W♥M

Roger Waters at T-Mobile Center, Kansas City MO (2022-09-03)

Read More Pink Floyd Pink Floyd is one of the most influential (and not to mention commercially successful) bands in popular music … ROGER WATERS SETLIST Comfortably Numb* The Happiest Days of Our Lives* Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2* Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3* The Powers That Be The Bravery of Being Out of Range The Bar Have a Cigar* Wish You Were Here* Shine On You Crazy Diamond (parts VI-IX) * Sheep* SET TWO In the Flesh* Run Like Hell* Déjà Vu Déjà Vu (Reprise) Is This the Life We Really Want? Money* Us and Them* Any Colour You Like* Brain Damage* Eclipse* Two Suns in the Sunset* The Bar (Reprise) Outside the Wall*

“So ya, thought ya, might like to go to the show, to feel the warm thrill of confusion…”

--Roger Waters, “In the Flesh”

Most musical artists are content to have their live audiences just lean back, cheer them on, and enjoy the show, but for legendary singer-songwriter Roger Waters, the Pink Floyd co-founder compels you much further into his world- one, of not only his own personal and former band’s often tortured history, but the geo- and socio-political history of the modern world itself, as seen through his now 78-year-old eyes.

No simple task indeed, his This Is Not a Drill Tour is a high-production, expertly executed immersive audio-visual arena-sized experience, that is the clearest vision of Waters’ own personal vision to date.

Since Pink Floyd’s unceremonious breakup in the mid ‘80s, it had been the other faction, made of up of remaining members David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, that had been staging more successful and larger scale tours, until the Waters version began to increase in momentum over the last couple decades.

More recently, tours focused on Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, and his previous Us+Them (which opened in KC), has found him selling out arenas regularly once more.

This tour finds Waters playing in-the-round for the first time, on a cross-shaped stage with accompanying massive screen and enhanced audio (& 140 crew members), making every seat in a cavernous arena, able to clearly see and hear what Waters is calling his “first farewell tour” (scheduled for only the US, Canada, & Mexico, UK/EU and other intl. dates are assumed to follow).

His first of two sets, this one sixty-five-minutes in length, was prefaced by a pre-show warning if offended by his politics, to head for the bar now. Thunder clapped as lights when down and a dark, dystopian urban landscape (not unlike in Matrix Revolutions) flashed on-screen, cuing up a downtempo “Comfortably Numb” with near-spoken word vocals and monk choir-esque choruses.

Screen explosions transitioned the set into selections from The Wall, the ten-piece band featured a mix of Waters’ usual collaborators (i.e., Jon Carin- keys, Dave Kilminster- guitar) and more recent cohorts (Jonathan Wilson – guitar, Joey Waronker- drums), all of whom combined for a musically precise show.

The video accompaniment to 1987’s “The Powers That Be” and 1992’s “The Bravery of Being Out of Range” called out authorities for unwarranted killing of minorities (including a Kansas City man) and labeled the last half-dozen US presidents as war criminals for atrocities committed on their watch, as a first serious test of audience member’s fortitude to Waters’ unabashed and extreme political views.

Waters has a new song to correspond with the tour- “The Bar” imagines the arena as a neighborhood pub, one where any and all can go to debate topics, agree to disagree, have a pint, and feel some community – something wishful awash in a sea of so much shown despair.

Side B of 1975’s Wish You Were Here and an impressively extended “Sheep” from 1977’s Animals would end the first act, not only letting the band flex its formidable instrumental muscles, but also let a drone-flown inflatable sheep roam, tumbling end-to-end around each side of the arena.

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The second set (just slightly longer) began with a return to 1979’s landmark The Wall, complete with floating red glowing-eyed sinister pig, hammer banners and animation, and Waters' dictator character saluting the crowd with arms-folded X salutes.

More recent solo songs would follow (likely unfamiliar to most) with Waters still delivering in relatively good (though lower-key) voice and a spry presence of working all four sides of the stage throughout, as he sang, “Every time the curtain falls on some forgotten life, it is because we all stood by, silent and indifferent…” from the title track of 2017’s fourth solo album, Is This the Life We Really Want?, “...it's normal.”

Fans of 1973’s seminal Dark Side of the Moon (who isn’t, really?) were rewarded with Side B of that timeless album, one that has sold nearly 50 million copies and charted just shy of 1000 weeks on the charts.

The set was then winding down, not with a hopeful song of togetherness, but one that highlighted the results of nuclear obliteration, “Two Suns in the Sunset”, the closer from 1983’s brilliant but overlooked The Final Cut, an unofficial Waters solo album due to Wright’s absence and the remaining Floyd members’ minimal contributions.

New song “The Bar” would make a brief return appearance (Waters debuted then-new song “Each Small Candle” in KC in 1999, though we didn’t hear much it of after that tour) and the show would end as The Wall show did, with “Outside the Wall” and each of the band members walking in line behind Waters, taking a well-deserved victory lap around the stage, before screen credits rolled and disappearing into off-stage darkness.

Still the perfectionist, outspoken, cantankerous, and unapologetic personality he’s always been, Roger Waters has long stopped caring about what anyone else thinks, and instead has channeled his energies into his own personal vision, both musically and live, with the added visual aspect. Love that about him (and his political and cultural views) or not, This is Not a Drill is his closest honing of that vision come to life on the live stage, to date.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL TOUR DATES

06 Sep DENVER, CO @ Ball Arena
08 Sep SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
10 Sep PORTLAND, OR @ Moda Center
13 Sep EDMONTON, AB @ Rogers Place
15 Sep VANCOUVER, BC @ Rogers Arena
17 Sep TACOMA, WA @ Tacoma Dome
20 Sep SACRAMENTO, CA @ Golden 1 Center
23 Sep SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Chase Center
24 Sep SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Chase Center
27 Sep LOS ANGELES, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
28 Sep LOS ANGELES, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
01 Oct LAS VEGAS, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
03 Oct GLENDALE, AZ @ Gila River Arena
06 Oct AUSTIN, TX @ Moody Center
08 Oct DALLAS, TX @ American Airlines Center
11 Oct MONTERREY @ Arena Monterrey
14 Oct MEXICO CITY @ Palacio de los Deportes
15 Oct MEXICO CITY @ Palacio de los Deportes

(Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

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

We♥KC- September 1-10, 2022 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence KS)

Read More Idles U.K.’s Idles (stylized as IDLES) announced new album, Crawler (Partisan Records) and their sold-out North American tour – starting it all at St Paul’s Palace Theatre on October 7th. ...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Another extra-sized batch of previews to start the month as summer winds down, but with a flourish of activity. Seems like a more active than usual Labor Day weekend and week following, to keep busy and see as much live music before the weather changes (Oct...err, Rocktober is looking packed too though!)

Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence, KS metro September 1st-10th.

(Several artists are still requiring precautions for entry, so check with the venue and/or assume vaccination proof, might still be required)

Thursday Sept 1

The Driver Era, The Truman. $35-$60

Duo of brother Rocky and Ross Lynch, who were former members of R5. “Malibu” is new single from next month’s Summer Mixtape full-length, and live, have been playing Drake and Michael Jackson covers and a song or two from their previous band.

Three Days Grace, Kansas City Live! $25-$75

The Canadian rock band returns with new single, “Lifetime” from this May’s Explosions album and of course, also have more than two decades of radio hits to draw from.

