W♥M

Heart to Gold at 7th St Entry, Minneapolis (06 Dec 2022)

Read More Heart To Gold If there is a place to be, it’s at Heart to Gold’s very first headlining show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on December 6th. This is right before the band heads out on a national tour with Born Without Bones (which starts 12/08 in New Jersey). …

Heart to Gold headlined the 7th St Entry, in Minneapolis, last night, December 6th. The local band previously opened for Hunny, Remo Drive, Hockey Dad, Dingus, and Jeff Rosenstock, etc., but this show was special because it was their first headlining show. And it was sold-out.

On a brisk winter evening in Minnesnowta, I made a rookie mistake and didn’t check in the social media platforms to get set times for a solid lineup of local acts. I missed the entire sets of Lapdogs and Killusonline.

Lapdogs has been on my radar ever since their 2020 release “Teeth”. “Hold yer Horses” is one of the better local tracks I’ve heard the last five years. If they make more tracks like “Skeletons” (newest single), “40 hrs”, and “Chasing my Tail”, they will be on the right trail.

Killusonline was the electronic blend of the rock group. “Inside Out” and “Ura Gona” are two of the latest singles.

Gramma

Gramma was third on the bill and was able to catch a couple tracks. Love the instrumentals but the vocals were a little heavy for me.

Now, on to the stars of the show, Heart to Gold. I’ve been wanting to see a local band pull off a mosh pit with ease. A sold-out show at the 7th Street Entry with rabid/die-hard fans causing quite the scene and crowd participation. They even had a ring leader of the mosh that would climb on the pipes on the ceiling and surf back into the crowd. Fans would climb on stage and jump right in for crowd surfing, including the bandmates from Gramma on the encore.

“Respect”, “Tigers Jaw” and “Tokyo” the first track off their 2018 release got the crowd in a frenzy. They skipped out on my favorite track “Wave” off the new record but played most of the others off the 2022 release “Tom”.

For fans of The Orwells, Blink 182, and Rise Against, this is the band for you.

Heart of Gold is heading to the east coast and Chicago for a small tour with Born without Bones and Housewife all starting this weekend through December 18th.

Tour dates:

Dec 8 Asbury Park, NJ, US The Saint
Dec 9 Brooklyn, NY, US The Broadway
Dec 10 Hartford, CT, US Webster Underground
Dec 11 Somerville, MA, US Crystal Ballroom
Dec 12 Philadelphia, PA, US Kung Fu Necktie
Dec 14 Lakewood, OH, US Mahall's 20 Lanes
Dec 15 Chicago, IL, US Beat Kitchen
Dec 16 Chicago, IL, US Beat Kitchen
Dec 17 Pittsburgh, PA, US The Mr. Roboto Project
Dec 18 Buffalo, NY, US Mohawk Place

Heart to Gold at 7th St Entry, Minneapolis (06 Dec 2022)

brody ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: September 6 to September 7, 2018

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from September 6 to September 7, 2018.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Buffalo Tom at Varsity Theater Read More Buffalo Tom Buffalo Tom named themselves after Buffalo Springfield and their drummer Tom Maginnis. When I saw the Boston-based band in 2000, the band was already 'old'. They had just released Asides that summer …

BUFFALO TOM
Varsity Theater
Fri 09/07/2018 (7pm/$25)
varsitytheater.com

Boston’s Buffalo Tom is currently wrapping up their tour, they’ll be ending at Chicago’s Metro the next night. The group form in the late ‘80s, rose to fame in the early ‘90s with Let Me Come Over and Big Red Letter Day, which I discovered them through college radio.

Eventually saw the band (with Grant Hart, rest in peace) when they were on tour for their compilation record Asides from Buffalo Tom in February 2000. You can tell it was cold, even guitarist and singer Bill Janovitz was wearing hat and coat indoors...

Buffalo Tom’s new album is Quiet and Peace (Banquet Records), their first album in seven years. The trio will stop by the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown on Friday, September 7th.

Note: There is no opening band, because the band will play a double set, with Let Me Come Over set (“and yes, we know LMCO 25 was last year”) and a “new and old stuff” set.

