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Super Bowl Live Day 4: Sheila E., Morris Day and The Time, The Revolution at Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis (29 Jan 2018)

Read More The Revolution Prince was a big deal. When he died unexpectedly, we were shocked and we talked about it for weeks... and we speculated that The Revolution will reunite. And they have! … Super Bowl With the teams now decided (New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles) and plans finalized with the game less than two weeks away, Super Bowl LII is coming to Minneapolis at US Bank Stadium …

Night Four of Super Bowl Live, the free concert series on Nicollet Mall in anticipation of Sunday’s Super Bowl LII game…

Monday, January 29, 2018
SALUTE TO PRINCE

4:00 pm DJ Dudley D

8:00 pm Sheila E.

8:30 p.m. Morris Day and the Time

9:15 p.m. The Revolution

SUPER BOWL LIVE Schedule

	Tuesday, January 30, 2018 4:00 pm Minnesota Special Olympics Polar Plunge 4:00 pm DJ Matty Matt and MC Tonez 5:00 pm Drum Down the Sun 7:15 pm Socaholix 7:45 pm International Reggae All Stars 8:30 pm Ipso Facto
	Wednesday, January 31, 2018 4:00 pm DJ Brother Jules and MC Tonez 4:30 pm Legacy Fund presents Kids Dance Party & Appetite for Change 6:00 pm Stokley Williams 6:45 pm Dessa 7:30 pm Mint Condition 8:30 pm New Power Generation, guest vocalists Andre Cymone, Kip Blackshire and Mackenzie Green

	Thursday, February 1, 2018 4:00 pm DJ Kimuel Hailey and MC Tonez 4:00 pm Les Stroud 4:45 pm Jakubi 5:45 pm fDeluxe 6:45 pm New Power Soul 7:45 pm Andre Cymone: 1969 Live Music Experience 8:45 pm Rae Sremmurd		Friday, February 2, 2018 2:00 pm DJ Howard "HK" Kessler 4:00 pm Zuluzuluu 4:45 pm Cobi 5:45 pm The Jets 6:45 pm KING 9:00 pm Skylar Grey
	Saturday, February 3, 2018 11:30 am DJ Dudley D, MC Tonez & Katie Andres 12:00 pm Fan Rally #1 2:30 pm Fan Rally #2 4:00 pm Kris Wu 4:45 pm Bob Mould 5:45 pm The Suburbs 6:45 pm The Jayhawks 7:45 pm Soul Asylum 9:00 pm X Ambassadors		Sunday, February 4, 2018 BOLD NORTH GAMEDAY 12:00 pm DJ Dudley D, Katie Andres & Jon Berry 1:00 pm 13 Crowns

Photo Gallery for Monday, January 29, 2018

Sheila E

Morris Day and the Time

Morris Day and the Time

Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis

Revolution: Stokely

Revolution: Bobby Z

The Revolution: Wendy

The Revolution at Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis (29 Jan 2018)

john (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Minneapolis: June 29 to June 30, 2016

Read More Sonny Knight & The Lakers You may recall that we covered Sonny Knight & The Lakers at the Red Stag Block Party earlier in August 2014.John described the show as a dancing and religious experience…

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from June 29 to June 30, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

SONNY KNIGHT & THE LAKERS
at Lions Park
Wednesday, 06/29/16, 6:30pm (FREE)
cityoflindstrom.us

Every Wednesday, the city of Lindström in Minnesota (it’s about 45 miles north of Minneapolis), organized these “Harmony in the Park” events in Lions Park. The event is free and open to the public, with emphasis on family and fun.

Next Wednesday, our favorite local soul revival band Sonny Knight & the Lakers will be playing the “Health Fair” show.

Harmony in the Park Schedule

06/29 Health Fair: Sonny Knight & the Lakers
07/06 Water Festival: Bob & the Beachcombers
07/13 River City Cloggers: Rising Joy
07/20 Non-Profit Night: Link Union
07/27 Photo of the Lakes: Monroe Crossing
08/03 National Night Out: Rockin’ Hollywoods
08/10 Faith Community Night: Boiling Point

Read More Morris Day From the current incarnation of Morris Day and the Time as well as rising songstress and Grammy winner Judith Hill, who had her debut album, last year’s Back in Time …

MORRIS DAY & THE TIME
at Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater
Thursday, 06/30/16, 6:30pm ($50)
suemclean.com

The successful “Music in the Zoo” Summer series by Sue McLean & Associates continues next Thursday with legendary singer, musician, actor Morris Day and his band The Time.

With the Purple One’s recent passing, the funk is still fresh in our minds, so this upcoming show might be a nice tribute to Prince.

Mina Moore to open.