Friday Sept 2

Idles, The Truman. SOLD OUT

The Bristol UK post hardcore band takes no prisoners live, finally making it to the area after stunning crowds at Coachella and other summer festivals, in support of last November’s Crawler LP. We caught the band live in Minneapolis last fall, just before the new album’s release. Despite their ferocity, they’ve also worked in unexpected Bill Withers and Mariah Carey songs into their recent setlists. As good as they are on record, they are at their most compelling live in-person.

LOCASH, Kansas City Live! Free

We just caught the country music duo of singer-songwriter Preston Brust and Chris Lucas earlier this summer at Country Stampede in Topeka. They have two albums, eight charting singles, and some 500 million global streams, and are riding high at Country Radio with their “Beach Boys” collab with Mike Love and Bruce Johnston from their Woods & Water EP.

Dayseeker, Bottleneck. $22

The Orange County post /metalcore band is out on the road after just announcing new album, Dark Sun and lead single, “Without Me”, but still have strength in 2019’s Sleeptalk album as well.

“Weird Al” Yankovic, Kauffman Center. SOLD OUT

Another chance if you missed his Topeka show! Almost four years after his first foray into unfamiliar territory with his highly acclaimed Ridiculously Self Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, "Weird Al" is pressing his luck again, this time with The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour which follows his 2019 tour performed with a symphony.

The biggest-selling comedy recording artist of all time, Yankovic promises to deliver a different set list every night, with no two shows the same and will feature Yankovic's non-parody material – the more obscure pastiches and original songs adored by his long-time fans with no costumes and in more intimate venues.

Longtime comedian Emo Philips is scheduled to open, making for a solid night and the two were paired on-screen, back when Phillips demonstrated the proper use of a table saw in the film UHF.

Little Texas, SantaCaliGon Days Fest – Independence, Free!

They’ve had several lineup changes over the last twenty-five years, but hits like “God Blessed Texas” and “What Might Have Been” still live on.

Steel Woods, Granada-Lawrence, $15-$18

Nashville country/Southern Rock group had their All of your Stones album released last May and has previously toured with the likes of Cody Johnson, Whiskey Myers, and Blackberry Smoke and has worked John Anderson and Skynyrd covers into recent live sets.

Kansas City Irish Fest, Sept. 2-4, Crown Center, $30 through Sept. 1, $35 at gate; $55-$70 for weekend

Celebrate Irish culture over Labor Day Weekend with more than 300 musicians and entertainers on seven stages, plus beer, whiskey tastings, and much more. Plenty of live music, including perennial favorites, Gaelic Storm and We Banjo 3, who we’ve seen and are always entertained by, and many more.

K.A.A.N. and Demrick, Encore CANCELED

Saturday Sept 3

Roger Waters, T-Mobile Center. $32-$384

His This is Not a Drill Tour may not be his last but might be the last of this massive scale. The show is performed in the round in two set, featuring of course, plenty of Pink Floyd classics, as well as many of his solo songs, in what should be an audio-visual spectacle. The 78 yr-old Waters has become even more cranky and outspoken regarding his ideas on politics, global affairs, and the heath crisis, even posting a warning before the show starts, but the classic nature of the music cannot be denied.

Shinedown, Jelly Roll, John Harvie, Azura Amphitheater, $29.50-$299.50

A solid triple-bill outdoor show headlined by the Jacksonville, FL hard rock band in support of new full-length, Planet Zero and its second single, “Daylight”. Live, look for a cover of Lynyrd Skynrd’s “Simple Man” (a Jacksonville band as well).

Jelly Roll is rising rapper Jason DeFord who released Ballads of the Broken last September and has collab’d with Tech N9ne (maybe he’ll show up) and has new single, “Son of the Dirty South” w Brantley Gilbert.

Arrive early for buzzing Nashville alt punk singer John Harvie whose breakthrough single, “Bleach (on the Rocks)” blew up last year and has a brand-new full-length, Told Ya, out now.

Lonestar, SantaCaliGon Days Fest – Independence, Free!

Known for their late 90s/early00’s country hits, “Amazed”, “Come Cryin’ to Me” and more (and having John Rich as a former member), the longtime band has had member shakeups of their own including their original singer leaving (again) last year but has been dutifully replaced by Sons of the Desert’s Drew Womack.

Sunday Sept 4

Crowbar, Bottleneck. $20

New Orleans brooding aggro-metal band has a new record, March’s Zero and Below out to support, and has been playing since 1990, with even Pantera’s Rex Brown as a former member.

White Linen Party feat. Stokley, Jon B and Love, Mae C, Kansas City Live! $35-$75

It’s the 18th Annual White Linen Party (we don’t have to tell you what color to wear!) featuring Stokley, Jon B and Love, Mae C, and more, happening downtown. We’re definite fans of the Mint Condition singer, as he was a true highlight at the marathon 2016 Prince Tribute Concert and when singing those classics songs live with The Revolution.

Monday Sept 5

Modest Mouse with The Cribs, GrindersKC. $45-$75

(previously postponed due to weather) - This is a great double-bill as well – Washington indie rockers Modest Mouse returned en force with 2021’s The Golden Casket and we caught them live last August, shortly after the record was released. Lead singer Isaac Brock continues to steer their ship and even recently revealed that new and unheard songs with Johnny Marr may be in the near future, which is a wonderful surprise.

Wakefield UK’s brothers Jarman are a band we’ve followed since 2007. The Cribs returned in late 2020 with Night Network, their eighth studio album and we’ll always remember seeing them in St. Paul on August 1, 2007, just after the bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis, collapsed.

The Floozies with Jantsen, Tripp St. and more, GrindersKC. $28-$75

Based in Lawrence, the duo is producer/guitarist Matt Hill and Mark Hill- brothers who take their approach to electronic music and live performance across the country. The Floozies present Funk Street 7, with support from Jantsen, Tripp St, Esseks & Trash Angel. We caught the electro-funk pair last back in 2017 in Minneapolis.

Megalodon, Practicioner, High Zombie and more, Aura. $20

Known for his impressive chopping style and high energy sets, Megalodon is no stranger to the dubstep scene. Since 2008, the SF-based producer has become more known after collaborations with Zeds Dead, Skism, Habstrakt, 12th Planet, Virtual Riot, and more.

Tuesday Sept 6

Dancefestopia, Sept 6-11, Wildwood Outdoor Center, $99 (single day)-$599

Escape to the magical Emerald City and find yourself in a world of enchantment, wonder, and bass at the 10th annual EDM music, arts & camping festival featuring 200+ artists, world-class production, five stages, art installations and more.Nestled in the rolling hills surrounded by forest and pristine lake water, an hour south of KC the lineup goes five days, with the final three being the biggest nights- deadmau5, Louis The Child, Ganja White Night and Seven Lions will all perform headlining sets.

The Joy Formidable, recordBar $23-$25

One of the sad fallouts of the Riot Room closing for good was the cancellation of this previously announced show, but we’re very glad to see it back on the schedule, as we’ve been fans of the Welsh alternative band since we wrote about them in July 2008 when they released their very first single.

We’ve since seen the band multiple times, the last time being in Nov 2018, and they’re out in support of March 2021’s Into the Blue, which they went all the way to Utah to record.

