W♥M

The Mountain Goats at First Avenue, Minneapolis (20 May 2022)

Mountain Goats Setlist Aulon Raid Minnesota Choked Out Younger Pez Dorado Cotton Tidal Wave John Darnielle Solo There Will Be No Divorce Song for My Stepfather Mourn Not The Dead (Ralph Chaplin cover) Wolf Count The Diaz Brothers Shelved Rain in Soho Southwood Plantation Road Broom People Getting Into Knives Heel Turn 2 -- Encore -- Let Me Bathe in Demonic Light The Mess Inside Palmcorder Yajna This Year No Children Read More The Mountain Goats It is well known that John Darnielle, the force behind the Mountain Goats, likes heavy metal music. It comes up in interviews often, and hearing him speak …

Beloved The Mountain Goats (John Darnielle, Jon Wurster, Peter Hughes and Matt Douglas) headlined First Avenue’s mainroom on Friday night.

Will Sheff opened the show… He is the singer/songwriter of Okkervil River, who we saw in Nov 2013. Obviously comparing Sheff’s full band vs his solo live show is unfair, but, yes, Sheff’s solo shows is a little quieter. Still, Sheff managed to play Okkervil River using pre-recorded backing tracks and his guitar, and to good effect.

We did previously described Okkervil River’s songs as “depressing”: “Their songs, based on their lyrics and banter on stage, is quite depressing. We're talking mostly death (shooting someone in the head), and hanging (suicide). With all this dark subject, it's easy to see why they've chosen to cover Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love", a nice tribute to the musician who recently passed away. I suspect the song only made it into the set since last Sunday, but it sure sounded well-rehearsed.”

Another ‘depressing’ song made it onto his setlist, “Famous Tracheotomies.” This song, as Sheff described it, was when he was young, he almost died during this surgery. Obviously, he didn’t die, but would go on to write a song about other celebrities who had underwent tracheostomy operations.

>>>
The Mountain Goats
with Will Sheff
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

The Mountain Goats (John Darnielle, Jon Wurster, Peter Hughes and Matt Douglas) will be returning to First Avenue this May 20th. Since the pandemic, the Mountain Goats have released three albums, so they are excited to play those songs live for us… plus, of course, all their classic hits from before the pandemic.

We saw the Goats in at Fletcher Opera Theater, Raleigh in Sept 2012 and said, “The Mountain Goats played two sets to a hushed crowd at the Fletcher Opera Theater on Friday, the second night of the Hopscotch Music Festival. The first set was a showcase of heavy metal songs, Darnielle solo in the spotlight on a large piano.”

Will Sheff to open.

Tour Dates:

Apr 30, 2022 The Observatory Santa Ana, CA
May 2, 2022 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, CA
May 3, 2022 Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ
May 5, 2022 The Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA
May 6, 2022 Fremont Theater San Luis Obispo, CA
May 8, 2022 The Showbox Seattle, WA
May 9, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 10, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 11, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 12, 2022 Midtown Ballroom Bend, OR
May 14, 2022 The Depot Salt Lake City, UT
May 15, 2022 Washington's Fort Collins, CO
May 17, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 18, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 19, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 20, 2022 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
May 21, 2022 The Sylvee Madison, WI
Jun 25, 2022 That Music Fest Durham, NC
Jul 9, 2022 Music Farm Charleston, SC
Jul 10, 2022 Intuition Ale Works Jacksonville, FL
Jul 11, 2022 Palladium Theater St. Petersburg, FL
Jul 12, 2022 The Moon Tallahassee, FL
Jul 14, 2022 Minglewood Hall Memphis, TN
Jul 15, 2022 Off Broadway St. Louis, MO
Jul 16, 2022 Wooly's Des Moines, IA
Jul 17, 2022 Wave Wichita, KS
Nov 10, 2022 WUK Foyer (WUK) Vienna, Austria
Nov 11, 2022 Columbia Theater Berlin, Germany
Nov 12, 2022 Paradiso Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nov 14, 2022 De Roma Antwerp, Belgium
Nov 16, 2022 Roundhouse London
Nov 17, 2022 Manchester Cathedral Manchester
Nov 18, 2022 Vicar Street Dublin, Ireland

Will Sheff

Will Sheff

The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats at First Avenue, Minneapolis (20 May 2022)

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

Minneapolis: June 9 to June 12, 2018

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from June 9 to June 12, 2018.

