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Minneapolis: September 8 to September 11, 2017

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from September 8 to September 11, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Yes Yes to cancel summer tour... The tour, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary, had been scheduled to come to the Susquehanna ... …

YES (feat Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman)
at Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Friday 09/08/2017 (7pm/$47)
ticasino.com

One of the most successful, influential progressive rock band in the world is Yes. In 1983, the band changed lineup (with Trevor Rabin) and concentrated mostly on more commercial and pop-oriented music. A second Yes band called Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman (with original singer Jon Anderson) was formed this year.

Expect Yes feat ARW to play pre-90125 album, meaning Yes’ biggest hit song ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’ and other classic songs.

We previously caught Jon Anderson’s project Anderson Ponty Band in May 2016 and noted that the vocalist was still singing Yes songs.

Tour dates:

08/26/2017 Bob Hope Theatre
08/28/2017 The Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA
08/29/2017 Table Mountain Casino Friant, CA
08/31/2017 The Smith Center Las Vegas, NV
09/02/2017 Kenley Amphitheatre Layton, UT
09/03/2017 Hudson Gardens Littleton, CO
09/05/2017 Kauffman Center Kansas City, MO
09/08/2017 Treasure Island Welch, MN
09/09/2017 Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI
09/12/2017 Fraze Pavilion Kettering, OH
09/13/2017 Filene Center Vienna, VA
09/15/2017 Goodyear Theater Akron, OH
09/16/2017 Massey Hall Toronto, ON
09/18/2017 Grand Theatre Quebec City, QC
09/19/2017 St. Denis Theatre 1 Montreal, QC
09/21/2017 Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY
09/23/2017 Toyota Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT
09/24/2017 Tilles Center Brookville, NY
09/27/2017 Prudential Hall Newark, NJ
09/29/2017 Santander Performing Arts Center Reading, PA
09/30/2017 Patriots Theater Trenton, NJ
10/01/2017 Verizon Hall Philadelphia, PA
10/04/2017 Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
10/05/2017 Palace Theatre Albany, NY
10/07/2017 Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino Niagara Falls, NY
10/08/2017 Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ
10/10/2017 King Center Melbourne, FL
10/11/2017 Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL
10/13/2017 Kravis Center West Palm Beach, FL
10/14/2017 Knight Concert Hall Miami, FL

Read More Royal Canoe There is a complexity to their music, such as in the album’s title track or the single, ‘Bathtubs’ that still comes off as easy and palatable to the ear, despite the “everything including … Little Scream Montreal's Little Scream to open the show, she is currently finishing up her eagerly-anticipated second album, Dance in a Void. …

ROYAL CANOE / LITTLE SCREAM
at 7th Street Entry
Monday 09/11/2017 (7:30pm/$10)
first-avenue.com

We caught the Canadian band Royal Canoe in 2014 and wrote, “Opening the show to a strong crowd reception was Manitoba-based six-piece, Royal Canoe, in support of their debut U.S. release, Today We’re Believers (Roll Call Records). The Canadian ensemble can truly be described as unique and eclectic, with its hybrid of sounds, musical time changes, dual drummers, and singer Matt Peters, who often uses two microphones and manipulates his voice, electronically and otherwise.”

The last time we saw co-headliner Little Scream, she surprised us with two dancers on stage for the song ‘Dark Dance’. We also noted, “According to singer Laurel Sprengelmeyer, she said she was born in Iowa and went to shows like this one and actually dreamed of one day playing shows. The Montreal-based band was actually supposed to headlined the Turf Club in St Paul, as you can see from the original poster listing, but smartly the organizers decided to consolidate the two shows.”

Mariah Mercedes will open.

