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Minneapolis: January 17 to January 23, 2020

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from January 17 to January 23, 2020.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Your Smith at Fine LIne Read More Your Smith Caroline Smith has decided to be now billed as Your Smith. I personally like the name change, because I have said this before, I think the name Caroline Smith is just too common and doesn't jump out at you. ...

YOUR SMITH
+ Chelsea Jade
Fine Line Music Café
Tue 01/21/2020 (7:30pm/$25/Sold Out)
finelinemusic.com

Your Smith (aka Caroline Smith version 3.0), is returning to the Fine Line Music Café this Tuesday, January 21st. As you know, we’ve been supportive of Smith since her humble beginning in Minneapolis - appearing as Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps in April 2009, as an Americana folk singer (although we did talk about her in Sep 2008).

Then something interesting happened, by the time her album Half About Being A Woman came out in 2013, Caroline Smith had shifted musical direction! We wrote about how her new sound is more like Sixties soul (after seeing her as headliner in Sep 2013). Of course, all of this is confirmed, when she was asked to open up for the screaming eagle of soul, Charles Bradley in Dec 2013.

If that wasn’t enough, Caroline Smith teamed up with Lizzo (who is now an international star!) and a few collaborative singles and co-headlining shows in Sep 2014.

By 2016, Smith moved to Los Angeles and re-invented herself as Your Smith.

Chelsea Jade to open.

Tour dates:

1.14 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
1.15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
1.17 - Salt Lake City, UK @ Kilby Court
1.18 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
1.19 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown Jr.
1.21 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
1.22 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
1.24 - Detroit, MI @ Deluxx Fluxx
1.25 - Toronto, ON @ Drake Underground
1.28 - Boston, MA @ Great Scott
1.29 - Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
1.30 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd
1.31 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s

Other shows in the area:

Jordan Davis 2020 Tour Modern Nature 2020 Tour Great Good Fine OK 2020 Tour Ron Pope at Fine Line Fruition at Turf Club Read More Great Good Fine Ok In contrast, Brooklyn's Great Good Fine Ok had a slightly longer 40-min set. Highlight of their set, was midway into their song ‘By My Side’ as Luke "the Shredmaster" Moellman did his best keytar solo. … Ron Pope Ron Pope's new album Work is out now on Brooklyn Basement Records. Rolling Stone Country called him one of the “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know” while Uncut called Pope “Atlanta’s answer to The Boss” …

JORDAN DAVIS
+ Kassi Ashton
Varsity Theater
Fri 01/17/2020 (7pm/$25)
Sat 01/18/2020 (7pm/$25)
varsitytheater.com

Jordan Davis’s upcoming show at the Varsity Theater sold out, so the band decided to quickly book a second show. The Nashville-singer recently released his cover of Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California” on Amazon Music… which I would imagine will go well at his shows in Carolina or California.

Show up early to check out Kassi Ashton.

Tour dates:

01/16/2020 Boondocks Springfield, IL
01/17/2020 Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
01/18/2020 Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
01/22/2020 Luke Bryan's Crash My Playa
01/23/2020 Luke Bryan's Crash My Playa
01/24/2020 WCOL Birthday Bash
01/24/2020 Luke Bryan's Crash My Playa
01/25/2020 Luke Bryan's Crash My Playa
01/30/2020 Jefferson Theater Charlottesville, VA
01/31/2020 Coyote Joe's Charlotte, NC
02/01/2020 The Buckhead Theatre Atlanta, GA
02/06/2020 Bogart's Cincinnati, OH
02/07/2020 Majestic Theatre Madison, WI
02/10/2020 Jackson, MS
02/29/2020 McDonald Theatre Eugene, OR
03/05/2020 Ace Of Spades Sacramento, CA
03/06/2020 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA
03/13/2020 3Arena Dublin, Ireland
03/14/2020 3Arena Dublin, Ireland
03/21/2020 Rams Head Live! Baltimore, MD
04/17/2020 Tortuga Music Festival
04/18/2020 Tortuga Music Festival
04/19/2020 Tortuga Music Festival

MODERN NATURE
+ Olden Yolk
7th St Entry
Sat 01/18/2020 (8pm/$10)
first-avenue.com

London-based Modern Nature will be stopping by 7th Street this January 18th. Their debut album How To Live, came out on Bella Union earlier this year.

Olden Yolk to open. This is the project led by songwriters Shane Butler and Caity Shaffer.

Tour dates:

Jan. 11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
Jan. 12 – Boston, MA @ The Lilypad
Jan. 13 – Burlington, VT @ The Monkey House
Jan. 14 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le ‘Ritz’ P.D.B.
Jan. 15 – Toronto, ON @ The Monarch
Jan. 16 – Detroit, MI @ Deluxx Fluxx
Jan. 18 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
Jan. 20 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
March 3 - Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store
Mar. 4 - London, UK @ Omeara
Mar. 7 - Antwerp, BE @ Trix Bar
Mar. 9 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
Mar. 11 - Barcelona, ES @ Sala Vol
Mar. 12 - Madrid, ES @ Siroco
Mar. 13 - Oviedo, ES @ Lata De Zinc

GREAT GOOD FINE OK
+ Aaron Taos
7th St Entry
Wed 01/22/2020 (7pm/$13)
first-avenue.com

NYC synthpop duo Great Good Fine OK returns to Minneapolis.

Aaron Taos to open.

Tour dates:

01/18/2020 The Garrison Toronto, ON
01/22/2020 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN
01/24/2020 The Basement Columbus, OH
01/25/2020 Beachland Tavern Cleveland, OH
01/31/2020 U Street Music Hall Washington, DC
02/01/2020 The Foundry Philadelphia, PA

RON POPE
+ Caroline Spence
Fine Line Music Cafe
Wed 01/22/2020 (7pm/$25)
finelinemusic.com

Nashville singer-songwriter Ron Pope will play the Fine Line Music Café this Wednesday, January 22nd.

Caroline Spence to open.

Tour dates:

January 11 Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL
January 14 Great Hall Toronto, ON
January 15 Union Stage Washington DC
January 16 Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia, PA
January 17 Sinclair Boston, MA
January 18 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
January 22 Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
January 24 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
January 25 The Greek Station Salt Lake City, UT
January 27 Neumos Seattle, WA
January 28 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
January 30 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
January 31 Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA
February 1 Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ
February 3 Bronze Peacock Houston, TX
February 5 3Ten @ ACL Austin, TX
February 6 Granada Dallas, TX
February 8 Terminal West Atlanta, GA
April 17 Union Chapel London, UK
April 18 The Stoller Hall Manchester, UK
April 19 Melkweg Amsterdam, Netherlands
April 21 Kulturkirche Köln Cologne, Germany
April 23 Pustervik Göteborg, Sweden
April 24 Hotel Cecil København K, Denmark
April 25 Södra Teatern Stockholm, Sweden
April 27 Parkteatret Scene Oslo, Norway

FRUITION
+ The Mighty Pines
Turf Club
Thu 01/23/2020 (7pm/$15)
turfclub.net

Portland-based roots band Fruition will be stopping by the Turf Club this January 23rd in support of their upcoming Wild As The Night release (available January 17).

The Mighty Pines to open.

