W♥M

We♥KC - April 19-26, 2022 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence KS)

Moonchild April 19, recordBar Pinegrove, April 19, Granada- Lawrence Read More Moonchild 06/11/17 Los Angeles’ Moonchild is playing Studio B at Skyway Theatre, in support of their new record Voyager. 8pm, $12. ...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Things are happening!

Outdoor concert season has started with shows at Azura and GrindersKC and there’s plenty of stand-up comedy to pick from this week. 

Comic conventions are back in full as well, with pop culture, costumed cosplay and celebrities, wrestlers and comic creators invading downtown all weekend long. 

(Despite some health mandates loosening up, several artists are still requiring for entry, so check with the venue and/or better to assume vaccination proof is required)

Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence area for the Third Week of APRIL:

Tuesday April 19
Moonchild w/ Austin Antoine, April 19, recordBar. $23.50-$85

In support of their fifth album, Starfruit, the LA band has a laid back, R&B electronic groove to their sound and the new album features guest appearances from Tank and the Bangas and Lalah Hathaway.

Opener Antoine is a creative Swiss Army Knife, with experience in music, performance art, poetry and theater.

Pinegrove w/ Katy Kirby, Chuck, April 19, Granada- Lawrence, $22-$26

“Pinenuts” are what the most loyal fans of this NJ alt-country rock band call themselves.  The band has been in action over a decade and is action for fifth studio album, 11:11, which was mixed by ex-Death Cab for Cutie member Chris Walla.  RIYL Weakerthans, Wilco, MMJ, and Bon Iver.

Texan Katy Kirby is a Nashville-based, singer-songwriter with new album Cool Dry Place, and Chuck is actually Pinegrove member Megan Benavente. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primus, April 20, GrindersKC Read More Primus The co-headlining Mastodon and Primus will stop by the Myth in Minnesota on Thursday. Psych rockers JJUUJJUU to open. Tour dates: … Mattiel, April 21, recordBar Read More Mattiel Atlanta-based band Mattiel (fronted by singer Mattiel Brown) will be headlining the 7th Street Entry on June 12th. The band is touring in support of their forthcoming sophomore album. … Alan Doyle, April 21, Madrid Theater Read More Alan Doyle Newfoundland singer-songwriter Alan Doyle (lead singer of iconic Canadian band Great Big Sea) has sold out his upcoming appearance at the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant. …

Wednesday April 20

Jason Eady, Justin Wells and Ben Danaher, April 20, Knuckleheads. $20

Texas-based singer-songwriter headlines a night of Lone Star honky-tonk. 

Primus, April 20, GrindersKC. $39.50-$99

After a few delays, the Farewell to Kings tribute finally comes to town, playing the classic 1977 Rush album in its entirety after a set of their own familiar songs, with an encore to end things up.

Thursday April 21

My Brother, My Brother and Me, April 21, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $39.50

Springing from their successful weekly comedy advice podcast, brothers McElroy will be live and in-person dishing out their unique feedback and opinions.

Mattiel w/ Meyadi,  April 21, recordBar, $13

The Atlanta indie rock duo have a third studio album out, Georgia Gothic, and counts Jack White among their many fans, and is highlighted by singer Atina Brown’s vocals.  We just caught them live last October, before the new album had been released and wrote, “Atlanta-based Mattiel opened the show, armed with just her hypnotic voice and lone guitarist Jonah Swilley. This is quite stripped down, as the last time she was in town, in June 2019, she had a full band.”

Opener Meyadi is aka Carmen Dieker and a violinist and multi-instrumentalist

Alan Doyle, April 21, Madrid Theater, $25-$35

We’ve always been entertained when seeing Great Big Sea live and Newfoundland’s Doyle comes to town on his Rough Side Out Tour, with Here, Tonight being his very first live album. 

Expect a healthy helping of GBS songs as well as his solo material, and just maybe a John Mellencamp cover thrown in for good measure. 

Black Tiger Sex Machine with Kai Wachi, Jessica Audiffred and Hairitage, April 21, The Truman. $23-$50

Montreal electro bass dubstep trio that takes their name from a James Brown inspiration back in their more sampling days.  Prepare for walls shaking and dancing.  Single “Cheatcode” is a gamer’s dream. 

Josh Abbott Band w/ Noe Palma, April 21, Granada, $22

They swear, they’ll be there!  After some pandemic delays and then a last-minute cancellation after their bus broke down en route, the Lubbock, TX country band is making good on their promise to return and play.  Latest album was The Highway Kind, released in Nov 2020. 

Opener is a KC-based singer-songwriter former singer of The Broken Cowboys whose first name is pronounced “No-E” named by his Filipino father and cheekily named his debut, Get My Name Right. 

Paul Cauthen, April 21, Knuckleheads. $35

East TX indie folk singer-songwriter formerly in Sons of Fathers with new album, Country Coming Down just released this month. 

 

 

 

Planet Comicon Kansas City, Bartle Hall, April 22-24 Read More Planet ComiCon Crowds in the thousands flocked to Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City over the weekend to attend the three-day Planet Comicon Kansas City, the region’s largest and longest-running comic and pop … Snoop Dogg , April 22, Azura Amph Read More Snoop Dogg On the 20th Anniversary of Snoop Doggy Dog's debut album Doggystyle, Engine Room Recordings released their tribute to the man with Doggystyle Restyled: A Tribute To Snoop Dogg, which came out December 17th, 2013. .... Joy Oladokun, April 22, recordBar Read More Joy Oladokun Joy Oladokun with Bre Kennedy at Fine Line Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Joy Oladokun is headlining the Fine Line this April 24. Bre Kennedy to open. ....

Friday April 22

Planet Comicon Kansas City, Bartle Hall, April 22-24,  $11-$220

The Midwest’s premier Comic Book, Toy and Pop Culture gathering is back at full strength!  Celeb guests include Mythbusters’Adam Savage, Brandon Routh, Joey Fatone, wrestlers Booker T, Sgt Slaughter, and Jerry Lawler, and comic creators Garth Ennis, Howard Chaykin, John Romita Jr, Matt Kindt, and numerous cosplayers.  Fun for all ages all weekend long.

Ballet Midwest presents Giselle, April 22-24, Topeka Perf Arts Center, $20

Snoop Dogg w/ Ice Cube, Warren G, April 22, Azura Amph, $39.50-$150

Outdoor amphitheater season already?! The whiff of you-know-what will be in the air that’ll you think it’s still 4/20.  Out on the Dogg Days of Blaze Tour, this triple bill brings Compton and Long Beach, to the heart of the Midwest. 

Snoop is relatively fresh in minds from his Super Bowl appearance, and in addition to owning the 3-on-3 basketball league, Ice Cube made headlines over his anti-vaxx stance that cost him a key movie role. 

LP with Nick Leng, April 22, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $35-$135

Still well known for the soundtrack of a decade-old credit card commercial, LP returns with new record, her sixth called Churches, released at the end of last year as well as collaborated with Imanbek on recent non-album single, “Fighter”.

Opener Leng is a South African indie-soul singer-songwriter with two new singles out. 

Johnnyswim with Katelyn Tarver, April 22, The Truman. $30-$55

We’ve been following the LA-based couple and band for almost a decade now, and after an October postponement are returning with the Johnnyswim Show Tour.  VIP experience upgrades (including soundcheck and on-stage access) are available via their site and they’ve celebrated playing live again by covering a classic Willie Nelson song towards the end of their set. 

Opener Tarver is an actress as well as singer-songwriter, known from Nick’s Big Time Rush and HBO’s Ballers. 

Parker McCollum, April 22, Cable Dahmer Arena. $29.50-$49.50

Rising young TX country singer-songwriter who released third album, Gold Chain Cowboy last year and is the current reigning ACM Best Male Artist.

Craig Robinson (comedian), April 22-25, KC Improv Comedy Club, $54

You know him from The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine, and those Pizza Hut commercials, and is in town for six full shows.  Saturday night is sold out, with limited tix remaining for the other nights.

Joy Oladokun with Bre Kennedy, April 22, recordBar. $17-$20

Arizona singer-songwriter has a third album out, last year’s In Defense of my Own Happiness and recent single, “Fortune Favors the Bold” which is a taste of more new music to come.  Live, she’s been sneaking in parts of Nirvana and Bonnie Raitt bits into her own songs and has a distinct mix of folk roots pop rock.  She supports My Morning Jacket this summer/fall in much larger venues. 

Opener Kennedy is from Nashville and has debut album, Note to Self, out now.

 

 

 

 

 

T.G. Sheppard, April 23, Ameristar Read More T.G. Sheppard T.G. Sheppard, April 23, Ameristar. $20-$35 Amy Speace, April 24, Lied Center Lawrence. $16-$30 MAY 2022 Justin Bieber, May 4, T-Mobile Center. $50.50-$116 .... Yumi Zouma, April 23, Bottleneck Read More Yumi Zouma New Zealand-born Yumi Zouma is touring in support of their fourth album Present Tense (Polyvinyl Records). The North American tour will begin April 7th, with guest NoSo. JORDANN will join the tour for April 16-17, Mini Trees from ....