Please note, that due to a recent cyber incident, Ticketfly is offline.... meaning links to the Cedar Cultural Center and other sites that relies on the ticketing service is inaccessible at the moment. For status update, head over to support.ticketfly.com.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Trashcan Sinatra 2018 Poster Read More Trashcan Sinatras Trashcan Sinatras is back in town, this time with a brand new album Wild Pendulum, crowd-funded and produced by Bright Eyes’ Mike Mogis. We previously caught the Scottish band ....

TRASHCAN SINATRAS
Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Tue 06/12/2018 (7:30pm/$22)
amsterdambarandhall.com

With I’ve Seen Everything turning 25 years old, Scotland’s Trashcan Sinatras (aka Trash Can Sinatras) decided it’s time they bring their “One Night, Two Albums” live tour. The show will be a double set (meaning probably no opening band), which will see the cult-favorite band play two albums, I’ve Seen Everything and Cake, back to back.

These two albums are probably the band’s best-known record (I’ve Seen Everything included Beavis & Butt-Head’s favorite “Hayfever” song), so if there’s one Trashcan Sinatra show you need to see, it’s this one.

Tour dates:

06/03/2018 Mavericks Ottawa, ON
06/04/2018 Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON
06/05/2018 Magic Bag Ferndale, MI
06/06/2018 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH
06/08/2018 Encore Recording Studios Dayton, OH
06/10/2018 SPACE Evanston, IL
06/12/2018 Amsterdam Bar and Hall Saint Paul, MN
06/13/2018 Duck Room St. Louis, MO
06/14/2018 Gospel Lounge Kansas City, MO
06/16/2018 Electric Soapbox Denver, CO
06/17/2018 Metro Music Hall Salt Lake City, UT
06/19/2018 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, BC
06/20/2018 Fremont Abbey Arts Center Seattle, WA
06/21/2018 Alberta Rose Theatre Portland, OR
06/22/2018 Harlow's Night Club Sacramento, CA
06/24/2018 Sweetwater Music Hall Mill Valley, CA
06/27/2018 Regent Theater Los Angeles, CA
06/28/2018 Pioneertown Palace Pioneertown, CA

Electric Fetus 50th Anniversary Poster Sophistafunk Poster Okkervil River 2018 Poster Read More Real Estate Next up, Psychedlic surf pop straight from the heart of the Garden State, courtesy of New Jersey’s very own Real Estate. Real Estate are a super group of sorts, proudly counting ex members of Ducktails, and Silver Futures amongst… Okkervil River Finally in the spirit of Christmas, Okkervil River are offering a free Christmas Mixtape EP on their website. Check it out. It's quite good and it's free. If you see any more free Christmas goodies on offer, let me know! …

Other shows in the area:

REAL ESTATE
+ Habibi
First Avenue
Sat 06/09/2018 (7pm/$20)
first-avenue.com

New Jersey’s Real Estate will be headlining First Avenue on Saturday, June 9th, as part of the Electric Fetus 50th Anniversary Party. Real Estate’s fourth album In Mind is out now.

We last saw Real Estate in May 2010 and noted, “Psychedelic surf pop straight from the heart of the Garden State, courtesy of New Jersey’s very own Real Estate. Real Estate are a super group of sorts, proudly counting ex members of Ducktails, and Silver Futures amongst their number, last year, media Pitchfork gave their self titled debut 8.5. Interesting stuff, but, a lot to live up to.”

Habibi to open.