Tour dates:

Jan. 15 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up Aspen
Jan. 17 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom
Jan. 22 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly’s
Jan. 23 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
Jan. 24 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room
Jan. 25 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
Jan. 26 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme
Jan. 28 - Ferndale, MI - Parliament Room
Jan. 30 - Concord, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Stage
Jan. 31 - Somerville, MA - ONCE Ballroom
Feb. 1 - Albany, NY - The Hollow
Feb. 5 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl
Feb. 6 - Washington, DC - Union Stage
Feb. 7 - Ardmore, PA - Ardmore Music Hall
Feb. 8 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
Feb. 9 - Charleston,WV - Mountain Stage
Mar. 3 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern Cafe
Mar. 5 - Knoxville, TN - Open Chord
Mar. 6 - Nashville, TN - The Basement East
Mar. 7 - Asheville, NC - Asheville Music Hall
Mar. 10 - Covington, KY - Madison Live
Mar. 11 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI +
Mar. 12 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
Mar. 13 - St Louis, MO - Old Rock House
Mar. 14 - Kansas City, MO - recordBar
Mar. 26-28 - Olympic Valley, CA - WinterWonderGrass
Apr. 1 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
Apr. 2 - Jackson, WY - Pink Garter Theatre
Apr. 3 - Bozeman, MT - Rialto
Apr. 4 - Missoula, MT - Top Hat
Apr. 5 - Sandpoint, ID - Heartwood Center

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

R.I.P. Charles Bradley

Read More Charles Bradley The Screaming Eagle of Soul sure does know how to drum up the excitement. Tuesday night at the Cedar Cultural Center, after excellent opener Paul and His Tall Trees exited the stage…

Like 2016, this year is ramping up to be a very bad year for musicians. rollingstone.com just announced that Charles Bradley is dead at the age of 68 to cancer.

Like most musicians who had a late start in success (after 42 years in the music industry as a James Brown impersonator before going solo with Daptone Records), Bradley made his living as a live musician. In fact, he was actually in the middle of his 2017 tour (due to be in Minnesota on September 28, 2017, at the Fitzgerald Theater), when the unexpected news of his death came.

In the soul revival genre, we recently saw the passing of Sonny Knight in June 2017, and Sharon Jones in November 2016.

Below are more deaths for the month of September - for the full death list: Musicians who died in 2017.

September (28)

[23 Sep 2017] Charles Bradley (American soul singer), 68, liver cancer

[22 Sep 2017] Rick Shaw (American radio disc jockey of WQAM, brought The Beatles to South Florida), 79

[21 Sep 2017] Cees Bergman (Dutch singer of Catapult), 65

[19 Sep 2017] Johnny Sandlin (American record producer for The Allman Brothers Band), 72, cancer

[17 Sep 2017] Laudir de Oliveira (Brazilian musician for Sérgio Mendes, Chicago), 77

[16 Sep 2017] Brenda Lewis (American operatic soprano), 96

[15 Sep 2017] Harry Dean Stanton (American actor and musician), 91

[14 Sep 2017] Grant Hart (American musician for Husker Du), 56, cancer

[13 Sep 2017] Alla Tarán (Ukrainian violinist), 76

[12 Sep 2017] Jessi Zazu (American musician for Those Darlins), 28, cervical cancer

[12 Sep 2017] Siegfried Köhler (German conductor for Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Royal Swedish Opera), 94

[12 Sep 2017] Riem de Wolff (Dutch-Indonesian singer of The Blue Diamonds), 74

[11 Sep 2017] Virgil Howe (British drummer of Little Barrie), 41

[09 Sep 2017] Michael Friedman (American composer and lyricist for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), 41, complications from AIDS

[08 Sep 2017] Don Williams (American country musician), 78, illness

[08 Sep 2017] Troy Gentry (American country musician, part of Montgomery Gentry), 50, helicopter crash

[07 Sep 2017] Josh Schwartz (American singer-songwriter and guitarist for John Cale), 45, ALS

[06 Sep 2017] Derek Bourgeois (English composer), 75

[05 Sep 2017] Leo Cuypers (Dutch jazz pianist and composer), 69

[05 Sep 2017] Rick Stevens (American R&B singer of Tower of Power), 77, cancer

[05 Sep 2017] Holger Czukay (German musician, co-founder of Can), 79

[04 Sep 2017] Earl Lindo (Jamaican reggae musician), 64

[03 Sep 2017] John Byrne Cooke (American author and musician), 76, throat cancer

[03 Sep 2017] Dave Hlubek (American musician for Molly Hatchet), 66, heart attack

[03 Sep 2017] Walter Becker (American musician and songwriter; co-founder of Steely Dan), 67

[01 Sep 2017] Hedley Jones (Jamaican musician, audio engineer and inventor), 99

[01 Sep 2017] Mick Softley (British singer-songwriter and guitarist), 77

[01 Sep 2017] Novella Nelson (American actress and singer), 77

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

Minneapolis: August 19 to August 21, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from August 19 to August 21, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More "Weird Al" Yankovic I've seen the videos, "Weird Al" Yankovic put on a great show. Unfortunately, his appearance at Mystic Lake Resort and Casino on Friday, July 3, is sold out. The Casino …

WEIRD AL YANKOVIC
at State Theatre
Friday, 08/19/16, 7pm ($48-$273)
hennepintheatretrust.org

You know we love “Weird Al” Yankovic. What is truly amazing is that, while many of us have not kept up with modern popular music, Weird Al is still on top of things! And not only that, but with recent releases like Alpocalypse and Mandatory Fun, Weird Al is proving that he’s still the king of music parodies. He’s been doing it before the internet, kids.

Even though these are seated shows, everybody stands up. It’s annoying! Also these “theatres” shows tend to start exactly on time and must end before curfew, so show up early if you don’t want to miss a thing.

08/15/16 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cummings Theatre
08/18/16 Thunder Bay, ON Thunder Bay Community
08/19/16 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre
08/20/16 Appleton, WI Fox Cities Perf Arts
08/21/16 Madison, WI Overture Center
08/23/16 Rockford, IL Coronado Performing
08/24/16 Paducah, KY The Carson Center
08/26/16 Grand Rapids, MI DeVos
08/27/16 Sterling Heights, MI Freedom Hill
08/28/16 Huber Heights, OH Rose Music Center
08/30/16 Wilmington, DE Playhouse Theatre
09/01/16 Lowell, MA Boarding House Park
09/02/16 Gilford, NH Bank Of NH Pavilion
09/03/16 Canandaigua, NY Constellation Brands
09/04/16 Big Flats, NY Summer Stage
09/07/16 Columbia, SC Koger Center For The Arts
09/08/16 Wilmington, NC Cape Fear Community
09/09/16 Durham, NC Durham Perf Arts Center
09/10/16 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe
09/11/16 Vienna, VA Filene Center
09/13/16 Hershey, PA Hershey Theatre
09/14/16 Providence, RI Providence Perf. Arts
09/16/16 Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Center
09/17/16 Schenectady, NY The Main Stage
09/18/16 Waterbury, CT Palace Theater
09/20/16 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem
09/22/16 Charleston, WV Clay Center
09/23/16 Atlantic City, NJ Caesars Circus Maximus
09/24/16 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
10/29/16 Festival Supreme

Read More Kurt Vile Kurt Vile and the Violators- Though he looks like he could be guitarist for Megadeth, there is a subtle power to former War on Drugs member Kurt Vile. He and his Violators ...

WILCO
at Hall's Island
Saturday, 08/20/16, 4:30pm ($50)
first-avenue.com

This is not a typical venue for music: Hall’s Island... but it makes sense for a band as massive as Wilco. They’ve simply outgrown First Avenue’s mainstage and need to play a bigger venue (but not “stadium-size” venues), so a stage in an open field is just perfect for Wilco.

Please note start time: 4:30pm for doors, which means Kurt Vile and his band The Violators will be on stage around 5pm. You will not want to miss Vile, so plan accordingly.

