W♥M

Minneapolis This Week (June 22, 2025)

What’s happening this week.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Sunflower Bean at 7th St Entry (17 Jun 2025) Read More Sunflower Bean In celebration of their debut album Human Ceremony (Fat Possum), Sunflower Bean (Jacob Faber, Julia Cumming, and Nick Kivlen) is currently on tour - headlining the 7th ..…

17 Jun 2025 Tuesday
Sunflower Bean
with GIFT
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Sunflower Bean (Julia Cumming, Nick Kivlen, and Olive Faber) is touring in support of their new album Mortal Primetime (Lucky Number).

Sunflower Bean at Fine Line (21 May 2022)

We saw Sunflower Bean April 2022 and wrote, “Let me tell you about Sunflower Bean’s first Minnesota show at Turf Club (14 Oct 2015). Seven years ago, the audience were simply blown away at Sunflower Bean’s sugar sweet shoegazing songs. We witness so many fans coming up to the band and buying their album and telling them how great they were. Some of those fans were at the Fine Line show. It seems like perhaps the band has grown, their upcoming album Headful of Sugar is leaning towards indie rock. Singer and bassist Julia Cumming seems more outgoing and confident on stage. To be fair, we said the same thing when we saw them in April 2016: “Now seasoned with a year of touring. And it shows. The trio (Jacob Faber, Julia Cumming, and Nick Kivlen) seemed completely at eased on stage, with Cumming looking and sounding more confident than their previous appearance. Even their music is a lot more upbeat (and possibly even aggressive), playing almost everything on their debut album... and especially when they announced they were playing some new (unrecorded) songs.” ”

GIFT to open.

Tour Dates:

6/04 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar #

6/05 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah #

6/06 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room #

6/07 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel #

6/9 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios #

6/10 - Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s #

6/12 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court

6/13 - Fort Collins, CO @ The Coast #

6/14 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive

6/17 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry #

6/19 - Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village #

6/20 - Detroit, MI @ Third Man Records

6/21 - Toronto, ON @ The Garrison

# with Gift

The Family Crest at Turf Club (Jun 18, 2025) Read More The Family Crest However, not all is lost, San Francisco's The Family Crest will be in town at the 7th Street Entry on July 6th in support of their album Beneath the Brine (Tender Loving Empire). …

Jun 18, 2025 Wednesday
The Family Crest
with Babes in Canyon
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

The Family Crest returns to the Twin Cities, playing the Turf Club, in St Paul, on June 18, 2025.

Babes in Canyon to open.

Tour Dates:

6/11Washington, DC • DC9**

6/12 Philadelphia, PA • Nikki Lopez**

6/13 New York, NY • Mercury Lounge **

6/16 Cleveland, OH • Beachland Tavern **

6/18 St. Paul, MN • Turf Club**

6/20Milwaukee, WI • Falcon Bowl**

6/24 Chicago, IL • Schubas Tavern **

6/26 Denver, CO • Globe Hall **

6/28 Gallup, NM • Levitt Amp Series

6/29 Gallup, NM • Coming Soon

7/8 Seattle, WA • Tractor Tavern **

7/9 Portland, OR • Mississippi Studios **

7/11 San Francisco, CA • Great American Music Hall **

** with special guests BABES IN CANYON

Betty Who at Varsity Theater (19 Jun 2025) Read More Betty Who Just in time for Valentine, Betty Who's single "Heartbreak Dream" is coming out February 18th. Who cited Katy Perry and Robyn as massive influences on her music ....

19 Jun 2025 Thursday
Betty Who
at Varsity Theater
livenation.com

Trailblazing singer-songwriter and actress Betty Who is about to embark on her ‘Out Of The Darkness’ summer headline tour.

Who, talking to Variety, said, “I’m beyond excited to announce my 'Out of the Darkness' headline tour—and honestly, it feels SO good to be back on the road. This tour is all about unapologetic joy, real connections, and celebrating the highs after the lows. I’ve been working on new music and can’t wait to bring these new songs, alongside the go-to favorites, to life with you all.”

Betty Who at First Avenue (22 Mar 2023)

We’ve seen Who before in Mar 2023 and can tell you that her show is very entertaining: “As for pop star Betty Who… her set was really fun and colorful: Who in a red suit, with a dancer in yellow and a dancer in blue. These types of dance shows are really fun visually. Each song had well-choreographed dance routines, and every had smiles across their face… they were just having a good time. In the middle of the set, Who did an acoustic set with “Grown Ups Grow Apart” and “Wanna Be”, giving the two dancers a much-need break.”

Tour Dates:

6/13 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre

6/14 - Columbus, OH - All Out Pride Festival

6/16 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall

6/17 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater

6/19 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater

6/20 - Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Summerfest

6/21 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi Annex

6/23 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall

6/24 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues

6/25 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre

6/27 - Augusta, GA - Augusta Pride Festival

6/29 - Austin, TX - Mohawk

7/1 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom

7/2 - San Diego, CA - Music Box

Dean Wareham at Turf Club (June 19, 2025) Read More Dean Wareham Having been following Dean Wareham's whereabouts for a while, the reunion last year wasn't at all a surprise to me. After all, we've seen hints of it when Sean Eden joined a Dean & Britta ...

June 19, 2025 Thursday
Dean Wareham
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Dean Wareham, the guy who is responsible for Luna, Galaxie 500, and Dean & Britta, has released a new solo album That’s The Price Of Loving Me (Carpark). The LP reunites Wareham with Kramer (Galaxie 500, Will Oldham, Low) as producer, marking their first collaboration in 34 years.

There’ll be a tour to support the new album, and it will stop by the Turf Club, in St Paul, on June 19, 2025.

Dean and Britta at First Ave (05 July 2013)

We are longtime fans and have seen Wareham in his various bands, like Luna in Nov 2017 and Dean & Britta in July 2013: “As for Dean & Britta, they were both in Luna, but for this tour, they are playing pre-Luna Dean Wareham's band Galaxie 500. With three albums (spanning between 1998-1990) to draw from, Dean & Britta had a lot of material to work with, including "Temperature's Rising", "When Will You Come Home", "Don't Let Our Youth Go to Waste", "Fourth of July" (how fitting!), "Tugboat" and the encore "Ceremony". While the majority of their songs were sung by Wareham, there is one exception: Britta took over "Listen, The Snow Is Falling", which, apparently was originally written by Yoko Ono.”

Tour Dates:

June 10 – World Cafe -- Philadelphia, PA

June 11 – Songbyrd -- Washington, DC

June 12 – Andy Warhol Museum -- Pittsburgh, PA

June 14 – Beachland Ballroom -- Cleveland, OH

June 15 – The Magic Bag -- Ferndale, MI

June 16 – Lincoln Hall -- Chicago, IL

June 18 – High Noon Saloon -- Madison, WI

June 19 – Turf Club -- St. Paul, MN

Lew Apollo at Midway Saloon (June 19, 2025) Read More Los Lonely Boys Los Lonely Boys will be touring with Los Lobos until August 10th, but it's a really good lineup, especially because the two band have a similar Latin-Rock-Soul sound to them ...

June 19, 2025 Thursday
Lew Apollo
at Midway Saloon
first-avenue.com

Yesterday, Friday the 13th, Minnesota-born, Austin-based Lew Apollo released a new single, “Diamonds and Gold”. Apollo will will be headlining the Midway Saloon on June 19, 2025, in support of his forthcoming album Fool’s Gold (available August 8). You can also catch him with Los Lonely Boys on some select dates.

Opening for Lew Apollo at the Midway Saloon will be Dylan Wylde, and J-Mo On The Beat and The J-Lighters. 21+ only.

Tour Dates:

June 18 - Duluth, MN @ Duluth Cider

June 19 - Saint Paul, MN @ The Midway Saloon

June 20 - Bayfield, WI @ Big Top Chautauqua

June 21 - Chicago @ ReBuilding Exchange

June 22 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Performance Pavilion Sweetwater

une 23 - Nashville @ Eastside Bowl

July 6 - Corpus Christi, TX @ Corpus Christi

August 2 - Midland, TX @ The Tailgate

August 7 - Austin, TX @ Antone's

August 16 - Galveston, TX @ Hotel Lucine

Lowertown Sounds at Mears Park (Jun 19, 2025) Read More The New Standards Local legends jazz trio The New Standards (Chan Poling, John Munson, and Steve Roehm) will be closing out the year at a residency at the Dakota Jazz Club this December 29th to December 30th. …

Jun 19, 2025 Thursday
The New Standards
with Tina Schlieske
at Mears Park
lowertownsounds.com

Lowertown Sounds at Mears Park, continues on Thursday, June 19, with The New Standards (billed with "and Friends").

Tina Schlieske (of Tina and the B-Sides) to open.

