W♥M

Kurt Vile and the Violators at First Avenue, Minneapolis (25 May 2022)

Kurt Vile Setlist Palace of OKV in Reverse Loading Zones Punks in the Beerlight (Silver Jews cover) Bassackwards * Hey Like a Child Check Baby * Runner Ups * Flyin (Like a Fast Train) Say the Word Wakin on a Pretty Day * Pretty Pimpin * Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone) Hunchback * -- Encore -- Like Exploding Stones Cool Water * Kurt Vile song Natural Information Society Setlist descension (Out of Our Constrictions) Read More Kurt Vile Kurt Vile and the Violators- Though he looks like he could be guitarist for Megadeth, there is a subtle power to former War on Drugs member Kurt Vile. He and his Violators ...

Philadelphia psychedelic band Kurt Vile and the Violators is currently on tour in support of their new album (watch my moves), out on Verve Records. The band stopped in at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Wednesday night, May 25.

Opening the show was Natural Information Society (not to be confused with late 80s dance/techno group Information Society). Natural Information Society is a music ensemble, led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Joshua Abrams, based out of Chicago. The group only had one song on their setlist, “descension (Out of Our Constrictions)”, which, when played live, is a 40 minute continuous song. The song has a very drone-like sound and just goes on and on.

As the group finished their song, Abrams mentioned how we have to remember the anniversary of George Floyd’s death.

>>>
05/25/2022 Wednesday

Kurt Vile and The Violators
with Natural Information Society
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Philadelphia psych-pop master Kurt Vile is back with his new album (watch my moves) (Verve Records).

Billed as Kurt Vile and The Violators, Vile will headline First Avenue in support of the new record. We saw Vile (with Courtney Barnett) in Oct 2017 and said, “Like their record, some songs were a lot of fun, while some songs are long guitar droning (with everyone’s hair covering their face as they concentrate on playing the chords). It was very much harmonies, both combative vocals, and guitar harmonies (or “guitarmonies” as Barnett would have it).”

Natural Information Society to open.

Tour Dates:

Fri. May 6 - Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Sat. May 7 - San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater
Mon. May 9 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
Tue. May 10 - San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
Wed. May 11 - Orange County, CA @ Observatory OC
Thu. May 12 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre
Fri. May 13 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Sat. May 14 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Sun. May 15 - Sonoma, CA @ Gundlach Bundschu Winery
Tue. May 17 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Wed. May 18 - Tacoma, WA @ The Spanish Ballroom
Thu. May 19 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House
Fri. May 20 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Sat. May 21 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House
Mon. May 23 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
Wed. May 25 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Thu. May 26 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Fri. May 27 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Sat. May 28 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Sun. May 29 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Wed. June 1 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Thu. June 2 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Fri. June 3 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Sat. June 4 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

Natural Information Society s

Natural Information Society

Kurt Vile

Kurt Vile and the Violators

Kurt Vile and the Violators at First Avenue, Minneapolis (25 May 2022)

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

R.I.P. - Andrew Fletcher (Depeche Mode) and Alan White (Yes)

Depeche Mode (Getty Images) Read More Depeche Mode Depeche Mode is currently on their Delta Machine tour, stopping by Minnesota State Fair, of all places, last Tuesday, August 27th. …..

(Read more Musicians who died in 2022 )

Members of two key and legendary bands have just passed away -

Keyboardist and co-founder of Depeche Mode, Andrew Fletcher and Yes drummer Alan White.

Andrew Fletcher was age 60 and founded Depeche Mode along with schoolmates Dave Gahan and Martin Gore, back in 1980. They’ve gone on to score 54 songs on the UK singles charts and have been making records and touring for over forty years, also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

“Fletch” as he was known, died of natural causes at home, and is survived by his wife of almost thirty years, Grainne, and two children. We saw the band last ten years ago at the Minnesota State Fair, in an energetic and triumphantly memorable performance.

Depeche Mode said in a statement: 'We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness at the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher. Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh or a cold pint. Our hearts are with his family and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy at this difficult time.'

Longtime Yes drummer Alan White has also passed, at the age of 72, after a short illness and at his home. He had increasing health issues over the last several years, keeping him off the road with the band and they had already announced he would be sitting out their upcoming tour.

Prior to joining Yes in 1972 to replace Bill Buford, White was a member of John Lennon and Yoko’s Plastic Ono Band and the band was finally inducted into the Rock Hall in 2017. Similar to Fletcher, White leaves behind a wife of over forty years, Gigi, and two children.

The band released this statement on social media:

"The news has shocked and stunned the entire YES family. Alan had been looking forward to the forthcoming UK Tour, to celebrating his 50th Anniversary with YES and their iconic 'Close to the Edge' album, where Alan’s journey with YES began in July 1972. He recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of his marriage to his loving wife Gigi. Alan passed away, peacefully at home."

Read More

Yes One of the most successful, influential progressive rock band in the world is Yes. In 1983, the band changed lineup (with Trevor Rabin) and concentrated mostly on more commercial and pop-oriented music. A second Yes band called Yes Featuring Jon Anderson …

 

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

Minneapolis: June 23 to June 26

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

06/23 The Wrecks with girlhouse and Mothé at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Read More The Wrecks The all-ages show started earlier than the usual show time, but that did not stop the fans from showing up early and on time for the first opener, The Wrecks (Nick Anderson, Aaron Kelley …

06/23/2022 Thursday

The Wrecks
with girlhouse and Mothé
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles pop/rock band The Wrecks is headlining their “Better Than Ever” tour, with support from girlhouse and Mothé.

The Wrecks’ latest album Sonder is available from Big Noise Music Group.