Also on the bill: Flamin’ Oh's, Last Import and Roy Freedom.

Event is hosted by David Campbell.

Tour dates:

06/05 || Pittsburgh, PA || Mr. Small’s Theatre *
06/06 || Louisville, KY || Headliners *
06/07 || St. Louis, MO || Ready Room *
06/08 || Maquoketa, IA || Codfish Hollow *
06/09 || Minneapolis, MN || First Avenue *
06/10 || Milwaukee, WI || Turner Hall *
06/12 || Indianapolis, IN || HI-FI *
06/13 || Cleveland, OH || Beachland Ballroom *
06/14 || Jersey City, NJ || White Eagle Hall *
06/15 || Providence, RI || The Columbus Theatre *

* w/ Habibi

SOPHISTAFUNK
+ Porky's Groove Machine, Blackillac
Turf Club
Sun 06/10/2018 (7:30pm/$10)
turfclub.net

Hip-hop/funk band Sophistafunk (singer Jack Brown, beatbox/keyboard Adam Gold, soulful drummer Emanuel Washington, and saxophonist Tommy Weeks) will be headlining the Turf Club on Sunday.

Wisconsin’s Porky’s Groove Machine and Austin’s Blackillac (MCs Zeale and Phranchyze, with production led by Gary Clark Jr.) to open.

OKKERVIL RIVER
+ Star Rover
Turf Club
Mon 06/11/2018 (7pm/$20)
turfclub.net

Okkervil River is back in town, headlining the Turf Club this Monday, June 11th. The group’s latest release In The Rainbow Rain is out now on ATO Records.

We previously saw Okkervil River in November 2013 and said, “Speaking of rivers, Okkervil River's set was designed with a similar hand-art theme from their latest The Silver Gymnasium. I thought with the blank/white backdrop that they would project a movie, but instead, it was used to show a faint ultraviolet bridge and moonlight.”

Tour dates:

06/04/2018 Neumos Seattle, WA
06/05/2018 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
06/07/2018 The State Room Salt Lake City, UT
06/08/2018 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
06/09/2018 The Waiting Room Omaha, NE
06/11/2018 Turf Club Saint Paul, MN
06/12/2018 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
06/13/2018 The El Club Detroit, MI
06/14/2018 Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON
06/15/2018 Colony Cafe Woodstock, NY
06/16/2018 Royale Nightclub Boston Boston, MA
09/13/2018 Music Hall Brooklyn, NY
09/14/2018 The Asbury Hotel Asbury Park, NJ
09/15/2018 Underground Arts Philadelphia, PA
09/21/2018 Reeperbahn Festival
09/22/2018 Lille Vega Copenhagen
09/23/2018 Rockefeller Music Hall Oslo, Norway
09/24/2018 Debaser Medis Stockholm, Sweden
09/26/2018 Lido Berlin, Germany
09/27/2018 Gebaude 9 Cologne, Germany
09/28/2018 Sugar Factory Amsterdam
09/29/2018 Rotown Rotterdam
09/30/2018 Botanique Brussels
10/01/2018 Point Ephemere Paris, France
10/03/2018 Glee Club Birmingham
10/04/2018 Thekla Bristol
10/05/2018 Brudenell Social Club Leeds
10/06/2018 Stereo Glasgow
10/07/2018 Gorilla Manchester
10/09/2018 The Haunt Brighton
10/10/2018 Koko London

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

Okkervil River and Matthew E White at First Avenue, Minneapolis (11/01/13)

