W♥M

Minneapolis: January 19 to January 23, 2018

Read More The Current The annual The Current show is taking place next week: starting with Duluth's Low as headliner. Also on the bills are local favorites, John Mark Nelson (who previously appeared on . .... 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 ....

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from January 19 to January 23, 2018.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

THE CURRENT’S 13TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
First Avenue
Fri 01/19/2018 (7pm/$20)
Sat 01/20/2018 (7pm/$20)
first-avenue.com

It’s the annual local favorite radio station The Current’s 13th Birthday Party, and Bully (aka Alicia Bognanno) is headlining the first night with Now, Now, The Social Animals, and Dem Atlas.

For the second night, they booked JD McPherson, Ron Gallo, Lady Lark, and Reina Del Cid.

We caught Bully in January 2016 and noted, “Their set, although short, was packed full of energy. There were times when the music sounded like something you could hear on your local alternative rock radio channel but then there were also songs that sounded like Brody Dale of the Distillers was making a comeback. There were straight up punk songs mixed into a set of good old-fashioned alternative rock.”

Bully’s sophomore album Losing came out last Fall on Sub Pop. She’ll be continuing her tour in February:

1/19/18 - Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
2/16/18 - Norman OK - The Opolis
2/17/18 - Santa Fe NM - Meow Wolf
2/18/18 - Phoenix AZ - Valley Bar
2/24/18 - Eugene OR - Hi-Fi Music Lounge
2/26/18 - Vancouver BC - Biltmore Cabaret
2/28/18 - Seattle WA - Neumos
3/1/18 - Spokane WA - The Bartlett
3/2/18 - Boise ID - Neurolux
3/3/18 - Salt Lake City UT - Kilby Court
3/5/18 - Denver CO - Larimer Lounge
3/6/18 - Kansas City MO - Record Bar
5/30/18 - London, UK - Moth Club

Read More Ben Folds Five I recently found out that Ben Folds will be releasing a brand new album called So There, slated for release on September 11th... with a November tour date to follow! … Pokey LaFarge 06/15/2017 Retro-rocker Pokey LaFarge and Lillie Mae Rische to play First Avenue. 7pm, $15. …

Other shows in the area:

PRINCESS NOKIA
+ UNiiQU3
The Cabooze
Fri 01/19/2018 (7:30pm/$20)
cabooze.com

Princess Nokia (aka aka Destiny Frasqueri) will be headlining the Cabooze in support of her 1992 Deluxe album, available now on Rough Trade Records.

BEN FOLDS
Orchestra Hall
Fri 01/19/2018 (7pm/$55)
Sat 01/20/2018 (7pm/$55)
minnesotaorchestra.org

Multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/producer Ben Folds is playing a two-night residency at the Orchestra Hall in Minnesota. He recently released Concert 2015-2016 on New West Records.

We saw Ben Folds Five in 2012 and said, “Ben Folds told this great story about their first gig in Minneapolis at the 7th Street Entry. If you live around here, you know that place is tiny, so I had this vision of their grand piano taking up 90% of the stage. It was the first time the band came to Minneapolis and they had no idea how cold it was. It was snowing, negative 60 degree (at least that's what they said!), and they were moving the piano outside. They had "jackets" on but it was so cold, they ran back inside - leaving the piano in the middle of the street! Lessons learned.”

POKEY LAFARGE
+ Indianola
Turf Club
Fri 01/19/2018 (8pm/$16)
Sat 01/20/2018 (8pm/$16)
turfclub.net

Pokey Lafarge is playing a two-night residency at the Turf Club in St Paul in support of his new album Manic Revelations (Rounder Records). For some odd reason, the venue is listing Friday’s show as “8 a.m.”, which I’m assuming they actually meant 8pm.

STICK FIGURE
+ Twiddle, Iya Terra
First Avenue
Sun 01/21/2018 (7pm/$20)
first-avenue.com

Fan-favorite reggae act Stick Figure (led by Scott Woodruff) will be headlining First Avenue on Sunday, January 21st. Jamband Twiddle and LA-based reggae group Iya Terra will open.

