W♥M

We♥KC! September 7-13, 2023 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More: Janelle Monae For most attendees, this was their first opportunity to hear new tracks by the likes of Fratellis, Mazzy Star, Janelle Monae w/ Prince, Rudimental, and Bastille. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

School is in full swing, and the record-breaking high temps are finally in the rear-view mirror for the season. More crisp nights make outdoor shows more ideal, and plenty of bands are touring before things get too much colder, so the next couple months can often be the time to see some of the best touring acts of the year.  Best thoughts going out to Caamp.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from September 7th-13th.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7

Cyrano de Bergerac, KC Rep (Spencer Theatre), Through Sept 24, $35-$79

Opening their 60^th Anniversary season with a bang (and Asian-featured cast/director!), the classic love triangle tale of a genius with language, Cyrano secretly loves the radiant Roxane, but she loves the beautiful-but-inarticulate Christian. Convinced of his own ugliness, Cyrano offers to act as go-between, setting in motion a poignant and hilarious love triangle in which each character is torn between the lure of physical attraction and the seductive power of words.

Written by Edmond Rostand and freely adapted by Martin Crimp, direction is provided by Associate Artistic Director Nelson T. Eusebio III, and runs 2hr 15min, with an intermission. The production features smoke, haze, and strobe lights, simulations of war with swords, prop guns, and sounds of war with strong language. For ages 14 and up.

Here Come the Mummies, Uptown, POSTPONED TO NOV. 12

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8

"Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway - Broadway the Calla-way!" Pennway Place at Studio Dan Meiners, $100+

The Tony-nominated Callaway Sisters are bringing Broadway to Kansas City for HMCKC’s Evening of Note: 38 Below – raising the roof with their acclaimed New York City 54 Below Cabaret show, Broadway the Calla-way! Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway. truly become one singular sensation for a rousing NYC night of harmony, humor and the soaring sounds of the greatest songs of Broadway! With showstoppers from West Side Story, Chicago, Funny Girl, Cats, Carousel, Wicked and more great Broadway shows, you’re bound to enjoy The Big Apple from The Heartland!

Lemonade Social Fest, Sept 8, 9, $10-$20/day

Back for its fourth local music fest at Lemonade Park, it started in 2020 to help provide a safe way to uplift the KC music scene during the pandemic, and local record label The Record Machine is keeping the mission going. The fest opens at 7pm Friday with pop-rock trio LYXE, tropical pop band Surf Wax, as well as duo Static Phantoms and Dress Warm.

Saturday starting at 3:30pm will have eight acts in all, with psych-soul group Black Light Animals, local rapper Steddy P, and Mr. Golden Sun as a part of the lineup. Local rapper-producer Paris Williams, Lawrence singer-songwriter Paul Jesse, Flora, Ben Gipson, and Miki P & the Swallowtails are also slated to perform.

Cracker w/Bootstrap Boys, Sarah Shook Sept 8 and 9 (4pm), Knuckleheads, $25.

On the 30th anniversary of their acclaimed album, "Kerosene Hat,", alt-rock, Americana post punk legends Cracker takes over three stages on two nights. Friday’s schedule is: 7:00 -7:45 PM David Lowery / 8:00-8:45 PM Bootstrap Boys / 9:00 -10:45 Cracker while Saturday’s earlier start means: 4:00-4:45 PM Hickman Solo Set / 5:00-6:00 PM Sarah Shook and the Disarmers / 6:15-8:00 PM Cracker

Co-founders David Lowery and Johnny Hickman have been at it for over a quarter of a century – releasing ten studio albums, multiple gold records, several hit songs [“Low,” “Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now),” “Euro-Trash Girl” and “Get Off This”], and a worldwide fan base. Cracker‘s tenth studio effort, the double-album entitled Berkeley To Bakersfield, finds this American band traversing two different sides of the California landscape – the northern Bay area and further down-state in Bakersfield.

