W♥M

Robert Plant / Alison Krauss w/JD McPherson at Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, MO (2023-05-05)

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS Poster ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS SETLIST Rich Woman (Lil' Millet and His Creoles cover) Quattro (World Drifts In) (Calexico cover) Fortune Teller (Benny Spellman cover) The Price of Love (The Everly Brothers cover) Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin cover) Please Read the Letter (Page & Plant song) High and Lonesome Last Kind Words Blues (Geeshie Wiley cover) You Led Me to the Wrong (Ola Belle Reed cover) Searching for My Love (Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces cover) In the Mood / Matty Groves/ In the Mood (reprise) (Robert Plant song, w/ interlude of Fairport Convention version of a traditional song) Can't Let Go (Randy Weeks cover) The Battle of Evermore (Led Zeppelin cover) When the Levee Breaks (Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy cover, with snippets of "Friends" by Led Zeppelin) Encore: Leave My Woman Alone (Ray Charles cover) Gone Gone Gone (The Everly Brothers cover) JD McPHERSON setlist Bossy North Side Gal Lust for Life (Iggy Pop cover) Precious It Shook Me Up Head Over Heels Lucky Penny Let the Good Times Roll ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS Tour Dates MAY 7 Beale Street Music Festival Memphis, TN MAY 9 ExploreAsheville.com Arena Asheville, NC MAY 10 Live Oak Bank Pavilion Wilmington, NC MAY 12 St. Augustine Amphitheatre St. Augustine, FL MAY 13 Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium Chattanooga, TN MAY 15 Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC MAY 17 Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion Portsmouth, VA MAY 18 Ting Pavilion Charlottesville, VA JUN 14 The Pearl Concert Theater Las Vegas, NV JUN 15 Centennial Hall at University of Arizona Tucson, AZ JUN 17 Kit Carson Park Taos, NM JUN 18 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Telluride, CO JUN 20 KettleHouse Amphitheater Bonner, MT JUN 23 Somerset Amphitheater Somerset, WI JUN 24 Alpine Valley Music Theatre East Troy, WI JUN 25 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis, MO JUN 28 Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, OH JUN 29 Wolf Trap Vienna, VA JUL 1 Bethel Woods Center For the Arts Bethel, NY JUL 2 Tanglewood Music Festival Lenox, MA JUL 3 Thompon's Point Portland, ME JUL 5 Budweiser Stage Toronto, ON JUL 7 Festival International de Jazz Montreal, Canada Read More Robert Plant The English musician best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Led Zeppelin, will be headlining the Orpheum Theatre. Billed as Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters, .…

Some rain and threatening skies had ruled the earlier part of Cinco de Mayo in Kansas City; but as if on cue, clouds had parted, and the evening was clear and cool outdoors at Starlight Theatre to enjoy the long-awaited return of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss in concert.

===

The evening began with a succinct and musically tight opening set from Oklahoma native JD McPherson and band, whose rockabilly and roots rock leaning, provided the ideal spark plug as a precursor to the main event. Managing to work in eight songs in just thirty minutes, his “no time to waste” approach was similar to when we last saw live, headlining in Minnesota in the late summer of 2017.

Openers “Bossy” and radio hit “North Side Gal” had patrons dancing in their chairs and his homage cover of Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” kept the straightaway momentum in high gear. With a “Lucky Penny” that was anything but, and finisher “Let the Good Times Roll”, it was obvious the crowd wanted more, and will just have to catch him next time through, likely at Knuckleheads.

The only regret we had was that playing an outdoor during early Spring, meant it was too far away from the holidays to hear selections from his fine Christmas album, “Socks”.

===

For Robert Plant and Alison Krauss fans, the wait had been almost a decade and a half for the pair to reunite, in support of their second collaborative album, 2021’s “Raise the Roof” (on Rounder/Concord Records), the follow up to 2007’s “Raising Sand” which swept all five Grammy Awards it was nominated for. Our collective patience was rewarded with this tour and a diverse yet cohesive ninety-minute set of songs that raided deep into the vintage record racks and showcased the vocal synergy between the two, that still remains entrancing.

The setlist itself was a bit of a music history lesson, heavily drawing on their versions of covers from modern-day bands like Calexico, to legends like The Everly Brothers, to more familiar Led Zeppelin classics turned on their Bluegrass and Americana side. Most people likely weren’t familiar with 1950’s single “Rich Woman” from New Orleans’ Lil' Millet and His Creoles which began the set, but hearing this updated version with those harmonies, likely stuck the tune in people’s heads, even days later.

Krauss took the lead to cover a somewhat obscure 1966 Everly Brothers cover, her black dress fluttering in the early Spring wind and voice soaring out into the night on its “that’s the price of love” chorus. Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” was re-invented into a swinging barn dance version, with Delta Blues-esque guitar work by McPherson, doing double duty with both bands on this tour.

Similarly, their ingrained version of Page & Plant’s “Please Read the Letter” has become so comfortable sounding and harmoniously soothing, that it’s easy to forget the original, especially as embellished by Krauss’ expert fiddle work. Krauss took lead again for 1968’s “Trouble with my Lover”, originally cut by soul singer Betty Harris. The groovy laid-back sound of 1966’s “Searching for My Love” kept things mellow yet moving and the pace would next pick up with an extended medley built around Plant’s own early solo hit, “In the Mood”.

The Lucinda Williams version of Randy Weeks’ “Can’t Let Go” swung gently, powered by the upright six-string bass of Dennis Crouch and multi-instrumentalists Viktor Krauss (brother of Alison) and Stuart Duncan. The duo’s harmonies were again showcased on Led Zeppelin’s “The Battle of Evermore”, basically proving the point that Krauss would own the songs if she ever attempted an acoustic cover album of Zeppelin classics.

The main set-closing “When the Levee Breaks” was stripped of its Zep arena bombast and brought back to its 1929 rural juke joint essence, interjected with some dark fiddle work from Krauss and Duncan, riffing in parts of Zeppelin’s “Friends” and with dark sounds to conjure fire and brimstone, like vintage 16 Horsepower would do.

“Can you feel it?!” Plant exclaimed as the band jumped back onstage for a two-song encore, beginning with a bouncy 1958 Ray Charles cover which featured a fine mandolin solo. They couldn’t leave without one more- the peppy 1964 Everly Brothers hit, “Gone, Gone, Gone” and then after extended applause and a few bows, the band was just that- “really gone, done moved on”.

It may not have been Mexican-themed nor was there a “roof to raise” at this outdoor venue, but Robert Plant and Alison Krauss made this Cinco de Mayo night in Kansas City, one to remember.

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

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS

ROBERT PLANT / ALISON KRAUSS

JD McPHERSON

JD McPHERSON

JD McPHERSON

JD McPHERSON

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

We♥KC! May 2-8, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Topeka / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Robert Plant The English musician best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Led Zeppelin, will be headlining the Orpheum Theatre. Billed as Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters, .… …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Mayday, Mayday!

The alert is that May is here, signaling the beginning (as evidenced by last weekend’s NFL Draft concerts and Kelce Jam) of outdoor concert season and a summer jam-packed with shows. Starlight takes the lead with a stellar upcoming show from Robert Plant / Alison Krauss, there’s a couple arena shows this week, and Knuckleheads looks as busy as usual.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from May 2nd-May 8th.

TUESDAY MAY 2

Janet Jackson w Ludacris, T-Mobile Center, $39.95-$499.95

The five-time GRAMMY®️ Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame®️ Inductee has returned to the road after four years with her ninth concert tour, “Together Again.” The tour will offer the long-awaited chance to reunite with Jackson in celebration of her 50th anniversary in entertainment and spotlight the milestones for two of Jackson's most critically acclaimed albums- 25 years of "The Velvet Rope", and 30 years of "janet."plus other mega hits, so expect some three-dozen classics during the evening.

3x-Grammy Award winning recording artist and Fast & Furious actor, Ludacris will open.

Skinny Puppy w Lead into Gold, Liberty Hall-Lawrence, $38.50-$174

The Canadian industrial icons are celebrating their 40th anniversary and are doing so by announcing what they're calling their "Final Tour." “It’s been eight long years since we’ve toured and there is no better way to end our run as a group than with a tour celebrating our 40th anniversary,” stated the band in a press release. “To our West Coast fans, don’t worry! We’ll see you soon!”

2013’s Weapon is the most recent LP in Skinny Puppy’s long discography.

