7.30 Alexandria, VA @ Sevareid House
8.04 Greensboro, NC @ The Carolina Theatre^
8.05 Carrboro, NC @ Cats Cradle Back Room^
8.06 Aberdeen, NC @ The Neon Rooster
8.11 Philadelphia, PA @ Dawson Street Pub
8.12 NY, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
8.13 Bristol, CT @ Acousticool
8.15 Cambridge, MA @ Club Passim
8.16 Williamstown, MA @ house show
8.17 Newmarket, NH @ Stone Church
8.19 Moorestown, NJ @ Moorestown Theatre
9.02-03 Nelsonville, OH @ Nelsonville Music Festival^
9.30 Oriental, NC @ Front Porch Fest
10.7 Charlottesville, VA @ The Front Porch

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

We♥KC- July 1-8, 2022 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence KS)

Read More Kenny Chesney Get out your cowboy boots and hats, as apparently, Minneapolis/St. Paul is a hotbed for country music. Garth Brooks has just started his record setting 11-show at Target Center, ...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

This weekend it’s fireworks, picnics, barbecues, and summer heat- some additional heat and fireworks are supplied from upcoming concerts including the Arrowhead takeover of No Shoes Nation as Kenny Chesney and friends bring their big show to the fabled football stadium.

A couple arena shows, and some fine club/theater gigs make it a week to get out and support the return of live music.

Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence, KS metro July 1^st – 8^th

(Several artists are still requiring precautions for entry, so check with the venue and/or assume vaccination proof, might still be required)

Friday July 1

Bright Eyes w Hurray for the Riff Raff, Uptown Theater, $42-$47

It’s been a busy year for Bright Eyes fans as leader Conor Oberst and group have re-released their first albums, alongside a newly recorded six-song EP for each, with the first batch of three, out last month. The last new album was 2020’s Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, which was their first in nine years.

With his core band on an extended hiatus, we caught Oberst solo as part of Rock the Garden 2015 and a memorable gig with Dawes both opening and serving as backup band, as well as his super-secret project with Phoebe Bridgers, Better Oblivion Community Center.

Be aware that vaxx proof is required and masks worn unless drinking. Hurray For the Riff Raff, the project of Alynda Segarra, opens the show who we’ve caught live with City and Colour and also as part of the Festival Palomino and has new album, Life on Earth to support.

Howard Hewett, Miki Howard and more, Music Hall, $61

A night of smooth and classic R&B – with performances by Hewett, Howard, Alexander O’Neal, Cherrelle, and Keith Washington and sounds by DJ Fresh.

Saturday July 2

Kenny Chesney w Dan + Shay, Old Dominion and Carly Pearce, Arrowhead Stadium. $40-$455

The big one! The 8-time CMA and Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year brings his Blue Chair Bay Rum Presents Here And Now 2022 Tour Fueled by Marathon to conquer Arrowhead, after selling out most shows since the trek began in late April.

This tour features 126 cutting edge overhead LED lights and a 220-foot-wide stage, with a strut into the sandbar area, with some nineteen trucks (sustainably down from 24) hauling everything across the country.

Support from rising female vocalist Carly Pearce, five-time ACM / four-time CMA Group of the Year Old Dominion and four-time GRAMMY winners Dan + Shay, make this a full evening and a true highlight of the summer concert season. Scattered storms are in the forecast, so pack a poncho.

Aldous Harding, Granada Lawrence. $22/$25

The beguiling New Zealand singer-songwriter returns with new song, “Old Peel” and new album Warm Chris, released in late March on 4AD. We caught her live most recently as a headliner in 2019 where we heard that new single, years before its eventual release.

Cardiff Wales singer-songwriter H Hawkline to open what will no doubt, be a very interesting show.

Tab Benoit, Knuckleheads, $35-$45

Louisiana-raised Delta Blues guitarist returns to the area with support from fellow guitarist and Deep Blues artist Lightnin Malcom to transform the venue into a true juke joint.

Liily, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $15-$18

Los Angeles alt-rock shoe gazers come to River City in support of debut record TV or Not TV. We caught the band live last fall in Minneapolis and wrote, “Singer, Dylan Nash, reminds me of a stoic Ian Brown, while the band, guitarist Sam De La Torre, bassist Charlie Anastasis, and drummer Maxx Morando, play post-punk, art-rock music.” Brooklyn’s Catcher, another new post-punk band, to open.