Wednesday Sept 7

Band of Heathens with Dalton Domino, Knuckleheads. $20

The Americana band recently went into their hometown Austin, TX studio deciding to record their own version of the classic Ray Charles album A Message From The People, paying homage to one of the most important voices in American song history. One set will be the performance of the entire album and another set of their own classic songs.

Stick To Your Guns, Granada. $22

Orange County hardcore punk band released a mostly acoustic EP, The Meaning Remains last year, and have followed that up with full-fledged album, Spectre.

Jake La Botz, Electric Influence Tattoo, Free

Returning to his very clever Tattoo Across America Tour, the outlaw blues singer (actor and meditation teacher too) has a new single, “Let it Fall” from the album Hair on Fire, out Sept 9, playing a free 6pm show with Dr. Dave Duly and Tony O. Come for the music, stay for some ink and/or a piercing!

Andy Mineo, Uptown Theater, POSTPONED

Thursday Sept 8

Judah & the Lion w Smallpools, Uptown. $35-$69

We’re big fans of the live experience that is Judah & the Lion, seeing them back in 2014, then watching them refine their sound into a folk/rock n roll/hip-hop meld, and some truly memorable and interactive live shows along the way.

The band is down to a core duo (Judah Akers and Brian Macdonald) but has new album Revival and we’re sure, a solid live show to make new memories with.

Luke Bryan w Riley Green, Mitchell Tenpenny, T-Mobile Center, $49.75-$149.75

The American Idol judge and five-time Entertainer of the year will make a visit on his Raised Up Right Tour with special guests Riley Green and Mitchell Tenpenny.

Kevin Gates, Azura Amphitheater, $49.50-$99.50

The Louisiana rapper has a new full-length, Khaza, out in addition to several mixtapes and has a growing fan base including Puerto Rican and Middle Eastern fans who can relate to his heritage and upbringing struggles.

Friday Sept 9

Twenty One Pilots, T-Mobile Center, $35.50-$190

The Ohio duo of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun are one of 21^st Century music’s true success stories, rising through great word of mouth about their alt hip-hop songs and mesmerizing live performances, through relentless touring to bigger and bigger venues.

THE ICY TOUR with special guest Peter McPoland features a campfire acoustic set and even songs from A and B secondary stages, ensuring everyone on this massive arena tour, will get a good glimpse of the band playing live. They recently did an MTV Unplugged episode and also a mashup of the Stranger Things theme mixed with their own “Heathens” smash hit.

Oceans of Slumber, recordBar, $15

The Houston prog metal band has a brand-new record out, Starlight and Ash, and are out on their Lighthouse East Tour. The band is not afraid to push the boundaries of their own style or the genre itself, commenting, “"We're going to make music, first and foremost, and it falls where it does. The goal is simply to move forward. Whatever is in the past is there and we cannot create the experience of a period that has passed, or the feeling of an experience that is no longer there... "

Sawyer Brown, Bellamy Brothers, Neal McCoy, Azura Amphitheater, $19-$59

KFKF presents Throwback Throwdown 2022 featuring mostly 1990s Country Radio hitmakers Sawyer Brown, Neal McCoy, and Bellamy Brothers, who each have several memorable songs to take you back to simpler times.

The Guess Who, Ameristar, $36.50-$280

Wow- the band formed way back in 1965 in Winnipeg, hits like "These Eyes," "Clap for the Wolfman," and "Hand Me Down World," still are played on classic rock radio and rock anthem "American Woman" remains their best-known and most popular song.

Randy Rainbow, Uptown. $49.50-$75

Delayed several times, it looks like it will finally happen- The New York comedian (yes, Rainbow is his real last name) found his calling when he released a series of original Broadway-tinged-show-tune and pop spoof videos in response to the theatrics of the 2016 presidential election, soon going viral with his political satire and LGBTQ observations.

Matute, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $38-$153

Mexican pop covers six-piece formed back in 2007, out on their Quinceañera World Tour. Baila! Baila!

OM w Zombi, Bottleneck- Lawrence, $25

San Fran experimental stoner/doom metal trio who incorporate some Tibetan and Byzantine chant structures into their songs. Zombi is a Pittsburgh experimental duo that uses looping to create their sound.

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra Riff Generation, Medallion Theater. $25

Brand new jazz ensemble that cultivates new music alongside Kansas City’s fabled heritage of the genre. Part of a stand-alone performance series of new, highly collaborative compositions in a modern examination of the Kansas City “riff style.” Musicians audition for a one-year residency and perform these works in a variety of settings.

Saturday Sept 10

Hanson, Sept 10, Uptown, $39.50-$55

Trio brothers Hanson (Taylor, Isaac, and Zac) released their eighth album, Red Green Blue back in May. The album compiles three solo-led projects from each of the brothers and marks the band’s milestone 30th anniversary. Red is Taylor’s songs, Green is Isaac’s songs, and Blue is Zac’s songs and the band’s return to live stages has been very popular (especially among female fans) as we saw firsthand when we caught them live last week in Minneapolis.

Aishwarya Majmudar, Hy-Vee Arena. $20-$75

The so-called Longest Dance Festival this Navratri season is the Rangtaali Festival with singer Aishwarya Majmudar. This former STAR voice of India winner is energetic and electric and promises to bring out the best Garba dance moves in you.

Michael Bublé T-Mobile Center, $65-$165

The GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum superstar entertainer will be back on the road with his Higher Tour, in support of his new album of the same name, his eleventh, on which he worked with Paul McCartney and Willie Nelson on. Live, he remains captivating to all ages, playing his own songs and covers from Sam Cooke, Dean Martin, Marvin Gaye, and Elvis Presley.

Vista Kicks, recordBar, $20

LA via Roseville, CA rock band who first broke out with 2017’s Booty Shakers Ball and live, remain twenty-something nightmares.

Muscadine Bloodline, Granada- Lawrence, $18-$20

Mobile, AL country duo have a brand-new single out, “Evinrudin” (I’m guessing they like fishing and boating) also putting out their indie EP back in January. Out on their Country Band Contraband Tour, Sundy Best listed as support.

Get Up Kids and more, Lemonade Social, Lemonade Park, $20-$55

Longtime KC emo rockers return, playing debut album, Four Minute Mile and Woodson EP in their entirety.

Ameri’kana Festival, GrindersKC, $20-$75

A fundraiser for Art as Mentorship celebrating the black, indigenous, immigrant and Latino heroes of American music. This family-friendly event features a free block party during the day and a ticketed evening concert at Grinders KC, with appearances from Making Movies, D-Smoke, Steve Berlin and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, The Sensational Barnes Brothers, and Mireya with special guest Asdru Sierra of Ozomatli.

