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Minneapolis: July 18 to July 24, 2019

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from July 18 to July 24, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Belle & Sebastian 2019 Tour Read More Belle & Sebastian Our favorite Scottish band Belle & Sebastian is releasing Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance tomorrow, January 20th, via Matador Records, their first new record since 2010's Write About Love. ... Men I Trust Men I Trust to open. This all-girls group from Montreal, Canada, features Jessy on bass/guitar, Dragos on keyboards and Emma vocals/guitar. ... DJ Jake Rudh This is billed as a Transmission (aka DJ Jake Rudh) / BNLX release show, but music fans may want to take note that at nearly midnight, The Ocean Blue is scheduled to appear. …

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN
+ Men I Trust, DJ Jake Rudh
Weesner Family Amphitheater
Tue 07/23/2019 (7pm/$56)
suemclean.com

With all my cards on the table, I have to let you know that Scottish band Belle & Sebastian is one of my favorite bands. Yes, I own all their records, own all their singles, and have seen the band every time they play in Minnesota (which you can count on one hand: 4 times).

I’m very excited to let you know that B&S is back in the area, they’ll be playing the Weesner Family Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. That’s a bit of a drive (for me), but they’re worth it.

Let’s hope the band will play older/classic B&S songs, considering that their last release were three singles, collected into one How to Solve Our Human Problems compilation album (available on Matador Records). I have read that they’re recording a new album called Days of the Bagnold Summer, but I don’t think the band will be playing forthcoming songs.

Special guests Men I Trust will open. The all-girls band was previously in town with Wild Nothing in November 2018.

For the Minnesota show, it’s listed that Transmission’s DJ Jake Rudh will play music pre-show.

Tour dates:

11 July 2019 Sprint Pavilion, Charlottesville, VA
13 July 2019 House of Blues Boston, Boston, MA
15 July 2019 MTELUS, Montreal, QC
18 July 2019 Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh, PA
19 July 2019 – 21 July 2019 Pitchfork Music Festival 2019
23 July 2019 Weesner Amphitheater, Minnesota Zoo, MN
08 August 2019 – 12 August 2019 The Boaty Weekender 2019
31 October 2019 – 03 November 2019 Pitchfork Music Festival Paris 2019
08 November 2019 – 09 November 2019 Primavera Weekender 2019

Other shows in the area:

Cate Le Bon 2019 Tour La Misa Negra/Dos Santos at Cedar Jackie Venson at 7th Street Entry Night Moves at First Ave The Posies Chris Smither: Call Me Lucky Drugdealer at 7th Street Entry Read More Night Moves The locally based band, promoting their debut, Colored Emotions (Domino) impressed us enough opening for Poliça (in Minneapolis and Colorado) and Django Django last year…

PARQUET COURTS
+ Cate Le Bon
First Avenue
Thu 07/18/2019 (7pm/$25)
first-avenue.com

Parquet Courts will be headlining First Avenue (a one-off date extending from Pitchfork Festival?) this Thursday, July 18th.

Cate Le Bon, who is touring in support of her new Reward album (available on Mexican Summer) will open the show. We last saw Le Bon in May 2016 and mentioned, “It was an incredibly healthy turn out for the Los Angeles, by the way of Wales, Cate Le Bon. Words must have spread since her last appearance in Minneapolis, in January 2014... despite the fact that Cate Le Bon physically could not say the words ‘Minneapolis’. Le Bon, in her thick Welsh accent said, “Wish ah could sae your city’s name. Ah just carn’t say it.””

Cate Le Bon Tour Dates:

July 12 - Seattle, WA @ Doug Fir Lounge
July 13 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile Cafe
July 18 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
July 19 - Chicago, IL - Constellation
July 20 - Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Festival
Aug. 23 - Bethesda, UK @ Neuadd Ogwen
Aug. 24 - West Lothian, UK @ Jupiter Rising Festival
Aug. 25 - Edinburgh, UK @ Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Aug. 27 - Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
Aug. 28 - Leeds, UK @ Riley Smith Theatre
Aug. 29 - Cardiff, UK @ Portland House
Sept. 1 - Dorset, UK @ End of the Road Festival

LA MISA NEGRA / DOS SANTOS
Cedar Cultural Center
Fri 07/19/2019 (7pm/$18)
thecedar.org

Seven-piece California band La Misa Negra and Chicago’s quintet Dos Santos co-headlining tour will stop by the Cedar Cultural Center on Friday, July 19th.

As of this writing, they haven’t announced an opening band.

Tour Dates

07/19/2019 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
07/20/2019 John Michael Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan, WI
07/26/2019 The Ritz San Jose, CA
08/22/2019 Mill Hill Park Trenton, NJ
08/23/2019 S.O.B.'S New York, NY
08/24/2019 World Cafe Live - Upstairs Philadelphia, PA
08/27/2019 Leicht Memorial Park Green Bay, WI
10/05/2019 Moe's Alley Santa Cruz, CA

JACKIE VENSON
+ Mina Moore
7th St Entry
Sat 07/20/2019 (7:30pm/$16)
first-avenue.com

Austin-born Jackie Venson will be playing the 7th Street Entry on Saturday, July 20th.

Tour dates:

07/11/2019 Smith's Olde Bar Atlanta, GA
07/20/2019 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN

NIGHT MOVES
+ Lady Lark, Sam Cassidy
First Avenue
Sat 07/20/2019 (8pm/$15)
first-avenue.com

Local Minneapolis Night Moves will be headlining First Avenue on July 20th, a send-off start of their tour for their new album Can You Really Find Me.

We saw Night Moves in January 2014 and wrote, “ Local band Night Moves, ably taking over the opening spot from the previously announced Night Beds, was literally feeling the Blues. For the duration of their 40 min set, the band members (guitarist/vocalist John Pelant, bassist Micky Alfano, and multi-instrumentalist Mark Ritsema , with drummer Jared Isabella) were literally bathed in muted blue stage lights, which was mood evocative of their easy-going, slightly psychedelic 70s album rock-vibed sound.”

Lady Lark and Sam Cassidy to open.

Tour Dates

July 20 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
July 23 – Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room
July 24 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Jones Assembly
July 26 – Dallas, TX @ Ruins
July 27 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
July 28 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
July 29 – Houston, TX @ Satellite Bar
July 30 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
Aug 2 – Indianapolis, IN @ LO-FI Lounge

THE POSIES
Turf Club
Sun 07/21/2019 (7pm/$22)
turfclub.net

The Posies returns to the Turf Club this Sunday, July 21.