Tour Dates:

Jan 17 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore
Jan 18 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Jan 19 - Chicago, IL - Riviera
Jan 20 - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theater
Jan 21 - Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
Jan 24 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
Jan 25 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
Jan 27 - Salt Lake City, UT - Hangar House
Jan 30 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
Jan 31 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
Feb 1 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SODO
Feb 2 - Portland, OR - Roseland
Feb 3 - Oakland, CA - The Fox
Feb 7 - Crystal Bay, NV - Crystal Bay Club
Feb 8 - San Luis Obispo, CA - Fremont Theatre
Feb 9 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl

BLINDS
+ Narco States, Lazy Scorsese
7th Street Entry
Tue 01/23/2018 (7pm/$5)
first-avenue.com

Local Minneapolis band Blinds is having an EP release party this Tuesday.

Their description:

'Some Thing for No Thing' is the second EP release from Minneapolis natives blinds. The record was a hands-on homage to the lo-fi nature of the early 90’s grunge scene all while using modern influences from Kings of Leon to Interpol.

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

Rocktober: October 16, 2015

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on October 16, 2015.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More The Neighbourhood The Neighbourhood are: Jesse Rutherford (vocals), Jeremy Freedman (guitar), Zach Abels (guitar), Mikey Margott (bass) & Bryan Sammis (drums). ... Bad Suns Another Southern California band, Bad Suns, played next, in support of their Vagrant Records EP, Transpose, with full-length, Language & Perspective, due out in late June. ...

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
at First Avenue
Friday, 10/16/2015, 5:30pm ($30)
first-avenue.com

American band with English spelling The Neighbourhood is headlining this all-ages show at First Avenue. You may know the band for that hit song "Sweater Weather". The band's sophomore album Wiped Out! is coming out this October 30th, via Columbia/The Revolve Group.

Show up early to check out Bad Suns, a band we previously saw with the 1975 in May 2014. We wrote, "The quartet’s anthemic sound on songs like ‘Cardiac Arrest’ and EP closer, ’20 Years’ seemed to connect with the younger audience..."

Also on the bill is Hunny (not to be confused with Christian band Honey or the stuff that Winnie-the-Pooh likes to eat). This southern California six-piece (front man/lead guitarist Jason Yarger, guitarist Jake Goldstein, bassist Gregory Horne, third guitarist Jacob Munk, keyboardist Kevin Grimmett and drummer Joey Anderson)made a name for themselves with their debut single "Cry For Me" (more than 800k plays on Hype Machine's "Most Popular Tracks").

Check out "Parking Lot" from their debut EP Pain/Ache/Loving:



NOTE: Since this is an all-ages show, doors open at 5:30pm, which probably means first band on at 6pm! The only good thing about an early show is that you get to go home by 10pm!

Tour dates:

10/12/15 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
10/13/15 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit
10/15/15 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
10/16/15 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
10/17/15 Winnipeg, MB Garrick Centre
10/20/15 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
10/21/15 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo
10/23/15 Portland, OR McMenamins Crystal
10/24/15 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
10/27/15 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
10/28/15 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
10/29/15 Los Angeles, CA Shrine Auditorium
10/30/15 Las Vegas, NV Boulevard Pool
11/09/15 Amsterdam, Netherlands Melkweg
11/10/15 London, United Kingdom Heaven
11/12/15 Paris, France Fleche D'Or
11/16/15 Berlin, Germany Posthof
11/17/15 Cologne, Germany Gebaude 9
11/18/15 Brussels, Belgium AB Club
12/03/15 Norfolk, VA Constant Convocation Center
12/06/15 X102.9 Presents The Big Ticket
12/09/15 How The Edge Stole Christmas
12/10/15 KPNT 105.7 The Point's Ho Ho Show

Read More The Chemical Brothers The first time I heard about The Chemical Brothers, they were known as The Dust Brothers, named ...

FLUX PAVILION
at Skyway Theatre
Friday, 10/16/2015, 8pm ($25)
skywaytheater.com

Flux Pavilion, aka Joshua Steele, is an English DJ that will be taking over the Skyway Theatre in Minneapolis on Friday, October 16th.

Flux Pavilion has influences that range from David Bowie to The Chemical Brothers to Rusko. Steele was once quoted as saying: "I never went to clubs because I didn't feel accepted into that scene; it felt too showy, too well-groomed. Then I saw Rusko play at Fabric and it changed my perception of everything. He was jumping around wearing a big cardboard hat shaped like a bird playing the most outrageous music I had ever heard. I loved it."