Sunday July 3

Todd Rundgren, Uptown, $39-$79

The prolific Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is out across America promoting his next album 'Space Force' on his Unpredictable Tour featuring band members Jesse Gress, Kasim Sulton, Prairie Prince and Gil Assayas. Rundgren spent much of last year on his The Individualist, A True Star tour performing a full side of his classic album A Wizard, A True Star plus a set of career-spanning hits, and he’s been entertaining every time we’ve seen him previous.

Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls w/The Bronx, Liberty Hall, $35-$50

UK folk punk singer-songwriter has emerged from the pandemic as more ambitious than anyone else touring – in support of new album FTHC, he'll play all 50 states this summer, calling it the 50 States in 50 Days tour, which does allow for a few days off, but not many, “Well, I've been unable to tour properly for a couple of years now, and always said that when I could get back to it I'd do it properly."

We caught him live in 2019 and KC / Missouri fans won’t be left out either, as he’s scheduled a free 30min in-store at Mills Record Co. in Westport, that afternoon before the Lawrence show. The Bronx and Pet Needs are support acts.

Dirty Heads with Soja, GrindersKC. $49.50-$90

Dirty Heads have announced their 2022 US headlining tour titled “Let’s Get It Kraken” featuring special guest SOJA running through August. Last summer, they released their The Best of Dirty Heads, featuring new collaborations with Travis Barker and Aimee of The Interrupters. Band guitarist Duddy B also co-hosts The Rome and Duddy Show on the Consequence Podcast Network and (of course) has a new line of CBD products launching.

Rod Wave and friends, T-Mobile Center, $49-$275

Rod Wave (aka Rodarius Marcell Green) dropped his third album, Beautiful Mind, ahead of this tour and is bringing along Moneybagg Yo, Big Latto, Sleazy & Friends, for this last show of the leg.

His first album, Ghetto Gospel, reached number ten on Billboard's Top 200, and second album 2020’s Pray 4 Love, peaked at number two. Recent audience fights at some East Coast shows have not stopped the momentum of this popular arena show.

Read More Brandi Carlile After the first few songs, the band is joined on stage by none other than Brandi Carlile! Carlile actually sang backup on many of Ray's songs, including the encores.

Monday July 4 (Independence Day)

Tuesday July 5

Wednesday July 6

Brandi Carlile w Tanya Tucker, Katie Pruitt, July 6, Starlight. $29.50-$175

Minneapolis developed into a strong market for the six-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, and author, and so we were happy to watch that develop- seeing her in small clubs in 2007, having her play two of the most crowded Leinie Stage nights ever then eventually graduating to the Grandstand at the MN State Fair, and also headlining at the Basilica Block Party.

Since then, it’s been even more success and the Beyond These Silent Days summer tour stops in Kansas City, and is bring along country legend Tanya Tucker, who collab’d on 2019 hit album While I’m Livin’ with Carlile and Shooter Jennings, and just finished its follow-up.

Nashville singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt to open, in support of 2020’s Expectations, and who also recently released a couple of vintage Neil Young covers.

 

Thursday July 7

Strfkr with The Undercover Dream Lovers, and Das Kope, Granada. $27

Being No One, Going Nowhere is the title of the new fourth album with band leader Joshua Hodges considering it an invitation to get blissfully insignificant. That’s what he aimed to do when he exiled himself to the desert to create this record. And you’ve never heard Cyndi Lauper’s signature hit song live until you’ve heard the Portland indie band ‘s version of it.

Openers The Undercover Dream Lovers are the brainchild of LA-based psych indie DIY artist Matt Koenig, known for tracks "Good Luck" and "Come Home" and full-length album It's All in Your Head. 

Das Kope is a LA-based, Brazilian born, visual artist/musician whose debut album ‘Where I Live’, was self-released in 2020

Chris Isaak and Lyle Lovett, Starlight. $35-$159.50

Platinum-selling, GRAMMY-nominated musician and actor Isaak and four-time GRAMMY-winning singer, composer, and actor Lovett and his Large Band combine forces for a formidable double bill.

Isaak's best-known song is "Wicked Game," and he has acted in several films, also starring in his own TV series while Lovett, who also acts, has recorded thirteen albums since his debut in 1986. Live reports are that Lovett has stepped in for a song in Isaak’s set, which we love the interplay on a bill like this with two such respected longtime artists.

Bobby Rush, Knuckleheads, $20-$35

Blues Hall of Famer, six-time Grammy nominee, and 13-time Blues Music Award winner Rush has been making records for nearly 70 years, has more than 400 recordings, 75 career releases, 27 studio albums, and has an autobiography just out.

Rush, who is 87, is not done yet. 2020 album Rawer Than Raw was an all-acoustic effort that paid tribute to the blues history of Mississippi and won Best Traditional Blues Album.