Morris Day & the Time’s tour dates:

06/29/16 Milwaukee, WI Henry Maier Festival Park
06/30/16 Apple Valley, MN Minnesota Zoo Amph
07/14/16 Vogue Theatre Indianapolis, IN
07/22/16 Keepin' The Funk Alive
07/23/16 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union
08/05/16 Sterling Heights, MI Freedom Hill Amph
08/06/16 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
08/11/16 Napa Town & Country Fair
08/12/16 Keepin' The Funk Alive
08/13/16 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
08/25/16 Philadelphia, PA Dell Music Center
08/27/16 Keepin' The Funk Alive
08/28/16 Los Angeles, CA Microsoft Theater
09/16/16 San Diego Bayfest
10/22/16 Sacramento, CA Crest Theatre

Read More Murder Shoes Local guest Murder Shoes (featuring Tess Weinberg, Christopher White, Derek Van Gieson, Elliot Manthey, and Tim Heinlein) opened the show. We previously caught the band …

MURDER SHOES
at Triple Rock Social Club
Thursday, 06/30/16, 8pm ($5)
triplerocksocialclub.com

If you’ve have nothing going on next Thursday, check out these local bands for the price of an import beer (details below).

We’ve seen Murder Shoes a few times, with their last appearance with Eliot Sumner earlier this month, the local band played a ton of new songs. Expect a similar set.

Details:

A true Mélange of local bands coming to you live and Direct from the Triple Rock, Sponsored by Radio K!!!!

Murder Shoes, that band you've maybe heard before but maybe not? Maybe you Can? ;) ;)

Andrew Jansen (Loud Sun), so much vibez dripping from the speaker when these sweet humans play

Devata Daun, if you haven't gotten this song ‘Animal Instinct’, stuck in your head yet, here you go.

The Controversial New Skinny Pill, The first band You turn to for the soundtrack to a UFO sex-cult party

Kai will be spinning all your favorite songs you didn't know you loved, before, after and in between bands

This Party costs $5 and its 18+

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Looking Back: January 2016

Read More Babes in Toyland Since I love all-things Riot Grrrls, naturally I wanted to check out Babes in Toyland live. A little trivia, but the legendary Minneapolis band actually fired bassist Courtney Love in 1987. She, of course … Bully Opening up the show was Nashville's Bully, lead by singer Alicia Bognanno .... who revealed to us that she's actually from Minnesota. Although the band has been in Minneapolis a few times .... Morris Day From the current incarnation of Morris Day and the Time as well as rising songstress and Grammy winner Judith Hill, who had her debut album, last year’s Back in Time …

Here is the wrap-up for last month: January 2016.

I know it’s late, but let’s be honest, there really weren’t many shows we covered for the month of January. In fact, December to February (our current month) is pretty dead on account of my personal hibernation, but also bands aren’t really touring Minneapolis in the winter months (a smart move on their part).

I’ll never forget watching Ben Folds talk about his very first national tour and he made the mistake of booking Minneapolis in the Winter. What happened was there was a blizzard and they had to push Folds’ piano from the venue to their van... and ended up leaving it in the middle of the street. The band was so naïve about Minneapolis and snow that none of them wore heavy coats, and Folds described it as the harshest lesson he’s learned and since then, the band has never, ever come to Minneapolis in the Winter.

Trust me when I tell you that I’ve seen a lot of bands and for many who has never been to Minneapolis in the Winter (especially if they’re from a warmer area), they all say the same thing: Minneapolis is pretty darn cold. It’s also probably because many of these touring bands aren’t properly dressed.

Anyway, with that said, here are some highlights from January:

Buzz Award goes to the Bully at Fine Line (01/18). The Current loves her... and so does everyone else!

Come Back Award goes to Morris Day at Paisley Park (01/29). The last time The Time played was in 2001 - a 15 year absent!

First Time Award goes to Venom Inc at Turf Club (01/12). The band’s very first St Paul appearance, even though they’ve been around for at least 35 years.

Legendary Award goes to “local” Babes in Toyland at First Ave (01/30). Officially their first non-festival Minneapolis appearance... and it brought out all the local musicians and riot fans.

JANUARY 2016 (11 Shows)

• 01/10 Royal'z at Skyway • 01/12 Venom Inc at Turf Club • 01/18 Bully at Fine Line • 01/20 1349 at Triple Rock • 01/23 Lower Dens at 7th Street

• 01/27 Bayonne at 7th Street • 01/27 Josh Ritter at Pantages • 01/29 Morris Day at Paisley Park • 01/29 Decapitated at Skyway Theatre • 01/30 Babes in Toyland at First Ave • 01/30 Blue Felix at Cabooze

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Morris Day and The Time w/ Judith Hill at Paisley Park, Chanhassen (29 Jan 2016)

