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Minneapolis: September 30, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on September 30, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Crystal Castles If you're heading out to see Crystal Castles at First Avenue on November 1st, I can tell you that one of the opening bands is called Kontravoid. .....

CRYSTAL CASTLES
at Varsity Theater
Friday, 09/30/16, 7pm ($20/$25)
varsitytheater.org

Cult-like gothy electro duo Crystal Castles is back in Minneapolis, this time touring in support of their new 2016 album Amnesty (I) (Casablanca Records). The last time they were in town, it was November 2012 at First Avenue. The Toronto-based duo (Ethan Kath and Edith Frances) is known for their energetic, often chaotic live shows.

UPDATE: The Guidance (AKA Stefan Pruett) will be opening the show. He is a friend of the band and was personally invited to come tour with Crystal Castles on this 2016 tour.

The Guidance's music is self-described as "Future Grunge" (electronic synth sounds, driving beats, and dance elements representing the aesthetic and energy of '90s grunge - all sequenced digitally instead of live instrumentation).

As with previous Crystal Castles shows, perhaps The Guidance will also help with the rhythm section for their show...

Tour dates:

09/27/16 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City UT
09/28/16 Bluebird Theater Denver CO
09/30/16 Varsity Theater Minneapolis MN
10/01/16 Metro Chicago IL
10/02/16 Majestic Theatre Detroit MI
10/06/16 Warsaw Brooklyn NY
10/07/16 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia PA
10/08/16 Black Cat Washington DC
10/09/16 The Sinclair Cambridge MA
10/11/16 Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre Montreal
10/12/16 The Hoxton Toronto
10/14/16 The Hoxton Toronto

Read More Ryley Walker Touring with Deer Tick will be Ryley Walker with a forthcoming Record Store Day (April 16th) release called Cannots (with Charles Rumback). The record will come in limited edition electric-blue …

RYLEY WALKER
at 7th Street Entry
Friday, 09/30/16, 8pm ($10/$12)
first-avenue.com

Ryley Walker is hitting the road again, touring in support of his new third record Golden Sings That Have Been Sung (Dead Oceans). The Leroy Bach-produced record is described as “a warm Chicago evening, a sonic exploration of Walker’s roots.”

Guests Circuit des Yeux (aka Haley Fohr) and Steve Palmer (no relations to Amanda Palmer).

Tour dates:

09/24 - Montreal, QC @ Rialto Theatre
09/25 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel
09/26 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
09/27 - Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center
09/29 - Madison, WI @ The Frequency
09/30 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
10/01 - Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
10/02 - Omaha, NE @ Reverb
10/04 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
10/05 - Boise, ID @ Neurolox
10/07 - Vancouver, BC @ The Fox Cabaret
10/08 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza
10/09 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
10/11 - Felton, CA @ Don Quiotxe Music Hall
10/12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
10/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
10/14 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
10/15 - Joshua Tree, CA @ Desert Daze Festival
10/16 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
10/17 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
10/19 - Denton, TX @ Dan's Silverleaf
10/20 - Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
10/22 - Tallahasee, FL @ Wolf Den
10/24 - Athens, GA @ Calendonia Lounge
10/25 - Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight
10/26 - Washington, DC @ DC9
10/27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
10/28 - Hudson, NY @ The Half Moon
10/29 - Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall
10/30 - Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre
11/01 - Boston, MA @ Cafe 939
11/02 - New Haven, CT @ BAR
11/03 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Market Hotel

Read More Liquid Music The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music Series, now in its third season, offers performances by artists who bend the distinctions between classical music and other genres, and take their music in new and unique ..... Colin Stetson Saxophonist Colin Stetson recently teamed up with violinist Sarah Neufeld a collaboration album Never were the way she was (Constellation Records) and a North American tour in June. ... Sarah Neufeld Saxophonist Colin Stetson recently teamed up with violinist Sarah Neufeld a collaboration album Never were the way she was (Constellation Records) and a North American tour in June. ...

COLIN STETSON
at Walker Art Center
Friday, 09/30/16, 7pm ($25)
walkerart.org

Speaking of Walker... Join Colin Stetson for his special “Reimagination of Henryk Gorecki’s Iconic Symphony No.3” show at the Walker Art Center, as part of the unique Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music series.

Stetson (along with Sarah Neufeld) recently appeared at the Turf Club in August 2016.

Details from the Walker:

Virtuosic composer/saxophonist Colin Stetson reimagines Henryk Górecki's iconic Symphony No. 3 (best known from the 1992 Nonesuch Symphony of Sorrowful Songs recording), a heartbreaking modern masterpiece with an unexpected and expansive sonic palate. Stetson draws on a uniquely constructed all-star ensemble that employs electric guitars, synthesizers, drums, and woodwinds to create transformative extensions to the emotional core of the piece. Stetson's 12-member ensemble features some of the most in-demand musicians in the country: Colin Stetson (alto/bass saxophones, contrabass clarinet), Shahzad Ismaily (synth, guitar), Megan Stetson (mezzo-soprano voice), Matt Bauder (tenor/baritone saxophones, clarinet), Dan Bennett (tenor/baritone saxophones, clarinet), Sarah Neufeld (violin), Rebecca Foon (cello), Gyda Valtysdottir (cello), Ryan Ferreira (guitar), Grey MacMurray (guitar), Justin Walter (electronic valve instrument, keyboards), and Greg Fox (drums). The ensemble performs in the William and Nadine McGuire Theater on Friday, September 30, 8 pm. The performance is copresented by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series.