As Lowery explains, “On the Berkeley disc the band is the original lineup – Davey Faragher, Michael Urbano, Johnny and myself. This is the first time this lineup has recorded together in almost 20 years.” We caught Lowery solo and in conversation earlier this year.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9

Janelle Monae, The Midland, $41.50-$91.50

Named after her most recent LP, The Age of Pleasure Tour just started last week in Seattle and the leg will wrap mid-next month in Inglewood, CA. The Age of Pleasure is Monáe’s follow-up to her 2018 LP, Dirty Computer, released in June via Atlantic Records. The 14-song record includes “Float” (which features Seun Kuti and Egypt 80), and “Lipstick Lover.” And even though, she moved to Atlanta a long time ago, we still consider the Kansas City, KS-born innovative artist, one of our own.

Band of Heathens w Lilly Hiatt, Sept 9, Knuckleheads, $20

Returning to their Austin TX roots on ninth studio album, Simple Things, The Band of Heathens returns to a more basic approach to the rootsy, guitar-based rock with which they made their name.

Though the members now live scattered across the country, coming back to Austin to compose and record was crucial to the making of the new record, which should be featured live, along with older favorites.

Lilly Hiatt has continued on the road following her breakout LP Trinity Lane and has since released a hanful of lo-fi singles (i.e., the almost-shoegaze “Angels Thing” and groovy “L8 Night People”) and Domestic Bliss, the self-titled debut LP from Hiatt and husband and fellow Nashville musician Coley Hinson, and the couple continue to join forces live.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10

Black Country New Road, moved to The Granada-Lawrence, $22

This year, the UK rock act have released a live album and concert film recorded at London’s Bush Hall late last year. Live at Bush Hall followed Ants From Up There, which featured frontman Isaac Wood, who left the group soon after its release.

The band now performs an all-new repertoire written by remaining members Tyler Hyde (bass, vocals), May Kershaw (piano, vocals), Jockstrap’s Georgia Ellery (violin, vocals), Lewis Evans (saxophone, vocals), Luke Mark (guitar), and Charlie Wayne (drums).

NYC indie artist Daneshevskaya opens, in support of this year’s Long is the Tunnel release.

Gregory Porter, Kauffman Center, $47-$97

The acclaimed singer-songwriter was raised in Bakersfield, CA, and began singing in small jazz clubs in San Diego and later NYC where his music career began to ascend with the release of his first two albums- 2010’s Water and 2012’s Be Good. In 2013, he released his Blue Note Records debut, Liquid Spirit which grew into a phenomenon, selling more than a million albums and earning Porter his first GRAMMY Award.

His 2016 follow-up Take Me To The Alley won Porter his second GRAMMY for Best Vocal Jazz Album and established him one of the most soulful jazz singer-songwriters of his generation. In 2017, Porter released the heartfelt tribute album Nat King Cole & Me, and in 2020, returned to his original songwriting on the uplifting All Rise. 

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11

 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12

Joy Oladokun w Becca Mancari, Truman, $20-$40

The Arizona-born multi-genre (folk, pop, r&b, roots) artist continues out on her Living Proof Tour, (named after her fourth full-length of the same name, out now on Verve Forecast/Republic) headlining after spending some of the season opening for The Teskey Brothers and Noah Kahan. Oladokun has partnered with PLUS1, so $1 from each ticket sold will go towards supporting gun violence prevention initiatives.

Live, she plays plenty of her own, as well as works in covers from the likes of Jimmy Eat World, Phil Collins, and is getting more known for her version of Elton John's "Rocket Man".

Arrive early for rock/country singer-songwriter Becca Mancari, whose third LP Left Hand was just out on August 25 (via Captured Tracks Records). Lead single "Over And Over" definitely leans Pop though. Congas and shakers share space with guitar riffs to give the whole thing a polyrhythmic bounce, with Julien Baker lending backing vocals to the chorus.

Caamp, The Midland, CANCELED  Update: Caamp (@Caamp) / X (twitter.com)

Ohio folk favorites (and on one of our favorite labels, Mom+Pop) hit the road for a summer tour, playing multi-nights in bigger cities as well as many festivals, out in support of last year's Lavender Days release. The album quickly sprung to the top of the Billboard charts with opening positions in the Top 10 on 4 different charts, including Americana, Alternative, Vinyl and Indie and Top 20 positions on 7 charts total including the Billboard Top 200.

Lavender Days features Nathaniel Rateliff and (KC resident) Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield on vocals and their previous full lengths - their self-titled 2016 debut, 2018's Boys and By and By in 2019, have helped their growing fan base. Live, they've been working in covers from Dr. Dog, Fleetwood Mac, and Neil Young.