Saturday April 23

 

Record Store Day, at your local independent record store

 

Hit your favorite neighborhood record store for limited edition releases (mostly vinyl, but some on other formats) and other associated free activities

T.G. Sheppard, April 23, Ameristar. $20-$35

The longtime country artist is 77 years young, and has twenty-one number one hits under his belt.

Belton, MO’s Moore & Moore will open the show. 

Yumi Zouma, April 23, Bottleneck – Lawrence, $15-$17

They’ve traveled half the world to be here! The New Zealand alt-pop band has a brand new album, Present Tense, which is their fourth full-length.  The four piece dabbles in electronic and dream pop and due to Covid restrictions, the latest album was recorded in studios all over the world. 

Mini Trees opens this week’s worth of shows, which is LA singer Lexi Vega’s solo project.

No Cap Comedy Tour featuring DC Young Fly, DeRay Davis, Lil Duval and more, April 23, Cable Dahmer Arena. $59.75-$179.75

Chelsea Handler,(comedian) April 23-24, Uptown. $49.50-$199.50

She’s out on her Vaccinated and Horny Tour (though has been in a serious relationship with fellow comic Jo Koy) promising all-new material about dating during the pandemic, having too much free time, and over Windex-ing takeout containers.

Jeff Lorber Trio, April 23, Folly. $20-$55

Another pandemic rescheduled show, from Jan, we originally wrote: Part of the Folly Jazz series, the Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, composer, and producer has, over the course of 42 years and 24 albums, pioneered the post-fusion sound of contemporary jazz with his radio-friendly, groove-oriented instrumental music and recently collaborated with guitar great Mike Stern on the album Eleven.

Kathleen Madigan, (comedian) April 23, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $29.50-$45

Growing up outside of St. Louis, this is a return home trip for the now-Nashville based comedian, who also launched her own Madigan’s Pubcast audio program during the pandemic. 

Lil Tecca, April 23, Granada. $32.50

Rising nineteen year-old NY rapper who worked recently with Gunna on his mixtape, and Coi Leray on single, “Mission Impossible”, out on his Tecca Loves You Tour. 

Amy Speace, April 24, Lied Center Read More Amy Speace Amy Speace, April 24, Lied Center Lawrence. $16-$30 MAY 2022 Justin Bieber, May 4, T-Mobile Center. $50.50-$116 Russ, May 17, Cable Dahmer Arena. $39.95-$59.95 ....

Sunday April 24
Amy Speace, April 24, Lied Center. $16-$30

Americana artist discovered by Judy Collins who has also become known as a prolific essayist.  Latest album is 2021’s There Used to be Horses Here.

Henry Rollins, April 24, Liberty Hall. $25-$39.50

On the Good To See You 2022 spoken word tour, the punk legend will faithfully recount the events of his life in the brief pre-COVID period since the last tour, and when things got even stranger over the last several months.

Key Glock, April 24, Granada. $28-$78

Memphis rapper out on his Yellow Tape Tour, who has released several Young Dolph tribute tracks, who he was related to, by marriage.  VIP upgrades available which include early entry, a mini basketball hoop and money clip among other souvenirs.  

Amos Lee, April 26, Uptown Read More Amos Lee I got a chance to watch Amos Lee: Live from the Artists Den DVD over the weekend. The Amos Lee performance was shot live at The Fox Theatre in downtown Tucson, Arizona, and was broadcasted ....

Monday April 25
whew, breather! take a nap

Tuesday April 26
Amos Lee, April 26, Uptown, $39.50-$59.50

The folk soul rock artist has a new album, Dreamland, his eighth full-length and live, has always kept things loose, kept things tight, like his song by that name. “Windows are Rolled Down” is maybe his most popular song, perfect as a soundtrack song on a warm Midwest day. 

As a former teacher himself, he encourages help with funding in their supplies and often gives show tickets to teachers who are singled out for their efforts, via social media. 

California singer and poet Jensen McRae to open, Are You Happy Now? is her new and debut album.

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

We♥KC - Rocktober 17-31 2021 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence / Topeka KS)

Oct 19 Watkins Family Hour at Knuckleheads  Oct 19 Black Label Society atUptown    Read More Black Label Society Loosen up those neck muscles because there will be head banging and hair flailing as Black Label Society continues its Revolver Golden Gods Tour, with openers Down and Devil You Know, including a stop at The Myth nightclub, just outside Minneapolis, next week. …

Read more Rocktoberand Kansas City Music Guide.

Rocktober continues in force! 

The last half of the month remains busy enough to have to pick and choose your show, despite several cancellations and some postponements.  Look as well for a venue change or two, and please continue to check venue sites and socials for the latest, as well as health protocol requirements as Kansas City still has a city mask mandate. 

In Lawrence, the Oct 21 Mat Kearney show may be canceled but the Zombie Walk is on, so be careful driving downtown that evening and Halloween itself is mostly free of major shows, so house parties and bar costume contests will probably be the preferred entertainment. 

Here’s what’s happening in the area for the final half of October

(a few recommended shows are highlighted below):

Tuesday October 19

Watkins Family Hour, Oct. 19, Knuckleheads. $39.50

Best known as two-thirds of Nickel Creek, the sibling duo of Sean and Sara Watkins have worked previously in the group format and for each other’s solo albums, but with the duo’s new album brother sister (stream on Spotify here) they wrote together for the first time in this way.  Famed producer Mike Viola helped further refine the songs for the compelling end result.  Courtney Hartman is set to open the evening. 

 

In This Moment with Ded and Raven Black, Oct. 19, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $35-$40

August Burns Red w/ Fit for a King, Erra, Like Moths to Flames, Oct. 19, The Truman. $27.50-$50

Jake Miller, Oct. 19, RecordBar. $20

Black Label Society, Oct. 19, Uptown. $35-$45

Judas Priest, Oct. 19, Cable Dahmer Arena CANCELED

Wednesday October 20

Wheelwright (formerly Jared and the Mill), Oct. 20, RecordBar, $13

$uicideboy$, Oct. 20, Azura Amphitheater. $49-59.00

Nurse Blake, Oct. 20, Liberty Hall Lawrence. $34.50-$59.50

Oct 21 Bahamas at Truman    Oct 21 Dar Williams at Lawrence Arts Center'  Read More Dar Williams Singer/songwriter Dar Williams will be headlining the Cedar Cultural Center this October 28th. Her latest album I’ll Meet You Here will be out October 1st, on BMG’s recently launched Renew label. …

Thursday October 21

Bahamas with Sam Weber, Oct. 21, The Truman. $25-$50 

Canadian Afie Juvanen is out supporting last October’s Sad Hunk release (on Brushfire Records), with the aptly named Still Sad Tour.  The indie-folk artist can be sometimes quirky but the album did manage to capture this year’s Juno Award for Best Adult Alternative Album.

Make sure to show up early for another Canadian, now LA based singer songwriter Sam Weber whose new album Get Free, is a representation of current times.  Written pre-pandemic but recorded during lockdown, Weber says of it, “The songs became as much about the experience and ritual of spending time together as the content in the lyrics. I called the record Get Free because each performance of each song was a moment of transcendence and an escape for us from an otherwise odd, restrictive time.”

Dar Williams, Oct. 21, Lawrence Arts Center, $29-31.

Hudson Valley, NY singer-songwriter Dar Williams returns with I’ll Meet You Here (on Renew/BMG), her first album in six years.  She cut tracks with ex-Bowie bassist Gail Ann Dorsey and guitarist /producer Larry Campbell, before Campbell himself caught Covid, so the album was put aside as Williams worked on her latest book, Writing a Song That Matters, instead. Thankfully, the record completed as well as a stop-motion animation video for single “Today and Everyday” seen here. Heather Maloney to open. 

Trey Kennedy, Oct. 21, Uptown. Sold Out

Mat Kearney, Oct. 21, Liberty Hall Lawrence CANCELED

Friday October 22

Aaron Lewis, Oct. 22, Ameristar. $57-$75

Mega Ran, Oct 22, Uptown Theater   ***

Johnnyswim with Katelyn Tarver, Oct. 22, The Truman POSTPONED TO APR 22

Nelly w Blanco Brown, Oct. 22, Azura Amphitheater- CANCELED (Nelly at Uptown Jan 25)

 

Oct 23 Kawehi at Bottleneck  Read More I Am Kawehi Hawaiian pop/electronic loop artist I Am Kawehi (pronounced Kuh-VAY-Hee) is currently on her “The Quarantine Sessions on Tour”… and she’ll be stopping by the Turf Club in …

Saturday October 23

I am Kawehi, Oct. 23, Granada Lawrence. $18   MOVED TO BOTTLENECK

There’s been considerable buzz since Elle Magazine declared the native Hawaiian “:the genius one-woman band” and the pop/electronic loop artist is on a two-month Quarantine Sessions Tour that features music from six of her EPs (as well as maybe a mashup or two) using technology to sound like a large band by herself.  (note the venue change too)

Dr. Dog, Oct. 23, The Truman. $27-$49

Michael Cavanaugh, Oct. 23, Topeka Performing Arts Center

Ron White, Oct. 23, Ameristar. $70-$100

San Holo, Oct. 23, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland. $23-$40

Sunday October 24

Bleachers, Oct. 24, Uptown. Sold Out.