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

Minneapolis: May 14, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on May 14, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More The Brian Jonestown Massacre The Brian Jonestown Massacre we nearly at the top of my list of bands for the weekend and quite a fitting choice to end the Friday evening line-up. .… Magic Castles I actually thought Magic Castles was very good. It's certainly the only band the featured a flutist on an explosive jam at their set closer. … …

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
at First Avenue
Saturday, 05/14/16, 8pm ($20)
first-avenue.com

American psychedelic rock band The Brian Jonestown Massacre was named after the original band leader of The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones, and the Jonestown mass murder of over 900 people in a remote religious commune. Both topics were subjects of death and conspiracies.

Perhaps The Brian Jonestown Massacre was best known for appearing in the film Dig! with their rival The Dandy Warhols.

We caught the band in Playground Weekender 2010 and wrote, “The Brian Jonestown Massacre we nearly at the top of my list of bands for the weekend and quite a fitting choice to end the Friday evening line-up. Not too raucous for those of us who were looking forward to a nice nap (*ahem*), but by no means boring. Psychedelic-shoe gaze rock, with tambourine included. Sure many of their songs sounded quite alike to me, but the upside is that even though they sounded quite similar, they were all equally as good. The set even saw a guest appearance from Aimee Nash from The Black Ryder.”

Opening up the MN show will be locals Magic Castles, who we caught in 2013 and loved them: “I actually thought Magic Castles was very good. It's certainly the only band the featured a flutist on an explosive jam at their set closer.”

US tour dates:

5th May 2016 US Washington DC- 9:30 Club
6th May 2016 US Philadelphia PA- Union Transfer
7th May 2016 US Boston MA- Paradise Rock Club
9th May 2016 US New York NY- Webster Hall
10th May 2016 CA Montreal Canada- Le Tulipe
12th May 2016 CA Toronto Canada- Danforth Music Hall
13th May 2016 US Chicago IL- The Metro
14th May 2016 US Minneapolis MN- First Avenue
15th May 2016 US Omaha NE- The Waiting Room
17th May 2016 US Denver CO- Bluebird Theatre
18th May 2016 US Salt Lake City UT- The Depot
19th May 2016 US Missoula MT- Top Hat Lounge
20th May 2016 CA Edmonton Canada- The Starlite Room
21st May 2016 CA Calgary Canada- Marquee Beer
23nd May 2016 CA Vancouver Canada- Commodore Ballroom
24th May 2016 US Seattle WA- Neumo’s
25th May 2016 US Portland OR- Wonder Ballroom
27th May 2016 US San Francisco CA- The Independent
28th May 2016 US San Francisco CA- The Independent
29th May 2016 US Los Angeles CA- Teregram Ballroom
30th May 2016 US Los Angeles CA- Teregram Ballroom
31st May 2016 US Los Angeles CA- Teragram Ballroom
1st June 2016 US Phoenix AZ- Crescent Ballroom
2nd June 2016 US San Diego CA- Belly Up

Photo by Jon Beasley / Isabelle Albuquerque Read More Liquid Music The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music Series, now in its third season, offers performances by artists who bend the distinctions between classical music and other genres, and take their music in new and unique ..... Devendra Banhart Back in 2004, Acid-folk god Devendra Banhart compiled a collection of folk music for some magazine. Much like Nostradamus before him, he managed to predict some of the leading lights of modern folk music … Lucky Dragons At first, I thought their name was Luck Dragon (a reference to The Neverending Story), but I guess they're just Lucky Dragons. Once again, they're based out of Brooklyn … Jessica Pratt California songbird Jessica Pratt will be in town at the Cedar Cultural Center next Tuesday, in support of her latest Drag City album On Your Own Love Again. ... Helado Negro Helado Negro's "Island Universe Story" show at the Ordway Concert Hall for March 21st, 2015, in St Paul. We've already mentioned the show earlier in January, so just a reminder ... Rodrigo Amarante Opening up the show will be Los Angeles, by the way of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Amarante (who was previously in town two weeks ago at Bryant Lake Bowl ...

DEVENDRA BANHART & FRIENDS
at Walker Art Center
Friday, 05/13/16, 8pm ($28)
Saturday, 05/14/16, 8pm ($28)
walkerart.org

We’re big fans of Liquid Music, this weekend they’re bringing in Devendra Banhart for his “Wind Grove Mind Alone” shows.

For the first night (Friday, May 13th): Lucky Dragons, Jessica Pratt, Helado Negro (who previously also headlined his own Liquid Music show), and William Basinski.

For the second night (Saturday, May 14th): Rodrigo Amarante, Michael Gira, and Harold Budd.

Additional details below:

Join us for a two-evening exploration of the musical worlds of singer/songwriter/painter Devendra Banhart. The acid-folk/indie-rock leader is revered for his idiosyncratic career of defying expectations and inspiring musical trends. The program title is borrowed from Dom Sylvester Houédard’s 1974 poem “Wind Grove Mind Alone.”

Copresented with the SPCO’s Liquid Music Series.