Tour dates:

6.9 - Fresno, CA - Strummer's
6.10 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
6.11 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
6.13 Seattle - The Crocodile
6.14 - Portland, OR - Holocene
6.16 - Salt Lake City, UT - Soundwell
6.17 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theater
6.18 - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theater
6.20 - St. Louis - Delmar Hall
6.21 - Indianapolis, IN - Old National Centre
6.23 - Minneapolis, MN - Amsterdam Hall
6.24 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest
6.25 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
6.26 - Grand Rapids, MI - Elevation
6.28 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
6.29 - Buffalo, NY - Rec Room
6.30 - Albany, NY - Empire Underground
7.1 - Asbury Park, NJ - Asbury Lanes
7.6 - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Music Hall
7.7 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
7.8 - New York City, NY - Webster Hall
7.9 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
7.10 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA
7.12 - Charlotte, NC - The Underground
7.13 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm
7.14 - Orlando, FL - Beacham Theater
7.15 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
7.16 - Nashville, TN - Basement East
7.18 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
7.19 - Austin, TX - Antone's
7.21 - Phoenix, AZ - Nile Theater
7.22 - Los Angeles, CA - Regent Theater
7.23 - Los Angeles, CA - Regent Theater

06/23 Meghan Murphy with Monica West at The Woman's Club Read More The Woman’s Club The Woman’s Club was founded in 1907, and the building was created in 1928. This historic club rarely book music concerts, but when they do, it’s usually in support for women musicians. …

06/23/2022 Thursday

Meghan Murphy
with Monica West
at The Woman's Club
womansclub.org

The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis is proud to present Meghan Murphy in the long-awaited Twin Cities debut of her performance of “The Big Red Show” on Thursday, June 23.

Murphy’s one-woman show, The Big Red Show, has left audiences laughing, crying, and rising to their feet at every performance. The Chicago Sun Times calls her, “A sparkling redhead with a dynamite voice.”

Opening for Meghan will be Monica West.

Ticketing information:

VIP tickets include premiere seating, parking, pre-concert Rooftop reception with appetizers, a signature cocktail, and a post-concert meet & greet with Big Red herself, Meghan Murphy - $75

Main Floor Seating - $40 general public / $35 for Club members

Balcony Seating - $30 general public / $25 for Club members

Tickets available starting on Thursday, May 19 at 10:00 am at etix.com

06/23 Eyelids with Muun Bato at 7th St Entry Read More Muun Bato It’s the new year, so let’s find out the best band of 2019… courtesy of First Avenue, The Current … Fruitpunchloverboy Green/Blue Loki’s Folly Mae Simpson Muun Bato . …

06/23/2022 Thursday

Eyelids
with Muun Bato
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Portland band Eyelids is touring for their new album The Accidental Falls. The group recently added a new member, Victor Krummenacher (of Monks of Doom, Camper Van Beethoven).

Their secret origin of The Accidental Falls was when former Tim Buckley collaborator Larry Beckett first offered Chris Slusarenko and John Moen of Eyelids to write new lyrics for their next record, the band wasn’t sure how it would fit their brand of guitar-driven rock. But they trust it to work and as a result, the fourth album was created with R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, as record producer. How they got involved with R.E.M. is another story altogether… but let’s just say that the group is a big fan of R.E.M’s music, and it’s an honor for them to work with Peter Buck.

Muun Bato to open.

Tour dates:

Jun 10 Portland, OR, US Mississippi Studios
Jun 17 Milwaukee, WI, US Cactus Club
Jun 18 Evanston, IL, US SPACE
Jun 19 Windsor, ON, Canada Meteor
Jun 20 Toronto, ON, Canada Horseshoe Tavern
Jun 21 Cleveland, OH, US Beachland Ballroom
Jun 23 Minneapolis, MN, US First Avenue & 7th St Entry
Jun 24 Madison, WI Kiki’s

06/25 Violent Femmes with The Breeders at Palace Theatre Read More Violent Femmes Violent Femmes are back at it again. This time, it looks like they are going back to their typical setlist. The key differences from last night’s show and tonight was that Gordon Gano … The Breeders The Deal sisters (Kim & Kelly) and their band, the Breeders, is taking their last, last, really last splash with the 20th Anniversary Tour. Be on the lookout for the deluxe limited 7xLP …

06/25/2022 Saturday

Violent Femmes
with The Breeders
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

What a dream lineup! It’s Cult-favorite band Violent Femmes with The Breeders 2022 tour.

Violent Femmes’ recently celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Why Do Birds Sing? with a deluxe 2-CD reissue. The album was remastered with previous unreleased material (including alternative takes and outtakes), and a complete concert from 1991 (captured at the Boathouse in Norfolk, VA).

We last saw VF in Oct 2017 and wrote, “It basically boils down to the fact that fans probably haven’t seen VF for 16 years. That’s a long time, but, based on hearing almost every song sung back, word for word, these same fans clearly haven’t forgotten about the Violent Femmes. They saved two of their biggest singalong classics ‘Kiss Off’ and ‘Add It Up’ for the encore.”

Tour dates:

Jun 1 Portland, OR, US McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
Jun 2 Bellingham, WA, US Mount Baker Theatre
Jun 3 Seattle, WA, US Moore Theatre
Jun 4 Seattle, WA, US Moore Theatre
Jun 6 San Francisco, CA, US The Fillmore
Jun 7 Berkeley, CA, US The UC Theatre
Jun 8 Reno, NV, US Virginia Street Brewhouse
Jun 10 West Valley City, UT, US Maverik Center
Jun 11 Outdoor Morrison, CO, US Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Jun 12 Aspen, CO, US Belly Up Aspen
Jun 25 St. Paul, MN, US Palace Theatre
Oct 1 Kansas City, MO, US Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

06/26 Roosevelt with Caroline Loveglow at Fine Line Read More Caroline Loveglow Opening the show was Los Angeles’ Caroline Loveglow. She normally plays a 30 min set, but unfortunately, due to starting really late from the original schedule, it would seem she cut the set ...

06/26/2022 Sunday

Roosevelt
with Caroline Loveglow
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

German singer Roosevelt is headlining the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 26th.