The Westerlies, Oct. 24, Lied Center. $16-$30

Terri Clark, Oct. 24, Knuckleheads. $38.50-$58.50

Monday October 25

Walk the Moon, Oct. 25, The Truman. $38-$70

David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Kauffman Center. CANCELED

Oct 26 Ruston Kelly at Knuckleheads  Read More Ruston Kelly Great Clips Stage Kacey Musgraves Dawes Anderson East Ruston Kelly ....

Tuesday October 26

Ruston Kelly with Margaret Glaspy, Oct. 26, Knuckleheads. $20-$25

South Carolina singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly used to be known more as the ex-husband of Kacey Musgraves, but has come into his own of late, with last August’s Shape & Destroy (on Rounder Records) earning critical praise.

We had fun seeing NYC indie-folk artist Margaret Glaspy under the summer sun at Rock the Garden 2017 and she returns to stages in support of last year’s Devotion (on ATO Records) following a pre-pandemic tour with Neko Case and Kimya Dawson. 

Pink Martini featuring China Forbes, Oct. 26, Kauffman Center. $39-$79

Blackberry Smoke, Oct 26, Uptown Theater, $35-79.

Wednesday October 27

Black Violin, Oct. 27, Kauffman Center. $29-$59

Thursday October 28

Jimmie Vaughan, Oct. 28, Knuckleheads. $29.50

Friday October 29

Grupo Firme, Oct. 29, T-Mobile Center. $49.50-$139.50

Todd Snider, Oct. 29, Folly. $35-$45

Peekaboo with Buku, Mize and more, Oct. 29, The Truman. $25-$55

Omar Apollo, Oct. 29, Liberty Hall Lawrence CANCELED

Oct 30 Dayglow at Truman  Read More Dayglow Unfortunately, COVID-19 claimed Dayglow’s sold-out 2020 North American tour… they are now making it up with this upcoming headlining show at First Avenue on October 27th. ....

Saturday October 30

Dayglow, Oct. 30, The Truman. $20-$25

Austin (by way of Fort Worth) musician Sloan Struble first received heavy radio airplay with previous breakout single, “Can I Call You Tonight?” and released his sophomore album Harmony House earlier this spring.  You may just have caught he and the band on a recent episode of Austin City Limits on PBS as well. Self-taught via Garageband, Dayglow is one of those DIY success stories done right and the buzz is only growing bigger. 

courtship. to open.

Asleep at the Wheel, Oct. 30, Kauffman Center. $39-$59

Josh Turner, Oct. 30, Ameristar. $55-$170

MercyMe, Oct. 30, Cable Dahmer Arena. $30-$165

Florida Georgia Line w Russell Dickerson, Lauren Alaina, Oct. 30 CANCELED

Sunday October 31

Dude Perfect, Oct. 31, T-Mobile Center. $28-$202

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

Books

Read More They Might Be Giants The thing about They Might Be Giants is that they understand their fans. They get it; they know people don't automatically rush out to get the latest album, so they didn't bombard us with playing all 25

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
theymightbegiants.com

You know we’re huge They Might Be Giants fans, and their latest release/project is called BOOK - a 144-page art hardcover book of original Brian Karlsonn Photos and TMBG lyrics, with the new album included.

If you preorder the album, via tmbgshop.com, you’ll get instant free downloads of “I Broke My Own Rule” and “I Lost Thursday”.

While you wait for BOOK to come out, you can see them live, as they celebrate Flood (“a brand new album for 1990”) with their all-Flood live sets. As we previously wrote, in July 2020, because of the COVID-pandemic, all the 2020 dates were rescheduled. Unfortunately, the pandemic took longer than expected, and those original 2020 to 2021 dates were once again rescheduled for 2022. Of course, they’re mostly all sold out, as originally mentioned in 2020! Fans have waited over two years to finally see Flood live in its entirety…. But it’ll be worth it!

Since Flood won’t be long enough for a full TMBG headling show, they’ve said they’re throwing in tracks from their “lost” album Mink Car. The album came out at a bad time, their then-label Restless Records went into bankruptcy and basically the album disappeared from store shelves.

Rescheduled 2022 dates:

03/02/2022 New York, NY 03/03/2022 Washington, DC 03/04/2022 Washington, DC 03/05/2022 Washington, DC 03/06/2022 Baltimore, MD 03/09/2022 Pawling, NY 03/10/2022 Philadelphia, PA 03/11/2022 New York, NY 03/12/2022 New York, NY 03/13/2022 New York, NY 03/24/2022 Boston, MA 03/25/2022 Boston, MA 03/26/2022 Burlington, VT 03/27/2022 Northampton, MA 03/29/2022 Ithaca, NY 03/30/2022 Buffalo, NY 03/31/2022 Pillsburgh, PA 04/01/2022 Pittsburgh, PA 04/02/2022 New York, NY 04/05/2022 Cleveland, OH 04/06/2022 Cleveland, OH 04/07/2022 Chicago, IL 04/08/2022 Minneapolis, MN 04/09/2022 St Paul, MN

04/10/2022 St Louis, MO 04/28/2022 San Diego, CA 04/29/2022 Los Angeles, CA 04/30/2022 Oakland, CA 05/03/2022 Portland, OR 05/04/2022 Portland, OR 05/05/2022 Seattle, WA 05/06/2022 Seattle, WA 05/07/2022 Vancouver, BC 05/11/2022 Salt Lake City, UT 05/12/2022 Denver, CO 05/13/2022 Boulder, CO 05/14/2022 Fort Collins, CO 05/15/2022 Lincoln, NE 05/17/2022 Kansas City, MO 05/19/2022 Tulsa, OK 05/20/2022 Dallas, TX 05/21/2022 Houston, TX 05/22/2022 Austin, TC 08/30/2022 Asbury Park NJ 08/31/2022 Asbury Park NJ 09/01/2022 Portsmouth, NH 09/02/2022 Portland, ME 09/03/2022 North Adams, MA

Read More Johnnyswim Acclaimed husband-and-wife team Johnnyswim will be heading out on their second annual "A Johnnyswim Christmas Tour" this December, stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday …

JOHNNYSWIM
johnnyswim.com

We’ve mentioned about the real-life husband/wife music duo Johnnyswim (Amanda Sudano-Ramirez and Abner Ramirez) in our previous coverages. Now their story can be read in their forthcoming book Home Sweet Road: Finding Love, Making Music, and Building a Life One City at a Time (Convergent/Random House). The book includes a foreword by longtime friends Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of the hit TV series “Fixer Upper.”

To celebrate the release of the new book, Nashville’s Parnassus Books will host a virtual event on Parnassus Books Facebook page on Monday, June 14 at 6:00 PM CT with Johnnyswim.

If that’s not enough, they’re the subject of Magnolia Network’s new season “Home on the Road with Johnnyswim.” The series is about their struggles and triumphs of life on tour with their three kids. The new season begins July 15.

Tour dates:

September 30—Cincinnati, OH—Ovation*
October 1—St. Louis, MO—The Pageant*
October 2—Chicago, IL—Riv*
October 4—Columbus, OH—Express Live*
October 6—New York, NY—Irving Plaza*
October 8—Boston, MA—House of Blues*
October 9—New Haven, CT—College Street Music Hall*
October 11—Raleigh, NC—The Ritz*
October 12—Knoxville, TN—Tennessee Theatre*
October 14—Atlanta, GA—The Eastern*
October 16—Nashville, TN—Ascend Amphitheatre*
October 18—Houston, TX—White Oak Music Hall*
October 19—Dallas, TX—Southside Ballroom*
October 20—Oklahoma, OK—The Jones Assembly*
October 22—Kansas City, MO—The Truman*
October 23—Minneapolis, MN—The Fillmore*
October 25—Denver, CO—Ogden Theatre*
October 27—Los Angeles, CA—Orpheum*
October 28—San Francisco, CA—Regency Ballroom*

*w/ Katelyn Tarver

THE FALL thefall.xyz Legendary punk/art band The Fall is the subject of a book called Excavate!. The book is a collection of never-before-published essays and ephemera from fans and collectors of The Fall and Mark E Smith (who sadly passed away in Jan 2018). Although the book came out in the UK, it’ll finally be available in the USA on June 22 via Faber Books USA.

TANK AND THE BANGAS tankandthebangas.com You may recall that we accidentally caught Tank and the Bangas at the Minnesota State Fair 2017. We liked them enough to see them again in October 2018 and said, “Tank and the Bangas’ new 2018 show is just wild, upbeat, and dance/party focus, with a little slam poetry thrown in.” Apparently the poetry thing is a passion of Tarriona Ball (aka Tank). Her debut poetry book is called Vulnerable AF.