We previously caught Vile at the now-defunct 400 Bar in 2012 and at the much larger Rock the Garden in 2014. We wrote, “Vile, founding member of indie band The War on Drugs, and his band of skinny, curly-haired rockers played an exhilarating 60+ minute set with a smattering of songs from not only his latest release, but also lo-fi gems Childish Prodigy and Constant Hitmaker.”

Vile’s latest b'lieve i'm going down... is available now.

Wilco’s tour dates:

08/16/16 Kansas City, MO Crossroads-KC
08/17/16 St. Louis, MO Fabulous Fox Theatre
08/19/16 Madison, WI Breese Stevens Field
08/20/16 Minneapolis, MN Hall's Island
08/21/16 Chicago, IL Jay Pritzker Pavilion
08/30/16 Salt Lake City, UT Red Butte Garden
08/31/16 Boise, ID Velma V. Morrison Center
09/02/16 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
09/03/16 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
09/04/16 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer
09/06/16 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
09/07/16 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
09/09/16 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
09/10/16 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
09/11/16 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
09/13/16 Los Angeles, CA The Theatre
09/14/16 Los Angeles, CA The Theatre
09/15/16 Los Angeles, CA The Theatre
09/17/16 Sound Summit

Read More Charles Bradley The Screaming Eagle of Soul sure does know how to drum up the excitement. Tuesday night at the Cedar Cultural Center, after excellent opener Paul and His Tall Trees exited the stage…

CHARLES BRADLEY
at Sociable Cider Werks
Sunday, 08/21/16, 3pm (FREE)
sociablecider.com

We already mentioned this show in 10 July 2016, so this is just a reminder that “The Screaming Eagle of Soul” Charles Bradley and his band His Extraordinaires will be playing a FREE show this Sunday at Sociable Cider Werks. Unfortunately, you must “purchase” one ticket, so you’ll need a credit or debit card.

4onthefloor to open.

Details:

Charles Bradley at Sociable Cider Aug 21st

Sociable hosts Charles Bradley with support from 4onthefloor and Eleganza in concert on Sunday Aug 21st. Gates at 3pm.

This FREE show is open to all ages. Please be advised if you will be drinking we ask that you purchase a $5 21+ wristband at the door with proceeds benefiting the NE Exchange Club

*Ticketing Notes:
1. One ticket per person. Ticket holder ID must match ticket at the gate
2. You don't have to enter your CC info, we just can't take that field down from our webstore portal
3. Your confirm will say we are mailing you a ticket, that is a lie. Print your confirm or you can display it on your super smart device

DJ will be spinning when the gates open, first live set starts 4:00pm

Produced in conjunction with The Beer Dabbler and 89.3 The Current and Thrifty Hipster. Full lineup of cider and beer provided by Sociable Cider. Food available from The Curious Goat and Smokin' Cow food trucks

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

Doomtree at Sociable Cider Werks, Minneapolis (10 July 2016)

Read More Doomtree Minneapolis hip-hop collective Doomtree is on the road to SXSW 2015! The tour is also to promote his upcoming full-lenth album All Hands, due January 27, 2015 on their own Doomtree Records. ....

The best thing about the music scene here in the Twin Cities? No matter what's going on around us, there is always a place where you can escape to. You will be surrounded by friends and strangers. There will be no violence, no drama, just music and the feeling you get from being at a live show. Sunday night was no different.

Doomtree played a free show yesterday at Sociable Cider Werks in Saint Paul. It was a day full of friends, music, cider and gorgeous weather. It was a perfect getaway from the craziness of the world we live in.

ZuluZuluu was the sole opener for the show. Their music was very chill and soothing. People seemed to enjoy it as they all crowded into the few shady areas to escape the heat. The music was very ambient at times but at other times had very complex rhythms and sounds.

Doomtree photo: John

After an hour long set, it was time for Doomtree to set up. I glanced around the parking and realized just how many people had come out to the event. There were all kinds of people there. Like many of the free festivals that happen here in the cities, there was a good mix of people who were there for the music and people who probably just lived in the area and wanted to see what was going on.

Doomtree started with a couple of new songs but quickly moved into a medley of about five old songs that the crowd went crazy over. Their whole set was full of just Doomtree songs which was a bit different than the previous times I have seen them.

Dessa photo: John

Let me break it down Doomtree for you, they are a hip-hop collective of seven individuals (Cecil Otter, Dessa, Lazerbeak, Mike Mictlan, Paper Tiger, P.O.S and Sims), each member has a solo or side project that they work on when Doomtree isn't active (although it seems like they're always active). The previous times I have seen them each member performs one of their own songs while the other members hang in the background. Last night was the first time I have seen them when each song was a Doomtree song... there were no Dessa songs, no Sims songs... just Doomtree and it was truly a show of just how much talent this group has.

Doomtree took 30 seconds of silence to honor the fallen and the recent events. The crowd respected those 30 seconds and took the time to do what they felt needed to be done whether it was pray, take a sip of beer, stare at the ground in order in keep your balance... whatever. It was respectful and it was a much needed 30 seconds of silence. The members of Doomtree didn't force an opinion on the crowd, hell they didn't even bring up on specific event. It was the most beautiful 30 seconds of the night.

Doomtree with Har Mar Superstar photo: John

The show ended with one last hoorah as Doomtree sang their hit song ‘Bangarang’. I had noticed Har Mar Superstar walking around the crowd earlier in the night so it was no surprise to see him on stage with Doomtree as they all danced like fools. It was a perfect ending to a perfect afternoon.

The show was the first part of Sociable Cider Werk’s Summer Concert series. They will be hosting one show each month this summer. The next show’s announced will be Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires (with 4ontheFloor and Eleganza) on August 21st. Full details on their website sociablecider.com ... make sure you snatch up a free ticket early!

Doomtree at Sociable Cider Werks, Minneapolis (10 July 2016) photo: John

langen ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ‚ô• facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Minneapolis: May 26, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on May 26, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Charles Bradley The Screaming Eagle of Soul sure does know how to drum up the excitement. Tuesday night at the Cedar Cultural Center, after excellent opener Paul and His Tall Trees exited the stage…

CHARLES BRADLEY
at First Avenue
Thursday, 05/26/16, 8pm ($20)
first-avenue.com

Charles Bradley, billed as Charles Bradley His Extraordinaires, is back in Minneapolis next Thursday, this time in support of his third album Changes (Dunham / Daptone Records).

We’ve caught the Screaming Eagle of Soul a few times, including Festival Palomino 2014, First Avenue (2013), The Cedar (2013), and First Avenue (2011) ... so we’re big fans.

Although no opening bands are listed, it wouldn’t surprise us if Bradley decided to play an extra-long set... they are one of the hardest working band touring today.

