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Minneapolis: March 28 to March 29, 2019

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from March 28 to March 29, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Jenny Lewis at Palace Theatre Jenny Lewis at Turf Club Read More Jenny Lewis After the departure as singer and songwriter of Rilo Kiley, actress / musician Jenny Lewis struck it on her own with her solo record Rabbit Fur Coat with The Watson Twins (Chandra and Leigh Watson) in 2006. … Serengeti I caught the last of Serengeti's set and he was actually pretty humorous. I really loved the song, I later learned was, “Dennehy.” ...

JENNY LEWIS
+ Serengeti
Palace Theatre
Fri 03/29/2019 (7pm/$30)
palacestpaul.com

Jenny Lewis is back on tour in support of her fourth solo album On The Line (set for release March 22 on Warner Bros Records). In addition to the headlining tour, she’s also confirmed as official support act for Death Cab For Cutie on select dates in June. See her website for full details: jennylewis.com

For those available around 3pm on Thursday, you can enter to win a pass to see Jenny Lewis’ MicroShow at the Turf Club. These are very small, intimate shows, and unfortunately, because of alcohol consumption and promotion via New Belgium Brewing Company, you have to be 21+ to attend.

Illinois rapper Serengeti to open.

Tour Dates:

3/26/19 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
3/27/19 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
3/29/19 – St. Paul, MN – The Palace
3/30/19 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
3/31/19 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
4/2/19 – Iowa City, IA – Mission Creek Festival
4/4/19 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Jones Assembly
4/5/19 – Dallas, TX – Canton Hall
4/6/19 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
4/7/19 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
4/9/19 – Baton Rouge, LA – Varsity Theatre
4/10/19 – Jackson, MS – Duling Hall
4/12/19 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
4/13-14/19 – Charleston, SC – High Water Festival
5/10/19 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
5/11/19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
5/13/19 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
5/14/18 – Albuquerque, NM – Kimo Theatre
5/16/19 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
5/17/19 – Bellvue, CO – Mishawaka Amphitheatre
5/18/19 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room
5/20/19 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
5/21/19 – Seattle, WA – The Moore
5/22/19 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
5/24/19 - Napa, CA - BottleRock Festival
5/25/19 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theatre
5/26/19 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
6/11/19 — Portland, ME — Thompsons Point *
6/12/19 — Burlington, VT — The Green at Shelburne *
6/14/19 — New Haven, CT —College Street *
6/15/19 — Queens, NY — Forest Hills Tennis Stadium *
6/16/19 — Prescott Park Arts Festival
6/18/19 — Detroit, MI — The Masonic *
6/20/19 — Toronto, ON — Echo Beach *
6/21/19 — Cooperstown, NY — Ommegang Brewery *
6/22/19 — Northampton, MA — Calvin Theatre

* Supporting Death Cab For Cutie

Other shows in the area:

Newpoli at Cedar Sugaray Rayford: Somebody Save Me JS Ondara at 7th Street Entry Tim O'Brien 2019 Tour Read More World Music The latest Putumayo world music compilation will be focusing on vintage French chanson music from the mid-1900s era. The release will be called Vintage France, and it is coming out on February 26th … J.S. Ondara Show up early to see local musician J.S. Ondara open. Ondara actually was Anderson East’s support act earlier this year. …

NEWPOLI
+ Mila Vocal Ensemble
Cedar Cultural Center
Thu 03/28/2019 (7pm/$18)
thecedar.org

Newpoli will be headlining the Cedar Cultural Center this Thursday, March 28, supporting their latest album Mediterraneo (a record two years in the making). If you love traditional world music, such as Southern Italy’s Deep Traditions and Trans-Mediterranean, you’ll want to check out their upcoming show.

Mila Vocal Ensemble to open.

SUGARAY RAYFORD
Shaw’s Bar & Grill
Fri 03/29/2019 (7pm)
facebook.com/stema002

This upcoming Sugaray Rayford (not to be confused with Sugar Ray) show was originally listed at Famous Dave's BBQ Uptown, but Famous Dave has ended all live events. The show will now be hosted at Shaw’s Bar & Grill in Minneapolis (but they haven’t listed the event yet).

Sugaray Rayford’s latest album Somebody Save Me is out now on Forty Below Records.

Tour dates:

Mar 21 Buffalo Rose Saloon Golden, CO
Mar 22 Paradise Theatre Paonia, CO
Mar 23 Sky Terrace Casper, WY
Mar 24 Kol Club Rapid City, SD
Mar 27 Zoo Bar Lincoln, NE
Mar 28 Chrome Lounge Omaha, NE
Mar 29 Shaw’s Bar & Grill Minneapolis, MN
Mar 30 Buddy Guy's Legends Chicago, IL
Mar 31 Club Above Ann Arbor, MI
Apr 1 The Lyric Theater Lexington, KY
Apr 2 Bourbon Street Blues Nashville, TN
Apr 3 The Mockingbird Theater Franklin, TN
Apr 5 The Soundry Columbia, MD
Apr 6 The Inn at Reading Wyomissing, PA

J.S. ONDARA
7th St Entry
Fri 03/29/2019 (8pm/$13/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

Kenya-born, but Minneapolis-based J.S. Ondara is in the middle of his national tour in support of Tales of America tour. His homecoming show will be at the 7th Street Entry next Friday, March 29th, is sold out.

Tour dates:

03/19—Washington, DC—Songbyrd
03/21—Brooklyn, NY—Rough Trade
03/22—Philadelphia, PA—World Café Live
03/23—Boston, MA—Café 939
03/24—Portsmouth, NH—The Press Room
03/26—Toronto, ON—The Drake Hotel
03/28—Chicago, IL—Schubas Tavern
03/29—Minneapolis, MN—7th Street Entry
03/31—Davenport, IA—Raccoon Motel
04/02—Denver, CO—Lost Lake Lounge
04/03—Salt Lake City, UT—The State Room
04/05—Seattle, WA—Columbia City Theater
04/06—Portland, OR—The Old Church
04/08—San Francisco, CA—Café Du Nord
04/09—Los Angeles, CA—Moroccan Lounge
04/10—San Diego, CA—Casbah

TIM O’BRIEN BAND
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Fri 03/29/2019 (7pm/$35)
dakotacooks.com

Grammy-Winning Tim O’Brien (billed as Tim O’Brien Band) will be stopping by the Dakota Jazz Club next Friday, March 29th, as part of his new full-length album, Tim O’Brien Band, just released March 15th.

The full band includes: Tim, Mike Bub (bass), Shad Cobb (fiddle), Jan Fabricius (vocals/mandolin) and Patrick Sauber (banjo/guitar).

Tour dates:

03/21/19 Jefferson Center / Roanoke, VA
03/22/19 Purple Fiddle / Thomas, WV
03/23/19 Music and Art at Oak Glen / New Cumberland, WV
03/24/19 Mountain Stage / Charleston, WV
03/25/19 Lyric Theater / Lexington, KY
03/27/19 City Winery / Chicago, IL
03/28/19 Stoughton Opera House / Stoughton, WI
03/29/19 Dakota - Minneapolis, MN
03/30/19 The Caribou Room / Nederland, CO
03/31/19 The Armory / Fort Collins, CO

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

Going for Gold XXIV

Read more Going for Gold.

David Gray: Gold in a Brass Age Read More David Gray English singer/songwriter David Gray is currently on an intimate "Evening With"-type tour in support of his latest Mutineers (Good Soldier Songs). …

DAVID GRAY
davidgray.com

English singer David Gray just dropped his eleventh album Gold In A Brass Age via IHT Records / AWAL Recordings on March 8. In addition to the new album, Gray will be emarking on a world tour.

Check with Gray’s website for the complete tour schedule, we are only showcasing his US dates below:

05/24 Houston, TX Revention Center
05/25 Austin, TX ACL Live Moody Theatre
05/26 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre
05/28 Atlanta, GA The Roxy Theatre
05/30 Washington, DC The Anthem
05/31 Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Opera House
06/1 Boston, MA The Wang Theatre
06/4 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
06/5 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
06/7 Toronto, ON Sony Centre
06/8 Akron, OH Akron Civic Theatre
06/9 Louisville, KY Palace Theatre
06/11 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre
06/13 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
06/14 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
06/15 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre
06/17 Denver, CO Ellie Caukins Opera House
06/18 Salt Lake City, UT Delta Hall at Eccles Theater
06/20 Portland, OR Keller Auditorium
06/21 Vancouver, BC The Centre
06/22 Seattle, WA Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
06/24 Sacramento, CA Crest Theatre
06/25 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
06/26 Monterey, CA Golden State Theatre
06/28 Los Angeles, CA Orpheum Theatre
06/29 Mesa, AZ Ikeda Theater at Mesa Performing Arts Center
06/30 San Diego, CA Copley Symphony Hall

Baroness: Gold & Grey Read More Baroness Baroness captivated the audience through their fourteen song set and then finished with a much deserved two song encore. They played through songs that spanned their nearly ten-year career …

BARONESS
yourbaroness.com

Grammy-nominated Baroness (vocals/guitarist John Baizley, guitarist Gina Gleason, bassist Nick Jost, and drummer Sebastian Thomson) will be releasing Gold & Grey on June 14 via Abraxan Hymns.

Baroness found, guitar player and singer John Baizley said, “Our goal is, was, and will always be to write increasingly superior, more honest and compelling songs, and to develop a more unique and challenging sound. I’m sure we have just finished our best, most adventurous album to date. We dug incredibly deep, challenged ourselves and recorded a record I’m positive we could never again replicate. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to know Sebastian, Nick and Gina as both my bandmates and my friends. They have pushed me to become a better songwriter, musician and vocalist. We’re all extremely excited for this release, which includes quite a few ‘firsts’ for the band, and we’re thrilled to be back on tour to play these psychotic songs for our fans. Expect some surprises.”

The group is currently on tour with co-headliner Deafheaven (Zeal & Ardor to open on all dates):

03/18 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
03/19 Seattle, WA The Showbox
03/20 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theatre
03/22 Edmonton, AB Union Hall
03/23 Calgary, AB The Palace Theatre
03/24 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
03/26 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
03/27 Denver, CO The Ogden Theater
03/29 Minneapolis, MN Skyway Theatre
03/30 Madison, WI The Sylvee
03/31 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
04/2 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall
04/3 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
04/5 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
04/6 Worcester, MA The Palladium
04/7 Albany, NY Upstate Concert Hall
04/9 Cleveland, OH Agora Theater
04/10 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore
04/12 New York, NY Terminal 5
04/13 Philadelphia, PA Decibel Metal & Beer Fest

GOLD LIGHT + SNAKEMUSK
facebook.com/pg/goldlightmusic

Gold Light (stagename for Joe Chang) has teamed up with Snakemusk (stagename for Beau Campolong) to bring us Shadows In The Shallows. The record comes out on May 10, 2019, via Bailey Park Records.

The duo recently announced their first single, “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter”, which you can hear on soundcloud.com

Shadows In The Shallows Track listing:

1. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
2. The Last Picture Show
3. Nobody's Baby
4. Papa Knows Best
5. Being Sweet
6. One Thing After Another
7. Heart Of Black
8. Release
9. Death

PHEEYOWNAH
pheeyownah.com

Swedish/Ugandan singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist & dancer Pheeyownah recently released “Gold”.

Pheeyownah described the track as “a declaration of love. With a sci-fi atmospheric mood, it paints a vivid picture of two people who are dangerously in love.” She later adds, “It’s about the ups and downs of love, insecurities, self-doubt but also empowerment and finding the courage to be vulnerable without feeling less than or weak.”

Look for the track on her debut album Silver, available May 3rd on Labrador Records.

CAIRO GOLD
cairogold.com

Los Angeles native Cairo Gold is described as having a “sexy swagger and a sultry voice”. The urban pop singer came on the scene with her Cairo Gold debut EP in May 2018.

Cairo Gold’s latest release is a single called “Pleasure”, available now on Red Music. The single will be part of a forthcoming EP, look for it this Spring 2019.

The singer described the track as “a different meaning and level of importance to all of us but it's safe to say we're all seeking it.” She adds, “I had fun writing this song because I was able to admit my weaknesses without taking them too seriously. I am somewhat notorious for being addicted to all things love-sex-art so when I find a man/woman who gives me those things passionately I become addicted to the pleasure. Is that a healthy way of living? Who knows, but if that's the only question that comes to mind then you're missing the point!”

TOMMY ASHBY
tommyashby.com

Scottish singer-songwriter Tommy Ashby recently released his new single “Cocoon”, taken from his forthcoming Golden Arrow EP (set for release April 2019 via Wow and Flutter Records).

The track is described as stripped down with a hypnotic vocals over piano chords. Look for the song to appear on Grey's Anatomy, Netflix's The Innocents and NBC's Midnight Texas.

Ashby tells us the origin of the song, “I wrote Cocoon in a beautiful little studio just outside Paris having been on the road for two months straight. I was there to record guitar for another artist, but snuck upstairs to one of the bedrooms and started tinkering on the grand piano in the corner. This was apparently the room where Nick Cave stays and I like to think some of his inspiration rubbed off, because the song just fell out in one go. Most of the single was recorded using my laptop microphone, super lo-fi! We tried to re-record the vocals and piano but the atmosphere just wasn't there, so the background sounds of the birds and water splashes stayed. I think this song captures a wee moment in time, which feels pretty cool.”

If you are in the London area, Ashby will appear at the The Slaughtered Lamb on April 10th.

SLUSH
slushies.bandcamp.com

Brooklyn’s Slush (singer and guitarist Alex Boehm, bassist Joe Dahlstrom, and drummer Tom Barnes) recently announced their single “Golden Seam”, taken from their forthcoming album Lizard Skin (available March 29, 2019). The record was mastered by Bob Weston of Chicago Mastering, and will be pressed as a double LP on natural white vinyl.

The NY trio shared a confusing name with Wisconsin’s Slush, South Carolina’s Slush, Melbourne’s Slush, Canada’s Slush, and Chicago’s Slushy.

This Brooklyn-based trio formed/played together since 2012 (touring in and around the New York City area), and described as protopunk. I believe they were formerly known as Slushies and their debut record American Demons (under Slush) came out in 2016.

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

R.I.P. Dick Dale

Guitar Legend: The Very Best Of Dick Dale Read More Dick Dale Dick Dale is the granddaddy of surf rock, and responsible for some of the most inexplicably catchy hooks and riffs to ever burst their way out of the Sixties in that infamous staccato picking. …

Surf rock pioneer Dick Dale has died on March 17. The “King of Surf Guitar” created the surf music style, which was influenced by Middle-Eastern music scales with reverberation. Dale influenced a generation of guitarists, including Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.

According to californiarocker.com, they mentioned that he had “been quietly suffering health issues for many years.”

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

March (38)

[17 Mar 2019] Dick Dale (American guitarist and surf music pioneer), 81

[17 Mar 2019] Enrico Riccardi (Italian composer and lyricist), 84

[16 Mar 2019] Yann-Fañch Kemener (French singer), 61

[16 Mar 2019] Yulia Nachalova (Russian singer, actress and television presenter), 38, cerebral edema

[13 Mar 2019] Areg Nazaryan (Armenian musician, composer and film director), 54

[13 Mar 2019] Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia (Ghanaian ethnomusicologist and composer), 97

[12 Mar 2019] Mirek Hoffmann (Czech country singer, composer and lyricist), 83

[12 Mar 2019] Leopold Kozłowski (Polish composer and pianist), 100

[12 Mar 2019] Věra Bílá (Czech singer), 64, diabetes

[12 Mar 2019] John Kilzer (American singer and songwriter), 62

[11 Mar 2019] Hal Blaine (American Hall of Fame drummer for The Wrecking Crew), 90

[11 Mar 2019] Demétrius (Brazilian singer), 76

[10 Mar 2019] Charlie Karp (American musician, songwriter), 65

[10 Mar 2019] Asa Brebner (American guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Modern Lovers), 65

[09 Mar 2019] Aťka Janoušková (Czech actress, voice actress and singer for Amadeus), 88

[08 Mar 2019] George Neikrug (American cellist), 100

[08 Mar 2019] Eddie Taylor Jr. (American blues singer and guitarist), 46, heart failure

[08 Mar 2019] Michael Gielen (Austrian conductor), 91

[06 Mar 2019] Carlitos Rolán (Argentine singer and band leader), 78, kidney failure

[06 Mar 2019] James Dapogny (American jazz musicologist and pianist), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Mike Grose (British bassist for Queen)

[06 Mar 2019] Oleg Kudryavtzev (Russian drummer), 42

[06 Mar 2019] Kayoko Moriyama (Japanese singer and actress), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Charlie Panigoniak (Canadian Inuktitut singer and guitarist), 72

[05 Mar 2019] Annie Brazil (Filipino jazz singer), 85, pneumonia

[05 Mar 2019] Jacques Loussier (French pianist and composer), 84

[05 Mar 2019] Doru Popovici (Romanian composer, musicologist, writer and concert manager), 87

[05 Mar 2019] Sara Romweber (American rock drummer for Let's Active), 55, brain tumor

[04 Mar 2019] Anthony Ríos (Dominican actor and singer-songwriter), 68

[04 Mar 2019] Keith Flint (English singer for The Prodigy), 49, suicide

[04 Mar 2019] Leo de Castro (New Zealand singer and guitarist), 70

[03 Mar 2019] Ger Cusack (Irish singer), 77

[03 Mar 2019] Peter Hurford (British organist and composer), 88, Alzheimer's disease

[03 Mar 2019] János Koós (Hungarian singer, parodist and actor), 81

[02 Mar 2019] Eduardo Vázquez (Argentine DJ and musician), 37, suicide

[02 Mar 2019] Janice Freeman (American singer for The Voice), 33, blood clot

[01 Mar 2019] Stephan Ellis (American rock bassist for Survivor), 69

[01 Mar 2019] Paul Williams (English singer for Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, Juicy Lucy), 78

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

Minneapolis: March 24 to March 27, 2019

Haelos at Fine Line Read More Hælos Haelos (stylized as Hælos) will be stopping by the 7th Street Entry on Saturday, April 9th, in support of their debut album Full Circle (Matador Records). The London-based trio … Aaron Rice If you’re not familiar with Aaron Rice, he’s the frontman for Aaron and the Sea, but at this show he is basically solo as a DJ and his light-up/colorful booth. …

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from March 24 to March 27, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

HÆLOS
+ Aaron Rice
Fine Line Music Cafe
Wed 03/27/2019 (7pm/$18)
finelinemusic.com

London’s Haelos (stylized as Hælos) will be headlining the Fine Line Music Cafe on March 27th. The group (Arthur Delaney, Lotti Benardout, Dom Goldsmith, and Daniel Vildosola) is currently in the USA to play SXSW in Austin, and have decided to extend their tour to Minneapolis.

We caught the group in April 2016 at the sold-out 7th Street Entry and wrote, “Hælos’ first time in Minneapolis... and it was incredibly well-received. Earlier in the day, they stopped by local radio The Current 83.9 with Mac Wilson, which helped boost the band’s popularity with local fans.”

Haelos’ new album Any Random Kindness will come out May 10th on BMG/Infectious... but expect to hear some new tracks on this upcoming show.

Minneapolis-based Electronic Artist Aaron Rice (of Aaron and the Sea) to open.

Tour Dates:

03/19/2019 Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA
03/20/2019 The Independent San Francisco, CA
03/27/2019 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
03/29/2019 A&R Music Bar Columbus, OH
04/02/2019 Brighton Music Hall Boston, MA
04/06/2019 U Street Music Hall Washington, DC

Other shows in the area:

Sneaks 2019 Tour Tender at 7th Street Lowland Hum at Cedar YOB / Voivod at Fine Line We Three 2019 Tour Thou / Emma Ruth Rundle at Turf Club Read More Lowland Hum Charlottesville’s Lowland Hum (duo Daniel and Lauren Goans) will be playing the Aster Café in support of their new album Thin. NPR’s Bob Boilen said, “Sincerity, community and beauty is how I think of … YOB The upcoming YOB show at the Turf Club is sold out. This may have something to do with the fact that their last album was in 2011 and now they are back with Our Raw Heart (Relapse Records) … Emma Ruth Rundle Texan instrumental rock collective This Will Destroy You is on a tour with Deafheaven and Emma Ruth Rundle. The bands will be playing at the Fine Line Music Café next Monday. ...

SNEAKS
Turf Club
Sun 03/24/2019 (7pm/CANCELED)
turfclub.net

Unfortunately, if you were hoping to catch Sneaks at the Turf Club on Sunday, March 24, the Highway Hypnosis tour is is now cancelled.

Sneaks is currently at SXSW, but she writes:

“Dear Sneaks Fans, due to unforeseen events my current US tour has been canceled. I will still be playing my SXSW dates. I will let you know soon about rescheduled dates in the near future.”

03/21 Kansas City, MO – miniBar
03/22 Rock Island, IL – Rozz-Tox
03/24 Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club
03/26 Milwaukee, WI – Cactus Club
03/27 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
03/28 Detroit, MI – Outer Limits Lounge
03/29 Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit Lounge

TENDER
7th Street Entry
Sun 03/24/2019 (7pm/$12)
first-avenue.com

If you have an open night (since Sneaks cancelled), I suggest you check out London’s Tender at the 7th Street Entry on this same night.

No opening band listed at the time of this writing.

Tour dates:

03/16/2019 Rough Trade Brooklyn, NY
03/17/2019 Great Scott Allston, MA
03/21/2019 High Watt Nashville, TN
03/24/2019 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN
03/28/2019 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO
03/30/2019 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT
04/05/2019 Cornerstone Berkeley, CA
04/08/2019 Troubadour West Hollywood, CA

LOWLAND HUM
+ Anna Stine
Moon Palace Books
Mon 03/25/2019 (7pm/$15)
thecedar.org

Lowland Hum is touring in support of the forthcoming Glyphonic album (due May 10th). The band will stop by the Moon Palace Books on March 25th. Originally they wanted to booked the band at the Cedar (the poster was made in November 2018), but unfortunately, due to conflicting dates with Red Baraat, Lowland Hum’s show was moved to Moon Palace Books.

We caught the duo in Mar 2018 and wrote, “Opening up the show was husband/wife duo Lowland Hum (Daniel and Lauren Goans), who was last in town opening for Penny and Sparrow in September 2017, when they had just released their new record Thin.”

Tour dates:

03/16 | Seattle, WA at Fremont Abbey
03/21 | Denver, CO at Swallow Hill
03/25 | Minneapolis, MN at Moon Palace Books
03/27 | Chicago, IL at SPACE
03/28 | Akron, OH at The Rialto Theatre
03/29 | Pittsburgh, PA at Club Cafe
03/30 | North Adams, MA at Mass. College of Liberal Arts
03/31 | Portsmouth, NH at Loft at Portsmouth Music Hall
04/02 | Boston, MA at Passim
04/03 | New York, NY at City Winery Loft
04/5 | Philadelphia, PA at Locks at Sona

YOB / VOIVOD
+ Amenra
Fine Line Music Cafe
Tue 03/26/2019 (7pm/$22)
finelinemusic.com

Oregon trio YOB and Canadian band Voivod is co-headlining the Fine Line Music Cafe on March 26.

Show up early to check out Amenra, in support of their latest LP Mass VI (Neurot Recordings).

Tour dates:

03/26 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
03/27 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
03/28 Columbus, OH @ Ace Of Cups
03/29 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
03/30 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix
03/31 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
04/2 Portland, ME @ Geno’s
04/3 Boston, MA @ Royale
04/4 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
04/5 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
04/6 Richmond, VA @ Broadberry
04/7 Raleigh, NC @ Kings
04/9 Knoxville, TN @ Concourse
04/10 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade / Hell
04/11 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
04/12 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Studios
04/13 Austin, TX @ Barracuda
04/14 Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey
04/16 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater

WE THREE
Varsity Theater
Tue 03/26/2019 (7:30pm/$15)
turfclub.net

Pop/rock sibling-trio and America’s Got Talent semi-finalists, We Three (pianist/drummer Joshua, bassist Bethany, and guitarist Manny) will be stopping by the Varsity Theater on Tuesday, March 26th.

Tour dates:

03/16 -- Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head On Stage
03/18 -- Warrendale, PA @ Jergel's Rhythm Grille
03/19 -- Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
03/21 -- Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues - Cleveland
03/22 -- Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot
03/23 -- Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
03/24 -- Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe at Old National Centre
03/26 -- Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
03/27 -- Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
03/28 -- Chicago, IL @ Park West
03/30 -- Nashville, TN @ The Cowan
03/31 -- Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
04/3 -- Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Parker Playhouse
04/4 -- Clearwater, FL @ Capitol Theatre
04/6 -- Orlando, FL @ Plaza Live
04/7 -- Ponte Vedra Beach, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
04/9 -- Saint Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
04/11 -- Kansas City, MO @ Madrid Theatre & Cafe
04/12 -- Dallas, TX @ Canton Hall
04/17 -- Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
04/19 -- Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
04/20 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
04/23 -- Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
04/24 -- San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
04/27 -- Portland, OR, @ TBD
04/28 -- Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre

EMMA RUTH RUNDLE / THOU
+ Grogus, False, Without
Turf Club
Wed 03/27/2019 (7pm/$13)
turfclub.net

The Emma Ruth Rundle and Thou co-headlining tour is stopping by the Turf Club on March 27. Rundle’s latest album, On Dark Horses, is available everywhere via Sargent House.

Tour dates:

03/24 Nashville, TN @ TBD
03/25 Lexington, KY @ Cosmic Charlies
03/26 Rock Island, IL @ Rock Island Brewing
03/27 Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Clud
03/28 Oshkosh, WI @ Eroding Winds
03/28 Milwaukee, WI @ Company Brewing
03/29 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
03/30 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
03/31 Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary
04/1 Pittsburgh, PA @ Get Hip.
04/2 Hudson, NY @ Half Moon
04/3 Easthampton, NY @ The Flywheel
04/4 Portsmouth, NH @ 3S Arts
04/5 Boston, MA @ MassArt.
04/6 Providence, RI @ AS220
04/7 New York, NY @ Night Bazaar
04/11 Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn
04/12 Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn

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

Wet x Kilo Kish at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (15 Mar 2019)

Wet at Varsity Theater Wet Setlist 11 Hours Deadwater There's a Reason Body It's All in Vain This Woman Loves You Lately Don't Wanna Be Your Girl Weak Still Run All the Ways Trust No Man Old Bone Softens You're the Best Read More Wet Brooklyn’s Wet is returning to the Minneapolis area this Friday, March 15th. The band is touring in support of their sophomore album Still Run (Columbia Records), featuring recent new songs … Kilo Kish Mothe is one of the best EPs I've heard in a very long time! The Instrumentals combined with Kish's amazing vocals makes this EP a must have. Her sound is very consistent with her earlier works- K+, Across, and Reflections. … Hana Vu California’s Hana Vu opened the show. The 18-year-old is joined on stage by guitarist Christian Wright, bassist Sebastian Jones, and drummer Jair Hernandez. .…

The co-headlining Wet and Kilo Kish stopped by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Friday, March 15th.

Opening the show, and previously not announced, was California’s Hana Vu. She’s playing solo, which is quiet different from her full-band setup at the 7th Street Entry in Sep 2018: “The 18-year-old is joined on stage by guitarist Christian Wright, bassist Sebastian Jones, and drummer Jair Hernandez. After spending 30 hours driving in a car, Hana Vu was happy and relieved to finally play for us. Although Vu had written and recorded three albums (about 30 songs) since 2014, this was the first time the group went out on a national tour, with the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis a first stop for the band.”

The 7th Street Entry was special because, according to Hana Vu, it was her first time playing outside California. She was invited to play the Wet/Kilo Kish show, so she took the opportunity, and announced that her Varsity Theater appearance would be second to her last appearance on this tour.

Near the end of her set, playing “Team”, she thanked the audience for showing up early to check out her brief 25-min set.

Next was co-headliner, Kilo Kish (aka Lakisha Kimberly Robinson), who played a surprisingly long 45-min set (considering that she only officially released Reflections in Real Time in 2016). However, if you look back at her history, you’ll find that she’s been writing and producing music since the age of 18 (in 2012) and probably had over 40 plus tracks under her belt.

Playing in constant near darkness with backlit flashing lights, Kish mentioned that she’s basically playing the entire Mothe EP live. Kish, with the help of her DJ/Producer, was always creating a “new live production of all the songs”.

Brooklyn’s Wet closed out the show at the Varsity Theater. The band played a good mix of songs between their debut Don't You (2016) and Still Run (2018). Originally a trio, featuring Kelly Zutrau, Joe Valle, and Marty Sulkow, but currently it’s just Zutrau and Valle, with touring synth and drummer.

Although Still Run came out in July 2018, via Columbia Records, the band didn’t do a proper album promo tour until earlier this year. That is because they spent last year opening for Florence + The Machine, which, on a sonic level, they do share an indie pop/electronic pop sound to complement Florence.

As normal, earlier hit singles like “Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl” drew the biggest reaction from the crowd.

If you enjoy xx and London Grammar, you’ll need to get onboard with Wet and see what you’re missing.

NOTE: Apology to Hana Vu, as we had a camera malfunction and is only displaying photos from an iPhone.

Remaining Tour Dates:

3/16/2019 The Granada Theater Lawrence, KS
3/19/2019 Summit Music Hall* Denver, CO
3/20/2019 Metro Music Hall* Salt Lake City, UT
3/22/2019 Wonder Ballroom* Portland, OR
3/23/2019 Imperial* Vancouver, BC
3/24/2019 Neptune Theatre* Seattle, WA
3/26/2019 Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA
3/27/2019 The Belasco Theatre Los Angeles, CA
3/28/2019 The Observatory – North Park* San Diego, CA
3/29/2019 The Observatory OC* Santa Ana, CA
3/30/2019 The Marquee Theatre Tempe, AZ

*w/ Special Guest Helena Deland

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Wet at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (15 Mar 2019)

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Jungle at First Avenue, Minneapolis (12 March 2019)

Jungle at First Ave Jungle Setlist Smile Heavy, California The Heat Julia Happy Man Beat 54 (All Good Now) Cherry Pray Lucky I Got What I Want Platoon Crumbler Lemonade Lake Casio House in L.A. Drops -- Encore -- Busy Earnin' Time Tour Dates 03/19/2019 Terminal 5 New York, NY 03/20/2019 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA 03/21/2019 9:30 Club Washington, DC 03/22/2019 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC 03/23/2019 Marathon Music Works Nashville, TN 03/29-31/2019 6Music Festival Liverpool, UK 04/18/2019 The Power Station Auckland, NZ 04/19/2019 Bad FridayFraser Park, Marrickville, Australia 04/24/2019 Enmore Theatre, Newtown, Australia 04/26/2019 The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley, Australia 04/27/2019 The Esplanade Hotel , Saint Kilda, Australia 04/28/2019 Forum Melbourne, Australia 04/30/2019 Teatro Vorterix, Buenos Aires, Argentina 05/02/2019 Cine Joia, São Paulo, Brazil 05/04/2019 Festival Fauna Otoño 2019 05/08/2019 C.C Barranco Arena, Lima, Peru 05/10/2019 Teatro Nacional Sucre, Quito, Ecuador 05/16/2019-05/19/2019 Hangout Fest 2019 05/29/2019-06/02/2019 Primavera Sound Festival 2019 06/07/2019-06/08/2019 Field Day 2019 06/08/2019-06/09/2019 Parklife Festival 2019 06/13/2019-06/15/2019 Piknik I Parken 2019 06/26/2019-06/27/2019 Plissken Festival 2019 06/26/2019-06/30/2019 Glastonbury Festival 2019 06/27/2019-06/30/2019 Rock Werchter 2019 06/29/2019-07/06 2019 Roskilde Festival 2019 07/12/2019-07/14/2019 Forecastle Festival 2019 Read More JUNGLE JUNGLE + Houses First Avenue Jungle returns to the USA to promote their latest album For Ever (available now on XL Recordings). … Houses They are bringing Los Angeles-based Houses (aka songwriter/producer Dexter Tortoriello) on tour… good thing, because …

“When you smile, the world feels a little better” - Jungle, ‘Smile’

There were plenty of smiling faces from those who managed to get into a sold-out Mainroom at First Avenue in Minneapolis for a set from UK soul/funk/disco collective Jungle.

The evening opened with a band returning to the scene after a five-year absence – Houses, led by singer Dexter Tortoriello, who after a few years of songwriting and producing for others and re-locating from Chicago to LA, released EP Drugstore Heaven (Downtown Records) last fall.