Didn’t we just see Caroline Loveglow? Yes, just last month! With Hatchie in St Paul on 15 May 2022: “Opening the show was Los Angeles’ Caroline Loveglow. She normally plays a 30 min set, but unfortunately, due to starting really late from the original schedule, it would seem she cut the set short under 15 minutes. That’s just the logical conclusion, it could be that she wasn’t feeling very well. I couldn’t tell, as she hardly spoke. She made one announcement, telling us the title to her song “Happy Happy”, and that the guitarist on stage with her was called Layne, her best friend.”

Tour Dates:

May 26 Hamburg, Germany Gruenspan
May 27 Berlin, Germany Huxleys Neue Welt
May 29 Cologne, Germany Carlswerk Victoria
Jun 2 Paris, France Le Trabendo
Jun 3 Amsterdam, Netherlands Melkweg
Jun 6 London, UK Electric Ballroom
Jun 7 Manchester, UK Band On The Wall
Jun 8 Brussels, Belgium Botanique - Orangerie
Jun 9 Istanbul, Turkey Zorlu PSM 100% Studio
Jun 17 Houston, TX, US White Oak Music Hall
Jun 18 Dallas, TX, US The Studio at the Factory
Jun 20 Atlanta, GA, US Terminal West
Jun 21 Nashville, TN, US Eastside Bowl
Jun 22 Columbus, OH, US Newport Music Hall
Jun 23 Rothbury, MI, US Electric Forest Festival
Jun 26 Minneapolis, MN, US Fine Line Music Cafe
Jun 28 Englewood, CO, US Gothic Theatre
Jun 29 Salt Lake City, UT, US Soundwell
Aug 12 Outdoor Buftea, Romania Summer Well

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

We♥KC - May 25-31, 2022 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence KS)

Dying Fetus, Granada Read More Dying Fetus The Dying Fetus and Thy Art Is Murder co-headlining tour started a few days ago... and they’ll be in town this March 22nd at the Skyway Theatre in Minneapolis. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Coming up on the Memorial Day holiday weekend slows things down a bit, but the month ends on an exclamation, with another hard decision on which show to attend. 

Don’t think there’s an overabundance of musical panhandlers in Lawrence this weekend either, it’s the annual Busker Festival downtown, or there’s always that Top Gun sequel (35+ years later!) at the cinema.

Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence, KS metro MAY 24-31

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

Wednesday May 25

Dying Fetus with Chelsea Grin, Bodysnatcher more, May 25, Granada. $27.50

Maryland death-metal rockers will bring the heavy to LFK as part of the back half of a 33-date tour.  It’s been since 2017 since their last album, but they are promising new music later this year. 

Chelsea Grin is Salt Lake City deathcore, while FL band Bodysnatcher has new album, Bleed-Abide, out now.

Starset, May 25, Truman, $25-$50

The Ohio electronic/prog metal band has been around a decade now, out on their Horizons Tour from the album of the same name.  The tour starts in KC with support from Red, Fame on Fire, and Smash into Pieces for a full evening of cutting-edge rock. 

George Lopez, Prairie Band Casino- Mayetta

Thursday May 26

George Lopez (comedian), May 26, Prairie Band Casino- Mayetta, SOLD OUT

The longtime Latino comedian returns to the road with a new tour, another TV series on the way, and a role in DC’s upcoming Blue Beetle movie. 

A Place to Bury Strangers, Bottleneck- Lawrence

Friday May 27

A Place to Bury Strangers w SONA May 27, Bottleneck- Lawrence, $18-$20

The Brooklyn noise rock band has new album, See Through You, just out with frontman Oliver Ackermann still leading the band despite recent lineup changes. 

Arrive early for Tampa, FL synth-rock openers Glove, who have a new album, Boom Nights, out now and hearken back to the modern goth nu-wave dystopian bliss of late ‘80s bands (that we like!).

5/25 update: Glove is experiencing transportation issues so is likely off the tour for the next few stops, including this one. :( Local shoegaze, post-punk band SONA will be opening.

Mewithoutyou, May 27, Granada. $30

After over two decades, the Philadelphia indie-rock band is calling it a day, out on their Farewell Tour.  Spoken-word vocals are often very spiritual in theme and the band has seven studio albums under their belt.

Saturday May 28

Animal Collective, The Truman

Animal Collective w Spirit of the Beehive, May 28, The Truman, POSTPONED

5/27 Update: Show now Postponed for Covid-related reasons.

The Baltimore experimental pop art band is back on the road on their Time Skiffs Tour, named after their Feb-released new album, which featured the return of member Deakin, who had sat out the previous release. We last saw them at the Desert Daze Fest in 2019.

Opening on this solid double-bill is Philadelphia’s Spirit of the Beehive, supporting fourth album, Entertainment, Death, which came out last summer and they play somewhat similar psychedelic, experimental pop rock. 

Still Woozy, May 28, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $39.50

Bay Area (by way of Portland) bedroom dream pop artist is fresh from playing both weekends at last month’s Coachella in support of his 2021 Interscope release, If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is.

Bastille, Uptown Theater

Sunday May 29

Bastille, May 29, Uptown Theater, $39.50-$75

We’re fans of this London electro-pop band whose newest record, Give Me The Future, came out in Feb. and they broke out with early single, “Pompeii”.  We caught them live back in 2016 in MN, headlining a multi-act radio show and have been impressed ever since.

The new album is a bit of a concept record so expect interludes during the live show, along with previous hits, including “Happier” which was a smash Marshmello collaboration. 

Texas indie singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe is support for this first leg of the tour.  Golden Aquarians is a project done with longtime drummer Roberto Sanchez and they released the new Night Drive just last month.  She's worked on numerous soundtracks as well but might be best known for co-writing and singing on Eminem's "Bad Guy".  We were talking about her ten years ago, back when she was fronting a band called The Dividends.  

5/27 Update: Sarah Jaffee is unable to join the tour "due to family emergency"

Young Oklahoma multi-instrumentalist Josh Fudge now tapped to open.