Tour dates:

09/07/2018 Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
09/08/2018 Metro / Smart Bar Chicago, IL
11/29/2018 Buffalo Tom Bi Nuu Berlin, Germany

Neko Case 2018 Tour Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Downey to Lubbock Rise Against at Armory NeedToBreathe at Armory Dawes Passwords 2018 Tour Rolling Blackouts CF at Turf Club Read More Neko Case Neko Case has a new album The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, which came out September 3rd on ANTI-, and her First Avenue … Dave Alvin Roots music legends Dave Alvin (from rhythm and blues band The Blasters) and Jimmie Dale Gilmore (named “Country Artist of the Yea” twice by Rolling Stone) have united for this 2017 tour. The two will hit the road to swap songs and share stories of their life experience. … Rise Against Rise Against's "Any Way You Want It" cover appeared on their Revolutions Per Minute (2003) album as a hidden track. If you've never heard of Rise Against, they are a … Dawes The three-hour evening was opened by Los Angeles-based Dawes, who considers Minneapolis one of their strongest markets, in a solid hour-long set of their own. … Rolling Blackouts CF Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is headlining the 7th Street Entry on Monday, April 30th. Their upcoming debut album Hope Downs will be out June 15 via Sub Pop. …

Other shows in the area:

NEKO CASE
+ Thao Nguyen
Palace Theatre
Thu 09/06/2018 (6:30pm/$35)
palacestpaul.com

Neko Case’s first album in five years, Hell-On will be available on Anti- Records. Joining her on this tour is Thao Nguyen (of Thao & the Get Down Stay Down).

Tour dates:

09/05/2018 Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI
09/06/2018 Palace Theatre St. Paul, MN
09/07/2018 Hoyt Sherman Place Des Moines, IA
09/08/2018 Bourbon Theatre Lincoln, NE
09/09/2018 Cain's Ballroom Tulsa, OK
09/11/2018 The Civic Theatre New Orleans, LA
09/12/2018 Iron City Birmingham, AL

DAVE ALVIN /JIMMIE DALE GILMORE
+ Jon Langford
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Thu 09/06/2018 (7pm/$50)
dakotacooks.com

From different worlds, Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, have teamed up to record an album. Alvin is the singer/songwriter from the Blasters and Gilmore is from Texas hippie-country band Flatlanders.

The two will be stopping by the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant on Thursday, September 6th. The two longtime friends (with backup band The Guilty Ones) will be playing from their critically acclaimed album, Downey To Lubbock.

Jon Langford to open.

Tour dates:

Sep 1 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads
Sep 2 - Omaha, NE - Sunday Roadhouse
Sep 6 - Minneapolis, MN - Dakota
Sep 8 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk
Sept 9 — Berwyn, IL -- Fitzgeralds
Sep 11 - Cincinnati, OH. Southgate House
Sep 12 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
Sep 14 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall
Sep 15 — Ottawa, ON — City Folk Festival
Sep 16 - Rochester, NY/ON - JCC Hart Theater
Sep 22 — Solvang, CA — Ya Ya Festival
Sep 25 - Salt Lake City, UT - State Room

RISE AGAINST
+ AFI, Anti-Flag
Armory
Thu 09/06/2018 (5:30pm/$34)
armorymn.com

In celebration of The Ghost Note Symphonies, Vol. 1 (Virgin Records), Rise Against will be headlining a 2018 tour with my brother’s favorite AFI and Anti-Flag. Should be a real banger, as the kids would say it, at the Armory on Thursday.

Tour dates:

09.06 | Minneapolis, MN | Armory
09.09 | Nashville, TN | Marathon Music Works
09.11 | Austin, TX | Stubb’s BBQ
09.12 | Houston, TX | Revention Music Center
09.13 | Irving, TX | The Pavilion
09.15 | Morrison, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheatre
09.16 | Salt Lake City, UT | The Complex
09.17 | Garden City, ID | Revolution Concert House
09.19 | Bozeman, MT | Brick Breeden Fieldhouse

NEEDTOBREATHE
+ Johnnyswim, Forest Blakk
Armory
Fri 09/07/2018 (5:30pm/$42)
armorymn.com

Once again, at the Armory, South Carolina rock band Needtobreathe will be headlining in support of their collection of songs, Forever On Your Side (Niles City Sound Sessions). Johnnyswim and Forest Blakk to open.