Lowertown Sounds 2025 Schedule:

06/12 Flamin' Oh's
with Faith Boblett and Lonesome Dan Kase

06/19 The New Standards & Friends
with Tina Schlieske

06/26 Dr Mambo's Combo
with Purple Funk Metropolis

07/10 Dan Rodriguez
with Becky Kapell

07/17 Annie and the Bang Bang
with Maria and the Coins

07/24 Turn Turn Turn
with Molly Brandt

07/31 Salsa Del Soul
with Alma Andina

08/07 Kiss the Tiger
with Keep for Cheap

08/14 Yam Haus
with Thirsty River and Haley E Rydell

Twin Cities Jazz (June 19-22, 2025) Read More Twin Cities Jazz Fest Venerable voodoo jazz master Dr. John and the Nite Trippers brought the spirit of New Orleans up to St. Paul, as the premier performer at this year’s Twin Cities Jazz Festival …

Jun 19, 2025 Thursday
Jun 20, 2025 Friday
Jun 21, 2025 Saturday
Jun 22, 2025 Sunday
Twin Cities Jazz Festival
at various
twincitiesjazzfestival.com

Officially June 20-21st, but with unofficial events on the 19th and 22nd, the Twin Cities Jazz Fest is another annual event. This takes place at multiple locations including Mears Park, Berlin, Crooners Supper Club and others. Note that some events in the Thursday and Sunday may have cover charges.

Schedule:

Thursday - June 19
Pre-Twin Cities Jazz Festival

• Nyttu Chongo & Calvin Caron/Patrick Adkins at Berlin
• Jon Weber at Crooners Supper Club
• Tina Schlieske at Lowertown Sounds
• The New Standards and Friends at in Fingal’s Cave (Lowertown)
• Peter Kogan Jazz Presents at MetroNOME Brewery
• Summer Nights in Rice at MetroNOME Brewery
• Pete Whitman and Mississippi at MetroNOME Brewery
• Jazz Unplugged - A Twin Cities Jazz Festival Pre-event at Urban Growler Brewing Company

Friday - June 20
Jazz88 Main Stage (Mears Park)

• Adi Yeshaya Jazz Orchestra, feat Jennifer Grimm
• Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans
• Emmet Cohen Trio with special guests The Four Freshmen

Jazz on 5th Street (Mears Park)

• Selby Avenue Brass Band with Thomasina Petrus
• Las Guaracheras

Other Venues

• Charlie Bruber & Jack Barrett at Berlin
• Dorothy Doring & Jon Weber at Big River Pizza
• Nicholas David at Big River Pizza
• Debbie Briggs Vintage Jazz at Big River Pizza
• Teri Roiger Celebrates the Music of Abbey Lincoln at Crooners Supper Club
• Jon Weber and Colleen Raye (Maggie's Piano Lounge) at Crooners Supper Club
• The Art of Jazz Exhibit at Dow Art Gallery
• Jon Weber at Episcopal Homes
• Niny Salem at Episcopal Homes
• Global Jazz Collegium at Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant
• The Other Ol' Blue Eyes at Gambit Brewing Co.
• Maryann and the Money Makers at Mall of America
• MetroNOME Big Band at MetroNOME Brewery
• Doreen Ketchens Master Class at MetroNOME Brewery
• Dakota Combo at MetroNOME Brewery
• South High School at MetroNOME Brewery
• Hannah Harder Sextet at MetroNOME Brewery
• Atlantis Quartet at MetroNOME Brewery
• Jazz Festival Jam Session hosted by Graydon Peterson Trio at Pimento Jamaican Kitchen
• Erin Livingston at Saint Paul Hotel Lobby Bar
• Jenny Klukken Quartet at Twin Cities PBS Stage
• Travis Anderson Trio at Twin Cities PBS Stage
• Abinnet Berhanu’s Ahndenet (Unity)
• CoMUSICation at Saint City
• Experience Jazz at Saint City
• Walker West Youth Jazz Ensembles at Saint City
• Kamoinge Strings of Walker West Music Academy at Saint City
• The Black Note at Saint City
• Hip Hop History & The Arts Youth Showcase at Saint City
• Katia Cardenas at Walker West
• Robert Lehmann & Toby Ramaswamy at Walker West
• Trench Size Trio at White Squirrel Bar
• Room3 at Zamboni’s

Saturday - June 21
Jazz88 Main Stage (Mears Park)

• Catherine Russell
• L.A. Buckner & Big Homie
• Patty Peterson presents Jazz Women All Star
• Society Of Chemists
• Walker West & MacPhail Student Musicians

Jazz on 5th Street Stage

• The Avant Garde
• Drums of Navarone
• Swinging Motown

Other Venues

• Abinnet Berhanu at Berlin
• Lasse Corson at Berlin
• Ryan Freitas at Berlin
• DJ set by D Untethered at Berlin
• Jon Weber and Connie Evingson at Big River Pizza
• Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo at Big River Pizza
• Brilliant Colors Trio at Big River Pizza
• an experiment part II with Leslie Parker & Collaborators at The Cedar Cultural Center
• Explosion Big Band! at Crooners Supper Club
• Tom Hunter at Crooners Supper Club
• Daphna Levy with Adi Yeshaya at Crooners Supper Club
• Joe Pulice Salutes Buddy Rich at Crooners Supper Club
• The Art of Jazz Exhibit at Dow Art Gallery
• Jon Weber at Episcopal Homes
• Maud Hixson w/ Rick Carlson at Episcopal Homes
• Andrew Schwandt Trio at Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant
• Siama's Musical Instrument Petting Zoo at Family Zone
• ArtStart- art activity and stilters at Family Zone
• The Saint Peter Street Stompers at Gambit Brewing Co.
• Lee Engele & Reynold Philipsek with special guest Gary Schulte at Heimie’s Haberdashery
• The Gentlebrass at MetroNOME Brewery
• Minneapolis College at MetroNOME Brewery
• Catherine Russell Master Class at MetroNOME Brewery
• Hanson Hirsch Clowser at MetroNOME Brewery
• Abebi Stafford Trio at MetroNOME Brewery
• Cody Steinmann Trio w/ Solomon Parham at MetroNOME Brewery
• Larry McDonough Quartet - Round Midnight - The Music of Dexter Gordon at MetroNOME Brewery
• Joel Shapira Quartet at MetroNOME Brewery
• Jazz Festival Jam Session hosted by the Graydon Peterson Trio at Pimento Jamaican Kitchen
• Quarteto Carioca at River Stage
• Swing Dance Lesson by Uptown Swing at River Stage
• Naomi and her Handsome Devils at River Stage
• Victoria Temiz with James Allen at Saint Paul Farmers’ Market
• Erin Livingston at Saint Paul Hotel Lobby Bar
• Dave Graf and Bone Chance at Twin Cities PBS Stage
• Steven Hobert n Sirclesound at Twin Cities PBS Stage
• Brian Grivna Quartet at Twin Cities PBS Stage
• Lila Ammons Jazz Group at Twin Cities PBS Stage
• Steve Kenny Quintet at Twin Cities PBS Stage
• Dream Loading (Franklin Middle School) at Walker West Music
• Minneapolis College Jazz Ensemble at Walker West Music
• MN Hard Bop Collective Sit-in Series at Walker West Music
• Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands at Walker West Music
• Roof Access at Walker West Music
• Walker West Jazzwomen Collective at Walker West
• Sarah Navratil Quartet at Zamboni’s

Sunday - June 22
Cedar Cultural Center

• an experiment pt. II with Leslie Parker & Collaborators

Crooners Supper Club

• Peel Me a Grape – Songs by Dave Frishberg with Connie Evingson & Jon Weber

World Refugee Day at Pilllar Forum Cafe (Jun 20, 2025) Read More The Taxpayers Genre-bending punk band The Taxpayers recently released their new single, “At War With The Dogcatchers.” Check out the cartoon-ish video now. …

Jun 20, 2025 Friday
World Refugee Day
feat. Ywa Hay Moo, The Taxpayers, Reback Moo, Eh Ler Tha & Eh Wah & Family, and Ti Ter Haw Min
at Pilllar Forum Cafe
pilllar.com

This special World Refugee Day concert is to benefit Karen Organization of Minnesota, an organization to help settle folks from Burma, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and more.

Bands on the bill are from around the world, including Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan, etc.

Lineup:

Ywa Hay Moo

The Taxpayers

Reback Moo

Eh Ler Tha & Eh Wah & Family

Ti Ter Haw Min

Sentir Venezolano

Red Thread

Taxpayers at Underground (Mar 27, 2025)

We saw The Taxpayers earlier this year in March 2025 and said, “Finally, Portland’s The Taxpayers closed out the show. Originally when the band formed in 2007, they were a standard rock trio (guitar/bass/drum), but as they evolved, they started adding accordion, horns, piano, harmonica, and a variety of other instruments. Currently, the band is led by Rob on guitars and vocals, two horns, Noah on percussion, Nasrene on bass, and occasional pianist. After a long hiatus, the band is back and they were really excited to play songs from their latest Circle Breaker, which just came out on Ernest Jenning Record Co. Songs were mostly from Circle Breaker, including their single "At War with the Dogcatchers" as the fourth song played on their set.”

Artemas at First Avenue (20 Jun 2025)

20 Jun 2025 Friday
Artemas
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

BRIT Award-nominated UK-based singer/songwriter/producer and alt-grunge artist Artemas is touring America. The tour will stop by First Avenue, in Minneapolis, on June 20th, 2025.