21 SAVAGE tankandthebangas.com When we first mentioned 21 Savage in Dec 2017, we noticed that he must really love the horror movie Friday the 13th. So it’s no surprise that he was the executive producer of the soundtrack for the recent torture horror film Spiral: From the Book of Saw (Slaughter Gang and Epic Records). The soundtrack features numerous hip hop/rapper stars, such as Gunna, Young Thug and Young Nudy.

BRETT NEWSKI brettnewski.com Milwaukee-based alternative songwriter/illustrator/podcaster Brett Newski is releasing his first book It’s Hard To Be A Person: defeating anxiety, surviving the world, and having more fun and its accompanying sountrack on June 22, 2021. The idea of the It’s Hard to be a Person book was to blends humor with Newski’s own anxieties and mental health struggles.

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

Minneapolis: July 11 to July 13, 2019

Basilica Block Party 2019 Read More Basilica Block Party We like the annual Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis, so we always make sure they get the spotlight whenever we do these previews. They always bring in some really good bands .... Dawes The three-hour evening was opened by Los Angeles-based Dawes, who considers Minneapolis one of their strongest markets, in a solid hour-long set of their own. … Chvrches Chvrches’ third album Love is Dead reached the Billboard Top Rock and Alternative charts at #1 and #11 overall. ... Metric I've seen Metric twice (four times if you count Emily Haines solo or Broken Social Scene), so you know I love this little Canadian band. Their Rock the Garden's set was very similar to their …

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from July 11 to July 13, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

BASILICA BLOCK PARTY
Basilica St. Mary
Fri 07/12/2019 (5pm/$70)
Sat 07/13/2019 (5pm/$70)
basilicablockparty.org

The 25th Annual Basilica Block Party is taking place this July 12-13. As usual, the Minneapolis music festival is bringing in some of the national musical acts to the Twin Cities.

Kacey Musgraves and Dawes to be the highlight on Friday, while Jason Mraz and Hanson to take Saturday.

Personally speaking though, we like the medium stage, particularly Semisonic and The Jayhawks (for Friday) and Chvrches and Metric (for Saturday).

The last time we saw Chvrches, we noted, “Martin Doherty summed it up on stage, ‘It’s nice to be back. Time and time again, you keep selling out every time we come here. Thank you for that.’”

Schedule:

FRIDAY Great Clips Stage Kacey Musgraves Dawes Anderson East Ruston Kelly PreferredOne Stage Semisonic The Jayhawks Yam Haus Star Tribune Stage Kiss The Tiger Annie Mack McNasty Brass Band

SATURDAY Great Clips Stage Jason Mraz Hanson Johnnyswim Lissie PreferredOne Stage Chvrches Metric Flora Cash Star Tribune Stage Static Panic The Bad Man Michael Shynes

Other shows in the area:

This is the Kit 2019 Tour Iration at First Ave The Struts at the Palace Chase Atlantic 2019 Tour Lakefront Music Fest 2019 Read More This Is The Kit On this tour, This Is the Kit (Kate Stables) is joined by bassist Jesse Vernon and drummer Jamie Whitby-Coles. She started off with a solo song ‘Easy on the Thieves’, then as a trio, then back to solo with ‘All Written out in Numbers’. … The Struts Breakout U.K. band The Struts will be stopping by First Avenue this September 17th, in support of their hit Have You Heard EP (Interscope Records), with single "Could Have Been Me". …

THIS IS THE KIT
+ Nelson Devereaux
Turf Club
Thu 07/11/2019 (7pm/$16)
turfclub.net

Kate Stables (aka This Is The Kit) returns to the Turf Club this July 11th. We last saw her in Oct 2017 and said, “On this tour, This Is the Kit (Kate Stables) is joined by bassist Jesse Vernon and drummer Jamie Whitby-Coles. She started off with a solo song ‘Easy on the Thieves’, then as a trio, then back to solo with ‘All Written out in Numbers’. Stables often tuned between songs, making for awkward unfinished stories and comments. She played acoustic guitar, but it seemed like she’s most comfortable when she’s plucking on her banjo.”

Nelson Devereaux and the Style Band to open.

Tour Dates

07/09/2019 Drake Hotel Toronto, ON
07/10/2019 Constellation Chicago, IL
07/11/2019 Turf Club Saint Paul, MN
07/16/2019 Moroccan Lounge Los Angeles, CA
07/18/2019 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
08/10/2019 Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff,
08/11/2019 Boileroom Guildford

IRATION
+ Pepper, Katastro, Fortunate Youth
First Avenue
Sat 07/13/2019 (6pm/$27)
first-avenue.com

Reggae-influenced alternative rock band Iration will be headlining First Avenue as part of their “Live From Paradise!” tour.

Show up early to check out California-based band Pepper, who we previously mentioned played with Less Than Jake in Feb 2017.

Tour dates:

July 11 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
July 12 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
July 13 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
July 14 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
July 17 Utica, NY @ Saranac Brewery
July 18 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
July 19 New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
July 20 Boston, MA @ Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
July 21 Baltimore, MD @ Mecu Pavilion
July 25 North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
July 26 Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
July 27 St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amph
July 28 Cocoa, FL @ Cocoa Beach Riverfront Park
July 30 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
August 2 Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheater
August 3 Del Mar, CA @ Del Mar Summers**
August 7 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades+
August 8 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades+
August 9 Fresno, CA @ Woodward Park Rotary+
August 15 Spokane, WA @ The Knitting Factory+
August 16 Missoula, MT @ Big Sky Brewing Amph
August 17 Boise, ID @ Botanical Gardens Outlaw Field
August 18 Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Pavilion
August 21 Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park Amph
August 23 Stateline, [email protected] Montbleu Amphitheater
August 24 Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Beach~
August 25 Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
September 14 Glen Ellen, CA @ Sonoma Harvest Festival**

** indicates non-"Live From Paradise!" tour dates
+ indicates Pepper not on the lineup
~ indicates Fortunate Youth not on the lineup

THE STRUTS
+ The Glorious Sons
Palace Theatre
Sat 07/13/2019 (6:30pm/$29.50)
palacestpaul.com

Rock band The Struts is back! The UK group released YOUNG&DANGEROUS last year on Interscope Records.

Tour dates:

July 5 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades
July 8 Portland, OR Roseland Theater*
July 9 Seattle, WA Showbox*
July 10 Missoula, MT The Wilma*
July 13 Saint Paul, MN Palace Theatre*
July 15 Des Moines, IA Water Works Park*
July 16 Indianapolis, IN Old National Centre*
July 17 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works*
July 19 Detroit, MI The Fillmore*
July 20 Grand Rapids, MI 20 Monroe Live*
July 21 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE*
July 25 Buffalo, NY TBA*
July 26 Utica, NY Saranac Brewery*
July 27 New York, NY Pier 17*
July 28 Mount Pocono, PA Mount Airy Casino
July 30 Boston, MA House of Blues*
August 4 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
August 6 Dewey Beach, DE Bottle & Cork*
August 7 Washington, DC 930 Club*
September 21 Asbury Park, NJ Sea Hear Now Festival

~Des Rocs supports
*The Glorious Sons support

CHASE ATLANTIC
Varsity Theater
Sat 07/13/2019 (6pm/$18)
varsitytheater.com

Emerging alt-pop act Chase Atlantic is currently on a massive tour in support of their sophomore album Phases (BMG/MDDN).

The last time the Australian trio (Mitchel Cave, Clinton Cave, and Christian Anthony) were in town was with Lights in March 2018.

Tour dates:

7/05 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
7/06 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
7/08 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
7/09 – Lawrence, KS @ The Granada
7/11 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
7/13 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
7/15 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
7/16 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe
7/18 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
7/19 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
7/20 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
7/22 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
7/23 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
7/25 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore

LAKEFRONT MUSIC FEST
Lakefront Park
Fri 07/12/2019 (6pm/$45)
Sat 07/13/2019 (6pm/$45)
lakefrontmusicfest.com

The 10th annual Lakefront Music Fest is taking place this July 12-13th.

FRIDAY Steve Miller Band Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

SATURDAY Brad Paisley Riley Green Chris Lane

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

Minneapolis: September 6 to September 7, 2018

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from September 6 to September 7, 2018.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Buffalo Tom at Varsity Theater Read More Buffalo Tom Buffalo Tom named themselves after Buffalo Springfield and their drummer Tom Maginnis. When I saw the Boston-based band in 2000, the band was already 'old'. They had just released Asides that summer …

BUFFALO TOM
Varsity Theater
Fri 09/07/2018 (7pm/$25)
varsitytheater.com

Boston’s Buffalo Tom is currently wrapping up their tour, they’ll be ending at Chicago’s Metro the next night. The group form in the late ‘80s, rose to fame in the early ‘90s with Let Me Come Over and Big Red Letter Day, which I discovered them through college radio.

Eventually saw the band (with Grant Hart, rest in peace) when they were on tour for their compilation record Asides from Buffalo Tom in February 2000. You can tell it was cold, even guitarist and singer Bill Janovitz was wearing hat and coat indoors...