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

The Australian Pink Floyd Show at State Theatre, Minneapolis (08 Sept 2016)

Setlist   Set 1 Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V) Time Breathe (Reprise) On the Turning Away Wish You Were Here Us and Them Any Colour You Like Brain Damage Eclipse The Happiest Days of Our Lives Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 Set 2 Pigs (Three Different Ones) Learning to Fly The Great Gig in the Sky Hey You What Do You Want From Me Sorrow One of These Days Is There Anybody Out There? / Comfortably Numb -- Encore -- Run Like Hell Tour Dates 09/14/16 Living Arts Centre, Mississauga 09/15/16 Centre in the Square, Kitchener 09/16/16 Bell Centre, Montreal 09/17/16 Grande Theatre du Quebec 10/07/16 Rockhal, Luxembourg 10/09/16 De Oosterpoort, Netherlands 10/10/16 013, Tilburg, Netherlands 10/11/16 Cirque Royal, Brussels 10/14/16 Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham 10/15/16 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff 10/17/16 Oxford New Theatre 10/18/16 Colston Hall, Bristol 10/20/16 Guildhall, Portsmouth 10/21/16 Brighton Centre, Brighton 10/22/16 Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith 10/24/16 Regent Theatre, Ipswich 10/25/16 Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham 10/27/16 Liverpool Empire Theatre 10/28/16 First Direct Arena, Leeds 10/29/16 O2 Apollo, Manchester 10/31/16 De Montfort Hall, Leicester 11/01/16 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend Essex 11/03/16 G Live, Guildford 11/04/16 Bournemouth Int'nl Centre 11/05/16 Opera House, Blackpool 11/07/16 City Hall, Sheffield 11/08/16 Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby 11/10/16 Usher Hall, Edinburgh 11/11/16 The SSE Hydro, Glasgow 11/12/16 Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle Read More Australian Pink Floyd Show The “greatest tribute band in the world” The Australian Pink Floyd Show will be performing live at State Theater on Sept 8th. After 20 years of touring and .…

“The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. Oh by the way, which one's Pink?”- Have a Cigar

After decades apart, the core foursome of Pink Floyd finally reunited in 2005 for Live8 for a one-off charity performance, only to have keyboardist Rick Wright pass away a couple years later in 2008, permanently scuttling the chances of any other reunion shows.  And with David Gilmour touring, but not coming within two states of Minnesota, what was a fan to do except see the Pink Floyd experience faithfully recreated in an evening from The Australian Pink Floyd Show, who played the State Theatre last week.

The ensemble, which began in Adelaide Australia in 1988 is arguably the finest tribute show to the legendary band, complete with a stunning light and laser show, giant inflatable, video animations, LED screen technology and most importantly, accurately recreates the music with a tight band lineup and sonically perfect quadrophonic sound mixing.

The music is first and foremost to the band, which largely remains faceless, eschews any costuming or skits, and revolves around the three longstanding core members Steve Mac – guitar/ vocals (1988–present); Colin Wilson – bass / vocals (1993–present); and Jason Sawford – keyboards (1988–present), with the newest additions being recently added vocalist Chris Barnes and bassist/vocalist Ricky Howard.

Modeled largely on the late 80’s David Gilmour-led era of Momentary Lapse of Reason/Division Bell, the band’s two hour-long sets more than thrilled the mostly baby boomer crowd on this, their Best of The Best Tour, which saw them playing songs that almost everyone in the audience knew from classic rock radio, or the original legendary best-selling albums.

Syd Barrett was on the minds early as the ten-piece opened with the first parts of ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ (and would follow soon after with ‘Wish You Were Here’), complete with circular lighted LED screen, three swaying-in-time background vocalists, and sax player Mike Kidson who would appear then disappear as his parts surfaced.

‘Time’ had the traditional clock images on-screen and after ‘On the Turning Away’, a flash montage of Australian images mixed with Floydian iconic logos reminded everyone that the band was indeed from down under. As a Dark Side of the Moon-era ‘Brain Damage’ and ‘Eclipse’ played, a series of political images were on-screen, mainly of the UK’s recent Brexit vote to leave the EU and the related politicians, obviously making a sublime statement someone like Roger Waters himself, would have done.

The band kept conversation to a bare minimum, wisely focusing instead on the music and getting as many songs into the setlist as possible, and had everyone clapping along with opening set closer, ‘Another Brick in the Wall Part 2’, which even found the most passionate fans raising their arms in an X-shape, like was done in the scene of ‘The Wall’ film.

The 1977 Animals album was well represented with the second-set opening ‘Pigs (Three Different Ones)’ then the band jumped ten years forward to the Gilmour-fueled single, ‘Learning to Fly’.  Guitarists Mac and David Domminney Fowler particularly shone, often effortlessly crunching the faithful riffs during solos and sometimes adding a subtle note or two to make things their own.

The multiple lead vocalists (Barnes, Howard, Mac, Fowler) re-creating those Waters and Gilmour parts, all flowed smoothly and had the pitch and tone of the original recordings.

‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ from 1973’s Dark Side, was a vocal showcase for all three background singers (Emily Lynn; Lara Smiles; and Lorelei McBroom) to each take a verse, with singer McBroom finishing the song and rising it to heights that rivaled the Clare Torry original vocal.

‘What Do You Want From Me’ and ’Sorrow’ were somewhat setlist surprises, supplanting bigger hits like ‘Money’, but were a great spotlight for guitarists Mac and Fowler, who displayed vocal skills in addition to the exemplary guitar work.

The throbbing bassline of ‘One of These Days’ also brought out the lasers and huge inflatable pink kangaroo nicknamed Skippy (a suitable Australian substitute for Pink Floyd’s own inflatable pig), which had two hidden road crew members pushing against it from the back to bob (or hop) in time to the song.

After a set-closing ‘Comfortably Numb’, the audience shouts of “one more song!” were answered with a cutting ‘Run Like Hell’, with slashing, dueling riffs from Mac and Fowler, like on the original and the crowd standing and clapping along once more.

The mark of an ideal tribute band is to be able to close your eyes and to listen to the live music faithfully re-create the spirit of the original, then open your eyes and feel like the visuals are authentic as well.  With said criteria, The Australian Pink Floyd Show succeeds on both counts, and helps answer the question today, in 2016, as to which one’s Pink.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show at State Theatre, Minneapolis (08 Sept 2016)

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

Hollywood Vampires, John Mellencamp and more at Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala, St Paul (17 July 2016)

John Mellencamp Setlist Pink Houses Stones in My Passway (Robert Johnson cover) Save Some Time to Dream Jack and Diane Hollywood Vampires Setlist Intro/ Raise the Dead Pinball Wizard (The Who cover) My Generation (The Who cover) Sweet Emotion (Aerosmith cover) School's Out / Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd cover) The Tenors Setlist Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover) Funiculì, Funiculà Elvis Medley: Suspicious Minds / Always on my Mind/ O Sole Mio / It's Now or Never/ Can't Help Falling in Love with You Nessun Dorma Trent Harmon Setlist Stand By Me (Ben E. King cover) Tennessee Whiskey Maddie and Tae Setlist Fly John Mellencamp Tour Dates 09/17/16 Bristow, VA "Farm Aid" 10/11/16 Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre 10/12/16 Utica, NY Stanley Center 10/14/16 Wilkes-Barre, PA F.M. Kirby Center 10/15/16 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel, Casino 10/18/16 Hershey, PA Hershey Theatre 10/19/16 Akron, OH Akron Civic Theatre 10/21/16 Toledo, OH Stranahan Theater 10/22/16 Niagara Falls, NY Seneca Niagara Resort 10/25/16 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre 10/26/16 Richmond, KY EKU Center For The Arts 10/28/16 Columbia, MO Jesse Auditorium 10/30/16 Ames, IA Stephens Auditorium 11/01/16 Lincoln, NE Lied Center 11/02/16 Sioux Falls, SD Washington Pavilion 11/04/16 Grand Forks, ND Chester Fritz Auditorium Hollywood Vampires Tour Dates 07/22/16 Rohnert Park, CA Weill Hall 07/23/16 Jacksonville, OR "Britt Festivals" 07/24/16 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery 07/25/16 Paso Robles, CA California Mid-State Fair The Tenors Tour Dates 07/29/16 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre 07/30/16 Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery 12/11/16 Newark, NJ Prudential Hall Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Not in the sky, but actually were on hand for The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala, which generated a record $9.5 million dollars to accelerate the pace ....