Tour dates:

11 July 2019 McGonigel's Mucky Duck, Houston, TX
12 July 2019 Andy's Bar, Denton, TX
19 July 2019 Chicago Premium Outlets, Aurora, IL
20 July 2019 Back Room, Milwaukee, WI
21 July 2019 Turf Club, St. Paul, MN
02 Sep 2019 Fremont Abbey Arts Center, Seattle, WA

CHRIS SMITHER
Dakota Jazz Club
Mon 07/22/2019 (7:30pm/$30)
dakotacooks.com

Americana songwriter Chris Smither is returning to Minneapolis, this time playing the Dakota Jazz Club on Monday, July 22nd, touring in support of his new album Call Me Lucky (Signature Sounds). This is the performer’s first studio album in six years.

Tour dates:

07/22/2019 Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant Minneapolis, MN
07/23/2019 The Redwood Grove Berkeley, CA
07/24/2019 Bakersfield Music Hall Bakersfield, CA
07/26/2019 Palms Playhouse Winters, CA
08/02/2019 3S Artspace Portsmouth, NH
08/03/2019 Stone Mountain Arts Center Brownfield, ME
08/16/2019 The Guthrie Center Great Barrington, MA
08/17/2019 The Guthrie Center Great Barrington, MA
09/06/2019 Fur Peace Station Pomeroy, OH
09/07/2019 Fur Peace Station Pomeroy, OH
09/08/2019 Fur Peace Station Pomeroy, OH
09/09/2019 Fur Peace Station Pomeroy, OH
09/20/2019 Club Passim Cambridge, MA
09/21/2019 The Locks Philadelphia, PA
11/01/2019 My Father's Place Roslyn, NY
11/02/2019 New Hope Winery New Hope, PA
11/15/2019 Peterborough Players Theatre Peterborough, NH
11/16/2019 One Longfellow Square Portland, ME
02/21/2020 Me & Thee Coffeehouse Marblehead, MA
02/22/2020 Narrows Center Fall River, MA

DRUGDEALER
+ Summer Carols
7th St Entry
Wed 07/24/2019 (8pm/$15)
first-avenue.com

Michael Collins’ collective project Drugdealer will be playing the 7th Street Entry in support of their new album Raw Honey (Mexican Summer).

Opening will be Summer Carols to play a “Beatles set”.

Tour dates:

July 10 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
July 12 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda Inside
July 13 - Houston, TX @ Satellite Bar
July 14 - New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
July 15 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
July 16 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage
July 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
July 21 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café
July 22 - Detroit, MI @ El Club
July 23 - Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
July 24 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
July 27 - Calgary, AB @ Palomino Social Club
July 29 - Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
July 30 - Vancouver, BC @ The Fox Cabaret
July 31 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Aug. 2 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Aug. 4 - Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriets

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

Cate Le Bon at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (10 May 2016)

Cate Le Bon Setlist Crab Day Love Is Not Love Wonderful No God I'm A Dirty Attic I Was Born On The Wrong Day How Do You Know? Are You With Me Now? Sisters We Might Revolve Cuckoo Through the Walls What's Not Mine I Can't Help You Tour Dates May 12th - Biltmore Cafe, Vancouver BC* May 13th - Barboza, Seattle WA* May 14th - Dante's, Portland OR* May 16th - The Chapel, San Francisco CA* *with Mega Bog Read More Cate Le Bon I was supposed to see Cate Le Bon last month but a combination of a severe case of the hives, a hefty dose of sleep-inducing Benadryl, and a long delay in the arrival of the band …

Welsh singer Cate Le Bon is currently on tour in support of her fourth solo album Crab Day (Drag City), stopping by the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday night.

Mega Bog

Mega Bog (aka Erin Birgy) opened up the show. I wasn’t sure if this was her last night on tour, but for sure, she confessed that it was the last night that she would play with her live band: James Krivchenia on shaker, Matt Bachmann on bass, Kevin Romain on drums, and Derek Baron on flute. Birgy was experiencing some discomforting toothache (asking if there was a doctor in the house to pull out one of her tooth...), but if she was in pain, she didn’t show it on stage.

Normally (especially on recorded albums), Mega Bog is more ‘saxy’-sounding, but unfortunately they didn’t have a live saxophonist on in the band. Musically, they sounded a little like Kate Bush with organic chimes and flutes.

Cate Le Bon

It was an incredibly healthy turn out for the Los Angeles, by the way of Wales, Cate Le Bon. Words must have spread since her last appearance in Minneapolis, in January 2014... despite the fact that Cate Le Bon physically could not say the words ‘Minneapolis’. Le Bon, in her thick Welsh accent said, “Wish ah could sae your city’s name. Ah just carn’t say it.”

Setlist

The first half of her set was almost exclusively songs from Crab Day, including the first three songs ‘Crab Day’, ‘Love Is Not Love’ and ‘Wonderful’ (which also appeared in the same order on the Drag City album). The second half of her set, starting with ‘Are You With Me Now?’ were mostly from her last album Mug Museum.

Originally the show was a seated event, but when she arrived for soundcheck, she decided the chairs had to go. Only the side had chairs, the center was empty for fans to move and dance around. At the show, Le Bon seemed pleased at her decision, as there were plenty of fans dancing - especially near the end of her hour plus set.

Normally, during her set, she would end with ‘What’s Not Mine’ (Le Bon even announcing it as “this is the last song”)... but after the song ended... for a brief moment, the band considered heading off the stage... but instead Le Bon just started playing ‘I Can’t Help You’ (typically should be the encore song).

Cate Le Bon’s Crab Day is out now on Drag City.

Cate Le Bon at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (10 May 2016)

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

Minneapolis: May 9 to May 10, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from May 9 to May 10, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Alberta Cross Brody is our guest host, updating us on some of the shows he's been seeing: Alberta Cross and Daredevil Christopher Wright. …

ALBERTA CROSS
at Skyway Theatre
Monday, 05/09/16, 7pm ($12)
skywaytheater.com

Anglo-Swedish rock band Alberta Cross will be stopping at the Skyway Theatre during their spring North American Headlining tour. This tour is in support of their self-titled album (Dine Alone Records) which has gotten nothing but good reviews so far.

Led by lead singer and guitarist Petter Ericson Stakee, the band has seemed to move to a new musical direction. It's a bit too hard to explain using words, so you better go check out the show!

Sky White Tiger listed to open.

Tour dates:

May 4 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
May 8 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
May 9 Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
May 10 Winnipeg, MB @ The Pyramid Cabaret
May 11 Saskatoon, SK @ The Capitol Music Club
May 12 Calgary, AB @ SAIT
May 14 Vancouver, BC @ The Fox Cabaret
May 16 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
May 17 Portland, OR @ Alberta Rose Theatre
May 18 San Francisco, CA @ Milk Bar
May 19 Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite

Read More Amon Amarth Someone has made a mod so that you can now play Skyrim as Amon Amarth the band who, surely, are most appropriate for the fantasy/action RPG. You can find …

AMON AMARTH
at Varsity Theater
Tuesday, 05/10/16, 6:30pm ($27.50/$30)
varsitytheater.org

Swedish metal kings Amon Amarth has announced a tour for this spring. These metal lords will be taking over the Varsity Theater on Tuesday, May 10th along with fellow Swedes Entombed A.D. and the American band Exmortus.

This tour is in support of Amon Amarth's tenth studio album Jomsviking which came out March 25th through Metal Blade Records.

Amon Amarth is known for their high energy shows and their trademark melodic, anthemic metal. They don't cross the pond that much, but when they do, they make it count!

Tour dates:

5/02/2016 St. Andrews - Detroit, MI
5/04/2016 The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
5/05/2016 The Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
5/06/2016 The Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
5/07/2016 The Ogden Theater - Denver, CO
5/09/2016 Sokol Auditorium - Omaha, NE
5/10/2016 Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
5/12/2016 The Garrick Winnipeg, MB
5/13/2016 O'Brian's Event Centre - Saskatoon, SK
5/14/2016 MacEwan Ballroom - Calgary, AB
5/16/2016 The Commodore - Vancouver, BC
5/17/2016 Showbox Market - Seattle, WA
5/18/2016 Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
5/20/2016 The Warfield - San Francisco, CA
5/21/2016 The Wiltern Theater - Los Angeles, CA

Read More Cate Le Bon I was supposed to see Cate Le Bon last month but a combination of a severe case of the hives, a hefty dose of sleep-inducing Benadryl, and a long delay in the arrival of the band …

CATE LE BON
with Mega Bog
at Cedar Cultural Center
Tuesday, 05/10/16, 7pm ($15)
thecedar.org

After a brief tour in the UK with experimental collective Banana, Welsh singer/songwriter Cate Le Bon will be headlining the US in support of her latest release Crab Day, available now on Drag City Records.

We previously saw Le Bon in 2014 and wrote, “Despite her recent move to Los Angeles injecting some lightness into her music, her Welsh background seems to always belie a certain dourness to the songs and a perceived aloofness on stage; not that it’s a bad thing. Her deep throated vocals can move from a siren’s angelic lilt to a more chaotic, sometimes banshee wail in a moment, in a style that is all her own.”

Seattle’s Mega Bog to open.

Cate Le Bon US Tour Dates:

May 2nd - Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ON*
May 3rd - Brighton Music Hall, Allston MA*
May 4th - Fete Lounge, Providence RI*
May 5th - Rough Trade, Brooklyn NY
May 6th - Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia PA*
May 7th - Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington DC*
May 8th - Big Room Bar, Columbus OH*
May 9th - Schubas, Chicago IL*
May 10th - Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis MN*
May 12th - Biltmore Cafe, Vancouver BC*
May 13th - Barboza, Seattle WA*
May 14th - Dante's, Portland OR*
May 16th - The Chapel, San Francisco CA*

*with Mega Bog

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

Minneapolis Music Guide: March 23-March 29, 2014

Here is a guide of some Minneapolis (and St Paul) shows next week: March 23-March 29. Post-SXSW, we find bands touring around the country, and many of them will end up at Coachella. Never been a better time to see live music with the coming Spring.

Read More Jonathan Coulton My favorite song from his set, and I didn't expect to love it as much, is the live version of "Je Suis Rick Springfield". This is a song about Rick Springfield trying to pick up two girls in France and the song is sung through his …

MARCH 23: PANTAGES THEATRE
Rick Springfield

Speaking of 'spring', if you grew up in the 80s, like I did, you'd remember that massive hit song "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield, which he won a Grammy for Best Mal Rock Vocal Performance.

The Australian guitarist is currently on a 'Stripped Down' solo performance tour. The a-typical tour will include feedback from his fans with an interactive Q&A Session. Also, starting in late June, he'll be playing alongside his friends and fellow musicians, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. That tour will mark the first time that Rick will tour with Pat and Neil.

Tour dates:

03/14/14 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
03/15/14 Springfield, MO Gillioz Theatre
03/20/14 Keene, NH Colonial Theatre
03/21/14 St. Louis, MO River City Casino
03/22/14 Des Moines, IA Hoyt Sherman Place
03/23/14 Minneapolis, MN Pantages Theatre
03/25/14 York, PA Pullo Center At Penn State York
03/26/14 Pittsfield, MA Colonial Theatre
03/27/14 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
03/28/14 Stroudsburg, PA Sherman Theater
03/29/14 Larchwood, IA Grand Falls Casino Resort
04/10/14 Baton Rouge, LA Manship Theatre
04/11/14 Madisonville, KY Glema Mahr Ctr
04/18/14 Bow, WA Skagit Valley Casino Resort
04/19/14 Bow, WA Skagit Valley Casino Resort
05/11/14 Santa Monica, CA Eli & Edythe Broad
06/28/14 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amph
06/29/14 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheatre
07/05/14 Atlantic City, NJ Ovation Hall
07/06/14 Canandaigua, NY Constellation Brands
07/08/14 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion At Riverbend
07/16/14 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
07/17/14 Mulvane, KS Kansas Star Arena
07/19/14 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
07/20/14 Valley Center, CA Harrah's Rincon Casino
07/25/14 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery

Read More NME Awards NME Awards 2012 nominations: Best International Band Arcade Fire Foo Fighters Odd Future (OFWGKTA) The Strokes …

MARCH 24: TRIPLE ROCK SOCIAL CLUB
The Internet

Kind Red Spirits at the Turf Club

Playing over at the Turf Club in St Paul are locals Kind Red Spirits, with Old Desert Road and Danny Morrison & the 241's. The show is only $5.

