W♥M

Cover Lover: Amanda Palmer, Outshine, and Pterodactyl Problems

Read More Amanda Palmer I have to admit, Amanda Palmer puts on a very good live show. I knew what to expect, having seen her previously, but it was a different type of show at her appearance last night at First Avenue. This is one of the reasons why we love …

AMANDA PALMER
amandapalmer.net

I’ve always liked Dresden Dolls, so when Amanda Palmer went solo, I naturally followed her adventures. Every time I see her live, she always puts on a great show. I’ll never forget seeing author Neil Gaiman at one of my shows, and was shocked to see how chummy they were (I didn’t it until later, but they were dating at that time).

Palmer was down-under (in Australia), and covered Midnight Oil’s hit song “Beds Are Burning”, featuring Missy Higgins on lead vocals. The song was part of Palmer’s Forty-Five Degrees: A Bushfire Charity Flash Record, a charity album in response to the bushfire crisis plaguing Australia at that time.

If you like Midnight Oil, you’ll be pleased to hear that she also covered “Truganini”, featuring Montaigne. You can hear both of these songs on YouTube, go here for “Beds Are Burning”.

Track listing

1 My Favourite Things (Bushfire Edition)
2 Beds Are Burning
3 The Drover's Boy
4 Black Smoke
5 Suck It Up, Buttercup
6 Truganini
7 Solid Rock
8 Regional Echo

Read More Kavinsky Ever since I saw the trailer to Drive, I wanted to see the film. What I didn't know at the time was that the movie is directed by one of my favorite (new) director, Nicolas Refn, who did one of my favorite film a few years ago called Valhalla Rising. ....

OUTSHINE
outshineofficial.com

Sweden’s Outshine released their cover of “Nightcall” last month. We first heard the Kavinsky (featuring Lovefoxxx) song as the soundtrack to Nicolas Refn’s Drive in 2011. It’s a stand-out song that follows that Beauty & the Beast formula (a growly dark male vocals in contrast to a sugar sweet female vocal), and it works really well in that song.

It’s obvious that Outshine heard this song, liked it, but didn’t really want to include the nice girl-vocals, instead, making their version deliberately dark and dreadful.

A few years ago, we caught London Grammar in Feb 2015 was surprised to hear that covered “Nightcall” on their live set.

Prior to this, The Bluetones frontsman Mark Morriss covered “Nightcall” on his album A Flash of Darkness in 2013.

About the same time, Natalie McCool released “Nightcall” medley with “Real Hero” on her 2013 self-titled album.

There’s something about that song, I just can’t explain…

Read More Adele First up is Adele's 21 album has sold over 25 million records worldwide (10 million in the U.S. alone!). According to the press announcement, Adele is the only European female artist in history to earn this "Diamond Certification" …

PTERODACTYL PROBLEMS
pterodactylproblems.com

Toronto rockers Pterodactyl Problems released their cover of Adele’s “Hello” on Spotify on Valentine’s Day (Feb 14, 2020). You can listen to the song via show.co/pS57a7I or buy it on Amazon.

The band is described as genre-bending, genre-defiling… and apparently now gender-bending version of “Hello”. Overall, if you like the original song, you’ll like Pterodactyl Problems’ version - which played faithfully to the original song.

Adele at the Theatre De La Jeune Lune (02 Jun 2008)

It’s hard to believe how big and far-reaching Adele’s music have gotten. There was a time that no one’s heard of Adele. I had front-row seating to see the singer when she came through town in June 2008. Tickets were $17. My memory is bad as usual, but I don’t remember seeing a packed venue - but was told the show was sold out at 600 capacity. Still... that's a tiny number for someone like Adele. This was Adele’s first time in the U.S.A…

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

Minneapolis: November 14 to November 15, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from November 14 to November 15, 2016.

NOTE: Minihorse and Loud Sun is playing the Minneapolis Eagles Club #34 on this night.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Boom Forest Boom Forest Boom Forest January 2, 2014 Awesome! Enjoyed live show in ATL when they opened for Lord Huron. Spread the word, they rock! … Oh My Love Madison's Electronic Pop duo Oh My Love opened the show with a brief 25-min set, consisting of chillwave, atmospheric, synthy, electronic pop songs. In typical electronic …

BOOM FOREST
at 7th Street Entry
Monday, 11/14/16, 7pm ($10)
first-avenue.com

Nashville’s Boom Forest (John Paul Roney, Andrew Fraser, Aaron Simon) will be headlining the 7th Street Entry this Monday, November 14th.

Dichotomy and Oh My Love to open. We saw the latter band last year and noted, “Madison's Electronic Pop duo Oh My Love opened the show with a brief 25-min set, consisting of chillwave, atmospheric, synthy, electronic pop songs. In typical electronic pop bands, very little setup was involved... mostly consisting of a laptop or music producing device (courtesy of Christian) and/or with live vocals (which was provided by Hannah). The two played a few tracks from their EP Free_Ways, but also throwing in their new single "Spark" and a cover of Nancy Sinatra's "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"... but done in a slow, haunting, and deliberately downbeat style. ”

Tour dates:

11/12 The Frequency - Madison
11/14 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis
11/16 Elbo Room - Chicago
11/17 Shank Hall - Milwaukee

Amanda Palmer I've said this before, but Amanda Palmer is very entertaining. Every time I see one of her show, it's different and incredibly fun. …

AMANDA PALMER
at The Woman's Club Assembly
Tuesday, 11/15/16, 7pm ($30)
womansclub.org

For a brief minute, Dresden Dolls reformed with drummer Brian Viglione and Amanda Palmer. They rocked out the 5,000-capacity amphitheaters in Boston and Brooklyn. The whole thing was livestreamed on Huzza.io.