Tori Amos, KC Music Hall Read More Tori Amos For me, and it looks like for a lot of other people as well, one of those magnificent guru‚Äôs in the world of which we call music, is the fiery redhead Tori Amos. … Phoebe Bridgers, Starlight Read More Phoebe Bridgers 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 …

Monday May 30 (Memorial Day)

Tuesday May 31

Tori Amos, May 31, KC Music Hall, $46-$86

The piano songstress has returned, out on her Ocean to Ocean Tour supporting her sixteenth studio album.  Written during lockdown in Cornwall, it reflects the isolation and then trying to renew yourself feeling of the current times. Amos usually changes it up slightly night to night, but expect some (but not all) of the hits, a solo portion, and a lively encore with maybe a cover version mixed in.  We last saw her twice back in 2014. 

Phoebe Bridgers, May 31, Starlight, $39.50-$69.50

Consider us big fans of California indie-rock darling Bridgers, still out on her Reunion Tour, in support of 2020’s acclaimed Punisher album, though she has released some new songs since, including last month’s “Sidelines” from the Conversations with Friends soundtrack. 

Bridgers also keeps herself busy with side projects boygenius (w/ Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus) and the super-secret Better Oblivion Community Center (w/Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst) who we were thrilled to catch live back in 2019. 

She’s also founded her own record label, Saddest Factory and arrive early to see one of her first signees and childhood friend, Charlie Hickey perform in support of his EP, Count the Stairs and now first full-length, Nervous at Night, just out last week (and who might just join Phoebe on stage for a song, skeleton one-sie optional).

Girl Ultra, May 31, Bottleneck. $20

The Mexican R&B/pop artist had her first full length, Nuevos Aires released in 2019 and draws influences from Beyonce/Destiny’s Child and recently played huge outdoor festival stages in Chile, Mexico and Argentina, so within the relatively small confines of the Granada might be a rare treat.

Suffocation, May 31, Granada. $20

Out on their Forces of Hostility Tour, the technical death metal band put out a second live album, Live in North America, late last year.  Atheist, Soreption, and Contrarian round out this early show and full evening of head banging. 

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

Minneapolis: June 18 to June 22

06/18 Transmission with DJ Jake Rudh at First Avenue Read More DJ Jake Rudh Playing music between sets was DJ Jake Rudh, from Transmission. As you know, Rudh is a big fan of New Order and Joy Division, naming his radio show after a Joy Division song. . …

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

06/18/2022 Saturday

Transmission
with DJ Jake Rudh
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Normally we see DJ Jake Rudh playing music (or music videos) before British bands (like Peter Hook or Slowdive).

Transmission (21 Mar 2015)

The last time we attended a Transmission show was at an anniversary show at First Avenue in Mar 2015, featuring Andy Rourke from The Smiths. We were impressed at the huge turnout: “Turnout to this Saturday event was very, very good, with the main dance floor generally full, as you can see from the photos. Everyone we ran into were generally smiling, drinking, being social, and having a good time.”

Additional details:

TRANSMISSION WITH DJ JAKE RUDH
at First Avenue on Saturday, June 18,
presented by Electric Fetus and The Current.
On sale now → bit.ly/3F1Oeyj
This is the first live Transmission show in over 2 years! Come to a night featuring the best classic alternative of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s & ’00s!
18+ with Valid Government ID
8PM Doors / show

06/19 Soul of the Southside Juneteenth Festival at Hook & Ladder Read More iLLism The day had started mid-afternoon with a spin sets DJ Mad Mardigan /MC Tonez followed by Beats and Rhymes and sets by Lexii Alijai, iLLism , and deM atlaS before Brother Ali . …

06/19/2022 Sunday

Soul of the Southside Juneteenth Festival
at Hook & Ladder
thehookmpls.com

The special Soul of the Southside Juneteenth Festival will take place on Sunday, June 19th, to celebrate Juneteenth and the grand opening for The Legacy Building. The free day-event and opened to the public.

The event will feature live music, speakers, poets, a black-owned small business marketplace, live art, & food vendors. Local duo iLLism will emcee the two stages.

Schedule

Live Music
Hosted by iLLism
—-
1pm – DOORS
1:30pm – THEATER – The Big Welcome! 
2:00pm – CANOPY – J’mere
2:30pm – THEATER – Micheal Kleber-Diggs
2:30pm – THEATER – Kokou Kha
3:00pm – CANOPY – Micheal Kleber-Diggs
3:00pm – CANOPY –  RAWTWHYLAH 
3:30pm – THEATER – Dance With Purpose 
3:45pm – CANOPY – Kashimana
4:00pm – THEATER –  Basement Gang & Supa Juke
4:30pm – CANOPY – iLLism
5:15pm – CANOPY – Blackfish Movement 

Speakers / Poets / Artists
Micheal Kleber-Diggs 
Sean Garrison – Live painting, throughout the day

Local Black Owned Business Marketplace
DuNord Craft Spirits
First Independence Bank
Dipped in Honey
Lyric’s Village Creations
Roselines candles 
Adorn by Kella

Food Trucks
Soulbowl
Official Fried Chicken

Pod Cast Area
Hosted by DJ Drunken Monkeee & Vlad G

06/19 Starbenders at 7th St Entry Read More Starbenders No doubt about it, this is one of the best looking band around. The Atlanta, GA band Starbenders is led by front-woman Kimi Shelter and her her gang of androgynous rockers ( Aaron Lecesne, Kriss Tokaji, Emily Moon). …

06/19/2022 Sunday

Starbenders
with Magic Whatever
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

No doubt about it, this is one of the best looking band around. The Atlanta, GA band Starbenders is led by front-woman Kimi Shelter and her her gang of androgynous rockers ( Aaron Lecesne, Kriss Tokaji, Emily Moon). The group formed in 2013 and signed with Nico Constantine’s music label, Institution Records.

Starbenders’ new album Love Potions is out now on Sumerian Records.

Magic Whatever to open.