Foreigner w Cage Willis, Stormont Vail Events Center- Topeka, $49.50-$120

The band, formed in1976 by British guitarist Mick Jones, is out on its Farewell Tour which runs through the end of 2024 and Topeka gets one of the early dates. Foreigner has released nine studio albums and sold more than 50 million records worldwide. They have had nine top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including rock radio staples such as “Feels Like the First Time,” “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” “Urgent” and the power ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

Jones, the last original member still active, has become something of a special guest at the band’s concerts, not attending every show due to health reasons and playing only during the latter portion of the set. Singer Kelly Hansen as been lead vocalist since joining in 2005.

Southern rock artist Cage Willis has his debut album Who I Am just out, featuring singles “Hallucinate” and “Way Out Here” and was produced by songwriter Chris Robertson of Black Stone Cherry

Les Miserables, May 2-7, Music Hall, $36-$126

Seen by over 130 million people in 53 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, Les Miz is as popular as ever! Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon.

Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells a story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The score includes the songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” “Master of the House” and many more.

WEDNESDAY MAY 3

John Butler, The Folly, $40-$58.50

(Note: Knuckleheads Presents the show, but it is at The Folly)

One of Australia’s premiere indie alternative songwriter/ storytellers, Butler’s most recent studio album, 2018’s ‘HOME’, debuted at #1 on the ARIA Charts and a Live in Paris release just came out, from John Butler Trio.

moe., The Truman. $30-$60

The longtime jam band (Al Schnier (guitars, vocals) * Chuck Garvey (guitars, vocals) * Rob Derhak (bass, vocals) * Jim Loughlin (percussion, vibes) * Vinnie Amico (drums) first formed at the Univ of Buffalo back in 1990. 2020's THIS IS NOT, WE ARE is the band's 12th studio album and first since 2014.

 

THURSDAY MAY 4

Dragon Inn 3, Blip Roasters, Free! (more info here)

KC-based indie pop/synth band Dragon Inn 3- led by Phil Dickey, co-founder of indie-pop band Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin just released their sophomore album Trade Secrets on American Laundromat Records. The idea behind the foursome (Grace Bentley- vocals. Philip Dickey- synths, drums, guitar, bass, vocals. Sharon Hamm- synths. David Hill- synths) began as more of an experiment a decade ago by Dickey, running concurrently with SSLYBY (who we last caught live back in Minneapolis in 2013 and also in Brooklyn in 2009).

Their synth-driven sounds were polished and defined on their 2018 debut, Double Line, with the band mostly hunkered down (like most of us) as the pandemic years passed. For Kansas City fans, they’ve finally returned to the live stage, with Phil and Grace playing a special acoustic show in the Crossroads district, to showcase the new songs and play some old favorites.

Daniel Rodriguez, Knuckleheads, $20

The Colorado singer-songwriter is still out in support of his third studio album, Vast Nothing and we caught him live, opening an all-Colorado lineup featuring The Lumineers last summer. He is also a founding member of Elephant Revival and wrote some of their most well-known songs before they disbanded in 2018.

Brooks and Dunn w Scottie McCreery, T-Mobile Center,$24.75-$164.75

Country’s most-awarded duo pull on their cowboy boots once again to continue their Reboot Tour which first launched in 2021. The tour is named after the duo's 2019 collaboration album "Reboot," which includes the pair singing with artists including Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Cody Johnson and Jon Pardi.

Orianthi, Knuckleheads,$32.50-$50

The platinum-selling artist and one of the best rock guitarists today, is out supporting studio album, “Rock Candy” which came out last October. and is described as a hard rockin’, blues tinged, display of Orianthi’s guitar playing and soulful vocals. She’s played with the likes of Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Carrie Underwood, Alice Cooper, ahem...Ritchie Sambora, and lately Tracii Guns,

FRIDAY MAY 5

Air Supply, Ameristar Casino, $68-$240

The Aussie soft rock duo started all the way back in 1975 in Melbourne and is still going today – America seems never "All out of Love" to hear their songs. In addition to their own classic hits, they’ve been working in their version of Nilsson’s “Without You” into their encores.

Against the Current w Trophy Eyes, Yours Truly, Granada- Lawrence, $25-$28

The NY-based pop-punk trio dropped their new single, “good guy.” which vocalist Chrissy Costanza describes the track as “all about going from anger to apathy, recognizing that this person that hurt you is too sad to hate,” urging listeners to “don’t ignore the red flags, trust your gut.”

The band’s career spans over a decade, forming in 2011 before releasing their debut studio album, In Our Bones, in 2016, followed by 2018’s Past Lives, and have also released several EPs.

Robert Plant / Alison Krauss, Starlight, $37-$175

The legendary Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant and bluegrass innovator and 27-time Grammy winner Alison Krauss have finally reunited again on their Raising the Roof Tour. More than 15 years after their initial critically acclaimed and award-sweeping collaboration, Plant and Krauss are now touring in support of their most recent album, "Raise the Roof," released last November.

It's their first LP together since their 2007 collaboration, "Raising Sand." Plant and Krauss have included songs from both albums in their new sets as well as their unique versions of Zeppelin/ Page Plant songs "The Battle of Evermore," "Rock and Roll," and "Please Read the Letter." Expect other covers from the likes of Calexico, The Everly Brothers, and Allen Toussaint. We caught Plant solo in Minneapolis in 2018, and think the magical combination of these two, outdoors under the stars, will undoubtedly make for a memorable show.

JD McPherson to open, who we saw solo at the MN State Fair back in 2017, and who is also a part of the headlining band.  

Eddie Griffin,(comedian Uptown. $39.50-$122

The hometown comedian returns with a brand new hilarious show. Born in Kansas City, by the young age of 16, he opened his own dance studio and was choreographing the Kansas City Chiefs halftime shows, but his career would later lead down the comedy path and also into acting.

Amythyst Kiah, Knuckleheads, $17.50

The Chattanooga, TN singer/songwriter is making waves with her Rounder Records debut, Wary + Strange, after earning a Grammy Award nomination for Best American Roots Song and winning Song of the Year at the 2019 Folk Alliance International Awards (in Kansas City). “For anyone who’s struggled with grief or trauma or felt left out and weird and like they didn’t belong, I hope this album lets them know that they’re not alone in that feeling,” says Kiah.

SATURDAY MAY 6

Knuckle Puck & Real Friends w Between You and Me, The Truman, $28-$30

Knuckle Puck formed in 2010 in the suburbs of Chicago releasing several EPs, one of which, While I Stay Secluded, peaked at 5 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. The band announced last Fall that they had signed with Pure Noise Records and released a new single “Groundhog Day.” Their upcoming 4th LP will release in 2024. We caught them live last, back in 2015 in Minneapolis.

49 Winchester with The Weathered Souls, Knuckleheads. $20

With its latest and fourth album, “Fortune Favors The Bold,” (their debut for Nashville’s New West Records) the VA-based band is ready to break onto the national scene with its unique brand alt-country, barroom floor rock-n-roll, and high-octane Appalachian folk.

Formed eight years ago in the small mountain town of Castlewood, VA, the band started as a rag tag bunch of area teenagers who just wanted to get together for the sake of playing together but are now making a larger impact.

Black Dahlia Murder w/ Terror, Frozen Soul, Fuming Mouth, and Phobophilic, Granada-Lawrence,$25

The rockers are back out on their first tour since the tragic death at age 41 of lead vocalist Trevor Strnad, with guitarist Brian Eschbach since taking over on lead vocals. They’re remembering how one of Trevor's roles was uplifting young and new bands, and how they plan to do their best to continue to do this. This tour includes three of the most promising newer metal and/or hardcore bands around (Frozen Soul, Fuming Mouth, and Phobophilic), along with hardcore vets Terror.

Sondheim on Sondheim, May 6-7, Kauffman Center, $33.50-$139.50

Sondheim on Sondheim is an intimate portrait of the famed songwriter through his beloved songs and words. With exclusive interviews interspersed among favorite songs, audiences get an inside look at the renowned composer’s personal life and artistic process. Honoring the legacy of Stephen Sondheim, who passed away in November 2021, this production features various vocal stylists accompanied by the Kansas City Symphony. 

SUNDAY MAY 7

Built to Spill w Prism Bitch, Itchy Kitty (rescheduled), Madrid Theatre, $35-$59.50

The longtime alternative Boise, ID group is back on tour behind new album When the Wind Forgets Your Name. We caught the band last in Georgia back in 2016. The live band throughout the tour will be comprised of Doug Martsch, bassist Melanie Radford, and drummer Teresa Esguerra. With two interesting openers, it’s a full night of entertainment.