Artemas’s RIAA-platinum certified breakout single, “i like the way you kiss me” have been streamed over 1.7B times, landing at #1 on the Billboard Global 200. His new single “i guess u never really cared about me” is out now.

Tour Dates:

5/24 – BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend – Liverpool, UK

6/7 – Governors Ball – Queens, NY, USA

6/9 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA, USA

6/10 – Roxian Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA, USA

6/12 – The Bluestone – Columbus, OH, USA

6/14 – Bogart's – Cincinnati, OH, USA

6/17 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO, USA

6/18 – The Truman – Kansas City, MO, USA

6/20 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN, USA

7/31 – 8/3 – Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL, USA

Jack’s Mannequin at Palace Theatre (21 Jun 2025) Read More Jack's Mannequin Jack's Mannequin is making a stop at First Avenue on Sunday, January 24th for their 10 year anniversary of Everything in Transit. This band started as a side project for Andrew McMahon .... Andrew McMahon Rising from the ashes of previous bands, Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin, singer-songwriter Andrew McMahon has blazed a successful trail all over again, this time under his own name. ...

21 Jun 2025 Saturday
Jack’s Mannequin
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

Jack’s Mannequin, the acclaimed alternative pop rock group, led by veteran indie-pop singer-songwriter-pianist Andrew McMahon is back to celebrate a 20th Anniversary tour. The tour will stop by the Palace Theatre, in St Paul, on June 21, 2025.

Andrew McMahon at First Avenue (26 October 2015)

We saw Andrew McMahon in October 2015 and said, “The amount of talent Andrew McMahon has is unreal. He was the singer of Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin, and most recently, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. Each one of those bands is amazing but Something Corporate is, by far, my favorite group of his. I went into the show thinking I could sneak out early after a couple of songs. I mean, I love Andrew McMahon but his new music really doesn't do it for me. Then the set started and I caught myself singing along by the second song. This was weird, I really hadn't paid much attention to his new stuff other than the single on the radio. How did I know this song?!”

NOTE: There is a strict 4 ticket limit. Any attempt to exceed the ticket limit of 4 per customer or household, or to game the system in any way, will result in cancellation of orders without notice. Tickets are non-transferable.

$1 per ticket goes towards The Dear Jack Foundation, which provides impactful programming that directly benefits adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer in order to improve their quality of life and create positive health outcomes from treatment to survivorship for patients and their families. For more info, please visit dearjackfoundation.org

Tour Dates:

June 13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE

June 15 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival ^

June 16 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

June 17 – Kansas City, MO @ The Truman

June 20 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed

June 21 – St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre

July 23 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

September 8 – Osaka, Japan @ Umeda Club Quattro

September 9 – Tokyo, Japan @ Shibuya Club Quattro

October 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern

October 18 – Las Vegas, NV @ When We Were Young ^

October 31 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live

November 1 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues

November 2 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern

November 5 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA! Live

November 7 – Toronto, ON @ HISTORY

November 8 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre

November 11 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore

November 18 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre

November 19 – Seattle, WA @ Venue TBD

November 21 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

November 22 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

November 23 – Del Mar, CA @ The Sound

^ indicates festival date

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

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Dead Larry at Turf Club, St Paul (June 12, 2025)

Dead Larry at Turf Club (June 12, 2025) Sam Licari and The Sweet Tease Setlist I'm a Tree Keep the Pace Worry Changin' Lanes Let Me Do Me Sweet Love Ready for Love Lost Island Society Setlist Summer 1312 Villain Anxiety Get Lost FINE La Vida Loca Schedule Turf Club, St Paul Lost Island Society - 8:00PM Sam Licari and The Sweet Tease - 8:45PM Socktopus - 9:30PM Dead Larry - 10:30PM Read More Socktopus Something for the Weekend: Art-A-Whirl NEMAA (Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association)’s Art-A-Whirl is celebrating their 30th Anniversary with a bang Vintage and makers market Speed Riders (outdoors) Mary Jam (outdoors) Socktopus .…

On a very rainy night that postponed or canceled a lot of outdoor music events, I retreated to Turf Club to see a group of local bands, with the news that headliner Dead Larry was turning 21 as a band.

Lost Island Society opened things for the evening. A ska-influenced rock band, this was a quintet comprised of guitar/vocals, bass, sax, trombone and drums. As expected with the ska tag, this was high energy stuff. That trombone was on display for the intro of the third number, Anxiety. There’s something about ska that just engenders a fun vibe, and the band leaned into that. The drummer as back up vocal was a nice change of pace, and both of the brass instrument players got their chance to sing as well. The band circled back to play Villian, as the lead singer noted, “I f’d up!”. That song included great trombone and saxophone solos and the joy on the faces of the band spoke a lot to the energy and excitement of Lost Island Society. A very tight 30 minute set ending with a cover of La Vida Loca was a perfect appetizer to the bands in front of them.

Up next was Sam Licari and the Sweet Tease. A quartet comprised of vocals/guitar, vocals/keyboards, bass and drums, this was a fun blend of rock, blues, reggae, and funk. A little bit of soul sound on the second number, Keep the Pace, was pretty excellent and lee Licari have great range on the vocals. There was a definite upbeat feel to their songs, and there’s a lot to be said for that. Licari has a Greg Norton look going on, with the well-manicured mustache. Our keyboard player suddenly had a saxophone solo and it was then I realized it was the same player from Lost Island Society (the change of primary instrument threw me off). Let Me Be Me was about not letting others tell you what to be, which seems to be a pretty important message these days. A very reggae song, Let Me Be, followed and was excellent for the form. Licari threw down a great harmonica solo, leaning into that blues feel, and showing off some range for the band’s sound.

Next it was Socktopus. Dual rapper vocalists, guitar/vocals, bass/vocals and drums hit hard. All in track suits, it was quite the look. There’s a lot of reasons you could be down on white rappers, but Socktopus was so infectiously fun, you couldn’t help but enjoy what they were doing. As the two rappers knelt for various instrumental solos, they were very willing to shine the spotlight on various band members. This was a silly amount of fun, with the band recognizing that as they asked, “are you ready to get greasy tonight?”. A funkier number allowed the band to play to their strengths, as the lyrics did the classic east side, west side thing. It was fun to have the guitarist singing a chorus and then have the rappers take over on the verses. After a deadpanned, “let’s dance like it’s the 90’s”, Socktopus brought it home with a slightly more serious but still fun rap finale.

Last up was headliner Dead Larry. They came out loud, with keyboard and guitar work taking place of vocals on the first song. A little bit of 80’s synth heavy solo carried a “ooh, aah” set of vocals. The quartet (keys/vocals, bass/vocals, guitar and drums) leaned into an extremely loud and rhythmic song that sounded nearly Eastern European at first. With the lead singer in a loud suit coat, it was hard to know whether to take them seriously, versus tongue in cheek satire. Either way, the music underneath was well played, which allowed them some leeway on other fronts. As they progressed, Dead Larry showed off some excellent musical layering, as keyboards blended with guitars. Here’s a band that was having fun and not worrying too much about how they came off, which I appreciated a lot. Another fun part of Dead Larry was that both the keyboardist and bassist took lead on vocals. For different songs or even within a number. This provided a nice change in sound throughout the set. They seemed to be choosing songs by feel (no set list was obvious), and maybe a bit on audience reaction. As they headed into the latter part of their set, the crowd was very into the vibe, and it felt very much like the birthday party it was. As we prepared to head back into the rain, there was a lot of love back at the merch tables, with the different bands and fans interacting. That really summed up the evening of simply enjoying the music on this very wet St. Paul night.

Lost Island Society Lost Island Society

Lost Island Society

Lost Island Society

Sam Licari and The Sweet Tease

Sam Licari and The Sweet Tease Sam Licari and The Sweet Tease

Sam Licari and The Sweet Tease

Socktopus

Socktopus

Socktopus

Socktopus

Dead Larry

Dead Larry Dead Larry

Dead Larry at Turf Club (June 12, 2025)

thaddeus ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! June 21-26, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO)

Read More Modest Mouse Seattle's The Head and the Heart just stopped by First Avenue, in Minneapolis, as part of their national tour in support of Let's Be Still. The album was released last week, October 15th ...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Congrats to the recent Tony Award winners--

We always keep an eye on them especially, the musical winners as they may take the production on the road, meaning it would likely play in KC.

This year’s Best Musical winner was “Almost Happy Ending” (about two robots in future Seoul, that find friendship and potential love, of all things).

Best Play was given to the dramatic “Purpose” about a prominent political Black family, and which already had won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama to Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. He’s also written the book for the upcoming “Prince- Purple Rain” musical, which world-premieres in Minneapolis this fall, so that’s all a very good sign for that production.

On the concert front, fall announcements continue (it looks busy through October, as usual) and Live Nation continues their $30 sale, but as their current bookings are limited in KC, it’s primarily for Starlight shows.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week of June 21st-June 26th.