UPDATE: remainder of 2023 tour dates now canceled. 

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13

Jai Wolf, The Truman, $25-$60

The Bangladeshi American electronic performer/producer has a new single, “(I Dread The Day He Takes You To) Paris [feat. MYRNE, and inspired by Taylor Swift's song of the same name],” all as part of a new era he calls “Blue Babu – a new journey beginning with a demonstration in the desert, followed by an analysis of consciousness transcribed into sound,” also via Mom+Pop following his debut album, The Cure to Loneliness.

This “Blue Babu” era marks a return for Jai Wolf, starting with the recent release of his first official single in three years, “Want It All” featuring rising pop sensation Evalyn, complete with AI-created music video. Last June, he became the only Bangladeshi-American artist to sell out Red Rocks as a headliner and collaborator MYRNE as well as EVAN GIIA join him on the road.

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

David Lowery at Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence KS (2023-02-09)

DAVID LOWERY Poster DAVID LOWERY Setlist Frozen Sea, 1963 Plaza de Toros, 1967 Super Bloom, 1973 We Hate You Leaving Key Member Clause It Don't Last Long The Giving Tree Father (I Don't Wanna Go to the) Lincoln Shrine (Camper Van Beethoven song) DAVID LOWERY Tour Dates March 9 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA March 10 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA March 11 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA June 17 The Acorn Festival The Acorn Three Oaks, MI Read More Camper Van Beethoven Camper Van Beethoven, has explored a variety of musical genres in the 20-odd years they’ve been making music. Where CVB injected traditional Eastern European music... Cracker If you listened to our new podcast, you can clearly hear us singing to various Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven songs off the top of our heads. …

“Enjoy it while you can, it don’t last long” -

David Lowery, singer-songwriter of legendary alt-rock bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven sings this on the first track of his most recent full-length, Vending Machine, but there’s those that would disagree, evidenced by Lowery’s over four-decade career in music.

Lowery discussed his career in music and musician rights activism, and then performed a short but intimate acoustic set as part of Lawrence Public Library’s annual 780s Series- (named after the music section of the Dewey Decimal system in libraries) a once-a-year event that celebrates a notable life in music and the stories behind their songs.

Made possible through a private donation from the Harrison Family Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation, and in partnership with The Lawrence Public Library Foundation, the series has brought formidable talent to town in previous installments including Mavis Staples, Rakim, Jimmy Webb, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, and Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG’s.

Brad Allen, Executive Director of Lawrence Public Library sat down with Lowery at the Lawrence Arts Center (an ideal venue) for conversation, with some audience questions, and a brief performance following. David Lowery is a mathematician, writer, musician, producer, college lecturer, and entrepreneur based mostly in Georgia.

Lowery would unknowingly become a godfather of what we now identify as indie rock while studying math and computers at UC- Santa Cruz, co-founding early band Sitting Ducks in the early 1980’s, which distinguished themselves by playing a punk, acid rock version of "fake Russian-sounding music." That band would evolve into Camper Van Beethoven and associated label, Pitch-a-Tent Records was brought to life along the way.

That band would break up, with Lowery and guitarist friend Johnny Hickman, with bassist Davey Faragher next forming Cracker, whose sound was more traditional, country-tinged roots-rock, that struck more of a mainstream chord with radio hits like 1992’s "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" and 1993’s "Low".

Lowery eventually went solo and along the way co-founded a studio, created commercial tracks, produced numerous notable artists, and earned an Ed.D. from the University of Georgia in 2018, to add to his math degree.

With the rise of streaming and digital platforms of music, Lowery also found himself a music activist, involved in class-action lawsuits against the likes of Pandora and Spotify, who to this day, still only pay most artists a fraction of a cent, per-play.

Lowery also kept a keen eye on evolving technology as well, advising on the early version of Groupon and was a seed investor in music gear website Reverb.com.

In 2016 Lowery released Conquistador as a dramatic-musical work of a 1000-copy limited edition and because of this designation, all public performances, including streaming, webcasting, and radio broadcast required written permission from the author, meaning seemingly random sources like a German classical station would directly pay Lowery a one-time broadcast fee.