Setlist Tour Dates 11/02/13 Chicago, IL^ Metro 11/03/13 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway 11/04/13 Oklahoma City, OK ACM 11/16/13 Hamburg, DE Mojo 11/17/13 Berlin, DE Postbahnoff 11/18/13 Frankfurt, DE Zoom 11/19/13 Cologne, DE Gebaude9 11/21/13 St. Gallen, CH Palace 11/23/13 Leeuwarden, NL Explore the N. Fest 11/24/13 Amsterdam, NL Bitterzoet 11/25/13 Paris, FR Nouveau Casino 11/27/13 London, UK Islington Assembly Hall 11/30/13 Tokyo, JP Hostess Club Weekender ^=w/ Matthew E. White Read More Okkervil River Finally in the spirit of Christmas, Okkervil River are offering a free Christmas Mixtape EP on their website. Check it out. It's quite good and it's free. If you see any more free Christmas goodies on offer, let me know! … Mathew E White Matthew E. White is playing on November 1st at First Avenue. The singer/songwriter is also noted as being the founder of Spacebomb Records in Richmond, Virginia. …

Austin's Okkervil River is currently on tour in support of their seventh album The Silver Gymnasium, stopping by First Avenue in Minneapolis last night, November 1st.

MATTHEW E WHITE

Matthew E. White opened up the show, starting with "Will You Love Me" from his Big Inner album. The album was recent re-released as a double disc with Outer Face EP, which you can also purchase separately.

Most of his set 45 minute set were taken from Big Inner, including "Steady Pace" and "One of These Days", but also included a cover of Neil Young's "Are You Ready for the Country". He ended his set with "Brazos", a song about a slave couple and never crossing the Brazos River.

Speaking of rivers, Okkervil River's set was designed with a similar hand-art theme from their latest The Silver Gymnasium. I thought with the blank/white backdrop that they would project a movie, but instead, it was used to show a faint ultraviolet bridge and moonlight.

As you can see from the setlist, the first block were mostly new songs, including the first couple of songs "It Was My Season" and "On a Balcony".

OKKERVIL RIVER

Their songs, based on their lyrics and banter on stage, is quite depressing. We're talking mostly death (shooting someone in the head), and hanging (suicide). With all this dark subject, it's easy to see why they've chosen to cover Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love", a nice tribute to the musician who recently passed away. I suspect the song only made it into the set since last Sunday, but it sure sounded well-rehearsed.

Encore were another cover, this time of Wang Chung's "Dance Hall Days" and one new song from The Silver Gymnasium, "Walking Without Frankie", plus two songs from 2007's The Stage Names: "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene" and "Unless It's Kicks".

Okkervil River's latest album, The Silver Gymnasium, is out now on ATO Records, their first outside of Jagjaguwar. Matthew E. White's final night with Okkervil River is tonight in Chicago.

Okkervil River at First Avenue, Minneapolis (11/01/13)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ okkervilriver.com ♥ matthewewhite.com

November Week 0

I know Rocktober ended with October 31st, but seriously, we still have some amazing shows in November. I've already looked over the schedule, it's unbelievable how many great shows are coming to Minneapolis.

Read More Mountain Goats Mountain Goats show or if you are into the hundreds, Darnielle and Co. never disappoint those who come for the music, but leave having absorbed every word spoken or sung. All dates with (*) indicates with Matthew E. White. .…

I like how the weekly spotlight on shows turned out in October, that I will start doing as a weekly feature (although not every night will be written about if there are no bands playing that night).

This is week zero of November; week one officially starts November 3rd.

MATTHEW E WHITE
matthewewhite.com

Matthew E. White is playing on November 1st at First Avenue. The singer/songwriter is also noted as being the founder of Spacebomb Records in Richmond, Virginia.

Expect him to play some tracks off his recently released Outer Face EP, which was released October 22nd on Domino Records.

Tour information below:

10/31/13 Fargo, ND – The Aquarium *
11/01/13 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave *
11/02/13 Chicago, IL - Metro *
12/04/13 Allston, MA – Great Scott
12/05/13 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
12/06/13 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
12/07/13 Washington, D.C. – Rock n Roll Hotel

* with Okkervil River

Read More Fidlar Southern California’s FIDLAR followed, in support of their debut album on Mom & Pop, with an explosive 45min of punk/surf rock, set that threw the crowd immediately into a whipped up, sweat-dripped frenzy .…

THE ORWELLS
theorwells.com

The Orwells are opening up for Fidlar at the 7th Street Entry on Saturday night (November 2nd). You may recall how we described Fidlar's show as "sweat-dripped frenzy ", so this should be a fun night for all young people.