Tour dates:

JUN 1 Purgatory at The Masquerade Atlanta, GA
JUN 3 Exit/In Nashville, TN
JUN 4 Motorco Music Hall Durham, NC
JUN 7 Kungfu Necktie Philadelphia, PA
JUN 8 Knitting Factory Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY
JUN 9 Sonia Live Music Venue Cambridge, MA
JUN 13 Rec Room Buffalo, NY
JUN 14 Big Room Bar Columbus, OH
JUN 16 El Club Detroit Detroit, MI
JUN 17 Hi-Fi Indianapolis, IN
JUN 19 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN
JUN 21 Marquis Theater Denver, CO
JUN 22 The Beehive Salt Lake City, UT
JUN 25 Holocene Portland, OR
JUN 29 Goldfield Trading Post Sacramento, CA

06/22 The Unlikely Candidates with White Line Darko at Turf Club Read More The Unlikely Candidates The non-local opener of the night was The Unlikely Candidates from Fort Worth, TX. Much like the set of Holy White Hounds, these guys were high energy. Within minutes, the crowd started moving ...

06/22/2022 Wednesday

The Unlikely Candidates
with White Line Darko
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Texas-based Alt-Rock band The Unlikely Candidates is touring in support of their new album Panther Island.

Lead singer Kyle Morris described the album, “The record is a kaleidoscopic landscape of genre and style that changes from song to song, a greatest hits of the sonic worlds the band has inhabited over the years. Thematically it’s just as varied, shifting from songs about the chaos on the streets and loneliness behind the phone screens of America during the pandemic, to humorous tales of twenty-something malaise and the many ways the heart breaks; when love or loved ones are lost. At the heart of this album is the ethos of taking a bad situation and making something of it. It was written during the pandemic while the world was shut down, by a band who has hit enough roadblocks to delay a debut album nine years.”

White Line Darko to open. The new Minneapolis psychedelic rock outfit recently had a double single release show for “Turning Out!” at the Driftwood Char Bar in Minneapolis last June 10.

Tour Dates:

JUN 14 Rumba Cafe Columbus, OH
JUN 17 Sound of Music Festival Burlington, ON
JUN 19 Chop Shop Chicago, IL
JUN 21 High Noon Saloon Madison, WI
JUN 22 Turf Club West Saint Paul, MN
JUN 23 The Aquarium Fargo, ND
JUN 25 Harlo Music Project 2022 Harlowton, MT
JUN 26 Oil City Beer Company Casper, WY
JUN 28 Lincoln Theatre Cheyenne, WY
JUN 29 Meow Wolf Denver Denver, CO
JUN 30 Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO
JUL 02 Ponyboy Oklahoma City, OK
AUG 27 Congress Avenue Bridge Austin, TX

06/22 Ocean Alley with Le Shiv at 7th St Entry Read More Ocean Alley Infused with their classic sun-drenched sound and infectious groove, ‘Touch Back Down’ is a story about turning a negative into a positive, and always finding the light side of a problem ...

06/22/2022 Wednesday

Ocean Alley
with Le Shiv
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Australia’s beloved psychedelic-surf-rockers Ocean Alley announced a brief eight date US tour, one of those dates happened to be the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, for June 22.

“This year we will be traveling all across North America during June and July to play some huge live shows during a beautiful northern summer,” says Ocean Alley’s Mitch Galbraith. “We’ve got new music and production we’ve been working on during the break and we’re super keen to share it with you. Heading back after over 2 years to see old friends and getting back to live music is what we all need right now. We will be hitting all of Canada and East Coast USA in June / July, then we'll return later in the year for another huge run of the west coast. Hope to see you there for more good times!”

Le Shiv to open.

Tour Dates:

Fri Jun 10 - Capital Ballroom, Victoria, BC
Sat Jun 11 - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
Thu Jun 16 - Union Hall, Edmonton, AB
Fri Jun 17 - Bo’s Bar & Stage, Red Deer, AB
Sat Jun 18 - The Palace, Calgary, AB
Mon Jun 20 - Park Theatre, Winnipeg, MB
Wed Jun 22 - 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
Thu Jun 23 - Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
Fri Jun 24 - The Basement East, Nashville, TN
Sat Jun 25 - Terminal West, Atlanta, GA
Tue Jun 28 - Union Stage, Washington, DC
Wed Jun 29 - The Foundry at the Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA
Fri Jul 1 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, New York, NY
Sat Jul 2 - Sinclair, Boston, MA
Tue Jul 5 - Corona Theatre, Montreal, QC
Sat Jul 9 - The Opera House, Toronto, ON

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Sunflower Bean at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (21 May 2022)

Sunflower Bean Setlist Headful of Sugar In Flight Twentytwo Otherside Roll the Dice Baby Don't Cry Easier Said Moment In The Sun I Don't Have Control Sometimes Post Love Who Put You Up To This? Beat the Odds Feel Somebody Jackie Hayes Setlist Intro Bite Me omg Dead of Winter August headache Best of It Focus Material 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 Street Entry this Tuesday, April 5th. ..…

New York trio Sunflower Bean (vocalist and bassist Julia Cumming, guitarist and vocalist Nick Kivlen, and drummer Olive Faber) headlined the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis on Saturday night in support of their new album Headful of Sugar.

Local musician Bobby Rethwish wasn’t originally listed on bill, but they were first of three bands. That meant that it pushed everyone’s original set time to an extra 30 minutes. Bobby is joined on stage by Sam, who helped push buttons and shift songs while Bobby sings.

The duo will appear as headliner at the Cabooze on May 28th, with Wilson Wyler and Jonny Darko (no relations to Donnie?)

Next up was Chicago’s Jackie Hayes, who played in the Twin Cities area at least two other times within a year: Claud at Fine Line (27 Feb 2022) and Chloe Moriondo (02 Oct 2021) - she replaced Thomas Headon.

Jackie is joined on stage by guitarist Savanna and drummer Tommy. According to Jackie, she said most of the songs on her setlist (see photo) are new songs from a forthcoming album.

Based on her eagerness to build a fanbase in Minneapolis, it probably won’t be long until we see her again.

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.”

It’s cool to see that Julia’s cousin was in the show (they were at the last few show)… and I hope the band comes back soon. It’s been too long.

Sunflower Bean’s new album Headful of Sugar is out now on Mom + Pop Records.