Now, Amanda Palmer is back on the road, doing a small, short tour date called “An Evening with Amanda Palmer”. If you’re near one of the five North American cities on her tour schedule, you really need to attend.

Expect her to play fan favorite songs like ‘Ukulele Anthem’, but possibly also covering Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ (since she’ll be playing in Minneapolis and she recently recorded the cover song with composer Jherek Bischoff).

"AN EVENING WITH AMANDA PALMER" NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2016

11/10 - Albany, NY - The Egg Center
11/11 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theater
11/13 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
11/15 - Minneapolis, MN - Woman's Club
11/17 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater

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

We get wild, wild, wild

Read More Ladyhawke It's no secret, I'm in love with Ladyhawke. Her song made my top 2008 list, and I was lucky enough to catch her on tour a few years ago.

LADYHAWKE
ladyhawkemusic.com

We’re massive Ladyhawke (aka Pip Brown) fans, having been lucky enough to catch her in September 2009 when she was touring in support of her debut album.

Ladyhawke is back with her third studio album Wild Things set for release on June 3 via Polyvinyl Records. If you can’t wait to hear it - the good news is that if you buy it on 180-Gram Yellow vinyl or CD, directly from Polyvinyl, you’ll get an instant download of the entire album.

National US Spring Tour!

06/21: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
06/24: New York, NY @ Rough Trade
06/25: Washington, DC @ U Street Music
06/26: Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
06/28: Chicago, IL @ Schubas
06/30: Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
07/01: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
07/03: San Francisco, CA @ Independent
07/06: Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy

Read More Lydia Lydia is an indie rock band from Gilbert, Arizona formed in 2003. I honestly never thought I'd get the chance to see these guys again. The last time I saw them was pre-2007 …

LYDIA
lydiaband.com

Arizona’s Lydia is currently on tour with electro-pop/post-hardcore band Pvris. You may remember that the band was previously in town last October 2015 in support of their album Run Wild (8123 Records).

If you missed them last Rocktober, catch them with Pvris, Cruisr, and Polyenso, at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 31st. A few tickets are still available for this show, but they are going fast.

Lydia’s tour dates:

05/28/16 Salt Lake City, UT Rockwell
05/29/16 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
05/31/16 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights
06/02/16 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
06/03/16 Bunbury Music Festival
06/04/16 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
06/05/16 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
06/06/16 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
06/08/16 New York, NY Webster Hall
06/09/16 Boston, MA Royale Nightclub Boston
06/10/16 Boston, MA Royale Nightclub Boston
06/11/16 Whitehall, PA Planet Trog
06/12/16 Pittsburgh, PA The Smiling Moose
06/14/16 Columbus, OH The Basement
06/16/16 Oklahoma City, OK 89th Street Collective
06/18/16 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad

Read More Elliott Smith Friends and Family of Elliott Smith is celebrating Smith's 44th birthday with "No Name #1: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Elliott Smith" and raising money …

WILD SUN
wildsunusa.com

Rhode Island’s alt-rock trio Wild Sun is gearing up for upcoming Elliott Smith Tribute Album, titled Say Yes featuring Amanda Palmer, Waxahatchee, Jesu/Sun Kil Moon, J Mascis and more.... The record will come out October 14, 2016.

Wild Sun’s singer Glenn Kendzia added, “The Elliott Smith tribute album is a huge honor to be a part of. Elliott is one of my favorite songwriters ever, and his writing is extremely influential to me in his candor and honesty. The song we covered, ‘Easy Way Out,’ is one of those songs that hit me so hard the first time I heard it, that I listened over and over to it and believed it was somehow written for exactly how I felt at the time I first heard it. I never shook that relationship with the song, and when we we’re asked to be a part of this album, that song was the one I had to do.”

Wild Sun is working on their sophomore album, taking a break to play a few festivals, including Northside Festival in Brooklyn this June and opening for The Wombats on Friday, August 12 as part of Providence’s summer concert series, sponsored by WBRU and Dunkin Donuts.

Tour dates:

May 28 Donahues - Madison, CT
Jun 1 Hard Rock Cafe - Foxwoods Casino, CT
Jun 4 Paddy's Beach Club - Misquamicut, RI
Jun 10 Northside Fest Showcase - The Rock Shop - Brooklyn, NY
Jun 16 Fete Ballroom - Providence, RI
Aug 12 95.5 WBRU Summer Concert Series Waterside Park - Providence, RI

Read More The Wild Reeds Intellectual lyrics and a visceral performance - Wild Reeds bring it all and pour it out on the audience. I was lured in by the NPR Tiny Desk Concert and recently …

THE WILD REEDS
thewildreedsmusic.com

NPR described The Wild Reeds as Americana’s “newest and most promising voices”. The band recently released a new three-song EP called Best Wishes and will be heading out on tour - with appearances at Pickathon, Summerfest, and Winnipeg Folk Fest, and more.

Be sure to check the Los Angeles band when they stop by the 7th Street Entry this July 5th.