Lowery is still notably very much an advocate of the CD format (of which he described his signed limited run on a social post as “analog NFTs”, confusing many in the younger generation), preferring its sound, the ownership of a physical product, and because it allows more direct royalties to the artist.

While Lowery said he also enjoys the resurgence of vinyl, he mentioned the high prices, lead times, and a licensing structure, as potential barriers in allowing the re-release of his other older band releases for the moment.

Asked about major artists selling their music catalogs of late, Lowery understands the impetus to do so, and explained that the trend made his own song catalog's value multiply 3-4x as a ripple effect. Lowery explained the importance of describing a location in many of his songs, as another important paintbrush in his composing palette and how personal his latest songs are, dedicating many to his siblings and own children.

Following a short break, Lowery returned for a short eight-song acoustic set, mostly culled from his recent works, beginning with “Frozen Sea, 1963” about his childhood and his serviceman father. 2019’s “Plaza de Toros, 1967” was about witnessing bullfighting while the family lived in Spain and 2021’s "Leaving Key Member Clause” was his all-too-true story about assuming a band’s name, rights, and obligations (including all debts).

The lone older track was saved for last, one he composed as a teen that Camper Van Beethoven would perform in the mid-80s, called “(I Don't Wanna Go to the) Lincoln Shrine” about an inevitable grade school trip most classes in Redlands, CA took, to visit a local tourist attraction and museum.

“It’s timing and it’s luck” David Lowery admits on 2023’s “It Doesn’t Last Long” but while his musical career may have started out with the help of such; his surviving and thriving over the last forty years, has shown that talent, persistence, and a musical uniqueness were the true characteristics that paved his way. The 780s Series of conversation and performance proved a worthy and entertaining (did we mention free as well?) evening of showcasing the insight into an influential musician and their songs, and any future installments shouldn't be missed. 

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

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

BRAD ALLEN

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

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

We♥KC! February 8-14, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Country Stampede Country Stampede at the Heartland is an outdoor music festival featuring country music stars, camping, and more in Topeka, Kansas at Heartland Motorsports Park, held annually since 1996. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Ahh, the month of love!

KC is showing some love to live shows as well, with a handful this week that are sold-out, and it looks like a busy week at recordBar, The Uptown, and in Lawrence-- get out and see something live while those temps remain mild.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings through the end of the month- February 8th-14th.

WEDNESDAY FEB 8

My Fair Lady (musical), Kauffman Center, $56.50-$121.50

(Continues through Feb 12- look for our review of opening night soon!)  From Lincoln Center Theater (who brought The King & I and South Pacific), comes the Lerner & Loewe classic. Director Bartlett Sher’s production boasts classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” and “On the Street Where You Live,” it tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a professor determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.”

Garrison Keillor and Company (comedy/spoken word), Uptown, $39-$69

An evening of stand-up, storytelling, audience song, and poetry starring Garrison Keillor and featuring pianist Dan Chouinard, vocalist Prudence Johnson and musician Dean Magraw.

There are sung sonnets, limericks and musical jokes, and the thread that runs through it is the beauty of growing old. There is the News from Lake Wobegon, a town booming with new entrepreneurs, makers of artisanal firewood and gourmet meatloaf, breeders of composting worms, and dogs trained to do childcare. Minnesotans and beyond have been enraptured by this world of small-town humor.

Magic City Hippies w Capyac, recordBar SOLD OUT

Miami alt-pop psych-funk party starters are back on tour in support of third album Water Your Garden. We saw them open for Hippo Campus in Mar 2017 on their first-ever national tour, knowing bigger things were to come...and were right. 

THURSDAY FEB 9

Alastair Greene, Knuckleheads,$10

A night of blues rock from a member of the Alan Parsons Live Project from 2010 to 2017, Greene would go on to play with Starship featuring Mickey Thomas and Sugaray Rayford Band, as well as his own band. Greene formed his own Alastair Greene Band in 1997 and subsequently released eight albums, including two live sets and a compilation record, over nearly 20 years. Howard Mahan to open.