In terms of the senses, hearing is likely the most critical for any musician,

And so, it makes sense that so many musicians, as well as celebrities, sports figures, and dignitaries all descended on St Paul over the weekend to attend The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala, which generated a record $9.5 million dollars to accelerate the pace and scope of Starkey Hearing Foundation missions and locally help to support grants for area nonprofits.

Previously, we covered the red carpet and arrivals; now, we want to focus on the gala itself and its many memorable music performances.

With a full orchestra on hand, the program began promptly at 5:30 in a large upstairs ballroom with the attendees enjoying their dinner and drinks at ten-person tables.  An introductory video was shown (with numerous celebrity cameos) to get the festivities started and then Canadian group The Tenors sang their version of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’, complete with an eagle flying over the onlooking crowd.

Usually a quartet, the operatic group has for now slimmed down to a trio, the result of fallout from an unexpected verse (by a now former member) during the Canadian national anthem earlier in the week at the MLB All-Star Game, which resulted in his expulsion.

Comedian Jay Leno got things going with a few jokes, and several videos of Starkey mission trips were shown, where people young and old, were seen receiving the benefits of this ever-constant humanitarian program. Executive director and co-founder of PACER, Paula F. Goldberg was then honored and included an impassionate plea against bullying, in her acceptance speech.

Hollywood Vampires members Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp took to the podium to describe their mission experience with the Foundation, while the band was on tour playing Rock in Rio in Brazil as well as Lisbon.  Depp joked about the road life, saying “I went to sleep in Detroit and woke up next to a Charlie Brown statue in St. Paul” and Cooper mentioned that seeing children, parents and grandparents hear for the first time, was truly the highpoint of their touring.

Jay Leno then returned for a full comedy routine, covering politics, everyday life, his older technology, and getting older during his twenty-five minute routine, which closed with a “Minnesota hunting joke”.  The most recent American Idol winner Trent Harmon was next, playing a soulful version of ‘Stand By Me’, followed by his own original, ‘Tennessee Whiskey”.

Country duo Maddie and Tae prefaced their lone (but appropriate) song, ‘Fly’, from last year’s Start Here (on Republic Records) with a story of sponsoring a recent video contest to promote hearing awareness among the nation’s high schools.

Starkey founder Bill Austin centered his Founder’s speech on a Civil War officer saving his descendent, making the point of the difference that a single person can make, followed by a forty-minute auction segment (which raised the majority of funds for the evening), including even a mission to Jamaica, taking place at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studios.

All-star band Hollywood Vampires roared out of the gate next, for a loud and energetic half-hour that no doubt vibrated the wine glasses of every table near the front, making many reach for the complimentary ear plugs on each table.

In addition to Cooper and Depp, the band was ably rounded out by STP bassist Robert DeLeo, G’nR/Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum, Bruce Witkin, and from Cooper’s band, Tommy Henriksen, with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry still missing since an on-stage collapse the previous weekend at Coney Island.

After playing a pair of Who covers, Depp had to fill in on the talkbox for Perry on ‘Sweet Emotion’ and the group ended with Cooper’s own, ‘School’s Out’. “If you don’t know this song, you were never a teenager”, Depp quipped to the tuxedo and ball gown crowd.

Immediately following, Depp’s guitar was auctioned for $60,000 to a lucky bidder, with a competing bidder also winning a signed guitar for the same donation amount.

Right Honourable Tony Blair (UK Prime Minister 1997-07) was honored following, breaking the ice by admitting he always wanted to be Alice Cooper and expanded on his work with the Africa Governance Initiative, in furthering development on the continent.

The Tenors returned with more gusto, weaving through the crowd for ‘Funiculì, Funiculà’ before returning to the stage for a swinging Elvis medley that included ‘Suspicious Minds’ and ‘It’s Now or Never’ and ended with a larynx-stretching version of the operatic classic, ‘Nessun Dorma’.

Jennifer Garner seemed genuinely humbled and awestruck for being honored as an advocate for early childhood education and trustee for Save the Children, and singer John Mellencamp (who arrived late enough to miss any red carpet) closed out the evening with a four-song, twenty minute set starting with classic, ‘Pink Houses’.

Playing with longtime guitarist Mike Wanchic, Violinist Miriam Sturm, and two background singers, the intimate set continued with bluesman Robert Johnson’s ‘Stones in My Passway’, rich with Wanchic’s slide guitar work. Mellencamp then stepped back to let his singers take the vocals for ‘Save Some Time to Dream’ because “their voices deliver a lot better than my old raspy voice”, he said. 

The all-American ‘Jack and Diane’ ended the set (and evening) with many up out of their chairs waving hands above heads and singing along to the stripped down, slower version.

“If you want a better world, it starts with you”, Mellencamp said, leaving the stage, managing to casually encompass the message of the night in one short sentence.  Using hearing as a vehicle to change lives around the world, the Starkey Foundation embodies Mellencamp’s statement, providing a gift to so many, “So the World May Hear”.

Photo Gallery:

The Tenors

The Tenors

Paula F Goldberg

Jay Leno

Bill Austin

The Tenors at The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala (17 July 2016)

Hollywood Vampires

Hollywood Vampires

Hollywood Vampires

Hollywood Vampires

Hollywood Vampires

Hollywood Vampires at The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala (17 July 2016)

Tony Blair

Jennifer Garner

John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp at The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala (17 July 2016)

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

Minneapolis Music Guide: September 28 - September 30, 2014

As a precursor to Rocktober in Minneapolis, this is the weekly Minneapolis live concert guide for the last few days of September ONLY.

For the month of October, we will preview multiple shows, starting this Friday, simply because traditionally there are just too many shows crammed into the month of October. For example, last year W♥M covered a record-breaking 46 shows in October!! We're not going to remotely try and beat last year's numbers .... but, for sure, we're definitely going to be really busy.

You may be wondering why October is crazy busy? It is because we're getting a ton national and international bands coming to and from CMJ Music Festival in New York (East), Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas (South), Coral Skies Music Festival in Florida (Southeast) and TBD Music Festival in Sacramento (West). Plus, bands are just generally out touring for their new album, which are usually released four quarter.

Anyway, here is the weekly guide of some Minneapolis live concerts and events from September 28 to September 30.

Read More Lykke Li I spent the better part of Saturday listening to Youth Novels from Sweden's Lykki Li, who I'm previously smitten with. "Track 3" is "I'm Good, I'm Gone", which is possibly the best song on the album. Now, I've heard this song …

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
FIRST AVENUE
Lykke Li w/ Mapei

What a great way to start the week: with Sweden's Lykke Li! Lykke Li is out touring in support of her latest album I Never Learn, out now on Atlantic Records/LL Recordings.