This five piece (Cousins Mario Cuomo on vocals, Dominic Corso on guitar, twins Grant on bass, Henry Brinner on drums, and Matt O’Keefe on guitar) have together since 2008, when they were in 9th grade… but we first came to know them as one of the few American (from Chicago) band to be featured in NME's Great Escape Showcase from earlier this year.

Their tour dates:

10/31/13 Chicago, IL Subterranean
11/01/13 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
11/02/13 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
02/13/14 Jacksonville, FL The Weezer Cruise
02/14/14 Jacksonville, FL The Weezer Cruise
02/15/14 Jacksonville, FL The Weezer Cruise
02/16/14 Jacksonville, FL The Weezer Cruise
02/17/14 Jacksonville, FL The Weezer Cruise

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Top 2008 Lists

Top 5 Albums of 2008

 

Beach House - Heart Of Chambers

Beach House

I wrote in my blog (I blog) the other day about my frustration with making “top” lists (even though I had made the suggestion to Vu).  Music, like any art form, is so openly subjective that any attempt at creating a definitive “best” list is hopelessly, well, hopeless.  So I present to you my purely personal Top 5 of 2008 compilations.  Take it or leave it (but please take it, and love me too).

 
1.  Beach House – Devotion

Their first album was nice.  Occasionally heavy-lidded and aimless (as in, the mind wanders when listening), but nice, certainly a curious take on dream pop.  Then Devotion came out and it was like Beach House even further demented the dreamy stargaze domain, in, you know, a really, really attractive way.  With Victoria’s sad, velvet voice (not at all, never ever cute, for godsake), the off-putting pace, the hollow beat, the moodiness, the sometimes romantic/sometimes painful lyrics, the harpsichord, that Daniel Johnston cover…it just works.  How often do all the pieces fall into place?  It may never happen again.  Enjoy, Beach House.

2.  The Raveonettes – Lust Lust Lust

So the Raveonettes are getting fuzzier and less defined, and moving further from those neo-noir 60s Phil Spector-inspired melodies into darker territory.  Darker, louder territory.  Like, seriously loud.  I’d probably be less impressed with this album if it wasn’t for the sheer enormity of sound.  Every song has a kind of feverish build-up; by the end it’s bye-bye future hearing, hello creepy weird aural enlightenment, or something.

3.  Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Real Emotional Trash

What I like about Real Emotional Trash is that it combines the best of the Pavement core—bizarre/absurdist lyrics and sprawling noise/extended “jammin’/freak deaky guitar rifts.  This album sounds very Malkmus; it isn’t the work of a middle-aged rocker desperate to fit in one last reinvention and prove to the twenty-somethings that he’s “still got it.”  No, Malkmus hardly seems concerned with too much change; he may choose different directions with each of his solo albums, but there’s always a comfortable familiarity.  (And, for the record, he’s definitely still got it.)

Santogold-L.E.S Artistes The Magnetic Fields-Too Drunk to Dream

4.  Santogold – Santogold

Let’s just get the obvious out of the way:  yes, she reminds you of M.I.A.  Sure, Santogold sings through her nose, loves a crazy beat, and is scarily supa fly (intimidating to the average-looking), but if you actually listen to her album you’ll realize that she ain’t no M.I.A.  Which isn’t to say that Santogold ain’t fabulous.  Au contraire, it’s perfect downtown club music (for the mild, hip and white).  You can bump, grind, convulse, jump, rapidly move your hands in front of your face, remain mostly still while nodding your head, twirl, whatever.  Also, with the absence of any kind of political message you don’t even have to pretend that you care about real things.