Buffalo Tom’s new album is Quiet and Peace (Banquet Records), their first album in seven years. The trio will stop by the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown on Friday, September 7th.

Note: There is no opening band, because the band will play a double set, with Let Me Come Over set (“and yes, we know LMCO 25 was last year”) and a “new and old stuff” set.

Tour dates:

09/07/2018 Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
09/08/2018 Metro / Smart Bar Chicago, IL
11/29/2018 Buffalo Tom Bi Nuu Berlin, Germany

Neko Case 2018 Tour Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Downey to Lubbock Rise Against at Armory NeedToBreathe at Armory Dawes Passwords 2018 Tour Rolling Blackouts CF at Turf Club Read More Neko Case Neko Case has a new album The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, which came out September 3rd on ANTI-, and her First Avenue … Dave Alvin Roots music legends Dave Alvin (from rhythm and blues band The Blasters) and Jimmie Dale Gilmore (named “Country Artist of the Yea” twice by Rolling Stone) have united for this 2017 tour. The two will hit the road to swap songs and share stories of their life experience. … Rise Against Rise Against's "Any Way You Want It" cover appeared on their Revolutions Per Minute (2003) album as a hidden track. If you've never heard of Rise Against, they are a … Dawes The three-hour evening was opened by Los Angeles-based Dawes, who considers Minneapolis one of their strongest markets, in a solid hour-long set of their own. … Rolling Blackouts CF Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is headlining the 7th Street Entry on Monday, April 30th. Their upcoming debut album Hope Downs will be out June 15 via Sub Pop. …

Other shows in the area:

NEKO CASE
+ Thao Nguyen
Palace Theatre
Thu 09/06/2018 (6:30pm/$35)
palacestpaul.com

Neko Case’s first album in five years, Hell-On will be available on Anti- Records. Joining her on this tour is Thao Nguyen (of Thao & the Get Down Stay Down).

Tour dates:

09/05/2018 Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI
09/06/2018 Palace Theatre St. Paul, MN
09/07/2018 Hoyt Sherman Place Des Moines, IA
09/08/2018 Bourbon Theatre Lincoln, NE
09/09/2018 Cain's Ballroom Tulsa, OK
09/11/2018 The Civic Theatre New Orleans, LA
09/12/2018 Iron City Birmingham, AL

DAVE ALVIN /JIMMIE DALE GILMORE
+ Jon Langford
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Thu 09/06/2018 (7pm/$50)
dakotacooks.com

From different worlds, Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, have teamed up to record an album. Alvin is the singer/songwriter from the Blasters and Gilmore is from Texas hippie-country band Flatlanders.

The two will be stopping by the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant on Thursday, September 6th. The two longtime friends (with backup band The Guilty Ones) will be playing from their critically acclaimed album, Downey To Lubbock.

Jon Langford to open.

Tour dates:

Sep 1 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads
Sep 2 - Omaha, NE - Sunday Roadhouse
Sep 6 - Minneapolis, MN - Dakota
Sep 8 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk
Sept 9 — Berwyn, IL -- Fitzgeralds
Sep 11 - Cincinnati, OH. Southgate House
Sep 12 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
Sep 14 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall
Sep 15 — Ottawa, ON — City Folk Festival
Sep 16 - Rochester, NY/ON - JCC Hart Theater
Sep 22 — Solvang, CA — Ya Ya Festival
Sep 25 - Salt Lake City, UT - State Room

RISE AGAINST
+ AFI, Anti-Flag
Armory
Thu 09/06/2018 (5:30pm/$34)
armorymn.com

In celebration of The Ghost Note Symphonies, Vol. 1 (Virgin Records), Rise Against will be headlining a 2018 tour with my brother’s favorite AFI and Anti-Flag. Should be a real banger, as the kids would say it, at the Armory on Thursday.

Tour dates:

09.06 | Minneapolis, MN | Armory
09.09 | Nashville, TN | Marathon Music Works
09.11 | Austin, TX | Stubb’s BBQ
09.12 | Houston, TX | Revention Music Center
09.13 | Irving, TX | The Pavilion
09.15 | Morrison, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheatre
09.16 | Salt Lake City, UT | The Complex
09.17 | Garden City, ID | Revolution Concert House
09.19 | Bozeman, MT | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse

NEEDTOBREATHE
+ Johnnyswim, Forest Blakk
Armory
Fri 09/07/2018 (5:30pm/$42)
armorymn.com

Once again, at the Armory, South Carolina rock band Needtobreathe will be headlining in support of their collection of songs, Forever On Your Side (Niles City Sound Sessions). Johnnyswim and Forest Blakk to open.

Forever On Your Side Tour 2018:

09/04 – PNC Pavilion, Cincinnati, Ohio
09/05 – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, Cleveland, Ohio
09/07 – The Armory, Minneapolis, Minn.
09/08 – Huntington Bank Pavilion , Chicago, Ill.
09/09 – Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
09/10 – Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater, Lincoln, Neb.
09/12 – Red Rocks, Morrison, Colo.
09/14 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Ore.
09/15 – WaMu Theater, Seattle, Wash.
09/16 – Abbotsford Entertainment , Abbotsford, BC
09/18 – The Fox, Oakland, Calif.
09/19 – Vina Robles Amph, Paso Robles, Calif.
09/21 – Cal Coast Credit Union, San Diego, Calif.
09/22 – Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, Calif.

DAWES
Palace Theatre
Fri 09/07/2018 (7pm/$39.50)
palacestpaul.com

Popular group Dawes will be headlining the Palace Theatre in St Paul on Friday, September 7th, in support of their album Passwords (HUB Records).

Tour dates:

09/7 /// St. Paul, MN /// Palace Theatre
09/8 /// Maquoketa, IA /// Codfish Hollow
09/9 /// Kalamazoo, MI /// State Theatre
09/11 /// Indianapolis, IN /// The Vogue
09/12 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// Stage AE
09/14 /// Portland, ME /// State Theatre
09/15 /// Fredericton, NB, Canada /// Harvest Jazz
09/16 /// Canton, MA /// Festival on the Farm
09/18 /// New Haven, CT /// College Street Music Hall
09/19 /// Red Bank, NJ /// Count Basie Theatre
09/20 /// Cary, NC /// Koka Booth Amphitheatre
09/22 /// Franklin, TN /// Pilgrimage Festival
09/23 /// Atlanta, GA /// Tabernacle

ROLLING BLACKOUTS C.F.
Turf Club
Fri 09/07/2018 (8pm/$16)
turfclub.net

Australia’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is back in town, this time at the Turf Club on Friday, September 7th. The group was previously in town in April 2018, promoting their album Hope Downs (Sub Pop).

Tour dates:

09/1 - Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot
09/3 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
09/5 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
09/7 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
09/8 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
09/10 - Detroit, MI @ El Club
09/11 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
09/12 - Montreal, QC @ Le Ministère
09/13 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
09/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
09/15 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
09/17 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat

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

Minneapolis: November 10 to November 11, 2017

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on November 10 to November 11, 2017.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Ted Leo & the Pharmacists Ted Leo is currently hanging out with Aimee Mann as The Both. The Both is planning on releasing an album in February 2014. …

TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS
+ Ian Sweet
Triple Rock Social Club
Sat 11/11/2017 (7pm/$18/Sold Out)
triplerocksocialclub.com

Ted Leo is back to fronting Ted Leo And The Pharmacists after his The Both project with Aimee Mann. Of course, with the closure of the Triple Rock Social Club and Ted Leo’s popularity, the upcoming show is sold out.

Ted Leo’s new album is called The Hanged Man, his most personal and saddest record according to fans and critics.

Ian Sweet to open.

Tour dates:

Nov 04 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
Nov 05 Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
Nov 06 Toronto, ON – Mod Club
Nov 07 Columbus, OH – The Basement
Nov 08 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Nov 09 Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
Nov 12 Vancouver, BC – Venue Nightclub
Nov 13 Seattle, WA – Crocodile
Nov 14 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
Nov 15 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Nov 17 Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theatre
Nov 18 Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room

Read More Felly 1/01/17 New Year’s Day 01/02/17 New Year’s Day Observed 01/03/17 Beats and rapper Felly and Gyyps will be at the Pourhouse. .... Highly Suspect M.C.I.D. Four letters that define the Highly Suspect fan and if you don’t know what they are, chances are you will soon, as the trio is clearly on the cusp of making a bigger … 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. … Phinehas Phinehas and Kingdom Of Giants to open the show. Please note time (5pm). Tour dates: 01/13/15 Tucson, AZ The Rock ... In Hearts Wake Also on the bill are In Hearts Wake and '68. Protest the Hero tour dates: 01/05/17 - Fillmore - Silver Spring, MD 01/06/17 - Playstation Theatre - New York, NY ... Jack & Jack Popular comedy/music duo Jack Gilinsky and Jack Johnson, known as Jack & Jack, will be stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. The show is sold out … Like Moths To Flames All That Remains will be joined on stage by Like Moths To Flames and We Came As Romans. The latter released their self-titled album on July 24th of this year. It debuted at #8 ... Ibeyi French Cuban twins, Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz (daughters of the late Cuban percussion Anga Díaz), are known on stage as Ibeyi. They announced their first ever North American tour ... Johnnyswim Acclaimed husband-and-wife team Johnnyswim will be heading out on their second annual "A Johnnyswim Christmas Tour" this December, stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday …

Other shows in the area:

FELLY
+ Trip Carter, Trapo
The Cabooze
Fri 11/10/2017 (7pm/$22.50)
cabooze.com

Rising hip-hop artist Felly will be headlining the Cabooze this Friday.