FRIDAY FEB 10

Ian Munsick w Ashland Craft, Ned LaDoux, Liberty Hall-Lawrence, SOLD OUT

One of the true highlights of last summer’s Country Stampede Festival was seeing this Wyoming native live, who is currently out on his mostly sold-out Long Live Cowgirls Tour and as well as the local date, is headlining the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for the first time.

The tour, named after the song, that has garnered over 74.5 million global streams to date and topped SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown, compliments the news of Munsick’s sophomore LP White Buffalo, due April 7th (on Warner Music Nashville). The album is an ode to the wild landscapes and complex characters of Munsick’s Wyoming, including a real-life glimpse of the bond between Native American and cowboy culture.

Ashland Craft and maybe fellow WY native (and son of legend Chris LeDoux), Ned LeDoux opens as support (scheduled, though we don't see his name listed on the venue's website).  

Chapel Hart w Lucas Hoge, Feb 10, Uptown, $25-$125

The Poplarville country music trio featuring sisters Danica Hart and Devynn Hart and cousin Trea Swindle is out on their Glory Days Tour as they release new music, which includes a song of the same name."This single is so exciting for us because we are currently living in our ‘Glory Days,'" the group said in a news release. "The beauty of it all is that there are some folks who've been where we are, there are some who are in it with us, and there are some who haven’t made it there yet.”

Shlump, Encore at Uptown, $25

Dubstep DJ / producer spins on his Alien Trip Tour

 

 

David Lowery, Knuckleheads, $20

What the world needs now…is a mathematician, writer, musician, producer and serial entrepreneur based in Richmond, VA and Athens, GA. While studying mathematics and computers at the UC-Santa Cruz in the early 1980’s, Lowery founded the critically acclaimed ensemble Camper Van Beethoven and associated record label Pitch-a-Tent Records, helping jump start the modern Indie Rock movement and would later go on to even further success with band Cracker. The one-man show will be an intimate look into early indie.

(Note- Fall 2022 date in Lawrence, KS was previously postponed and is now taking place the night before at Lawrence Arts Center, free)

SATURDAY FEB 11

Voices of Mississippi feat Ruthie Foster, JCCC- Midwest Trust Center, $25+

More than a concert – a unique entertaining and informative Blues and Roots event!  "Voices of Mississippi” is a new multimedia event that celebrates the music, art and storytelling traditions of the people of Mississippi, based on the 2019 double Grammy Award–winning source. The program features live musical performances integrated with film, audio recordings and rare photographs by folklorist William “Bill” Ferris, who will also serve as host.

The show features musicians Ruthie Foster and Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, Sharde Thomas and Chris Mallory, all of whom have deep ties to Mississippi. With an array of photos, film clips, stories and live music, “Voices of Mississippi” paints a powerful picture of a time and place that remains an essential piece of the American cultural fabric.

Adam Sandler, T-Mobile Center, $34.50-$164.50

The Sandman is back to his stand-up roots (though on an arena stage) promising a special surprise guest and at each show, Sandler pays his respects to his former “Saturday Night Live” cast mate Chris Farley with his original song “Farley.”

The tour leads up to Sandler set to receiving the 24th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor next month. Some who have received the award in recent years include Tina Fey, Jon Stewart, Richard Pryor, Will Ferrell and Carl Reiner.

SUNDAY FEB 12

Super Bowl LVII- Go Chiefs!

MONDAY FEB 13

We Came as Romans, Granada-Lawrence, $25-$28

Out on their Darkbloom U.S. Headline Tour, a 24-date run with support from ERRA and Brand of Sacrifice. Guitarist Joshua Moore commented, "We're stoked to announce we'll be hitting the road again on the Darkbloom headliner! — get ready for a heavy show! We're excited to be able to play a ton of new songs for our fans, we're so grateful for your support over the last four years!"

Oliver Hazard w The 502s, recordBar, $14

Oliver Hazard is an indie-folk band from Waterville, OH whose sound is self-described as a “ramshackle of uprooted folk-stomp,” though band member Mike Belazis says he would consider adding the word “melodious.” The project of musicians Mike, Devin East, and Griffin McCulloch. They’re big enough in their hometown, they even have their own summer festival.

FL Tik Tok sensations The 502s are a sextet comprised of cousins Ed and Jake Isola, who grew up across the street from one another (in house number 502!), and also features kindergarten friends Matt Tonner and Joe Capati, plus Sean Froehlich and Nick Melashenko who joined the gang when they all met at college together.