For this US Fall tour, Lykke Li asked her idol Mapei to go on tour with her. Says Lykke Li, "I am beyond excited and thrilled to announce that my dear friend Mapei will come on tour with me. It is insanely symbolic to me as she's been my idol ever since I saw her the first time when I was 17. She was the coolest thing I've ever seen and she dared me to follow my dream.... First stop was her Bushwick apartment and many open mics, bruised hearts, blood, sweat and tears later we will join forces again to tour America. Don't you dare miss it."

With that glowing endorsement, we cannot wait to check out Mapei!

Lykke Li with Mapei US tour dates:

09/22/14 San Diego, CA @ North Park Theatre
09/23/14 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
09/27/14 Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
09/28/14 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
09/30/14 Toronto, ON @ Kool Hausv
10/01/14 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
10/03/14 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
10/04/14 New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/06/14 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
10/08/14 Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
10/09/14 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
10/10/14-10/12/14 Miami, FL @ MANA Wynwood

Read More Bishop Allen It's not even December, but Target is giving away Christmas gifts with their exclusive 13 holiday songs for free at target.com. "You'll Never Find My Christmas" by Bishop Allen "Get Down for the Holidays" by Jenny O. …

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
7TH STREET ENTRY
Bishop Allen w/ Ancient Mariner

Over next door, at the 7th Street Entry, are Bishop Allen (mostly a duo of Justin Rice and Christian Rudder) and Ancient Mariner (the solo project started by Gabriel Jorgensen).

Bishop Allen are currently on tour in support of their latest album Lights Out, out now on Dead Oceans, a sister label to Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar.

Tour dates:

09/26/14 Bloomington, IN The Back Door
09/27/14 Pygmalion Music Festival
09/28/14 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
10/02/14 Seattle, WA Lo-Fi
10/03/14 Spokane, WA The Bartlett
10/04/14 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
10/05/14 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop
10/07/14 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater
10/08/14 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
10/10/14 Denver, CO Hi-Dive
10/14/14 Hamden, CT The Ballroom

Read More YACHT It's no secret that I like YACHT (Young Americans Challenging High Technology). What's more interesting is that modern YACHT is different from early YACHT. Personally, I think YACHT is much, much better with Claire L. Evans. . …

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
FINE LINE MUSIC CAFE
Panda Bear w/ YACHT and Blues Control

I'm gutted that I cannot attend this show, particularly because I absolutely love seeing YACHT (currently featuring Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans) the last time they played in Minneapolis. Seems the band is opening up for Panda Bear (aka Noah Lennox of Animal Collective).

Also on the bill is Blues Control from Woodstock of east Pennsylvania.

Oddly enough, the Minneapolis date is the only date that does not feature White Fang, whom YACHT is currently tour with. YACHT's latest release is "Plastic Soul" single, which came out January 2014... although lately, the band is interested in promoting their iOS app "5 Every Day".

UPDATE: Sorry, going off old information, their latest release is "Where Does This Disco?", which came out on Downtown Records earlier this month, September 9th, 2014.

YACHT tour dates:

09.22.14 – Rough Trade – Brooklyn, NY *
09.24.14 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA *
09.26.14 – The Hoxton – Toronto, ON *
09.27.14 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL *
09.28.14 – Fine Line Music Cafe – Minneapolis, MN
10.01.14 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR *
10.02.14 – Fortune Sound Club – Vancouver, BC *
10.03.14 – Neumos – Seattle, WA *
10.05.14 – TBD Festival – Sacramento, CA *

* with White Fang

Read More Mount Eerie I wrote about Mount Eerie (aka Phil Elverum) about four years ago and mentioned that they were originally called Microphones. Changing the name was understandable, considering the modern Google search thing. …

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER
Mount Eerie w/ Waveless

There is a new 12-track album called Sauna from Mount Eerie, coming out in 2015 via P.W. Elverum & Sun in early 2015. The theme of the album is listed as "vikings and zen and real life." It comes after over 15 months of solo production in The Unknown, a studio in Anacortes, Washington housed in a reclaimed church.

Apparently, Mount Eerie will be showcasing the new material as "extremely stripped down" versions on this upcoming September tour.

Opening up for the Minneapolis show will be local trio Waveless, featuring Hannah Kathleen (is that a nod to the riot grrrl Kathleen Hanna?), Jared Sather and Dustin McChesney.

Tour dates:

09/22 - Annandale-on-Hudson, NY- Bard College
09/23 - Brooklyn, NY- The Trans-Peco
09/24 - New York, NY- le Poisson Rouge
09/25 - Oberlin, OH- Dionysus Club
09/26 - Gambier, OH- Kenyon College
09/27 - Chicago, Ill.- Co-Prosperity Sphere
09/28 - Minneapolis, Minn.- Cedar Cultural Center
09/29 - Minot, N.D.- Pangea House

Read More La Roux La Roux recently released The Gold Edition digitally via amazon.com and iTunes on February 8th. I didn't know this, but amazon offered this album as an exclusive and will ship you a CD-R …

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
FIRST AVENUE
La Roux w/ Midnight Magic

If you follow W♥M coverage, we tend to really love British bands. We've had our eye on London's La Roux (featuring singer Elly Jackson and record producer Ben Langmaid) for a while now .... ever since their single "Bulletproof" hit the Billboard Hot 100 charts. We also love that one of our favorite bands, New Order, also heavily endorse the band and semi-recently asked them to tour with them.

La Roux is currently in American to promote their latest album, Trouble In Paradise (Cherrytree/Interscope), the followed-up to their GRAMMY Award winning self-titled debut.

Opening up for La Roux is Midnight Magic, a "cosmic disco" band from New York, featuring music vets Morgan Wiley and W. Andrew Raposo, and vocalist Tiffany Roth.

La Roux USA tour dates:

09/22/2014 Oakland, CA Fox Theatre
09/23/2014 Los Angeles, CA The Fonda Theatre
09/26/2014 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
09/27/2014 Boulder, CO Boulder Theatre
09/29/2014 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
10/01/2014 Chicago, IL Concord Music Hall
10/02/2014 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
10/04/2014 New York, NY Terminal 5

Read More Drowners The only thing I knew about Drowners coming into this show was that I thought they took their name from Suede's debut single, "The Drowners". As soon as they exploded on stage with "How the f*** are you Minneapolis?," I knew I would like …

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
7TH STREET ENTRY
Drowners w/ Bully

Since New York's Drowners and Nashville's Bully are playing next door (at the 7th Street Entry), I may end up trying to cover both shows (La Roux and Drowners).

The first time I saw Drowners (at First Avenue 04/24/2014), they blew me away and I would love to see them again for this Dr Martens #STANDFORSOMETHING Tour 2014.

AND YES, I will make sure to wear my 8-hole Dr Martens.

Meet the bands at these Dr Martens shops:

Dr. Martens In-Store Meet & Greet
09.25 Columbus, OH 1764 N High St.
09.27 Chicago, IL 1561 N. Milwaukee Ave
09.29 Minneapolis, MN Mall of America
10.02 Seattle, WA 1527 4th Ave
10.03 Portland, OR 10 NW 10th Ave
10.06 San Francisco, CA 1621 Haight St.
10.09 Santa Monica, CA 1215 3rd St Promenade
10.11 Scottsdale, AZ 15257 N Scottsdale Rd
10.21 Washington DC 3108 M Street NW
10.22 Philadelphia, PA 1710 Walnut St.
10.28 New York, NY 148 Spring St.
10.29 Boston, MA 201 Newbury St.