Tour dates:

5/27 - Walla Walla, WA @ The Studio at BLDG 270
5/28 - Bellingham, WA @ Green Frog
5/29 - Port Angeles, WA @ Juan de Fuca Festival
6/3 - Ogden, UT @ Fort Buenaventura
6/4 - Nelsonville, OH @ Nelsonville Music Festival
6/10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater
6/30 - Sheboygan, WI @ Sheboygan Series
7/3 - Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
7/5 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
7/10 - Winnipeg, Canada @ Winnipeg Folk Festival
7/21 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
7/30 - Floyd, VA @ Floyd Fest
8/3 - Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon
8/25 - Fayetteville, AR @ Fayetteville Roots Festival
9/16 - Bristol, TN @ Bristol Rhythm and Roots

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

Amanda Palmer at the Cedar Cultural Center (16 Nov 2014)

Setlist ♪        In My Mind 📖       The eight foot bride 📖       Sam Buckingham 📖       Performing on stage ♪        Runs In The Family 📖       Wedding Anniversary ♪        The Bed Song ☺      Dessa: Addiction to Losing ☺      Dessa ☺      Kevin Kling ♪        Ukulele Anthem ☺      Steven Hall: Center for Victims of Torture Q&A      Criticism for volunteer musicians Q&A      How to deal with online attacks Book Tour 11/19/14 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom 11/21/14 Berkeley, CA Freight & Salvage 11/22/14 Los Angeles, CA First Unitarian Church 11/25/14 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace Read More Amanda Palmer I've said this before, but Amanda Palmer is very entertaining. Every time I see one of her show, it's different and incredibly fun. …

Amanda Palmer is currently on a sold out book tour for her book The Art of Giving, stopping by the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, last night November 16th.

In typical Palmer fashion, she came on stage in a crowd-sourced kimono, with her book in hand, and giving away fruits... declaring, "I wrote a book!" She was really proud of the work, especially after spending six months in "the great book hunkering down" to produce 5,000 words a day until the book was finished.

This was an intimate book reading for The Art of Giving, but of course, Palmer had scheduled to play some of her songs, starting with the ukulele "In My Mind".

The two pre-selecting reading excerpts about her time spent as a street performer (which she dubbed as "the eight foot bride") and about her musician friend Sam Buckingham and Patreon. Both shared themes about giving and taking and asking. For the third reading, she had an audience member flip to a passage at random and she would read about it - which was about performance on the stage.

After "Runs in the Family" song was played on the piano with her back to the audience, she read the most personal chapter from her book - about her husband Neil Gaiman and their first wedding anniversary... this was followed by "The Bed Song", played completely in the dark, with the audience's eyes closed, per her request. When Palmer asked if that was okay, someone shouted back, "YES! People are sobbing!"

Dessa was the first of the two guests, she came on stage and read a story she wrote about her recent professional conference in Las Vegas. She had recently broken up with someone and was falling for a foreigner at the convention. There's this whole thing about the addiction to losing, which will come around later as a punchline. It was good, it wasn't something I expected from Dessa.

Then there was this interview section, where Dessa asked Palmer about things from her book. The same with Kevin Kling, who admitted right away to loving what Palmer did with the book. This whole part felt a little narcissistic, but as Palmer had already addressed, she knows it... and she doesn't care.

There was one fan who was a little out of control at last night's show. She started talking out loud (really loud) answering the stage, as if they were having a one-on-one conversation. It got really awkward, and everyone around her started 'shushing' her to no effect. The Cedar staff eventually had to escort her out .... but somehow she got back in later in the show.

The sold out seated show was full of Amanda Palmer's diehard fans, and it became really evident when she started her "Ukulele Athem" song, sung off mic. Practically everyone was singing/finishing the lyrics.

This was followed by Steve from the Center for Victims of Torture and then some Q&A, limited to just two questions, as they were running out of time. The first question, I thought was really good, and it was about the volunteer musicians on Palmer's 2012 tour, which she got a lot of negative press about not paying her performers (especially after she got $1 million in Kickstarter funds). In the end, Palmer points out that other bands, notably Polyphonic Spree had people/fans paying them money to share the stage with the band.

After the show, there was a rather long and lengthy line to get The Art of Giving signed. I've stood in line for Amanda Palmer signing before, and I can tell you that she will not leave until every fan had their item(s) signed.

Amanda Palmer's The Art of Giving is out now. She urged her fan to buy the book by today (Nov 16) so that it will count toward the book charts. She will continue her book tour to Portland, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and ending in Toronto.

Kevin Kling, Dessa, and Amanda Palmer at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (16 Nov 2014)

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

W♥M223: Rocktober to Snowvember

Read More Lily Allen Lily Allen is currently in the US, touring in support of her latest album, Sheezus (Regal, Parlophone), stopping by the Skyway Theatre in Minneapolis last night. …

Vu and John recaps Rocktober 2014, plus news/rumors, and November show previews.

News

Macaulay Culkin is not dead. He's in a cover band The Pizza Underground (a Velvet Underground cover band... but the subject matter are all replaced by pizzas). The Pizza Underground was recently in Minneapolis, playing a show with Har Mar Superstar... currently in Texas.

Rumor: Could Liam and Noel be getting back together? With Beady Eye's break up, via twitter.com/liamgallagher, the rumors are coming fast and furious. Noel, on the other hand has a new Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds coming out early 2015 called Chasing Yesterday (Sour Mash Records).