MONDAY MAY 8

nada

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

We♥KC! March 22-31, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Queensrÿche Queensrÿche is touring in support of their album The Verdict (Century Media Records). The record is available in a variety of limited and exclusive editions, including clear, red transparent, petrol green, red smoke vinyl, etc. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Late March is bringing showers… of sold-out shows-- good job KC, for packing live venues again! Plenty else is happening, including several at Knuckleheads and don’t throw away your shot, if you can manage to wrangle those still-elusive Hamilton tickets.

Sad face for the canceled RATM show which would have taken place this week- if they happen to get inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame this fall, maybe some make up dates are in the cards as a victory lap tour leg.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from March 22nd-31st.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 22

Hamilton (musical), continues through Apr 2, Music Hall,$69+

PNC Broadway in Kansas City continues with its most popular and longest-running show of the season! We all know Hamilton by now- the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a unique score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton is told like never before, and has created a lasting cultural moment in the process.

With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors. The Disney+ special is great, but you haven’t seen Hamilton until you’ve seen it live on-stage!

THURSDAY MARCH 23

Eric Bellinger, recordBar, $30-$55

The Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter is out on his headlining Obsession Tour. It follows his 2022 Vibes On Vibes Tour, which R&B singer Sammie co-headlined. VIP packages are available, including a meet and greet, early and priority entry, autographed merchandise and more. Trevor Jackson, Nick Lavelle, and Dom Chronicles are on as support.

Maddie and Tae, Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, SOLD OUT

Award-winning Country pop duo Maddie & Tae are coming to a sold-out Prairie Band. Their hits include: “Die From A Broken Heart”, “Girl In A Country Song”, current single “Every Night Every Morning”, and many more!

Iris Dement w Ana Egge, Knuckleheads, SOLD OUT

Longtime folk singer-songwriter and former KC resident Dement still obviously has loyal fans in the area. Her debut record Infamous Angel, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary, was recently named one of the “greatest country albums of all time” by Rolling Stone, and the two albums that followed, My Life and The Way I Should, each garnered Contemporary Folk GRAMMY nominations.

Thirty years after her debut, she’s still creating some of the most poignant music of her career, bridging seemingly disparate worlds with every note.

FRIDAY MARCH 24

Smithereens w Marshall Crenshaw (re-scheduled date) Knuckleheads,$35-$55

The popular New Jersey band formed way back in 1980, bringing a contemporary beat to a classic rock sound. Jim Babjak (guitar,) Dennis Diken (drums,) and Mike Mesaros (bass) grew up together and original lead singer, the late Pat DiNizio, hailed from nearby Scotch Plains, NJ. They toured worldwide over the course of 17 albums and 2500+ live shows before the 2017 passing of DiNizio put the band on hold, momentarily.

Longtime friend Marshall Crenshaw takes over lead vocals for this tour, recreating the many Smithereens favorites, as well as likely, a few of his own hits. Special Guest is: The Popskull Rebels.

Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams w Shawn Mullins, Knuckleheads. $35-$55

Multi-instrumentalist-singer-songwriter Larry Campbell and singer-guitarist Teresa Williams’ acclaimed self-titled 2015 debut, released after seven years of playing in Levon Helm’s band – and frequent high-profile guest appearances – helped put them on the map as a formidable musical duo.

And for this tour, they’re joined by singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins, whose critical breakthrough came when 1998 Soul’s Core album shot him to fame on the strength of its Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit, “Lullaby”. In early 2002, he formed super group The Thorns with Matthew Sweet and Pete Droge.

Michigan Rattlers, recordBar, $18

A Michigan folk-rock band composed of Graham Young (guitar), Adam Reed (bass), Christian Wilder (piano), and Tony Audia (drums). Veering beyond their initial Country-leaning sound, the band’s second full-length, That Kind of Life was released in 2021 to positive reviews. Morris & Depew open.

SATURDAY MARCH 25

Jerry Cantrell w Thunderpussy, Uptown,$35-$79

The Alice in Chains singer-guitarist is heading back out for another tour leg in support of his 2021 solo acclaimed album, Brighten. Expect to hear a plethora of solo material along with a number of AIC classics. The 2022 trek included vocalist Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan), drummer Gil Sharone (Team Sleep), guitarist Tyler Bates (film soundtrack composer), who should all return as part of Cantrell’s solid band.

Luzcid, Encore at Uptown Theater, $25

The Houston-born electronic artist is out on his Illusions Tour, an Audio/Visual experience with visuals from Data Byte.

JID and Smino, Midland. $32.50-$59.50

Out on their co-headlining Luv is 4ever Tour (which we’re scheduled to cover later this week in Minneapolis). Atlanta rapper J.I.D’s latest is The Forever Story, which topped many “Best of 2022” lists, including Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, while St. Louis rapper Smino’s third album Luv 4 Rent was his debut with Motown Records, in partnership with Zero Fatigue.

Queensryche w Marty Friedman, Trauma, The Truman,$32.50-$65

The ‘Ryche returns to the road with headlining tour dates in support of their latest album, 2022’s Digital Noise Alliance. Joining the classic progressive metal act on the road as special supporting acts will be ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) and rising metal band Trauma, making for an entertaining evening all around.

Queensryche said in a press release, "This touring package is amped up and very much looking forward to seeing all of you! Come on out and let's have a great time together, as live music is as vibrant as ever once again!"

Little River Band, Ameristar Casino, $50-$68

The classic rock band from Melbourne is best known for their top hits “Reminiscing,” “The Night Owls” and “Lonesome Loser,” since forming in 1975. Other radio-familiar hits include “Take it Easy on Me,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary” and “The Other Guy.”

SUNDAY MARCH 26

Cowboy Mouth, Knuckleheads, $25

Jenny still Says to come to this show for a participatory fun time. Much like gumbo, the New Orleans-born band uses a potent blend of musical ingredients- rock, blues, punk, funk, country, pop, soul and whatever else feels good, for a true rock n roll revival show. Frontman, drummer, and co-founder Fred LeBlanc has asserted “if The Neville Brothers and The Clash had a baby, it would be Cowboy Mouth."

MONDAY MARCH 27

Shame, Bottleneck. $20 (UPDATE: SHOW DATE IS SATURDAY, MAY 27 )

The rising London post-punk band has returned with their third full-length, Food for Worms, which just came out at the end of last month. Three buzzing singles were released beforehand, doing exceptionally well on the other side of the pond, “Fingers of Steel", "Six-Pack" and "Adderall".

After they missed Rock the Garden in 2018, we finally caught the band live, last summer headlining in Minneapolis. They've been busy touring the UK and Europe, so are ready to hit our shores with a bang.

(Update: NYC indie five-piece Been Stellar will provide support, in support of last August's self-titled EP. ) 

TUESDAY MARCH 28

Rage Against The Machine, March 28, T-Mobile Center CANCELED

WEDNESDAY MARCH 29

Toto Uptown,$39-$99

The longtime rock band has spent most of the last couple years, touring on and off with a similar classic band that’s had its ups and downs, Journey, but returns to the area to make up for a previously postponed headlining appearance.

After announcing a breakup (filled with health issues, a lawsuit, etc) in 2019, they announced a reunion a year later with a revamped lineup including old/new singer Joseph Williams (son of composer John Williams), Steve Lukather, bassist John Pierce, drummer Robert “Sput” Searight, keys/vocalist Steve Maggiora, keyboardist Dominique “Xavier” Taplin and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Warren Ham.

Jessie Murph, The Truman, $17

Alabama alt/pop TikTokker 18-year-old singer Murph is out on her first ever North American tour in support of her debut mixtape, Drowning released last month which includes songs “Always Been You,” “If I Died Last Night,” and “Pray”, as well as three new tracks.

She’s catching more notice as many of her originally booked venues, have been re-booked into bigger halls, to accommodate additional demand. We caught Murph live just over a week ago, in Minneapolis, with her older brother opening the show. 44Phantom is listed as support for KC.

THURSDAY MARCH 30

Koe Wetzel, w/ The Cadillac Three, Dylan Wheeler, Cable Dahmer Arena. $35-$60

The genre-bending outlaw country artist brings his Road to Hell Paso Tour to the eastern KC suburbs iin support of Koe’s latest album Hell Paso, out last September which debuted at #12 on Billboard. In speaking about the album, Koe says: “We pulled in every genre we were feeling at the time. We spent the last ten years trying to make this sound, Hell Paso has it.” Wetzel sold over 350,000 tickets last year and is on track for much more in 2023. Opening acts are worth arriving early for.