Tour dates:

5/20 Vancouver, BC – Commodore
5/21 Denver, CO - Project Pabst
5/23 Seattle, WA - Neumo's
5/26 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
5/28 Norfolk, VA - LAVA Music Fest
5/29 Boston, MA - Boston Calling Music Festival
6/02 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
6/03 Cincinnati, OH – Bunbury Music Festival
6/04 Nelsonville, OH - Nelsonville Music Festival
6/05 Toronto, ON – Field Trip Music & Arts Festival
6/07 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
6/08 Pittsburgh, PA - Three Rivers Arts Festival
6/09 Buffalo, NY - Canal Series
6/11 Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
6/12 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo
6/23 Archeo Jazz Festival
6/24 Blackisback Weekend
6/25 Down The Rabbit Hole
6/26 Black Is Back Soul Weekend
6/28 Internationaler Musiksommer
6/29 Ulm, Germany - Ulmer Zelt
7/01 Cluses, France - Musiques en Stock
7/02 Lyon, France - Les Nuits de Fourvière
7/03 Marmande, France - Garorock Festival
7/07 Montreux Jazz Festival
7/08 Liege, Belgium - Les Ardentes Festival
7/09 Bruges, Belgium – Cactusfestival
7/10 Monts, France - Terres de Son Festival
7/12 Munster, Germany - Skaters Palace
7/13 Dresden, Germany - Beatpol
7/14 Neuenburg Am Rhein, Germany - Zeltfestival
7/16 Pori, Finland - Pori Jazz
7/17 Salacgriva, Latvia - Positivus Festival
7/20 - 21Molde, Norway - Molde Jazz Festival
7/24 San Sebastian, Spain - Heineken Jazzaldia
7/26 Lucerne, Switzerland - Blue Balls
7/27 Sankt Moritz, Switzerland - Festival Da Jazz
7/29 Malmesbury, United Kingdom - WOMAD
7/30 Cambridge, UK - Cambridge Folk Fest
7/31 Dublin, Ireland - The Beatyard
8/06 Johnstown, PA - Flood City Music Festival
8/13 North Adams, MA - Mass MoCA
8/26 Arrington, VA - Lockn' Festival
8/28 Los Angeles, CA - FYF Fest
8/29 Petaluma, CA - Lagunitas Brewing Company

Read More Strange Relations I must note that I caught about half of the set of the opening band Strange Relations. They're a band from Minneapolis consisting of drums, bass and guitar. The drummer sang over her complicated/awesome …

THE HOTELIER
at The Garage
Thursday, 05/26/16, 6pm ($12-$14)
thegaragemn.com

The Hotelier will be stopping by The Garage in Burnsville next Thursday, in support of their third studio album Goodness - available on May 27th via Tiny Engines.

Opening up the show will be Told Slant, Loone, and Strange Relations

Tour dates:

May 20: Burlington, VT @ Signal Kitchen
May 21: Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo
May 22: Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck
May 24: Detroit, MI @ Majestic Cafe
May 25: DeKalb, IL @ The House Cafe
May 26: Burnsville, MN @ The Garage
May 27: Omaha, NE @ Milk Run
May 28: Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
May 29: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
May 31: Seattle, WA @ The Vera Project
Jun 01: Portland, OR @ The Analog
Jun 02: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
Jun 03: Fresno, CA @ Mia Cuppa Caffe
Jun 04: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo Complex
Jun 05: San Diego, CA @ The Che Cafe
Jun 06: Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge
Jun 08: Houston, TX @ Walter's Downtown
Jun 09: Austin, TX @ The Sidewinder
Jun 10: Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Jun 11: Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street
Jun 12: St. Louis, MO @ The Demo
Jun 13: Bloomington, IN @ The Void
Jun 14: Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo
Jun 30: Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Jul 01: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Jul 02: Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
Jul 03: Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
Jul 05: Orlando, FL @ BackBooth
Jul 06: Lake Worth, FL @ Propaganda
Jul 07: Tampa, FL @ Epic Problem
Jul 08: Birmingham, AL @ Desert Island
Jul 09: Nashville, TN @ The End
Jul 10: Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness
Jul 12: Lakewood, OH @ Mahall's
Jul 13: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Jul 14: Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Jul 15: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

Read More Battlecross BATTLECROSS incorporates many elements of extreme thrash, death and tech metal, creating a precise blend of fist pumping brutality, intensity, and drive …

BATTLECROSS
at Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Thursday, 05/26/16, 5pm ($15)
amsterdambarandhall.com

Motor City thrashers Battlecross will be playing at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St Paul next Thursday in support of their latest album Rise To Power. Unfortunately, their tour with Abnormality came to an end before hitting Minnesota.

Instead, metalcore band Feed Her to the Sharks will open the show. These guys are from Melbourne, Australia, and currently signed to Victory Records, Fortitude.

Feed Her to the Sharks’ latest Fortitude is out now.

Tour dates:

May 21 Pub Rock Scottsdale, AZ
May 22 The Co-op Albuquerque, NM
May 24 Lookout Lounge Omaha, NE
May 25 Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, IA
May 26 Amsterdam Bar and Hall Saint Paul, MN
May 27 Metal Grill Cudahy, WI
May 28 Howell Center Howell, MI
Jun 03 Trixie's Louisville, KY
Jun 04 JR's Lightbulb Club Fayetteville, AR
Jun 05 Rustin Luther Benefit Show Forth Worth, TX
Jul 08 Resurrection Fest El Viviero, Spain
Jul 13 RockMaraton Dunaujvaros, Hungary
Jul 25 MetalDays 2016 Tolmin, Slovenia

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

Back to the Track: Festival Palomino - A Closer Look

Photo Gallery       Apache Relay Apache Relay Hurray for the Riff Raff Charles Bradley Spirit Family Reunion Audience inside Silk's Bar Head and the Heart Head and the Heart Low Low Trampled by Turtles Trampled by Turtles Read More Festival Palomino Vu and John will be heading down to Canterbury Park in Shakopee to cover the inaugural Festival Palomino today (September 20th). … Trampled by Turtles Trampled By Turtles (aka TBT) had a very special two-day CD release shows for Friday and Saturday at First Ave, in Minneapolis. For the first night, they were supported by The Devil Makes Three ... The Head And The Heart Seattle's The Head and the Heart just stopped by First Avenue, in Minneapolis, as part of their national tour in support of Let's Be Still. The album was released last week, October 15th ... Low Recently, Low released The Invisible Way, which came out March 19, 2013, on Sub Pop Records. The band just wrapped up their UK tour in November, and they're taking it easy for the winter. ... Charles Bradley You may know him as “The Screaming Eagle of Soul”, …or “Black Velvet”, “Black Rose”, “Casanova of Love”, or maybe “The Reverend of Love” – As Extraordinaires organist ... Hurray For The Riff Raff Hurray For The Riff Raff just released their latest, Small Town Heroes, on ATO. Really good Cajun Sound. I saw them at the Mojo BBQ, two or three years ago and have always been impressed. ... The Apache Relay The Apache Relay are based out of Nashville, and they will be playing tracks from their new self-titled album, which is out now via So Recordings. I got a chance to hear their single ...

With Autumn now upon us, colder temperatures in the air, and leaves falling and changing color, we finally have a breath to fondly take a closer look back at the summer’s final area music festival, the inaugural Festival Palomino.

The Festival, conceived and curated by Duluth bluegrass/Americana folk band Trampled by Turtles, was a major success, despite the occasional glitches of a first-time presentation and being chased indoors by the wrath of late summer’s often unpredictable weather.

THE LOCATION

Held on an initially warm and sunny Saturday (September 20, 2014), with a name like Festival Palomino (besides being named after TBT’s 2010 album, Palomino), it HAD to be held at a horse track and so, Canterbury Park in Shakopee was the ideal location.

Instead of taking place in the nearby grassy field or parking lot, like previous concerts (Warped Tour), a main (called ‘Stars’) and secondary (called ‘Satellites’) stage were set up in the grass inside the oval racetrack, a location not used for music events since the radio concert shows of the early ‘90s.

Stages were within earshot and easy walking distance of each other and framed by sponsor and food booths and rows of port-a-pottys.  Festival goers could also retreat to the track’s grandstands for a more distant but all-encompassing view, or for the other indoor amenities.  The site itself was outside of the metro, but not overly so, and easily accessible from the highway.

THE COST

An entire day (and night’s) worth of music for +/-$40 seemed like more than a good bang-for-your-buck.  VIP upgrades were available for an approximate $60 more, which added a tote bag, lanyard, drink tickets, and private food/drink tent and restroom area, to the experience.  Food/drink vendors seemed reasonably priced for this type of event as well.

THE OPERATIONS

Parking was free and well-organized coming in and the day’s events were dutifully planned and timed. First Avenue and promoter Rose Presents were responsible for much of the staging and logistics and most things ran seamlessly; perhaps a good sign of the upcoming promised, but still yet-to-see First Avenue Festival, happening hopefully in 2015.

Though both stages were close to each other, set times were scheduled such that as soon as an act would finish on one stage, the act on the other stage would immediately start, so that there was no music overlap or having to decide which band to see (unlike at the Basilica Block Party). Many people set up a blanket in the middle of the festival area, and were able to enjoy all the acts by simply turning their head towards the appropriate stage. Restrooms, food and water options, and related needs were all plentiful and easy to locate.

THE WEATHER

It is Minnesota in late summer, which means a good degree of unpredictability.  The day started as sunny and warm, only to have the skies darken and evolve into a strong 2hr. thunderstorm, followed by a clear but very chilly evening.  In other words, a normal late September day here.

THE BANDS

FIELD REPORT: To keep with the schedule, music started right on time at 2pm with Milwaukee's Field Report, playing tracks from their just-released album Marigolden (Partisan Records).  The band returns to town this week for the monthly Communion series at the Varsity on Tuesday.

ERIK KOSKINEN: Immediately after Field Report stopped playing at the Stars stage, local alt-county troubadour Erik Koskinen started his set over at the Satellites stage.

Hurray for the Riff Raff

HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF: New Orleans'  Alynda Lee Segarra, who goes by her stage name Hurray for the Riff Raff, was the first non-area band on the main stage.  We previously saw Hurray for the Riff Raff at SXSW 2014 (14 March 2014), and like that brief set, Segarra played some tracks from her major label debut, Small Town Heroes (ATO Records).

Segarra filled out her songs with a four-piece band, which included a fiddle and upright bass to accompany her own banjo playing.  Highlights included one of the first songs she’d written on banjo, ‘Here It Comes’, ‘End of the Line’ which featured Segarra on harmonica, and ‘Little Black Star’, from her previous album, that became a crowd clap and sing-a-long.

The Apache Relay

APACHE RELAY: Nashville's The Apache Relay returned to Minnesota after only a few weeks, previously supporting (Jenny Lewis at First Avenue). Singer Michael Ford, Jr., had little to say between songs, instead trying to fit in as many from their latest and self-titled album (So Recordings) including ‘Don't Leave Me Now’, ‘Ruby’, and personal favorite ‘Katie Queen Of Tennessee’) and their 2011 album American Nomad (including ‘Sets Me Free’ and ‘Lost Kid’)... but also threw in a cover of Shelby Lynne's "Your Lies".

The effort paid off, as when they reached their end of their intended set, they realized they had enough time to squeeze in one more, much to the encouragement of the newfound fans near the stage, who yelled out loudly, "You guys ROCK!"

Charles Bradley

CHARLES BRADLEY: The gratitude and tenderness of Charles Bradley could bring sunshine to almost any situation, but even he couldn’t conquer the weather as his 43 min. set ran a little short due to the oncoming rain and wind.

Bradley and His Extraordinaires are still out in support of last year’s Victim of Love (Daptone Records) and the showman and his 7pc band (incl. two horn players and three guitarists) shone on songs like ‘Strictly Reserved For You’, the psychedelic ‘Confusion’, ’You Put The Flame On It’, and a song he described as “my favorite”, ‘Let’s Give Love a Chance’.  “Without you, there will be no me”, Bradley emoted wearing a black suit with screaming eagle belt buckle and a pharaoh t-shirt, “and we mean what we say”.

Spirit Family Reunion

SPIRIT FAMILY REUNION: With the storm creeping closer and a serious lightning threat, organizers decided to evacuate the almost 10,000 people from the field, to the safety of indoors.  Spirit Family Reunion, it was announced, would be playing inside on a makeshift stage at Silk’s Bar and Grill, and the raging storm outside, was probably the best thing possible for this fledgling Americana roots band that included banjo and spoon/washboard players.

“I know they didn’t plan it, but that’s how the best things happen”, co-lead singer Nick Panken announced, with the band huddled around a single microphone for songs like ‘It Does Not Bother Me’ and an impassioned and appropriate Beatles cover of ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’, showing how unfazed they were about the storm just outside the window.  “We’re going to keep going until someone tells us to stop”, Panken remarked during their elongated set, which also included a rising cover of The Band’s ‘Up on Cripple Creek’, which brought up TBT’s Ryan Young to play.

The Head and the Heart

THE HEAD AND THE HEART: After an almost two hour delay, the crowd was released back outside and crowded the main stage (where extended applause took place for the stagehand that removed the protective plastic from the high stagelights)  for Seattle favorites, The Head and the Heart, who had maybe the biggest overall sound of the festival acts.  Led by co-vocalists Josiah Johnson, Charity Rose Thielen, and Jonathan Russell, the band’s 50 min. set leaned heavily on last year’s Let’s Be Still (Sub Pop Records) and the damp crowd showed why Minneapolis is one of the band’s best markets.

“Hope the drinks inside were free…or at least cheap”, the band remarked, before playing ‘Ghosts’ with its lyrics, “all my friends are talkin’ about leaving”.  Violinist Thielen even called out a Little Falls, MN meat shop to show her familiarity with the area, and ‘Another Story’ had perhaps the days’ most appropriate lyric with “I'll tell you one thing, we ain't gonna change love, the sun still rises even through the rain” amidst a timely gorgeous amber sunset.  Fittingly, ‘Rivers and Roads’ from their debut album, about friends and separation ended their set, which found evening setting in and the temperature falling.

Low

LOW: Attention then shifted to the small Satellites stage for Duluth’s Low, who opened with two new songs from their latest, The Invisible Way (Sub Pop Records) before drummer Mimi Parker took over for a slo-core cover of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘I’m on Fire’., which itself was in stark contrast to the distorted guitars of ‘On My Own’ for their truncated half-hour set.

TRAMPLED BY TURTLES:  The high-speed bluegrass of Trampled by Turtles closed what had become a chilly night, with a 90 min. set of songs both old and new in support of latest album, Wild Animals (Banjodad Records).  The new album is a bit slower and more melancholy than recent previous releases, but the songs (including single ‘Are You Behind the Shining Star?’) came more alive in concert and amidst the older tracks.

Trampled by Turtles with Caroline Smith

Leader Dave Simonett remarked after the first couple numbers, “It’s been a long time since I broke two strings in a row…you guys must be something powerful out there”.  A gloomy ‘Lucy’ showcased an additional four-piece string section. Local chanteuse Caroline Smith joined the band on stage for the new album’s title track, and ‘Wait So Long’ actually had members of Spirit Family Reunion stagediving up front, perhaps too pent up from all their time playing indoors.

A Loudon Wainwright III cover of ‘Swimming Song’ brought bassist Tim Saxhaug up to do lead vocals, ‘Winners’, the closer from the new album with its winter in Duluth lyric “pretty little city, nothin’ coming in” especially resonated, and the band was accompanied by Lee “Big Country” Martin on steel guitar for most of their set.

Their Pixies cover of ‘Where is my Mind’ brought cheers, as did ‘Midnight on the Interstate’ and radio hit, ‘Alone’, which was also perfectly featured during the closing of recent film, The Way Way Back.  The band came back to the stage and began their encore with a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘I’m Goin’ Down’, before bringing Smith and Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker from Low up, for the festival-closing ‘Codeine’.

THE VERDICT

The weather notwithstanding, Festival Palomino was expertly executed, a fine value for the dollar, and a more-than-worthy, day long concert experience.  Plans are already underway for the 2015 version, which we’re already looking forward to.