Robert Plant apparently kiboshed a Led Zeppelin reunion guaranteeing $800 mil. from Richard Branson. 35 dates in 3 cities (London, Berlin, NJ).

Artists and digital music sites: U2 uploading new album Songs of Innocence to all iTunes users, Morrissey's music is not online, Taylor Swift pulls hers from Spotify, Garth Brooks self-distributing...

Rocktober 2014

Pre-Rocktober: Lykke Li and La Roux

Rocktober Highlights: Lily Allen, Paloma Faith, Vintage Trouble, Placebo, Pixies, Augustines, and Slowdive.

Honorable mentions: of Montreal, Kooks, and Agnes Obel

Here is a list of all the shows we covered in October:

10/01 Lily Allen at Skyway 10/01 Phantogram at Myth 10/02 Paloma Faith at Triple Rock 10/02 Agent Orange at 7th St 10/04 Kooks at First Ave 10/05 Vintage Trouble at Varsity 10/06 of Montreal at Cedar 10/07 Lucius at Electric Fetus 10/07 Tennis at Fine Line 10/07 Belle & Sebastian at Theatre 10/08 Screaming Females at Triple R 10/08 Banks at First Ave 10/09 We Are Scientists at Turf Club 10/09 Allen Stone at Terminal 5 10/10 Sloan at Turf Club

10/11 Augustines at Turf Club 10/11 Pixies at State Theatre 10/14 Communion Clubnight 10/15 Kina Grannis at Varsity 10/16 Kat Edmonson at Dakota Jazz 10/17 Placebo at Mill City Nights 10/17 Iggy Azalea at TCF Stadium 10/18 Angus & Julia Stone at Cedar 10/22 Dum Dum Girls at Fine Line 10/24 Minus the Bear at Triple Rock 10/27 Ray LaMontagne at Saenger 10/29 Bear's Den at Fine Line 10/30 Agnes Obel at Dakota Jazz 10/30 Kimbra at Fine Line 10/31 Slowdive at Fine Line 10/31 Alt-J at Myth

November Shows Highlight

FKA Twigs at Fine Line (11/14)

Interpol and Hundred Waters at First Avenue (11/14)

Peter Hook and the Light at Fine Line (11/15)

Amanda Palmer at Cedar (11/16)

Suzanne Vega at the Dakota Jazz Club (11/18-11/19)

Stars at Minneapolis (11/19)

Better than Ezra at the Varsity (11/20)

Death from Above 1979 at First Avenue (11/24)

Bonus:

Song of the show is Morrissey's "November Spawned a Monster".

Synthpop Lovelife (previously Viva Brother) and their relationship to Morrissey.

Joe Perry and Steven Tyler (both from Aerosmith) and their rivalry.

--
W♥M Radio is available on iTunes, please subscribe!

Subscription Options
Subscribe on iTunes
Subscribe via RSS
Add to Google
Add to Yahoo
____
Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on podomatic.com

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

Minneapolis: November 16, 2014

Read More Amanda Palmer I have to admit, Amanda Palmer puts on a very good live show. I knew what to expect, having seen her previously, but it was a different type of show at her appearance last night at First Avenue. This is one of the reasons why we love …

Here are some shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul on Sunday, November 16, 2014.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

AMANDA PALMER
at Cedar Cultural Center
Sunday 11/16/14, 7pm
$15 (Sold Out): thecedar.org

I've said this before, but Amanda Palmer is very entertaining. Every time I see one of her show, it's different and incredibly fun.

With this upcoming sold out show at the Cedar Cultural Center on Sunday, November 16th, I see that it is essentially a book signing tour for her new book The Art of Asking.... however, knowing Palmer, I am pretty there will be some singing/dancing involved, as well as an appearance from Neil Gaiman and other special guests. We'll likely hear her read excerpts from the book, and there will be a long line to get autographs. I believe the last time I saw Palmer and Gaiman together signing, the story I'm told was that it took three hours to sign/chat with all their fans.

Look, however long it takes to meet your favorite musician/artist/writers, it is worth it.

Book tour kicks off next week:

11/11/14 Boston, MA Royale Nightclub Boston
11/12/14 Washington, DC Sixth & I Historic
11/13/14 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
11/16/14 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
11/19/14 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
11/21/14 Berkeley, CA Freight & Salvage
11/22/14 Los Angeles, CA First Unitarian Church
11/25/14 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace

Read More Bleachers New music video for latest single "Rollercoaster". Don't miss Bleachers performing "Rollercoaster" next Wednesday, November 5, on Conan! …

BLEACHERS w/ Wild Club
at Varsity Theater
Sunday 11/16/14, 7pm
$21.50: varsitytheater.org

Don't forget to watch Bleachers (aka Jack Antonoff) on Conan O'Brien this November 5th, for his new single "Rollercoaster". His debut single "I Wanna Get Better" was already #1 at Alt radio after 20 weeks on the chart.

Bleachers are currently on tour in support of his debut album Strange Desire (RCA Records), which came on the Billboard Alternative album chart at #2 (#11 on the Top 200).

Special guest Nashville-based indie quintet Wild Cub will open the show.