Meanwhile, The Internet (featuring Odd Future member Syd and Matt Martians) comes to the Triple Rock Social Club, fresh off their SXSW appearances. I couldn't find any information regarding a new album, so expect the band to play tracks from their 2013 album Feel Good .

Spring tour dates:

03/16/14 New York, NY S.O.B.'S
03/17/14 Phila, PA Theatre Of The Living Arts
03/18/14 Washington, DC Sixth & I
03/20/14 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
03/21/14 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig
03/22/14 Toronto, ON Hoxton
03/24/14 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
03/25/14 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
03/27/14 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
03/29/14 Dallas, TX Trees
04/12/14 Coachella
04/16/14 Pioneertown, CA Pappy And Harriet's
04/19/14 Coachella

Review of Cate Le Bon's "Mug Museum"

Discography [Mar 2010] Me Oh My [Jan 2012] Cyrk [Nov 2013] Mug Museum Tour Dates 02/10/14 Cambridge, UK - Cambridge Junction^ 02/11/14 Liverpool, UK - Leaf Tea Shop And Bar^ 02/12/14 Glasgow, UK - Broadcast^ 02/13/14 Gateshead, UK - Sage Gateshead^ 02/15/14 Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute^ 02/16/14 Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club^ 02/17/14 Brighton, UK - Komedia^ 02/18/14 Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds^ 02/19/14 Bristol, UK -Colston Hall^ 02/20/14 Le Grand Mix – Fireworks Festival 02/21/14 I Boat, Bordeaux, France 02/22/14 Nouvelle Vague – Saint-Malo, France 02/24/14 Le Sonic, Lyon, France 02/25/14 Point Ephemere, Paris, France 02/26/14 Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands 02/27/14 Brussels, Belgium - AB Club 02/28/14 Parenthèse Les Hivernales Festival 03/01/14 Palace, St Gallen, Switzerland 03/04/14 Prinzenbar, Hamburg, Germany 03/05/14 Studio 672, Cologne, Germany 03/21/14 New York, NY - Webster Hall * 03/22/14 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* 03/23/14 Washington, DC - Black Cat* 03/25/14 Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall* 03/26/14 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick* 03/28/14 Chicago, IL - Metro* 03/29/14 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue * ^ with Sea Lion * with Warpaint Read More Cate Le Bon “…can anybody play bass…?” Cate Le Bon reluctantly asked that question to the 7th St. Entry crowd on a chilly Saturday night in town…

I was supposed to see Cate Le Bon last month but a combination of a severe case of the hives, a hefty dose of sleep-inducing Benadryl, and a long delay in the arrival of the band due to a pile-up on the snow-covered freeway derailed my opportunity. I was disappointed, not only because I really like Cate’s delightfully odd new album Mug Museum, but also because I wanted to see what this icy, strange woman is like in the flesh. Listening to Cate’s somber songs, I think I’d be forgiven for wondering if their creator ever smiles or laughs or jokes around. And this is certainly not meant as a criticism - my favorite music is deadly serious – it’s just an honest curiosity.

Mug Museum, Le Bon’s third album, was the first recorded in Los Angeles instead of her native Wales, and was recorded in the aftermath of the death of her maternal grandmother. Understandably, there’s a darkness to the songs which is, of course, not a stretch for Cate. Mug Museum is also Le Bon’s most accessible and catchy album yet, but if it’s her “commercial” record it only goes to prove that she will never be top 40 material. Mug Museum is a curious exhibition, to be certain. Musically, the reference points are Television, the Velvet Underground, The Doors, and, of course, Nico. I suspect Le Bon probably cringes when she hears that comparison, but the spectre of Nico haunts the album. The rather Germanic sounding Welsh accent, the ever-present keyboard drones which could easily be replaced by Nico’s harmonium, and the deadly-serious subject matter. These are songs to listen to in a reflective mood, in a darkened room, laying on a bed with headphones on. As all the best music is.

Mug Museum begins with right and left channel Television-style dueling electric guitars. “I Can’t Help You” is one of the highlights of the records and finds Le Bon struggling with her conscience straight off the bat: “What good could ever come from being cruel?” asks Cate before shrugging her shoulders, “I can’t help you, I can’t help you.” The song is capped by one of my new favorite break-up verses: “And after the fact we were out of steam / Time to cut my tie / And split me like timber / Spill me like water / Bend me like elbows / Beat me like egg yolks / Beat me like egg yolks.” I guess perhaps he deserves that callous “can’t help you” after all.

The second track, “Are You With Me Now?”, finds Cate channeling the ghost of Tom Jones while discussing another difficult relationship: “It’s not impossible / It’s not unfathomable / It’s not unusual, baby / To feel a shadow unkind.” I let out a chuckle hearing Cate use the word “baby” in the song - a rare bit of lightness on a very dark record. The song is catchy, with haunting ah-a-ah-a-ahs after each line of the chorus.

“Duke” is possibly the strangest of these bizarre little songs. It’s a catchy concoction filled with memorable lines like, “The weather licked your face dry” and punctuated with a bizarre chorus that consists of Cate yelling, “Here! Here! Here!” in ever-increasing octaves, like she’s frantically calling for her dog. Le Bon’s voice is at its best IMHO when she sings in a low register, and as she reaches for the high notes at the end of “Duke” I find myself thinking she’s hitting notes that she probably should have tucked into bed and kissed on the cheek instead. Brave? Definitely. But also... a little scary. Ever been enjoying yourself at a party and then suddenly realize that you’re surrounded by people with problems? Like that.

The bass-driven “No God” introduces the sub-theme of doubt and faithlessness. “No Goooooooooood, No God” sings Le Bon, matter-of-factly, as the Televisionesque guitars slash at each other in the channels and the rhythm section holds it all together in the center. It’s one of my favorite moments on the album.