I have heard nothing but great things about his live show. This current tour is as promotion for his newest album Tesla which came out September 15th of this year. Not only is this his newest album, it's also his debut album. That being said, Flux Pavilion is not new to the scene. This guy has been releasing singles and EPs since 2008.

Make sure you check out his set on Friday night. He will be playing along with Loudpvck, Diskord, and many many more. Four stages more to be exact.

Tour dates:

10/10/15 Toronto, ON Sound Academy
10/11/15 Montreal, QC New City Gas
10/15/15 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
10/16/15 Minneapolis, MN Skyway Theatre
10/17/15 Foam Wonderland
10/19/15 Lincoln, NE Bourbon Theatre
10/20/15 Iowa City, IA Blue Moose Tap House
10/21/15 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
10/22/15 San Marcos, TX Marc
10/23/15 Albuquerque, NM Historic El Rey Theater
10/24/15 Broomfield, CO 1stBank Center
10/30/15 Escape All Hallows' Eve
10/31/15 Pharr, TX Boggus Ford Events Center
11/12/15 Newcastle O2 Academy Newcastle
11/13/15 London The Forum
11/14/15 Manchester Albert Hall
02/10/16 Holy Ship!
02/11/16 Holy Ship!
02/12/16 Holy Ship!
02/13/16 Holy Ship!

Read More Ringo Starr You know I love the Beatles (who doesn't?), as I've previously mentioned. Today (October 17th), Ringo Starr announced that his All Starr Band will tour the Pacific Rim ...

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STARR BAND
at State Theatre
Friday, 10/16/2015, 8pm ($83.50)
hennepintheatretrust.org

Legendary Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band will be at the State Theatre next Friday, October 15th. Tickets are on the expensive end, but may be well worth it to see one of two living Beatles in person.

Starr's latest Postcards from Paradise came out earlier this March 2015 via UMe.

Special guests to appear: Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Richard Page, Todd Rundgren, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham.

Tour dates:

10/10/15 South Okanagan Events Centre
10/12/15 Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
10/13/15 Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
10/16/15 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre
10/17/15 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theatre
10/18/15 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
10/20/15 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
10/21/15 Montreal, QC St. Denis Theatre 1
10/23/15 Boston, MA Wang Theatre
10/24/15 Mashantucket, CT Grand Theater
10/25/15 New Brunswick, NJ State Theatre
10/27/15 Heinz Hall For The Performing Arts
10/28/15 Modell Performing Arts Center
10/30/15 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theatre
10/31/15 Brooklyn, NY Kings Theatre

Read More The Sword But the crowd didn't really start going nuts until The Sword went on. The Sword is a much younger band, formed in Austin, Texas in 2003. Their sound is more on the “thrash” end of doom metal, with riffing reminiscent of … All Them Witches Nashville's All Them Witches took their name from Roman Polanski's 1968 Rosemary's Baby and released their debut Our Mother Electricity in 2012. They quickly follow up with Lightning At The Door ... Royal Thunder Four-piece Royal Thunder will be in Minneapolis next Sunday, June 21st. Stereogum called the band "the contemporary hard rock equivalent of Fleetwood Mac's ...

THE SWORD
at Mill City Nights
Friday, 10/16/2015, 8pm ($17)
millcitynights.com

Austin' heavy metal/doom metal band The Sword will be back in Minneapolis, in support of their fifth studio album High Country (Razor & Tie). The 50-show kicked off last night, October 9th. The first leg of the tour will feature Kadavar and All Them Witches as support acts... The second leg will feature Royal Thunder (starting November 18th and ending December 19th).