Tour dates:

11/02/14 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
11/05/14 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
11/07/14 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
11/08/14 Vancouver, BC @ The Rio Theatre
11/12/14 Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theater
11/13/14 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
11/14/14 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
11/16/14 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
11/23/14 Phila, PA Theatre Of The Living Arts
11/25/14 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
12/19/14 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre

Read More Todd Rundgren He's been known as a wizard, a true star, a healer, an individualist and a soul brother. In an unlikely and exciting turn of events, the legendary artist, songwriter, producer and musical visionary Todd Rundgren …

TODD RUNDGREN
at Mill City Nights
Sunday 11/16/14, 7pm
$39.99: millcitynights.com

American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer Todd Rundgren was recently in the news for teaming up with Norwegian space disco artist Hans-Peter Lindstrøm and Emil Nikolaisen of the psychedelic rock outfit Serena-Maneesh for a very special project called Runddans.

Todd Rundgren is currently on tour, stopping by Minneapolis this November 16:

11/02/14 New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club
11/03/14 New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club
11/06/14 Salisbury, MA Blue Ocean Music Hall
11/07/14 Peekskill, NY Paramount Hudson Valley
11/09/14 York, PA Pullo Center
11/10/14 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion
11/12/14 Kent, OH The Kent Stage
11/13/14 Chicago, IL Park West
11/15/14 Peoria, IL The Limelight Eventplex
11/16/14 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights
11/18/14 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
11/19/14 Salt Lake City, UT The State Room
11/22/14 Scottsdale, AZ Talking Stick Resort
11/24/14 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
11/25/14 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
11/26/14 Beverly Hills, CA Saban Theatre

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

Minneapolis Music Guide: November 8, 2014

Here are shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul on November 8, 2014.

Read More Neil Gaiman Just to give you a little background, writer Neil Gaiman and Amanda "F***king" Palmer got married in 2011, and decided, to celebrate, they were to perform together for six nights. … My Brightest Diamond My Brightest Diamond’s new album, This is My Hand, is out now on Asthmatic Kitty Records (digital, deluxe digital, CD, special edition translucent red vinyl). …

WITS with host John Moe
at Fitzgerald Theater
Saturday 11/08/14, 8pm
$41: witsradio.org

As a longtime The Sandman comic book fan, you can say I'm a Neil Gaiman fan. I've attended many of his book signings (but not his final book tour), met him countless time ... and I usually see him when he randomly appears at Amanda Palmer's concerts (which, incidentally, Palmer will be returning to Minneapolis on 11/16).

Gaiman will be appearing as a guest, along with My Brightest Diamond (aka Shara Worden) on Wits, an American Public Media radio show on Minnesota Public Radio, recorded live with host John Moe.

My Brightest Diamond will be interviewed and playing some tracks from her new album This Is My Hand, which is out now on Asthmatic Kitty Records. If you miss this show, fear not, My Brightest Diamond will be returning to Minnesota at the Cedar Cultural Center on November 17. If you miss Neil Gaiman at this show, fear not, he will be appearing Magers And Quinn Booksellers on November 9th at 2pm (free if you don't mind standing room).

My Brightest Diamond dates:

10/28 London, UK Village Underground
10/29 Leeds, UK Brundenell Social Club
10/30 Glasgow, UK Oran Mor
10/31 Dublin, Ireland Workman’s Club
11/08 St. Paul, MN Wits
11/12 Grand Rapids, MI Wealthy Theater
11/13 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
11/14 Madison, WI High Noon
11/15 Milwaukee, WI Vogel Hall
11/16 Iowa City, IA The Mill
11/17 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
11/19 St. Louis, MO Old Rock House
11/20 Indianapolis, IN White Rabbit Cabaret
12/02 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
12/03 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
12/05 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
12/06 Seattle, WA The Crocodile Café
12/07 Vancouver, BC Electric Owl
12/10 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
12/12 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy
12/13 San Diego, CA The Casbah

Read More Bebel Gilberto Brazilian Bebel Gilberto is touring the US, starting in Washington on November 23rd. Her latest album is called All in One and I just read is mostly in Portuguese. …

BEBEL GILBERTO
at Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Saturday 11/08/14, 7pm + 9:30pm
$25+: dakotacooks.com

Daughter of João Gilberto (who most famously co-wrote "The Girl from Ipanema"), Bebel Gilberto will be returning to Minneapolis' Dakota Jazz Club this Saturday, November 8th.

If you love bossa nova, this is a show not to be missed. She is playing two sets: an early show and a late show.

Gilberto is touring in support of her latest Tudo, out now on Sony Music.

Tour dates:

10/27/14 New York, NY Blue Note New York
10/28/14 New York, NY Blue Note New York
11/07/14 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall
11/08/14 Minneapolis, MN Dakota Jazz Club
11/10/14 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
11/15/14 Miami Beach, FL The Catalina Hotel
11/16/14 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
12/06/14 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
12/11/14 Santa Cruz, CA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
12/20/14 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
12/21/14 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall

Read More Chadwick Stokes The Horse Comanche, the new studio album for acclaimed singer, songwriter and performer Chadwick Stokes, will be released February 3on Ruff Shod Records/Thirty Tigers. …

CHADWICK STOKES w/ Ark Life
at Cedar Cultural Center
Saturday 11/08/14, 7pm
$19: thecedar.org

Singer, songwriter Chadwick Stokes will return to Minneapolis on November 8 performing a show at the Cedar Cultural Center in support of his forthcoming 2015 album The Horse Comanche. He was last in the area in October 2013 performing as part of his special Living Room Tour.