5.  The Magnetic Fields – Distortion

What an aptly titled album.  I’m found of aptly titled things.  I wish Animal Collective and Xiu Xiu would take note and start naming their albums “Weird Crazy Things That Sound Like Woodlawn Creatures and Kitchen Utensils.”  It would be convenient for writing reviews. Anyway, Distortion is Stephen Merritt doing distortion, which means fuzzy, drone-y guitar that lovers can still swoon to, and sad/silly lyrics like “sober, you’re old and ugly; shit-faced, who needs a mirror” (“Too Drunk to Dream”).

Top 5 Songs of 2008

1.  Beach House – “Heart of Chamber” (Devotion)

Honestly, I could have chosen any song from Devotion, but “Heart of Chamber” is the one that gives me the strongest heart palpitations (like remembering a teenage night that never happened).  As I said before, it works, and who needs solid logic?

2.  Beck – “Walls” (Modern Guilt)

My relationship with Beck is similar to my relationship with thrift shopping:  99% of the time I leave the store irritated and resentful; however, maybe once a year I find something absolutely stunning, like amazingly, disgustingly perfect that I forget about all the previous disappointments.  “Walls” is my disgustingly perfect gold lamé romper that I will never wear again.

3.  Okkervil River – “Lost Coastlines” (The Stand Ins)

Apparently there are (self-proclaimed) straight men out there that would “go gay” for Will Sheff.  Who knew.  I cannot make that same declaration, but I will say this:  Jonathan Meiburg’s voice keeps me comfortably heterosexual.

Lucinda Williams - Jailhouse Tears

Benoit Pioulard-Brown Bess

4.  Benoît Pioulard – “Brown Bess” (Temper)

His name is Tom (hint:  he’s not French).  Tom taps into those same otherworldly arrangements that Zach Condon used to convince hipsters that foreign music could be edgy too.  “Brown Bess” is just too pretty to ignore.  I don’t know what he’s singing (it’s in English; he mumbles, I selectively listen), but similar to hearing a beautiful French phrase, do you even care?

5.  Lucinda Williams (ft. Elvis Costello) – “Jailhouse Tears” (Little Honey)

The whole album’s kind of a mess:  a few old-school bluesy ballads, some terrible angry rockers, and a truly frightening AC/DC cover (Lucinda, no).  However, this duet with Costello makes me smile because I think Lucinda’s being a bit cheeky, no?

Top 5 Bands to Think About in 2009

Sybris-Oh Man Alina Simone - Half My Kingdom

Jumbling Towers-Gamble The Pharmacy-Little Toys On A Shelf Doomtree-Dots and Dashes

1.  Sybris

What:  Anti-twee indiepop
Where:  Chicago, IL
Think about:  “Oh Man!”  (Into the Trees, 2008)
More!  http://myspace.com/sybris

2.  Jumbling Towers

What:  Halloween-voiced lad + pop music + geek beats
Where:  St. Louis, MO
Think about:  “Gamble” (Classy Entertainment EP, 2008)
More!  http://myspace.com/jumblingtowers

3.  Alina Simone

What:  Folk/punk
Where:  Brooklyn, NY
Think about:  “Half My Kingdom” (Everyone is Crying Out to Me, Beware, 2008)
More!  http://myspace.com/alinasimone

4.  The Pharmacy

What:  Dirty rotten indie rock
Where:  New Orleans, LA
Think about:  “Little Toys on the Shelf” (Choose Yr. Own Adventure, 2008)
More!  http://myspace.com/pharmacy

5.  Doomtree

What:  White-friendly (read: non-threatening or “not too ghetto”) “smart” hip-hop

Where:  Minneapolis, MN
Think about:  “Dots and Dashes” (Doomtree, 2008)
More!  http://myspace.com/doomtree
Note:  Doomtree is extremely popular within their home state of Minnesota, but have they crossed the border?  Let me know.

 

Links: www.weheartmusic.com podcast.weheartmusic.com news.weheartmusic.com

 01/06/2009 23:06:58  ♥ written by lara ()