Remaining Tour Dates:

5/22 - Madison, WI - High Noon #
5/24 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Pyramid Scheme #
5/25 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop #
5/26 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace #
6/01 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar $ %
6/02 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre $ %
6/04 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent $*
6/07 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios $%
6/08 - Vancouver, BC - Wise Hall $%
6/09 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile $%
6/11 - Denver,CO - Bluebird Theatre%

# Jackie Hayes
% - Liily
* - Fake Fruit

Bobby Rethwish

Bobby Rethwish

Jackie Haynes Setlist

Jackie Haynes

Jackie Haynes

Jackie Haynes

Sunflower Bean Setlist

Sunflower Bean

Sunflower Bean

Sunflower Bean

Sunflower Bean at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (21 May 2022)

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

Curtis Stigers at Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis (21 May 2022)

Setlist (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Nick Lowe cover) You're All That Matters to Me Keep Me From the Cold Swingin' Down at 10th & Main Never Saw a Miracle Summertime John The Revelator This Life Centerpiece Don't Go Far Tonight Will Be Fine (Leonard Cohen cover) Lately I've Let Things Slide (Nick Lowe cover) Things Have Changed (Bob Dylan cover) -- Encore -- I Wonder Why Tour Dates May 24 Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA May 25 Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA Read More Curtis Stigers On Curtis Stigers's 2022 release, this multi platinum artist takes a look back with new versions of his international hits "I Wonder Why," "Never Saw A Miracle," and "You're All That Matters To Me," .…

On the second night at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis on Saturday night, American Jazz singer and songwriter Curtis Stigers promised he will not be talking about his beloved four dogs. Instead, he’ll be more focused, and will talk about the songs he’s chosen to re-record for his new album This Life, which features new renditions and interpretations of all his hit songs. As he explained it on stage, some of these songs are over 30 years old, and in all that time, he’s grown as a musician. He now plays in a Jazz Quartet (Matthew on piano, Cliff on on the upright bass, Paul on the drums, and John on the trumpets), he wants the song to also grow with him. He’s right, of course, these songs, such as “This Life” (aka the Sons of Anarky theme song), have a different life, when you hear them in his new arrangement.

If you saw Curtis on Friday night, you were treated to “Who’s That Writing” and The Beatles’ song “I Feel Fine”. For Saturday night, those songs were replaced by “Centerpiece” and Nick Lowe’s “Lately I've Let Things Slide”.

The funny thing about Nick Lowe is that for years Stigers thought “(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” was an Elvis Costello song. When he found out it was actually written by Lowe, he became a massive fan. That song on The Bodyguard soundtrack went on to sell over 45 million copies … giving Lowe a lot of money from royalties. So, yeah, Lowe loves Stigers.

Here is the thing about a Curtis Stigers show, it is part comedy/storytelling, and part jazz/pop live music. Every song has a story, and Stigers is more than happy to tell you all about it, giving us insights on why and how these songs were important to him.

My favorite story of the night was how the song “Swingin’ Down at Tenth and Main” came about. It’s a beautiful story about how jazz pianist Gene Harris had retired and donated his grand piano to the Idanha Hotel, in Boise, Idaho. A young Stigers would hang out at the hotel lobby to watch Harris jam with local musicians. The underage Stigers would, if you’ll pardon the pun, drum up enough courage to bring his clarinet (and later his saxophone) and play in these jam sessions.

Doing his best Harris impression, Stigers yelled out, “Yeah, Baby! You sounded great! You keep practicing!!!”

A few years after Harris passed away, Stigers, flying on a local airline, was reminded of this amazing time, when he saw an article about the jazz festival that Harris created. He had the song in his head, and he wrote “Swingin’ Down at Tenth and Main” on the plane.

“I miss you, old friend,” Stigers concluded, “Thirty years later, I wanted Gene to be part of my new album.”

Like I said, all these songs appearing This Life, available on Pandemic Poodle Records, has deep meaning to Curtis.

Curtis Stigers at Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis (21 May 2022)

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

Minneapolis: June 15 to June 17

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

06/15 La Femme with Trance Farmers at Turf Club Read More La Femme I was really looking forward to La Femme, the psych-pop indie band from Paris. Their music is fun and cinematic, comparable to a Claude Chabrol Or Godard New Wave film filled with attitude and lust and all things Parisian ....

06/15/2022 Wednesday

La Femme
with Trance Farmers
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Acclaimed French psych-rock band La Femme is touring in support of their latest Paradigmes, out now via Disque Pointu/IDOL.

Le Femme at Desert Daze 2017

We caught the band at Desert Daze 2017 and wrote, “I was really looking forward to La Femme, the psych-pop indie band from Paris. Their music is fun and cinematic, comparable to a Claude Chabrol Or Godard New Wave film filled with attitude and lust and all things Parisian. Marlon Magnee yelled out during soundcheck, “What’s up Desert Daze? Are you having fun with your kombucha and your tofu?” Meanwhile he chain-smoked while setting up for the show. Clemence Quelennec was adorable in red ninja pants and a red beret, and her voice was just spectacular in Elle ne t’aime pas. She rapped incredibly fast to Exorciseur which was fun. Their guitarist blew my mind. These guys have that je ne said quoi, you know what I mean? I’m into it. Solid buzz with the kids. Midway through their set Marlon crowd surfed and everyone was boogying and laughing under the sun.”

Trance Farmers to open.