Friday July 8

Machine Gun Kelly with Avril Lavigne and Iann Dior, T-Mobile Center. $29.50-$129.50

On top of the charts (and gossip columns with partner Megan Fox) album Mainstream Sellout released in March featuring singles “Ay” with Lil Wayne, “Emo Girl” with WILLOW, and “maybe” featuring Bring Me The Horizon.

His 52-stop first arena headlining tour includes special guests Avril Lavigne (who’s on a big comeback herself) and iann dior for this stop. MGK has amassed over 15.5 billion streams online, selling over 10 million album units, and we caught him before his big breakout success, opening for Imagine Dragons at a 2018 Super Bowl week show.

Ozark Mountain Daredevils w Kentucky Headhunters, Uptown Theater, $25-$75

With hits that include "Jackie Blue" and "If You Want To Get To Heaven," the Springfield, MO-based Daredevils have sold more than two million records since their early 70’s formation. Support from country rockers The Kentucky Headhunters and The Comancheros.

Man Man, Bottleneck, $20

Philly experimental rockers return in support of 2020’s trippy Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between and even had a song in the Cyberpunk 2077 game. Live, when we saw them in 2015, it was uniquely a bit hard to define, saying you should just experience it, and we think the new show is probably similar. LA duo Hard Tays Night to open.

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

Slenderbodies at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (27 June 2022)

Tour Dates Jun 30 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Jul 01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Hanger House Jul 03 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos Jul 04 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Jul 05 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre Jul 07 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall Jul 08 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre Read More Slenderbodies UPDATE: Apparently Slenderbodies' entire tour was rescheduled. We write these previews months ago - so apologies for these last-min changes. The new Minneapolis date is now Jun 27th. … Mokita Mokita to open. Tour dates: Jun 02 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho Music Club Jun 03 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box Jun 04 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Jun 06 ­– Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn …

Indie duo Slenderbodies (stylized as slenderbodies) headlined the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis on Monday, 27 June 2022.

Nashville chill pop artist Mokita (aka John-Luke Carter) opened the show. The last time we heard from them was a collaboration with Australian band Stand Atlantic for their single “I’m Sorry”.

Mokita, accompanied with a live guitarist, played a couple of new songs, including his latest single “Crash” (which came out June 3rd) near the end of his set. He ended his set with “Colorblind”, a song about his severe depression that he had since he was 14.

Originally scheduled for February 15, 2022, this Slenderbodies show (and the entire tour) was rescheduled at the last minute. The band apologized at the last minute: “due to multiple reasons we are making the choice to push our tour back to this summer. we’re very sorry for the last minute change but we will have new music out and it’ll be great to play it all live for you!! we’ve also added a few more dates, so hopefully we’ll be in your town soon! all tickets will still be valid for the new dates. if you can’t make the shows anymore, please contact venue box office for refund.”

The duo (guitarist Benji Cormack from Santa Cruz and singer/guitarist Max Vehuni from Los Angeles) joked how the band has grown since they form in 2016, referring to the two mannequins on the Fine Line Music Café stage.

Their biggest hit to date, “anemone” got over 30 million streams, and the two found themselves hanging out with Mura Masa, Passion Pit, and many others.

Since the tour is for their new album, Simple Shapes, they did play some new tracks, including “Smilin.”

Mokita

Slenderbodies

Slenderbodies

Slenderbodies

Slenderbodies at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (27 June 2022)

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

Shaw Brothers in 2022, part 2

Description Though featuring the Shaw Brothers custom brand of martial arts mayhem, HUMAN LANTERNS also taps into the early 80s craze for the American slasher film and the earlier Hammer horrors by providing a grisly take on the serial killer feature in an inimitable Hong Kong style. When an unbalanced craftsman decides to get revenge on two Kung Fu masters by creating special lanterns constructed from the human skin of their dead relatives, all hell breaks loose in this gruesome tale of bloody retribution. Taking its inspiration from movies like Psycho and real cases like Ed Gein, HUMAN LANTERNS is clearly not for the faint-hearted with its over the top gore and sadistic qualities but this slice of darker than dark fantasy still manages to be both wonderfully horrible and impressively entertaining. Read More Shaw Brothers 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). …

It seems that 88 Films is the only company releasing old classic Shaw Brothers martial arts film on a monthly/regular basis. I know that Arrow Video also has the license, but so far they’ve only release three items: Shaw Scope Vol 1, Come Drink With Me, and The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter. That was in December 2021, and April 2022… meanwhile, 88 Films has released about one Shaw Brothers title per month. So far, they’ve released five titles since 2022… with three more listed below.

I own or am planning on buying all of them, of course, and will be reporting when more Shaw Brothers titles are announced. Please, more Venoms and Chang Cheh titles.

Continued from Shaw Brothers in 2022.

Human Lanterns (1982)
Release date: ‎ June 7, 2022

I got the Bluray of Human Lanterns from Amazon in mid-June, so I haven’t had a lot of time to really get into it. I never liked the horror (with Martial Arts) film, but it’s one of the first Shaw Brothers DVD I purchased from Celestial Pictures (I would later buy the US version).

There are very few Shaw Brothers horror that I like. I like the Black Magic films, Boxer’s Omen and Bewitched is just the best. The more gruesome, the better, in my opinion.

The problem with Human Lanterns is that it’s a little tame compared to some of the other Shaw offerings. The human skinning looks bad, I think it’s cheesy… but everyone seems to think it’s gruesome. Boy, wait until you see Bewitched, it will blow away anything in Human Lanterns.

The audio commentary by Podcast On Fire (an obvious nod to City on Fire) wasn’t amazing either. I just thought it was a boring commentary. The worst is the interview with director Lau Wing. The audio is terrible. It is almost unwatchable with the sound. I suggest just putting on the subtitles and turning the audio off.

For casual Shaw Brothers fan, I wouldn’t recommend Human Lanterns. Personally speaking, I wouldn’t recommend this, even if you love horror film. It’s not a great horror film or a good martial arts film.

For those collecting the Shaw Brothers series, like myself, you’ll need to buy this. For the first run, it has all the standard 88 Film stuff: a nice slip case, new artwork, reversible poster, and booklet. You may not get the slip case and poster in later re-issues, so be sure to grab the Bluray now.

Also, this is just my opinion, but I really don’t care for the artist creating all these new 88 Films covers. I wish they would hire a different artist… maybe look at who Arrow Films hires for their art.

Hero (1997)
Release date: ‎ July 5, 2022

This is a title that I didn’t care for… first of all, it’s a late-90s Shaw Brothers film, which meant that most of their star directors and actors from the 70s and 80s have already gone on to doing other things. Also, this film is this is basically a rip off of Chang Cheh’s Boxer from Shantung (1972), but re-done for the modern (90s) audience. It doesn’t outshine the original, so, I suggest just buying the original film and call it a day.

Even the reviews, from Sandra Chang on Amazon said, “This is one, awful movie...the editing ruins the movie! The flow of the movie is interrupted with abrupt scene cuts. Certain scenes are sped up and look ridiculous. This is one of the worst edited movies I've ever seen...it's almost unwatchable.”

Still, because I’m such a loyal Shaw Brothers fan, I will buy this title when it comes out, July 5, 2022.

Martial Club (1981)
Release date: July 19, 2022.

So Martial Club is coming. It’s a Lau Kar-leung, so it tends to be on the comedy-side. It’s not one of my favorite film. I was always more of a Chang Cheh fan, anyway.

I previously own Martial Club on the US DVD and Hong Kong DVD, so I’m looking forward to the high definition treatment.

Description

A gloriously typical entry from Shaw Brothers, Martial Club starring Kara Wei (THE BRAVE ARCHER 2 and MAD MONKEY KUNG FU) and Gordon Liu (THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN) and directed by Lau Kar-Leung (LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA), affords us a fast-paced, cleverly choreographed piece of martial arts fun combining many elements that lovers of this kind of cinema will be more than appreciative of. Rival fight schools, an old master and beautifully designed set pieces tumble together in a colourfully kinaesthetic unceasing parade of flying fists and action set pieces. Bonus features include: Limited Edition Collectors Booklet with Behind the Scene Photos and writing by Critic and AuthorBarry Forshaw, Limited Edition Slipcase with new Artwork by Kung Fu Bob O'Brien, Reversible Artwork, Interviews with Hung San Nam and Tony Tam, Interview with Johnny Wang, ‘Kung Fu and Dancing’ - An Interview with Robert Mak, Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng, ‘Instructors of Death’ Trailer, Instructors of Death - Grindhouse Presentation, High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio, 2.0 DTS-HD MA Mandarin Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles, 2.0 DTS-HD MA English Soundtrack

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

Minneapolis: This Week (07/03/2022)

As you know, I post the W♥M Minneapolis preview calendar a month in advance. Things may have changed, and/or I just wanted to remind you about the shows that we will be covering this week.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

06/27 slenderbodies with Mokita at Fine Line Read More Slenderbodies UPDATE: Apparently Slenderbodies' entire tour was rescheduled. We write these previews months ago - so apologies for these last-min changes. The new Minneapolis date is now Jun 27th. …

06/27/2022 Monday

slenderbodies
with Mokita
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Indie duo Slenderbodies (stylized as slenderbodies) was supposed to be in Minneapolis in Feb 2022, but “Slenderbodies' entire tour was rescheduled.”