The album’s masterpiece is “I Think I Knew”

The album’s masterpiece is “I Think I Knew” - a duet with Perfume Genius that is an instant classic and has been newly added to my list of Best Messed-Up Relationship Songs Ever. Their voices are a fascinating pairing: Perfume Genius’s vulnerable quaver vs. Le Bon’s resigned chill. “There’s no talking to him,” begins Le Bon. “I am old just to sit with him.” Oh yeah, I know that feeling. “I was bold, I was the author, doubt crept in like sickly dogs and dragged me through the fields,” replies Perfume Genius before they sit side by side and reflect on how things ended up like this: “I wish I knew... I think I knew?”. “What did you want?” he tentatively asks. “Everything,” she replies. Of course. What else? You can’t help feeling like the poor guy’s getting the shaft in this particular relationship. Seriously, do yourself a favor and give this song a listen!

Things go a bit off-track with the next song, the discordant, organ-driven “Wild”. This is the album’s party song. Of course, her version of a party song contains lyrics like, “Now I dream of horses grazing on Boxwood like bastions of self-sabotage, bastions of self-sabotage.” The chorus consists of Le Bon singing the title over and over again, with two syllables of course: “Wy-uld! Wy-uld!” The song ends with an organ flourish, like Ray Manzarek on speed. It’s all very, very strange.

The propulsive “Sisters” gets things back on track quickly, and is one of the highlights of the record. The lyrics provide the most blatant reference to Le Bon’s stated search for a place in her family following the death of her grandmother. “And if the flames stop short / I won’t die / I’m a sister / I won’t die,” she insists. It’s the most empowering moment of the album.

It’s one of my favorite albums of the year.

The ballad “Mirror Me” finds Le Bon at her most Nico-esque, with lo-fi drums and keyboard and violin flourishes. You can almost envision Mo Tucker and John Cale in the studio. This Velvet Underground vibe continues in the next song, the sad “Cuckoo Through the Walls” where Le Bon seems resigned and defeated, “I drank for hours / Never leave the house / Cuckoo through the walls / Lay still on the ground / Exhale the sounds of symphonies.” The song culminates in some classic “Sister Ray” guitar slashing.

The album ends on a low-key note with the piano ballad, “Mug Museum,” wherein Le Bon reflects upon her collection of coffee mugs: “I forget the details but know the warmth.” However, with Mug Museum, it’s the details I remember: all those icy, strange, compelling details. It’s one of my favorite albums of the year.

angela ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ catelebon.com

Comments

thedharmablues said...

Sweet! I was listening to "I Think I Knew" just the other day. It is available as a free download via the Pitchfork/Soundcloud link: https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/103539944/download?secret_token=s-k2Ezu&client_id=0f8fdbbaa21a9bd18210986a7dc2d72c

Monday, 10 February 2014 at 01:53 PM

Cate Le Bon w/ Kevin Morby - 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis (25 Jan 2014) concert review

Cate Le Bon Tour Poster Setlist No God Are You With Me Now? I Can’t Help You Duke Puts Me to Work Eyes So Bright Mirror Me Me Oh My Sisters Falcon Eyed What Is Worse Wild -- Encore -- The Man I Wanted Fold the Cloth Tour Dates 01/28/14 Norman, OK - The Opolis 01/29/14 Austin, TX - The Mohawk 01/31/14 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress 02/01/14 San Diego - Soda Bar 02/06/14 Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate 02/07/14 London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall 02/08/14 Cardiff, UK - Gate 02/10/14 Cambridge, UK - Cambridge Junction 02/11/14 Liverpool, UK - Leaf Tea Shop And Bar 02/12/14 Glasgow, UK - Broadcast 02/13/14 Gateshead, UK - Sage Gateshead 02/15/14 Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute 02/16/14 Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club 02/17/14 Brighton, UK - Komedia 02/18/14 Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds 02/19/14 Bristol, UK -Colston Hall 02/20/14 Le Grand Mix – Fireworks Festival 02/21/14 I Boat, Bordeaux, France 02/22/14 Nouvelle Vague – Saint-Malo, France 02/24/14 Le Sonic, Lyon, France 02/25/14 Point Ephemere, Paris, France 02/26/14 Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands 02/27/14 Brussels, Belgium - AB Club 02/28/14 Parenthèse Les Hivernales Festival 03/01/14 Palace, St Gallen, Switzerland 03/04/14 Prinzenbar, Hamburg, Germany 03/05/14 Studio 672, Cologne, Germany 03/21/14 New York, NY - Webster Hall * 03/22/14 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* 03/23/14 Washington, DC - Black Cat* 03/25/14 Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall* 03/26/14 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick* 03/28/14 Chicago, IL - Metro* 03/29/14 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue * * with Warpaint Read More Cate Le Bon Cate Le Bon is currently on tour John just saw her last night at the 7th Street Entry, which we'll read more about it later.…

“…can anybody play bass…?”

Cate Le Bon reluctantly asked that question to the 7th St. Entry crowd on a chilly Saturday night in town, a few songs into her performance after noticing her bass player abruptly disappeared.

Thankfully, he was only temporarily overheated, returned to the stage, and the show went on as planned as the Welsh-born, now Los Angeles-based, singer-songwriter played a 65 min. set in support of songs from her latest, Mug Museum (Turnstile/Wichita).

Kevin Morby Morby with Le Bon on "Slow Train"

Kansas City native Kevin Morby, who plays in Vivian Girls side project The Babies, as well as is the bassist for Woods, opened with a 40 min. pensive set of songs culled from his solo debut, Harlem River (Woodsist Records), which he describes as a homage to New York City. Most of the set was similarly mid-tempo’d and intimate in their storytelling lyrics, with Cate LeBon herself guesting on stage midway through, on “Slow Train”, reprising their duet from the record.

After a brief set change and switching out only the drummer (the backing bassist and guitarist played both sets), Le Bon began, dressed in a Top Gun-like zippered flight deck-looking jumper, with the haunting ‘No God’. ‘Are You With Me Now?’, supposedly inspired by the recent death of her grandmother followed, Le Bon balancing the bleak lyrics of the death of a loved one, over jagged guitar riffs pining for resolution.

It was (ironically) after ‘Puts Me to Work’ that Le Bon noticed her bassist was missing from the stage, which no doubt jarred the rhythm of the show, but was quickly recovered. “He was overheating…like a car”, Le Bon joked gathering her gumption to carry on, “it’s a little bit awkward when I turn around and you’re not there”.

‘Eyes So Bright’ was a slow build, from a beginning psychedelic keyboard riff, to thundering drums by New Zealand drummer Daniel Ward (of Lawrence Arabia and The Sneaks) over Le Bon’s rising vocals.