See the live shows:

#STANDFORSOMETHING Tour Dates: 09/25 - Columbus, OH @ Rumba Café 09/27 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen 09/28 - Madison, WI @ The Frequency 09/29 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry 10/02 - Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern 10/03 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Lounge 10/06 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent 10/07 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo 10/08 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room 10/10 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar

10/11 - Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock 10/13 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's BBQ (inside) 10/15 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 10/16 - Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's Downstairs 10/17 - New Orleans, LA @ Circle Bar 10/18 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 10/20 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 10/21 - Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel 10/22 - Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle 10/28 - Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade 10/29 - Boston, MA @ Great Scott

Read More Benjamin Booker New Orleans' Benjamin Booker opened up the show with a 40-min performance of this nice mix of rock/punk/blues fusion music. We recently caught Booker at Northside Festival, in New York …

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
TURF CLUB
Benjamin Booker w/ Blank Range

New Orleans' Benjamin Booker came to our attention when he wowed us in New York for Northside Festival. We had to confirm it ourselves, when we caught Booker at the sold out show with Courtney Barnett in at the Varsity Theater.

Now Booker is back in Minneapolis, supporting his debut self-titled debut album (ATO Records), and he triumphantly sold out the recently remodeled Turf Club in St Paul.

If you've never heard Booker's music, check out his recent (September 2014) live recording on Spotify Sessions.

Tour dates:

09/25/14 Nashville, TN High Watt
09/26/14 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
09/27/14 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
09/29/14 Saint Paul, MN Turf Club
10/01/14 Kansas City, MO sRecord Bar
10/03/14 Dallas, TX Three Links Event Center
10/04/14 Austin City Limits Music Festival
10/10/14 Austin, TX Continental Club
10/11/14 Austin City Limits Music Festival
10/17/14 Birmingham, AL BottleTree
10/18/14 Atlanta, GA Vinyl At Center Stage
10/20/14 Washington, DC U Street Music Hall
10/21/14 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
10/22/14 Cambridge, MA T.T. The Bear's
10/24/14 Tallahassee, FL Club Downunder
10/25/14 Coral Skies Music Festival
10/26/14 Coral Skies Music Festival
10/29/14 Orlando, FL The Social
10/30/14 Gainesville, FL High Dive
10/31/14 Mobile, AL Soul Kitchen
11/01/14 Voodoo Experience
11/06/14 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
11/07/14 Brooklyn, NY Baby's All Right

Read More The Drums Spirited Brooklyn rock band The Drums recently released “I Can’t Pretend,” the dreamy second single off their brand new LP Encyclopedia, slated to be released September 23rd on Minor Records. The single is the …

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
TRIPLE ROCK SOCIAL CLUB
The Drums w/ Beverly

Hopefully, if it works out, we may also be covering The Drums and Beverly over at the Triple Rock Social Club.

Beverly is out on tour in support of their debut album Careers (out now on Kanine Records).

The debut is said to be written by Drew Citron and Frankie Rose (we last saw her open up for Franz Ferdinand) and combines raw pop, post-punk, and dreamy harmonies.

Beverly live dates:

Tour dates:

Sep 22 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
Sep 24 Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Mile End *
Sep 25 Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall *
Sep 27 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge *
Sep 29 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club *
Oct 01 Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre *
Oct 02 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
Oct 05 Los Angeles, CA @ Mayan Theatre *
Oct 06 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music *
Oct 08 Portland, OR @ Star Theater *
Oct 09 Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
Oct 10 Vancouver, BC @ Fortune Sound Club *

* w/ The Drums

Read More Pink Floyd Pink Floyd is one of the most influential (and not to mention commercially successful) band in popular music. By now I'm sure you've all heard that the British band had confirmed …

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
ORPHEUM THEATRE
The Australian Pink Floyd Show

Pink Floyd tribute band, The Australian Pink Floyd Show are famous for their amazing recreation of the look, feel, and sound of Pink Floyd's later world tours. Clearly, based on their attempts at recreating David Gilmour's guitar setup and tour designs... this Australian band worships Pink Floyd. Even Gilmour likes these guys - he personally asked the band to perform at his 50th birthday party!

So if you love Pink Floyd, you cannot afford to miss this tribute band.

North American tour dates:

09/22/14 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre
09/24/14 San Diego, CA Humphrey's Concerts
09/25/14 Mesa, AZ Mesa Arts Center
09/26/14 Las Vegas, NV Pearl Concert Theater
09/27/14 Salt Lake City, UT Usana Amphitheatre
09/28/14 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
09/30/14 Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre
10/01/14 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theatre
10/02/14 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
10/03/14 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
10/04/14 Saint Charles, MO The Family Arena
10/07/14 Miami Beach, FL Fillmore Miami Beach
10/08/14 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
10/10/14 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
10/11/14 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theatre
10/12/14 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem Event
10/14/14 Pittsburgh, PA Heinz Hall
10/15/14 Buffalo, NY UB Center For The Arts
10/17/14 Albany, NY Palace Theatre
10/18/14 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
10/19/14 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
10/21/14 Quebec City, QC Quebec Colisee Pepsi
10/22/14 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
10/24/14 Windsor, ON Caesars Windsor
10/25/14 Rama, ON Casino Rama Entertainment
10/26/14 New York, NY Best Buy Theater

Read More The Janoskians The Janoskians (Just Another Name Of Silly Kids In Another Nation) are a YouTube comedy entertainment group from Melbourne, Australia (but currently based in Los Angeles). …

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
VARSITY THEATER
The Janoskians

I recently tried to explain how massive The Janoskians are. Basically, these young Australian kids are YouTube stars with millions of followers. Expect them to be more known the masses when Lionsgate release their film!

The Janoskians are currently on their "Got Cake Tour" in America.

09/22 Atlanta, GA//The Tabernacle
09/23 Charlotte, NC// Fillmore Charlotte
09/25 Louisville, KY//Mercury Ballroom
09/26 Indianapolis, IN //Deluxe
09/27 Detroit, MI//The Fillmore Detroit
09/28 Chicago, IL//House of Blues - Chicago
09/30 Minneapolis, MN//Varsity Theater
10/02 Cincinnati, OH//Bogart's
10/03 Cleveland, OH//House of Blues
10/05 Toronto, ON//Kool Haus
10/07 Montreal, QC//Metropolis
10/09 Upper Darby, PA//Tower Theatre
10/10 Montclair, NJ//The Wellmont Theatre
10/11 New York, NY//Irving Plaza
10/12 New York, NY//Irving Plaza
10/14 Boston, MA//House of Blues
10/15 Silver Spring, MD// Fillmore Silver Spring
10/19 Dallas, TX//House of Blues - Dallas
10/20 Houston, TX//House of Blues - Houston
10/23 San Diego, CA//House of Blues - San Diego
10/24 Riverside, CA//Riverside Municipal
10/25 Los Angeles, CA//The Wiltern
10/27 San Francisco, CA//The Fillmore
10/29 Vancouver, BC//Vogue Theatre
10/30 Seattle, WA//Showbox at the Market

Read More Cate Le Bon A recent movie to California has injected more melody to her songs, bringing some sunshine into her Wales cloudiness, as evidenced on “I Think I Knew”, a duet with Perfume Genius. …

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
TRIPLE ROCK SOCIAL CLUB
Perfume Genius w/ Matteah Baim

Seattle's Mike Hadreas, or otherwise known as Perfume Genius, is stopping by Minneapolis on September 30th, as part of his tour to support his new album Too Bright, (out September 23 on Matador Records). You may recall that Perfume Genius recently sang a duet "I Think I Knew" with Welsh singer Cate Le Bon earlier this year.