Tour dates:

09/11 First Avenue & 7th Street Entry · Minneapolis, MN
09/12 Subterranean · Chicago, IL
09/14 Mercury Lounge · New York, NY
09/15 Theatre Rialto A Montreal · Montreal, QC, Canada
09/16 Ottawa · City Folk Festival
09/17 The Great Hall Toronto · Toronto, ON, Canada

Read More U2 With yesterday's announcement of Apple Watch and iPhone 6, Irish band U2 made a surprise concert appearance to close out Apple's event. They also made it known that U2's latest album Songs of Innocence … Beck So you like Beck and was thinking about picking up Odelay (1996). Well don't! Wait until January 29, 2008, because there's a Deluxe 2-disc version coming out. More details on our press page …

Other shows in the area:

09/08-09/09/2017 The annual St. Croix Valley Chili Feed is this Friday and Saturday, with Autograph, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, 80HD and more. Free beer, soda, and chili included with the $45 pre-sale price ($60 at the door). 12pm, $45

09/08/2017 Two time Grammy-award winner John Prine is headlining the Northrop Auditorium. Prince’s latest book, Beyond Words is available now on Oh Boy Records. Beyond Words includes over 100 photographs from Prine's personal collection, copies of handwritten lyrics showing the creative process with select commentary, and lyrics with guitar chords for 60+ classic Prine songs. Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams to open. 7pm, $62.50

09/08/2017 Arkansas’ Justin Moore will be headlining Mystic Lake Casino, hot off his seventh #1 song ‘Somebody Else Will’, from his fourth album Kinda Don’t Care (The Valory Music Co). 7pm, $40

09/08/2017 Legendary Irish band U2 will be headlining the U.S. Bank Stadium this Friday. Beck to open. 5:30pm, $93

09/09/2017 AJJ is formerly known as Andrew Jackson Jihad. They had to change their name because some Muslims thought they were disrespectful to use “Jihad”. With the recent terrorist threat with the Allah-Las concert in Rotterdam, it’s probably best Andrew Jackson Jihad changed their name to AJJ. Anyway, they’ve sold out the 7th Street Entry this Saturday. The Homeless Gospel Choir will be offending the homeless as opener. 8pm, $15/Sold Out

09/10/2017 Local rappers/hip hop artists J Flight to play the 7th Street Entry, with help from Tha Rift Of Freewifi, Destiny Roberts, Lyric Marid, Student 1, DJ D.Mil and DJLow. 7pm, $10

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

Minneapolis: June 8 to June 10, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from June 8 to June 10, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More JMSN Los Angeles' Christian Berishaj, or otherwise known as his stage name JMSN ('Jameson') released his JMSN (Blue Album) last December 9, 2014, via White Room Records. …

JMSN
at 7th Street Entry
Wednesday, 06/08/16, 8pm ($12/$14)
first-avenue.com

Detroit-born, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter/producer JMSN (aka Christian Berishaj) is touring in support of his latest album It is (White Room Records).

We have already previously mentioned his self-titled album (affectionately known as ‘the Blue Album’) and that 2015 tour in January 2015, but this time, he’ll be touring in the Summer instead of the harsh Winter.

Tiffany Gouché will open.

North American Tour Dates:

05/31/16 Montreal, QC Theatre Fairmount
06/01/16 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
06/03/16 Detroit, MI Populux Music Hall
06/04/16 Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern
06/05/16 Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe
06/06/16 Indianapolis, IN The Hi Fi
06/08/16 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
06/09/16 Chicago, IL Double Door
06/10/16 St. Louis, MO The Demo
06/11/16 Springfield, MO The Outland
06/12/16 Oklahoma City, OK 89th Street
06/14/16 Denver, CO Lost Lake Lounge
06/15/16 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
06/16/16 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
06/17/16 Boise, ID Reef
06/18/16 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
06/19/16 Seattle, WA The Crocodile
06/20/16 Vancouver, BC Alexander Gastown
06/22/16 San Francisco, CA The Independent
06/24/16 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst

Read More Royal Canoe There is a complexity to their music, such as in the album’s title track or the single, ‘Bathtubs’ that still comes off as easy and palatable to the ear, despite the “everything including …

PLANTS AND ANIMALS
at 7th Street Entry
Thursday, 06/09/16, 8pm ($12)
first-avenue.com

Plants and Animals’ first album in four years Waltzed In From The Rumbling (Secret City Records) came out earlier this year. All the critics have agreed that the new record is “something beautiful”, “wildly and wonderfully”, and “beautiful clarity”.

The Montreal band will tour in support of the new album in the USA this June.

Winnipeg’s six-piece ensemble Royal Canoe to open. We previously caught the Canadian band in June 2014 and wrote, “There is a complexity to their music, such as in the album’s title track or the single, ‘Bathtubs’ that still comes off as easy and palatable to the ear, despite the “everything including the kitchen sink” sound of it all, that is more than a little outside most simplistic pop on mainstream radio. Successfully received at last fall’s Iceland Airwaves, these experimental sound benders are worthy of further attention.”