Blue Man Group, Feb 13, 14, Lied Center- Lawrence,$21-$60

Celebrate with a loved one with a show with a show everyone should see at least once! More than 50 million people around the world have experienced the smash hit phenomenon. It’s everything you know and love—signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and comedy—the men are still blue, but the rest is all new! Featuring original music, custom-made instruments, surprise audience interaction, and more.

TUESDAY FEB 14

Eleri Ward, recordBar,$20

The singer/songwriter will perform selections from her new album Keep A Tender Distance (via Ghostlight Records). The album is an introspective folk guitar exploration of Stephen Sondheim's musical theater canon and is the follow-up to A Perfect Little Death, her viral hit debut take on the Sondheim catalog. We caught her live last July with Josh Groban and came away very impressed.

john c ([email protected]) ♥ 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 [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Cracker / Camper Van Beethoven at the Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (06 Jan 2017)

Cracker Setlist Dr. Bernice Been Around the World Almond Grove One Fine Day Gimme One More Chance California Country Boy Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now) Don't F**k Me Up (With Peace and Love) Low Beautiful Euro-Trash Girl Someday Another Song about the Rain -- Encore -- King of Bakersfield Camper Van Beethoven Setlist Pictures of Matchstick Men (Status Quo cover) Mao Reminisces About His Days in Southern China The History of Utah White Riot (The Clash cover) Wasted (Black Flag cover) Shut Us Down R 'n' R Uzbekistan Take the Skinheads Bowling (We're a) Bad Trip L'Aguardiente Northern California Girls Tania Eye of Fatima (Part One) Eye of Fatima (Part Two) Too High for the Love In All Her Favorite Fruit S.P. 37957 Medley Tour Dates 01/11/17 Charlotte, NC Neighborhood Theatre 01/12/17 Washington, DC 9:30 Club 01/13/17 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live 01/14/17 Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs 01/15/17 New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club 01/19/17 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club 01/21/17 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club 03/25/17 A-Town Get Down Read More Cracker If you listened to our new podcast, you can clearly hear us singing to various Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven songs off the top of our heads. … Camper Van Beethoven Camper Van Beethoven, has explored a variety of musical genres in the 20-odd years they’ve been making music. Where CVB injected traditional Eastern European music...

Maybe it should have been called Lowery-Palooza…?!

As the leader of two bands, singer-songwriter David Lowery did double-duty on a co-headlining, sold out night featuring his bands, Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker, for a time trip both back into the 80’s and the ‘90s.

The bands have been touring together for the last several years since the former band reunited in 1999, and who released their most recent album, El Camino Real (Savoy Records) in 2014. Cracker, Lowery’s subsequent band, formed in 1990 upon CVB’s dissolution and has continued since, with guitarist Johnny Hickman at Lowery’s side, amongst a changing roster of sidemen.

Cracker’s most recent album is their ninth, also released in 2014 called Berkeley to Bakersfield (429 Records) with the "Berkeley" portion more influenced by punk/garage, and "Bakersfield" sounding more "California country".

Camper Van Beethoven took to the stage first, playing just over an hour with their interesting blend of folk, alt-pop, punk, ska and world music.  Starting with the Status Quo 60’s hit that they’ve made their own, ’Pictures of Matchstick Men’, the scruffy-faced Lowery and bandmates chugged through seventeen songs quickly and without much of a break or saying much in between.

The band took to a couple of covers early on – The Clash’s ‘White Riot’ followed immediately by a loose Black Flag cover of ‘Wasted’ before things went gypsy and Eastern sounding with the instrumental ‘R n R Uzbekistan’.  Alt-radio smash ‘Take the Skinheads Bowling’ was next, with many in the Gen X crowd bobbing their heads along with the unlikely hit.

“We’re actually Acid Rain, a tribute to Camper Van Beethoven”, Lowery teased after ‘Bad Trip’, “we hope you enjoy our tribute act”.  Violinist/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Segel, responsible for much of their trademark sound, shone on ‘L'Aguardiente’ and the extended jam medley at the end of their set proved they’re likely the only band that can seamlessly segue from a part of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ into Jewish folk song ‘Hava Negila’ into Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’.