The new Minneapolis date is now Jun 27th, which is coming up.

There’s also some updates about their new album Simple Shapes, set for June 10th, with preceding double-singles “Smilin” and “Miracle”.

Mokita to open.

Tour dates:

Jun 02 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SOhO Music Club
Jun 03 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box
Jun 04 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent
Jun 06 ­– Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn
Jun 07 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Jun 09 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Jun 10 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
Jun 11­ – Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry @ Fillmore
Jun 13 ­– Washington D.C. @ Union Stage
Jun 14 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Jun 15 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
Jun 17 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Jun 18 – Montreal, ON @ Ritz
Jun 19 – Toronto, ON @ Adelaide Hall
Jun 21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Music Hall
Jun 22 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Bar
Jun 25 – Rothberg, MI @ Electric Forest
Jun 26 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Jun 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café
Jun 30 ­– Denver, CO @ Gothic
Jul 01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Hanger House
Jul 03 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Jul 04 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore
Jul 05 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Jul 07 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
Jul 08 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre

06/30 Liily with Catcher at 7th St Entry Read More Liily Los Angeles shoegaze band Liily (Dylan Nash, Sam De La Torre, Charlie Anastasis & Maxx Morando) will be touring in support of their debut record TV or Not TV. After being added to popular Spotify playlist, the band found themselves ....

06/30/2022 Thursday

Liily
with Catcher
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles Liily is back in town! We just saw them about seven months ago, 7th Street Entry (2021-10-24) and wrote, “Liily is still a very new, but they they are very good and shows a lot of promise. Singer, Dylan Nash, reminds me of a stoic Ian Brown, while the band, guitarist Sam De La Torre, bassist Charlie Anastasis, and drummer Maxx Morando, plays post-punk, art-rock music. While the band didn’t mentioned their influences, I felt like they were inspired by a lot of UK-bands, as I hear sparks of The Fall and Gang of Four in their sound… which is a positive thing.”

Catcher to open.

Tour dates:

5/27-5/29 - Napa, CA - BottleRock Napa
6/1 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar #!
6/2 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre #!
6/7 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios #!
6/8 - Vancouver, BC - The WISE Hall #!
6/9 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile #1
6/11 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater #
6/14 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
6/15 - Houston, TX - The Secret Group
6/16 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
6/17 - Memphis, TN - Carolina Watershed
6/18 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi
6/19 - Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop
6/21 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall *^
6/22 - Washington DC - DC9 *^
6/23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Spirit Lodge *^
6/24 - Philadelphia, PA - Silk City *^
6/25 - Brooklyn, NY - Market Hotel ^
6/26 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz *^
6/27 - Toronto, CA - Baby G *^
6/29 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle ^
6/30 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry ^
7/1 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown ^
7/3 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep ^
7/5 - Salt Lake City, UT - Hangar House ^

# Sunflower Bean
! Palehound
* with Model/Actriz
^ with Catcher

07/01 Steve Von Till (of Neurosis) with Helen Money at Turf Club Read More Neurosis 8/29/2019 Lexington - Los Angeles, CA ^ 8/31/2019 HOCO Fest - Tucson, AZ ^ * w/ Neurosis, Bell Witch ^ w/ Big|Brave …

07/01/2022 Friday

Steve Von Till (of Neurosis)
with Helen Money
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

The Neurosis frontman Steve Von Till is touring in support of his 2020 album No Wilderness Deep Enough.

Von Till explains, "’No Wilderness Deep Enough’ was new territory for me sonically, emotionally, and vocally, that I had been intently looking forward to the challenge of gathering a small group of musicians capable of interpreting it and putting myself out there in that uncomfortable but exciting realm of self-growth. It wasn't to be. Our live musical universe had been put on pause. Not wanting to lose the moment, I dreamt of having the set filmed professionally in a beautiful location with a nice piano and great sound. The answer came in the form of Roadburn Festival from Holland and their commitment to having a high quality online festival in 2021. I recruited Dave French on synthesizers, percussion, and guitar, Lori Goldston on cello, David Lutz on synthesizers, Eric Padget on french horn, and Oli Eshlemen on pedal steel.”

Helen Money to open.