Tour dates:

11/9—Denver, CO—Gothic Theatre
11/10—Minneapolis, MN—Cabooze
11/11—Chicago, IL—Metro
11/15—Atlanta, GA—Terminal West
11/16—New York, NY—American Beauty NYC
11/17—Washington, DC—Rock & Roll Hotel
11/18—Burlington, VT—Higher Ground Ballroom

SARAH MORRIS
+ Graham Braham, Becky Rae Dalton
Hook & Ladder
Fri 11/10/2017 (7pm/$12)
thehookmpls.com

Local singer Sarah Morris will be at the Hook & Ladder on Friday for her album release party for her third album Hearts In Need Of Repair.

FIT FOR A KING / IN HEARTS WAKE
+ Phinehas, Like Moths To Flames
Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Fri 11/10/2017 (6pm/$12)
amsterdambarandhall.com

The co-headlining tour of Fit For A King and In Hearts Wake will be coming to the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St Paul this Friday, November 10th.

Tour Dates

Nov 9 - St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
Nov 10 - St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar
Nov 11 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
Nov 12 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II
Nov 14 - Columbus, OH @ Park St Saloon
Nov 15 - Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
Nov 16 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
Nov 17 - Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck
Nov 18 - Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe
Nov 19 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Nov 20 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Sound Stage
Nov 21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage Lounge
Nov 22 - New York, NY @ The Gramercy
Nov 24 - Freehold, NJ @ GameChangerWorld
Nov 25 - Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club
Nov 26 - Greensboro, NC @ Arizona Pete's
Nov 27 - Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
Nov 28 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Nov 29 - Orlando, FL @ Backbooth
Dec 1 - Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
Dec 2 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
Dec 4 - Phoenix, AZ @ Joe Grotto's
Dec 5 - San Diego, CA @ SOMA
Dec 6 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
Dec 7 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
Dec 8 - Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver
Dec 9 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Dec 10 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Dec 12 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
Dec 13 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
Dec 15 - Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
Dec 16 - Dallas, TX @ Trees

GREAT GOOD FINE OK
+ Tigertown
7th Street Entry
Fri 11/10/2017 (8pm/$13)
first-avenue.com

Great Good Fine OK will be at the 7th Street Entry on Friday, with Australia’s alt-pop favorites Tigertown. Tigertown’s new Warriors EP arrives November 17th on Neon Gold Records / Atlantic.

Tour Dates:

03 Nov - Montreal, CA @ Mini Campus
04 Nov - Toronto, CA @ The Garrison
06 Nov - Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room at The Crofoot
07 Nov - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
09 Nov - Urbana, IL @ The Canopy Club
10 Nov - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
11 Nov - Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
12 Nov - Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
14 Nov - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
15 Nov - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall

JACK & JACK
+ Olivia O'Brien
Minneapolis Music Hall
Fri 11/10/2017 (7:30pm/$22.50)
musichallmpls.com

Pop duo Jack & Jack announce their new single “Beg,” out on September 22nd via Island Records.

Nov 6 Philadelphia, PA The TLA*
Nov 8 Cleveland, OH House of Blues*
Nov 9 Chicago, IL Concord Music Hall*
Nov 10 Minneapolis, MN Music Hall*
Nov 11 Milwaukee, WI The Rave**
Nov 12 Detroit, MI St Andrews Hall**
Nov 14 Louisville, KY Mercury Hall**
Nov 16 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom**
Nov 17 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s**
Nov 18 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe **
Nov 20 Houston, TX House of Blues**
Nov 21 San Antonio, TX Aztec Theatre**
Nov 22 Dallas, TX House of Blues**
Nov 24 Omaha, NE Slowdown**
Nov 26 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre**
Nov 30 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre*
Dec 1 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl*
Dec 2 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory OC*
Dec 5 Seattle, WA Showbox*
Dec 6 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom*
Dec 7 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore*
Dec 10 Los Angeles, CA The Fonda Theatre*

*Olivia O’Brien opening
**PRETTYMUCH opening

J. BRIOZO
+ Lolo’s Ghost
Phoenix Theater
Fri 11/10/2017 (8pm/$5)
phoenixtheatermpls.org

J. Briozo (from Swallows) is having an album release party this Friday, November 10th at the Phoenix Theater (2605 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis). Lolo’s Ghost to open.

The Band:

Jeff Crandall - Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Pianos, Organs, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr - Bass, Cello Brett Hanson - Guitars (Lead and Rhythm Electric), Lap Steel, Backing Vocals
Justin DeLeon - Drums, Percussion
Tyson Allison - Percussion, Organ, Chimes, Bells, Guitars, Backing Vocals
Additional Players: Jim Baldrica - Horns; Kimberly Vang - Backing Vocals; Kallie Bruett - Backing Vocals

HIGHLY SUSPECT
+ Bones
First Avenue
Fri 11/10/2017 (8pm/$30/Sold Out)
Sat 11/11/2017 (8pm/$30/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

The always entertaining and popular group Highly Suspect is back in town for a double night residency at First Avenue. Of course, both nights are sold out.

Tour dates:

11/4 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
11/5 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr Smalls
11/7 - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
11/10 - Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
11/11 - Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
11/14 - Des Moines, IA - Woolys
11/15 - Des Moines, IA - Woolys
11/17 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
11/18 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues

IBEYI
+ theMIND
Fine Line Music Cafe
Sat 11/11/2017 (8pm/$22)
finelinemusic.com

Sister group Ibeyi, who got high praises from the purple one, Prince, is headlining the Fine Line Music Café this Saturday. If Prince was alive, he’d be at this show.

Tour dates:

11/4 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer *
11/5 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Steel *
11/6 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre *
11/7 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Hall *
11/9 Detroit, MI Magic Stick *
11/10 Chicago, IL Red Bull Sound Select
11/11 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Café *
11/14 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre *
11/15 Vancouver, BC The Commodore Ballroom *
11/16 Portland, OR Revolution Hall *
11/18 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore *
11/19 Los Angeles, CA Theatre at the Ace Hotel *
11/24 Paris, FR Casino de Paris (Festival Inrocks)
12/2 Cologne, DE Club Bahnhof Ehernfeld
12/3 Berlin, DE Lido
12/4 Hamburg, DE Knust
12/5 Amsterdam, NL Paradiso Noord
12/7 Leuven, BE Het Depot

JOHNNYSWIM
+ Striking Matches
State Theatre
Sat 11/11/2017 (7pm/$30)
hennepintheatretrust.org

Husband & wife band Johnnyswim is back in Minneapolis… this time at the fancy State Theatre in Minneapolis.

Tour dates:

Nov 4—Raleigh, NC—The Ritz
Nov 6—New York, NY—Irving Plaza
Nov 7—New York, NY—Irving Plaza
Nov 8—Philadelphia, PA—Electric Factory
Nov 10—Chicago, IL—The Vic
Nov 11—Minneapolis, MN—State Theatre
Nov 14—Boston, MA—Wilbur Theatre
Nov 15—Washington, DC—Lincoln Theatre
Nov 16—Atlanta, GA—Tabernacle
Nov 17—Birmingham, AL—Iron City
Dec 8—Nashville, TN—Schermerhorn Symphony

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

Johnnyswim at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (11 Nov 2016)

Setlist Hummingbird Villains Don't Let It Get You Down Drunks Live While We're Young Adelina Let it Matter Take the World In My Arms First Try Touching Heaven You and I Lonely Night in Georgia Georgica Pond Diamonds Home -- Encore -- Summertime Romance Annie > On the Road Again (Willie Nelson cover) Read More Johnnyswim Acclaimed husband-and-wife team Johnnyswim will be heading out on their second annual "A Johnnyswim Christmas Tour" this December, stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday …

With a new record out, a string of sold out shows, and an ever-expanding fan base, you could say that things are going…err, swimmingly, for Nashville’s Johnnyswim.

The band, led by husband/wife duo Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez played a sold-out show to a mesmerized crowd at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, just after selling out the fabled Ryman Auditorium in their home base of Nashville, and also have an upcoming appearance atop a float in New York City, for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Fellow Nashville artist Jonny P warmed up the crowd, dressed dapper (influenced by his own fashion design career) and crooning his take on retro-modern soul, with several cuts from his ‘Right To You’ EP, including ‘Drive’ and ‘Good to You’.