After a brief break and costume change by Lowery (he changed his shirt, took off his cap), dry ice fog pumped onto the stage and the intro music of Dio’s ‘Holy Diver’ brought on Cracker for their seventy minute closing set.  The band started mellow and with just Lowery, Hickman, and pedal steel player Matt "Pistol" Stoessel on stage for the opening ‘Dr. Bernice’ and ‘Been Around the World’.

Athens, GA natives- bassist Bryan Howard and drummer CoCo Owens soon followed in, as the band launched into ‘Almond Grove’ from their most recent album.  The widescreen ‘One Fine Day’ was expansive, punctuated with Hickman’s guitar riffs and the guitarist took center stage on ‘California Country Boy’, a song Lowery wrote for him.

1992’s ‘Teen Angst’, the band’s first breakout song, made the crowd move in a little more rowdier fashion, with 1993 radio hit, ‘Low’ following soon after (though not accompanied by the memorable black and white music video). Crowd favorite ‘Euro-Trash Girl’ had the crowd singing along with the eight-minute song, originally done for their Tucson EP, then hidden as track #69 on 1993’s Kerosene Hat.

The main set closing ‘Another Song about the Rain’ could have been easily re-titled ‘Another Song about the Snow’ with a blanket of such covering the streets, and near-zero temps outside.  CVB guitarist Greg Lisher joined the band as they re-emerged for a single-song encore, the laid back and Buck Owens-influenced ‘King of Bakersfield’, a song celebrating the slow and simple lifestyle of that area in California.

It wasn’t because of the warmth of the building or the cold beers on tap that led people into filling the Fine Line on this dangerously chilly January evening—it was the promise of seeing important alternative bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven together on the same stage, mixing up their hot musical stew to serve up to the more than willing crowd—Lowery-Palooza was in session.

Camper Van Beethoven

Camper Van Beethoven

Setlist

Cracker

Cracker

Cracker at Fine Line Music Café, Minneapolis (06 Jan 2017)

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

Minneapolis: January 1 to January 8, 2017

Start off the year with these Minneapolis/St Paul shows from January 1 to January 8, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Semisonic The majority of the show is about Semisonic and Dan Wilson. The band doesn't regularly release music or go on tour, but once in a while, Wilson and company will play a show here and there. …

SEMISONIC
at Turf Club
Thursday, 01/05/17, 7pm ($35 / Sold Out)
turfclub.net

SEMISONIC
at First Avenue
Saturday, 01/07/17, 8pm ($30 / Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

It’s not quite closing time for this celebrated band Semisonic. The band broke up in 2001, so it’s been a good 15 years since trio (Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter) had played together. Of course, both shows are sold out.

For the Saturday show, Semisonic will be playing their Great Divide album in its entirety. No, that’s not the album with ‘Closing Time’, but expect them to at least play the popular song during their second half of their set, or possibly most likely, saving it for the very last song on the encore.

Personally speaking, All About Chemistry, released in 2001, is probably a better choice if I was programming the setlist.

We previously caught Dan Wilson at the Cedar in June 2014 and wrote, “On the last of his three sold-out shows at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis over the weekend, singer/ songwriter/ producer/ hometown favorite son Dan Wilson had decreed the night’s theme as a “Chef’s Choice”- to be composed of elements of his previous two storytelling evenings, and would also feature some rarely played collaborations and surprises. With his 110 minute performance, the “Chef” did not disappoint.”

Read More Cracker If you listened to our new podcast, you can clearly hear us singing to various Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven songs off the top of our heads. …

CRACKER
at Fine Line Music Cafe
Friday, 01/06/17, 7pm ($20)
finelinemusic.com

Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven are touring together this winter. Personally speaking, I feel like they’re practically the same band, as they’re both fronted by singer David Lowery.

I remember the first time I heard Camper Van Beethoven’s single ‘Take The Skinheads Bowling’ I knew they were a fun band... The band broke up after a few years and Lowery went on to Cracker. Cracker was a more successful band, with ‘Low’ as their big hit song... however, I personally felt ‘"Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)’ is a better song.