Tour dates:

07/01: Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club
07/02: Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Colectivo
07/03: Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
07/05: Detroit, MI - The Sanctuary
07/06: Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe
07/07: Rochester, NY - Bug Jar
07/08: Boston, MA - Sinclair
07/09: Brooklyn, NY - TV Eye
07/11: Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
07/12: Washington, DC - DC9
07/13: Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
07/15: Atlanta, GA - The Earl
07/16: New Orleans, LA - Gasa Gasa
07/17: Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
07/18: Austin, TX - The Ballroom
07/20: Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
07/22: Moran, WY - Fire in the Mountains
08/05: Spokane, WA - Lucky You Lounge
08/06: Seattle, WA - Neumos
08/07: Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
08/09: Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club
08/10: San Jose, CA - The Ritz
08/11: Los Angeles, CA - Zebulon
08/12: San Diego, CA - Casbah
08/13: Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
08/15: Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
08/16: Boise, ID - Neurolux

07/03 Puscifer with Moodie Black at Palace Theatre Read More Puscifer Maynard James Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle, is also the mainstay behind Puscifer, a band he considers to be his "creative subconscious" - and how creative it was when the band’s “Money $hot Heard Round the World Tour” …

07/03/2022 Sunday

Puscifer
with Moodie Black
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

American rock group formed Puscifer (led by Tool/A Perfect Circle’s Maynard James Keenan) is returning to the Twin Cities this July 3rd. The group latest release is called Existential Reckoning.

We saw Puscifer in Mar 2016 and wrote, “Lights then went dark, the wrestling ring moved back and musician platforms moved quickly into place as Puscifer took to the stage for their headlining set, after almost no downtime in-between. As the crew fine-tuned everything, a video warning from side stage monitors by one Major Douche (one of Keenan’s many personas) cautioned against any cameras or cellphone use, which was also reinforced by the tighter-than-normal security.”

Minneapolis noise rap duo Moodie Black to open. They are signed to renown indie hip-hop label, Fake Four Inc.

Tour dates:

Jun 9 Las Vegas, NV, US Reynolds Hall
Jun 11 Phoenix, AZ, US Arizona Federal Theatre
Jun 12 Outdoor Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Greek Theatre
Jun 14 Albuquerque, NM, US Kiva Auditorium
Jun 15 Austin, TX, US Bass Concert Hall
Jun 16 Dallas, TX, US McFarlin Auditorium, SMU
Jun 21 Atlanta, GA, US Coca-Cola Roxy
Jun 22 Durham, NC, US DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center
Jun 24 Philadelphia, PA, US The Met Philadelphia
Jun 25 Brooklyn, NY, US Kings Theatre
Jun 26 Wallingford, CT, US Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Jun 28 Boston, MA, US House of Blues - Boston
Jun 29 Pittsburgh, PA, US Stage AE
Jul 1 Rochester Hills, MI, US Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Jul 2 Chicago, IL, US The Chicago Theatre
Jul 3 St. Paul, MN, US Palace Theatre
Jul 5 Omaha, NE, US The Admiral-ne
Jul 6 Denver, CO, US Mission Ballroom
Jul 7 Salt Lake City, UT, US Eccles Theater
Jul 9 Portland, OR, US Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Jul 10 Seattle, WA, US McCaw Hall, Seattle Center

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

Strange Tales: Men and Crimes of the Future

Men (2022) Read More Alex Garland I am a big fan of A24, the film distributor/producer, ever since Alex Garland’s excellent film Ex Machina in 2015. To be fair, I’m a big Garland fan, owning all his films, including Dredd (owned this twice!), 28 Days Later …

Men (2022)
a24films.com

I love Alex Garland, I love A24, so naturally, I sought out this film. Men is a folk horror film. The Green Man element (the nature part) of the film really reminded me of former horror films like The Wicker Man and Midsomer… all under that folk horror subcategory.

Men is about a woman named Harper Marlowe, who is trying to heal and cope after her husband’s suicide. She goes on holiday at a nice quiet Cotson manor in a small village.

It’s anything but a relaxing stay, as slowly it becomes a horror story about a woman trying to survive all alone. At first, it’s just small, everyday out of place things, like seeing a shadowy figure on the other side of the tunnel. Seeing a naked man outside of an abandoned structure. Those kind of weird unsettling things.

While the first half of the film is slow-burning horror… the second part is more intense and in your face. It’s clear that someone, or perhaps something supernatural, is stalking Harper. Is it in her head or is it real?

Personally speaking, I would have prefer if the movie would have been vague about reality vs the supernatural… but at the end, it’s all supernatural, especially the end with the various birthing.

To me, how I interpreted the film, that the whole thing was in Harper’s head, down her her crashing her car.