Program A: Friday, May 13
Banhart performs a solo set of songs, followed with music by interactive experimenters Lucky Dragons; impressionistic folk-pop from Jessica Pratt, electronic music producer/singer Helado Negro; and sound artist/composer William Basinski.

Program B: Saturday, May 14
Banhart’s full touring band opens, followed by Brazilian singer-songwriter Rodrigo Amarante; LA art-pop duo Hecuba; and iconic ambient/minimal music pioneer Harold Budd. Save with a Ticket Package

Save when you see both evenings of Devendra Banhart & Friends: $50 ($40 Walker members). Purchase a ticket package online, visit the Walker box office, or call 612.375.7600.

About Liquid Music Liquid Music is a concert series presented by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra that expands the world of classical music through innovative new projects, boundary defying artists, and unique presentation formats. Liquid Music performances invite adventurous audiences of all ages to discover the new and the fascinating among the colorful landscape of classical music today.

Read More English Beat Here's a tour teamup that can't be beat: English Beat with The Paul Collins Beat tour! The tagteam ends at the Mill Cit Nights in Minneapolis, but the English Beat continues on their tour in Missouri. .....

THE ENGLISH BEAT
at Dakota Jazz Club
Friday, 05/13/16, 7:30pm ($40-$45)
Saturday, 05/14/16, 7:30pm ($40-$45)
dakotacooks.com

Although they are known as The English Beat in the USA market and The British Beat in Australia... they’ll always be known as The Beat to fans of two tone ska fans.

The story behind the US name change is because the US already had and established powerpop band The Beat (later known as The Paul Collins Beat). Collins and the UK Beat eventually made-up and actually went on tour together in 2012.

The Beat will be doing a two night residency at the Dakota Jazz Club this Friday and Saturday.

Tour dates:

05/05/16 Scituate, MA The River Club
05/06/16 New York, NY City Winery NYC
05/07/16 Albany, NY Swyer Theatre
05/10/16 Evanston, IL SPACE
05/11/16 Evanston, IL SPACE
05/12/16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
05/13/16 Minneapolis, MN Dakota Jazz
05/14/16 Minneapolis, MN Dakota Jazz
05/27/16 Santa Cruz, CA Moe's Alley
05/28/16 Santa Cruz, CA Moe's Alley
06/03/16 Agoura Hills, CA The Canyon
06/11/16 KKLZ Junefest
06/18/16 Apple Valley, MN Minnesota Zoo
06/19/16 Boulevardia
06/22/16 Warrendale, PA Jergels Rhythm Grille
06/23/16 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Soundstage
06/25/16 Boston, MA Royale Nightclub Boston
07/01/16 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
07/02/16 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre
07/05/16 Kent, OH The Kent Stage
07/09/16 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall
07/23/16 Portland, OR Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre
07/24/16 Seattle, WA Woodland Park Zoo
07/31/16 OC Fair
08/06/16 Murphys, CA Ironstone Amphitheatre
08/14/16 San Diego, CA Embarcadero Marina Park

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

Kid Koala: Nufonia Must Fall at the McGuire Theater, Minneapolis (02 April 2016)

Credits Music: Kid Koala Director: K.K. Barrett Producer: Ryhna Thompson Set Designer: Benjamin Gerlis Puppet Designers: Clea Minaker, Patrick Martel, Felix Boisvert, Karina Bleau Director of Photography/Camera Operator: AJ Korkidakis String Arrangements/Music Director/Sound Engineer: Vid Cousins Puppeteers: Patrick Martel, Tyson Houseman, Veronica Barron Music Performers: Kid Koala, The Cecilia String Quartet Video Editor: Ben Knight Technical Director/Stage Manager: Olivier Gaudet-Savard Tour Manager: Patrick Hamou Additional Set Designer: Corinne Merrell Assistant Set Designers: Jeremy Gordoneer, Marie-Pier Fortier Modelmakers: Maude-Emelie Bourque, Dan Buller, Clara Gonzalez, Kyle Purves Puppet Technical Designer: Patrick Marrtel Assistant Puppet Builders: Isabelle Chretien, Jesse Orr, Christine Plouffe, Veronica Poirier Additional Production: Patricia Boushel, Colin Mackenzie, Alexandre Gagnon, Pamela Fillion Read More Kid Koala This is a book, completely written and drawn (with accompanying soundtrack) by Kid Koala, called "Nufonia Must Fall". It's a love story between a lonely office girl and an out-of-work robot. … Liquid Music The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music Series, now in its third season, offers performances by artists who bend the distinctions between classical music and other genres, and take their music in new and unique .....

When I first bought the graphic novel/soundtrack of Kid Koala’s Nufonia Must Fall in 2003, I never imagined it as a live puppet show. Having just experienced the wonderful show at the sold-out McGuire Theater (at the Walker Art Center) on Saturday night, this was always what Eric San (Kid Koala) had always envisioned his story to be seen and heard. The graphic novel was, perhaps, just the storyboard to the actual live film we just saw at the Walker Art Center.

The Nufonia Must Fall show is part of the Walker Art Center and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music series (now in the middle of its fourth season), with the idea of providing these incredible shows in very unique presentation formats.

Before Nufonia Must Fall started, Koala warmed up the crowd by doing what he does best: scratching two records to what he called “Canadian Bingo”. Unfortunately, the Bingo game was cut short when, after five images were displayed, we had at least three winners! So ended the world’s fastest Bingo game (under a minute).

