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Twin Cities: SPCO, ApplaudUs, Lee DeWyze

Read More SPCO Chamber Music Series: Introducing Lembit Beecher is described as “Lembit Beecher, the SPCO’s Music Alive composer-in-residence, curates and hosts this program which features his most recent string quartet …

THE SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
thespco.org

After a long hiatus, the The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (often abbreviated to SPCO) is pleased to announced the return to live performances on September 10 and 11. Like with all the live venues around town, you are required to be vaccinated, or show proof of negative test results. Masks will also be required at the Ordway Center.

Here are the details:

After an almost unbearably long hiatus, the is thrilled to welcome audiences back to live performances with this season-opening program. Two works commissioned by the SPCO and premiered virtually during the pandemic will be heard for the first time by a live audience. Valerie Coleman’s wind quintet, Umoja, which means unity in Swahili, is a fitting celebration of our ability to gather once again for the communal experience of hearing live music. We offer a moment of reflection through Johann Sebastian Bach’s Air on the G String — the first piece SPCO musicians performed following the attacks of September 11 twenty years ago — before concluding the night with the titular Serenade for Strings.

Opening Weekend: Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings
Gioachino Rossini: Overture to II Signor Bruschino
Tyson Davis: Tableau No. X (SPCO commission)
Viet Cuong: Circling Back (SPCO commission)
Valerie Coleman: Umoja, The First Day of Kwanzaa
Osvaldo Golijov: Last Round for String Ensemble
Johann Sebastian Bach: Air on the G String from Suite No. 3
Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings
Led by SPCO Musicians
Cassie Pilgrim, oboe
Lynn Erickson, trumpet
Sarah Lewis, cello

Dates and locations:
Friday, September 10, 8:00pm
Saturday, September 11, 8:00pm
Ordway Concert Hall, Saint Paul
Tickets: $12–$50 for adults; FREE for kids and students
Call 651.291.1144 or visit thespco.org

Read More Stageit I'm testing out video quality on Stageit, so I went to the next available show, which was for Austitron's "Austoberfest Part 4" show. …

APPLAUDUS
applaudus.com

Minneapolis’ ApplaudUs is launching globally on September 12, 2021. This company self-described itself as “a live video and audio streaming platform and music marketplace that connects musicians and music lovers.” Reading more into it, it sounds like it could be like StageIt … where fans can tip or pay for content from their favorite musicians. It could go even further, like some sort of fanclub where musicians can interact with their fans… I could be wrong in misreading it, I suggest find out more about them on their website.

They are currently looking for musicians to sign up.

If you’re in the Minnesota area, you can stop by their official launch party at Route 47 Pub & Grub in Fridley on September 12th from Noon to 10pm.

Here is an excerpt from their press release:

Announcing ApplaudUs, Launching globally September 12th 2021. ApplaudUs; A live video and audio streaming platform and music marketplace that connects musicians and music lovers. ApplaudUs; A new era in live music, offering a sustainable business model for Performing artists. ApplaudUs allows Artists to monetize their Art in a fair system that returns more to the artist while making that music easier to find for Fans.

…

Ticket buyers receive a virtual front row seat to live concerts from anywhere. During ApplaudUs live streams fans react to shows, tip artists, and purchase recordings. Artists receive real time feedback during their performances creating a truly immersive experience for the artist and Fans. Founder/CEO Paul Campbell says “This collected data feeds into the ApplaudUs Chart using our patent pending technology that sorts data in a way that truly places the music choices of the people at the top of the charts”. The music charts can filter down so that fans can even find, for example, the top pop song in their local regions as well as globally. Artists see their growth and audiences can discover emerging talents. “Trying to find new music by genre that is reliably of high quality on other platforms is like trying to find a needle in a haystack”, states Campbell”. Not so on ApplaudUs because the chart is always automatically updating giving fans the best of new music based upon the data that is dynamically updating 24/7.

Read More Lee DeWyze While fellow American Idol winner Phillip Phillips was just down the street opening for John Mayer, Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze entertained with a 40 min. …

LEE DEWYZE
leedewyzeofficial.com

I just wanted to quickly mentioned this upcoming show, which is taking place this week. We’ve already wrapped up our August concert previews (currently working all upcoming September shows – so send in your requests), and this show was missed.

So coming to 7th Street Entry is Lee DeWyze and D'Arcy on August 24, 2021.

We previously seen American Idol winner Lee DeWyze in Nov 2013 and wrote, “New songs like ‘Silver Lining’ and ‘Fight’ were well received, and the audience was mostly receptive to his humble and honest songwriting.”

Opening the show will be New York alternative act D’Arcy, touring in support of Hard to Kill EP.