The band played as four-piece, happy to be back on the road, capping their short set with ‘Fast Talk’, from the recent EP that’s been a slow but steady bubbler in terms of gaining increased local airplay, but is a distinctive song, with colorful lyrics like, “Maybe God is just a cop that we can fast talk. What if death is just another pair of handcuffs, well then we’d better run”

A quick set change revealed a wall of lighted bulbs as backdrop and their large logo above it all, as London neo-soul collective Jungle took to the stage for their eighty-seven minute headlining set. The band is out in support of second full-length For Ever (XL Recordings) and began with the two opening songs from that record, ‘Smile’ and Heavy, California’.

Founded by frontmen Tom McFarland and Josh Lloyd-Watson, their mid-tempo lush retro funk/soul style is immediately apparent as the band is about establishing a groove, then maintaining and sustaining it throughout. Add to the fact that both usually sing in tandem (in a higher falsetto and often also along with their two backup singers) and you have a musical style that can be immediately identified as theirs.

Big radio hit ‘The Heat’ was played early on, with the lights on stage turning an appropriate mix of reds and oranges, and logo glowing. “Minneapolis on a Tuesday night- come on!” they urged to greater applause. “I’m sorry it’s been such a long time” they (unnecessarily) apologized, having last played the area and the venue in October 2014.

Musically, the band is precise and very well-rehearsed, picking up after ‘Julia’ with another four new songs, to make sure everyone was as acquainted with the new record, as their well-received 2014 debut. On 2014’s ‘Lucky I Got What I Want’, they implore “don’t you forget about me” in repetition as a cacophony of sounds, beats, and sirens mix about, and their first single ‘Platoon’ dating from 2013, reminds us “It’s how good you are” perhaps also referring to their musical exactness.

Newest single ‘Casio’ maintains that mid-tempo and isn’t as electronic as the title might infer, instead is a story of love lost set against a mid-70’s laid back soul groove and featured some smooth vocals from singer Rudi Salmon.

‘Drops’, a dreamy tune that starts soft but builds its musical muscle would end the main set, but the band quickly returned for a two-song encore starting with perhaps their most well-known song, ‘Busy Earnin’ (used in numerous games, commercials, and TV shows) and finished with 2014’s ‘Time’ in which the lyrics urge to “just let it out” which the sold-out crowd did, in the form of clapping along, moving in place, and erupting into end applause.

With For Ever, Jungle digs a bit emotionally deeper- musically, still very style-based, but lyrically more admitting of their personal heartbreaks, the down side of the West Coast, and dream chasing. To see it performed live with such musical tightness was revelatory as well-the band artfully carries on in the UK neo-soul tradition that Sade did in the ‘80’s and Soul II Soul and Craig David did in the ‘90s, making Jungle still one to watch. 

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Jungle Setlist

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Jungle at First Avenue, Minneapolis (12 March 2019)

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

The Flesh Eaters w/ Porcupine at Turf Club, St. Paul (09 March 2019)

The Flesh Eaters at Turf Club The Flesh Eaters Setlist See You in the Boneyard Pray 'Til You Sweat House Amid the Thickets Cinderella (The Sonics cover) Satan's Stomp My Life to Live So Long Black Temptation Cyrano de Berger's Back Pony Dress The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) (Fleetwood Mac cover) Divine Horseman The Wedding Dice Miss Muerte -- Encore -- She's Like Heroin to Me (The Gun Club cover) Ghost Cave Lament The Flesh Eaters Tour Dates 03/14 BOSTON, MA City Winery Boston 03/15 PHILADELPHIA, PA Johnny Brenda’s 03/16 WASHINGTON, DC Union Stage 03/17 NEW YORK, NY Bowery Ballroom Porcupine Tour Dates 03/14 – City Winery – Boston, MA 03/15 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA 03/16 – Union Stage – Washington DC 03/17 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY 03/29 – The Red Herring Lounge – Duluth, MN 03/30th -Palace Theatre – St Paul, MN w/ Bob Mould 04/5th – The Aquarium – Fargo, ND 04/6th – What’s Up Lounge – Mankato, MN 05/18th – Midwest Music Festival – La Crosse, WI 06/28th- Reggies-Chicago, Ill- w/Flipper 10/12th – The Basement East – Nashville, TN -w/Mudhoney 10/14th – Off Broadway – St Louis, Mo -w/ Mudhoney Read More The Flesh Eaters The Flesh Eaters is a supergroup, featuring John Doe and DJ Bonebrake of X, Dave Alvin and Bill Bateman of The Blasters, Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, and the Legendary Punk Poet Chris D. The group just released I Used to Be Pretty on Yep Roc Records. … Porcupine The word was that MN/WI alternate rock trio Porcupine lobbied to be on the bill, and with good reason as the kind of no-holds-barred, unapologetic rock played by Casey Virock (guitars/vocals), Ian Prince (drums), and Greg Norton (bass) …

Back from the dead… and loving it!

California-based collective The Flesh Eaters have returned, having been in existence since 1977 and last assembled in 2006, braving the elements for a long sold-out show at the Turf Club in St. Paul.

Another dumping of snow, this time six inches of the heavy and wet kind, couldn’t keep most people away from seeing this unconventional “supergroup” of punk/roadhouse/rockabilly veterans, reuniting their 1981 lineup (from their classic album A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die) for a short tour celebrating their first new recording in more than thirty-five years, I Used to Be Pretty (on Yep Roc Records).

The evening opened with a set from area band Porcupine, led by Casey Virock (guitars/vocals) with Ian Prince (drums) and who have upped their profile considerably since adding Greg (ex-Hüsker Dü) Norton (bass) in recent times.

Evolving forward from a late ‘80s/‘90s indie-rock sound of Swervedriver meets QOTSA, the trio is out in support of latest six-song record, What You’ve Heard Isn’t Real (on Dead Broke Rekerds/DC-Jam) and recent lead single, ‘Lifetime’.

The teenage alienation of their version of Hüsker Dü’s ‘Standing by the Sea’ from the new record was originally penned by Norton’s ex-band mate, the late Grant Hart, and is a fitting tribute to his musical legacy. Even songs like 2011’s ‘Rooftops’ resonate further, with Norton providing an extra bump from his restless stage presence and formidable bass skills.

The band stays focused and prefers to let the music do their talking, and fortunately for anyone in the area wanting to catch them that couldn’t find a ticket or didn’t want to risk the weather, the band returns to St. Paul on March 30^th at the Palace, opening for Bob Mould to help celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Hüsker Dü’s first show.

Led by poet, singer and author Chris Desjardins (Chris D), and joined by Dave Alvin and Bill Bateman (The Blasters), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), and John Doe and DJ Bonebrake (X), The Flesh Eaters casually took to the stage to begin their ninety-minute headlining set. Though each musician is arguably a star in their own right, they all humbly stayed back from any grandstanding and were just band members, all contributing to the whole.

The band’s set began with a revisit to their 1981 album, with the opening ‘See You in the Boneyard’ and ‘Pray 'Til You Sweat’ before moving ahead to 1999’s ‘House Amid the Thickets’.

Chris D’s vocal delivery is a part-spoken low growl /part twisted wail and coupled with his menacing and often morbid lyrics, make for a weird-scenes-inside-the-goldmine delivery akin to something Jim Morrison might sing like, were he still alive.

Alvin showed numerous flashes of why he remains one of the most distinctive guitarists of his genre, Bonebrake kept mostly to the vibraphones and mirimbas, and Berlin’s versatile sax work shifted from big band-esque, to jazz, Tex-Mex, and even E-Street Band-type rock, depending on the song.

“We got a regular winter wonderland out there tonight… us California boys, we’re stunned!” Chris D said about the snow and sleet outdoors, thanking the audience for making the extreme effort to come out to see them.

On the new record, the band revisits some older songs, including 1982’s ‘My Life to Live’, a stomping upbeat love song that is a bit of a departure in theme, coming from emotional conflict and a no-win situation. 1981’s ‘So Long’ was a fine music complement to the former and stunning to hear live as Alvin completely cut loose on guitar, on the back half of the tune.

The new ‘Black Temptation’ is more typical of Chris D’s lyrical themes, “If this is my heart, with soul-ending sorrow, this dream of life is no tomorrow” he sings, but the doom and gloom is forgiven as the band rages and Berlin’s sax helps morph much of the initial darkness away.