Royal Canoe will release Something Got Lost Between Here and the Orbit on September 16, via Nevado Music (home to Deap Vally, The Dead Ships, Gringo Star and more). Expect a preview of those new songs on this upcoming tour.

US Tour Dates:

June 8 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas
June 9 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
June 13 - Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
June 14 - Calgary, AB @ Marquee Beer Market and Stage
June 15 - Nelson, BC @ Spiritbar at the Hume Hotel
June 16 - Vancouver, BC @ The Imperial
June 17 - Victoria, BC @ Sugar Nightclub
June 18 - Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
June 21 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
June 23 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
June 24 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg
* All shows with Royal Canoe

Read More Cage the Elephant Cage the Elephant – Come a Little Closer The rising Kentucky band in support of third album Melophobia (RCA Records), has embarked on an extensive North American Spring tour… Portugal. The Man Portugal. The Man's frontman John Gourley recall working on his seventh album, Evil Friends , as a collaboration with Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton). According to Gourley, "I walked into his [Danger Mouse] place … Twin Peaks This is the Chicago Twin Peaks band... I wonder if they will get sued once Showtime start their David Lynch and Mark Frost's Twin Peaks production in 2016? ...

CAGE THE ELEPHANT
at U.S. Bank Theater (Target Center)
Friday, 06/10/16, 6pm ($29.50 - $45)
targetcenter.com

What can I say? Grammy-nominated rock band Cage the Elephant has made it to the big times years ago... but I’ll been praising the band since 2009 when I was blown away at how great their debut self-titled album was... citing ‘Ain't No Rest For The Wicked’ as one of my favorite song of 2009.

Apparently there’s no rest for the wicked, as the KY band is back on tour. They’ll be stopping by the U.S. Bank Theater at Target Center on June 10th, in support of their fourth studio album Tell Me I’m Pretty. The lead single ‘Mess Around’ landed the band #1 on the Alternative chart (their sixth #1). Other bands that achieved more than five #1 includes Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Green Day, R.E.M.... so they are in really great company.

Cage The Elephant consists of singer Matt Shultz, guitarist Brad Shultz, bassist Daniel Tichenor, and drummer Jared Champion.

Portugal. The Man is a great choice as opener. We previously saw the band in 2013 and wrote, “If you like dancing, check out Portugal. The Man on tour.”

Chicago’s Twin Peaks is also on the bill. Their latest record Down In Heaven is out now.

Cage the Elephant tour dates:

6/3 Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center^
6/4 Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica^
6/5 Columbus, OH @ EXPRESS LIVE!^
6/7 Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion%
6/8 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave%
6/10 Minneapolis, MN @ U.S. Bank Theater ^
6/11 Madison, WI @ Coliseum^
6/14 Calgary, AB @ Calgary Stampede Corral^
6/15 Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Centre^
6/17 Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum^
6/18 Portland, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield^
6/19 Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater^
6/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Auditorium%
6/22 San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center%
6/23 San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic%
6/25 Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint ^
6/26 Phoenix, AZ @ Gila River Arena^

*with Portugal. The Man + Broncho
^with Portugal. The Man + Twin Peaks
%with Portugal. The Man

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

Minneapolis: November 15, 2014

Here are some shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul on Saturday, November 15, 2014.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More New Order New Order were one of those bands that broke up long before I got into music, so my introduction to their music was through their Best Of album. I liked them enough to track down their previous releases, up until Republic. …

PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT
at Fine Line Music Cafe
Saturday 11/15/14, 8pm
$25: finelinemusic.com

New Order fans rejoice, Peter Hook & The Light will be performing New Order's third and fourth albums, Low-Life and Brotherhood for the first time in the United States and Canada across the first three weeks of November 2014. That's not all, Hook will also be playing Joy Division material as an opening set, which means there will be no music opening band

DJ Jake Rudh set to DJ some 80s British music.