What a difference a couple years of hard work makes for Johnnyswim – when we saw the duo for the first time locally, the band played in the middle of a bill to a sparse but interested crowd, and Sudano was not pregnant, then was on the next time in town, then had their son Joaquin, then brought him onstage again, to show everyone how much he’s grown.  When the band calls their fans family, it rings true as you see how their own family has developed.

Their Let It Matter Tour finds the duo and their regular backing band on a stage with four spot stage lights behind them, with Abner sporting a new dark crushed velvet jacket on this night.  The duo is still clearly in love, obvious not only by the longing each has for the other in their eyes, but in the verses they sing both separately and together.  The band is in support of their recently released Georgica Pond (on Big Picnic Records), inspired by a regular vacation spot in New York near Shelter Island.

“It may be cold outside… but it’s hot in here!” Abner said before ‘Don’t Let It Get You Down’, a song dating back to 2013’s Heart Beats EP, “this is what it looks like when your dreams come true”, he said scanning the sold-out room.

After ‘Let It Matter’, the duo dedicated the few songs in the set, a series of love songs, to a couple they met pre-show, spending their 16^th wedding anniversary at the concert, including ‘First Try’, one that showcases their gospel-esque folk soul, and is the song they plan to sing at the holiday parade.

Hushed silence let Amanda’s vocals echo crisply for the new album’s title track and ‘Diamonds’, no longer quite as confrontational sounding as when it was originally written, but still delivers a powerful punch in concert and had the crowd singing along. Main set closer ‘Home’ found the band leaving the stage and going into the middle of the crowd to finish the song surrounded by fans and off-mic.

The most intimate moments were when the duo played huddled around a single mic, with Abner’s acoustic guitar and the crowd’s vocals on the choruses, the only accompaniment.  The three-song quiet encore was built around that, with the crowd’s rapt attention keeping the sound clear and the duo focused.

As ‘Annie’ morphed into the last part of a Willie Nelson cover, the crowd was patient then roared in applause as Johnnyswim thanked the audience and said goodnight, bringing back out the band and the opener, with everyone smiling and bowing.  You could say things went swimmingly.

Remaining Tour Dates:

03/1—Omaha, NE— Waiting Room
03/2—Des Moines, IA—Wooly’s
03/3—Madison, WI—Majestic Theatre
03/4—St. Louis, MO—Ready Room
03/7—Louisville, KY—Headliners
03/8—Indianapolis, IN—The Deluxe
03/9—Cincinnati, OH—Bogarts
03/10—Columbus, OH—Newport Music
03/14—Detroit, MI—St. Andrews
03/15—Toronto, ON—Velvet Underground
03/17—Burlington, VT—Higher Ground
03/18—Portland, ME—Port City Music Hall
03/21—Pawtucket, RI—The Met
03/22—Fairfield, CT—The Warehouse
03/23—Charlottesville, VA—The Jefferson
03/24—Chapel Hill, NC—Cat’s Cradle
03/25—Charlotte, NC—Neighborhood Theatre
03/28—Asheville, NC—The Grey Eagle
03/29—Charleston, SC—Music Farm
03/31—Memphis, TN—Minglewood Hall
04/1—New Orleans, LA—House of Blues

Johnnyswim at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (11 Nov 2016)

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

Minneapolis: November 11, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on November 11, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Murder by Death Murder By Death recently released their fantastic new album Big Dark Love on February 3rd, via Bloodshot Records. After a lengthy U.S. tour, the band will be hitting Europe in May, and is now announcing several … Laura Stevenson The last time I saw Laura Stevenson, she was with "The Cans" at The Triple Rock in 2011. I wonder if the band decided to drop the "The Cans" part and just going with "Laura Stevenson"? Anyway, she is …

MURDER BY DEATH
at Fine Line Music Cafe
Friday, 11/11/16, 8pm ($20)
finelinemusic.com

Louisville’s Murder by Death will be taking over the Fine Line Music Café this Friday, November 11th. Fans of psych-rock bands like Spiritualized and the Black Angels will love this 15-year-old band.

The band was last seen in town last May 2015, when they were on tour for their-then new album Big Dark Love (Blood Shot Records).

Laura Stevenson will open. We previously saw Stevenson with Matt Pond PA in November 2015 and wrote, “New York singer-songwriter Laura Stevenson was next, accompanied by her Very Best Friends, as in that’s the actual name of the four-piece band that currently performs with her.”

Tour dates:

11/09/16 Omaha, NE Waiting Room
11/10/16 Iowa City, IA Blue Moose Tap House
11/11/16 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe
11/12/16 Palatine, IL Durty Nellie's
11/13/16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
11/16/16 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
11/17/16 Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle
11/18/16 Virginia Beach, VA Shaka's Live
11/19/16 Baltimore, MD Ottobar
12/31/16 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway
01/13/17 Estes Park, CO Stanley Hotel
01/14/17 Estes Park, CO Stanley Hotel
01/15/17 Estes Park, CO Stanley Hotel
01/19/17 Silver Spring, MD Fillmore Silver Spring
01/20/17 Philadelphia, PA Fillmore Philadelphia
01/21/17 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's

Read More Johnnyswim Acclaimed husband-and-wife team Johnnyswim will be heading out on their second annual "A Johnnyswim Christmas Tour" this December, stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday … Jonny P Opening up the show was Nashville’s Jonny P (not to be confused with Chicago’s Johnny P of Do Or Die). The soul singer promised that he’ll have a full band when he comes back …

JOHNNYSWIM
at Varsity Theater
Friday, 11/11/16, 7pm ($25)
varsitytheater.org

Husband and wife band Johnnyswim (Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez) is back in Minneapolis this Friday at the Varsity Theater. Go see them ahead of their performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade will be broadcast live on NBC and feature additional performances from the likes of Kelsea Ballerini, Tony Bennett, Aloe Blacc, De La Soul, Fitz & the Tantrums, Sarah McLachlan, Regina Spektor and more.

We saw their Christmas show last year and said, “The performance was “an evening with” composed of two sets, and a mix of holiday standards interspersed with the band’s own originals. Things got started in the holiday spirit with a bevy of traditional classics, but then shifted mid-first set to originals like 2013’s ‘Don't Let It Get You Down’ and last year’s ‘You & I’ after which they introduced us all to “the newest member of the band”, their ten month-old son, Joaquin.”

Nashville’s Jonny P to open. We saw him earlier this year (with Bernhoft) and said he would be back “in the fall”. I think he meant this show.

Tour dates:

11/9—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium
11/11—Minneapolis, MN—Varsity Theater
11/12—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall
11/15—Pittsburgh, PA—Mr. Small’s Theatre
11/16—Washington, DC—9:30 Club
11/17—New York, NY—Irving Plaza
11/18—Boston, MA—Paradise Rock Club
11/19—Philadelphia, PA—Union Transfer
03/1—Omaha, NE—The Waiting Room
03/2—Des Moines, IA—Wooly’s
03/3—Madison, WI—Majestic Theatre
03/4—St. Louis, MO—Ready Room
03/7—Louisville, KY—Headliners
03/8—Indianapolis, IN—The Deluxe
03/9—Cincinnati, OH—Bogarts
03/10—Columbus, OH—Newport Music Hall
03/14—Detroit, MI—St. Andrews
03/15—Toronto, ON—Velvet Underground
03/17—Burlington, VT—Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
03/18—Portland, ME—Port City Music Hall
03/21—Pawtucket, RI—The Met
03/22—Fairfield, CT—The Warehouse
03/23—Charlottesville, VA—The Jefferson
03/24—Chapel Hill, NC—Cat’s Cradle
03/25—Charlotte, NC—Neighborhood Theatre
03/28—Asheville, NC—The Grey Eagle
03/29—Charleston, SC—Music Farm
03/31—Memphis, TN—Minglewood Hall
04/1—New Orleans, LA—House of Blues

Read More Communist Daughter Minneapolis' Communist Daughter just premiered "Ghosts" on Noisey/Vice. The song came from their forthcoming EP, Lions & Lambs. .…

COMMUNIST DAUGHTER
at Varsity Theater
Friday, 11/11/16, 7pm ($10)
first-avenue.com

Communist Daughter’s CD release show, for their sophomore album The Cracks That Built the Wall, is taking place this Friday, November 11th. This is the band’s last date, and homecoming show, on their national tour.
Communist Daughter is Johnny Solomon, with singer Molly Solomon, bassist Adam Switlick, drummer Steven Yasgar, guitarist Al Weirs and keys Dillon Marchus.

Other local favorites will open the show, including Alpha Consumer, Fraea, and Catbath.

Additional details:

Communist Daughter
with Alpha Consumer, FRAEA, and Catbath

Friday, November 11, 2016 at 7:00pm

This event is 18+

Tickets: http://bit.ly/2erh57r
$10.00 advance
$12.00 door

Presented by:
89.3 The Current

Venue:
First Avenue
Mainroom

Read More Mandolin Orange We caught Mandolin Orange's very first time in Minnesota in 2012. Thankfully that was in July and not January, otherwise the duo might not have decided to come back next, next Sunday, May 31st. ...