A few suggestions:

More variety of acts- most bands (except for Charles Bradley) fell into the Americana/alt-country category, a result of TBT being on other festival bills with these acts, and then asking them to join theirs. Hopefully, a wider spectrum of music (both new and old) can be presented in the future.

A third stage indoors- because of the rain, it was inadvertently proven that a potential third stage could be constructed indoors, to allow fans an alternative for newer and/or more appropriate local acts (i.e. The Pines) to help fill out the bill.

VIP overhaul – a few paying for the VIP upgrade didn’t feel they got their additional money’s worth, with liquor sales ending early as a result of the weather, and not as privileged access.  A separate seating area to the side of the stages would not be out of order, early entry and VIP-specific parking areas, would be just a few possible added value ideas.

Shuttle Service – being the first festival, some of the ideal extras were obviously not in place, but some kind of shuttle service and/or drop off point from both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, might have brought more city and student crowds in, that may not have had access to cars.

Trampled by Turtles at Festival Palomino, Shakopee (20 Sep 2014)

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

Minneapolis Music Guide: September 14 - September 20, 2014

Here is the weekly guide of some Minneapolis live concerts and events from September 14 to September 20.

Read More Devendra Banhart Uncut: Love Above All: 11 Tracks Compiled by Devendra Banhart 1. Jana Hunter - Vultures 2. Rodrigo Amarante - Diamond Eyes 3. Papercuts - Unavailable …

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
7TH STREET ENTRY
Papercuts w/ Skygreen Leopards

When I think about papercuts, I think about licking envelopes and cutting my tongue. It's painful, and it's not a good thought. Hopefully San Francisco's Papercuts is not as unpleasant.

Papercuts is the stagename for singer/songwriter/producer Jason Quever, who is currently on tour in support of his latest album Life Among the Savages (Easy Sound / Memphis Industries).

Opening up will be California psych-pop duo Skygreen Leopards, who is currently on tour with Woods. Skygreen Leopards' latest album Family Crimes came out earlier this summer via Woodsist.

Papercuts tour dates:

09/09 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
09/10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox
09/12 - Chicago, IL - Schubas
09/14 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry

Skygreen Leopards tour dates:

09/13 Deerfield, WI - Yardfest
09/14 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry at First Avenue
09/15 Chicago, IL - Hideout
09/18 Brooklyn, NY - Baby's All Right

Read More The Bots Punk (and blues) band The Bots are real life brothers, consisting of Mikaiah Lei (lead vocal, guitar, bass), 20, and Anaiah Lei (drums & percussions, backing vocal), 16. Their new EP, Sincerely …

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
NETHER BAR
The Bots

We previously mentioned that The Bots were two brothers, Mikaiah Lei (lead vocal, guitar, bass) and Anaiah Lei (drums & percussions, backing vocal), and noted that they were really young (at the time Anaiah was 16).

The Bots are touring the Midwest around Riotfest, and will be stopping by Minneapolis at the Nether Bar (inside Mill City Nights), in support of their forthcoming album Pink Palms, set for release October 14th via FADER Label.

Opening up the show are The Picturebooks, described as a new band, the blues-rock duo (Fynn & Philipp). Noisey recently debuted the band’s video for "Your Kisses Burn Like Fire" and said it makes you want to buy a motorcycle and disappear into the desert. The Picturebooks will be showcasing some songs from their forthcoming album Imaginary Horse, due out October 7th.

Tour dates:

09/09 - La Vitrola - Montreal, QC
09/10 - The Hollow - Albany, NY
09/12 - The Smiling Moose - Pittsburgh, PA
09/13 - Riotfest - Chicago, IL
09/15 - Nether Bar - Minneapolis, MN
09/18 - Replay Lounge - Lawrence, KS
09/20 - Riotfest - Denver, CO
09/21 - The Smell - Los Angeles, CA
09/27 - The Shindig Festival - Baltimore, MD
11/09 - Fun Fun Fun Fest - Austin, TX

Read More Shonen Knife I love Shonen Knife. The Osaka band announced their new album Overdrive to come out April 16th, 2014, via Good Charamel Records (for North America). The American market will get a yellow cover version, while the UK …

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
TURF CLUB
Shonen Knife

Mark your calendar, one of my favorite band Shonen Knife will be playing their 1,000th show at the Turf Club in Saint Paul on September 16th. What an achievement, and, as a bonus, they are taking fan requests. If I can get them to play "Riding the Rocket" or their cover of the Carpenters' "Top of the World", I'll be happy.

Details of their 1000 show:

Shonen Knife is taking fan requests for our 1000th show on September 16th of our North. American Tour!

The show at Turf Club in St. Paul, MN of our North American Tour 2014 will be the 1000th!

To celebrate the 1000th show, we'll take fan requests and make a set list!

You can send request via Twitter or Facebook. Please see the "how to send request" below.

Anyone can join. Please send request without hesitation!

How to send request

Twitter : use Hashtag #SK1000

facebook : Leave your favorites as comments!

Shonen Knife's tour dates:

09/11/14 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts 09/12/14 Brooklyn, NY The Wick 09/13/14 Music Is Art 09/14/14 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom 09/16/14 Saint Paul, MN Turf Club 09/17/14 Iowa City, IA The Mill 09/18/14 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge 09/19/14 Detroit, MI Magic Stick 09/20/14 Toronto, ON The Silver Dollar Room 09/22/14 Cambridge, MA Middle East Nightclub 09/24/14 Baltimore, MD Ottobar 09/25/14 Durham, NC The Pinhook 09/27/14 Atlanta, GA 529 09/30/14 Baton Rouge, LA Mud And Water 10/01/14 Houston, TX Fitzgerald's

10/02/14 Dallas, TX Dada Dallas 10/03/14 Austin, TX Red 7 10/06/14 Tucson, AZ The Flycatcher 10/07/14 San Diego, CA The Casbah 10/08/14 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater 10/10/14 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill 10/11/14 Portland, OR Dante's 10/12/14 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern 10/14/14 Boise, ID Neurolux 10/15/14 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge 10/16/14 Denver, CO The Oriental Theater 10/17/14 Kansas City, MO The Record Bar 10/18/14 St. Louis, MO Firebird 10/20/14 Pittsburgh, PA 31st Street Pub 10/21/14 Asbury Park, NJ The Saint

Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires w/ Caroline Smith - First Avenue, Minneapolis (Dec. 5, 2013) concert review

Setlist instrumental intro Lovebug Blues Crying in the Chapel This World (is Going up in Flames) Where Do We Go From Here You Put the Flame On It instrumental Hurricane Heart of Gold Lovin' You Baby Strictly Reserved For You Confusion All I’m Askin’ -- Encore -- This Love Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us > Doing it to Death (Gonna Have a Funky Good Time) Victim of Love instrumental outro Charles Bradley Tour Dates 12/11 • Centre in the Square • Kitchener, Canada 12/12 • Kool Haus • Toronto, ON, Canada 12/13 • Ritual • Ottawa, ON, Canada 12/14 • Higher Ground • S. Burlington, VT 12/31 • First Night • Pittsburgh, PA 01/16 • 9:30 Club • Washington, DC 01/17 • Bowery Ballroom • New York, NY 01/18 • Music Hall • Brooklyn, NY 01/24 • Bearsville Theater • Woodstock, NY 01/25 • The Wolf Den • Uncasville, CT 02/05 • Pearl Street • Northampton, MA 02/06 • The Columbus Theatre • Providence, RI 02/07 • House of Blues • Boston, MA 02/08 • Electric Factory • Philadelphia, PA 02/22 • NZ Festival • Wellington 02/23 • NZ Festival • Wellington 02/25 • Perth Festival • Perth, Australia 02/28 • Adelaide Festival • Adelaide 03/02 • The Basement • Sydney, Australia 03/04 • The Hifi • Brisbane, Australia 03/06 • Corner Hotel • Melbourne, Australia 03/07 • Melbourne Zoo Twilights • Melbourne 03/08 • Golden Plains Festival • Meredith 03/09 • Panama Fest • North East Tasmania Read More Charles Bradley The Screaming Eagle of Soul sure does know how to drum up the excitement. Tuesday night at the Cedar Cultural Center, after excellent opener Paul and His Tall Trees exited the stage… Caroline Smith Minneapolis' Caroline Smith is pleased to announce her December tour dates with Charles Bradley, she will be playing songs from her new album Half About Being a Woman.…