Tour Dates:

11/04/14 Mohawk, Austin, TX
11/06/14 Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
11/07/14 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
11/08/14 Royale, Boston, MA
11/10/14 Club Soda, Montreal, QC
11/11/14 Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON
11/13/14 Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI
11/14/14 Metro, Chicago, IL
11/15/14 Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
11/17/14 Venue, Vancouver, BC
11/18/14 Nuemos, Seattle, WA
11/20/14 Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR
11/21/14 Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA
11/22/14 Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
11/24/14 Pomona, CA - Glasshouse
11/25/14 Los Angeles - Roxy
11/26/14 San Diego, CA - House of Blues
11/28/14 Honolulu, HI - The Republik

Read More Royal Canoe There is a complexity to their music, such as in the album’s title track or the single, ‘Bathtubs’ that still comes off as easy and palatable to the ear, despite the “everything including …

ROYAL CANOE
at 7th Street Entry
Saturday 11/15/14, 8pm
$10: first-avenue.com

Last winter Royal Canoe teamed up with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's New Music Festival and Pop Nuit to play selections from Beck's Song Reader project (an album originally released by Beck only on sheet music). The band took ten songs from the performance and made it their own, performing them live at the Pantages Theatre in Winnipeg.

The Canadian band are currently on a US Fall 2014 tour, and their final stop will be at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis this November 15th.

Local Verskotzi (a trio named after their singer/guitarist Joey Verskotzi) will open the show, possibly showcasing songs from their Lemon Heart album, which came out last year.

Four-piece electronic indie rock band Beasthead are also listed on the bill.

Tour dates:

11.05 || New York , NY – Stage 48
11.06 || Burlington, VT – Higher Ground %
11.07 || Burlington, VT – Higher Ground %
11.09 || Boston, MA – Paradise %
11.11 || Philadelphia, PA – The Boot and Saddle
11.13 || Columbus, OH – Rumba Cafe
11.14 || Chicago, IL – The Beat Kitchen
11.15 || Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry

Read More Liquid Music The acclaimed Liquid Music Series from Saint Paul’s Chamber Orchestra continues its second season, bound and determined to “expand the world of classical music through innovative new projects … …

NIL FRAHM + DAWN OF MIDI
at Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Saturday 11/15/14, 7pm/10:30pm
$15 (Sold Out)/$10: amsterdambarandhall.com

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music series and Walker Art Center are presenting this upcoming show for Berlin-based composer/keyboardist Nils Frahm and Brooklyn-based acoustic ensemble Dawn of Midi as part of their Liquid Music Series (now in its third season).

We've seen some Liquid Music shows before and raved about their ability the world of classical music to a much broader audience, usually through very unique presentations.

Since the original show sold out, Dawn of Midi will agreed to perform an encore solo set at 10:30pm.

Details of the event:

Amsterdam Bar and Hall
6 W 6th St.
Saint Paul, MN 55102

$15 for the 7:00pm concert (Sold Out)
$10 for the 10:30pm Dawn of Midi solo set

Read More Leif Vollebekk Ann Powers of NPR Music included Leif Vollebekk's North Americana the album on her "Under-The-Radar Albums Preview of 2014" list and said "Vollebekk also …

BARR BROTHERS w/ Leif Vollebekk
at Cedar Cultural Center
Saturday 11/15/14, 7pm
$12: thecedar.org

The first time I heard about this Montreal quartet The Barr Brothers, they were on their way to Minneapolis to play Bryant Lake Bowl Theatre on November 15, 2011, in support of their self-titled debut album. A few years later, and now the Americana band have upgraded to the Cedar Cultural Center and they will be back November 15, 2014, in support of their sophomore album Sleeping Operator, which came out last month on Secret City Records.

Opener Leif Vollebekk will be playing some tracks from his debut album North Americana, out now on Missing Piece Records.

Tour dates:

11/11/14 Buffalo, NY Ninth Ward At Babeville
11/12/14 Pittsburgh, PA Andy Warhol Museum
11/13/14 Columbus, OH Woodlands Tavern
11/14/14 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
11/15/14 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
11/18/14 Washington, DC Sixth & I Historic
11/19/14 Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
11/21/14 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
11/22/14 Cambridge, MA The Sinclair
11/28/14 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle

Read More G-Eazy Bay Area rapper G-Eazy announced his highly anticipated return to the road with the "From The Bay To The Universe Tour."The Oakland emcee, who was recently named …

G-EAZY
at First Avenue
Saturday 11/15/14, 6pm
$24 (Sold Out): first-avenue.com

Oakland-based G-Eazy is on a very successful "From The Bay To The Universe Tour", bringing E-40, IAMSU! and Jay Ant, to Minneapolis on Saturday, November 15th.