We saw Cracker in 2014 and wrote, ““This band is called Cracker,” lead singer David Lowery rumbled into the mic as an Ennio Morricone-style intro led the band on stage. Cracker, like Lowery’s other group, Camper Van Beethoven, has explored a variety of musical genres in the 20-odd years they’ve been making music. Where CVB injected traditional Eastern European music and psychedelia into their punk songs, Cracker has had more of a surf and roots slant to their rock tunes - an amalgamation that has been dubbed “Bakersfield Country,” named for the California city where the band practices. The band that scored the 90s alternative rock hit “Low” can also bust out western-flavored tearjerkers like “Where Have Those Days Gone,” the song that opened their set.”

Cracker’s most recent double-album Berkeley to Bakersfield is out now.

Cracker / Camper Van Beethoven Winter Tour Dates:

12/27 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA
12/28 - Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, CA
12/29 - Music Box - San Diego, CA
12/30 - Whisky A Go Go – Hollywood, CA
12/31 - Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR
01/01 - The Crocodile – Seattle, WA
01/06 - Fine Line Music Cafe – Minneapolis. MN
01/07 - Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
01/08 - The Music Box - Cleveland, OH
01/11 - Neighborhood Theater - Charlotte, NC
01/12 - 9:30 Club - Washington D.C.
01/13 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA (Sold Out)
01/14 - Middle East Downstairs - Cambridge, MA
01/15 - B.B. King Blues Club - New York, NY
01/19 - CAMP-IN 2017 at 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA
01/20 - CAMP-IN 2017 at 40 Watt – Athens, GA
01/21 - CAMP-IN 2017 at 40 Watt Club – Athens, GA

Other shows in the area:

01/01/17 New Year’s Day

01/02/17 New Year’s Day Observed

01/03/17 Beats and rapper Felly and Gyyps will be at the Pourhouse.

01/04/17 Locals Remo Drive, Ego Death (who we previously was confused with Canada's Ego Death) and Autumn Kid will be at the 7th Street Entry.

01/08/17 Reel Big Fish and Anti-Flag will be at Skyway Theatre. Special guests Ballyhoo! and Direct Hit! are also on the bill.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Pump Up The Volume (1990)

Pump Up The Volume (1990) New Line Cinema Read More Films I’m a sucker for the sports documentary. From “the thrill of victory” to the “agony of defeat” and all nuances in-between, I find it all fascinating. However, I have a special affection for the “Field Of Broken Dreams” .…

One of the best music teen angst film is Pump Up The Volume. The film was released in 1990, written and directed by Allan Moyle and starring Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis.

If you've never seen it, it is about Mark Hunter, who just moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He's a little anti-social, and expressed himself through a personality called Happy Harry Hard-On via a small FM pirate radio station that broadcasts from the basement of his parents' house. His station is popular with his high school and, of course, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) eventually stepped in and try to stop the pirate broadcast.

As the movie's theme song, "Everybody Knows" by Leonard Cohen plays over the opening credit, you get a glimpse of Hunter's "underground" bands on cassette tapes: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Camper Van Beethoven, Primal Scream, Soundgarden, Ice-T, Bad Brains, Concrete Blonde, Henry Rollins, and The Pixies (see image below).

Pump Up the Volume Soundtrack MCA Records

The official soundtrack, released by MCA Records on August 14, 1990, features Concrete Blonde's version of "Everybody Knows", not the Leonard Cohen original. This is possible due to costs and licensing issues. For example, the movie Trainspotting wanted to use Blondie's "Atomic", but it was so expensive to license that the movie producer spent a fraction of that cost and had Sleeper record a cover of that song (that information was given on the audio commentary of the Trainspotting laser disc.) Instead, if you watch the movie, the Concrete Blonde's version does appear on Hunter's final broadcast.

Pump Up The Volume's soundtrack still holds up, as does the film. Although, I do find it hard to believe that some of the actors that appeared in Pump Up The Volume are teenagers, despite the fact that Slater previously appeared as a teenager in Heathers.

If you enjoyed Pump Up The Volume, other films, from this era, worth checking out: Say Anything... (1989), Dazed And Confused (1993), Singles (1992), Empire Records (1995), and, of course, Trainspotting (1996).

Pump Up the Volume: Soundgarden, Camper Van Beethoven, Pixies, and Henry Rollins New Line Cinema

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com