2021 Tour Dates

8.24 - Minneapolis, MN
8.25 - Milwaukee, WI
8.26 - Madison, WI
8.27 - Ann Arbor, MI
8.28 - Lake Orion, MI
8.29 Spring Lake, MI
8.31 - Cleveland, OH
9.1 - Columbus, OH
9.2 - Akron, OH
9.3 Syracuse, NY
9.4 - Worcester, MA
9.5 - Pawling, NY
9.7 Buffalo, NY
9.8 Cambridge, MA
9.9 - Egremont, MA
9.10 Fairfield, CT
9.11 - Amagansett, NY
9.12 - New York, NY
9.14 - Sellersville, PA
9.16 - Vienna, VA
9.17 - Asheville, NC
9.18 - Atlanta, GA
9.19 - St Louis, MO
9.22 - Austin, TX
9.23 Woodlands, TX
9.24 - Denton, TX
9.25 - Dallas, TX
9.27 - Phoenix, AZ

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

Minneapolis: July 29, 2015

Read More Ringo Deathstarr Ringo Deathstarr just announced their new EP called God's Dream, coming out March 25, 2014, on Neon Sigh / Noyes Records. Leading up to the release, expect the shoegazey …

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on July 29, 2015.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

RINGO DEATHSTARR
at Turf Club
Wednesday, 07/29/2015, 7pm ($8)
turfclub.net

Austin trio Ringo Deathstarr (guitarist Elliott Frazier, bassist Alex Gehring, and drummer Daniel Coborn) will be back in the Twin Cities next week, July 29th. We first talked about them in 2011 when we discussed our guide to Shoegazing music.

As a special bonus, take a few hours and drive north to Duluth's Pizza Lucé for this 21+ event with The Keepaways.

Two local bands Vats and Brilliant Beast will open the Turf Club show.

Tour dates:

07/21 Small's Hamtramck, MI
07/22 This Ain't Hollywood Hamilton, Canada
07/23 Lee's Palace Toronto, Canada
07/26 The Empty Bottle Chicago, IL
07/29 Turf Club Saint Paul, MN
07/30 Pizza Lucé Duluth Duluth, MN
07/31 Riverwest Public House Milwaukee, WI

Read More Zella Day A dusky-voiced 20-year-old singer/songwriter from deep in the mountains of Arizona, Zella Day makes electro-charged, guitar-driven indie-pop that’s steeped in a magic of her own invention. …

ZELLA DAY
at 7th Street Entry
Wednesday, 07/29/2015, 7:30pm ($12)
first-avenue.com

Although young (she's 20 years old), Arizona's Zella Day has been writing and recording music since she was 14. Zella will be stopping by the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, next Wednesday, July 29th, in support of her latest album Kicker (Pinetop Records / Hollywood Records / Universal Music Australia).

Los Angeles-based electronic trio Lany (Paul Klein, Les Priest, and Jake Goss), to open the show.

Tour dates:

07/19/15 Sloss Music & Arts Festival
07/21/15 Houston, TX House Of Blues
07/22/15 Austin, TX Stubb's Bar-B-Q
07/23/15 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
07/25/15 96.5 The Buzz Beach Ball
07/29/15 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
07/30/15 Lollapalooza Aftershows
07/31/15 Live On King Street
08/01/15 Lollapalooza
09/11/15 Live On The Green
09/19/15 iHeartRadio Daytime Village

Read More Lee DeWyze While fellow American Idol winner Phillip Phillips was just down the street opening for John Mayer, Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze entertained with a 40 min. …

LEE DEWYZE
at Loring Pasta Bar
Wednesday, 07/29/2015, 9:15pm ($17)
varsitytheater.org

We previously caught singer/songerwriter Lee DeWyze with Toad the Wet Sprocket in 2013, which John wrote, "Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze entertained with a 40 min. opening set promoting his latest, Frames (Vanguard Records). New songs like ‘Silver Lining’ and ‘Fight’ were well received, and the audience was mostly receptive to his humble and honest songwriting."

DeWyze will be at the Loring Pasta Bar (right next to the Varsity Theater) next Wednesday, July 29th.

Tour dates:

07/23/15 The Woodlands, TX Dosey Doe
07/24/15 Dallas, TX The Prophet Bar
07/25/15 Little Rock, AR Juanita's Cantina Ballroom
07/27/15 Kansas City, MO The Record Bar
07/28/15 Omaha, NE Reverb Lounge
07/29/15 Minneapolis, MN Loring Pasta Bar
08/06/15 Corydon, IA Old Settlers Days
08/21/15 Richmond, VA Short Pump Town Center
08/23/15 Elon, NC Elon University
08/25/15 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall
08/26/15 Fitchburg, WI True Coffee Roasters
08/27/15 Des Moines, IA Drake University
08/29/15 Palatine, IL Durty Nellie's
08/30/15 Spring Lake, MI Seven Steps Up
09/01/15 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark
09/02/15 Cincinnati, OH Live at the Ludlow Garage
09/03/15 Indianapolis, IN Rathskeller

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

Toad the Wet Sprocket w/ Lee DeWyze - Mill City Nights, Minneapolis (11/23/13) concert review