The bay area emcee was recently named one of USA Today's hottest college acts, as well as MTV's "Artist to Watch", G-Eazy's album These Things Happen sold over 100,000 copies after debuting on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and Top Rap Albums Charts at #1. G-Eazy achieved all this without a radio single, without famous rapper endorsements... which is unbelievable if you think about it. It tells us that he's selling music based on his talent and social media reach.

Tour dates:

11/03/14 Tampa, FL The Ritz Ybor #
11/04/14 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution #
11/05/14 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live #
11/06/14 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade #
11/07/14 Charlotte, NC Amos' Southend #
11/08/14 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live #
11/09/14 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero #
11/11/14 Pittsburgh, PA Xtaza Nightclub *#
11/12/14 Cleveland, OH House of Blues *#
11/13/14 Detroit, MI The Majestic Theatre *#
11/14/14 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre *#
11/15/14 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue *#
11/16/14 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue *#
11/18/14 Milwaukee, WI The Eagles Hall *#
11/19/14 Des Moines, IA 7 Flags *#
11/20/14 Lawrence, KS Granada Theatre *#
11/21/14 Denver, CO 1stBank Center #
11/22/14 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex *
11/23/14 Boise, ID Revolution Center *
11/24/14 Seattle, WA Showbox SODO *
11/25/14 Portland, OR Roseland Theater *
11/26/14 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
11/28/14 San Diego, CA Soma *

Jay Ant will appear on all tour dates
* E-40
# IAMSU!

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

Bombay Bicycle Club w/ Royal Canoe - Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (29 Apr 2014) concert review

Setlist Overdone It's Alright Now Shuffle Come To Your Eyes What You Want Evening/Morning How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep Home By Now Feel Lights Out, Words Gone Eyes Off You Whenever, Wherever Luna Always Like This So Long, See You Tomorrow -- Encore -- What If Carry Me Tour Dates May 03 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall May 04 – Montreal, QC @ Corona May 06 – Boston, MA @ Royale (18+) May 07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer May 08 – New York City, NY @ Webster Hall (18+) May 12 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Cats Cradle May 13 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West (18+) May 14 – Nashville, TN @ Exit / In (18+) May 17 – Dallas, TX @ Granada (14+) May 18 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin May 19 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s Read More Bombay Bicycle Club English indie four-piece means it when they say, “So Long, See You Tomorrow”. London’s Bombay Bicycle Club is back on the road, in support of this latest and fourth album (on Island Records)…

Bombay Bicycle Club and a Shakira reference don’t exactly go together…

..But, the connection will shortly be revealed…

Currently riding high on their recently released 4th full-length, So Long, See You Tomorrow (Vagrant Records), the Crouch End, London band delivered a polished, electric 82 min. performance at the Varsity Theater on a chilly Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

Matt Peters Royal Canoe

Opening the show to a strong crowd reception was Manitoba-based six-piece, Royal Canoe, in support of their debut U.S. release, Today We’re Believers (Roll Call Records). The Canadian ensemble can truly be described as unique and eclectic, with its hybrid of sounds, musical time changes, dual drummers, and singer Matt Peters, who often uses two microphones and manipulates his voice, electronically and otherwise.

Royal Canoe

There is a complexity to their music, such as in the album’s title track or the single, ‘Bathtubs’ that still comes off as easy and palatable to the ear, despite the “everything including the kitchen sink” sound of it all, that is more than a little outside most simplistic pop on mainstream radio. Successfully received at last fall’s Iceland Airwaves, these experimental sound benders are worthy of further attention.

Lights dimmed, and attention was focused on a set of five fabric circular discs above the stage as hand-drawn images similar to Bombay Bicycle Club’s new album’s art, moved across the screens and the six members entered to the sounds of the new album’s opener, ‘Overdone’. The musically tight four-piece was joined on stage by a backing keyboardist/percussionist and vocalist Liz Lawrence, who has replaced the now-solo Lucy Rose.