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)

SATURDAY JUNE 21

SUNDAY JUNE 22

George Thorogood and the Destroyers, June 22, Uptown, $54-$197

Since 1976, George Thorogood & The Destroyers have sold over 15 million albums, built a catalogue of numerous hits, and played more than 8,000 live shows (and yet, he still “drinks alone”).

Thorogood and his longtime band which includes Jeff Simon (drums, percussion), Bill Blough (bass guitar), Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone) should be playing hits like “Get A Haircut”, “I Drink Alone”, “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”, “Move It On Over”, “Who Do You Love” and the anthem “Bad To The Bone” – it’s the baddest show on earth!

MONDAY JUNE 23

Tripping Daisy, June 23, Warehouse on Broadway, $36.15-$42.15

The 90s Dallas psych-grunge band led by Tim DeLaughter (who’d go on to form The Polyphonic Spree) best known for alt-rock hit “I Got a Girl,” broke up in 1999 but have occasionally played reunion shows in Texas in recent years. Now, the band is back together and Tripping Daisy will head out on their first North American tour in 26 years. (I think we saw them at The Bottleneck in the ‘90s...maybe).

The tour will be a 30th anniversary celebration of their 1995 album I Am an Elastic Firecracker (the record containing “I Got A Girl”) and they’ll be playing it in its entirety alongside “timeless favorites from every album.”

TUESDAY JUNE 24

Modest Mouse, June 24, Grinders KC,$59.65-$245.36

Back on the road and back at the venue we saw them at in 2022! The tour follows last April’s expanded re-release of their early 2000s alt-rock gem Good News for People Who Love Bad News. Formed in 1993 in Issaquah, WA, and now based in Portland, Isaac Brock and Modest Mouse have long been a staple of the Pacific NW indie scene.

Their sound ranges from post-punk–influenced tracks inspired by Pixies to the psych-pop stylings of bands like Flaming Lips (both who have been recent tour mates). The band reached mainstream success in 2004 with the hit single “Float On,” they even now have their own themed cruise happening next year!)

Bear Hands w/OK Cowgirl, June 24, recordBar, $41.70

Bear Hands are back out on the 18-date second leg of their ‘The Key to What’ tour., performing songs from their latest album alongside fan favorites from their nineteen-year catalog, including top 20 alternative hits “Giants” and “Back Seat Driver.”

Bear Hands is Dylan Rau (vocals and guitar), Val Loper (bass), and TJ Orscher (drums). Formed in 2006 in Brooklyn, New York, the band gained early attention with their 2010 single “What a Drag,” which led to their signing with Cantora Records. They released their debut album Burning Bush Supper Club, that same year, followed by the critically acclaimed Distraction. Two additional albums followed – 2016’s You’ll Pay For This and 2019’s Fake Tunes.

Arrive early for Brooklyn-based indie rockers OK Cowgirl supporting the release of the deluxe edition of their debut album, Couldn’t Save Us From My Gut, out now via Easy Does It Records. The expanded release includes six bonus tracks, four unreleased demos and two alternate versions.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 25

THURSDAY JUNE 26

Weird Al Yankovic w Puddles Pity Party, June 26, Starlight, sold out

The parody king returns! Weird Al brings his legendary full-production multimedia comedy rock show back to the concert stage with the BIGGER & WEIRDER 2025 Tour, playing his iconic hits as well as some never-performed-live-before fan favorites. Al’s long-time band is joined by four additional players to create a super-sized concert experience.

“Weird Al” Yankovic is the biggest-selling comedy recording artist in history. A 5-time Grammy Award winner, he is best known for his parodies of the biggest musical artists over the last four decades. His many hits include “Amish Paradise,” “Eat It,” “Like a Surgeon,” “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Word Crimes,” and the platinum-selling “White & Nerdy.” His last album Mandatory Fun is the only comedy album in history to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and in 2022, Yankovic produced and co-wrote the Emmy-winning biopic WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story, starring Daniel Radcliffe.

Country Stampede (Day One) Luke Bryan, June 26-28 Azura Amph, $99-$219

Under new and bigger-thinking management (“Kustom Entertainment”), a highly anticipated A-List lineup for the 2025 Country Stampede Festival makes this year’s installment perhaps the most exciting one to date. We ‘ve covered it the last few years and caught Jon Pardi bringing down the house last year.

The three-day fest kicks off on Thursday with Luke Bryan, Ashley McBryde, Drew Baldridge & the winner of their Battle of the Bands contest. In addition to these main stage performances, the festival will showcase local and regional talent on the Platinum Club Stage throughout the weekend, ensuring a diverse and dynamic entertainment experience for attendees.

The fest launched five regional Battle of the Bands competitions with qualifiers in Wichita, KS, Springfield, MO, Omaha, NE, and Columbia, MO, with each market producing a winner to advance to the finals in KC and the overall winner gaining the opportunity to perform in front of thousands at the festival.                

Greensky Bluegrass, June 26, Uptown, (rescheduled from March), $38-$82

The bluegrass jam band had to shift their schedule back in March (“postponed due to unforeseen circumstances”), but are returning on this make-up date, with all previous tickets being honored. The Kalamazoo MI band’s last studio album was 2022’s Stress Dreams.

The band has evolved over the years, growing from 3 to 5 members, adding electric effects, and touring with a full light show. GSBG describes their sound as "their own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a string band with the rule-breaking spirit of rock & roll."

   National Touring act coming to Kansas City, Lawrence, KS, Topeka, KS, or vicinity?  Let us know so we can spotlight the appearance-email [email protected]

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

Jax: July 11 to July 13, 2025

Read more Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Rock Orchestra at Florida Theatre (July 11, 2025) Read More Fleetwood Mac Also, the funniest thing is that witch Misty Day is a massive Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac fan, because, according to Day, Stevie Nicks is a White Witch. So whenever ....

July 11, 2025 Friday
Jacksonville Rock Orchestra
Landslide: The Music of Fleetwood Mac
at Florida Theatre
floridatheatre.com

This upcoming Landslide: The Music of Fleetwood Mac, will be celebrating Fleetwood Mac, courtesy of a 27-piece symphony orchestra called Jacksonville Rock Orchestra.

The show is part of Jacksonville Rock Orchestra Summer Concert Series, which previously held The Music of Led Zeppelin on June 4. The upcoming Faithfully: The Music of Journey will take place on August 8th, 2025.

The Jacksonville Rock Orchestra will group together orchestra with traditional bass, drums, guitar, keyboards and vocals, known for interpreting Classic Rock music in symphonic arrangements.

Expect to hear Fleetwood Mac’s classics like “Go Your Own Way,” “Rhiannon,” and “Dreams”… but unlike anything you’ve ever heard.

The series is sponsored by Community First Credit Union.

SOS - Direct From Sweden at Moran Theatre (July 12, 2025) Read More ABBA I will confess to liking, no, loving ABBA. As you may have suspected, I actually love eurodisco and especially Swedish music. When I saw that Mamma Mia! The Movie opened earlier this year …

July 12, 2025 Saturday
SOS - Direct From Sweden
The Music of ABBA
at Moran Theatre
morantheatre.com

ABBA fans, SOS - Direct from Sweden is bringing their ABBA tribute show to the Moran Theatre, in Jacksonville, on July 12, 2025.

The band promises that their show is “the closest ABBA experience you’ll ever going to get with some of the most experienced and talented musicians and singers from Sweden.”

Mamma Mia! at The Music Hall (Mar 5, 2024)

We saw the Mamma Mia musical in Mar 2024 and said, “ABBA has enjoyed a renewed popularity in the last couple years, improbably releasing new album, “Voyage” at the end of 2021, followed by a still running and very popular London performance with virtual performers, so it makes sense that MAMMA MIA! has returned as well, now in its 25th year. So join in on the fun – “See that girl and watch that scene” as you awaken your own inner dancing queen.”