Key Glock w Big Scarr, Uptown Theater,$39.50

The Memphis rapper is on his Glockoma Tour, a 31-date run of shows running until April 28 for a home-state show in Nashville, in support of new full-length, Glockoma 2, a sequel to his 2018 release.

Zepparella with Bad Bad Men, recordBar. $20

Expect to feel a whole lotta love for this Led Zeppelin tribute made up of vocalist Anna Kristina, guitarist Gretchen Menn, bassist Holly West, and drummer Clementine. Bad Bad Men (from Omaha) open the show.

FRIDAY MARCH 31

A Moving Sound, Polsky Theatre. $17-$35

Fusing traditional Taiwanese influences with a global sensibility, the award-winning ensemble (Sheng Don 聲動) built a worldwide following through their mix of original music and dance, featuring the timbres of the erhu (fiddle) and zhong ruan (lute), and vocals of Mia Hsieh,

Hsieh draws inspiration from her roots in Asian culture, as well as an assimilation of experimental and improvisational art forms. Her vocal influences range from ethnic to experimental. For many of the compositions, she performs using her own created language; chanting, speaking and singing with emotion.

Take 6, Lied Center. $19-$50

The most awarded acapella group (Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley) in history hits the live stage in Lawrence. With 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and more, Take 6 are six voices united in crystal clear harmony. We saw them live performing a Christmas mini-set, outdoors in mid-December numbing temperatures, singing from a rail car (no joke!) supporting Sheryl Crow.

Dave Attell (comedian) thru Apr 1, KC Improv, SOLD OUT

The NYC stand-up comedian remains as popular as ever, selling out all shows on this multi-night KC residency. Known for the hit series, "Insomniac with Dave Attell" on Comedy Central, Attell has also been on every late night talk show and his own half-hour stand-up special, among numerous other appearances.

Tech N9ne with King Iso, March 31, Granada. $30

KC’s favorite rapper got a Super Bowl bump, when his unofficial anthem, “Red Kingdom” was played everywhere as our own Kansas City Chiefs repeated as NFL Champions. He brings his Strange Music show to the home of the Jayhawks (who need some cheering up after being bumped from March Madness).

Crystal Bowersox, Mar 31, Knuckleheads (POSTPONED to October 6)

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

R.I.P. Jeff Beck

(Read more Musicians who died in 2023)

One of rock’s greatest skilled and most influential guitarists (yet still somewhat under the mainstream radar) Jeff Beck passed away on Tuesday at a hospital near his southern England rural estate in Riverhall, at the age of 78 of bacterial meningitis, according to his publicist.

Beck was born in Wallington, Surrey, England on June 24, 1944, to Arnold (an accountant) and Ethel (a candy maker) Beck. His mother demanded he play piano daily at an early age, which would help to hone his distinctive musical chops after switching to guitar once he heard the great Les Paul.

By the age of 13, he was building his own guitars to play, fascinated by the tone and the mechanics of playing. Beck would enroll in Wimbledon College of Art but dropped out of school in favor of music, doing studio session work and then in 1965 was invited to join The Yardbirds via Jimmy Page (who initially turned the band's offer).

Only a band member for some 20 months, Beck played on most of The Yardbirds’ successful songs, such as “Heart Full of Soul,” which hit the Top 10 on Billboard and was #2 in the UK. The Yardbirds’ 1966 single “Shape of Things,” got to #11 in the US (#3 in UK) featuring an unmistakable double-time Beck signature guitar solo, that would help define his early legacy.

The Yardbirds would become a band of legend, adding Jimmy Page, first on bass and later in a dueling lead guitar role with Beck. In 1966, an instrumental titled “Beck’s Bolero" would feature Page on rhythm guitar, Keith Moon from The Who on drums, future Led Zeppelin member John Paul Jones on bass, along with piano player Nicky Hopkins.

Tensions within the band spurred him to leave, soon forming the first Jeff Beck Group (with Rod Stewart on vocals and with Ron Wood), who were signed by Columbia Records, issuing their debut album “Truth” in 1968.

Another landmark came in 1975, with Beck’s "Blow by Blow” solo album, blending jazz, fusion, funk, and more to his rock repertoire to create a Platinum-selling, successful and still-influential album that would hit the Billboard Top 5.

Though he never equaled the sales of peers Page, Eric Clapton, or idol Jimi Hendrix, he always remained respected in the highest order, with Rolling Stone recently ranking him at #5 of all-time guitarists. “I’ve never made the big time, mercifully,” Beck told the magazine in 2018. “When you look around and see who has made it huge, it’s a really rotten place to be.”

Beck’s career is highlighted by seven Grammy Awards, eight gold albums, and Induction into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame not once but twice, in 1992 as part of The Yardbirds, and solo in 2009.

We were lucky enough to have seen him play live, but only once, on a co-headlining tour with Carlos Santana, but can readily remember our jaw being on the floor for his entire set, as he made sounds and melodies that we never thought possible from a Fender Strat, and with an uncanny ease and joy.

Beck continued to tour and to record, most recently yielding a collaboration album with actor/guitarist Johnny Depp, titled “18,” (released last July), which they also took out on the road. Jeff Beck’s wife, Sandra Cash, whom he married in 2005, survives him.

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: This Week (01/08/2023)

Here are some shows, this week, in the Minneapolis/St Paul area.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

01/02 The Cactus Blossoms with Lanue at Turf Club Read More The Cactus Blossoms Ahead of their 2022 tour for their new album One Day For February 11, Minneapolis duo The Cactus Blossoms (brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum) will be playing a residency at the Turf Club, every Monday. …

01/02/2023 Monday

The Cactus Blossoms
with Lanue
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Local favorite band The Cactus Blossoms is once again doing a residency at the Turf Club in January 2023.

The brother duo recently released their Bob Dylan cover EP, If Not For You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol 1).

Jack Torrey (half of the Cactus Blossoms) said, “We had recorded a version of "Went to See The Gypsy” a while back and we were thinking about doing an EP of other people’s songs, but then it just made sense to stick with all Dylan tunes. He’s written a million songs and he’s always been an inspiration for us. So many of Bob Dylan’s songs are filled with wonderful phrasing that doesn’t really lend itself to harmony singing, so we got together and started singing some of his songs to see which ones we could bend into our world.” 

We last saw Cactus Blossoms at their album release instore for One Day in Feb 2022 and noted, “Immediately after the release of The Cactus Blossoms’ new album, One Day, the American duo appeared at three stores, performing at Mill City Sound (in Hopkins), Down In The Valley (in Golden Valley), and Electric Fetus (in Minneapolis), all on February 12th.”

Tour Dates

01/02 with Lanue
01/09 with Michael Gay
01/16 with Molly Brandt
01/23 with Pit Stop
01/30 with Pieta Brown
02/23 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival
02/24 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival

01/06 ZEPPO with 5cent Reality at Turf Club Read More Led Zeppelin Robert Plant apparently kiboshed a Led Zeppelin reunion guaranteeing $800 mil. from Richard Branson. 35 dates in 3 cities (London, Berlin, NJ). .…

01/06/2022 Friday

ZEPPO
with 5cent Reality
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Yes, it’s a Led Zeppelin cover lover band, Zeppo. If you love the Zep, you’ll probably be at this Turf Club show on January 6th.

According to their bio, it’s not a traditional tribute band, so no wigs, no costumes, and the band members don’t look like Robert Plant…

The band adds, “Merry Christmas everybody! Let us be the cure to your holiday hangover.”

5cent Reality to open. 5cent Reality is described as Kirk, Terry, Nicole, and Jef… playing music from the invisible realms.

Band members includes:

John Eller (Shiny Lights, Shabby Road Orchestra)

Paul Boblett (Fathom Lane, Faith Boblett)

Terrance J. Fisher (Run Westy Run)

Noah Levy (Brian Setzer, BoDeans, Honeydogs)

Mark Mraz (Mraz Brothers Band, Raggs, Sloppy Joels)

01/08 Charlie Parr with Todd Albright at Turf Club Read More Charlie Parr Last of the Better Days Ahead is the new collection of songs from Minnesotan Charlie Parr. What’s important to note is that the album is being released on Smithsonian Folkways, the non-profit record label …

01/08/2023 Sunday

Charlie Parr
with Todd Albright
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

As with previous years, Duluth’s Charlie Parr is doing a month-long residency at the Turf Club in St Paul.