As for Nufonia Must Fall, this is simply one of the most magical and adorable show you’ll ever see. Everything you see on the giant screen, directed by K.K. Barrett (with only a few pre-recorded footage) was created live for our show. This included the puppetry, special effects, lighting, and, of course, the live orchestra soundtrack. You can’t help but sometime glancing down at the puppeteers and spoiling yourself as you see how it’s done or by the nature of the layout and characters, what is coming up next.

Malorie and T4 robot

What made our shows special is that the art directors and designers made some special additions to their sets like adding very specific Minneapolis things: the Target flag, the Surly Brewing Co. sign, the Purple Rain movie, the Pizza Lucé reference, etc. Every time the audience saw one of these Easter eggs, they laughed and cheered. Clearly, each Nufonia Must Fall show must be unique to the cities they perform in.

The whole story never felt long or dragged on, and before you knew it, the camera panned over the “The End” sign over the airport landing strip. A thunderous standing ovation broke out and continued well over the credits and after the performers took their bows.

After the show, the audience was invited to come take a closer look at the puppets and sets. They slowly lined up and generally really curious about the magical production.

Of course, with the much-needed room on stage for the 10 (or more) mini-sets and filming rigs, these Nufonia Must Fall shows strictly limited to certain type of venues. If they are playing in your area, make the effort to check out the show, it’ll be worth it.

04/08 OCCC Visual - Oklahoma City, OK
04/22 Hult Center, Eugene, OR
04/28 Further Future Music Festival Las Vegas, NV

Kid Koala: Nufonia Must Fall at the William and Nadine McGuire Theater, Minneapolis (02 April 2016)

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

Rocktober: October 14, 2015

Read More Bring Me The Horizon Bring Me The Horizon have the #1 selling album this week in the U.S. with their fifth studio release That’s The Spirit (Columbia Records). The album tops several U.S. charts, including …

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on October 14, 2015.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

BRING ME THE HORIZON
at Myth Event Center
Wednesday, 10/14/2015, 6:30pm ($30)
mythlive.com

With the #1 selling album in the last week of September in the US for their fifth studio release That's the Spirit (Columbia Records), Bring Me The Horizon successfully sold out the first week of October of their tour. The five-piece band (singer Oli Sykes, bassist Matt Kean, guitarist Lee Malia, keyboard player/programmer Jordan Fish, and drummer Matthew Nicholls) will be stopping by the Myth Event Center in Maplewood next Wednesday, October 14.

Joining them on the road will be Issues and Pvris (Paris, not Puris).

Bring Me The Horizon On Tour:

10/09 – Montreal, QC – Métropolis *
10/10 – Monster Energy Rock Allegiance 2015
10/12 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant *
10/13 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom *
10/14 – St. Paul, MN – Myth Event Center *
10/16 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom *
10/17 – Houston, TX – KTBZ Buzzfest 2015
10/18 – Austin, TX – Austin Music Hall *
10/19 – Wichita, KS – The Cotillion *
10/20 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium *
10/22 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheater *
10/24 – Monster Energy Aftershock 2015
10/25 – San Bernardino, CA – Knotfest 2015

* w/ Issues, Pvris

Read More Wye Oak Wye Oak will be returning in 2014 with a brand new yet-untitled album from Merge Records, the follow-up to their 2011's Civilian. Singer Jenn Wasner talked to Spin Magazine about the new album…

WYE OAK
at Aria
Wednesday, 10/14/2015, 7:30pm ($25)
thespco.org

We're pretty excited about the upcoming Liquid Music series, presented by SPCO and The Walker Art Center; and sponsored by First & First. They're not the typical "rock" shows we normally attend, and that's a great thing.

This upcoming show at the Aria is called Spiritual America, a new set of electro-acoustic art songs exploring secular spirituality in America composed by William Brittelle and featuring indie rock duo Wye Oak. Selections of Wye Oak's song will be presented in a new chamber arrangements by Brittelle and revered violinist/composer Michi Wiancko. This should be a very unique re-imagining of Wye Oak's music.

As you know, we're big fans of Wye Oak, having caught the band 2009 and following their appearance to the Fine Line in 2014. Wye Oak's latest is Shriek (Merge Records).

Read More DIIV Next up were Brooklyn-based indie charmers, DIIV (pronounced “dive”). The name might not ring a bell as they’ve just recently changed it (like, today).…

DIIV
at Turf Club
Wednesday, 10/14/2015, 7:30pm ($15)
turfclub.net

The first time we saw DIIV, they were called DIVE (this was in 2012). Literally overnight they had changed their name due to dispute with another band using the 'Dive' moniker.

It is 2015 now, and DIIV is back with their highly anticipated sophomore album Is The Is Are (Captured Tracks). While the album is not available yet, he's teasing us with a new track called "Dopamine", which you can check out on Soundcloud.

One of the band listed to open will be No Joy, who is out on tour in support of their third album More Faith (Mexican Summer).

Also on the bill is Sunflower Bean, who has a new 7" vinyl ("I Hear Voices") on Fat Possum. The band is proud to be recently dubbed one of Rolling Stone's "10 Artists You Need To Know."

DIIV tour dates:

10/10 Boston, MA @ Sinclair ^
10/11 Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall ^
10/12 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall ^
10/13 Madison, WI @ Majestic ^
10/14 St Paul, MN @ Turf Club ^
10/16 Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre ^
10/17 Salt Lake CIty, UT @ Urban Lounge ^
10/18 Boise, ID @ Neurolux ^
10/19 Seattle, WA @ Neumos ^
10/20 Vancouver, BC @ Fortune ^
10/22 San Francisco, CA @ Filmore ^
10/24 Los Angeles, CA @ Roxy ^
10/25 Santa Ana, CA @ Beach Goth Festival !
10/27 San Diego, CA @ Casbah ^
10/28 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ^
10/30 Dallas, TX @ Trees ^
10/31 Austin, TX @ Mohawk ^
11/01 Houston, TX @ Numbers ^
11/03 Nashville, TN @ Exit In ^
11/04 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl ^
11/05 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle ^
11/06 Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry ^
11/07 Washington, DC @ Black Cat ^
11/08 New York, NY @ Webster Hall ^
11/14 Santiago, CL @ Primavera Fauna +
11/19 Buenos Aires, AR @ Club Araoz
11/21-22 Mexico City, MX @ Corona Capital $

^ = w/ No Joy, Sunflower Bean
! = w/ Grimes, Die Antwoord, Camera Obscura and more
+ = w/ Mac Demarco, Empire of the Sun, RHYE
$ = w/ Calvin Harris, Sleater-Kinney, Title Fight and more

Read More Chance The Rapper Chicago's Chance The Rapper with his highly anticipated self released mixtape 'Acid Rap'. The 13 track project features guest appearances by Twista, Childish Gambino, Action Bronson, Ab-Soul .…

VARIOUS ARTISTS
at Various Venues
Wednesday, 10/14/2015
news.weheartmusic.com

As usual: too many shows in Rocktober!

Here are some additional shows taking place on this date:

Hiatus Kaiyote will be rocking/rapping/dancing it out at the Fine Line Music Café next Wednesday, in support of their latest Choose Your Weapon (Flying Buddha/Sony Music Masterworks). They are touring until they meet up (and joining) on the 'Family Matters Tour', featuring Chance the Rapper. We're big fans of Australians, so this should be a great show (7:30pm/$16).

Igudesman & Joo (duo Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo) is doing an early and evening show at the Dakota Jazz Club. The show is part classical music, part comedy, and all entertaining (7pm/$40;9pm/$30).

Pedrito Martinez Group will be at The Ordway in St Paul. I do not believe there will be any music involved, as the show is listed as "The Pedrito Martinez Group Lecture - Demonstration"... They are normally an Afro Cuban band from New York (6pm/$7).

The Underachievers is headlining the "Forevermore Express Tour" at First Avenue. Show up early to catch various guests, including Pouya, Yung Simmie, Fat Nick, Kirk Knight, and Bodega Bamz (6pm/$18).

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

Liquid Music, feat. Victoire, Noveller, and Glasser at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (09 May 2015)

Glasser photo credit: Jonathan Turner About Liquid Music Liquid Music is a concert series presented by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra that expands the world of classical music through innovative new projects, boundary-defying artists, and unique presentation formats. Liquid Music performances invite adventurous audiences of all ages to discover the new and the fascinating in the colorful landscape of classical music today. Read More Liquid Music The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music Series, now in its third season, offers performances by artists who bend the distinctions between classical music and other genres, and take their music in new and unique .....

On May 9th the final concert in this season’s Liquid Music series was held at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Performing were Noveller, Victoire, and Glasser.

Noveller performed first on electric guitar, and played a 35 minute set. She was accompanied by Victoire on the opening song, and played solo after that. Though solo, it was hardly the sound of a single guitar. Noveller used and created loops to build complex multi-layered songs. Her music was accompanied by images, mostly abstract, projected on a screen at the back of the stage.

Victoire followed with another 35 minute set, playing the compositions of one of their members, Missy Mizzoli, from their two albums. Their ensemble of six included the violin, clarinet, keyboards and electronics, a double bass, and a vocalist. Noveller joined them on electric guitar for one song. Their music was ethereal, at times operatic. They too, were accompanied by projected images, adding to the mood created by their music.

The last artist, Glasser performed solo for the first 25 minutes of her set, and then accompanied by Victoire for the last 15 minutes. Solo, her songs were accompanied by a variety of recorded music. She had an animated, sensual presentation, using her arms and body to act out many of the sounds of the accompanying recordings, and to embellish the mood of her songs.

The music of the three artists really represents three different genres. Noveller’s music can be seen as avant-garde experimental rock, her songs sometimes minimalist, sometimes complex. Victoire’s music, could be termed avant-garde as well, but is rooted in classical, rather than rock music. Vocals are featured in their music, whereas Noveller’s is strictly instrumental, and a single instrument at that. Glasser’s music is the most vocally centered of all. Hard to categorize, it features her ethereal, but often emotionally expressive, vocals over sparse electronic rhythms.

Despite their differences they do have quite a bit in common, their collaborations during the performance making that clear. They are of course all women, and they are each exploring music that pushes against accepted categories, and blurs distinctions between genres. For the audience it was an opportunity to face challenges to their own expectations about music. And probably for most, the opportunity to encounter musical directions they had not seen in performance.

robert ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Tonight: Noveller / Glasser / Victoire at the Walker Art Center

Liquid Music: Noveller Photo: Alex Marks Read More Liquid Music The acclaimed Liquid Music Series from Saint Paul’s Chamber Orchestra continues its second season, bound and determined to “expand the world of classical music through innovative new projects … …

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Liquid Music Series, now in its third season, offers performances by artists who bend the distinctions between classical music and other genres, and take their music in new and unique directions. On Saturday, May 9^th, the final performance of the season will take place at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. There will be performances by three artists, all women: Composer/electric guitarist Noveller, synthpop chanteuse Glasser, and new classical chamber ensemble Victoire.

Noveller is the solo project of the Austin, Texas born and raised, and now Brooklyn-based guitarist, Sarah Lipstate. As Noveller, she has released 7 full-length albums, the first in 2009, and most recently, Fantastic Planet in 2015.

Glasser is the electronic project of the Los Angeles vocalist, Cameron Mesirow. She has released two full-length albums, and recently relocated to New York. Her more recent album, Interiors released in 2013 was inspired by that move.

The five woman New York-based group Victoire performs the compositions of composer Missy Mazzoli. They have released two albums, Cathedral City in 2010, followed by Vespers for a New Dark Age in 2015. The latter album is a collaboration with the percussionist Glen Kotche of the band Wilco.

The Noveller / Glasser / Victoire show takes place tonight at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Tickets are $22 ($18 Walker members) and are available at walkerart.org/tickets or by calling 612.375.7600.

robert ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Minneapolis: November 15, 2014

Here are some shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul on Saturday, November 15, 2014.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More New Order New Order were one of those bands that broke up long before I got into music, so my introduction to their music was through their Best Of album. I liked them enough to track down their previous releases, up until Republic. …

PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT
at Fine Line Music Cafe
Saturday 11/15/14, 8pm
$25: finelinemusic.com

New Order fans rejoice, Peter Hook & The Light will be performing New Order's third and fourth albums, Low-Life and Brotherhood for the first time in the United States and Canada across the first three weeks of November 2014. That's not all, Hook will also be playing Joy Division material as an opening set, which means there will be no music opening band

DJ Jake Rudh set to DJ some 80s British music.

Tour Dates:

11/04/14 Mohawk, Austin, TX
11/06/14 Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
11/07/14 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
11/08/14 Royale, Boston, MA
11/10/14 Club Soda, Montreal, QC
11/11/14 Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON
11/13/14 Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI
11/14/14 Metro, Chicago, IL
11/15/14 Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
11/17/14 Venue, Vancouver, BC
11/18/14 Nuemos, Seattle, WA
11/20/14 Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR
11/21/14 Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA
11/22/14 Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
11/24/14 Pomona, CA - Glasshouse
11/25/14 Los Angeles - Roxy
11/26/14 San Diego, CA - House of Blues
11/28/14 Honolulu, HI - The Republik

Read More Royal Canoe There is a complexity to their music, such as in the album’s title track or the single, ‘Bathtubs’ that still comes off as easy and palatable to the ear, despite the “everything including …

ROYAL CANOE
at 7th Street Entry
Saturday 11/15/14, 8pm
$10: first-avenue.com

Last winter Royal Canoe teamed up with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's New Music Festival and Pop Nuit to play selections from Beck's Song Reader project (an album originally released by Beck only on sheet music). The band took ten songs from the performance and made it their own, performing them live at the Pantages Theatre in Winnipeg.

The Canadian band are currently on a US Fall 2014 tour, and their final stop will be at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis this November 15th.

Local Verskotzi (a trio named after their singer/guitarist Joey Verskotzi) will open the show, possibly showcasing songs from their Lemon Heart album, which came out last year.

Four-piece electronic indie rock band Beasthead are also listed on the bill.

Tour dates:

11.05 || New York , NY – Stage 48
11.06 || Burlington, VT – Higher Ground %
11.07 || Burlington, VT – Higher Ground %
11.09 || Boston, MA – Paradise %
11.11 || Philadelphia, PA – The Boot and Saddle
11.13 || Columbus, OH – Rumba Cafe
11.14 || Chicago, IL – The Beat Kitchen
11.15 || Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry

Read More Liquid Music The acclaimed Liquid Music Series from Saint Paul’s Chamber Orchestra continues its second season, bound and determined to “expand the world of classical music through innovative new projects … …

NIL FRAHM + DAWN OF MIDI
at Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Saturday 11/15/14, 7pm/10:30pm
$15 (Sold Out)/$10: amsterdambarandhall.com

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music series and Walker Art Center are presenting this upcoming show for Berlin-based composer/keyboardist Nils Frahm and Brooklyn-based acoustic ensemble Dawn of Midi as part of their Liquid Music Series (now in its third season).

We've seen some Liquid Music shows before and raved about their ability the world of classical music to a much broader audience, usually through very unique presentations.

Since the original show sold out, Dawn of Midi will agreed to perform an encore solo set at 10:30pm.