You may know him as “The Screaming Eagle of Soul”,

…or “Black Velvet”, “Black Rose”, “Casanova of Love”, or maybe “The Reverend of Love” – As Extraordinaires organist/hypeman Mike Deller introduced soul singing Charles Bradley to the Mainroom stage at Minneapolis’ First Avenue, the 65 year-old brought down the house with an almost 2hr.long performance that’s showed he’s still getting started, at an age when most people are deciding to retire.

CAROLINE SMITH

Beginning the evening on the good foot was Minneapolis-based singer Caroline Smith, whose freshly released new album, Half About Being a Woman (United Interests), is getting great local buzz/airplay and growing acclaim. Call this Caroline Smith: version 2.0, as she has evolved her gentler indie-folk rock past into a neo-soul hybrid with soaring Joss Stone-esque vocals on stunning songs like the title track, ‘Buy Me Something’, and current single, ‘Magazine’.

Caroline Smith with full band

The new tracks preach a joy of empowerment, independence, and a return to “feel-good music” that had the crowd in her hand from the very beginning, and not just because she’s local. ‘Walking Off Strong’ and ‘Bloodstyle’, both also from the new record, showed her range and comfort with the transformed r&b style, and proved her songwriting and talent is worth the notice it’s starting to get nationally.

Following the intermission, seven-piece soul band, The Extraordinaires took the stage for a three-song instrumental introduction. Caito Sanchez (drums); Paul Schalda (guitar); Freddy DeBoe (tenor sax); Billy Austik (trumpet); Alex Chakour (guitar); Mike Deller (organ); and Vince Chiarito (bass) set the stage ably for the main attraction to enter, Bradley wearing a sequined red-orange jumpsuit with eagle on the back and winged skull belt buckle.

Starting with ‘Love Bug Blues’, Chiarito’s bass thumped a Stax-like rhythm and the crowd was immediately bitten, and swooned with Bradley’s impassioned call to “burn!”

Bradley’s story itself is one of ultimate inspiration – abandoned and homeless as a youth, and hardship years struggling as a James Brown impersonator before being discovered and launched as a solo artist by Daptone Records, as chronicled in last year’s moving documentary, Soul of America. Bradley’s second full-length, Victim of Love (Daptone/Dunham) also became the theme of the night, as he figuratively embraced the crowd of “brothers and sisters” in a soul-splashed shower of love and joy throughout his performance. The heartfelt ‘Crying in the Chapel’ was next, Bradley singing with conviction as if his life depended on it, his style taking obvious influence from James Brown, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding, while making it into something all his own.

“Let your little heart shine!” Bradley declared before a bouncy ‘You Put the Flame on It’, with transformative lyrics reminiscent of ‘My Girl’. “We DID put the flame on you people!”, organist Deller stated after, as Bradley ducked offstage for a costume change, before being brought back for a “loose and funky” ‘Hurricane’.

A horn-filled cover of Neil Young’s ‘Heart of Gold’ made us all believers that he’d indeed “crossed an ocean for a heart of gold” and his tender side came out for the crooning ‘Lovin’ You Baby’. ‘Strictly Reserved for You’ received one of the loudest receptions of the evening, Bradley spinning, strutting, and emoting, while guitarist Schalda worked his effects pedal soloing.

‘Confusion’ was a driving psychedelic number, while main set closer ‘All I’m Askin’ was prefaced by Bradley noticing all the smiles in the crowd and another thematic sermon on love.

The encore started somewhat somberly, with Bradley revealing his mother, who had just turned 90, has been critically ill back in New York. In spite of this, she had urged him to “go out and share your love”; so composing himself, dove into a more-than-funky mix of early single, ‘This Love Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us’ which segued into James Brown’s ‘Doing it to Death’. Bradley’s Soul Brotha #1-like moves were on full display- feet shuffling, mic stand tipping, and arms outreached.

CHARLES BRADLEY

“We always like to take this song with us”, Bradley intro’d the title track to his latest, ‘Victim of Love’, a heartfelt final song dedicated this night to his ailing mother, with a stirring story about the power of love, a bible given to him, and making a difference in the world. As he exited the stage, the party didn’t stop as band continued playing for a full outro.

This was a performance of great positive affirmation, from a top-notch band and a man finding his second chance in life didn’t pass him by, and who returns back the love and affection shown to him nightly. Charles Bradley brought the love on this night - a perfect, warm feeling to exit on, back outside into a cold and snowy December evening.

Charles Bradley at First Avenue, Minneapolis (12/05/13)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Charles Bradley and the Extraordinaires with Paul and His Tall Trees at Cedar Cultural Center 5/7/2013

Tour Dates 05/09/13 Chicago, IL Metro / Smart Bar 05/10/13 Ferndale, MI The Magic Bag 05/11/13 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert 05/13/13 Montreal, QC Virgin Mobile 05/16/13 New York, NY Apollo Theater 05/17/13 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer 05/18/13 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club 06/07/13 Richmond, VA Brown's Island 06/12/13 Paris, France La Maroquinerie 06/14/13 London, UK Islington Assembly 06/15/13 Bergen, Norway Bergenhus Festning 06/16/13 Oslo, Norway Frognerparken 06/17/13 Copenhagen, Denmark VEGA 06/19/13 Hamburg, Germany Grunspan 06/20/13 Dresden, Germany Beatpol 06/22/13 Westmeath, Ireland Ballinlough Castle 06/23/13 Duisburg, Germany Landschaftspark 06/25/13 Odense, Denmark Posten 06/26/13 Berlin, Germany Huxleys Neue Welt 06/27/13 Frankfurt, Germany Batschkapp 06/30/13 Pilton, UK Worthy Farm 07/02/13 Vienna, Aus Vienna State Opera 07/03/13 Karlsruhe, Ger Tollhaus 07/05/13 Werchter, Belgium Festivalpark 07/07/13 Arras, Fr Citadel Of Arras 07/08/13 Argeles, Fr Les Deferlantes 07/09/13 Montreux, Switz Montreux Jazz 07/11/13 Bilbao, Spain Kobetamendi 07/13/13 Juan-Les-Pins, France Pinede Gould 07/14/13 Rotterdam, Netherlands Ahoy Rotterdam 07/15/13 Munich, Germany Olympiapark 07/18/13 Dour, Belgium Fest Grounds 07/20/13 Suffolk, UK Henham Park 07/21/13 Carhaix-Plouguer, Fr Les Vieilles 08/03/13 Chicago, IL Grant Park 08/10/13 Burnaby, BC Deer Lake Park 08/31/13 Seattle, WA Seattle Center Read More Charles Bradley The Screaming Eagle of Soul Lands in Minneapolis May 7th!!! Brooklyn-native funk/soul singer Charles Bradley has been making quite a name for himself these days. Having spent the last twenty years performing as a James Brown…

The Screaming Eagle of Soul sure does know how to drum up the excitement. Tuesday night at the Cedar Cultural Center, after excellent opener Paul and His Tall Trees exited the stage, folks were getting a little impatient waiting for soul maestro Charles Bradley to appear. There was definitely the feeling that the sold-out, all ages crowd were in for a real treat and as the minutes seemingly crawled by, a fevered anticipation set in. Tom Petty said that “waiting is the hardest part,” but pay-off that night was nothing short of extraordinary.