Charlie Parr at Armory (26 Nov 2022)

We recently saw Parr with Trampled By Turtles at the Armory in Nov 2022 and wrote, “Charlie Parr opened up with his weathered steel guitar and friend, Mick, playing what Parr called: “The washing machine.” Even with no band Parr had no trouble filling the cavernous space of the Armory with an earthy voice that rose to all three levels and into the rafters of the venue. Born in Austin, MN and now residing in Duluth, Parr’s musical style of folk and blues seems to be from another era. Still, he instantly connected with the sold out crowd with a generous set of 12 songs ranging from a career that has produced 16 albums…”

Charlie Parr at the Turf Club Residency in January 2023.

01/01 with Greta Ruth
01/08 with Todd Albright
01/15 with Haley
01/22 with Mike Gangloff & Adam Kiesling
01/29 with Emma Jeanne

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Minneapolis: January 1 to January 6

01/01 Charlie Parr with Greta Ruth at Turf Club Read More Charlie Parr Last of the Better Days Ahead is the new collection of songs from Minnesotan Charlie Parr. What’s important to note is that the album is being released on Smithsonian Folkways, the non-profit record label …

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

01/01/2023 Sunday

Charlie Parr
with Greta Ruth
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

As with previous years, Duluth’s Charlie Parr is doing a month-long residency at the Turf Club in St Paul.

We recently saw Parr with Trampled By Turtles at the Armory in Nov 2022 and wrote, “Charlie Parr opened up with his weathered steel guitar and friend, Mick, playing what Parr called: “The washing machine.” Even with no band Parr had no trouble filling the cavernous space of the Armory with an earthy voice that rose to all three levels and into the rafters of the venue. Born in Austin, MN and now residing in Duluth, Parr’s musical style of folk and blues seems to be from another era. Still, he instantly connected with the sold out crowd with a generous set of 12 songs ranging from a career that has produced 16 albums…”

Charlie Parr at the Turf Club Residency in January 2023.

01/01 with Greta Ruth
01/08 with Todd Albright
01/15 with Haley
01/22 with Mike Gangloff & Adam Kiesling
01/29 with Emma Jeanne

01/02 The Cactus Blossoms with Lanue at Turf Club Read More The Cactus Blossoms Ahead of their 2022 tour for their new album One Day For February 11, Minneapolis duo The Cactus Blossoms (brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum) will be playing a residency at the Turf Club, every Monday. …

01/02/2023 Monday

The Cactus Blossoms
with Lanue
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Local favorite band The Cactus Blossoms is once again doing a residency at the Turf Club in January 2023.

The brother duo recently released their Bob Dylan cover EP, If Not For You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol 1).

Jack Torrey (half of the Cactus Blossoms) said, “We had recorded a version of "Went to See The Gypsy” a while back and we were thinking about doing an EP of other people’s songs, but then it just made sense to stick with all Dylan tunes. He’s written a million songs and he’s always been an inspiration for us. So many of Bob Dylan’s songs are filled with wonderful phrasing that doesn’t really lend itself to harmony singing, so we got together and started singing some of his songs to see which ones we could bend into our world.” 

We last saw Cactus Blossoms at their album release instore for One Day in Feb 2022 and noted, “Immediately after the release of The Cactus Blossoms’ new album, One Day, the American duo appeared at three stores, performing at Mill City Sound (in Hopkins), Down In The Valley (in Golden Valley), and Electric Fetus (in Minneapolis), all on February 12th.”

Tour Dates

01/02 with Lanue
01/09 with Michael Gay
01/16 with Molly Brandt
01/23 with Pit Stop
01/30 with Pieta Brown
02/23 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival
02/24 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival

01/06 ZEPPO with 5cent Reality at Turf Club Read More Led Zeppelin Robert Plant apparently kiboshed a Led Zeppelin reunion guaranteeing $800 mil. from Richard Branson. 35 dates in 3 cities (London, Berlin, NJ). .…

01/06/2022 Friday

ZEPPO
with 5cent Reality
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Yes, it’s a Led Zeppelin cover lover band, Zeppo. If you love the Zep, you’ll probably be at this Turf Club show on January 6th.

According to their bio, it’s not a traditional tribute band, so no wigs, no costumes, and the band members don’t look like Robert Plant…

5cent Reality to open.

Band members includes:

John Eller (Shiny Lights, Shabby Road Orchestra)

Paul Boblett (Fathom Lane, Faith Boblett)

Terrance J. Fisher (Run Westy Run)

Noah Levy (Brian Setzer, BoDeans, Honeydogs)

Mark Mraz (Mraz Brothers Band, Raggs, Sloppy Joels)

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Sammy Hagar and the Circle w/ Vince Neil at Mystic Lake Amph, Prior Lake (17 May 2019)

Sammy Hagar at Prior Lake Mystic Lake poster Sammy Hagar And The Circle Setlist Trust Fund Baby There's Only One Way to Rock Three Lock Box Poundcake (Van Halen song) I Can't Drive 55 Can't Hang Finish What Ya Started (Van Halen song) Right Now (Van Halen song) Devil Came to Philly Full Circle Jam (Chump Change) Rock Candy (Montrose song) Why Can't This Be Love (Van Halen song) Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin cover) Heavy Metal Mas Tequila Affirmation Vince Neil Setlist Dr. Feelgood Shout at the Devil Looks That Kill Home Sweet Home Kickstart My Heart Girls, Girls, Girls Wild Side Sammy Hagar And The Circle Tour Dates 28 May 2019 Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA 30 May 2019 Grand Theater at Foxwoods, Mashantucket, CT 31 May 2019 Filene Center, Vienna, VA 04 June 2019 Artpark, Lewiston, NY 05 June 2019 Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA 07 June 2019 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, IL 23 August 2019 The Tulalip Amphitheatre, Tulalip, WA Read More Passion Pit It is cool to explore musicians and songwriters from when they were first starting out or not too far along in their career, It was a trip down memory lane for me. I am convinced that Sammy is a one of a kind vocalist … Mötley Crüe Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, and Vince Neil, all the original members of glam "hair" metal band Mötley Crüe are back with an all original studio album, Saints of Los Angeles. The album is out today …

“At your service!… Are we having any fun yet?!”

Rock super group Sammy Hagar and the Circle brought his Space Between Tour to the Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Prior Lake outside the casino grounds, to open their outdoor concert season, as rumbling and darker skies threatened above.

The venue itself is an amphitheater in only the loosest way, as the grounds consist of a stage at the base of a grassy hill, with white folding chairs representing the front section of seats, a black section of folding chairs on the grass representing the remainder of the reserved seating area, and an open general admission grass area at the rear. 

A VIP/handicapped section seems to be a raised section along the left side, with some scattered food/beverage options, and there are no permanent fixtures to this location. The entry process seemed long and cumbersome as well.

The opener was Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil who despite being on a solo tour, played forty-five minutes of nothing but Crue hits, which was probably for the best, given the crowd and his short opening slot. If nothing else, the fifty-eight year-old Neil has always surrounded himself with solid musicians, his solo band still anchored by half of Slaughter (bassist Dana Strum and guitarist Jeff Blando) and antsy drummer Zoltan Chaney.

The three and a half years since Motley’s last-ever show in LA on New Years Eve 2015, haven’t done too many favors for Neil, as he visually still seems out of shape and vocally, would often hit an ear-cleaning shriek, that was wildly off-key.

Blando showed off his considerable chops, soloing before ‘Kickstart My Heart’ and things ended explosively with drummer Chaney climbing high to almost the top of the stage structure, before leaping down several stories on cue, to end things.

In complete contrast, the fan-friendly and always excitable Sammy Hagar and the Circle (a super group of sorts including Michael Anthony on bass; Vic Johnson on guitar; Jason Bonham on drums) played with the energy and vigor of men half their age (Hagar is 71), in support of new record Space Between (on BMG Records).

Hagar and friends dipped into all parts of his long career, from the early 70s forward, with Johnson sidelined into a corner chair as a result of a recent fall on stage (though his playing was completely unaffected). The band is justifiably proud of the new record, playing half the album live including lead single, ‘Trust Fund Baby’ to open, as its music video played on the large screen behind them.

Hagar seemed to have fun yelling out the years of each song before playing them (some before many in the crowd were even born) and the early ‘80s solo work of ‘There’s Only One Way to Rock’ and ‘Three Lock Box’ still sounded crisp, with the band having as much playing them, as the crowd did hearing the songs.

For Van Halen songs such as ‘Poundcake’ and ‘Finish What Ya Started’, we were all reminded how much bassist Anthony’s harmonies added to those songs’ vocals (he even taking lead on several verses), and with Hagar known as one of the most fan-friendly artists, over a dozen items were thrown forward or presented to him on stage (from hats and t-shirts, to a full guitar), in hopes of getting a signature before being returned, which he obliged.