Setlist The Moment Woodburning Good Intentions Crowing Windmills New Constellation Inside All I Want Dam Would Break Come Back Down Nightingale Song Crazy Life Rare Bird Is It For Me California Wasted Come Down Brother Fall Down -- Encore -- Something's Always Wrong I'll Bet on You Walk on the Ocean Tour Dates 12/07/13 "KFOG Concert For Kids" 01/29/14 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom 01/30/14 Flagstaff, AZ Orpheum Theater 01/31/14 Salt Lake City, UT Depot 02/01/14 Stateline, NV Harrah's Lake Tahoe 02/05/14 Bend, OR Tower Theatre 02/06/14 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater 02/07/14 Spokane, WA Bing Crosby Theater 02/08/14 Seattle, WA Showbox 02/13/14 Boise, ID Knitting Factory 02/15/14 Napa, CA Uptown Theatre Napa Read More Toad the Wet Sprocket Toad the Wet Sprocket are in the middle of a tour in support of their Kickstarter-funded album New Constellation, which was released last month (October 15th).…

It’s been pretty good for Monty Python-related news of late. The classic comedy troupe just announced a London reunion (which sold out in 43 seconds, prompting four more added shows) and California alt-rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket just appeared at Minneapolis’ Mill City Nights, ending their 2013 tour with a toe-tapping 90 min. set.

The band, named after a Python “Rock Notes” skit, took fans both backwards and forwards, with generous samplings of both their 90’s-era radio hits, and selections from their latest and first in sixteen years, the Kickstarter-funded New Constellation, self-released on their own Abe’s Records label.

LEE DEWYZE

While fellow American Idol winner Phillip Phillips was just down the street opening for John Mayer, Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze entertained with a 40 min. opening set promoting his latest, Frames (Vanguard Records). New songs like ‘Silver Lining’ and ‘Fight’ were well received, and the audience was mostly receptive to his humble and honest songwriting.

Glen Phillips

“Nice to see you!”, Toad singer, the ageless Glen Phillips remarked just as the Divine Fits intro music faded and the band launched into new song, ‘The Moment’ to start their set. A familiar ‘Good Intentions’ got the mostly thirty-something crowd swaying, Phillips and bassist Dean Dinning harmonizing the chorus as if it were twenty years prior.

“This band wouldn’t be a band without Minneapolis”, Phillips mentioned, then related all the area bands off of the top of his head that he considered an influence, before cheekily asking Dinning if he knew the bassline to ‘When Doves Cry’. The band, rounded out by guitarist Todd Nichols and Randy Guss on drums, was more than ably assisted on stage by Jonathan Kingham playing keyboard, steel guitar, and mandolin.

TTWS’s songs have always blended a California sensibility with echoes of similar Brit and Aussie alt-pop that was also happening during their heyday (i.e. The La’s, Crowded House, etc.) but it’s maybe because they all came from a similar songwriting approach rather than were directly influenced, and the songs from New Constellation fit seamlessly alongside their older back catalogue.

Guitarist Nichols took over lead vocals for several tracks, including ‘Inside’ and ‘Crazy Life’ with deft Kingham organ playing, Nichols’ voice somewhat deeper and slightly rougher than Phillips, but no less melodic.

Phillips asked the crowd to sing along in three part melody (balcony, floor, and front) prefacing ‘All I Want’ and marveled at Minnesotans’ ability to dress for “10 degrees outside and 80 degrees inside”- “you have mad skills…or you’re standing on piles of coats!”, which prompted a collective laugh.

Somehow appropriate (though may have been more suitable during ‘Fall Down’), the band paused ‘Dam Would Break’ mid-song as he noticed a girl collapsing in the middle of the floor, only to pick it up again quickly as the boyfriend embarrassingly hustled his companion away briskly. Phillips playfully strummed the beginnings of The Replacements’ ‘Unsatisfied’ before giving up and instead going into the much-more familiar ‘Come Back Down’.

‘Nightingale Song’ was a crowd clap-a-long, prodded on by bassist Dinning keeping the collective time on tambourine. “Enough of love”, Phillips declared, “we’ll go back to boys and ladders”, finishing the new ‘Rare Bird’ and going into ‘Is It For Me’ from 1991’s Fear. A spirited ‘Fall Down’, from the band’s other platinum selling album, 1994’s Dulcinea, closed the main set with an energetic finish.

Setlist with Guitar Changes

The encore began with hit ‘Something’s Always Wrong’ followed by the new ‘I’ll Bet on You’ and ended with ‘Walk on the Ocean’, embellished by Kingham’s mandolin and whose choruses seemed to be sung in a lower key, but was no less entertaining.

Like a comfortable blanket or familiar book, Toad the Wet Sprocket returns to form, like they never left us as the 1990’s ended, less dark in theme now and more assured and relaxed in concert than before. For some in the audience, it was re-capturing the soundtrack of their glory years; for others, a welcome revisiting of the past with new beginnings and songs to make future memories with.

As the crowd filtered out to the outro music of Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’, what’s ahead for Toad the Wet Sprocket is only on the bright side once again.

Toad the Wet Sprocket at Mill City Nights, Minneapolis (11/23/13)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ toadthewetsprocket.com