Hints of the Velvet Underground with Nico peppered ‘Mirror Me’ and ‘Me Oh My’, while ‘Falcon Eyed’ from previous album, Cryk, is a flat-out stomper, anchored by a driving bass drum and unbridled keyboards.

Despite her recent move to Los Angeles injecting some lightness into her music, her Welsh background seems to always belie a certain dourness to the songs and a perceived aloofness on stage; not that it’s a bad thing. Her deep throated vocals can move from a siren’s angelic lilt to a more chaotic, sometimes banshee wail in a moment, in a style that is all her own.

Photo of Setlist

Le Bon ended her set with ‘Wild’, jangly guitar notes a backdrop to her church echo’d voice before a keyboard flourish raised the tempo and pushed the song, headlong, to the end. She returned to the stage for a two-song encore (not on the setlist pic); the brooding ‘The Man I Wanted’ and ‘Fold the Cloth’, with its evocative lyrics, “tuck your belly in your chest and see how close we are.”

And with that, she was gone. Likely relieved that her band (ahem, bassist) could even finish the show and turning in what ended up being an ideal soundtrack to a blustery, sub-zero snowy night…like it might have been set in the Welsh Highlands.

Those that missed Cate Le Bon in Minneapolis will have another chance though, as she joins Warpaint on a very brief spring leg of their tour; playing First Avenue on March 29, en route west to Coachella two weeks later.

Cate Le Bon at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (25 Jan 2014)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ catelebon.com ♥ facebook.com/kevinrobertmorby

W♥M201: Cate Le Bon

W♥M201 (22 mins) Read More Cate Le Bon Welsh native Cate Le Bon returns to town, for an intimate show at the 7th Street Entry, promoting her latest release, Mug Museum (Turnstile Records). Mug Museum, in part inspired by her …

Vu and John on W♥M Radio this week:

Cate Le Bon is currently on tour
John just saw her last night at the 7th Street Entry, which we'll read more about it later.

Le Bon is playing in Kansas City tomorrow:

01/27 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
01/28 Norman, OK - The Opolis
01/29 Austin, TX - The Mohawk
01/31 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
02/01 San Diego - Soda Bar

Kasabian is releasing a new album in 2014
Earlier this year Kasabian's frontman Tom Meighan said to NME: "The album is a real 'f*** you' to anyone who ever dares criticise or snarl at us, and say we can't do music like this. It's a real f***ing 'up yours'. There are a lot of bands who try and do this kind of music but fail because they've got no songs."

Sneak preview of Kasabian in the studios on YouTube.

Vivian Girls break up
Vivian Girls have official split up. The two farewell shows will be on Feb 14 in Los Angeles and Mar 1st in Brooklyn. We briefly talked about The Babies and La Sera.

Prince files lawsuit against his fans (again)
Prince wants 22 individual offenders to pay him a sum of $1 million each.

The lawsuit, which was filed last week, accuses the defendants of participating in “massive infringement and bootlegging of Prince’s material”, specifically picking out a set from 1983 which was shared via WorldOfBootleg.blogspot.com.

UPDATE 01/29/14: Prince has decided to drop the lawsuit. According to tmz.com, because "the bootleggers have now taken down the illegal downloads and are no longer engaging in piracy." Although some people say it's a publicity stunt, and some people say it's because of the bad press surrounding this.

Song of the Show
Song of the show is Cate Le Bon's "Falcon Eyed".

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Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on podomatic.com

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

Weekend shows (Minneapolis)

Weekend cures for the MN Winter Blues

The Current's 9th Birthday Party photo credit: thecurrent.org Read More The Current Local alternative public radio station 89.3 The Current held its 2nd Public Music Meeting at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St. Paul last night. This open session gave their listening public a chance …

FRIDAY/SATURDAY

89.3 The Current- 9th birthday Party concerts

Local alt/indie Public Radio station 89.3 FM- The Current celebrates its ninth birthday of changing the Minnesota airwaves, with a two-night celebration in First Avenue’s Mainroom, bringing together several of the most notable local music artists. Friday night brings together Actual Wolf, Strange Names, Lizzo, and Har Mar Superstar while Saturday’s lineup is The Cactus Blossoms, Howler, Heiruspecs, and Caroline Smith. Special guests have been known to make surprise appearances (Prince had his guitar set up one year, but never made it to the stage), so clearly anything can happen.

Friday night is sold out, with only a small handful of tickets available for Saturday; but fear not, those who can’t make it inside the doors of First Avenue, can still tune in to the live on-air broadcast here: thecurrent.org/listen

Lineup:

Friday Actual Wolf Strange Names Lizzo Har Mar Superstar

Saturday Cactus Blossoms Howler Heiruspecs Caroline Smith

Cate Le Bon with Kevin Morby photo credit: catelebon.com Read More Cate Le Bon Welsh singer/songwriter Cate Le Bon’s new album, Mug Museum, is her first recorded outside of her homeland – deep in the dark heart of the entertainment empire …

SATURDAY

Cate Le Bon w/Kevin Morby

Welsh native Cate Le Bon returns to town, for an intimate show at the 7th Street Entry, promoting her latest release, Mug Museum (Turnstile Records). Mug Museum, in part inspired by her grandmother’s recent death, features somewhat dark lyrics delivered with dreamlike, sometimes psychedelic and haunting vocals. A recent movie to California has injected more melody to her songs, bringing some sunshine into her Wales cloudiness, as evidenced on “I Think I Knew”, a duet with Perfume Genius.

Kevin Morby of Brooklyn band, The Babies (and bassist for Woods), opens the show with selections from his solo debut, Harlem River (Woodsist Records), an homage to New York City and which Cate LeBon guests on track, “Slow Train”.

Show details:
Presented by Radio K
Saturday, January 25, 2014 - 8:00pm
$12.00, 18+

St. Lucia at Fine Line Music Café Poster photo credit: first-avenue.com Yellowcard Poster photo credit: yellowcardrock.com Read More Yellowcard It's been ten years since Yellowcard's best known album Ocean Avenue was released, and to honor the occasion, the band is releasing Ocean Avenue Acoustic. In their own words …

SUNDAY

St. Lucia w/ Sir Sly

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. Promoting their first full-length, When the Night (Neon Gold/Columbia), St. Lucia (aka Jean-Philip Grobler) brings a full band and energetic performance with recent setlists showing they even sneak in a Chaka Khan cover version. LA trio Sir Sly opens the show, promoting their latest EP, Ghost (Neon Gold/Columbia) with their “monochromatic blend of vigilante pop”, which has been described as reminiscent of a “chillwave Coldplay”.