Forever On Your Side Tour 2018:

09/04 – PNC Pavilion, Cincinnati, Ohio
09/05 – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, Cleveland, Ohio
09/07 – The Armory, Minneapolis, Minn.
09/08 – Huntington Bank Pavilion , Chicago, Ill.
09/09 – Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
09/10 – Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater, Lincoln, Neb.
09/12 – Red Rocks, Morrison, Colo.
09/14 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Ore.
09/15 – WaMu Theater, Seattle, Wash.
09/16 – Abbotsford Entertainment , Abbotsford, BC
09/18 – The Fox, Oakland, Calif.
09/19 – Vina Robles Amph, Paso Robles, Calif.
09/21 – Cal Coast Credit Union, San Diego, Calif.
09/22 – Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, Calif.

DAWES
Palace Theatre
Fri 09/07/2018 (7pm/$39.50)
palacestpaul.com

Popular group Dawes will be headlining the Palace Theatre in St Paul on Friday, September 7th, in support of their album Passwords (HUB Records).

Tour dates:

09/7 /// St. Paul, MN /// Palace Theatre
09/8 /// Maquoketa, IA /// Codfish Hollow
09/9 /// Kalamazoo, MI /// State Theatre
09/11 /// Indianapolis, IN /// The Vogue
09/12 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// Stage AE
09/14 /// Portland, ME /// State Theatre
09/15 /// Fredericton, NB, Canada /// Harvest Jazz
09/16 /// Canton, MA /// Festival on the Farm
09/18 /// New Haven, CT /// College Street Music Hall
09/19 /// Red Bank, NJ /// Count Basie Theatre
09/20 /// Cary, NC /// Koka Booth Amphitheatre
09/22 /// Franklin, TN /// Pilgrimage Festival
09/23 /// Atlanta, GA /// Tabernacle

ROLLING BLACKOUTS C.F.
Turf Club
Fri 09/07/2018 (8pm/$16)
turfclub.net

Australia’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is back in town, this time at the Turf Club on Friday, September 7th. The group was previously in town in April 2018, promoting their album Hope Downs (Sub Pop).

Tour dates:

09/1 - Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot
09/3 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
09/5 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
09/7 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
09/8 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
09/10 - Detroit, MI @ El Club
09/11 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
09/12 - Montreal, QC @ Le Ministère
09/13 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
09/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
09/15 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
09/17 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat

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

Minneapolis: September 22 to September 23, 2017

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from September 22 to September 23, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Dan Wilson Singer-songwriter/producer Dan Wilson proves you can go home again. As a Tax Day treat for Minneapolis residents, local record store The Electric Fetus hosted Wilson for a free in-store performance on this...

DAN WILSON
at Fitzgerald Theater
Friday 09/22/2017 (7pm/$45.50)
fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org

Dan Wilson’s Re-Covered is out now. The unique album finds the Grammy-winning songwriter reinterpreting songs from his past, including a re-interpretation of his Semisonic band’s hit song ‘Closing Time’.

If you follow Wilson’s career, after Semisonic, he started writing hit songs for other artists, such as songs for Taylor Swift (‘Treacherous’) and Adele (‘Someone Like You’)… so, for the first time, we get to hear how Wilson would approach his own songs.

In addition to the album, there is also a deluxe edition CD with hardcover book, which contains drawings, essays, lyrics, and songwriting observations about all those songs he’s written.

The tour kicks off next Friday, September 22nd, at the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul.

Tour dates:

9/22: St. Paul, MN - Fitzgerald Theater
9/23: Chicago, IL - City Winery
9/27: Boston, MA - City Winery
9/28: New York, NY - City Winery
9/30: Nashville, TN - City Winery
10/20: Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
10/21: San Francisco, CA - Swedish American Music Hall

Read More Joseph Portland's Joseph are three sisters, Natalie, Allison, and Meegan. They harmonize as only very close family members can achieve. Songs on their set included tracks from Native Dreamer Kin, which came out early in March 2014. …

JOSEPH
at First Avenue
Saturday 09/23/2017 (7pm/$20)
first-avenue.com

All sisters band Joseph (named after their grandfather) is returning to Minneapolis at First Avenue’s mainroom this Saturday. Their new seven-track EP, Stay Awake is available on ATO Records. The collection features some demos, singles, and covers of Tears For Fears’ ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’ and the Rolling Stones’ ‘Moonlight Mile’.