Morris Day and the Time Setlist Get It Up Cool Pandemonium Chocolate Wild & Loose The Stick Fishnet Oak Tree Jerk Out 777-9311 Girl Sometimes I Get Lonely Gigolos Get Lonely Too Condensate / If the Kid Can’t Make You Come Ice Cream Castles / 100MPH (snippet) The Walk The Bird Black Cat (guitar solo) Tricky (partial, w/Morris on drums) Jungle Love Judith Hill Setlist As Trains Go By Turn Up Angel in the Dark Beautiful Life My People Have a Good Time (Rufus cover) Love Trip Cure / The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson cover) Wild Tonight Cry, Cry Cry Jammin’ in the Basement Morris Day Tour Dates 02/19/16 Indio, CA National Date Fest Read More Morris Day From the current incarnation of Morris Day and the Time as well as rising songstress and Grammy winner Judith Hill, who had her debut album, last year’s Back in Time … Judith Hill Midnight: members of the invited media (Star Tribune, Fox9, City Pages, The Current) are escorted back to Paisley’s Studio A, for what turns out to be an introduction to singer Judith Hill, a preview of her new music, and some Q+A. …

Call it a Friday Purple Homecoming, and a night “Back in Time” and with The Time—

The word had gone out that Prince’s fabled studio in suburban Chanhassen, Paisley Park was hosting another one of its After Dark concert series, featuring acclaimed singer Judith Hill and the return after many years, of Morris Day and the Time.

With some advance notice and pre-show ticket sales, the Purple faithful were able to reserve their spots and make plans for a night where possibly anything could happen, and a crowd had already gathered on a chilly night, ahead of the 9pm doors.

Inside, the usual protocol of no cameras, cell phones, or electronics was followed, with a more casual vibe happening in the smaller Love4OneAnother room. The larger soundstage room, recently carpeted with a sound system upgrade, housed the bulk of the crowd, most huddled near the stage to catch a close glimpse.  Lights remained dark as a psychedelic swirl pattern swirled on screens over the main and side stages, with Prince’s famous glyph symbol superimposed over.

Judith Hill

Just before 10pm, Judith Hill and The Fam took to the stage (a band rightfully named as father Robert “Pee Wee” Hill is on bass and mother Michiko Hill plays keyboards, and was filled out by ex-Rufus guitarist Tony Maiden, drummer Michael White and sax player Marcus Anderson). Hill’s debut full-length from last year, Back in Time (NPG Records) was not only recorded on-site at Paisley, but also produced by Prince, who took in the evening’s entertainment in from a back elevated couch, smiling and playing along with “air” drums and keyboards.

Hill strode to the stage in a red velvet kimono-type top, slit at the sides and with band in place, started her 65min. set strongly, with an acapella verse from ‘As Trains Go By’ before the band kicked in with force.   ‘Angel in the Dark’ started somberly with its very revealing lyrics, received some mid-song punch from the band, and ended soulfully with Hill’s vocals providing the final crescendo to the song.

Maiden took over halfway through for their cover of Rufus’ 1973 ‘Have a Good Time’ and Hill’s own ‘Cure’ led effortlessly into her cover of ‘The Way You Make Feel’, the same song that dazzled the judges and public when Hill appeared on NBC’s The Voice.  An aching ‘Cry, Cry, Cry’ and the playfully analog soul of ‘Jammin’ in the Basement’ ended the well-paced set with aplomb.

Morris Day

After a short break, lights again dimmed and a pre-recorded voice asked “What Time is it?” as a video montage played.  Morris Day and the Time took to the stage for their 80 min. set, with Day nattily dressed in a lemon yellow zoot suit as new valet Thomas Austin prepped the mirror for Day to see himself, asking, “Minneapolis, ya’ll ready to get it up!?”

This variation of the band features Day, original keyboardist Monte Moir and classic drummer Jellybean Johnson among others to play the thirty-plus years of funk hits, most of which Prince was responsible for writing.  The band moved quickly through songs like ‘Cool’, ‘Fishnet’ and ‘Jerk Out’, getting through ten songs in the first half hour.

Things slightly lulled halfway through as bassist Ricky “Freeze” Smith took the reins to thank Prince, as Day headed backstage for a presumed costume change (though he only added a white coat) and slower songs like ‘Girl’ and ‘Sometimes I Get Lonely’ were played, as a bevy of (mostly) women were invited on stage to dance along.

Guitarist Tory Ruffin had his time in the spotlight, serenading a woman with his guitar licks, then Day had everyone face drummer Johnson at the back, so he could better examine the merchandise.  Things ramped back up with a snippet of ‘100 MPH’ thrown in during the end of ‘Ice Cream Castles’ and a warning of “you know where this party’s about to go” got fans’ arms flapping for ‘The Bird’.