Details of the event:

Amsterdam Bar and Hall
6 W 6th St.
Saint Paul, MN 55102

$15 for the 7:00pm concert (Sold Out)
$10 for the 10:30pm Dawn of Midi solo set

Read More Leif Vollebekk Ann Powers of NPR Music included Leif Vollebekk's North Americana the album on her "Under-The-Radar Albums Preview of 2014" list and said "Vollebekk also …

BARR BROTHERS w/ Leif Vollebekk
at Cedar Cultural Center
Saturday 11/15/14, 7pm
$12: thecedar.org

The first time I heard about this Montreal quartet The Barr Brothers, they were on their way to Minneapolis to play Bryant Lake Bowl Theatre on November 15, 2011, in support of their self-titled debut album. A few years later, and now the Americana band have upgraded to the Cedar Cultural Center and they will be back November 15, 2014, in support of their sophomore album Sleeping Operator, which came out last month on Secret City Records.

Opener Leif Vollebekk will be playing some tracks from his debut album North Americana, out now on Missing Piece Records.

Tour dates:

11/11/14 Buffalo, NY Ninth Ward At Babeville
11/12/14 Pittsburgh, PA Andy Warhol Museum
11/13/14 Columbus, OH Woodlands Tavern
11/14/14 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
11/15/14 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
11/18/14 Washington, DC Sixth & I Historic
11/19/14 Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
11/21/14 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
11/22/14 Cambridge, MA The Sinclair
11/28/14 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle

Read More G-Eazy Bay Area rapper G-Eazy announced his highly anticipated return to the road with the "From The Bay To The Universe Tour."The Oakland emcee, who was recently named …

G-EAZY
at First Avenue
Saturday 11/15/14, 6pm
$24 (Sold Out): first-avenue.com

Oakland-based G-Eazy is on a very successful "From The Bay To The Universe Tour", bringing E-40, IAMSU! and Jay Ant, to Minneapolis on Saturday, November 15th.

The bay area emcee was recently named one of USA Today's hottest college acts, as well as MTV's "Artist to Watch", G-Eazy's album These Things Happen sold over 100,000 copies after debuting on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and Top Rap Albums Charts at #1. G-Eazy achieved all this without a radio single, without famous rapper endorsements... which is unbelievable if you think about it. It tells us that he's selling music based on his talent and social media reach.

Tour dates:

11/03/14 Tampa, FL The Ritz Ybor #
11/04/14 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution #
11/05/14 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live #
11/06/14 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade #
11/07/14 Charlotte, NC Amos' Southend #
11/08/14 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live #
11/09/14 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero #
11/11/14 Pittsburgh, PA Xtaza Nightclub *#
11/12/14 Cleveland, OH House of Blues *#
11/13/14 Detroit, MI The Majestic Theatre *#
11/14/14 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre *#
11/15/14 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue *#
11/16/14 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue *#
11/18/14 Milwaukee, WI The Eagles Hall *#
11/19/14 Des Moines, IA 7 Flags *#
11/20/14 Lawrence, KS Granada Theatre *#
11/21/14 Denver, CO 1stBank Center #
11/22/14 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex *
11/23/14 Boise, ID Revolution Center *
11/24/14 Seattle, WA Showbox SODO *
11/25/14 Portland, OR Roseland Theater *
11/26/14 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
11/28/14 San Diego, CA Soma *

Jay Ant will appear on all tour dates
* E-40
# IAMSU!

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

Olga Bell: Origin/Outcome at Walker Art Center (preview)

Olga Bell Liquid Music Schedule 02/14/14-05/11/14 S/S/S 03/21/14 Timo Andres: Work Songs 03/22/14 Timo Andres: Work Songs 05/06/14 Daniel Bjarnas and Nadia Sirota 06/03/14 Ethel: Documerica Read More Olga Bell Half-way through BELL’s set Kate admitted that the smiley singer’s stage persona was sort of unsettling (because she seemed happy and to be enjoying herself), a sad statement on today’s … Dirty Projectors Dirty Projectors' sixth album, Swing Lo Magellan, will be out next week, July 10th. It is currently streaming on NY Times. The band's been around since 2002 and has since lost 16 band members… Deradoorian Bassist, singer, and sometime keyboarder, Angel Deradoorian, simply known as Deradoorian, from the New York-based band, Dirty Projectors, released her debut EP …

Maybe ask your Valentine this year if they want to get “Liquid”..!

The acclaimed Liquid Music Series from Saint Paul’s Chamber Orchestra continues its second season, bound and determined to “expand the world of classical music through innovative new projects, boundary-defying artists, and unique presentation formats”.

And that is exactly what we’ve witnessed, the handful of times W♥M has been on hand to witness what is no doubt the most curiously eclectic and always-interesting music series in the Upper Midwest.

This Thursday welcomes Moscow-born, Brooklyn-based composer/performer Olga Bell (best known for her work with Dirty Projectors) as she world premieres Krai, a nine-movement song cycle described as a sonic love letter to her Russian homeland; perfect and timely with the Sochi games in progress and Valentine’s holiday approaching.

The two-set evening will begin with an intimate collaborative set by Bell and special guest vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Angel Deradoorian, to be followed by Krai.

Expect echoes of traditional folk music, alongside modern electronica with accompanying projections by video artist Alejandro Crawford, who has worked with MGMT. “Origin/Outcome is a celebration of the hot-blooded human vernacular—the music to which we dance, eat, grieve, and revel.” ....sounds like a sweetheart of a show.

Co-presented by Walker Art Center, the SPCO’s Liquid Music series, and the American Composers Forum.

Olga Bell: Origin/Outcome at Walker Art Center
Date February 13, 2014
Time 8 pm
Place McGuire Theater
Price $20 ($18 Walker members)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ bellinspace.tumblr.com

Hilary Hahn and Hauschka - Liquid Music series at Aria, Minneapolis (12 Jan 2014) concert review

Hilary Hahn & Hauschka at Aria Poster Minneapolis (01/12/14) Liquid Music Schedule 02/13/14 Olga Bell: Origin/Outcome 02/14/14-05/11/14 Sisyphus 03/21/14-03/22/14 Timo Andres: Work Songs 05/06/14 Daniel Bjarnason and Nadia Sirota 06/03/14 Ethel: Documerica Read More Liquid Music With the current cold snap, maybe the series should be re-titled “Frozen Music”… The advent of a chilly new year puts us at the midway point of this second season of Liquid Music …

This wasn’t your grandmother’s classical music.

The second season of the very successful Liquid Music series continued this past weekend with a compelling and sold-out performance from American violin virtuoso Hilary Hahn and German “prepared pianist” Hauschka (aka Volker Bertelmann) at Aria (the former Jeune Lune Theater) in Minneapolis, as co-presented by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Schubert Club’s Mix.

The series aims to "expand the world of classical music through innovative new projects, boundary-defying artists, and unique presentation formats" and that was certainly the case with this improvisational duo that comes separately from very different backgrounds, but meets in the middle with a collective sound that is urgent, flowing, and alive in the ether with a newborn freshness.

Hahn & Hauschka

The 80 min. performance was only inspired by their collaborative 2012 album Silfra (Universal/Deutsche Grammophon) rather than a live interpretation of. Instead, most of the evening bore the fruit of new and spontaneous improvisations which seemed to excite and keep on-edge the two performers creating the work, as much as the audience witnessing it all.

Hilary Hahn

Hahn, a two-time Grammy-winning precise protégé who began playing violin via the Suzuki method at age 3, is no stranger to boundary-pushing and collaboration, working in 2005 with singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau, who in turn, introduced her to Hauschka.

The album, Silfra was recorded in Iceland in 10 days, after more than two years of preparation and produced by Valgeir Sigurðsson, who has worked with Bjork, Sigur Ros, and Tim Hecker, among others.

Hauschka

Hauschka inexplicably began his musical career in a hip-hop duo with his cousin, continuously exploring sounds and music, and after becoming frustrated, started putting random objects into and between piano strings, hammers, and dampers, and manipulating that with digital technology, to create something bigger.

Currently touring separately, both met in Minneapolis for this rare live collaborative experiment, akin to two artists painting on the same canvas or each working with divergent ephemera to create something new. Results, as with any improvisation were slightly mixed, yet always interesting to witness and felt overall as very “in-the-moment”.

"found objects"

A slightly unsettling point came just over halfway through, with Hauschka dis-assembling and discarding most of the “found objects” inside his piano used to create the manipulated sound; bottle caps, wooden sticks, string, and wadded tape were strewn about the stage after their use was done, as Hahn gently had bow to string, as a soundtrack.

The rest of the performance had Hauschka chiefly relying on his core skills on the Steinway (which were no less impressive), with both still displaying a jaggedness and immediacy to the remainder of their set. In the end, the live experiment was much more satisfying than not, and a treat to see these two seemingly so different musicians, come together on one stage to create something so unique, right before our eyes.

The Liquid Music series continues next with Olga Bell and friends, Thursday Feb. 13th at the Walker Art Center.

Hilary Hahn and Hauschka at Aria, Minneapolis (12 Jan 2014)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ hilaryhahn.com ♥ hauschka-net.de

Tomorrow: Liquid Music presents Hilary Hahn and Hauschka: Silfra

Hauschka and Hilary Hahn photo credit: thespco.org Details Liquid Music presents: Hilary Hahn and Hauschka: Silfra January 12, 2014 – 7:00 PM at Aria in the Warehouse District in Downtown Minneapolis The event is currently sold out, though some standing room tickets will be available for $15 at the door. Read More Hilary Hahn & Hauschka The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music series and Schubert Club Mix is presenting the upcoming Hilary Hahn & Hauschka show at Aria (in the Warehouse District …

With the current cold snap, maybe the series should be re-titled “Frozen Music”…

The advent of a chilly new year puts us at the midway point of this second season of Liquid Music, a concert series presented by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra that "expands the world of classical music through innovative new projects, boundary-defying artists, and unique presentation formats."

This weekend brings American violinist Hilary Hahn and Volker Bertelmann, the German master of prepared-piano known as Hauschka, to Minneapolis to perform selections from their collaborative effort, Silfra (released in 2012 by Universal / Deutsche Grammophone).

The duo, introduced to each other by folk musician Tom Brosseau, concocted their album of improvisations in Iceland (speaking of cold places) and is marked by a unique exploration of how to co-exist in each other’s soundspace.

Both have previously expanded the boundaries of their own sound; Hahn, the protégé violinist has previously worked with Josh Ritter and …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, and Hauschka has previously worked with Calexico and múm.

Together, their performance promises a lively, yet precise look into their shared world.

john ♥ weheartmusic.com