The bouncy ‘It’s Alright Now’ followed, also the second track on the new album, So Long, See You Tomorrow, that had band leader Jack Steadman (who looks like a cross between Steve Coogan and Alan Cumming) raising his hands in triumph at the end of each verse. A polite, “How are we doing, it’s great to be here” was the only intro to ‘Shuffle’, from previous album, A Different Kind of Fix.

Jamie MacColl Bombay Bicycle Club

The band, Steadman (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Jamie MacColl (guitar), Suren de Saram (drums) and Ed Nash (bass), started out almost ten years ago as more folk/indie pop-based, but has since broadened their sound over the last couple albums to include more world music and electronica influence, due in part to Steadman’s worldly travels to places like India and Turkey.

Ed Nash Bombay Bicycle Club

‘Come To’, another new album cut, slowed the tempo down, but was still anchored by a reverberating electronic throbbing bass beat. ‘Your Eyes’ had the audience clapping along, as a Vampire Weekend-like guitar rhythm drove the track. Bassist Nash was particularly turned up high in the sound mix, swinging his long hair to and fro that you could barely see his face, and moving sometimes like he was playing in a completely different group.

The dichotomy between Steadman’s gentle voice and the driving guitars and deep bass beat, was sometimes jarring, but more than made up for, with the band’s passion on display whilst playing their songs.

BBC Setlist

‘Home By Now’ from the new So Long, See You Tomorrow featured vocalist Lawrence in a delicate performance, offset by the deep bass foundation. ‘Feel’ with its additional percussion and Indian-like melody, picked things up again, with Steadman imploring, “Let’s have a dance party in here”. Steadman then moved to piano and a falsetto for the moving ‘Eyes Off You’ and remained there for ‘Whenever, Wherever’, which he cheekily dedicated to Shakira, as she has a different song of the same name.

The crowd rose up for ‘Always Like This’, an earlier hit from their first album, clapping along as Steadman moved back between guitar and snare drum and cymbal. The moody title track from the new album ended the main set with atmosphere and its accompanying visuals of a man running inside a swirling kaleidoscopic pattern, was dizzying.

Liz Lawrence and Jack Steadman

The two-song encore of ‘What If’ and 'Carry Me' was unexpected in that the band had stripped itself of all its secondary sounds and its two auxiliary members, and the core four-piece just plain turned everything up and rocked harder than at any earlier point, to put an exclamation point on the end.

Clearly embracing the new (every song from the new record was played), Bombay Bicycle Club continues to look ahead, to chart even fresher musical territory. “So long, see you tomorrow”.

Bombay Bicycle Club at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (29 Apr 2014)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Bicycles and Canoes

Read More Bombay Bicycle Club Bombay Bicycle Club just announced the release of their fourth album in five years, So Long, See You Tomorrow, coming out February 4, 2014 via Vagrant Records. Of course, the band will be heading out on tour …

English indie four-piece means it when they say, “So Long, See You Tomorrow”.

London’s Bombay Bicycle Club is back on the road, in support of this latest and fourth album (on Island Records) with Manitoba’s Royal Canoe in tow, as tour support. The quartet started as more straight-ahead indie-folk, but on the last couple releases, has introduced more of a worldbeat sound to their oeuvre, with the latest album inspired by singer Jack Steadman’s travels in Holland, Turkey, and India.

With album singles, “Carry Me”, “Feel” and “Luna” already making waves in their native UK and Europe, the band hopes to replicate that success on this side of the pond.

Six-piece Canadian band Royal Canoe opens with their avant-pop hybrid of a spectrum of sounds. Their latest, last year’s Today We’re Believers (Roll Call/Nevado Records) was Juno nominated for Best Alternative Album and singles “Bathtubs” and “Birthday” already have surreal videos available, that defy description and just need to be seen.

Bombay Bicycle Club Tour Dates

Apr 29 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater (18+)
Apr 30 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues (17+)
May 01 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
May 03 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
May 04 – Montreal, QC @ Corona
May 06 – Boston, MA @ Royale (18+)
May 07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
May 08 – New York City, NY @ Webster Hall (18+)
May 12 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Cats Cradle
May 13 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West (18+)
May 14 – Nashville, TN @ Exit / In (18+)
May 17 – Dallas, TX @ Granada (14+)
May 18 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin
May 19 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com