Tour dates:

June 28, 2025 Weill For The Performing Arts, Sheboygan, WI

July 3, 2025 Great Canadian Casino, Vancouver, B.C

July 5, 2025 at Casino Rama Casino Rama, Rama, ON

July 12, 2025 Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, Jacksonville, FL

July 19, 2025 Prairie Knights Casino, Fort Yates, ND

July 23, 2025 Tupelo Music Hall, Derry, NH

July 24, 2025 Tupelo Music Hall, Derry, NH

July 25, 2025 Barnstable County Fair, East Falmouth, MA

August 7, 2025 Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ

August 8, 2025 Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ

August 9, 2025 Pala Casino, Pala, CA

August 14, 2025 Sandy Amphitheater, Sandy, UT

August 15, 2025 Sandy Amphitheater, Sandy, UT

August 16, 2025 Angels of The Winds, Arlington, WA

September 13, 2025 Vara Konserthus, Vara

September 14, 2025 Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, Cerritos, CA

October 3, 2025 Frauenthal Center, Muskegon, MI

October 4, 2025 Honeywell Center, Wabash, IN

October 9, 2025 Lima Civic Center, Lima, OH

October 10, 2025 Lafayette Theatre, Lafayette, IN

October 11, 2025 The Paramount Theatre, Anderson, IN

November 27, 2025 Östraboteatern, Uddevalla

November 29, 2025 Hebeteatern, Trollhättan

November 30, 2025 Flygeln, Norrköping, SWE

December 3, 2025 Idun, Umeå, SWE

December 4, 2025 Kulturenshus, Luleå, SWE

December 5, 2025 Tonhallen, Sundsvall, SWE

December 6, 2025 Konserthus, Gävle, SWE

December 7, 2025 Nya Cirkus, Stockholm, SWE

December 10, 2025 Hjalmarbergman, Örebro, SWE

December 11, 2025 Crusellhallen, Linköping, SWE

December 12, 2025 Kalmarsalen, Kalmar, SWE

December 13, 2025 Konserthus, Växjö, SWE

December 14, 2025 Konserthus, Jönköping, SWE

December 17, 2025 Gummifabriken, Värnamo, SWE

December 18, 2025 Kulturhus, Skövde, SWE

December 19, 2025 Konserthus, Göteborg, SWE

December 20, 2025 Sundstaaulan, Karlstad, SWE

December 21, 2025 Konserthus, Västerås, SWE

Yonder Mountain String Band + Railroad Earth + Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country at the Amp (July 13, 2025) Read More Yonder Mountain String Band Yonder Mountain String Band, after re-releasing their Elevation album for their 20th Anniversary, the award­-winning Colorado bluegrass band, went out on tour. The ... Railroad Earth Stillwater, New Jersey’s “newgrass” Americana band Railroad Earth headlined First Avenue’s mainroom last week, March 23rd. Nashville’s Billy Strings (aka William Apostol) opened ... Daniel Donato Acclaimed singer / songwriter / guitar virtuoso Daniel Donato is touring in support of his upcoming sophomore album Reflector, out November 10th via Retrace Music. ....

July 13, 2025 Sunday
Yonder Mountain String Band +
Railroad Earth +
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
at the Amp
theamp.com

It’s an all-star Bluegrass co-headlining tour of Yonder Mountain String Band, Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country and Railroad Earth… stopping by the Amp, in St Augustine, on July 13, 2025.

Railroad Earth at First Avenue (March 23, 2017)

We saw Railroad Earth in and said, “Bluegrass, or rather “newgrass”, band Railroad Earth took the stage right on time. The reason for the tight schedule was that they were playing a double set. Typically, when bands play double sets, they don’t have an opening band. As for newgrass, although their music is classified as bluegrass, the group often combine elements of rock, jazz, and celtic, in their music. Whatever it’s called, the audience loved it and can be seen dancing (square dancing too!) at the front of the stage. The other thing to note about Railroad Earth is that they are a jam band. Songs can play as long as twenty minutes, often medley with other songs ... so you don’t know when songs start or end.”

Yonder Mountain String Band tour dates:

MAY 20 The Deck: Night 1 Muskegon, MI

MAY 21 The Deck: Night 2 Muskegon, MI

May. 23 - 26, 2025 StrangeCreek Campout 2025 Greenfield, MA

MAY 31 The Mishawaka Bellvue, CO

JUN 1 The Mishawaka Bellvue, CO

JUN 18 Bluegrass Eve @ Telluride Bluegrass Festival Mountain Village, CO

JUN 19 Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2025 Telluride, CO

JUL 2 Summer Tour: The Yard at Ray Brother's BBQ Bouckville, NY

JUL 3 Nelson Ledges Quarry Park Grassfire Festival 2025 Garrettsville, OH

JUL 6 Heuser Park King Of Prussia, PA

JUL 8 Roanoke Island Festival Park Shady Banks, NC

JUL 10 Tabernacle Atlanta, GA

JUL 11 Asheville Yards Asheville, NC

Sat, JUL 12 BAD Day Music & Arts Festival Wilmington, NC

JUL 13 St Augustine Amphitheatre St. Augustine, FL

JUL 15 Riverfront Live Cincinnati, OH

JUL 16 Brown County Music Center Nashville, IN

JUL 17 Atomic Pavilion St. Louis, MO

JUL 18 Grinders Kansas City, MO

JUL 19 Falconwood Park Bellevue, NE

JUL 20 Live at Utepils Brewing Minneapolis, MN

JUL 23 Granary Live Salt Lake City, UT

JUL 24 CLUB UNDERGROUND - MEGAPLEX Reno, NV

JUL 25 Century Center Bend, OR

JUL 26 The Cuthbert Amphitheater Eugene, OR

JUL 31 Ledgestone Winery Greenleaf, WI

AUG 1 Atwood Music Hall Madison, WI

AUG 2 Codfish Hollow Maquoketa, IA

Aug. 8 - 10, 2025 Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival 2025 Alta, WY

AUG 12 Denver Botanic Gardens Denver, CO

AUG 29 I Bar Ranch Gunnison, CO

AUG 30 I Bar Ranch Gunnison, CO

Oct. 8 - 12, 2025 Hillberry Music Festival 2025 Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Dec. 11 - 15, 2025 Strings & Sol 2025 Puerto Morelos, Mexico

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

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Mpls: July 10 to July 11, 2025

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Pure Prairie League at Parkway Theater (July 10, 2025)

July 10, 2025 Thursday
Pure Prairie League
at Parkway Theater
first-avenue.com

Country-rock royalty Pure Prairie League will be playing the Parkway Theater, in Minneapolis, on July 10, 2025, in support of their new album, Back on Track.

Tour Dates:

MAY 16 Lyric Theatre Stuart, FL

MAY 31 Stargazers Theatre & Event Center Colorado Springs, CO

JUN 1 Paramount Theatre Denver, CO

JUN 10 The Observatory North Park San Diego, CA

JUN 11 Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown, CA

JUN 12 The Coach House Concert Hall San Juan Capistrano, CA

JUN 14 Blue Note Summer Sessions Napa, CA

JUN 15 Grand Sierra Resort and Casino Reno, NV

JUN 20 OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino Niagara Falls, Canada

JUN 26 The Kate Old Saybrook, CT

JUN 27 Pure Prairie League In Concert Tarrytown, NY

JUN 27 Tarrytown Music Hall Tarrytown, NY

JUN 28 Grand Opera House Wilmington, DE

JUN 29 Freeman Arts Pavilion Selbyville, DE

JUL 2 The Clayton Opera House Clayton, NY

JUL 5 Summer Concert Series at The Range Mason, NH

JUL 6 The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor Boothbay Harbor, ME

JUL 10 The Parkway Theater Minneapolis, MN

JUL 12 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI

JUL 13 Peg Egan Performing Arts Center Egg Harbor, WI

JUL 17 Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL

JUL 18 Peabody Auditorium Daytona Beach, FL

AUG 8 Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts Bloomington, IL

AUG 10 The Ark Ann Arbor, MI

AUG 22 Pure Prairie League and Ozark Mountain Daredevils In Concert Dallas, TX

AUG 23 Paramount Theatre Austin, TX

AUG 24 Tobin Center for the Performing Arts San Antonio, TX

AUG 25 Main Street Crossing Tomball, TX

AUG 30 SamJam Bluegrass Festival 2025 Piketon, OH

SEP 5 Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO

SEP 6 Ozarks Amphitheater Camdenton, MO

SEP 11 Beaver Creek Village Avon, CO

DEC 4 Musikfest Café Bethlehem, PA

DEC 5 Rams Head On Stage Annapolis, MD

JAN 9, 2026 Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ

Los Bitchos at 7th St Entry (July 10, 2025)

July 10, 2025 Thursday
Los Bitchos
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

International all-women instrumental four-piece Los Bitchos will be headlining the 7th Street Entry on July 10, 2025, in support of Talkie Talkie.

Tour Dates:

May 24 Outdoor Leeds, UK Live At Leeds In the Park

Jun 13 Kværndrup, Denmark Heartland Festival

Jul 6 Brooklyn, NY, US Baby's All Right

Jul 8 Ferndale, MI, US The Magic Bag

Jul 10 Minneapolis, MN, US 7th St. Entry

Jul 15 Toronto, ON, Canada The Great Hall

Jul 22 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US Zebulon

Jul 23 San Francisco, CA, US Great American Music Hall

Aug 30 Berlin, Germany Pop-Kultur Festival

Heart Attack Man at Fine Line (July 11, 2025) Read More Heart Attack Man As usual, this all-ages venue (The Garage), the show starts at 5:30pm and will feature at least two or three opening/upstart bands: Young Culture, Free Throw, and Heart Attack Man. .… The Dirty Nil Ontario punk trio The Dirty Nil will open the show. The Dirty Nil’s debut album Higher Power is out now on Dine Alone Records. The band will likely play “Wrestle Yü to Hüsker Dü” .…

July 11, 2025 Friday
Heart Attack Man
with Carpool and Dear Seattle
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Rising punk band Heart Attack Man is touring with The Dirty Nil… but unfortunately, for their Fine Line show, in Minneapolis, Dirty Nil could not make it.

Carpool and Australian indie rock band Dear Seattle to open.