We previously caught the sisters (Natalie, Allison, and Meegan) in 2014 and noted that they have great harmonizing vocals.

Bailen, also a sibling band (twins David and Daniel and their sister Julia) will open the show.

Joseph - North American Tour Dates

9/17 - Burlington, VT @ Grand Point North Festival
9/19 - Ottawa, ON @ Babylon *
9/20 - Toronto, ON @ Mod Club *
9/22 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
9/23 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
9/24 - Franklin, TN @ Pilgrimage Music
9/26 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre #
9/27 - Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi #
9/29 - Birmingham, AL @ Iron City #
9/30 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West #
10/1 - Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall #
10/2 - Ponte Vedra, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall #
10/4 - New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina's #
10/6 - Austin, TX @ Antone's #
10/7 - Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
10/8 - Dallas, TX @ Tree's #
10/10 - Albuquerque, NM @ KiMo Theatre #
10/12 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom #
10/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre #
11/18 - Mexico City, MX @ Corona Capitol

* Bailen opening
# Liza Anne opening

Read More Wild Cub Closer Wild Cub Special guest Nashville-based indie quintet Wild Cub will open the show. Tour dates: 11/02/14 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues … Parade of Lights Los Angeles/Las Vegas alt-electro band Parade of Lights got the evening started with a buoyant set of fresh songs, culled from their two EPs the latest called Golden, was just released on .…

WILD CUB
at Triple Rock Social Club
Saturday 09/23/2017 (7pm/$16)
triplerocksocialclub.com

Wild Cub is playing the Triple Rock Social Club on Saturday, September 23rd, in support of their sophomore album Closer (Mom+Pop).

The last time the band was in town, they opened up for Bleachers in 2014… this time with Closer the band is headlining.

Show up early to check out Parade Of Lights. We caught the electro-rock quartet in 2015 and wrote, “Singer Ryan Daly’s hair has even turned golden since we last saw them, with keys/synth player Michelle Ashley bringing plenty of enthusiasm while bass player Randy Schulte and drummer Anthony Improgo ably held up the back end. For whatever reason, this band that plays bright, sunny electro, was lit as dimly as London’s Underground during the blitz, making for a strange dichotomy that seemed counter to their music, though the songs themselves, remain irresistible.”

Should be a great night of music.

Tour Dates:

9/22 Kansas City, MO The Riot Room
9/23 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Social Club
9/25 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
9/27 Columbus, OH A&R Music Bar
9/29 Washington, DC DC9 Nightclub
9/30 Philadelphia, PA The Foundry
10/1 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
10/4 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

All dates with Parade Of Lights

Read More Mandolin Orange We caught Mandolin Orange's very first time in Minnesota in 2012. Thankfully that was in July and not January, otherwise the duo might not have decided to come back next, next Sunday, May 31st. ... The Yawpers What are you doing on Black Friday? Head over to the 7th Street Entry to check out Denver’s The Yawpers is currently on tour in support of their new album American Man (Bloodshot Records). ... Babes in Toyland Since I love all-things Riot Grrrls, naturally I wanted to check out Babes in Toyland live. A little trivia, but the legendary Minneapolis band actually fired bassist Courtney Love in 1987. She, of course …

Other shows in the area:

09/22/2017 We saw Mandolin Orange’s very first Minneapolis show in 2012. This time, the band is headlining the Fine Line Music Café this Friday, September 22nd. Rachel Baiman to open for this show, but starting September 27 Bluegass musician Dori Freeman will be joining the band on tour. 8pm, $16.

09/22/2017 Penny and Sparrow (aka Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke) is currently on tour in support of their new album Wendigo. The record just came out September 1st. The duo will be stopping by Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant on Friday, September 22nd. Lowland Hum to open. 7pm, $20.

09/22/2017 The Yawpers has a new album Boy in a Well on Bloodshot Records. They’ll be previewing some of those songs on this upcoming show at the 7th Street Entry on Friday. The Person & The People will open. 8pm, $12.

09/22/2017 Everybody’s favorite riot punk band Babes in Toyland is headlining First Avenue’s mainroom. Porcupine and Bruise Violet to open. 8pm, $20.