‘Right Now’ became a social message (as it also had in the VH days) with images flashing on the video screen of the homeless, less fortunate, and a call to action to help in your local community. “This is where it all started for me- 1973!” Hagar yelled as the band revved up the Montrose classic, ‘Rock Candy’, followed by the 1986 song that started the Van Hagar era, ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’.

“This is like Great Britain weather” Hagar said to drummer Bonham following, and eyeing the gray skies above, “...oh, we’re in Minnesota” as the son of the greatest drummer of all-time introduced the Led Zeppelin classic ‘Rock and Roll”, “One for your pop!” Hagar yelled.

The band went into another gear with 1981’s ‘Heavy Metal’, from the movie of the same name, and ended the main set with the Sammy and the Waboritas drinking anthem from 1999, ‘Mas Tequila’ (mostly re-titled ‘Mas Mezquila’ acting as a partial commercial for Hagar’s new Santo brand, as images of the bottle flashed on-screen).

With rain sprinkling and clouds moving in, the encore was unfortunately cut by two songs as Hagar caught a jacket thrown on stage by a fan, “I’m ok now”, throwing it on for new single ‘Affirmation’ to close things out.

“It’s not about the left or the right, it’s about the space between” Hagar said intro-ing the new melodic song, alluding both to current politics, and (always the business man) managing in a plug for the new record in the process.

“Wake up, slow down, reach out, look around” Hagar sang on the night’s final number, an ending note of positivity as the crowd dissipated into the parking lot and back to the casino. Sammy Hagar and the Circle are still filling venues, still visibly having fun playing on stage, and are still filling in the space between with old classics and fresh new music.

(click on any photo below to enlarge and see full image)

Vince Neil

Vince Neil

Vince Neil

Vince Neil

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar and the Circle at Mystic Lake Amph, Prior Lake (17 May 2019)

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

Minneapolis: February 22 to February 23, 2018

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from February 22 to February 23, 2018.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

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

ROBERT PLANT
+ Seth Lakeman
Orpheum Theatre
Thu 02/22/2018 (7pm/$75)
hennepintheatretrust.org

Robert Plant, the English musician best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Led Zeppelin, will be headlining the Orpheum Theatre this Thursday. Billed as Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters, they’ll be playing tracks from his 11th solo album Carry Fire.

The upcoming show is long sold out (even at a higher-than-average pricing of $75 a ticket), but to justify the higher price, fans who bought a ticket online, were also given a copy of the new album.

Seth Lakeman, who contributes viola and fiddle to three tracks from Carry Fire, will open the show.

Tour dates:

02/16 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
02/17 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
02/20 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
02/22 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
02/24 - Denver, CO - Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
02/26 - Phoenix, AZ - Symphony Hall
02/28 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
03/02 - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre

The Mowgli’s Tour Poster Read More The Mowgli's Next up were The Mowgli's, an indie rock/folk band from southern California. Going into the show, I had no idea what to expect. Simply put, I was blown away. From their first song, Waiting For The Dawn … Mainland Most Proto-Punk / Garage of the evening went to New York City foursome, Mainland, who kindly filled in at somewhat the last minute for the originally-scheduled Transviolet …

THE MOWGLI'S
+ Mainland
7th Street Entry
Fri 02/23/2018 (7pm/$20)
first-avenue.com

The last time we saw California neo-hippie band The Mowgli’s, they were co-headlining with Canadian Lights in 2015. We noted, “A spirited feel-good 65min. of hummable tunes followed, many culled from their latest, Kids in Love (Photo Finish/Island Records) which was released earlier this spring. ‘Love is Easy’ was dedicated to anyone “who’s had their heart smashed into a bazillion pieces” and co-vocalist Katie Jayne Earl took time out in the set to re-inforce the band’s mission of spreading love and kindness, and mentioned that all the band’s proceeds from ‘Room for All of Us’ were going to charity.”

Be sure to show up early to check out Mainland. The post-punk/pop taco-loving trio (singer Jordan Topf, guitarist Corey Mullee and bassist Alex Pitta) recently appeared on Billboard to talk about their “Hometown” release (Feb 16). This isn’t the first time Mainland opened for Mowgli’s, they were previously billed together in February 2016 (their first time in Minneapolis), and we said, “… plays a quick-paced, hooky hybrid of punk, garage, new wave, and high-energy alternative. The crowd appreciated the adrenalin-boosted tempo change and clapped along with the chorus of ‘Not as Cool as Me’ in appreciation.”

Tour dates:

02/20/2018 Beachland Tavern Cleveland, OH
02/21/2018 Ladies Literary Club Grand Rapids, MI
02/22/2018 High Noon Saloon Madison, WI
02/23/2018 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
02/24/2018 Schubas Tavern Chicago, IL
02/25/2018 Pontiac, MI
02/26/2018 Indianapolis, IN
02/28/2018 The Foundry Philadelphia, PA
03/01/2018 Baby's All Right Brooklyn, NY
03/02/2018 Rock And Roll Hotel Washington, DC
03/04/2018 Wolf Den Uncasville, CT
03/06/2018 Brighton Music Hall Boston, MA
03/08/2018 The Basement East Nashville, TN
03/11/2018 Cambridge Room Dallas, TX
03/13/2018 Valley Bar Phoenix, AZ
03/14/2018 The Casbah San Diego, CA
03/16/2018 The Moroccan Lounge Los Angeles, CA
03/17/2018 Bottom Of The Hill San Francisco, CA
03/19/2018 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
03/20/2018 The Crocodile Seattle, WA
03/23/2018 Globe Hall Denver, CO
03/24/2018 recordBar Kansas City, MO

Galatic/Lettuce Poster New Politics Tour Poster Palm Poster Ani DiFranco Tour Poster Judah & the Lion Tour Poster Read More Lettuce 02/25/17 Known for their incredible live shows, funk band Lettuce will be headlining First Avenue’s mainroom this Saturday. The Russ Liquid Test will open. .... New Politics The clear headliner with a full set (note even their setlist showed a two-song encore) was Denmark's New Politics. They were really high energy, and just watching them work the crowd, and improvised … Palm Next up was Philadelphia, by the way of New York, Palm (not to be confused with Palms), a band that suffers from that common-band-name, making searching for them difficult. After hearing the sad news that the Triple Rock Social Club … Ani Difranco I've never seen Ani Difranco live, but all my women friends have seen her at one point in their lives. Since the early 90s, Difranco has been an inspiration for women all over the world... and through her Righteous Babe ... Judah & the Lion Nashville’s Judah & The Lion is back in town, supporting their sophomore album Folk Hop N Roll. The record entered the Billboard’s Heatseekers Album Chart at an impressive #2 and #1 on the Heatseekers South Central! …

Other shows in the area:

GALACTIC / LETTUCE
Palace Theatre
Thu 02/22/2018 (7pm/$27)
palacestpaul.com

The Lettuce and Galactic co-headlining tour will be taking place at the Palace Theatre on Thursday.

Tour Dates:

02/13 Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas
02/14 San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park*
02/15 Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre*
02/16 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater*
02/17 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
02/18 Seattle, WA @ Showbox
02/20 Missoula, MT @ The Wilma
02/22 St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre^
02/23 Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre^
02/24 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall^
02/25 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues^
03/22 Huntington, NY @ The Paramount*
03/23 Port Chester, NY @ Capitol Theatre*
03/24 Port Chester, NY @ Capitol Theatre*
03/26 Hartford, CT @ Infinity Hall
03/28 Richmond, VA @ The National
03/29 Greensboro, NC @ Blind Tiger
03/30 Covington, KY @ Madison Theater
03/31 Covington, KY @ Madison Theater

*With support from Motet
^Co-bill with Galactic

NEW POLITICS
+ Dreamers, The Wrecks
Varsity Theater
Thu 02/22/2018 (5pm/$25)
musichallmpls.com

One of the best live bands New Politics will be headlining the newly re-opened Varsity Theater in Dinkytown.

PALM
+ The Spirit Of The Beehive
7th Street Entry
Thu 02/22/2018 (7:30pm/$12)
first-avenue.com

New York/Philadelphia band Palm will be headlining the 7th Street Entry in support of the new album Rock Island (Carpark Records).

We caught the band in October 2017 and noted that they may be moving to Minneapolis: “The band, at least Eve, also announced that they have fallen in love with the city and decided to move here after this year. This isn’t the first time a Philadelphia band moved here, I know at least one other band, Strange Names, relocated here as well.”