Johnny Flynn w/The Melodic

Johnny Flynn: Country Mile Transgressive / Thirty Tigers

Those that remember the local concert beginnings of the current UK alt-folk wave will recall that Flynn famously headlined the 2008 show at the now-defunct 400 Bar that featured openers Laura Marling with a little backing band known as Mumford and Sons. Flynn, now out supporting his third full-length, Country Mile (Transgressive Records) draws inspiration from subjects as diverse as TS Eliot, Einstein, and Hank Williams, and brings Flynn back to his singer-songwriter roots, after some dabbling in acting that included Shakespeare plays at the Globe and appearing in an upcoming Anne Hathaway film.

Brixton, UK folk/afro pop band The Melodic open, in support of their worldbeat influenced debut, Effra Parade (Anti Records) at this Turf Club hosted show.

The Wailers w/British Dependency

The Wailers Poster photo: first-avenue

The current incarnation of Bob Marley’s famous backing band hits the First Avenue Mainroom stage to play reggae classics from the greatest hits album, Legend (Island Records) in its entirety. Bassist and elder reggae statesman Aston “Family Man” Barrett leads the full band lineup in a performance at First Avenue that can be no doubt described as “Hit-Filled”…in more ways than one. Island trio British Dependency opens the show with their unique blend of “roots, heart and soul music”.

Yellowcard w/What’s Eating Gilbert

Jacksonville, FL pop-punk band Yellowcard is still going strong, even after over 15 years in the business. Their latest tour and release, Ocean Avenue Acoustic (Hopeless/Universal) celebrates the 10th anniversary and a re-interpretation of the seminal album that put the band on the national map. Expect a two-set performance with Ocean Avenue in its entirety and a smattering of other Yellowcard classics from their back catalogue. New Found Glory offshoot band, What's Eating Gilbert opens this night at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis.

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Europe: Peggy Sue, Cate Le Bon, Peter Morén, Hauschka, and Rebecca Ferguson

Read More Peggy Sue I can't help but think of Buddy Holly when I think of Peggy Sue, but clearly this Brighton-based band doesn't sound anything like Buddy. For one thing, they are supposed to sound…

PEGGY SUE
peggywho.com

I caught Peggy Sue in 2010 at the 400 Bar (RIP). The folky British band (Rosa Slade and Katy Young and drummer Olly Joyce) will be returning with a new album Choir of Echoes on January 28th on Yep Roc Records. In the meantime, the band released their new single, "Idle" on their Soundcloud account:



They explained that the song, "[is] about being unemployed and incurably thoughtful. The opening and closing parts are a kind of troubled gospel song—a prayer for purpose in the knowledge that the purpose will probably not be a ‘good’ one. It’s about impatience and distractions and thinking about things too much..... and of course it’s about a boy."

The band will begin a full UK tour in support of the new album:

01/27/14 - London, St Pancras Old Church
03/27/14 - Copenhagen - Ideal Bar @ VEGA
03/28/14 - Hamburg - Kulturhaus III & 70
03/30/14 - Berlin - Privatclub
03/31/14 - Munich - Kranhalle
04/01/14 - Cologne - Blue Shell
04/02/14 - Brussels - Botanique (Witloof Bar)
04/03/14 - Utrecht - Ekko
04/07/14 - Brighton - Green Door Store
04/08/14 - Coventry - The Tin
04/09/14 - Manchester - Soup Kitchen
04/10/14 - Glasgow - Broadcast
04/11/14 - Liverpool - Leaf
04/12/14 - Sheffield - The Harley
04/14/14 - Bristol - The Old Bookshop
04/15/14 - London - Oslo

Read More Cate le Bon Remember Cate le Bon? I saw her play live earlier this year, and I reported that she has a "haunting voice". Well she's back in the news again with a couple of news items …

CATE LE BON
catelebon.com

Welsh singer/songwriter Cate Le Bon’s new album, Mug Museum, is her first recorded outside of her homeland – deep in the dark heart of the entertainment empire at Seahorse Sound Studios, Los Angeles.

Taking such a unique talent and placing it in the heart of Autotuneland was an alarming prospect to those who have come to love her dark indie songcraft. However, a first listen of Mug Museum reveals that the new record is as eclectic and darkly ethereal as ever. Producer Noah Georgeson (Joanna Newsom/Devendra Banhart) adds a subtle polish to the songs without detracting from their Velvet Underground / Television / Nico influenced indie sparkle.

Cate and her band are hitting the road next week to promote Mug Museum on a North American tour that kicks off at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on December 3rd and winds up at the Soda Bar in San Diego on February 1st.

Cate Le Bon's tour dates:

12/03 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop ~ 12/05 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge ~ 12/06 Seattle, WA - Barboza ~^ 12/07 Boise, ID - Neurolux ~ 12/09 Salt Lake City - Kilby Court ~ 12/11 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge 12/13 Phoenix, AZ - Pub Rock Live ~ 12/14 Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Bar ~ 01/07 Dallas, TX - Three Links 01/08 Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's 01/09 New Orleans, LA - The New Orleans Mint 01/10 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree 01/11 Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic 01/12 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle Back Room 01/14 Charlottesville, VA - The Southern 01/15 Washington DC - DC9

01/16 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge 01/17 Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle 01/18 Boston, MA - Middle East Upstairs 01/20 Montreal, QC - Il Motore 01/21 Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel 01/22 Pontiac, MI - Pike Room at The Crofoot 01/23 Chicago, IL - Schubas 01/24 Madison, WI - The Frequency 01/25 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry 01/27 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar 01/28 Norman, OK - The Opolis 01/29 Austin, TX - The Mohawk 01/31 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress 02/01 San Diego - Soda Bar ~ = w/ Kevin Morby, ^ = w/ Basia Bulat

Read More Peter Bjorn and John Much of this was attributed to the band’s infectious, sometimes corny enthusiasm. In his powder blue suit, Peter Morén, flaunted Bowie-inspired dance moves while guitarist Björn Yttling …

PETER MOREN
petermoren.com

Peter Morén (The Peter in Sweden's Peter, Bjorn, & John) will be releasing a series of EPs, starting with Broken Swenglish Vol. 1, a four song release.