Bradley’s impressive backing band The Extraordinaires leapt on stage first, warming up the crowd with some fierce instrumentals including a cover of Lovin’ Spoonful's “Summer in the City.” The keys player stepped out from behind his instrument and strolled over to the silver mic and, sounding like Wolfman Jack, provided a stellar introduction for Bradley. Walking on stage clad in a black suit with a shimmery, sequined vest and gold decals on his shoulders and pant-legs, Bradley soaked in the love, arms outstretched and then wrapped over his chest, trying to embrace the whole room. And with a gentle melodic jingle from the guitar, the show took off.

For the next hour and a half, Bradley howled and crooned, sweat streaming down his face like tears, making his passionate wails more powerful. Songs like “The World (Is Going Up in Flames)” soared and Bradley rightly shouted, “Do you want to go to church tonight?” He also danced about doing “the Robot”, dropping to his knees twice and seductively swishing his hips around - his energy was unbelievable! This man is 64-years-old! After a triumphant “Slip Away,” he disappeared from the stage momentarily but returned with a new outfit: a blaze orange jumpsuit with little sequined designs and a slinky, red sheer wrap. The band kicked in to “No Time for Dreaming” with Bradley singing almost like it was painful, his face creased in a grimace. But when he looked out the adoring crowd, the gratitude and warmth just radiated from his smile. He even made a point to say that he didn’t consider the audience his fans, but rather his “brothers and sisters.”

As if he couldn’t wow us with his singing and dancing alone, Bradley broke out a tannerin (electro-theremin) during a crazy-funky “This Love Ain’t Big Enough for the Two of Us.” He created some insanely wild noises while busting out some slick moves. The fiery vintage soul kept coming: “Where Do We Go From Here,” saw Bradley pleading that “we all gotta make a change.” Before we knew it, though, the band was leaving the stage. In response, the entire room exploded into stomping, clapping and yelling - people were not quite ready to leave yet. Luckily, Bradley and the band wanted to stick around as well. The Extraordinaires graced the stage once again and kicked into a sweet instrumental cover of Del Shannon’s “Runaway,” the insistent organ part played flawlessly. As the band played, the keys player stood in front of the mic for a second time and grilled the audience’s devotion. “Do you want more Charles Bradley? Here he is: the Screaming Eagle of Soul, the Victim of Love and the baddest motorbike around... Mr. Charles Bradley!” Bradley walked back out in a gold, velvet jacket and black leather pants and he and the band killed it with a smoldering “Victim of Love” and “Why Is It So Hard?” The show ended with Bradley wading into the audience; a remarkable man being overwhelmed by the love of his brothers and sisters.

Charles Bradley and the Extraordinaires at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (05/07/13)

emily () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ thecharlesbradley.com

Eagletistic

Read More Charles Bradley You may remember hearing about Megan's concert review of Charles Bradley, describing him as "[harboring] so much soul that it’s taken up every square inch of his body and bursts out of his lungs. His howling “oohs” …

CHARLES BRADLEY
www.thecharlesbradley.com

The Screaming Eagle of Soul Lands in Minneapolis May 7th!!!

Brooklyn-native funk/soul singer Charles Bradley has been making quite a name for himself these days. Having spent the last twenty years performing as a James Brown impersonator called “Black Velvet,” Bradley was discovered by Daptone Records co-founder Gabriel Roth. Several jam sessions with fellow Daptone labelmates The Sugarman 3 led to Bradley’s first full length record 2011’s gritty, but hopeful No Time For Dreaming. The album is packed full of emotionally-charged tales straight from Bradley’s difficult life, but you don’t need to know the lyrics to understand the pain; Bradley’s powerfully raw vocals shoot straight to the heart. His singing in “Heartache and Pain,” a song he wrote about the murder of his brother, brought me to tears the first time I heard it - it was so intense. His talented band The Menahan Street Band have provided a wonderful groove-worthy soundtrack to Bradley’s sometimes dark, sometimes tender portraits of American life.

Currently, Bradley is out on the road promoting his second record Victim of Love which drops April 2nd. He will be making a stop at the Cedar Cultural Center May 7th and it will be a damn shame if you miss this show! It should be some kind of national holiday! This is sure to be one of the best shows of the year.

"The unstoppable, untoppable victim of love" Charles Bradley will be heading out on tour in support of his second album Victim of Love, out next Tuesday, April 2nd on Daptone imprint Dunham Records.



Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires tour dates:

04/12 Annapolis, MD - Rams Head 04/13 Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater 04/14 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle 04/17 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel 04/18 Charleston, SC - The Pour House 04/19 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre 04/20 Waverly, AL - Waverly Boogie 04/21 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade 04/24 Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits 04/25 Pensacola, FL - Vinyl Music Hall 04/26 Lafayette, LA - Festival Int'l de Louisiane 04/27 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz 04/28 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks 05/01 Austin, TX - Antone’s 05/02 Dallas, TX - Trees 05/04 Nashville, TN - Exit/In 05/05 St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House 05/07 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center 05/08 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom 05/09 Chicago, IL - The Metro 05/10 Ferndale, MI - The Magic Bag 05/11 Toronto, ON - Phoenix Theatre

05/13 Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre 05/16 New York, NY - Apollo Theater 05/17 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer 05/18 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club 06/12 Paris, France - La Maroquinerie 06/14 London, England - Islington 06/15 Bergen, Norway - BergenFest 06/16 Oslo, Norway - Norwegian Wood 06/17 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega 06/19 Hamburg, Germany - Grünspan 06/20 Dresden, Germany - Beatpol 06/22 Ballinlough Castle, Ireland - Body&Soul 06/23 Duisberg, Germany - Traumzeit Festival 06/25 Aarhus, Denmark - Posten 06/26 Berlin, Germany - Huxleys 06/28-30 Glastonbury, England - Glastonbury 07/02 Vienna, Austria - Jazz Fest Wien 07/03 Karlsruhe - Zeltival - Tollhaus Karlsruhe 07/07 Arras, France - Main Square Festival 07/08 Argelès-sur-Mer, France - Les Déferlantes 07/11 Bilbao, Spain - Bilbao BBK 07/13 Juan-les-Pins, France - Jazz à Juan 07/14 Rotterdam – North Sea Jazz Festival

THE EAGLES eaglesband.com Capitol Records will be releasing the DVD/Blu-ray to History of the Eagles on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013. The documentary is on three discs: History of the Eagles Part One and History of the Eagles Part Two, and Eagles Live At The Capital Centre - March 1977 (featuring never-before-released performances from the Eagles' two-night stand at Washington, D.C.'s Capital Center during the Hotel California tour). Fans are encourage to check out the limited "Super Deluxe Box Set", which comes with three Blu-ray discs, a 40-page casebound photo book, 10 archival-quality photographs of the band, and a specially created lithograph of the band's desert-bleached skull icon.

LAURA MARLING lauramarling.com We covered BRIT-Award winner Laura Marling on a few of her "Working Holiday Tour" and noted five new songs on her setlist. Guess what? Some of those songs ("I Was an Eagle", "Master Hunter", "Once") will be making it on a new studio, Once I Was An Eagle. The album is coming out May 28th, 2013, on Ribbon Music. You can get a taster from the album with her song, "Where Can I Go?" at soundcloud.com. We will certainly be covering her when she tours again.

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