Denver's Ark Life is listed as opener.

Tour dates:

11/01 Northampton, MA Pearl St.
11/03 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls
11/05 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig
11/06 & 11/07 Chicago, IL Schuba’s
11/08 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
11/10 Ames, IA M-Shop
11/11 Lawrence, KS The Bottleneck
11/13 Boulder, CO The Fox Theater
11/14 Denver, CO Bluebird
11/17 Seattle, WA The Crocodile
11/18 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
11/20 San Francisco, CA The Chapel
11/21 Los Angeles, CA The Bootleg Theater
11/22 San Diego, CA The Loft @ UCSD
12/02 Washington, DC The Hamilton
12/03 Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
12/04 Clinton, NY Hamilton College
12/05 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
12/20 Boston, MA House of Blues*

*with special guests Lucius

Read More St. Lucia South Africa by-way-of Brooklyn artist St. Lucia brings worldly beat with 80s influences to the Fine Line Music Café, in a show that was upgraded from the smaller 7th St. Entry. … Vacationer We've written about randomly seeing Vacationer on tour before. The latest item I have from them is that their song, "Good As New" got a Ghost Beach remix. …

ST LUCIA with Vacationer
at First Avenue
Saturday 11/08/14, 8pm
$16: first-avenue.com

Brooklyn based electro-pop St. Lucia are currently on their "The Night Comes Again Tour" in support of their debut album When The Night. St. Lucia was last in town originally at a smaller capacity 7th Street Entry... but when tickets sold out, the band got upgraded to the Fine Line Music Café in 2014. This time around, they are expecting to outsell the Fine Line, and their show is being held at a much larger main room at First Avenue.

Special guest Vacationer will open this show. We've seen Vacationer before in 2012, and I noted that my favorite song on their set was "Trip", with weird warp effects. At the time of that writing, they only had one EP, but it would seem that Vacationer is back in 2014 with already a sophomore album Relief.

Tour dates:

11/04 - Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
11/05 - Calgary, AB @ Republik
11/07 - Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid Cabaret
11/08 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11/10 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
11/11 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
11/12 - Detroit, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom
11/14 - Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
11/15 - Albany, NY @ The Hollow

All dates with Vacationer.

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

An Evening With Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer

Discography [2013] An Evening With Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer [2012] Theatre Is Evil [2012] Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under [2010] Evelyn Evelyn [2008] Who Killed Amanda Palmer [2006] Yes Virginia [2004] Dresden Dolls Tour Dates 12/12/13 IPRC - Portland, Oregon 12/15/13 The Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA 01/09/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/10/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/11/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/12/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/14/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/15/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/16/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/17/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/18/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia 01/19/14 Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia Read More Amanda Palmer I have to admit, Amanda Palmer puts on a very good live show. I knew what to expect, having seen her previously, but it was a different type of show at her appearance last night at First Avenue. This is one of the reasons .…

Having seen Amanda Palmer live a few times, I can say that they are some of the most entertaining shows I've ever been to. She's recently released a three-disc live album called An Evening With Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer. Although the live recording does not feature some of her more chaotic carnival shows, these recording are just as entertaining, capturing a moment in time in 2011.

Just to give you a little background, writer Neil Gaiman and Amanda "F***king" Palmer got married in 2011, and decided, to celebrate, they were to perform together for six nights. The show, which feature Gaiman readings and Palmer singing songs with her ukulele. Both would also answer some questions and answers from their fans. The unique presentation would be rarely repeated, so it's a treat to hear and imagine what it was like with the release of An Evening With Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer.

The three disc is divided into three logical sections: the first disc is nothing but Neil Gaiman reading excerpts from his various books. Gaiman is a great reader and performer, seemingly always well-rehearsed. Some of the readings are from poems ("100 Words"), some are short stories ("The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury") and some are very personal ("Feminine Endings"), but they are always a joy to listen to thanks to Gaiman's British accent.

The second disc, which according to the introduction from Margaret Cho, was recorded on Halloween. The second disc is also my favorite because it's the 'variety' disc, featuring the two singing duets on "Makin' Whoopee" and "The Problem with Saints" (the ultimate Joan of Arc song). In addition to Gaiman and Palmer collaboration ("Broken Heart Stew", "Pyscho"), the two read poems written for each other and answered some Q&A with fans (although you can tell this was edited to fit on one disc).

There was a nice surprise guest with Jason Webley (the other Evelyn), who came on to sing "Electric Blanket". His appearance was fun, especially when they messed up during the live recording.

The third disc focused more on Amanda Palmer's music as well as some of her "favorite cover songs". The covers are obscure, like Momus' "I Want You, But I Don't Need You", Fascinating Aïda's "Look Mummy, No Hands", and Death Cab For Cutie's "I Will Follow You Into The Dark".

As for the original songs, she often would give long and detailed introductions, so it gave great insights to why some of these songs were written, like "Dear Old House" (about her parents selling her old house) and "Gaga, Palmer, Madonna; A Polemic" (about who else?).

An Evening With Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer is out now, you can grab various physical bundles, including the double-vinyl at her website. To paraphrase Amanda Palmer, "It's only $25.00, that isn't lots of money."

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Amanda Palmer at First Avenue, Minneapolis (10/03/12)

Tour Dates 10/23: London @ Koko 10/24: Manchester @ Cathedral 10/25: Glasgow @ Oran Mor 10/27: Amsterdam @ Melkweg 10/28: Berlin @ Festsaal Kreuzberg 10/29: Prague @ Palac Akropolis 10/30: Zurich @ Abart 11/01: Antwerp @ Trix Club 11/02: Paris @ La Maroquinerie 11/03: Cologne @ Gebaude 9 11/05: Vienna @ Arena 11/09: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Theatre 11/10: Chicago, IL @ Metro 11/11: Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall 11/13: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall 11/15: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club 11/16: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club 11/17: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club Read More Amanda Palmer You may remember that seeing Amanda Palmer at the Cedar in 2010 was one of the best shows I've ever seen. It was hard to describe, but it wasn't just a regular rock n roll...

I have to admit, Amanda Palmer puts on a very good live show. I knew what to expect, having seen her previously, but it was a different type of show at her appearance last night at First Avenue. This is one of the reasons why we love her: her ability to re-invent herself from band to band, album to album.

Amanda Palmer's tour is in support of her latest album, Theatre Is Evil, which got a massive $1 million plus funding from her fans.

As the new name, Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra, suggests, with this latest tour, she has various volunteer string quartets and chamber-style players join her on stage*.

What I like about Palmer's shows is they act as one long show. All her various warmup bands would eventually join her on her "Theatre Is Evil" show, and Palmer does show up in various costumes before the band comes on stage to introduce them.

JHEREK BISCHOFF

Her live bassist, Jherek Bischoff, started off the show. He said on stage that he's played some depressing gigs, and he seemed so happy to be playing chamber music to attentive fans. His brief three-song set included some Congo song cover, "Blossom", and "Eyes". The latter song had Michael McQuilken on drums and Chad Raines on guitars.

I also managed to catch Ronald Reagan, billed as "Boston's premier 80's pop saxophone duo", who had a two-song setlist: Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and Michael Jackson's "Beat It."

NEIL GAIMAN

Just before Amanda Palmer took the stage, her husband, Neil Gaiman took the spotlight to tell this story about the F-word. Even though he's known for his Sandman books and American Gods novel and film work for "Coraline", you can tell that Gaiman is a natural public speaker and performer as well. The whole audience was clinging to every word the man had to say.

Amanda Palmer started her set with "Smile (Pictures or It Didn’t Happen)", followed by her single, "The Killing Type." As you would expect, the rest of the songs performed live were from Theatre is Evil, including "Want It Back", "Bottomfeeder", "Berlin", and "Olly Olly Oxen Free."

About midway into her set, Amanda Palmer read notes from her box. I didn't catch why/what it was for, but I'm going to call it "bummer notes." The notes were from anonymous audience members who wrote very depressing and dark things that happened to them. It probably wasn't very long, but it felt like an eternity as Palmer read each and every note, with the next more depressing than the last. One uncomfortable audience member shouted out, "Are you trying to get us to commit suicide?" I'm not going to lie: it got dark. The sad tone, at least to me, shouldn't be part of this upbeat "rock" show.

After the bummer notes were recorded, Palmer took those spoken words and looped it into her next song. I don't know the song, but it sounded like a cover song, "In My Room."

The second half of the show was on the happier side. My favorite song from the set their Wham! cover "Carless Whisper." This song is already great to start with, but having it performed with Ronald Reagan and a surprise "twist" with the camera girl.

Surprisingly, she did a few Dresden Dolls, including the set closer, "Girl Anachronism."

Encore was "Do It Like a Rockstar" and "Leeds United" from her Who Killed Amanda Palmer album.

Amanda Palmer is currently on tour in support of Theatre Is Evil. You can get the album on a variety of formats on her website.

Amanda Palmer at First Avenue, Minneapolis (10/03/12)

* PS In doing research on the latest tour, there seems to be a lot of negative press against Amanda Palmer for her not paying her volunteer bands. I find it hard to believe that Palmer with her million dollars from Kickstarter (plus regular ticket prices at the door) that she could not afford to pay for the musicians. As of mid-September, she started paying her guest musicians. You can read how she came to this conclusion at her 09/16 blog.

vu () ♥ amandapalmer.net ♥ jherekbischoff.com ♥ facebook.com/ronaldreagan80s

Girls Girls Girls: Sky Ferreira, Amanda Palmer, Laetitia Sadier

This is #12 in the Girls Girls Girls series.

Read More Sky Ferreira That might explained her "Sex Rules" title ? It's actually not what you'd think, it's the rules of nature, not that "it's totally awesome".

SKY FERREIRA
skyferreira.com

Sure, the single, "Red Lips," was released a few months ago (June), but I don't care. I think Sky Ferreira is awesome and we've been following her career since 2010.

"Red Lips" was written by Sky, Greg Kurstin, and … Garbage's Shirley Manson! The song is said to contain a new direction for Sky. Personally, it just sounds more or less in the same attractive pop/dance style, but with more guitars and less lo-fi.

Listening to "Red Lips," you wonder if Sky Ferreira is commenting on some other "little bitch" or on herself. I think you can read it both ways, but if that's the case, then certainly Ferreira know that she's playing that game … and if she's lost, then she'll walk. Then again, two-minute pop songs can't be all that smart, right?

Anyway, Ferreira's been quiet this past month, but expect a new EP from her next month, in September. The debut album, currently with a title of I'm Not Alright (changed from Wild At Heart), is coming out this year.

Check out her sexiest video yet: "Red Lips." The video featured Sky in her undies, lots of red lipsticks, and a lucky Toby the tarantula.

AMANDA PALMER & THE GRAND THEFT ORCHESTRA
amandapalmer.net

You may remember that seeing Amanda Palmer at the Cedar in 2010 was one of the best shows I've ever seen. It was hard to describe, but it wasn't just a regular rock n roll show, it was also part theater and part circus act.

I'm hoping to catch her again, this October at First Avenue. Will it live up to her Evelyn Evelyn show? I'll report back when I see her again. But hearing Palmer explain her latest work as "Rocky-Horror-meets-Scavenger-Hunt-meets-Interactive-Art-Happening," it sounds just as fun. Also, I am hoping to spot her hubby Neil Gaiman at the Minneapolis show.

Palmer's last album, Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under, was geared towards Australian, I still found the album to be fun and creative. The forthcoming album, under the Amanda Palma & The Grand Theft Orchestra banner is called Theater is Evil, and it will be out on September 11th on her own label, 8ft Records. You can preview one the song, "The Killing Type," on NPR.

Her tour dates starts September 10th.

09/10: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of Living Arts 09/11: New York, NY @ Webster Hall 09/12: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 09/14: Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle 09/15: Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse 09/17: New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina's Uptown 09/18: Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's Upstairs 09/19: Austin, TX @ Stubbs (Outside) 09/21: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre 09/22: Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom 09/24: San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues 09/25: Los Angeles, CA @ The Music Box 09/26: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore 9/28: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom 09/29: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom 09/30: Seattle, WA @ Neptune Ballroom 10/03: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 10/23: London @ Koko

10/24: Manchester @ Cathedral 10/25: Glasgow @ Oran Mor 10/27: Amsterdam @ Melkweg 10/28: Berlin @ Festsaal Kreuzberg 10/29: Prague @ Palac Akropolis 10/30: Zurich @ Abart 11/01: Antwerp @ Trix Club 11/02: Paris @ La Maroquinerie 11/03: Cologne @ Gebaude 9 11/05: Vienna @ Arena 11/09: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Theatre 11/10: Chicago, IL @ Metro 11/11: Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall 11/13: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall 11/15: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club 11/16: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club 11/17: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

LÆTITIA SADIER
myspace.com/laetitiasadier

You might know Lætitia Sadier from Stereolab.

Confession: Before the internet, in the early 90s, I thought this band came out of France. Not a surprise because singer Lætitia Sadier is French, however I thought they were French, up to 2008!

Anyway, Lætitia Sadier just released her second solo album, Silencio!, last month (July 24th) on Drag City.

The album is said to be about "the noise" preventing you from society and commercialism and the marketplace … so, yes, buy the album!

Sadier will be heading out on tour this September, along with Orca Team, a band that Lara likes. If it all works out, Lara is reviewing Sadier's show at the 400 Bar this September 30th.

09/15/12 Chicago, IL @ Schuba's 09/16/12 Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room at Crofoot 09/18/12 Toronto, ON @ Drake Hotel 09/19/12 Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal Festival 09/20/12 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Cafe 09/21/12 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge 09/22/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory 09/23/12 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 09/25/12 Washington, DC @ DC9 09/26/12 Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Cafe 09/27/12 Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Fest 09/28/12 Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Music Fest 09/29/12 Madison, WI @ University of Wisconsin 09/30/12 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar

10/03/12 Seattle, WA @ Barboza 10/04/12 Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar 10/05/12 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 10/06/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Culture Collide Fest 10/10/12 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive 10/11/12 Lincoln, NE @ Lincoln Calling 11/05/12 Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute 11/06/12 Glasgow, UK @ Captains Rest 11/07/12 Edinburgh, UK @ Sneaky Pete's 11/09/12 Dublin, IE @ The Workman's Club 11/10/12 Galway, IE @ Roisin Dubh 11/12/12 Cardiff, UK @ The Globe 11/13/12 London, UK @ XOYO 11/14/12 Brighton, UK @ Sticky MIkes

Briefly:

BLONDFIRE facebook.com Blondfire is a brother/sister duo (Bruce and Erica Driscoll), they've been around for a while. They recently announced that they've signed with Warner Bros Records and they are in the middle of mixing and recording new songs for a forthcoming album in 2013. To celebrate, they're giving you a sneak peak at their catchy new song, "Waves," at Soundcloud:

THE HERMIT CRABS myspace.com Scottish indiepop band The Hermit Crabs is back with a new EP called Time Relentless. This mark the first new material since their 2009's Correspondence Course EP. Time Relentless is strictly limited to 1,000 custom minijacket sleeve and available exclusively through Matinée Recordings. Download "Stop This Now" at Soundcloud:

CUUSHE cuushe.net Cuushe is a Japanese singer, and she's back with a THREE new EP Girl, You Know That I am Here, and But the Dream. She's offering a remix by Slow Magic of "You Know That I am Here" via, what else?, soundcloud.

BETH JEAN HOUGHTON bjh.tumblr.com Just quickly, but Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny has a new music video for "Dodecahedron." The video was directed by Sasha Rainbow, you can catch it on Vevo.com She'll be in Ireland in September: 09/16/12 Cork, Ireland Cyprus Avenue 09/17/12 Dublin, Ireland Whelans

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M