Their version of ‘The Green Manalishi ‘, a song originating from Fleetwood Mac’s early blues days and also notably covered by Judas Priest, was stretched out and turned so inside out that the song became a micro-genre of its own, and the main set would end with the horror-pulp pulse of ‘Miss Muerte’.

The encore began with another visit back to 1981, but to The Gun Club’s fabled debut album, Fire of Love (which Chris D partly produced and provided album art for), for the band’s cover of ‘She's Like Heroin to Me’.

Things then directly transitioned into the night’s epic finale, the new ‘Ghost Cave Lament’ (which runs thirteen minutes on record), culminating everything that is about the band- free form sax against calm vibe tones, and ominous building guitar riffs behind dark lyrics wailed like “she plucked her eyes out from her sockets, it amounted to nothing more than loose change in her pockets”.

With I Used to Be Pretty, The Flesh Eaters have returned gloriously – arguably, never really pretty in the first place, but always exploring the blackness, breaking open the emotional doors, and finding tarnished beauty in the ugly.

 

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Flesh Eaters 2019 art poster

Flesh Eaters 2019 poster

The Flesh Eaters Setlist

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The Flesh Eaters at Turf Club, St. Paul (09 March 2019)

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

Adrian Belew at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (06 March 2019)

Adrian Belew at Fine Line Poster Adrian Belew Setlist Set 1: Matte Kudasai (King Crimson song) Big Blue Sun Ampersand Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With (King Crimson song) Young Lions Beat Box Guitar Everybody's Sitting Incompetence Indifference > Back in the Day Fish Head b Set 2: What Do You Know? (Part 1) > Of Bow and Drum Big Electric Cat b3 Men in Helicopters > What Do You Know? (Part 2) Wait to Worry Superboy (The Bears song) You Never Know City of Tiny Lites (Frank Zappa cover) Three of a Perfect Pair (King Crimson song) Frame by Frame (King Crimson song) > Sleepless (King Crimson song) Neal and Jack and Me (King Crimson song) e2 -- Encore --                Thela Hun Ginjeet (King Crimson song) Tour Dates 03/13/2019 Rams Head On Stage Annapolis, MD 03/14/2019 The Broadberry Richmond, VA 03/15/2019 Lincoln Theatre Raleigh, NC 03/16/2019 City Winery Atlanta, GA 04/05/2019 Zanzabar Louisville, KY 04/07/2019 Rex Theater Pittsburgh, PA 04/10/2019 City Winery Washington DC 04/11/2019 Wall Street Theater Norwalk, CT 04/18/2019 The Center For Arts Natick, MA 04/19/2019 Narrows Center Fall River, MA 04/20/2019 Hart Theatre Albany, NY 08/09/2019 Strand Center Theatre Plattsburgh, NY 08/10/2019 Gateway City Arts Holyoke, MA 09/11/2019 Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ 09/12/2019 Coach House Concert San Juan Capistrano, CA 09/14/2019 Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA 09/16/2019 Sofia Tsakopoulos Center Sacramento, CA 09/17/2019 The Chapel San Francisco, CA 09/18/2019 Sweetwater Music Hall Mill Valley, CA 09/20/2019 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR 09/27/2019 Boulder Theater Boulder, CO 09/28/2019 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO Read More Adrian Belew Guitar legend Adrian Belew (with his new quartet featuring Jordan Perlson on drums, Saul Zonana on keyboards, guitar, and vocals, and bassist Julie Slick) will be playing the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis on March 6, 2019. … Saul Zonana ADRIAN BELEW + Saul Zonana Fine Line Music Café Wed 03/06/2019 (7pm/$25) finelinemusic …

Both a guitar virtuoso and a musical interpreter of sounds- 

From a mesmerizing solo to notes that sound like an elephant’s trumpet, the swoon of an exotic seagull, or a violin bow against strings, Adrian Belew can play it all.

After successfully playing for several years as a power trio, legendary guitarist Adrian Belew has now expanded his ensemble to a quartet, and stopped by the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis, on only the sixth date of his current POP-SIDED Tour.

Like his previous tour, the opener was veteran multi-instrumentalist/producer/artist Saul Zonana, who in addition to his thirty-five years of solo work, has also played with the likes of Crash Test Dummies, Ace Frehley, and others, and happens to also be the newest addition to Belew’s own band.

2017’s All the While the Butterfly (on 20/20 Music) is the latest full-length example of his work- rock-based, but made more complex through Zonana’s use of pedals and associated machinery to help bring his songs to life, and a fine musical complement to the style of the headliner.

Re-inventing his live show after retiring the trio idea at a recent cruise, the Adrian Belew quartet then took to the stage for the first of their two hour-long sets. Jordan Perlson on drums, Saul Zonana on keys/guitar/vocals, and bassist Julie Slick (who has been with Belew for thirteen years) compose the updated line-up, in support of POP-SIDED, the new album available initially only at his shows, with wider distribution to likely follow.

Belew’s resume, spread over more than four decades, speaks for itself as being the guitarist of choice to call, by the likes of Zappa, Byrne, Bowie, Simon, and Reznor. That, along with his fabled long period in progressive group King Crimson, make Belew one of the premier guitarists of our time.

The evening started perfectly with 1981’s ‘Matte Kudasai’, one of the more beautiful songs from Belew’s early 80’s tenure as the second guitarist in King Crimson to Robert Fripp, with he positioned at center stage, Slick to his immediate right and Zonana behind a keyboard console to his left, and with two slim vertical speakers at Belew’s back, between he and drummer Perlson.

The 60’s inspired pop of 1992’s ‘Big Blue Sun’ was next, jumping then ahead to 2005’s ‘Ampersand’, clearly showing we would be hearing songs from every era of his long career. After someone yelled out “King Crimson!”, Belew dutifully obliged with a 2002 composition before bending and shaping sounds on his Grammy-nominated ‘Beat Box Guitar’.

‘Everybody’s Sitting’ is one of a few of the brand new songs played, a bubbly number about droned people with their collective heads in their phones, watching television and being online, and 1989’s ‘Back in the Day’ played soon after, also pined for simpler times.

The band seemed already tight and well-rehearsed, just six shows in- “Without you, this would just be a paid rehearsal” Belew said, acknowledging the cheering crowd and shouts for their favorite songs as the quartet finished their first set with the swirling ‘b’, part of the extended instrumental of 2009’s album, e.

After a brief break, the music re-commenced with a couple of selections from the curiously titled 1996 album, Op Zop Too Wah, with the fretless howl of bleeps and blurbs of 1982’s ‘Big Electric Cat’ to follow.

The Beatles-esque ‘Wait to Worry’ was another new song, anchored by several time changes and a solid Slick bass line, and ‘Superboy’ from Belew’s late ‘80s period as a member of The Bears (supposedly named as such, just to get their albums placed alphabetically before The Beatles) remained in fine form though “that’s still hard to sing after all these years”, Belew revealed.

‘City of Tiny Lites’ was the earliest number played, dating from his time playing with Frank Zappa and the momentum built up from there, with a stunning mini-set of four King Crimson numbers, as only Belew could sing and interpret them. Slick’s bass work wasn’t quite as distinctive on ‘Sleepless’ as Tony Levin is on the original, but Belew’s dizzying riffs kept everything fluid.

“We end with this song… it means a lot to us” Belew said of the encore of 1981’s ‘Thela Hun Ginjeet’, a rolling, part-spoken word Crimson number whose title is a simple anagram of “heat in the jungle” referring to crime in the city, and whose message is still relevant today. 

On the track, Belew’s guitar goes from a plaintive wail to funk rhythm, to noises that echo the bustle of a city, all in a matter of a few minutes, as the song’s title is chanted in repetition.

Still innovating the unique sounds he’s known for creating and now in a new band configuration promoting a more accessible, new pop-leaning record, Adrian Belew remains in the top echelon of guitar players and one that is always worth catching live.

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Adrian Belew Tour Poster

Adrian Belew Setlist

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Adrian Belew at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (06 March 2019)

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

Minneapolis: March 21 to March 23, 2019

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from March 21 to March 23, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Oh Pep! 2019 Tour Read More Oh Pep! Australian duo Oh Pep! (Olivia Hally and Pepita Emerichs) will be headlining the Cedar Cultural Center next Tuesday, July 12th, in support of their debut album Stadium Cake (out now on Dualtone). ....