Like Garland’s previous Devs television show, I thought the title was bad. My thoughts for Men is the same… the name is just a bad name for a horror film. I know it’s cliché, but they could’ve just called this A Haunting at Cotson Manor, and it would’ve been a better title.

Crimes of the Future (2022) Read More David Cronenberg I'm a big David Cronenberg fan, owning many of his releases on DVDs (including Rabid, Fast Company, The Brood, Videodrome, The Dead Zone, The Fly, Crash, Naked Lunch, Eastern Promises) so I'm really in no hurry to make …

Crimes of the Future (2022)
crimesofthefuture.film

I love David Cronenberg and own many Cronenberg films, including Scanners, Videodrome, and The Fly. I even thought eXistenZ was genius, but for whatever reason, Crimes of the Future didn’t sit right (pun intended for the weird chair in the film) with me.

I actually own Cronenberg’s student film Crimes of the Future from 1970, but it’s not related to the 2022 film… it only shares the title. In this new film, it’s about how humans have evolved beyond or adapted to their polluted environment.

The story is about this guy named Saul Tenser, who has this syndrome, where his body develops new organs. They would constantly remove these new organs and use the surgery as performance art. The whole thing is weird… but it’s definitely a Cronenberg concept of using surgery as a metaphor for sex (like how he used car crashes as sex in Crash).

While I think the concepts and ideas are interesting, it doesn’t make for a good story, in my opinion. The story doesn’t really go anywhere and it just felt boring to me.

Personally speaking, I wish Cronenberg would do more of a eXistenZ sequel, or expand, on the video game/reality story. You can certainly explore more and go further, because it’s a brand new world of Cronenberg’s creation and not bound by rules of the earth… even if it’s in the future.

If you’re looking for a fresh Cronenberg perspective, I suggest checking out his son, Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor. This is a hard-core science fiction/horror film that is a lot more exciting than Crimes of the Future. If you want to stay in the David Cronenberg films, I suggest watching Videodrome and Scanners… they are classic Cronenberg.

Read more Movies and Television.

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

Billy Howerdel at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (24 June 2022)

Billy Howerdel Setlist Beautiful Mistake The Same Again Ani Bring Honor Back Home Selfish Hearts Poison Flowers Drum solo by Greyson Nekrutman Follower Forever Can Be (Ashes Divide song) Free and Weightless EXP Stars Vowws Setlist The Season The Great Sun Losing Myself ESSEFF Stranger Symbol System One by One Read More Billy Howerdel Supergroup A Perfect Circle (featuring guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan) is back in 2017 for a rare tour and promotion of a pending forth studio album ... Vowws Opening the night was Vowws, a Los Angeles-based post-punk duo playing self-described “Australian death pop” who we last saw in 2017. Their newest full-length is 2018’s Under the World (on Anti-Language Records) ...

A Perfect Circle’s guitarist Billy Howerdel headlined the Fine Line Music Café on Friday, June 24th, 2022, in support to his debut solo album What Normal Was via Alchemy Recordings, Rise Records, and BMG.

Opening the show was Los Angeles’ Vowws (not to be confused with Vows). The duo featured Matt on guitars and Rizz (with skull makeup) on keys. They traded vocals depending on their song, playing a goth/industrial music to a backdrop of video imagery.

We first saw the duo in Feb 2017 and mentioned, “probably the only Australian/Iranian dark industrial experimental LA-based duo that you’ll ever encounter” and described their music as “the likes of Sisters of Mercy, Swans, newer Gary Numan, and anything goth on the same record label.”

The band worked extensively with Los Angeles artist Jesse Draxler, who collaborated with Poppy for the artwork for I Disagree, so somehow, Vowws was asked to support Poppy on that tour, which we caught in Feb 2020 and said, “The duo’s boy/girl vocals juxtapose like a beam of light amongst their throbbing industrial electro dark beats and songs that build like a sonic plague enveloping the wasteland and their sound is recommended to any fans of Vowws’ former label, Cleopatra Records.”

Vowws’ latest single, “One By One” (with B-Side “Shadow Man”) was the set closer.

Billy Howerdel joined the Tool live crew during their tour and recording of Ænima, and offered his services to any Maynard James Keenan’s future projects. That’s how Howerdel became a founding member of A Perfect Circle. Between A Perfect Circle’s breaks (which happens if Tool or Puscifer are on tour), Howerdel created his solo project called Ashes Divide in 2008.

In 2022, Howerdel announced that he was recording under his own name, and his debut solo album What Normal Was was set for June 10th, on Alchemy Recordings, Rise Records, and BMG. The first single, “Poison Flowers” was played in the middle of the set.