Tour dates:

2/16 - Boston, MA @ The Great Scott ^
2/18 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe ^
2/19 - Detroit, MI @ Marble Bar ^
2/20 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle ^
2/21 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club ^
2/22 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry ^
2/23 - Madison, WI @ Der Rathskellar ^
2/24 - Grinnell, IA @ Gardner Lounge ^
2/26 - Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge ^
2/27 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court ^
2/28 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux ^
3/1 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza ^
3/2 - Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar ^
3/5 - Reno, NV @ Holland Project ^
3/6 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop ^
3/8 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex ^
3/9 - San Diego, CA @ SPACE ^
3/10 - Phoenix, AZ @ Flying Burrito Music Fest
3/11 - Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress ^
3/13 - Dallas, TX @ Double Wide ^
3/14-17 - Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/19 - Birmingham, AL @ The Firehouse ^
3/20 - Atlanta, GA @ 529 ^
3/21 - Durham, NC @ Pinhook ^
3/22 - Norfolk, VA @ Toast ^
3/23 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter ^
3/24 - Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel ^
3/26 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church ^
5/24 - London,UK @ Corsica Studios
5/26 - Berlin, DE @ Urban Spree
5/27 - Jena, DE @ Glashaus
5/28 - Hamburg, DE @ Aalhaus
5/29 - Cologne, DE @ Bumann & Sohn
6/6 - Brussels, BE @ Trône
6/7 - Luxembourg, LU @ Rotondes
6/9 - Bristol, UK @ Louisiana
6/10 - Birmingham, UK @ Hare and Hounds
6/11 - Manchester, UK @ Castle Hotel
6/12 - Glasgow, UK @ The Hug and Pint
6/13 - Leeds, UK @ Oporto

ANI DIFRANCO
+ Gracie and Rachel
First Avenue
Fri 02/23/2018 (7pm/$45)
first-avenue.com

Politically conscious protest singer Ani DiFranco is headlining First Avenue. You can bet she’ll be rallying against Donald Trump.

JUDAH & THE LION
+ Colony House, Tall Heights
Palace Theatre
Fri 02/23/2018 (7pm/$25)
palacestpaul.com

Fan-favorites Judah & the Lion is in the middle of their biggest tour to date. They’ll be headlining the Palace Theatre in St Paul this Friday.

Going to Mars 2018 Confirmed Tour Dates:

February 18 @ Knitting Factory Concert Hall in Spokane, WA
February 19 @ Roseland Theatre in Portland, OR
February 21 @ In The Venue in Salt Lake City, UT
February 23 @ Palace Theatre in St. Paul, MN
February 24 @ Uptown Theatre in Kansas City, MO
February 28 @ Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA
March 1 @ Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA
March 2 @ Okeechobee in Okeechobee, FL
March 3 @ The Moon in Tallahassee, FL
March 5 @ Bogart’s in Cincinnati, OH
March 6 @ Orpheum Theatre in Madison, WI
March 8 @ St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit, MI
March 9 @ Phoenix Concert Hall in Toronto, ON
March 10 @ HOB in Boston, MA
March 11 @ Corona Theatre in Montreal, QC
March 13 @ Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, NY
March 14 @ The Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, PA
March 16 @ The Fillmore in Philadelphia, PA
March 17th @ St. Pats in Five Points in Columbia, SC
March 18 @ NorVa in Norfolk, VA
March 21 @ HOB in Cleveland, OH
March 22 @ Egyptian Room in Indianapolis, IN
March 23 @ Riviera Theater in Chicago, IL
March 24 @ The Pageant in St. Louis, MO
April 6-10 @ Parahoy!
April 11 @ The Mill & Mine in Knoxville, TN
April 12 @ The Mill & Mine in Knoxville, TN
April 13 @ The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC
April 14 @ The Cone Denim in Greensboro, NC
April 16 @ 9:30 Club in Washington, DC
April 17 @ 9:30 Club in Washington, DC
April 19 @ Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, AL
April 20 @ The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA
April 21 @ The Nasional in Nashville, TN

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

Minneapolis: December 13 to December 25, 2017

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from December 13 to December 25, 2017.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

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

SEMISONIC
Turf Club
Wed 12/13/2017 (7pm/$35/Sold Out)
turfclub.net

SEMISONIC
+ Johnny & Molly
First Avenue
Fri 12/15/2017 (7pm/$35/Sold Out)
Sat 12/16/2017 (7pm/$35/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

Local favorites Semisonic is playing a couple hometown shows. The warmup show will be at the Turf Club on Wednesday. For Friday and Saturday, the group will be playing their record Feeling Strangely Fine in its entirety.

Johnny & Molly from Communist Daughter to open.

Let’s hope there’s not another slipping on ice this time around.

Semisonic writes:

Welcome back, friends and fans!

Those shows in June were a blast, but Semisonic’s 2017 isn’t over!

More soon.

Dan, John, and Jake

Read More The Score Blue October is back in town. The last time they were here, it was in June 2016. The Score to open. 7pm, $29.50. …

Other shows in the area:

THE SCORE
+ Castlecomer
7th Street Entry
Thu 12/14/2017 (7pm/$10)
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles rock band The Score (Eddie Anthony and Edan Dover) is on their “The Only One” tour with Castlecomer.

Tour Dates:

12/10 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Balcony*
12/12 Ferndale, MI The Magic Bag*
12/13 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern*
12/14 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry*
12/16 Kansas City, MO The Record Bar*
12/17 Denver, CO Ophelia’s *
12/19 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court*
4/4 San Francisco, CA Regency Ballroom^
4/6 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom^
4/7 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre^
4/10 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot^
4/11 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre^
4/13 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue^
4/14 Chicago, IL Metro^
4/15 Saint Louis, MO Delmar Hall^
4/17 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe ^
4/18 Detroit, MI Magic Stick^
4/19 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall^
4/20 Cleveland, OH House of Blues^
4/22 Toronto, Canada Phoenix Concert Theatre^
4/26 Boston, MA Royale^
4/27 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts^
4/28 New York, NY Irving Plaza^
4/29 Washington, DC 9:30 Club^
5/1 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse^
5/2 Nashville, TN 3rd & Lindsley^
5/4 Dallas, TX Granada Theater^
5/5 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall^
5/6 Austin, TX Emo’s^
5/8 Mesa, AZ The Marquee^
5/11 San Diego, CA Music Box^
5/12 Los Angeles, CA Fonda Theatre^

*The Only One Tour Dates
^Inside A Dream Tour w/Echosmith

BAD BAD HATS
7th Street Entry
Sat 12/16/2017 (5pm/$15)
Sat 12/16/2017 (9pm/$15/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

Local Bad Bad Hats sold out the late show (with Jessica Manning) … so they booked an earlier 5pm show with Idle Empress.

ST PAUL SCHOOL OF ROCK
7th Street Entry
Sun 12/17/2017 (1pm/$10)
first-avenue.com

The St Paul School Of Rock presents the music of Led Zeppelin and CBGB.

Please note time: 1pm.

LIL PUMP
+ Devon Reason
First Avenue
Mon 12/18/2017 (6:30pm/$27/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

Florida’s Lil Pump sold out his First Avenue’s mainroom show next Monday. It’s easy to see how he sold out his show, the superstar’s self-titled debut album rocketed to #1 on the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart and his YouTube channel had over 260+ million views.

Tour dates:

12/11 Wallingford, CT The Dome
12/12 New York, NY Playstation Theater
12/13 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
12/15 Cleveland, OH Agora Theatre
12/16 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre
12/17 San Bernardino, CA Rolling Loud So Cal
12/18 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
12/19 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
12/21 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl
12/22 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
12/23 San Diego, CA The Observatory

THE IRREPLACEABLES
Skyway Theatre
Tue 12/19/2017 (4pm/$35)
skywaytheatre.com

The girls from Dance Moms (billed as The Irreplaceables) will be in town at the Skyway Theatre to demonstrate some proper stretch, warm-up technique, and unique dance lessons.

Waivers will need to be submitted online prior to entry. Special entry price available for parent/guardian accompanying a minor.

Package includes:

• First-look and buy at The exclusive IRREPLACEABLES Merch Pop-up.
• Access to prime, up-front viewing position in the venue.
• Meet & Greet- The Irreplaceables will be taking photos with fans on a special red carpet in front a limited-edition step-and-repeat.

Tentative Schedule

4:30-5:00PM – Dance Workshop Check-in
5:00-6:00PM – Workshop/class
6:00-7:00PM – Exit venue/cue up for GA or VIP line
6:30PM – VIP Doors/merch store opens
7:00PM – GA doors
7:30-9:00PM – Show time
9:30-10:30PM – M&G

GOOD DOOM, STANLEY, and DOUBLE GRAVE
7th Street Entry
Wed 12/20/2017 ( 7:30/$8)
first-avenue.com

Local bands Good Doom, Stanley, and Double Grave will be playing some music at the 7th Street Entry on Wednesday.