OH PEP!
+ Naia Izumi
7th St Entry
Sat 03/23/2019 (8pm/$15)
first-avenue.com

Oh Pep! (short for Olivia “Oh” Hally and Pepita “Pep” Emerichs) will be back in Minneapolis, at the 7th Street Entry this Saturday, March 23rd. The Australian duo’s new album I Wasn't Only Thinking About You... is out now on ATO Records.

We caught the band a few times, on tour for their debut record Stadium Cake in July 2016 and, again, in Feb 2017, writing, “The evening began with a playful and sublime forty-minute set from Melbourne, Australia folk duo, Oh Pep! (aka Pepita Emmerichs and Olivia Hally) who released their debut, Stadium Cake last June on Dualtone Records. Their blend of harmonic pop (with Hally on guitar and Emmerichs alternating between mandolin, bouzouki and violin) has proved irresistible and is recommended for fans of Indigo Girls and First Aid Kit, with a tender and relaxed sound to their music, the new album recorded in Nova Scotia.”

Crowned winner of the 2018 Tiny Desk contest Naia Izumi to open.

Tour Dates:

03/15 - Great Scott - Allston, MA
03/20 - El Club - Detroit, MI
03/21 - Schuba's - Chicago, IL
03/22 - Back Room - Milwaukee, WI
03/23 - 7th St. Entry - Minneapolis, MN
03/24 - The Raccoon Motel - Davenport, IA
03/25 - Reverb - Omaha, NE

Other shows in the area:

Quinn XCII 2019 Tour Tori Kelly at Palace Theatre Better Oblivion Community Center at First Ave Mark Mallman at 7th Street Entry Ghost Light at Turf Club Stephen Kellogg at Turf Club Read More Tori Kelly The girl with the big hair, and potentially as big future, Tori Kelly comes to The Varsity in Minneapolis for what will no doubt be a sold out show as part of her Where I Belong tour. One of MTV’s Artists to Watch … Conor Oberst Bright Eyes, brighter future. Conor Oberst (formerly Bright Eyes) will be at the Palace Theatre in St Paul on Thursday. Oberst recently appeared on Charlie Rose for a special interview and performance of his latest album Salutations. … Mark Mallman Did you miss Mark Mallman’s double appearances at the Icehouse last March 25th and 26th? No problem, catch him again at the Icehouse this upcoming Saturday, July 9th. …

QUINN XCII
+ Ashe
Myth
Thu 03/21/2019 (7pm/$28)
mythlive.com

Genre-bending artist Quinn XCII will be headlining the Myth on Thursday, March 21st, as part of his “From Michigan With Love” tour.

Tour dates:

03/14/2019 20 Monroe Live Grand Rapids, MI
03/15/2019 The Fillmore Detroit Detroit, MI
03/19/2019 The Pageant St. Louis, MO
03/20/2019 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
03/21/2019 Myth Saint Paul, MN
03/23/2019 Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
03/26/2019 Revolution Concert House Garden City, ID
03/29/2019 Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA
03/31/2019 McMenamins Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR
04/02/2019 Ace Of Spades Sacramento, CA
04/03/2019 The Masonic San Francisco, CA
04/06/2019 The Wiltern Los Angeles, CA
04/09/2019 Comerica Theatre Phoenix, AZ
04/12/2019 South Side On Lamar Dallas, TX
04/12/2019 South Side Ballroom Dallas, TX
04/13/2019 House Of Blues Houston, TX
04/17/2019 Austin, TX
06/15/2019 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
06/23/2019 Firefly Music Festival

TORI KELLY
Palace Theatre
Thu 03/21/2019 (7pm/$18)
palacestpaul.com

Tori Kelly is currently on her “Acoustic Sessions” tour and she’ll be stopping by the Palace Theatre in St Paul on March 21st.

Tour dates:

3/14 Seattle WA Paramount Theatre
3/16 Vancouver BC Queen Elizabeth
3/17 Portland OR Crystal Ballroom
3/19 Denver CO Paramount
3/21 St. Paul MN The Palace
3/22 Omaha NE Holland
3/24 Kansas City MO Midland Theatre
3/26 St. Louis MO The Pageant
3/28 Indianapolis IN Murat Theatre
3/29 Columbus OH Express Live
3/31 Toronto ON Roy Thomas Hall
4/2 Boston MA House of Blues
4/3 Brooklyn NY Kings Theatre
4/5 Philadelphia PA The Fillmore
4/6 Lynchburg VA Liberty University
4/9 St. Petersburg FL Mahaffrey Theater
4/10 Orlando FL Hard Rock Live
4/13 New Orleans LA The Fillmore

BETTER OBLIVION COMMUNITY CENTER
+ Lala Lala, Christian Lee Hutson
First Avenue
Fri 03/22/2019 (7pm/$25)
first-avenue.com

In the age of the internet and social media, it's incredibly hard to keep a big secret, but that's just what singers Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers pulled off, recording a secret album and debuting a brand new band called Better Oblivion Community Center.

The band was originally booked locally at the Fine Line Music Cafe, which immediately sold out (like most of their tour), then was upgraded to the larger Mainroom at First Avenue... which immediately sold out. First single, "Dylan Thomas" is burning up the alternative airwaves. Book a "meeting" if you can.

Better Oblivion Community Center Meetings

19-Mar Salt Lake City - Metro Bar
20-Mar Denver - Gothic Theatre
21-Mar Omaha - Slowdown
22-Mar Minneapolis - First Ave
23-Mar Chicago - Lincoln Hall
24-Mar Chicago - Lincoln Hall
25-Mar Cleveland - Agora Theater
26-Mar Pittsburgh - Mr Smalls
28-Mar Boston - The Sinclair
29-Mar New York - Bowery Ballroom
30-Mar Brooklyn - Music Hall of Williamsburg
31-Mar Providence - Columbus Theater
01-Apr Brooklyn - Brooklyn Steel
02-Apr Philadelphia - Union Transfer
03-Apr Washington DC - Black Cat
04-Apr Carrboro - Cat's Cradle
05-Apr Asheville - Grey Eagle
06-Apr Atlanta - Terminal West
07-Apr Nashville - Cannery Ballroom
09-Apr Austin - Stubbs
10-Apr Dallas - Trees
12-Apr Santa Fe - Meow Wolf
13-Apr Phoenix - Crescent Ballroom

MARK MALLMAN
+ 26 Bats!, Gabe Barnett
7th St Entry
Fri 03/22/2019 (8pm/$12)
first-avenue.com

We love local singer/songwriter Mark Mallman.

Mallman wrote a book called The Happiness Playlist (Think Piece Publishing) and he’ll be playing songs and promoting the book on Friday, March 22nd at the 7th Street Entry.

 

GHOST LIGHT
Turf Club
Fri 03/22/2019 (7:30pm/$15)
turfclub.net

The secrect’s out: Ghost Light, featuring guitarists/singers Tom Hamilton and Raina Mullen, pianist Holly Bowling, bassist Dan Africano, and drummer Scotty Zwang, will be stopping by the Turf Club in St Paul on Friday, March 22nd, in support of their debut album Best Kept Secrets.

Tour dates:

3/20 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
3/21 - Milwaukee, WI - Colectivo
3/22 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
3/23 - Chicago, IL - Chop Shop
3/25 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
3/27 - Frisco, CO - 10 Mile Music Hall
3/28 - Crested Butte, CO - Center for the Arts
3/29 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
3/30 - Denver, CO - Cervantes
4/2 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads
4/4 - Austin, TX - Antone’s
4/5 - Dallas, TX - Deep Ellum Art Company
4/6 - Houston, TX - Last Concert Café
4/9 - Fayetteville, AR - George’s Majestic Lounge
4/10 - St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House
4/11 - Columbus, OH - Woodlands Tavern
4/12 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
4/13 - Covington, KY - Madison Live
4/16 - Nashville, TN - Basement East
4/17 - Asheville, NC - Asheville Music Hall
4/18 - Charleston, SC - Pour House
4/20 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre
4/27 - New Orleans, LA - Republic NOLA
5/10 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl
5/24 - 5/26 - Chillicothe, IL - Summer Camp Music Festival
6/6 - 6/8 - Wellston, MI - Camp Greensky Music Festival
6/27 - 6/30 - Rothbury, MI - Electric Forest Festival
7/18 - 7/21 - North Plains, OR - Northwest String Summit
7/25 - 7/28 - Scranton, PA - Peach Music Festival

STEPHEN KELLOGG
+ Pete Muller
Turf Club
Sat 03/23/2019 (7pm/$20)
turfclub.net

Stephen Kellogg (formerly of Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, who we wrote about in 2011) will be doing a solo appearance at the Turf Club on Saturday, March 23. Kellogg’s new album Objects In The Mirror is out now via Kellogg Family Store.