09/22/2017 Denver-based roots quintet Trout Steak Revival is playing the Turf Club on September 22nd. Jack Klatt Trio to open. 8pm, $12.

09/23/2017 SurlyFest 2017 is this Saturday at Surly Brewing Co… rain or shine! Lineup: Dr. Kielbasa, Black-eyed Snakes, Black Market Brass, Heiruspecs, 4ontheFloor, DJ Shannon Blowtorch, and Caroline Smith. 11am, Free

09/23/2017 Astrid S has sold out her upcoming 7th Street Entry show in Minneapolis. Jasmine Thompson will open. Please note that the all-ages show starts at 4pm! 4pm, $15/Sold Out.

09/23/2017 Rise Against with Pierce The Veil and White Lung are playing at the Skyway Theatre on Saturday. 6pm, $37.50.

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

A Fat Wreck: The punk-u-mentary review

Synopsis A FAT WRECK documents the early history of Fat Wreck Chords, from its founding by Fat Mike and his then-wife Erin Burkett, through its cultural zenith in the late 1990s, focusing on the most successful bands that shaped the label's formative years, including Lagwagon, Propagandhi, No Use for a Name, Good Riddance, and Strung Out. Through the highs and lows, Fat Wreck Chords made a deep cultural impact on the music scene, across 157 studio albums and 150 other releases, somehow managing to stay true to its 100% independent ethos. Screening Dates 11/24 The Exchange - Bristol, UK 11/25 Poppodium Volt - Sittard, NLH 11/25 Hamar kulturhus - Hamar, NOR 11/25 Hyde Park Picture House - Leeds, UK 11/26 Roxy Theatre - Victoria, CAN 11/27 DIY Space for London- Dundee, UK Read More A Fat Wreck You can see Shaun M. Colón’s A Fat Wreck: The Punk-u-mentary documentary about the influential California punk label Fat Wreck Chords (and some of your favorite punk bands: NOFX …

The successfully crowdfunded documentary A Fat Wreck: The Punk-u-mentary will be unleashed upon the world on November 22, 2016. The film was written by Greg Pratt and directed by Shaun M. Colón.

San Francisco-based independent punk record label Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced “Fat Records”) was founded in 1991 by NOFX frontman “Fat Mike” Burkett and his then-girlfriend, now ex-wife Erin Kelly-Burkett. The two have remained friends and still run the label together. Fat Wreck Chords had its heyday in the 90s/early 2000s, but is still going strong even in today’s digital age.

This documentary features interviews with Fat Mike, Erin, a whole slew of bands and other people who have worked with and been influenced by Fat Wreck Chords over the years… including owners of other record labels who admire the way Mike and Erin run the business.

The film is chock full of bands who fondly reminisce about their work (and play) with Fat Wreck Chords. There are segments highlighting the first bands signed to the label: Lagwagon, No Use for a Name, Propagandhi, Good Riddance and Strung Out. Additional interviews and commentary are provided by members of Foo Fighters, Rise Against, Against Me!, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Bad Religion and Get Dead, to name a few.

A Fat Wreck does not contain a lot of lengthy scenes, nor does it contain long and tedious interviews. It takes a more punk rock approach by using short interview segments interspersed with scenes featuring hilarious puppet versions of the interviewees acting out the stories they’re telling. Short snippets of concert footage, still images of the bands and rapid-fire animated transitions are also added to the mix. These quick scene changes are a punk’s dream come true.

The overwhelming consensus among interviewees is that Fat Wreck Chords is like a family. This intimate portrait of the label makes you feel like part of that family.

A Fat Wreck: The Story of Fat Wreck Chords is out on digital and on demand now, November 22nd. Physical Blu-Rays and DVDs will be available December 13, 2016.