Tour Dates:

May 21 Paris, France ZENITH PARIS
May 25 Strasbourg, France La Laiterie
Jun 3 Washington, DC, US Black Cat
Jun 4 Philadelphia, PA, US The Foundry
Jun 5 Brooklyn, NY, US Brooklyn Steel
Jun 7 Boston, MA, US Brighton Music Hall
Jun 9 Québec, QC, Canada Impérial Bell
Jun 10 Montreal, QC, Canada MTELUS
Jun 11 Toronto, ON, Canada Lee's Palace
Jun 14 Chicago, IL, US Thalia Hall
Jun 15 St. Paul, MN, US Turf Club
Jun 18 Seattle, WA, US The Crocodile
Jun 19 Vancouver, BC, Canada Rickshaw Theatre
Jun 20 Portland, OR, US Wonder Ballroom
Jun 22 San Francisco, CA, US The Regency Ballroom
Jun 24 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Belasco
Jun 25 Palm Springs, CA, US The Alibi
Jul 1 Saint-Denis-de-Gastines, France Au Foin De La Rue
Jul 29Arrow right icon Saint-Nazaire, France FESTIVAL LES ESCALES
Aug 4 Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, France Place Des Arcades Sauveterre De Rou
Aug 25 Paris, France Rock en Seine
Sep 9 Bourgoin-Jallieu, France Parc Des Lilattes
Sep 10 Bourgoin-Jallieu, France Parc Des Lilattes
Sep 17 Fontainebleau, France FBLO FESTIVAL
Sep 19 Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso
Sep 30 Berlin, Germany Astra Kulturhau

06/16 Prateek Kuhad with Laura Elliott at 7th St Entry Read More Sufjan Stevens Brooklyn's Sufjan Stevens is back on tour, in support of his latest album Carrie & Lowell. The record was recorded by Stevens alongside Casey Foubert, Laura Veirs, Nedelle Torrisi, Sean Carey, Ben Lester …

06/16/2022 Thursday

Prateek Kuhad
with Laura Elliott
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad will be headlining the 7th Street Entry this June 16, in support of his third album The Way That Lovers Do, which is available via Elektra Records.

Hailed by Rolling Stone India as “one of the country’s leading singer-songwriters,” Prateek Kuhad has been compared to the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Jose Gonzalez.

Laura Elliott to open.

Tour dates:

June 2 Dallas, TX Sons of Hermann Hall
June 3 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
June 7 Los Angeles, CA Lodge Room
June 8 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
June 9 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
June 10 Seattle, WA Washington Hall
June 11 Vancouver, BC Hollywood Theatre
June 12 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
June 13 Seattle, WA Madame Lou’s
June 16 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry
June 17 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall
June 18 Detroit, MI Loving Touch
June 19 Toronto, CAN Danforth Music Hall
June 20 Toronto, CAN Danforth Musis Hall
June 22 Boston, MA Arts At The Armory
June 23 Boston, MA Crystal Ballroom
June 24 Jersey City, NJ White Eagle Hall
June 25 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
June 26 Washington, DC Sixth & I
June 28 New York, NY Irving Plaza

06/17 Purity Ring with ekkstacy at First Avenue Read More Purity Ring Purity Ring's Shrines is one of the most uniquely excellent albums of the year. Taking a dark, gothic tone and applying it to extremely catchy pop, the group has earned a spot as a frontrunner …

06/17/2022 Friday

Purity Ring
with ekkstacy
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Originally booked at the Palace Theatre in November 1 with Dawn Richard this Purity Ring show has been rescheduled to First Avenue in Minneapolis.

The tour will help promote their new Graves EP, due out June 3rd, right at the start of their 2022 tour. It’s the first official release via the band’s own label The Fellowship.

ekkstacy to open.

Tour Dates:

5/25 - 5/30 - Bakersfield,CA - Lightning in a Bottle
6/1 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theatre*
6/2 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
6/3-6/4 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
6/5 - Vancouver, BC - Hollywood Theatre
6/7 - Calgary, AB - Palace Theatre
6/8 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall
6/10 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
6/11 - Denver, CO - The Mission Ballroom
6/12 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theatre
6/13 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater
6/14 - St.Louis, MO - Red Flag
6/16 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom
6/17 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
6/18 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre*
6/19 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall*
6/20 - Toronto, ON - The Phoenix Concert Theatre*
6/21 - Montréal, QC - Théâtre Corona*
6/22 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live*
6/24 - New Haven, CT - College Street Music Hall*
6/25 - New York, NY - Webster Hall*
6/26 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel*
6/27 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer*
6/29-6/30 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club*
7/1 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz*
7/2 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore Charlotte*
7/3 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel*
7/5 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works*
7/6 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre*
7/8 - Orlando, FL - The Plaza Live*
7/9 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution Live*
7/10 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz Ybor*
7/12 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City*
7/13 - New Orleans, LA - The Joy Theater*
7/14 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall*
7/15 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at The Moody Theater*
7/16 - Dallas, TX - The Bomb Factory*
7/17 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom*
7/19 - Tucson, AZ - The Rialto Theatre*
7/20 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren*
7/21 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park*
7/22 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park*
7/23 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern*
7/24 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater*

* w/ EKKSTACY

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

George Perez Memorial Service at MegaCon Orlando (2022-05-22)

Memorial program front - portrait by Phil Noto Read More George Perez As you know, we’re big George Perez fans, so it’s with a sad note that I pass along George’s statement about his retirement. After this 2019 convention…

It was with heavy heart but great admiration to be present for the George Pérez memorial service hosted at MegaCon Orlando inside the sprawling Orange County Convention Center. 

The service was the last event of the four-day convention, that brought well over 100,000 to the biggest comics and pop culture event in the Southeast.  Living in nearby Sanford, FL, Pérez had been a longtime friend of the show and built up many personal and professional relationships from his regular appearances there. 

During the four-day show, a table was set up adorned with a large floral bouquet and a recent tribute art piece done by fellow artist and fan Bill Sienkiewicz with two guestbooks that the public could use to enter their well wishes and thoughts. 

A Friday fan-centric Remembering George Pérez panel also allowed fans to reminisce, share, and let everyone know what an impact his art, legacy, and good character, left on them. 

As the crowd filed in, acoustic Beatles music played and a slideshow featuring George, his friends and family, and his recent trip to DC headquarters in Burbank, was shown. 

The memorial service began with words from Constance Eza, a longtime friend of George and wife Carol, as well as a medical professional and comics event promoter. 

George’s brother, David (barely over a year younger) and his ninety-one year-old mother, Luz Maria Izquierdo took to the stage to each tell stories and thank the fans for all their support over the years. George’s father unfortunately was not in enough good health to attend.