Tour dates:

6/4 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Café & Music Hall

6/5 – Buffalo, NY @ Rec Room

6/7 – Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground **

6/8 – Albany, NY @ Empire Underground

6/10 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

6/11 – Amityville, NY @ Amityville Music Hall

6/13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Meadows

6/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry

6/16 – Allentown, PA @ Archer Music Hall

6/17 – Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club

6/19 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall

6/20 – Greenville, SC @ The Radio Room

6/21 – Orlando, FL @ The Social

6/22 – Miami, FL @ Gramps

6/24 – Atlanta, GA @ The Loft

6/25 – Nashville, TN @ Eastside Bowl

6/27 – St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall

6/28 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi

6/29 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall

7/8 – Detroit, MI @ The Shelter

7/9 – Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium

7/10 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge

7/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line **

7/12 – Rapid City, SD @ Aby’s Rapid City

7/13 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s

7/16 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room

7/18 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck

7/20 – Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep

7/21 – Denver, CO @ Marquis

7/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell

7/24 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club

7/25 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile

7/26 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre

7/27 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre

7/29 – Sacramento, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post

7/30 – Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone Berkeley

7/31 – Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s

8/1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Highland Park

8/2 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater

8/4 – El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace

8/5 – Dallas, TX @ RBC

8/6 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger

8/8 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live

8/9 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall

** - without The Dirty Nil

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

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Blondshell at Fine Line, Minneapolis (June 11, 2025)

Blondshell at Fine Line (June 11, 2025) Blondshell Setlist 23's A Baby Toy Docket Sepsis Veronica Mars Arms T&A Change Berlin TV Tower Thumbtack Olympus Diet Pepsi (Addison Rae cover) Kiss City Tarmac He Wants Me -- Encore -- Event of a Fire Salad setlist from setlist.fm Tour Dates 6/13/25 – Metro – Chicago, IL * 6/14/25 – Skully's Music Diner – Columbus, OH * 6/16/25 – Phoenix Concert Theater – Toronto, ON * 6/17/25 – Theatre Fairmount – Montreal, QC * 6/19/25 – Royale – Boston, MA % 6/20/25 – Brooklyn Steel – New York, NY % 6/21/25 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA % 6/24/25 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC % 6/26/25 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC % 6/27/25 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA % 6/28/25 – Basement East – Nashville, TN % # support from Draag ^ support from Jahnah Camille * support from Meg Elsier % support from Daffo Read More Blondshell Starting January 18th, Los Angeles’ Blondshell (aka Sabrina Teitelbaum), will take over as support. Blondshell is still very new, having only released four singles, her debut ....

Waiting in line at will call, a guy with a grey beard asked if I had an extra ticket. Not uncommon for most sold-out shows. What was uncommon is he had already invested $25.00 into the show.

“So you did buy a ticket,” I asked.

“Parking,” He replied.

The guy did not follow Vu’s golden rule of never paying for parking, and now he was on the outside of what was definitely going to be a great show.

meg elsier opened up the evening. It was her first show opening for Blondshell and first time in the Twin Cities. From Massachusetts, she was excited to be on stage, and her infectious spirit carried a bubbly delivery over the grunge sound.

elsier was clearly having fun as she said her next song was “sportscar” even though she drove a Subaru Forester. The song had a favorable reaction, but elsier said the song didn’t make the cut on her 2024 debut album spittake. “Maybe the deluxe reissue,” she joked.

elsier is currently living in Nashville and sang an ode to her new town “Eastside”, which was more a lament of a life on the wrong side of the tracks. Then she finished her quick set with “Ifshitfuq”, a song of confused emotions colliding into a moment, a song which landed on Spotify’s indie editors Best Songs of 2023.

As the stage was being set for Blondshell the graybeard that I saw in the lobby without a ticket was now in front of me dancing to the Talking Heads “Girlfriend Is Better.” What was more surprising was he didn’t fit the demographic of a performer who has so far made a living skewering the opposite sex.

Blondshell at 7th Street Entry (July 11, 2023)

We have become fans of Blondshell, aka Sabrina Teitelbaum, since we caught her Twin Cities debut at Seventh Street Entry July, 2023. Since then, we have seen the opening for Liz Phair at the Palace Theatre Nov, 2023, and opening for Glass Animals at Azura Amphitheater Aug, 2024. In fact, she did over 150 shows in support of her self-titled debut album and is now back on the road with her sophomore album If You Asked for a Picture, a title lifted from a line from Mary Oliver’s poem “Dogfish”.

Blondshell received universal praise from critics and fans alike for her witty and scathing observations. And based on the first song of the evening from her new album “23’s a Baby”, it appears that her views have not shifted but have grown sharper and keenly observational. As she commented in a Rolling Stone interview about her latest project:

“Maybe it’s just the nature of being two years older, but I’m more comfortable with nuance now, and I’m more comfortable with gray areas…. It’s empowering for me to use sonic references that feel reserved for men.”

A personal favorite was “Arms” in which the person in the song is trying, but spent and aware of the contradiction. Then a song about “T&A” and how it might not be enough. Just based on the video that juxtaposes male models with rescue animals, it lets you know which one Blondshell thinks are the real dogs.

There is a structure to Blondshell’s hit songs: a laid-back delivery followed by lush vocals over a shoegazing sound . But last night she said she is looking to broaden her musical horizons, and gave the crowd a peak with a new song “Berlin TV Tower” which had her sitting and singing with an acoustic guitar.

Eventually, Blondshell would finish the evening with her hit song “Salad”. But before the first few lines about imagining poisoning her toxic boyfriend, she gave the crowd her opinion on the current political climate and how it was affecting her hometown in L.A.

Personally, I’d like to hear future songs on the topic with her insight and wit.

meg elsier

meg elsier

Blondshell

Blondshell Blondshell

Blondshell at Fine Line, Minneapolis (June 11, 2025)

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Something for the Weekend: Friday the 13th

What’s happening this weekend.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Saint Small at Hook and Ladder (June 13, 2025) Read More Saint Small The upcoming “Singles Going Steady”, a singles-release party will be featuring Ryan and Pony, Benjamin Cartel (from KaiserCartel), and Saint Small. Down in the Clown Lounge … Little Man Little Man is back with new music and video for “BLVD”, which you can see on YouTube. The single was recorded and mixed by producer John Fields (Soul Asylum, Jonas Brothers). .… Mood Swings So tonight, The Mood Swings will be at the Sauce, at their CD-releasing party. As with previous Susstones showmania, they are cheap ($5, man!) and features a ton of bands …

June 13, 2025 Friday
Saint Small
with Mood Swings and Little Man
at Hook and Ladder
thehookmpls.com

Minneapolis’ garage-rock band Saint Small is reuniting to play a farewell gig at the Hook and Ladder Theater in Minneapolis, one night only, Friday the 13th, celebrating the band’s debut vinyl release Thank You Friends, the Album.

The last time we mentioned Saint Small was in Dec 2018: “The upcoming “Singles Going Steady”, a singles-release party will be featuring Ryan and Pony, Benjamin Cartel (from KaiserCartel), and Saint Small. Down in the Clown Lounge (underneath the Turf Club), will feature Revenge Wedding and Kris Gruen.”

Local favorites, Little Man and The Mood Swings are sharing the triple-bill.

Mood Swings at Turf Club (Mar 3, 2023)

We previously caught The Mood Swings in March 2023 and wrote, “To be perfectly honest, I was rather excited to see The Mood Swings. The band, featuring Ashley Ackerson and Sallie Watson, had not released anything new since 2009’s Recessionista. While the band would play on and off gigs, it seemed like they are fairly inactive since 2009. During the Mood Swings’ hiatus, Ashley would spend more time in her side project BNLX, with her husband, Ed Ackerson (of Polara) - that’s why you saw BNLX albums (the album with their dog on the cover) at the Mood Swing’s merchandise table.”

Little Man at 400 Bar (April 9, 2009)

We saw Little Man in April 2009 and said, “Anyway, Little Man played a pretty full set, which is a relief since I was so used to the 30 sets from SXSW. Sometime they would pause for applause and sometime each song leads directly into the next. Halfway into the set, Perricelli picks up his acoustic guitar for two songs (I think "Seal Of Secrecy" and "Love Of All Time"), before going back to electric for the rest of the set. The acoustic was a nice treat, especially with the harmonica (which sort of made me think of Bob Dylan). You can tell right away that Perricelli is an excellent guitarist with his left hand moving quickly up and down the neck of the guitar. It's no surprise why the City Pages called Little Man the Next Big Thing on their cover story for February 27th, 2007. I did ask Perricelli the story behind this and he told me that they had sent someone over the house to interview and take some photographs. He honestly didn't know it was going to be a cover story, so he was a little shocked when he learned about it.”

Belfast Cowboys at Lake Harriet Bandshell (June 13, 2025) Read More Music in the Parks Today, Labor Day, is the last day and the “End of Summer Celebration” from Music in the Parks series. Today’s schedule will feature Laughing Waters Blue Grass Festival at … Belfast Cowboys A pretty last-minute decision found me at Turf Club on St. Patrick’s day to see locals The Belfast Cowboys. A brass heavy band that “specializes in the music of Van Morrison” .…

June 13, 2025 Friday
Belfast Cowboys
at Lake Harriet Bandshell
minneapolisparks.org

Come see local 9-piece band Belfast Cowboys play Lake Harriet Bandshell, in Minneapolis, as part of the Music in the Parks series.