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

Rise Against at Cabooze Plaza, Minneapolis (01 August 2015)

Tour Dates 08/07/15 Seattle, WA ShowBox SoDo 08/09/15 Portland, OR Roseland Theater 08/11/15 San Francisco, CA Masonic 08/13/15 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium 08/16/15 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium 11/01/15 Hampton Beach, NH - H.Beach Casino 11/03/15 Lancaster, PA - Freedom Hall 11/04/15 Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater 11/06/15 Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room 11/07/15 Madison, WI - Orpheum Theater 11/08/15 Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit 11/10/15 Richmond, VA - The National 11/12/15 Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore Charlotte 11/13/15 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle 11/14/15 Orlando, FL - Central FL Fairgrounds 11/16/15 Houston, TX - House of Blues 11/17/15 Austin, TX - Stubb's Waller Creek 11/18/15 Tulsa, OK - Brady Theatre 11/20/15 Tempe, AZ - Marquee 11/21/15 Las Vegas, NV - Downtown LV Event 11/22/15 San Diego, CA - SOMA Read More Rise Against Rise Against's "Any Way You Want It" cover appeared on their Revolutions Per Minute (2003) album as a hidden track. If you've never heard of Rise Against, they are a … Letlive Letlive. are at the top of their game. I got this album last year, plenty of time after it had been released but also well before the new album was about to come out. It was my jam for the summer. Then the new beauty …

Most people look at a concert as a full bill. They look at all of the bands that are playing and decide if the show is worth the ticket price.

Not me.

There were three bands on the bill last night. There was one band that I could tolerate and wouldn't mind experiencing live. There was one band that I absolutely could not tolerate. There was one band I have been dying to see live. The ticket price was right around $45 after all the fees. Most people would say no, $45 is not worth it to see one band that has an opening set and will probably only play 30 minutes. Those people are idiots.

Can you really put a price on that one band you've been dying to see? I say nay.

Letlive

I only wanted to see one band last night. Letlive. They've been on my bucket list for a little over a year now. I've heard about their live shows and how crazy they get. Jason, their singer, is notorious for climbing anything and everything he can find. Last May, they played a show in Georgia where Jason had climbed up the balcony of the venue and sang a whole song while clutching to the side of said balcony. That set was cut short due to safety concerns. Ever since then, I knew this was a band I had to see live. Letlive. didn't let me down last night. The music was great. The energy was unreal and Jason was back to climbing anything and everything he could.

This show was held outside at The Cabooze outdoor plaza which is just a fancy name for the parking lot between The Cabooze and Whiskey Junction in Minneapolis. The stage was sandwiched between the wall of The Whiskey Junction and the fence that surrounds the patio of The Cabooze. Jason went for it. He started walking to the side of the stage closest to the fence. At first, I thought he was going to start climbing the frame of the stage. Instead, he climbed the fence and ended up with half of his body over the fence singing to the people in the patio of The Cabooze. All the crowd could see were his legs dangling on the other side of the fence. He never missed a word, never missed a beat.

As if that wasn't enough, Jason ended up in the pit at one point. He warned the crowd that if the mosh pit wasn't sufficient, he would get down there and show them how it's done. That's exactly what he did. He jumped down from the stage, climbed over the first couple rows of people, and pushed and shoved the people who seemed to be trying to conserve their energy for the headlining acts. I definitely understand wanting to conserve you energy for other acts but come on, this was the best band of the night.

Killswitch Engage

If you know me, you know that I am extremely opinionated when it comes to music. If I love a band, I LOVE them. If I hate a band, I absolutely HATE them. I HATE Killswitch Engage. They never did anything bad to me, but I hate them. I hate their music, I hate the way they look, I hate their fans, and now I can say I hate their live show. I'm a firm believer in the idea that a band can be completely different live than they are on CD. That's the only reason I stayed at the show, well that and my roommate wanted to stay and see the other bands (Good god she has the worst taste in music!). I was hoping that Killswitch Engage would do something that would make it click for me. Make me understand why people love them so much. They didn't. They got up on stage, played their songs, and then got off. Remember that post about radio rock? Wash, rinse, repeat. I hate it.

Rise Against was the headliner. I had been wanting to see them live. I don't mind their music but it's not my favorite. I was waiting for that "a-ha" moment of seeing them live to sway me either one way or the other. They were fine. They sounded like the CD. Yeah, they have some catchy songs, their singer has a good voice. Meh, I don't hate them, I wouldn't pay $45 to see them though. They got up, played their songs, got the crowd going, and left. Wash, rinse, repeat.

I spent $45 to see one band play a thirty minute set and suffered through the last two bands. Letlive. killed it last night and made all of the suffering worth it.

I regret nothing.

Rise Against at Cabooze Plaza, Minneapolis (01 August 2015)

langen (langen@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ itunes.apple.com