NELLY / T.I.
Myth
Thu 12/21/2017 (7pm/$60)
mythlive.com

The co-headlining tour of Nelly and T.I. will take place at the Myth on Thursday.

TRAILER TRASH
Turf Club
Fri 12/22/2017 ($22/Sold Out)
Sat 12/23/2017 ($22)
turfclub.net

Trailer Trash presents “The Trashy Little XMas Show”.

Trailer Trash got its start as a regular attraction at Lee’s Liquor Lounge, in downtown Minneapolis. With the popularity of retro-country music and swing-dancing in the mid-90s, the band found a following among new generations of music lovers.

Friday’s show is sold out.

CHRISTMAS EVE
Sun 12/24/2017

CHRISTMAS DAY
Mon 12/25/2017

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

Blackberry Smoke w/ Temperance Movement at First Avenue, Minneapolis (27 Feb 2015)

show poster Blackberry Smoke Setlist Six Ways to Sunday Let Me Help You (Find the Door) Like I Am Pretty Little Lie Fire in the Hole Rock and Roll Again Good One Comin' On Sleeping Dogs / Your Time is Gonna Come (Led Zeppelin cover) Rollin’ and Tumblin’/Sanctified Woman Lay it All on Me Ain't Got the Blues Up in Smoke One Horse Town Holding All the Roses Crimson Moon Keep On Keepin’ On Living in the Song Too High Leave a Scar -- Encore -- California Man (The Move cover) Who Invented the Wheel Ain't Much Left of Me Tour Dates 03/05/15 Milwaukee, WI The Rave 03/06/15 Chicago, IL Joe's Bar 03/07/15 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit 03/11/15 Green Bay, WI Meyer Theatre 03/12/15 Madison, WI Majestic Theatre 03/13/15 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room 03/14/15 Louisville, KY Mercury Ballroom 03/19/15 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues 03/20/15 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory 03/21/15 Munhall, PA Carnegie Library Music 03/22/15 Buffalo, NY The Town Ballroom 03/24/15 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground 03/26/15 Portland, ME State Theatre 03/27/15 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston 03/28/15 New York, NY Webster Hall 04/08/15 Norfolk, VA NorVa 04/09/15 Richmond, VA The National 04/10/15 Silver Spring, MD Fillmore Silver 04/11/15 Columbus, OH The LC Pavilion 04/16/15 Raleigh, NC The Ritz 04/17/15 Charlotte, NC Fillmore Charlotte 04/18/15 North Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues 04/22/15 Columbia, SC Music Farm Columbia 04/23/15 Charleston, SC Music Farm 04/24/15 Dothan, AL Peanut Festival Fairgrounds 04/25/15 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues 04/30/15 Austin, TX Emo's 05/01/15 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues 05/02/15 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues 05/07/15 Houston, TX House Of Blues 05/08/15 Dallas, TX House Of Blues 05/09/15 San Antonio, TX The Aztec Theater Read More Blackberry Smoke Blackberry Smoke announced their DVD called Live at the Georgia Theatre (pre-sale started November 23rd, to ship December 6, just in time for Christmas). The show was originally sold .... Temperance Movement British blues rock band The Temperance Movement (named after the 19th century social movement urging us to moderate our alcoholic consumptions) will be touring with ....

There are places at the table.

With veteran southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Molly Hatchet losing original members, the Robinson brothers’ saying The Black Crowes are over, and the Allman Brothers calling it a day, the echelon of bands sitting on the southern rock table has some openings—enter: Blackberry Smoke.

The Atlanta band, active for fifteen years, has been slowly building an audience and with its latest album, Holding All the Roses (Rounder Records), has truly hit the big time, surprising everyone when it hit not only #7 on the Billboard Rock chart but #1 on the Billboard Country chart last week.

Ben Miller Band

The evening began with a short set by the Ben Miller Band, an Ozark-fuelled mud-stomping Joplin, MO threesome that takes everything back to basics.  Miller plays banjo, guitar and harmonica through an old telephone receiver and cord, percussionist Doug Dicharry plays traditional percussion as well as washboard and spoons, and Scott Leeper plays a self-constructed bass, made from a weed eater string strung up a wooden pole on a metal washtub.

After opening for ZZ Top in 2013, the band returned with New West Records release, Any Way, Shape or Form last year. Set highlight was probably the ending medley which featured a sped-up mix of BMB originals and standards like Ram Jam’s ‘Black Betty’, all whirled about in a hootenanny hoedown.

There’s space at the table of classic-sounding British blues rock as well.

The Temperance Movement

Bands like Free, The Faces, and early Rolling Stones, Who and Led Zeppelin, helped set the tone of UK artists influenced by American blues originators like Howlin’ Wolf, Son House, and Muddy Waters. London-based The Temperance Movement refreshingly resuscitates that sound with its just released self-titled debut on Concord Music/Earache Records.

Temperance Movement: Phil Campbell

Singer Phil Campbell looks a little like a backwoods Thom Yorke and moves like a manic Mick Jagger.  Storming out of the gate with the new ‘Modern Massacre’, the song’s high-revv’d tempo lived up to the band’s description of it being a “real smack in the chest”.  The growly Campbell sounds a little like Chris Robinson, who himself channels those UK bands and earlier blues greats, but Campbell and co. mesh it all into a sound of their own, that looks forward with a nod to the past.

‘Pride’, done midway into their 40 min. set, is a slow building romp and the title track of their initial EP.  Last song, ’Take It Back’, started casually like ZZ Top’s ‘La Grange’ with Campbell wailing on harmonica and repeating the line, “it’s all gone, but it’s all right now” before drums and bass kicked it, with guitars following, for a restlessly ideal finish.

The band clearly won over the mostly unaware-of-them-previously audience who supported everything about them except the origin of their name - a social movement urging us to moderate our alcoholic consumption- as most held drinks and beers high as they left the stage.

The ‘Smoke has definitely been rising.  Since leaving Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Records last year, expectations were high for their new record, and as the chart positions show, they delivered.  The full crowd that was present for Blackberry Smoke’s 100 min. set was a good cross section of their fan base- motorcyle riders, country types, older classic rock fans, college students, and others.

Blackberry Smoke: Charlie Starr

Though the band doesn’t talk much between songs, its tight southern rock sound, ever-changing setlist, and choice covers, make them an entertaining watch.  The Georgia five-piece (Charlie Starr – Vocals/ Guitar; Richard Turner-  Bass; Brit Turner-  Drums;  Paul Jackson- Guitar; and Brandon Still – Keyboards) started their Friday night with ‘Six Ways to Sunday’, a not-so-subtle declaration of affection, then followed it up with the new album’s opener and band’s own declaration of independence, ‘Let Me Help You (Find the Door)’.

Starr and Jackson’s guitars alongside the Turner’s rhythm section provided a wall of deep-fried sound, while Still’s keyboards were mostly in the background, putting the seasoning on each of the tracks.  “Everybody feeling loose now?” Starr asked before slowing it down for ‘Sleeping Dogs’, from previous album, The Whippoorwill, which melded into a pitch-perfect refrain of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Your Time is Gonna Come’.   A verse from the 1929 blues classic ‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’ led seamlessly into their own ‘Sanctified Woman’.

Setlist: Live Long and Prosper

Things slowed mid-set with the knee-slappin’ ‘Lay it All on Me’ and acoustic ‘Aint Got the Blues’, which had the crowd singing along with the chorus, causing Starr to mention, “you kick Kansas City’s a$$!”.  ‘Keep On Keepin’ On’, a song from 2003, was noted by Starr as the band finished as it being the first time it was played live, which seems surprising.

‘Leave a Scar’ the title of the band’s recent live double album, seemed an appropriate end to the main set;  then after a break, they re-emerged with an unexpected cover of ‘California Man’, a 1971 song by The Move, featuring co-lead vocals by ELO’s Jeff Lynne on the original.  The Allman-esque ‘Who Invented the Wheel’ followed, and the band wrapped with ‘Ain’t Much Left of Me’ which after 100+ min, is maybe what they were feeling, being spent after giving so much.

Southern Blues Rock has a band on a new level, as evidenced this night, and maybe UK blues rock has its newest shining star as well—places at the table have been assigned.

Blackberry Smoke at First Avenue, Minneapolis (27 Feb 2015)

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