Belfast Cowboys at Turf Club (Mar 17, 2025)

We saw Belfast Cowboys in Mar 2025 and said, “The nine-piece band has a full brass section, multiple guitars, keys and drums. Lead singer Terry Walsh, asked, “Is it seven yet? We want to be prompt.” The first song, You Make Me Feel So Free had the full brass sound, including a great sax solo. The band was in the spirit, with some adorned in various types of St. Patrick’s Day accoutrements (sparkly green tie, green bowler hat, etc.). Walsh said, “It isn’t summer yet, but it’s coming”, as the band launched into a cover of Chuck Prophet’s Summertime Thing that included a brass riff on Summer in the City.”

Music in the Park 2025 Schedule

06/14 Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project

06/24 Jeff Dayton

07/01 Salsa Del Soul

07/08 Westwind Big Band

07/15 Minneapolis Commodores

07/22 Tumblin Dice

07/29 Two Sundays Big Band

08/05 Rooms on Fire

08/12 Pan-handlers Steel Drum Band

08/19 Bavarian Musikmeisters

08/26 Brio Brass

Movies in the Park 2025

08/28 Inside Out 2

09/05 The Wild Robot

09/12 If

Mozart’s Prague Symphony with Gábor Takács-Nagy at Ordway Concert Hall (June 13-15, 2025) Read More SPCO Taking place this Friday and Saturday, at the Ordway Concert Hall, in St Paul, is Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s latest event: Steven Copes Plays Prokofiev’s First Violin Sonata. ...

June 13, 2025 Friday
June 14, 2025 Saturday
June 15, 2025 Sunday
Mozart’s Prague Symphony
with Gábor Takács-Nagy
at Ordway Concert Hall
thespco.org

Kicking off this Friday the 13th is audience favorite and newest SPCO Artistic Partner Gábor Takács-Nagy returning for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s 66th season finale! Hopefully, if all goes well, we’ll get a review for the Sunday show.

We saw SPCO’s Steven Copes Plays Prokofiev’s First Violin Sonata in May 2025 and said, “The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra concert program on Saturday night held a sober reminder that the horrors of the past are unfortunately echoing in the headlines of today. The first work of the evening was a lament from Ukrainian composer and cellist Zoltan Havrylovych Almashi. It was a piece that Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv invited Almashi to compose by using Samuel Barber’s iconic Adagio for Strings as a reference point. This request was during the full-scale Russian invasion, and the work “Maria’s City” is dedicated to the city of Mariupol, one of the first cities destroyed by the Russian Forces.”

Schedule

Friday, June 13, 2025 – 11:00 AM
Ordway Concert Hall Downtown St. Paul

Saturday, June 14, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Ordway Concert Hall Downtown St. Paul

Sunday, June 15, 2025 – 2:00 PM
Ordway Concert Hall Downtown St. Paul

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

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)

(Read more Musicians who died in 2025)

R.I.P. Brian Wilson

In an already tough week, the hitmaker, pop visionary, and leader of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson has died at the age of 82. His family announced the death on social media but did not provide a cause, nor any specific details.

His wife Melinda, had preceded him in early 2024 and Wilson’s business representatives were granted a conservator status by a judge, stating that Wilson had been in declining health, had dementia and “a major neurocognitive disorder”.

Often touted in his prime as a musical genius; the fun-in-the-sun lyrics, multi-part vocal layered harmonies, and perfect pop soundscape structure all defined a genre of music that is still strong today (despite the fact that he didn’t surf himself), though that pinnacle of genius would eventually be damaged by self-doubt, drugs, and mental illness.

Brian Wilson was born in Inglewood, CA to a machinist and part-time songwriter and homemaker, the oldest of three brothers. Despite some reported maltreatment by his father, Wilson was able to pick up music quickly, and learned by ear how to play, excelling on several instruments and performing at the family’s church.

He was re-writing lyrics to established songs by nine and was regularly playing the family piano before his teenage years, also deconstructing and learning vocal harmonies with his brothers and friends, influenced by the early doo-wop groups of the day.

His producing beginning started when he received a simple two-track recorder for his sixteenth birthday, and he began experimenting with techniques and harmonies. His cousin and frequent singing partner, Mike Love would join the Wilson brothers, as well as their classmate Al Jardine, and Wilson would continue exploring styles of music, learning several of the classical masters by 17.

He would go on to a smaller Los Angeles college as a psychology major, only to drop out after eighteen months, but was composing songs the entire time, with it all coming together in the fall of 1961 to debut those songs performing as The Pendletons. The band’s first hit, “Surfin’” written by Wilson and Love became an area favorite and charted in the Billboard national charts, with Candix Records changing the group’s name (without their permission) to The Beach Boys.

Candix would sell those masters and fold, but Capitol Records was persuaded to release a double-A side 7” single culled from a new batch of demos- “Surfin’ Safari” (which became the band’s first Top 10 song) and “409”, which charted well nationally and led them to a seven-year contract with the bigger label, including giving Wilson some autonomy with his recording methods and locations.

In 1963 alone, the band released three albums, “Surfin’ USA” “Surfer Girl” and “Little Deuce Coupe”, all of which Wilson produced, and he also began working with other artists as well such as Jan and Dean, The Castellas, and Donna Loren among others.

By the following year, Wilson was experiencing panic attacks from the fast-paced schedule and his own sense of recording perfection and stopped touring with the group but continued to oversee the songs from the studio. Numerous hits continued including, “California Girls” and “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “Good Vibrations”, and many, many others.

In 1965, he began working on what would be considered his masterpiece album, “Pet Sounds” (released the following year), with fabled backing band, The Wrecking Crew in tow, and blending classical instrumentation and lesser-known sounds (like a theremin) to create a complex and innovative new evolution to their sound, and though the album was not commercially popular at the time of its release (but would eventually get acknowledged in outlets like Rolling Stone who would declare it the second-best album of all time).

A planned follow-up, Smile, was not released, and Wilson’s mental health declined enough that he retreated from the group and was checked into a psychiatric hospital in 1968 for treatment, as his drug use also continued. He would become encumbered with controversial psychologist Dr. Eugene Landy overseeing more and more of his care and spent much of the mid-’70s as a recluse.

By 1976, he was declared to be back and rejoined the group on tour and was making music again, both under the band’s and his own name, but would succumb to health and addiction issues again, a few years later. Landy’s exceeding control would remove him from the band as well as have the doctor take more control creatively and financially into the ‘80s, and had Wilson release a first solo album in 1988.

By 1992, brother Carl Wilson led the family in stepping in to intercede, and Landy’s medical license was revoked and a restraining order against Wilson was granted. Lawsuits, both internal and external, plagued Wilson through the ‘90s, but his productivity would increase following the release of Landy; resulting in more solo releases, though at not near the commercial success he had in the ‘60s.

In 1999, he embarked on first solo tour (with an accompanying live album to follow) and he was performing Pet Sounds in its entirety, often backed by a full orchestra. Touring and new music continued, and The Beach Boys would reunite for a 50^th anniversary celebration album and tour, in 2011/2012 spearheaded by their re-recording of the song, “Do It Again”.

By the following year, there was another split and Wilson was again performing solo (with longtime members Al Jardine and David Marks) which is when we caught him live, outdoors at the MN Zoo. Touring continued, despite talks of retirement and his overall declining health (and we last saw The Beach Boys in 2019, playing all the hits at a Minneapolis benefit concert). He would sell off his publishing rights by the end of 2022 and play his last concert that July at Pine Knob in Michigan, characterized as stoic and expressionless.

Wilson’s contribution to music and the cultural zeitgeist cannot be overstated and his numerous songs will live on for generations, as even the mildest fan, is very familiar with the many hits that have permeated into the culture and will continue to do so. Wilson leaves behind five adopted children, and daughters Carnie and Wendy (aka two-thirds of vocal group Wilson Phillips).

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

Mei Semones at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (June 9, 2025)

Mei Semones at 7th St Entry (Jun 9, 2025) Mei Semones Setlist Tegami Wakare no Kotoba Inaka Kabutomushi Kemono Dumb Feeling Dangomushi Tora Moyo I can do what I want Animaru Norwegian Shag Rat With Wings Zarigani Sasayaku Sakebu Itsumo Kurayami Muchuu Hfoas Kodoku -- Encore -- Waters of March with John Roseboro John Roseboro Setlist How to Pray I Took the L Topo Chico MFL The Empress Crumb How to Love Right 80 Summers How to Cope Johnny Tour Dates June 11 - Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch* June 12 - Toronto, ON @ Longboat Hall* June 13 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB* June 14 - Boston, MA @ Red Room Cafe 939* July 11 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada July 12 - Austin, TX @ Parish July 15 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar July 16 - San Diego, CA @ Quartyard July 18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room July 19 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent July 21 - Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall July 22 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret July 23 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza July 27- Minamiuonuma, Japan @ Fuji Rock Festival * with John Roseboro Read More Mei Semones Brooklyn’s Mei Semones is touring in support of her debut album Animaru (Bayonet Records). The tour will stop by the 7th Street Entry, in Minneapolis, on June 9, 2025. .…

On a cool summer evening (the best time of year!), it was a jazz influenced evening with Mei Semones headlining at 7th St. Entry in Minneapolis.