I know you're wondering, whatever happened to PB&J? Since the band had a breakthrough hit album in 2006 with Writer's Block (hey, even Kanye sampled "Young Folks"!) the band's been distracted with various side projects and such.

The band's last album Gimme Some was released in 2011 and spawned a hit song "Second Chance", which was used for CBS' 2 Broke Girls.

Since then Morén concentrated on his third solo album Pyramiden (his second all Swedish album), which was released last year in Sweden. One of the reason why the album never resurfaced in England or America is because all the songs were written and sung in Morén's native tongue, Swedish. Of course, it was considered some of his best work, thanks to his new found freedom of expressing his music.

Look for Broken Swenglish Vol. 1 on December 9th on Ingrid. The release marks Morén’s first solo release in the US since 2008’s full-length studio album The Last Tycoon.

Read More SPCO's Liquid Music How appropriate it was that Saturday night’s concert at the McGuire Theater in the Walker Art Center was co-presented with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music Series, as “liquid music” was one of the most …

HILARY HAHN & HAUSCHKA
hahnandhauschka.com

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music series and Schubert Club Mix is presenting the upcoming Hilary Hahn & Hauschka show at Aria (in the Warehouse District of Minneapolis) on January 12th. They will be playing music from Silfra. Tickets are $25, and you can find out more details at thespco.org/liquidmusic.

This is a rare treat to have two-time Grammy-winning* American violinist Hilary Hahn and German pianist/composer Volker Bertelmann (known simply as Hauschka) together in Minneapolis. Last year, the two got together at Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavík to record Silfra, which was mostly inspired by the Silfra rift in Iceland. The recording, as improvised, was never meant to be played live... so for the very first time, thanks to Liquid Music, the two will be brought together to play live renditions of Silfra.

Bertelmann explains, "Silfra and the performances that are based on the record, which also represent a state of mind, are for me always extraordinary and thrilling. To perform this in this exceptional concert series and in Minnesota, where I will perform for the first time, makes me excited, and I hope we can give something back."

Trivia: Hahn both won best solo violinist for her works in Brahms & Stravinsky Violin Concertos (2001) and Schoenberg: Violin Concerto; Sibelius: Violin Concerto (2008).

REBECCA FERGUSON
rebeccaofficial.com

Rebecca Ferguson is a British singer-songwriter, who rose to fame by becoming the runner-up to the seventh series of UK's "The X Factor". She didn't leave empty-handed, of course, having inked a joint record deal with Syco Music and Epic Records in the UK and later to Columbia Records in the U.S.

Ferguson's second studio album Freedom will be release this December 2013, and a March 2014 headlining UK tour dates were recently announced:

03/16/14 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
03/18/14 Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
03/19/14 Brighton Dome
03/20/14 Cardiff St David’s Hall
03/22/14 Edinburgh Usher Hall
03/23/14 Liverpool Echo 2 @ Echo Arena
03/24/14 Manchester Bridgewater Hall
03/26/14 Ipswich Regent Theatre
03/27/14 Birmingham Symphony Hall
03/28/14 Bristol Colston Hall

angela + vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Girls Girls Girls 7: The Black and White edition

The theme for this article is 'black and white' because these album artwork is mostly in black and white (with soft/faded colors). Do you like girl bands? See more Girls Girls Girls then.

Read More Ladyhawke When Ladyhawke took the stage, she's nervous happy. Between songs, she was at a loss of words, or when she did speak they sound nonsensical to me. However, she did manage to sneak in the story about seeing a man...

LADYHAWKE
ladyhawkemusic.com

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.

Her new album is called Anxiety and will be out in the US on March 27th via Casablanca Records (if you know Spanish, that means White House).

Look for the world premiere of her song "Black White & Blue" on Radio 1 (UK) with Zane Lowe at 7pm GMT on Monday Jan 23rd (2pm EST) (also available simultaneously on Australia's Triple J).

ANXIETY ALBUM TRACKLIST
1. Girl Like Me
2. Sunday Drive
3. Black White & Blue
4. Vaccine
5. Blue Eyes
6. Vanity
7. The Quick & The Dead
8. Anxiety
9. Cellophane
10. Gone Gone Gone

EMELI SANDÉ
emelisande.com

Scottish-born singer and songwriter Emeli Sandé will be making her North American debut with a handful of selective dates (including one in Minneapolis!). The mini-tour will preview of the songs from Sandé's upcoming debut album, Our Version Of Events (out on Capitol Records in June 2012).

She's already established in the UK, with Q Magazine calling her album: "passionate, powerful and possessed of real star quality."

With that, Sandé won the Critics Choice Award at the Brit Awards for 2012 (other past winners include Adele and Florence + the Machine). Since Adele and Flo were some of the breakout success of 2011, expect a similar embrace for Sandé in 2012.

Emeli Sandé's upcoming tour dates:

02/27 New York, NY The Box (private showcase)
03/01 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Forever Cemetery
03/02 San Francisco, CA Café du Nord
03/05 Minneapolis, MN Dakota
03/07 Toronto, ON The Drake

Check out the warehouse-ish video for Next to Me.

CATE LE BON
catelebon.com

Cate Le Bon's been busy, after supporting St Vincent in the USA, Annie Clark asked Le Bon to join her band as backup vocals on her European tour dates.

With that, last Tuesday (January 17th) saw the release of her second album, CYRK, via the Control Group. If you want to listen to it, you can do it right now via Paste Magazine or KCRW Radio.

I have already asked Lara to cover Veronica Falls, so we'll be reviewing Cate Le Bon's show at the 7th Street in Minneapolis:

Weds Feb. 8 - Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bears
Thu Feb. 9 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
Fri Feb. 10 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's
Sat Feb. 11 - Philadelphia, PA @ KungFu Necktie
Sun Feb. 12 - Washington, DC @ DC9
Tue Feb. 14 - Chicago, IL @ Shuba's
Thu Feb. 16 - Madison, WI @ Frequency
Fri Feb. 17 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Wed Feb. 22 - Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
Thu Feb. 23 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Fri Feb. 25 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (Noise Pop) *
Sun Feb. 26 - Santa Monica, CA @ McCabe's Guitar Shop
Mon Feb. 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ Bardot Hollywood ("School Night")

* = w/ Surfer Blood

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