Growing up in the South Bronx, David told tales of the brothers riding red tricycles together, and both drawing at an early age, even coming up with their own heroes, one being the Kleptomaniac Kid, who could make items teleport right into his hand.  Both brothers were also proud of their Puerto Rican heritage as well as assimilating as first-generation Nuyorican immigrants.

DC ex-publisher Dan Didio and a surprise guest, current DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee each remembered George in their own ways.  Lee recalled being starstruck and tongue-tied not only the first time they met at a convention, but for the second time as well.  In particular, Lee was amazed at the details with which George drew Avengers Mansion in 1977’s issue 162. 

Didio felt it had only been recently to sink in with him that George was really gone.  He also remarked that he previously hired Marv Wolfman for an animation project in hopes of also potentially meeting George, and that the first time he had really wished he could be back in the DC offices since his departure, was in January when he heard Wolfman and Pérez would be visiting in Burbank. 

Another longtime family friend, Shannon Lower spoke of George taking her to her first comic convention when she was nineteen, and altering the course of her life, as a result.  She spoke of times and the kindness that George and wife Carol provided, both to she and her family, as well as the comic community, specifically his efforts with Hero Initiative. 

Eza spoke briefly near the end, and the ceremony would finish with words and a quick story or two from George himself, courtesy of clips from a previous appearance at Amazing Con and also a segment filmed for a documentary. 

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

Program Interior

Program back

George’s brother and mother

Constance Eza

Shannon Lower

Dan Didio

Jim Lee

Dan Didio and Jim Lee at George Perez Memorial Service, MegaCon Orlando (2022-05-22)

 

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

Foy Vance, Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop at the Cedar Cultural Center (5/20/22)

Tour Dates May 21, 2022 - Chicago, IL - Athenaeum Theatre May 26, 2022 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre May 27, 2022 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater May 31, 2022 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater With special guests Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop Read More Foy Vance Award-winning Northern Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance has sold out the upcoming Cedar Cultural Center appearance on May 20th. We’ve seen Vance a few times, the last time at the Skyway Theatre … Lee Rogers The two opening bands came highly recommended: Lee Rogers is an award winning tattoo artist, a former MMA trainer and martial arts enthusiast, and beloved singer with his hit song “Love, Love, Love.” … Gareth Dunlop While Gareth Dunlop, tipped as “one to watch” by the BBC. His music can be heard on shows like Nashville, Lucifer, This Is Us, Bones, etc. …

“We’re here to have fun.  What are you here for?”  A question Foy Vance posed to the crowd before he launched into a song that broke two of his strings on his acoustic guitar.  Vance, an energetic performer, looked to have as much fun as those in the sold out crowd that came to see him and two fellow Northern Irish musicians, Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop. 

The video for Rogers “Life and Lies” takes place in a pub and the concert at the Cedar had the feel of being such a place.  Thirty songs over three hours that started with Vance hanging out before the show, taking selfies and mixing with the crowd before the lights began to dim.  Then after a brief introduction, Dunlop unassumingly took the stage with a five song-set.

Dunlop jokingly said that he had been called a lot of things over the years but never “Gareth Reynolds” which was how he was incorrectly introduced. 

Dunlop used his acoustic guitar as a percussive instrument with a pizzicato style with “My Kind of Paradise” and a ticking clock with “Can’t Stand Myself.” He probably didn’t want to overshadow what is a rather quiet, comforting voice, the kind of soothing voice an understanding father might have when he says everything is going to be alright even though you crashed his vintage Ford Thunderbird.

Dunlop and his reassuring voice have been featured in many movies, commercials and TV and he sang “Devil Like You” which aptly found its way in the TV show Lucifer. 

For his last song “Look Back Smiling” Dunlop switched to the keyboard.  He stated that during the pandemic he worked on quitting cigarettes and learned how to play the piano which he said he was now “certified as below average.” 

After a brief intermission, Rogers sauntered onto stage and surprised the crowd with a brief “Hello!” and off he went with “Rest of My Life.”

Where Dunlop may have the voice of a caring parent, Rogers’ voice has a full-throated, deep reservoir like a man who has seen quite a bit over the years and is lucky to survive it.  And he is funny, saying that his song “Ada” has never been on a TV show.

Even though Rogers looks like a guy who would work on your vintage Ford Thunderbird, there is a more reflective, thoughtful presence behind the gruff veneer with lyrics like “I fell in the water. I drown in your eyes.” (Life and Lies)  And “The road to heaven runs through hell.”  (Silent Song)

Foy Vance then took the stage at first by himself.  He said that his debut album Hope was now fifteen years old and he started off the set from a song from that album “Treading Water.”

Then Vance went on and on with a 21 song set with an energy that seemed to increase with more and more energy as the evening went on.

Vance’s dad was a preacher and uprooted his family from their Northern Ireland home to work the Southern Black churches in America when Vance was all of four years old.  It was there that he fell in love with the musical traditions of gospel, blues and soul.   

“A showman of the first order, he is a generous mentor, championing the works of his opening acts…”

Vance doesn’t have much love for traditional religion, but those formative years in America had instilled in him a revival sprit.  A showman of the first order, he is a generous mentor, championing the works of his opening acts, his influence filtering through Dunlop and Rogers.

Vance highlighted songs from his six studio albums, moving from the guitar to drums to the piano, back to the drums and guitar, letting individual band mates takes center stage, even inviting his daughter onto stage to sing. 

The set ended with a stirring rendition of “It Ain’t Over” from his latest album Signs of Life.  But as quickly as he and the band left, he was back on stage with six more songs that included “Indiscriminate Acts of Kindness” and “Shed a Little Light” from Hope. 

Vance ended the evening with “Guiding Light” from Joy of Nothing, a song that Ed Sheeran would sing to close his set when he and Vance were on tour together.  Vance said that a lot of people misinterpreted the song as having a religious tone.  He said that his guiding light was not God but you.  He then pointed to the audience and jumped into the crowd encouraging them to sing along. 

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com