Getting things started was John Roseboro. The Brooklyn, NY based artist is a leader in a sub-genre labeled post-bossa nova, taking the laid back, syncopated samba rhythms and updating with more meaningful lyrics than its Brazilian predecessor. His debut album, Human Nature, came out in 2021 and he’s been busy ever since, releasing more music, with 2024’s Fools being most recent. Coming out on stage solo with guitar, Roseboro opened with How to Pray, and encouraged the audience to sing with him. That finger picking style looked so easy, but you could see the skill underneath it.

Roseboro had a charming and amusing banter that had the audience laughing and feeling at ease. He thanked the crowd for coming early and how he appreciated it for “a sold out show for Semones!”. I Took the L got us a “there’s a saxophone solo here” and more laughs, but Roseboro didn’t need any support as he easily carried his songs through. A small hiccup on sound was quickly corrected and Roseboro thanked the sound guy Andrew (“the MVP!”). These were efficient numbers and Roseboro moved them along with either brief banter or quick guitar interludes. He went from a love song to a break up song, though noted they were not about the same person.

He taught the crowd a brief chorus to the next song, Crumb, while he sang the verses, and the crowd was game. If there’s a word for Roseboro and his music, it’s “charming”. We got a partial play of a “song I’m working on”, and it was fun to see him reacting to it in real time. How to Love You Right was another deceptively simple number and a new round of banter about how this is the only time he gets to play guitar (“you’re in the van, you’re setting up, but this is the fun”). 80 Summers may have been the longest song of the set. Guest appearing for the last pair of numbers was Semones, and the contrasting vocals were a delight. Roseboro had certainly made an impression and we’ll look forward to seeing him in the Twin Cities in the future.

Mei Semones, an Ann Arbor, Michigan native now based in Brooklyn, is headlining her first tour. Her debut album, Animaru, was released earlier this year and is a good representation of her many influences. The mix of jazz and indie pop music, while singing in both English and Japanese, gives Semones a rich and distinct sound. Appearing on stage as a quintet (violin, viola, guitar/vocals, bass, and drums), they started with Tegami, and it was a hit with the crowd. A very brief bit of banter had Semones thanking the crowd “for selling out our first headlining show in Minneapolis”.

The next number really showed off the power of those dual violins. I don’t tend to think of strings being able to drive rock music like that, but it absolutely did the job. Semones has constructed a very particular sound and has the right group of musicians to make it work. Inaka was simply incredible as the band drove the dynamic range from mezzo piano to mezzo forte extremely quickly and it was an effect they would return to throughout the evening. The bassist had left the stage and Semones and violinists would absolutely nail Kabutomushi. The bassist returned, along with more from the drummer, would go back to that indie rock sound, even as Semones sang a number mostly in Japanese.

This was a pretty amazing performance and quite intense. A small break to introduce the band gave us a brief respite, but after mentioning they had just released their first album, we were back into it. This was a ride and that mix of jazz and indie sensibilities played so well in Semones’ hands. The finger plucking on the strings created a different tone (think Andrew Bird), but all of these instruments were being used to their full effect. A bass solo reminded us that all of these musicians are quite talented and that it was truly a team effort making this fly so high. Some of those bossa nova style numbers came through in the middle section of the set and were fantastic. I can do what I want, which might be Semones’ best number, was played at a blistering pace and had the audience enraptured. Followed by the title track, Animaru, it featured those strings and Semones’ angry lyrics (“I am not a cardboard box to be lived in”). The band ran a few numbers together with no pause in between, surging forward even with different overall vibes in each of the songs.

Some very classical sounding intro from the strings quickly transitioned to the Japanese bossa nova sound, and yes, I recognize the dissonance of that sentence. But that was truly the key to Semones’ magic. There’s great change of pace within individual songs, but they have also sequenced the set list to maximum effect. As the viola player shook out his hand, I could only nod my head in empathy; this band was working hard. A solo start by Semones on the song Sasayaku Sakebu gradually had the band joining back in. This led to the band playing some newer, as yet unreleased, numbers. The first was Itsumo and was a rapid and jazzy number just as we rolled past the hour mark. More classical vibes from the strings allowed Semones to tune before getting going yet again. Some very complicated guitar work from Semones was particularly impressive. Returning to some older numbers (if 2022 counts as old), the band had more of those bossa nova grooves, including the quieter Hfoas. Ending the main set with Kodoku, Semones again thanked the audience and will certainly be back at a bigger venue next time. After a short break, the show ended the only way it could have, with John Roseboro back on stage for the song that Semones and he had co-written, Waters of March, ending an epic 90 minute set.

John Roseboro John Roseboro (with Mei Semones)

John Roseboro

Noah and Claudius Agrippa (Mei Semones) Ransom (Mei Semones)

Mei Semones (with John Roseboro)

Mei Semones Mei Semones

Mei Semones at 7th St Entry (June 9, 2025)

thaddeus ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Sly Stone

(Read more Musicians who died in 2025)

R.I.P. Sly Stone

The multi-genre legend that took us higher and let everyday people all dance to the music, has passed--

Sly Stone, the hugely influential, socially conscious, eccentric and often troubled singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who had numerous hits on multiple genre charts during the late 1960’s and early ’70s with his band the Family Stone, passed away at the age of 82 in Los Angeles.

Cause of death according to a statement from his representatives was “a prolonged battle with C.O.P.D.” lung disease, “and other underlying health issues”, all of which worsened in recent years.

A true musical pioneer, Stone redefined the boundaries of pop, rock, soul, funk, R&B, and even gospel, putting together a very diverse collective of multi-racial, mixed gender band, that helped widen the musical freedom that was being explored during those world-changing times.

Sly and the Family Stone’s biggest hits included “Everyday People,” “Dance to the Music,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Family Affair,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin);” each of which and more, would be heavily sampled and musically given homage to, by those who would follow as musicians.

Aka Sylvester Stewart was born in the middle of World War II in Denton, TX to a deeply religious couple (though they did encourage musical expression) as part of their five overall children, and the family soon would soon move to the North Bay area, near San Francisco.

He was quickly recognized as a musical prodigy, mastering multiple instruments before becoming a teenager and joined bands in high school, notably doo-wop group The Viscaynes, who would release a few local singles (as would Stone solo, under the name “Danny Stewart”).

Following, he would work as a soul radio DJ and staff producer for area label Autumn Records and played keyboards for a growing list of A-list names. By 1966, he was playing regularly with his own band, Sly and the Stoners, a precursor to his famous lineup as he added members that he saw fit, no matter their gender, race, or backgrounds.

Debut album A Whole New Thing was released in 1967, but gained little notice, though their initial hit single, “Dance to the Music” would soon follow, and become the title of the follow-up album, released the next year. Also in 1968, they would play a medley on the most-prized slot in television, “The Ed Sullivan Show” and further cement their reputation with sets at the following year’s Newport Jazz Festival, the Summer of Soul concerts in Harlem (recently unearthed and restored on film by The Roots’ Questlove), and of course, at Woodstock.

Like Marvin Gaye and other contemporaries, the albums that followed- “Life,” “Stand!” and “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” each had a feeling of joyous musical freedom but also reflected the undertones of a social consciousness and fragile state of the country and world, as an overseas war, racial injustice, and other turbulent issues, raged with regularity.

As the 70’s continued, his sales slowed, and drug use increased, and the band would finally end things in January 1975 after some erratic touring and a disastrous Radio City Music Hall gig. Members, including Sly, went off to solo careers and other projects, including his assembling a new Family Stone and collaborations with George Clinton, but none had much commercial success. A handful of songs would appear on various soundtracks or as guest appearances, and his occasional troubles with the law would continue.

The band was rightfully inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame early, in 1993, and Sly would appear for that, only to mostly disappear out of the public eye until the mid-2000’s. Legal fighting with his former management, and previous financial recklessness had left Stone basically homeless, though we’d all see him again in a puzzling 2006 Grammy Awards performance.

We remember Stone’s attempted comeback in the late 2000s and scheduling a spendy late First Avenue appearance in Minneapolis (which would cancel due to "scheduling conflicts"), but his erratic behavior, late starts, short directionless sets and walk outs, continued to tarnish his legacy. In more recent times, he released a memoir, had a documentary made about him (and another more recent one, “Sly Lives! [aka the Burden of Black Genius]” again directed by Questlove) and supposedly finished a screenplay about his life.

Stone would influence so many of his peers and those who followed, including George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson, Outkast, Red Hot Chili Peppers and D’Angelo, and multiple hip-hop stars, as well as established jazz musicians like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. He leaves behind three children and generations of fans.

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com