Opening up for Hadreas will be Matteah Baim, from New York, out touring in support of her third studio album Falling Theater (Dream Drive Records/Kobalt Music).

The tour kicks off September 26.

Perfume Genius / 2014 North American Tour
09/26 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT
09/27 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO
09/29 - Riot Room - Kansas City, MO
09/30 - Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
10/01 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
10/02 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
10/04 - Virgin Mobile Mod Club - Toronto, ON
10/06 - Brighton Music Hall - Allston, MA
10/07 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - New York, NY
10/08 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA
10/09 - The Hamilton - Washington, DC
10/10 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC
10/11 - Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA
10/13 - Three Links - Dallas, TX
10/14 - The Parish - Austin, TX
10/16 - Club Congress - Tucson, AZ
10/17 - Soda Bar - San Diego, CA
10/19 - Roxy Theater - Los Angeles, CA
10/21 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA
10/22 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
10/24 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
10/25 - Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA

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

News: Pink Floyd to release The Endless River

Read More Pink Floyd Pink Floyd had several names: Sigma 6, The Meggadeaths, The (Screaming) Abdabs (or Architectural Abdabs), Leonard's Lodgers, The Spectrum Five and The Tea Set. …

Pink Floyd is one of the most influential (and not to mention commercially successful) band in popular music.

By now I'm sure you've all heard that the British band had confirmed a brand new album called The Endless River, due out in October 2014. This will be their first album since 1994's The Division Bell*.

Additional details, as confirmed on their website:

Pink Floyd can confirm that they are releasing a new album, The Endless River, in October 2014. It is an album of mainly ambient and instrumental music based on the 1993/4 Division Bell sessions which feature David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. The album is produced by David Gilmour with Phil Manzanera, Youth and recording engineer Andy Jackson. Work is still in progress, but more details to come at the end of the summer.

* The Division Bell's 20th Anniversary was recently re-issued last month as a deluxe edition, featuring the record in double LP vinyl, the CD (in a new sleeve), Blu-Ray 5.1 audio mix, music videos, High Hopes clear 7" vinyl, High Hopes blue vinyl etched 12", Take It Back red vinyl, four 12x12 Art Print, and booklet. And yes, it's expensive. Definitely meant for the diehard collectors.

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

W♥M185: What's in a Name?

W♥M185 (52 mins) Read More Sinead O'Connor I love Sinead O'Connor. Probably not as much as she loves Bob Dylan, but I have been obsessed with her songs for a long time now. A few years ago, she released How About I Be Me (and You Be You) .…

The legendary Ryan is back on W♥M Radio! We recorded a special "tech-talk" section, but I will have to save it for a future non-music podcast.

Up for topics:

What's in a name? (courtesy of www.nme.com)

Fleet Foxes was first called Pineapple, but they had to change the name since there was another local band going by Pineapple.

Elastica originally called themselves Onk and Vaseline (but they had to change it when The Vaselines threatened them legally). So in 1993, they became Elastica.

Radiohead was called On A Friday in 1995 because that's when they met to rehearse.

Oasis originally named themselves after a Beatles song called "The Rain", so the band name was Rain.

Blur was called Seymour

Coldplay originally started as Pectoralz, and then changed their name to Starfish.

Pink Floyd had several names: Sigma 6, The Meggadeaths, The (Screaming) Abdabs (or Architectural Abdabs), Leonard's Lodgers, The Spectrum Five and The Tea Set.

The Detour became The Who in February 1964... then that summer they changed their name to The High Numbers. When that didn't take off, they changed their name back to The Who.

Bjork was in several bands before going solo: Spit and Snot, Sugarcubes, and Gling-Gló,

SINEAD O'CONNOR
O'Connor will be in America to do a series of residency dates in November 2013. Originally the tour was to take place in 2011, but that was quietly canceled due to various personal reasons. See complete tour dates on our previous article.

FATHER JOHN MISTY
Ryan's last gig was for Father John Misty (you can read more about him here). Seems like FJM will be returning to life on the road later this year:

08/24/13 Monterey, CA Monterey Co. Fairgrounds
10/06/13 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
10/07/13 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
10/08/13 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
10/11/13 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
10/12/13 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
10/13/13 Madison, WI Capitol Theater
10/14/13 Pontiac, MI Crofoot Ballroom
10/18/13 New York, NY Town Hall
10/22/13 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
10/23/13 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
10/24/13 Richmond, VA The National
10/25/13 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle
10/26/13 Athens, GA Georgia Theatre
10/28/13 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
10/29/13 Austin, TX Emo's
10/31/13 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
11/01/13 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
11/02/13 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern

BELLE & SEBASTIAN AND GOD HELP THE GIRL
We love B&S and GHTP, it's only too bad they're only playing big festivals at the moment.

08/17/13 "Paredes De Coura"
08/30/13 "Zurich Open Air"
09/01/13 "End Of The Road Festival"

Ryan is gutted that he could not attend the London premier of the GHTP Musical Film, but we have an article on the Los Angeles premier. Apparently Stuart Murdoch's wife is preggers, according to the report.

Jennifer writes that the film was "Stuart’s story of the forming of Belle and Sebastian", so if you love B&S, it's definitely worth looking into.

As for the rest of God Help the Girl:
Asya who appeared on GHTP is currently in Chaos Chaos, but previously in Smoosh.

Neil Hannon (aka Divine Comedy) who appeared on the GHTP album is in a project called The Duckworth Lewis Method. Their new album Sticky Wickets came out last month, July 2013.

T.A.T.U.
Ryan tries to forget t.A.T.u. rather unsuccessfully. No idea what the two Russian girls are up to these days, but Vu is still in love with Julia Volkova.

Apparently there was a t.A.T.u. reunion four or five years ago. Then as recently as in last year, in various interviews Julia and her t.A.T.u. partner Lena Katina does not keep in contact. That's is untrue, apparently the two will team-up once more to play Kiev (Ukraine) on September 27th, while Lena is playing Hangar 110 in Sao Paulo on November and Cologne in Germany October 5-6th.

Julia recently appeared in a few singles in 2012: Lyubov Suka/Back to her Future and Любовь-Сука (feat Dilma Bilan). She also appeared in a film called "Zombie Fever". Lena will be releasing a new solo album in 2013.

CLOUD
The impossible to find Cloud band has an album called Comfort Songs that Ryan really loves. The album came out last week (August 5th) via Audio Antihero Records.

Song of the show is "Stomach Pit" from the album, which you can find more information on their bandcamp.

Bonus: XBONE or PS4? Cherie Currie from the Runaways is a 'cherry bomb'. Red Hot Chili Peppers could have been called Tony Flow And The Miraculously Majestic Masters Of Mayhem, or as Ryan would have it as TFATMMMoM.

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Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on podomatic.com

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