Howerdel’s live band featured Nylo on keyboards, Greyson Nekrutman on drums, Eliot on bass, and Danny Lohner (aka Renholdër from NIN) on guitars.

Musically, Howerdel sounded like he is going for a dark The Cure or UK bands.

He played one Ashes Divide song, “Forever Can Be” near the end of his set.

Remaining tour dates:

Jun 26 St Louis, MO, US Delmar Hall
Jun 28 Chicago, IL, US Metro
Jun 29 Columbus, OH, US Newport Music Hall
Jul 1 Rochester Hills, MI, US Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Jul 5 Boston, MA, US Brighton Music Hall Presented By Citizens
Jul 6 New York (NYC), NY, US Gramercy Theatre
Jul 8 Philadelphia, PA, US Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)
Jul 9 Baltimore, MD, US Baltimore Soundstage
Jul 10 Charlotte, NC, US The Underground
Jul 12 Atlanta, GA, US The Masquerade
Jul 14 New Orleans, LA, US House of Blues - New Orleans
Jul 15 Houston, TX, US White Oak Music Hall - Downstairs
Jul 16 Dallas, TX, US The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
Jul 17 Austin, TX, US Emo's Austin
Jul 20 Phoenix, AZ, US Crescent Ballroom
Jul 22 Phoenix, AZ, US Crescent Ballroom

Vowws

Vowws

Billy Howerdel

Billy Howerdel

Billy Howerdel at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (24 June 2022)

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

Meghan Murphy at the Woman’s Club (6/23/2022)

Read More Meghan Murphy The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis is proud to present Meghan Murphy in the long-awaited Twin Cities debut of her performance of “The Big Red Show” on Thursday, June 23. … Twin Cities Pride It’s pride month, and Twin Cities Pride Festival is bringing their biggest show yet this Saturday at Loring Park. With over 400 exhibitors and four free music stages, this is a LGBTQ+ friendly environment for the whole family …

The Twin Cities Pride Festival kicked off its weekend celebration with the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis hosting Meghan Murphy and her Big Red Show.  The show had a summer-start feel as the host, Kevin Winge, sported his finest seersucker suit and invited the crowd to return on Saturday night and enjoy the Pride Festival’s fireworks display from the rooftop of the Woman’s Club.

Winge then introduced Monica West to the stage. West a female impersonator for 36 years strutted and sashayed to “Le Jazz Hot” before grabbing the mike and working the crowd like a seasoned standup comic.  She was hilarious, searching the crowd for any straight men to rib and jest before moving into a short bio of how she arrived at this stage.  It was funny and touching and after 36 years in the biz, with 16 years as emcee at the Gay 90’s, she told the crowd that she was onto a new adventure with hopes of opening Roxy’s Cabaret just down the street.  “Soon,” she said.

West then invited her “new best friend” onto the stage and Meghan Murphy with her Big Red dress and Big Red hair appeared with her three-piece band to start off the set with Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good.” 

A proclaimed gaycon, Murphy is based out of Chicago but has been all over the world with a killer voice and an expansive musical portfolio, ranging from musical genres of pop, jazz and blues to folk, soul and show tunes.

Murphy’s own website describes her as a “… combination of Lucille Ball, Bonnie Raitt, Rita Hayworth and Etta Jones.”  The Chicago Sun Times describes her as a “… sparkling redhead with a dynamic voice.”  What she brought to the Woman’s Club was buoyant enthusiasm by channeling the spirits of her three favorite divas, “Judy, Barbara and Bette.” 

Like West, Murphy also gave a brief bio by changing the lyrics to Reba McEntire’s “Fancy.”  She even did a leg split to the salty “Everybody’s Girl” from the musical, Steel Pier, then provided a hilarious rendition of “Long John Blues.” 

photo courtesy of Woman’s Club Facebook

Like the best of cabaret shows, there was plenty of burlesque ribaldry to keep the audience howling with either laughter or shock.  Even after the subdued “Make You Feel My Love” from Bob Dylan, Murphy immediately said, “Enough of that sappy Sh--!”

Murphy was there to have a good time and thankful to be in Minneapolis at the Woman’s Club to help kick off the 50^th Anniversary of the Pride Festival.

“Happy to be in front of an audience,” she said, after Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me.”  “It was a rough couple of years.  Well you know… You were there.”

Murphy had no intention on dwelling on the subject.  Based on her song selections, she wanted to a positive feeling of empowerment to emanate.  Even when singing Otis Redding’s wistful “Dock of the Bay”, you couldn’t help think that even if she was sitting on a pier all by herself, she was going to belt-out the words for all to hear.  

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