Tour dates:

03/20 — Music Box Supper Club — Cleveland, OH
03/21 — The Ark — Ann Arbor, MI
03/22 — Lincoln Hall — Chicago, IL
03/23 — Turf Club — St. Paul, MN
03/25 — The Bartlett — Spokane, WA
03/26 — Triple Door — Seattle, WA
03/27 — Wonder Ballroom — Portland, OR
03/28 — Swedish American Hall — San Francisco, CA
03/29 — Bootleg Theater — Los Angeles, CA
04/06 — Bluebird Theater — Denver, CO
04/09 — Sons Of Hermann Hall — Dallas, TX
04/10 — 3TEN ACL Live — Austin, TX
04/12 — The Basement — Nashville, TN
04/13 — Red Clay Music Foundry — Atlanta, GA
04/14 — NPR Mountain Stage — Charleston, WV
04/16 — Radio Radio — Indianapolis, IN
04/17 — The Soundry — Baltimore, MD
04/18 — The Barns at Wolf Trap — Washington, DC
04/19 — The Sinclair — Boston, MA
04/20 — White Eagle Music Hall — Jersey City, NJ

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

Lords of Acid / Orgy / Genitorturers at Cabooze, Minneapolis (05 March 2019)

Lords of Acid at Cabooze Lords of Acid Setlist Sex Bomb Scrood Bi U Break Me Sex Cam Girl Out Comes the Evil (A Treatise on the Practical Methods Whereby One Can) Worship the Lords You Belong to Me Rough Sex/Take Control Rubber Doll Voodoo-U P*ssy My Demons Are Inside The Most Wonderful Girl Drink My Honey I Sit on Acid -- Encore -- Let's Get High The Crablouse Orgy Setlist Army to your Party Dissention G-Face Talk Sick Suckerface Suck It Stitches Blue Monday (New Order cover) Genitorturers Setlist Revolution Cum Junkie Razor Cuts Devil in a Bottle One Who Feeds Velvet Dreams House of Shame Lecher Bitch 120 Days Sin City Tour Dates 03/12/2019 The Gramercy Theatre New York, NY 03/13/2019 Brighton Music Hall Boston, MA 03/15/2019 Baltimore Soundstage Baltimore, MD 03/22/2019 Scout Bar Houston, TX 03/23/2019 Trees Dallas, TX 03/24/2019 Come And Take It Live Austin, TX 03/26/2019 Sunshine Theater Albuquerque, NM Read More Lords of Acid Belgian/American electronic band Lords of Acid (led by Praga Khan) will be headlining the Cabooze this Tuesday, March 5th. …

In some parts, the day before Lent can be known for its hedonistic debauchery, decadent excess, and merry-making celebrations – which made seeing The Lords of Acid on Fat Tuesday the absolute best and most appropriate place to be--

The influential Belgian electronic/industrial group was in town as part of the Pretty in Kink Tour, bringing with them a bevy of other acts and a very adult evening of raucous entertainment.

The four hour-plus evening started after a chilly wait outside for doors to open, with a short performance from Little Miss Nasty, a quartet of Los Angeles-based women that is part burlesque show / part high energy dance routine, moving to your favorite hard rock songs (Korn, Metallica, etc) as their soundtrack.

The group becomes a little more scantily clad as the performance goes on, and they returned for another and longer performance, later in the evening just before the headliner.

Industrial metal band Genitorturers proclaim themselves as the “world’s sexiest rock band” and after over thirty years of proving that point and putting on a forty-five minute set that had more theatrics than a full Alice Cooper show, they just may be right.

Gen has been their lead vocalist since their start in Orlando in the mid 80’s and the rest of the band (Eric Griffin- guitar; Ryan Seelbach- bass; Kriz D.K.- drums) play an industrial-tinged blend of punk inspired, rhythm-driven Sunset Strip rock and the band’s last full-length, 2009’s Blackheart Revolution was well represented, along with classic older cuts.

In the parts we can describe, Gen battled a large red devil-like figure on stilts, had sparks fly from her metal codpiece, flung lighted whips about the stage, and had a preacher-type character receive their comeuppance.

Missing for a few years from the scene, Los Angeles industrial nu-metal band Orgy has returned, with not even a cast boot (the result of a foot broken during a recent move) could stop singer Jay Gordon (along with Carlton Bost– guitar; Nic Speck– bass; Ilia Yordanov– rhythm guitar; Ryan Browne– drums) from re-acquainting the crowd to their music.

The band opened their forty-minute set with their newest single, last year’s ‘Army to Your Party’ (with more new music on the horizon) and during an extended ‘Dissention’, Gordon gave tribute to late Prodigy singer Keith Flint, but also reminded everyone in the audience that they were too valuable and loved, to want to even consider the same fate.

Gordon and co. ended strongly with their two biggest hits- their first single, ‘Stitches’ and 1998’s cover of New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ which took Gordon into the crowd, singing alongside the jumping fans that surrounded him.

Finally, it was time for the main event as Lords of Acid took to the stage for their headlining set beginning with a pair from 2000’s Farstucker, with the starting riffs of their opening ‘Sex Bomb’ literally dropping a bomb on things and overloading the power system to everything on stage, just two minutes in.

In less than a minute, all was re-set and the groundbreaking group, led by one of the godfathers of New Beat and modern techno, Praga Khan, resumed things with a bang. The band’s latest singer is fellow Belgian Marieke Bresseleers, whose range and classically-schooled vocals, as well as her magnetic stage presence, make for their best addition in years. Galen Waling– drums, DieTrich Thrall– bass, and Sin (Ministry, American Head Charge) Quirin- guitars fill out the musically impressive current lineup.

Their sound teeters between the classic early techno of the Belgian New Beat movement that they helped spearhead in the late ‘80s, and the more industrial rock that the band has leaned toward since the millennium, making for an interesting mix as also evidenced on their latest full-length, Pretty in Kink (Metropolis Records).

‘Break Me’ and ‘Sex Cam Girl’ were both from the new record, the latter especially taking advantage of Bresseleers’ multi-octave howl and Khan’s deft synth grooves. A two-fer from the classic 1991 album Lust - ‘Rough Sex/Take Control’ took things back to an underground Euro rave club feel and during ‘Rubber Doll’, the inflatables came out and were tossed about the crowd- blow up men, women, giant appendages, and even sheep.

‘P*ssy’ became even more of a song of female empowerment as Bresseleers invited all the women on stage to dance along, even someone very pregnant, who will have a memorable story to tell their future child. ‘Drink My Honey’ and the main set-ending ‘I Sit on Acid’ from 1991, are both lyrically very simple, but both feature the driving, dance-ready beat that defined a musical movement and a style that has influenced so many that have come after them.

The two-song encore started going back to 1991’s ‘Lust’ one last time for ‘Let’s Get High’ with Khan imploring everyone to dance carefree with its lyric “have some fun, this catastrophic, turn on the sweat machine” and Khan invited area guitarist John Marcus “Markiss” on stage, calling him “one of the best guitar players in the world” for 1994’s ‘The Crablouse’, the exclamation point to an evening that had to be fully seen and heard, to be truly believed.

Minneapolis may be on the other end of the Mississippi River from New Orleans and all of their famous Mardi Gras parties, but on this Fat Tuesday, there was no better place to celebrate, dance, and rock, than with musical legends Lords of Acid.

(click on any photo below to enlarge and see full image)

Little Miss Nasty

Lords of Acid Setlist

Little Miss Nasty

Genitorturers

Genitorturers

Genitorturers

Genitorturers

Genitorturers

Genitorturers

Genitorturers

Orgy

Orgy

Orgy

Lords of Acid

Lords of Acid

Lords of Acid

Lords of Acid

Lords of Acid

Lords of Acid at Cabooze, Minneapolis (05 March 2019)

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