MANDOLIN ORANGE
at Turf Club
Friday, 11/11/16, 8pm ($15)
turfclub.net

Mandolin Orange is currently on tour in support of their new record Blindfaller... stopping by the Turf Club in St Paul this Friday.

NOTE: This event was originally not listed on their tour itinerary.

We caught the band last year and wrote, “ It was a pretty terrific turnout for Mandolin Orange's third time in Minneapolis. You can tell right away that the duo was nowhere from around here - citing that 61° was "cold". It's practically short shorts and tank tops weather here. As you can see from their setlist, the new songs from Such Jubilee were played early on ("Little Worlds", "Daylight" and "That Wrecking Ball") and then midway in their set ("Rounder", "Blue Ruin", and "Old Ties and Companions"). Rounding out the rest of their show were familiar old songs from This Side Of Jordan and Haste Make / Hard Hearted Stranger.”

Scandinavian folk duo My Bubba to open.

Tour dates:

11/9—Ann Arbor, MI—The Ark%
11/10—Chicago, IL—Old Town School%
11/11—St Paul, MN—Turf Club%
11/12—Madison, WI—Fredric March Play Circle %
11/18—Saxapahaw, NC—Haw River Ballroom
11/19—Raleigh, NC—Kings
11/20—Carrboro, NC—Cat's Cradle

%with My Bubba

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

A Johnnyswim Christmas at the Varsity, Minneapolis (08 Dec 2015)

Setlist Winter Wonderland/Baby it's Cold Outside Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas/Santa Baby Don't Let It Get You Down You & I La Vie en Rose What Are You Doing New Years’ Eve (off-mic) The Christmas Waltz Adelina Intermission Auld Lang Syne/Christmas Day/All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth/Joy to the World/Santa Claus is Coming to Town Trouble Live While We're Young Little Drummer Boy O Come O Come Emmanuel Take the World Diamonds Home (off-mic, in crowd) This Christmas Tour Dates Dec 15 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY Dec 16 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA Dec 17 Lincoln Theatre Washington, DC Dec 19 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA Dec 20 Bijou Theatre Knoxville, TN Dec 21 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN Jan 7 Kids Helping Kids Folsom, CA Jan 8 Granada Theatre Santa Barbara, CA Jan 9 Kids Helping Kids Santa Barbara, CA Jan 22 Barter Theatre Abingdon, VA Jan 23 Iron City Birmingham, AL Jan 25 Murray Hill Theatre Jacksonville, FL Jan 26 Amaturo Theater Ft Lauderdale, FL Jan 28 Key West Theater Key West, FL Jan 29 Straz Center Tampa, FL Jan 30 Taps & Tunes Craft Beer Fort Myers, FL Jan 31 Cayamo Miami, FL Read More Johnnyswim Acclaimed husband-and-wife team Johnnyswim will be heading out on their second annual "A Johnnyswim Christmas Tour" this December, stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday …

How much do husband-wife duo Johnnyswim love Christmas?

Enough to cut a holiday themed EP, and venture out on their second Christmas tour, playing nineteen December dates in just 21 days, and decorating the stage to look like you’re in their living room for a festive, friendly concert—that’s how much they love Christmas.

The Nashville pair (Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano) even dressed nattily for the occasion with Ramirez in a dark suit and bowtie and Sudano in a flowing black cross strap dress, with the rest of the band in mostly black, to counter the white fireplace and stockings hung in one corner of the stage with two large and two smaller trees and lights positioned around the group.

Joaquin

The performance was “an evening with” composed of two sets, and a mix of holiday standards interspersed with the band’s own originals.  Things got started in the holiday spirit with a bevy of traditional classics, but then shifted mid-first set to originals like 2013’s ‘Don't Let It Get You Down’ and last year’s ‘You & I’ after which they introduced us all to “the newest member of the band”, their ten month-old son, Joaquin.

Seeing his son reminded Ramirez of their favorite song and the story of his proposing to Sudano in Paris, so a cover of ‘La Vie en Rose’ (with translated lyrics) was quickly swapped into the set list.

Drinking from red mugs, the pair then moved on to “not technically a Christmas song” but an off-mic version of ‘What Are You Doing New Years’ Eve’ as the hushed crowd watched.

The Band

Before first set-closing ‘Adelina’, Ramirez urged the audience to venture into the lobby, not to buy their merch, but to stop instead at the Food for the Hungry table to help sponsor a child in need.

The second set started with the New Years’ traditional song ‘Auld Lang Syne’ as a sing-a-long and a medley of other holiday classics.  Ramirez took over for most of a ramped up ‘Little Drummer Boy’, with Sudano bringing soul to the chorus of their modern adaptation of the song.

in audience

The defiant ‘Diamonds’ remains the band’s so-called “suck it song” then the duo jumped into the crowd for a rousing ‘Home’, lit only by crowd members’ cell phone lights and warmed by their clapping in time.

Setlist

For the encore, the band never left the stage, eschewing the tradition of walking off then returning quickly; instead, Ramirez strapped on an electric guitar for their cover of the modern holiday classic,  1971’s ‘This Christmas’ by Donny Hathaway.

That song’s opening lyric reads, “Hang all the mistletoe,  I'm gonna get to know you better this Christmas” and with this intimate holiday concert in their (pretend) living room, Johnnyswim did just that… all because they love Christmas.

Johnnyswim at the Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (08 Dec 2015)

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

Minneapolis: December 7 to December 8, 2015

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from December 7 to December 8, 2015.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More KDWB Jingle Ball The annual KDWB Jingle Ball show is taking place over at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The cheapest and so-called "The Worst Seats in the House" for KDWB JingleBall is "only $20" …

KDWB JINGLE BALL
at Xcel Energy Center
Monday, 12/07/15, 6:30pm ($38.50+)
xcelenergycenter.com

The annual KDWB Jingle Ball is this Monday at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul. According to their bylines, 101.3 KDWB is the Twin Cities No. 1 Hit Music Station.

If you can make it, arrive super early (at 3pm) for the official KDWB Jingle Ball Pre-Party at Roy Wilkins Auditorium to see Shawn Mendes, Becky G, Charlie Puth, Daya, DNCE, Alessia Cara and R. City for absolutely free (you do no need a Jingle Ball concert ticket to attend).

Lineup:

Calvin Harris

Demi Lovato

Fall Out Boy

Nick Jonas

Zedd

Shawn Mendes

Charlie Puth

Tove Lo

R. City

Hailee Steinfeld

Becky G

DNCE

Read More Jack Ladder Speaking of vinyl, Australia's Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders has a new album, Hurtsville, to come out July 17th on 180-gram vinyl (and, of course, digital) via Holloweyed Records. …

JACK LADDER AND THE DREAMLANDERS
at 7th Street Entry
Tuesday, 12/08/15, 7:30pm ($10)
first-avenue.com

Australia's Jack Ladder And The Dreamlanders will be stopping by the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis this Tuesday in support of their U.S. debut Playmates (Fat Possum).

Playmates is Jack Ladder's fourth album, his previous two albums (2008's Love Is Gone and 2011's HURTSVILLE) were shortlisted for the AMP (Australian Music Prize)... so expect similar accolades for the recent record. The former bassist for Expatriate showcased his granite baritone vocal style against Sharon Van Etten as guest on the new album. On working with Ladder, Van Etten noted, "When I first saw Jack Ladder...it blew me away. He's got a darkness to his vocals and lyrics but with a wink. It was really fun and an interesting challenge and his songs are killer. I feel lucky to have been a part of it."

Jack Ladder And The Dreamlanders recently wrapped up their Australian tour as lead support for Florence + The Machine and will be in the United States for a brief December tour.

Local guests Wastrels and Star Magnet to open.

Tour dates:

12/1: Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right
12/2: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
12/3: Washington, DC @ DC9
12/5: Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
12/7: Chicago, IL @ Schuba's
12/8: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
12/11: Seattle, WA @ Barboza
12/12: Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
12/14: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo

Read More Johnnyswim "It's not like we're keeping track, but so far Minneapolis is winning!" declared Abner Ramirez, one half of folk duo Johnnyswim at their Varsity Theater show in Minneapolis last night, August 4th. …

JOHNNYSWIM
at Varsity Theater
Tuesday, 12/08/15, 6:30pm ($25 / $30)
varsitytheater.org

Acclaimed husband-and-wife team Johnnyswim will be heading out on their second annual "A Johnnyswim Christmas Tour" this December, stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday, December 8th.

The band will perform songs off their A JOHNNYSWIM Christmas EP, available digitally now, as well as other holiday favorites.

We previously caught the duo (Amanda Sudano-Ramirez and Abner) twice at the Varsity Theater in 2014 (02/18/14 and 08/04/14) noted that Minneapolis is their favorite city to play in.

Tour dates:

12/04-12/5 West Hollywood, CA Troubadour
12/08 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
12/09 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall
12/10 Detroit, MI Sound Board
12/12 Boston, MA The Royale
12/14-12/15 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
12/17 Washington, DC Lincoln Theatre
12/19 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
12/20 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
12/21 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

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