The Sword 1st Leg:

Oct. 10 – Austin, TX – Mohawk
Oct. 11 – Houston, TX – Fitzgeralds
Oct. 13 – Lawrence, KS – Granada
Oct. 14 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theater
Oct. 15 – Iowa City, IA – Gabes
Oct. 16 – Minneapolis, MN – Mill City Nights
Oct. 17 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
Oct. 18 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
Oct. 20 – Mesa, AZ – Club Red
Oct. 21 – Las Vegas, NV – Vinyl
Oct. 22 – San Diego, CA – Belly Up
Oct. 23 – San Francisco, CA – Slims
Oct. 24 – San Bernardino, CA – San Manuel Amph
Oct. 25 – Sacramento, CA – Gibson Ranch
Oct. 27 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
Oct. 28 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw
Oct. 29 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
Oct. 30 – Boise, ID – Neurolux*
Oct. 31 – Salt Lake City, UT – Club Sound*
Nov. 2 – Denver, CO – Gothic*
Nov. 3 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad*
Nov. 4 – Lubbock, TX – Jakes*

*dates without Kadavar

More dates on news.weheartmusic.com.

Read More Carbon Leaf Since this Summer, Richmond-based Carbon Leaf have been on a 50+ show tour, extending all the way into 2015. They are stopping in St Paul at the Turf Club on Thursday, playing tracks from their Indian … Matt Nathanson As for Matt Nathanson, he seems really young and lively on stage. He really loves pop music, and even admitted to stealing riffs and chords from his favorite songs. Some of his covers includes …

VARIOUS ARTISTS
at Various Venues
Friday, 10/16/2015
news.weheartmusic.com

As usual in Rocktober: there are too many shows.

Below are some shows taking place on October 16:

Minneapolis based four-piece Little Fevers will be playing at Turf Club, in support of their debut album Field Trip (which Yahoo! Music recently the album). Matt Latterell to open. (8pm/$10).

Carbon Leaf second leg of their tour will land at Fine Line Music Cafe. The Accidentals to open (7pm/$16).

Turbowolf's first ever USA tour started with the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour... and will continue over at their headlining show at 7th Street Entry. Narco States to open. Please note start time, this is a late show (9:30pm/$10).

Matt Nathanson has a sold out show at Triple Rock Social Club. We caught the popular singer in 2008, which we wrote "As for Matt Nathanson, he seems really young and lively on stage. He really loves pop music, and even admitted to stealing riffs and chords from his favorite songs. Some of his covers includes James' "Laid", Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl", Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton's "Island in the Stream", Kim Wilde's "Kids in America", Lisa Loeb's "Stay", and the Everly Brothers' "All I Have to do is Dream" (and probably other more obscure ones that I didn't know about)." (7pm/$32.75/Sold Out)

Please note that the Three Dog Night at Medina Entertainment Center HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED... New date to be announced later.

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

Minneapolis: May 2 - May 4, 2015

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area for May 2 to May 4, 2015. We are really busy this first week in May... In addition to covering Free Comic Book Day (May 2nd), we'll be covering Wizard World Minneapolis from May 1st to May 3rd. If I'm not dead by Star Wars Day (May the Fourth), we'll post the reviews that week.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Speedy Ortiz After sharing a stream of it a week early via NPR's First Listen, Speedy Ortiz has released their brand new album Foil Deer today via Carpark Records. Its release comes in conjunction with the band ...

SPEEDY ORTIZ
at 7th St Entry
Saturday 05/02/15, 7pm ($12)
first-avenue.com

It'll be a regular Popfest over at the 7th Street Entry on Saturday, May 2nd, with headliner Speedy Ortiz and special guests, Krill, Two Inch Astronaut, and Bitter Canon.

Speedy Ortiz just recently released their new album Foil Deer on Tuesday, April 21st, via Carpark Records.

Find out why Pitchfork is calling Massachusetts' Speedy Ortiz "one of the sharper indie rock bands in recent memory."

Tour dates:

4/26/15 ­ Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's *&
4/28/15 ­ Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo *!
4/29/15 ­ Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop *!
4/30/15 ­ Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle *!
5/1/15 ­ Madison, WI @ The Frequency *!
5/2/15 ­ Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry *!
5/3/15 ­ Iowa City, IA @ Gabe's Oasis *!
5/4/15 ­ Champaign, IL @ Highdive *!
5/6/15 ­ Washington, DC @ Black Cat *!
5/7/15 ­ Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter *
5/8/15 ­ Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle ­ Back Room *
5/9/15 ­ Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival
5/11/15 ­ Tampa, FL @ The Crowbar *
5/13/15 ­ New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa *
5/14/15 ­ Houston, TX @ Walter's Downtown $
5/15/15 ­ Austin, TX @ Red 7 $
5/16/15 ­ Dallas, TX @ Club Dada $
5/21/15 ­ Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo $
5/22/15 ­ Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room $
5/23/15 ­ Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium $
5/25/15 ­ Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios $%
5/26/15 ­ Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt $
5/27/15 ­ Seattle, WA @ Barboza $
5/29/15 ­ Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court $^
5/30/15 ­ Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge $^
5/31/15 ­ Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room $^
6/1/15 ­ Columbia, MO @ Rose Music Hall $^
6/2/15 ­ St. Louis, MO @ Firebird $^
6/4/15 ­ Detroit, MI @ UFO Factory $^
6/5/15 ­ Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern $^
6/6/15 ­ Montreal, QC @ Bar Le "Ritz" P.D.B. $^
7/17/15 ­ Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival

* w/ KRILL
&w/ Mitski
! w/ Two Inch Astronaut
$ w/ Alex G
% w/ Broken Water
^ w/ Palehound

Read More R. Ring What's the deal with Kelley Deal (* see comment below)? She's teaming up with Ampline's Mike Montgomery to start a new band called R. Ring. ... Prissy Clerks I'm pretty certain if you went to see a local Minneapolis concert this year, chances are you probably saw Prissy Clerks. I've previously mentioned them before, ...

R. RING
at 7th St Entry
Sunday 05/03/15, 8pm ($10)
first-avenue.com

Kelley Deal (The Breeders) & Mike Montgomery (Ampline) are R. Ring. We wrote about them in 2012 and I honestly had not heard from the duo for a long time. In fact, it was almost by accident, while I was putting together the show previews for the first week of May, that I ran across this odd date for Sunday, May 3rd.

R. Ring recently released a split 7" with Protomartyr. The release is available digitally, but vinyl fans will have to wait until mid-June.

UPDATE: They are now listing two openers: Wowsville (ex-members of Prissy Clerks) and Daisy Chains.

Tour dates:

4/30 - Dayton, OH - Canal Public House
5/01 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
5/02 - Madison, WI - Frequency
5/03 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
5/04 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
5/05 - Billings, MT - Pub Station
5/06 - Spokane, WA - The Bartlett
5/07 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern
5/10 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
5/11 - San Francisco, CA - Elbo Room
5/12 - Los Angeles, CA - Satellite
5/14 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
5/15 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive
5/16 - Omaha, NE - O'leavers
5/17 - Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge
5/18 - Columbia, MO - Cafe Berlin
5/19 - Louisville, KY - The New Vintage

Read More Peelander-Z Superhero Japanese punk band Peelander-Z is currently on tour in support of their latest album, Metalander-Z, stopping by the Turf Club in St Paul last night, September 19th. …

DAIKAIJU
at Turf Club
Monday 05/04/15, 8pm ($7)
turfclub.net

Alabama's Daikaiju looks like a lot of fun. The Japanese kabuki/super-hero thing reminds me of Peelander-Z, so they are in very good company, as far as looks goes. Cristina and I have said this about Peelander-Z and other bands with low-entrance cover fees, even if it's not your cup of music tea, you'll probably have a lot of fun.

Local band Rykygnyzyr and Narco States set to open the show St Paul show at the Turf Club.

Daikaiju's tour dates:

04.25 - The Shakedown - Bellingham, WA
04.27 - Secret Show - Bellingham, WA
04.28 - The Hop - Spokane, WA
04.29 - The Filling Station - Bozeman, MT
04.30 - Railyard Ale House - Billings, MT
05.01 - Side B - Bismarck, ND
05.02 - Ojata Records - Grand Forks, ND
05.03 - TBA
05.04 - Turf Club - Saint Paul, MN
05.05 - Gabe's Iowa City - Iowa City, IA
05.06 - TBA
05.07 - Tonic Tavern - Milwaukee, WI
05.08 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
05.09 - Broken World Records - Winona, MT
05.10 - Kryptonite - Rockford, IL
05.11 - 05.19 - TBA
05.20 - Canal Street Tavern - Dayton, OH
05.21 - TBA
05.22 - Horrible Fest - Now That's Class
05.23 - Horrible Fest - Now That's Class
05.24 - Royal Oaks - Youngstown, OH

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