Jellybean Johnson took to the forefront, trading in drumsticks for guitar, as he roared through the solo of Janet Jackson’s ‘Black Cat’, a song he co-produced and by far, the most rock moment of the evening.  That segued into Day himself taking up the drum kit for a quick ‘Tricky’ followed by the tribal beats and Day’s cackling intro for ‘Jungle Love’, which had everyone moving and singing along.

And with that, the stage was empty and DJ Kiss resumed playing the hits, as the faithful milled about, hoping for any slim chance Prince himself might take the stage to catapult the evening into further legendary status, but it was not meant to be.

A homecoming for both acts (The Time last played there in 2001), the faithful were nevertheless rewarded by a solid evening of soul, funk, r&b, and rock ‘n roll that is the Minneapolis Sound.

Morris Day and the Time / Judith Hill & Fam at Paisley Park, Chanhassen (29 Jan 2016)

john (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Prince in 2016: New Music, Distribution, and PPAD: The Time, and Back in Time

Prince Piano and Mic-Photo courtesy Princestagram Read More Prince Though he and band 3rd Eye Girl managed some hit-and-run random concert dates, mostly in Europe and there were sporadic gigs back home at Paisley Park … Judith Hill Midnight: members of the invited media (Star Tribune, Fox9, City Pages, The Current) are escorted back to Paisley’s Studio A, for what turns out to be an introduction to singer Judith Hill, a preview of her new music, and some Q+A. …

“So Far, So Pleased” –  not only a song title from a 1999 album, but the general way most Prince fans (or fams as they are called) are feeling of late, about the Purple One’s output to start this calendar year.

New Music

After releasing HITnRUN Phase One (NPG/Univeral Records) last September, an electronic-tinged album collaboration with producer Joshua Welton that was met with mixed reviews, the follow-up and 39^th (!) studio album, HITnRUN Phase Two (NPG Records) was more of a solo affair and return to the rock, funk, and brass sound most recognize him most  from.

Released digitally in mid-December, Phase Two was met with generally positive reviews, with Rolling Stone calling the record “his most consistently engaging album in years” and embodying “what he does best”.

Distribution

Ever a believer in artist’s creative rights and eliminating the middleman where possible, Phase Two was initially released digitally to paid subscribers of the Jay Z-led streaming online site, Tidal, where Prince had already contributed the upload of most of his catalogue, a Purple Pick song of the Week, and partial live stream of a Rally4Peace concert.

After being disappointed with sales numbers and record company distribution efforts for Phase One, he turned to Twitter to ask fans’ opinions on a new way of distributing the current album to those waiting for a physical copy and has taken a street level, targeted approach to getting the hard copies out in the wild.

Yesterday, they were delivered to a local Minneapolis record store and NPG has also allowed select members of the Purple Community to buy in-bulk wholesale, to resell at a fair price to their friends and contacts.

Results of this experiment are yet to be determined, but odds are he will also cut a direct deal with a few major chain stores (Target, Best Buy, both HQ’d locally) to eventually sell there as well.

Paisley Park After Dark

What started out as a semi-regular series of late night affairs of dance party get-togethers at Paisley Park in suburban Chanhassen, MN spotlighting local and a few national artists (always overshadowed by a “will-he-or-won’t-he-play” mystery); for 2016, these PPAD nights have been more organized and defined.

The usual mystique of learning of a show often on the day-of, has thankfully been replaced by actual advance notice, even with several weeks heads-up regarding his recent Piano and a Microphone performances on a Thursday January night, that allowed the ever-faithful appropriate time to book travel and hotel, many coming over from Europe and the Far East.

A planned European solo tour of this configuration was scuttled in lieu of scalpers selling tickets at inflated prices before they had even gone on sale, and the Paris attacks on Bataclan, which shook music goers everywhere.

The result was Prince announcing two solo special performances at his own place with the early and late solo shows being very different, stark, and intimate. The earlier 8pm show had songs being played in a (mostly)linear timeline and was perhaps his most personal and revealing set ever, though both shows received glowing reviews.

The Time and Back in Time

Following up those piano shows with performances from Larry Graham and local prog-funk outfit PHO as well as a DJ night, THIS FRIDAY continues the PPAD series with a rare appearance at Paisley Park from the current incarnation of Morris Day and the Time as well as rising songstress and Grammy winner Judith Hill, who had her debut album, last year’s Back in Time, recorded at Paisley and was produced by Prince.

Advance sales (once unheard of for these gatherings) are available at new site paisleyparkafterdark.com which uses the reliable and trustworthy Songkick/Crowdsurge software to process these ticketless transactions, and from all reports at the piano shows, was problem-free at check-in.

The Future

What else is to come in 2016? Only the Purple Yoda knows, though he’s off to a good start – it’s often hard and requires patience to be an ongoing Prince fan (or fam), but 2016 is paying off in dividends so far.

john (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic