W♥M

Minneapolis: This Week (01/29/2023)

01/24 Ani DiFranco with Peter Mulvey and SistaStrings at First Avenue Read More Ani Difranco Politically conscious protest singer Ani DiFranco is headlining First Avenue. You can bet she’ll be rallying against Donald Trump. ...

Here are some shows, this week, in the Minneapolis/St Paul area.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

01/24/2023 Tuesday

Ani DiFranco
with Peter Mulvey and SistaStrings
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Highly influential protest singer Ani DiFranco is making a return to First Avenue this January 24, 2023. Her previous First Avenue show, set for August 21, 2021 (as mentioned in July 2021) was canceled due to COVID concerns. DiFranco is making up for lost time with this January 2023 show… which actually kicks off her 2023 tour.

The feminist icon and Grammy winner is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of her seminal first live album, Living In Clip (Righteous Babe Records). In addition, you can get the 25th anniversary remastered edition of the landmark double album on this tour, as well as online through her website.

Also, look for DiFranco’s children book The Knowing, out March 7, 2023, via Penguin Kids.

Peter Mulvey and SistaStrings to open.

Tour dates:

01/24 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
01/25 Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI
01/26 Embassy Theatre Fort Wayne, IN
01/27 City Opera House Traverse City, MI
01/28 Ann Arbor Folk Festival 2023 Ann Arbor, MI
03/15 Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
03/16 Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
03/18 Breckenridge Riverwalk Center Adm Breckenridge, CO
03/19 Washington’s FoCo Fort Collins, CO
03/21 Commonwealth Room Salt Lake City, UT
03/22-03/26 Treefort Music Fest 2023
03/22 The Elm Bozeman, MT
03/24 Wilma Theatre Missoula, MT

01/27-01/28 Semisonic with Chastity Brown at First Avenue Read More Semisonic Local favorites Semisonic is playing a couple hometown shows. The warmup show will be at the Turf Club on Wednesday. For Friday and Saturday, the group will be playing their record Feeling Strangely Fine in its entirety. …

01/27/2023 Friday

Semisonic
with Chastity Brown
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

01/28/2023 Saturday

Semisonic
with Chastity Brown
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Celebrating local radio station The Current’s 18th Anniversary, they’ve double booked Semisonic and Chastity Brown at First Avenue on January 27 and 28.

As soon as the dates were announced, both shows have sold out… although Semisonic said that a limited number of tickets for Friday’s show was released to the public.

Dan Wilson at Fitzgerald (22 Sept 2017)

We saw singer Dan Wilson in Sep 2017 and said, “Singer-songwriter Dan Wilson has been a Los Angeles transplant for several years now, but Minneapolis/St. Paul still claims him as one of our own, and friends, family, and fans all came out, to fill his recent concert at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. ”

Semisonic wrote:

We’re so excited that our friend Chastity Brown has been added to our shows in January at First Avenue!

Minnesota friends! A handful of tickets for our Friday Jan 27 show at The Current’s 18th Anniversary Weekend with special guest Chastity Brown at First Avenue will be released today at 2pm CT. Get your tickets if you haven’t already!

01/29 Magic City Hippies with CAPYAC at Fine Line Read More Magic City Hippies Magic City Hippies is touring in support of their debut album Modern Animal… stopping by the Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St Paul on February 1st. …

01/29/2023 Sunday

Magic City Hippies
with CAPYAC
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Indie-rock band Magic City Hippies is back on tour in support of their third album Water Your Garden.

Magic City Hippies at First Ave (12 Mar 2017)

We didn’t see the band last January 2022, but briefly saw them with Hippo Campus in Mar 2017 and said, “Opening up the show was Florida’s Magic City Hippies.... in for a treat with the snowstorm outside. Normally a trio (Robby Hunter, Pat Howard, John Coughlin), the Miami-based band was expanded to a five-piece with a keyboardist and additional guitarist. This was the band’s first national tour, and they were super excited to be billed with Hippo Campus.”

Tour dates:

1/12: Jacksonville, FL - 1904 Music Hall *
1/13: Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse *
1/14: Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *
1/15: Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *
1/18+19: New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
1/20: Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club *
1/21: Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of the Living Arts *
1/23: Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Café and Music Hall *
1/24: Cleveland, OH - House of Blues Cambridge Room *
1/26: Detroit, MI - The Shelter *
1/27: Indianapolis, IN- The Vogue *
1/28: Chicago, IL - Metro *
1/29: Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line *
2/7: St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill Duck Room *
2/8: Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar *
2/10: Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre *
2/11: Frisco, CO - 10 Mile Music Hall *
2/13: South Salt Lake City, UT - The Commonwealth Room *
2/14: Bozeman, MT - The ELM *
2/15: Spokane, WA - Lucky You Lounge *
2/17: Vancouver, BC - Hollywood Theatre *
2/18: Seattle, WA - The Showbox @ The Market *
2/19: Portland, OR - McMenamins Crystal Ballroom *
2/21: Sacramento, CA - Harlow's *
2/23: San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
2/24: San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park *
2/25: Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre *
2/26: Tempe, AZ - Innings Festival
2/28: Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad *
3/1: El Paso, TX - Lowbrow Palace *
3/3: Dallas, TX - The Echo Lounge & Music Hall *
3/4: Austin, TX - Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater *
3/5: Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall Downstairs *

* with CAPYAC

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Residency: January 27-January 28

01/27-01/28 Semisonic with Chastity Brown at First Avenue Read More Semisonic Local favorites Semisonic is playing a couple hometown shows. The warmup show will be at the Turf Club on Wednesday. For Friday and Saturday, the group will be playing their record Feeling Strangely Fine in its entirety. …

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

01/27/2023 Friday

Semisonic
with Chastity Brown
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

01/28/2023 Saturday

Semisonic
with Chastity Brown
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Celebrating local radio station The Current’s 18th Anniversary, they’ve double booked Semisonic and Chastity Brown at First Avenue on January 27 and 28.

As soon as the dates were announced, both shows have sold out… although Semisonic said that a limited number of tickets for Friday’s show was released to the public.

Dan Wilson at Fitzgerald (22 Sept 2017)

We saw singer Dan Wilson in Sep 2017 and said, “Singer-songwriter Dan Wilson has been a Los Angeles transplant for several years now, but Minneapolis/St. Paul still claims him as one of our own, and friends, family, and fans all came out, to fill his recent concert at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. ”

Semisonic wrote:

We’re so excited that our friend Chastity Brown has been added to our shows in January at First Avenue!

Minnesota friends! A handful of tickets for our Friday Jan 27 show at The Current’s 18th Anniversary Weekend with special guest Chastity Brown at First Avenue will be released today at 2pm CT. Get your tickets if you haven’t already!

01/27-01/28 Lake Street Dive with Monica Martin at Palace Theatre Read More Lake Street Dive Boston’s Lake Street Dive (named after Minneapolis’ dive bars!) sold out their appearance in trumpeter/guitarist McDuck Olson’s hometown at First Avenue in Minneapolis. …

01/27/2023 Friday

Lake Street Dive
with Monica Martin
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

01/28/2023 Saturday

Lake Street Dive
with Monica Martin
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

Lake Street Dive will be doing a two-night residency at the Palace Theatre in St Paul on January 27 and 28, as part of their Gather Round Sounds tour. Monica Martin to open both nights.

The last time we heard from Lake Street Dive, they had released a six-track covers EP called Fun Machine: The Sequel.

Tour dates:

Dec 30 New Haven, CT, US College Street Music Hall
Dec 30 New Haven, CT, US College Street Music Hall
Dec 31 Boston, MA, US Roadrunner
Jan 17 2023 Asheville, NC, US Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Jan 19 2023 Nashville, TN, US Ryman Auditorium
Jan 20 2023 Nashville, TN, US Ryman Auditorium
Jan 21 2023 Atlanta, GA, US The Eastern
Jan 24 2023 Iowa City, IA, US Hancher Auditorium
Jan 25 2023 Madison, WI, US The Sylvee
Jan 27 2023 St. Paul, MN, US Palace Theatre
Jan 28 2023 St. Paul, MN, US Palace Theatre
Jan 29 2023 Waukegan, IL, US Genesee Theatre
Jan 31 2023 Kalamazoo, MI, US Miller Auditorium
Feb 1 2023 Pittsburgh, PA, US Stage AE
Feb 3 2023 Port Chester, NY, US Capitol Theatre
Feb 4 2023 Port Chester, NY, US Capitol Theatre
Feb 5 2023 Newark, NJ, US New Jersey Performing Arts Center

01/27-01/28 The Last Waltz ft. Big Pink at The Fitzgerald Theater Read More The Big Pink For their headlining show, the evening was opened up by another London-originating band, The Big Pink, whose music remains a moody guitar/electro pop blend ,but whose lineup has changed since being ...

01/27/2023 Friday

The Last Waltz ft. Big Pink
at The Fitzgerald Theater
first-avenue.com

01/28/2023 Saturday

The Last Waltz ft. Big Pink
with The Belfast Cowboys
at The Fitzgerald Theater
first-avenue.com

The MN-based The Last Waltz tribute band Big Pink, not to be confused with London-based band The Big Pink, has booked a double residency at the Fitzgerald Theater for Friday and Saturday (Jan 27 and 28).

On the Friday night show we will see Big Pink with these performers:

Robert Hilstrom (Richard Manuel) 

Vinnie Amico (Levon Helm)

Demitri Rallis (Robbie Robertson)

Dan Ristrom (Rick Danko)

Eddie Juntunen (Garth Hudson) 

& The Northside Horns 

Tim Martin

Paul Gronert

Vic Volare

Matt Hanzelka

Saturday night show will feature Big Pink with:

Sherwin Linton as Ronnie Hawkins

Joe Dunn & Connor Hilstrom as Dr. John 

Very Special Guest TBA as Neil Young 

Bree Turner / Kendra Glenn / Jay Bee as The Staple Singers 

Very Special Guest TBA as Neil Diamond 

Ruby Blu as Joni Mitchell 

Pat Hayes as Paul Butterfield 

Wain McFarlane as Muddy Waters 

Chris Castino as Eric Clapton 

Monique Smaz as Emmylou Harris 

Terry Walsh as Van Morrison 

Alex Rossi as Ronnie Wood 

Very Special Guest TBA as Ringo Starr 

Adam Levy as Bob Dylan 

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

MN: Semisonic, Social Animals, Jonatha Brooke, Rebecca Nichloson

Read More Semisonic Local favorites Semisonic is playing a couple hometown shows. The warmup show will be at the Turf Club on Wednesday. For Friday and Saturday, the group will be playing their record Feeling Strangely Fine in its entirety. …

Read more Minneapolis

SEMISONIC
danwilsonmusic.com

Earlier this week, Twin Cities-based trio Semisonic released their video for “You’re Not Alone”, the group’s first new song in nearly 20 years. The single is the title track of their forthcoming five-song EP You’re Not Alone, set for release September 18, 2020, via Pleasuresonic Recordings/Megaforce Records.

Like many of us, you might only know Semisonic for their hit song, “Closing Time”. Singer and songwriter Dan Wilson had a long fruitful career as a solo artist and songwriter for other musicians. After a long hiatus, the band reunited in 2017 and continues to play on and off once in a while. With the new You’re Not Alone, it’s apparent that with the COVID-19 pandemic, the group decided to use their time in isolation to be creative and produce new music together.

Dan Wilson, talking about the new song and video, “For the new Semisonic video, 'You’re Not Alone,' we began with memories of childhood in the woods. Filmmaker Phil Harder creates a fable of the woods, the city, a distant beach, and a young boy who places a message in a bottle and sends it on a long journey. Inspired partly by Richard Powers' devastatingly beautiful novel, 'The Overstory,' partly by the paintings of Tomas Sanchez (one of which is featured on the sleeve of the single), and partly by the profound isolation we are experiencing during the pandemic, the video reflects the hopeful message of the song.”

Read More Social Animals Duluth’s Social Animals will be doing a Spring 2020 tour with Beach Slang. The Alternative band features lead vocalist Dedric Clark (vocals, rhythm guitar), Tony Petersen (lead guitar), Boyd Smith (drums), and Roger Whittet (bass). …

SOCIAL ANIMALS
thesocialanimals.com

Duluth’s Social Animals recently announced that they are doing an exclusive 14-hour live stream on July 31, 2020, in partnership with The Allen Ginsberg Estate and Non-Profit HeadCount.

Their new track, “Something to Keep Me Awake” came out yesterday (July 17) on Rise Records. Recorded pre-COVID-19 at Chris Carrabba’s home studio (Dashboard Confessional)… but somehow the song’s message about change and struggle fits right in with the state of the world today.

The music video featured footage of the band on their European leg of their tour with Ash (which was cut short due to the pandemic).

Dedric Clark (vocals, guitar) adds:

“It’s hard to watch the news today without a Xanax bar. We recorded ‘Something To Keep Me Awake’ with our friend Chris Carrabba in his home studio, and he adds some anger through his backing vocals throughout the track. It’s fitting, because if you’re not angry right now, you’re not listening. Every morning when I wake up in this strange new world we live in, I have to find new ways to stay motivated and keep myself awake. It’d be easier to sleep through it. But that simply isn’t an option. So we’re not going to ‘wait until this blows over’ to share this with you, because it shouldn’t just blow over. We need to sit with our situation, and find out what really matters to us and how we can help. Stay safe out there.”

You may recall that we wrote about the band in February 2020, talking about their tour with Beach Slang, but obviously all live events were cancelled not long after that article.

Read More Buffy the Vampire Slayer So, today's entry is on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Although they've used good music soundtracks, such as Echobelly, Curve, and Angie Hart (Frente), I'm going to just focus on their musical episode, "Once More, With Feeling". …

JONATHA BROOKE
jonathabrooke.com

Minneapolis, by the way of Massachusetts, folk singer Jonatha Brooke, recently released her 14th album The Sweetwater Sessions on July 10, 2020, via Bad Dog Records.

If you’re a Joss Whedon fan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse), you may recall Brooke’s music on his shows.

The single from the album, “Glass Half Empty”, is a tribute to Kevin Gilbert (who died in 1996). Brooke said, “I wrote this song when my friend – the brilliant young musician Kevin Gilbert - died suddenly. We’d been on tour together for much of the previous year. I’d sing on a couple of tunes during his set, he’d sing with me on mine. In fact his drummer Nick D’Virgilio became a longtime friend and touring pal, and, strangest best full circle, is the drummer on this record, this tune. I was in Berlin when I found out Kevin was gone. We stayed up late in a tiny bar, toasting him. A kind of Irish German wake. It’s still kind of shocking that he’s gone. I sure was angry at the time. I think this song has all those complicated feelings in it. He went out quick, and “We’re still around, trying ‘til we get it right!”

Since COVID-19 prevented touring, Brooke will be making live streams from her home on Facebook and Instagram - “The Kitchen Covid Concerts” - every Monday at 2pm CDT.

Read More Cedar Cultural Center The special day-day Global Roots Festival at the Cedar Cultural Center starts on Monday, September 17, with Gambia’s Sona Jobarteh and Turkey’s Aynur. The event is FREE and outdoor stage starts at 5pm and indoor shows starts at 7:30pm …

REBECCA NICHOLSON
rebeccanichloson.com

I know, we all miss live concerts. We can’t wait for things to return to normal… but in the meantime, non-profit The Cedar Cultural Center will be hosting a few live streams and recordings, they are calling “Art in Physical Isolation”.

Typically, the Cedar does two shows a week, but now shifted to once a month, due to staffing and the shut-down due to COVID-19.

Anyway, one of the artists they wanted to commission was local singer/songwriter Rebecca Nichloson, who played a 45-min set called “Blooming Season: Reflections on Isolation, Yearning & Love”

According to the Cedar, “We were incredibly excited to welcome Rebecca as the first artist to perform on The Cedar's stage since we shut down due to COVID. It was a unique experience to be back in the hall again and see music performed on that beloved stage to an empty room. Though we know watching this program isn't the same as spending a night in the hall for a concert, we hope you join us tonight for a different kind of special experience and enjoy tuning into a show at The Cedar from your own cozy space.”

You can watch the full program at YouTube. If you like what the Cedar is doing, especially because all the musicians are paid for their performances, they are asking for a donation of $10 to cover the costs of the programming.

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

Minneapolis: July 11 to July 13, 2019

Basilica Block Party 2019 Read More Basilica Block Party We like the annual Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis, so we always make sure they get the spotlight whenever we do these previews. They always bring in some really good bands .... 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. … Chvrches Chvrches’ third album Love is Dead reached the Billboard Top Rock and Alternative charts at #1 and #11 overall. ... Metric I've seen Metric twice (four times if you count Emily Haines solo or Broken Social Scene), so you know I love this little Canadian band. Their Rock the Garden's set was very similar to their …

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from July 11 to July 13, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

BASILICA BLOCK PARTY
Basilica St. Mary
Fri 07/12/2019 (5pm/$70)
Sat 07/13/2019 (5pm/$70)
basilicablockparty.org

The 25th Annual Basilica Block Party is taking place this July 12-13. As usual, the Minneapolis music festival is bringing in some of the national musical acts to the Twin Cities.

Kacey Musgraves and Dawes to be the highlight on Friday, while Jason Mraz and Hanson to take Saturday.

Personally speaking though, we like the medium stage, particularly Semisonic and The Jayhawks (for Friday) and Chvrches and Metric (for Saturday).

The last time we saw Chvrches, we noted, “Martin Doherty summed it up on stage, ‘It’s nice to be back. Time and time again, you keep selling out every time we come here. Thank you for that.’”

Schedule:

FRIDAY Great Clips Stage Kacey Musgraves Dawes Anderson East Ruston Kelly PreferredOne Stage Semisonic The Jayhawks Yam Haus Star Tribune Stage Kiss The Tiger Annie Mack McNasty Brass Band

SATURDAY Great Clips Stage Jason Mraz Hanson Johnnyswim Lissie PreferredOne Stage Chvrches Metric Flora Cash Star Tribune Stage Static Panic The Bad Man Michael Shynes

Other shows in the area:

This is the Kit 2019 Tour Iration at First Ave The Struts at the Palace Chase Atlantic 2019 Tour Lakefront Music Fest 2019 Read More This Is The Kit On this tour, This Is the Kit (Kate Stables) is joined by bassist Jesse Vernon and drummer Jamie Whitby-Coles. She started off with a solo song ‘Easy on the Thieves’, then as a trio, then back to solo with ‘All Written out in Numbers’. … The Struts Breakout U.K. band The Struts will be stopping by First Avenue this September 17th, in support of their hit Have You Heard EP (Interscope Records), with single "Could Have Been Me". …

THIS IS THE KIT
+ Nelson Devereaux
Turf Club
Thu 07/11/2019 (7pm/$16)
turfclub.net

Kate Stables (aka This Is The Kit) returns to the Turf Club this July 11th. We last saw her in Oct 2017 and said, “On this tour, This Is the Kit (Kate Stables) is joined by bassist Jesse Vernon and drummer Jamie Whitby-Coles. She started off with a solo song ‘Easy on the Thieves’, then as a trio, then back to solo with ‘All Written out in Numbers’. Stables often tuned between songs, making for awkward unfinished stories and comments. She played acoustic guitar, but it seemed like she’s most comfortable when she’s plucking on her banjo.”

Nelson Devereaux and the Style Band to open.

Tour Dates

07/09/2019 Drake Hotel Toronto, ON
07/10/2019 Constellation Chicago, IL
07/11/2019 Turf Club Saint Paul, MN
07/16/2019 Moroccan Lounge Los Angeles, CA
07/18/2019 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
08/10/2019 Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff,
08/11/2019 Boileroom Guildford

IRATION
+ Pepper, Katastro, Fortunate Youth
First Avenue
Sat 07/13/2019 (6pm/$27)
first-avenue.com

Reggae-influenced alternative rock band Iration will be headlining First Avenue as part of their “Live From Paradise!” tour.

Show up early to check out California-based band Pepper, who we previously mentioned played with Less Than Jake in Feb 2017.

Tour dates:

July 11 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
July 12 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
July 13 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
July 14 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
July 17 Utica, NY @ Saranac Brewery
July 18 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
July 19 New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
July 20 Boston, MA @ Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
July 21 Baltimore, MD @ Mecu Pavilion
July 25 North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
July 26 Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
July 27 St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amph
July 28 Cocoa, FL @ Cocoa Beach Riverfront Park
July 30 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
August 2 Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheater
August 3 Del Mar, CA @ Del Mar Summers**
August 7 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades+
August 8 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades+
August 9 Fresno, CA @ Woodward Park Rotary+
August 15 Spokane, WA @ The Knitting Factory+
August 16 Missoula, MT @ Big Sky Brewing Amph
August 17 Boise, ID @ Botanical Gardens Outlaw Field
August 18 Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Pavilion
August 21 Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park Amph
August 23 Stateline, NV@ Montbleu Amphitheater
August 24 Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Beach~
August 25 Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
September 14 Glen Ellen, CA @ Sonoma Harvest Festival**

** indicates non-"Live From Paradise!" tour dates
+ indicates Pepper not on the lineup
~ indicates Fortunate Youth not on the lineup

THE STRUTS
+ The Glorious Sons
Palace Theatre
Sat 07/13/2019 (6:30pm/$29.50)
palacestpaul.com

Rock band The Struts is back! The UK group released YOUNG&DANGEROUS last year on Interscope Records.

Tour dates:

July 5 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades
July 8 Portland, OR Roseland Theater*
July 9 Seattle, WA Showbox*
July 10 Missoula, MT The Wilma*
July 13 Saint Paul, MN Palace Theatre*
July 15 Des Moines, IA Water Works Park*
July 16 Indianapolis, IN Old National Centre*
July 17 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works*
July 19 Detroit, MI The Fillmore*
July 20 Grand Rapids, MI 20 Monroe Live*
July 21 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE*
July 25 Buffalo, NY TBA*
July 26 Utica, NY Saranac Brewery*
July 27 New York, NY Pier 17*
July 28 Mount Pocono, PA Mount Airy Casino
July 30 Boston, MA House of Blues*
August 4 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
August 6 Dewey Beach, DE Bottle & Cork*
August 7 Washington, DC 930 Club*
September 21 Asbury Park, NJ Sea Hear Now Festival

~Des Rocs supports
*The Glorious Sons support

CHASE ATLANTIC
Varsity Theater
Sat 07/13/2019 (6pm/$18)
varsitytheater.com

Emerging alt-pop act Chase Atlantic is currently on a massive tour in support of their sophomore album Phases (BMG/MDDN).

The last time the Australian trio (Mitchel Cave, Clinton Cave, and Christian Anthony) were in town was with Lights in March 2018.

Tour dates:

7/05 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
7/06 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
7/08 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
7/09 – Lawrence, KS @ The Granada
7/11 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
7/13 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
7/15 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
7/16 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe
7/18 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
7/19 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
7/20 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
7/22 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
7/23 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
7/25 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore

LAKEFRONT MUSIC FEST
Lakefront Park
Fri 07/12/2019 (6pm/$45)
Sat 07/13/2019 (6pm/$45)
lakefrontmusicfest.com

The 10th annual Lakefront Music Fest is taking place this July 12-13th.

FRIDAY Steve Miller Band Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

SATURDAY Brad Paisley Riley Green Chris Lane

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

Minneapolis: December 13 to December 25, 2017

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from December 13 to December 25, 2017.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Semisonic The majority of the show is about Semisonic and Dan Wilson. The band doesn't regularly release music or go on tour, but once in a while, Wilson and company will play a show here and there. …

SEMISONIC
Turf Club
Wed 12/13/2017 (7pm/$35/Sold Out)
turfclub.net

SEMISONIC
+ Johnny & Molly
First Avenue
Fri 12/15/2017 (7pm/$35/Sold Out)
Sat 12/16/2017 (7pm/$35/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

Local favorites Semisonic is playing a couple hometown shows. The warmup show will be at the Turf Club on Wednesday. For Friday and Saturday, the group will be playing their record Feeling Strangely Fine in its entirety.

Johnny & Molly from Communist Daughter to open.

Let’s hope there’s not another slipping on ice this time around.

Semisonic writes:

Welcome back, friends and fans!

Those shows in June were a blast, but Semisonic’s 2017 isn’t over!

More soon.

Dan, John, and Jake

Read More The Score Blue October is back in town. The last time they were here, it was in June 2016. The Score to open. 7pm, $29.50. …

Other shows in the area:

THE SCORE
+ Castlecomer
7th Street Entry
Thu 12/14/2017 (7pm/$10)
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles rock band The Score (Eddie Anthony and Edan Dover) is on their “The Only One” tour with Castlecomer.

Tour Dates:

12/10 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Balcony*
12/12 Ferndale, MI The Magic Bag*
12/13 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern*
12/14 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry*
12/16 Kansas City, MO The Record Bar*
12/17 Denver, CO Ophelia’s *
12/19 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court*
4/4 San Francisco, CA Regency Ballroom^
4/6 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom^
4/7 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre^
4/10 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot^
4/11 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre^
4/13 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue^
4/14 Chicago, IL Metro^
4/15 Saint Louis, MO Delmar Hall^
4/17 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe ^
4/18 Detroit, MI Magic Stick^
4/19 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall^
4/20 Cleveland, OH House of Blues^
4/22 Toronto, Canada Phoenix Concert Theatre^
4/26 Boston, MA Royale^
4/27 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts^
4/28 New York, NY Irving Plaza^
4/29 Washington, DC 9:30 Club^
5/1 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse^
5/2 Nashville, TN 3rd & Lindsley^
5/4 Dallas, TX Granada Theater^
5/5 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall^
5/6 Austin, TX Emo’s^
5/8 Mesa, AZ The Marquee^
5/11 San Diego, CA Music Box^
5/12 Los Angeles, CA Fonda Theatre^

*The Only One Tour Dates
^Inside A Dream Tour w/Echosmith

BAD BAD HATS
7th Street Entry
Sat 12/16/2017 (5pm/$15)
Sat 12/16/2017 (9pm/$15/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

Local Bad Bad Hats sold out the late show (with Jessica Manning) … so they booked an earlier 5pm show with Idle Empress.

ST PAUL SCHOOL OF ROCK
7th Street Entry
Sun 12/17/2017 (1pm/$10)
first-avenue.com

The St Paul School Of Rock presents the music of Led Zeppelin and CBGB.

Please note time: 1pm.

LIL PUMP
+ Devon Reason
First Avenue
Mon 12/18/2017 (6:30pm/$27/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

Florida’s Lil Pump sold out his First Avenue’s mainroom show next Monday. It’s easy to see how he sold out his show, the superstar’s self-titled debut album rocketed to #1 on the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart and his YouTube channel had over 260+ million views.

Tour dates:

12/11 Wallingford, CT The Dome
12/12 New York, NY Playstation Theater
12/13 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
12/15 Cleveland, OH Agora Theatre
12/16 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre
12/17 San Bernardino, CA Rolling Loud So Cal
12/18 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
12/19 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
12/21 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl
12/22 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
12/23 San Diego, CA The Observatory

THE IRREPLACEABLES
Skyway Theatre
Tue 12/19/2017 (4pm/$35)
skywaytheatre.com

The girls from Dance Moms (billed as The Irreplaceables) will be in town at the Skyway Theatre to demonstrate some proper stretch, warm-up technique, and unique dance lessons.

Waivers will need to be submitted online prior to entry. Special entry price available for parent/guardian accompanying a minor.

Package includes:

• First-look and buy at The exclusive IRREPLACEABLES Merch Pop-up.
• Access to prime, up-front viewing position in the venue.
• Meet & Greet- The Irreplaceables will be taking photos with fans on a special red carpet in front a limited-edition step-and-repeat.

Tentative Schedule

4:30-5:00PM – Dance Workshop Check-in
5:00-6:00PM – Workshop/class
6:00-7:00PM – Exit venue/cue up for GA or VIP line
6:30PM – VIP Doors/merch store opens
7:00PM – GA doors
7:30-9:00PM – Show time
9:30-10:30PM – M&G

GOOD DOOM, STANLEY, and DOUBLE GRAVE
7th Street Entry
Wed 12/20/2017 ( 7:30/$8)
first-avenue.com

Local bands Good Doom, Stanley, and Double Grave will be playing some music at the 7th Street Entry on Wednesday.

NELLY / T.I.
Myth
Thu 12/21/2017 (7pm/$60)
mythlive.com

The co-headlining tour of Nelly and T.I. will take place at the Myth on Thursday.

TRAILER TRASH
Turf Club
Fri 12/22/2017 ($22/Sold Out)
Sat 12/23/2017 ($22)
turfclub.net

Trailer Trash presents “The Trashy Little XMas Show”.

Trailer Trash got its start as a regular attraction at Lee’s Liquor Lounge, in downtown Minneapolis. With the popularity of retro-country music and swing-dancing in the mid-90s, the band found a following among new generations of music lovers.

Friday’s show is sold out.

CHRISTMAS EVE
Sun 12/24/2017

CHRISTMAS DAY
Mon 12/25/2017

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

Dan Wilson at Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul (22 Sept 2017)

Dan Wilson Set List All Will Be Well (Gabe Dixon Band cover) Borrowed (LeAnn Rimes cover) Never Meant to Love You (Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons cover) When the Stars Come Out (Chris Stapleton cover) Breathless You And I (John Legend cover) Home (Dierks Bentley cover) Disappearing Free Life Not Ready to Make Nice (Dixie Chicks cover) Landing (Matt Wilson cover) Someone Like You (Adele cover) Closing Time (Semisonic song) -- Encore -- Honey Please All Will Be Well reprise Tour Dates 10/13/2017 West Hollywood, CA Troubadour 10/20/2017 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour 10/21/2017 San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall Read More Dan Wilson Singer-songwriter/producer Dan Wilson proves you can go home again. Dan Wilson’s Re-Covered is out now. The unique album finds the Grammy-winning songwriter reinterpreting songs from his past, including ...

It was a master class in Words + Music (…and hand calligraphy too)—

Singer-songwriter Dan Wilson has been a Los Angeles transplant for several years now, but Minneapolis/St. Paul still claims him as one of our own, and friends, family, and fans all came out, to fill his recent concert at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. 

Wilson first made his name as a member of local bands Trip Shakespeare and Pleasure (soon to be re-named Semisonic) and also found success on the side by co-writing songs with others, from country to pop to alternative rock, that gained him even more recognition as a songwriter than performer (which helped precipitate his move out west). 

His latest collection is Re-Covered (PledgeMusic-funded on Ballroom Music/Big Deal Media),a selection of re-interpreted versions of many of the songs he wrote for/with other artists. 

A recent local transplant, Her Crooked Heart (aka Rachel Ries) opened the evening with a charming solo set of her own music and often funny, quirky stories behind the songs.   The last EP under her own name, Cardinal, was written while on residence in Rouen, France and recorded by local musician Jeremy Messersmith while this year’s debut EP under her new name, To Gentlemen(SoDak recordings) was recorded in nearby Eau Claire, WI.

Songs were often stories about life and love on the prairie, with Ries sheepishly also getting in a plug for her home canning business- “if you like my tunes, you’re going to love my jams …I make preserves” and Ries has already entrenched herself in the local music scene by helping form The Kith+Kin Chorus, an area community choir singing Mondays in South Minneapolis. 

As the stage changed in the 1,000 seat theater, a game board-like hand-drawn image (called an illuminated setlist) gave the audience the musical road map that Dan Wilson would follow during his almost two-hour headlining set.  On this tour, he’s managed to tie together three of his biggest passions into a cohesive show- the composing of words and music, and his visual doodles and hand-rendered calligraphy.

Wilson initially emerged solo to begin his almost two-hour set, on piano for a rendition of Gabe Dixon’s ‘All Will Be Well’ (“you can keep wooh-ing” he said, still tuning up) but was soon joined by bandmates Brad Gordon (piano) and Andy Thompson (drums) and eventually the Laurel String Quartet, subbing in for the Kronos Quartet that is on the new record. 

Many of the songs were accompanied by sped-up screen footage of Wilson handwriting the song’s lyrics in classic fonts with backgrounds, with sometimes a cartoon drawing alongside, though it would sometimes be difficult to stay in sync on the screen, with what was being played. 

For ‘When the Stars Come Out’ written in LA with country singer Chris Stapleton, Wilson questioned the song title’s phrase, telling Stapleton how difficult it is to see actual stars past the city’s smog, but Stapleton’s reply was a deadpan, “…it’s a metaphor”.

Wilson explained the genesis of the song ‘Home’, traveling to Nashville to co-write a kind of patriotic song that didn’t include the word “America” in the title, also explaining how a sterile publisher’s office was not at all conducive to the creative process.  And when Wilson finds himself in a creative writer’s block, he simply asks himself “WWTPD?- What Would Tom Petty do?” to help find a way out. 

In an elongated explanation, Wilson spoke about the Dixie Chicks and the response the trio got after insulting the then-President at a concert in London.  While his first idea was a unifying song named ‘Undivided’, Chicks singer Natalie Maines was determined to stand her ground and a song that was more defiant called ‘Not Ready to Make Nice’ (a MN term Wilson remembered growing up) was instead born and redemption made. 

With brother Matt in the audience, Wilson couldn’t resist the chance to bring him onstage to reminisce about their formative years and also duet on ‘Landing’, from Matt’s 1998 solo album Burnt, White, and Blue.

For perhaps his greatest single-song success, Wilson explained the initial reaction to the rough demo of ‘Someone Like You’  he and Adele had been working on- “my manager loved it… and me mum cried”, Adele said, with Wilson realizing they really had something with it. 

For the encore, Wilson explained the work going into the 56-page book he crafted, to accompany the deluxe version, both the essays and visuals, before going into his original ‘Honey Please’ on piano.

And the night would end like it began, sending the crowd off with the hopeful ‘All Will Be Well’- a ray of optimism in an increasingly darker world. “If it’s good enough for Bob Dylan”, he said referring to re-playing a song for the encore, “it’s good enough for us”.

More than “good enough for us”, Dan Wilson came back to entertain and give us a peek inside his creative processes; both in songwriting and calligraphy, that showed what a unique talent he is, still calling the area home and the metro happy to still claim him as one of our own. 

Her Crooked Heart

Setlist

Dan and Matt Wilson

Dan Wilson

Dan Wilson

Dan Wilson

Dan Wilson at Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul (22 Sept 2017)

john (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.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

Minneapolis: June 14 to June 15, 2017

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from June 14 to June 15, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Jamestown Revival Jamestown Revival- comprised of Texas based duo Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance, are the next generation of Americana/Indie. They wrote their album UTAH in the mountains …

JAMESTOWN REVIVAL
at Fine Line Music Café
Wednesday 06/14/17 (7pm/$16)
finelinemusic.com

American rock duo Jamestown Revival (Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay) will be headlining the Fine Line Music Café this June 14th, in support of their second LP record The Education of Wandering Man (Republic Records).

Two special guests will open:

Colter Wall with a hot self-titled debut album on Young Mary’s Record Co. via Thirty Tigers (entering the charts at #2 on “Heatseekers Albums” as well as #6 on the “Americana/Folk Albums” chart, #11 on the “Independent Current Albums” chart and #14 on the “Current Country Albums” chart). Wall was just in town in April 2017, with Margo Price.

Also Hope Country is back in town.

Tour dates:

6/4 Atlanta, GA Park Tavern
6/6 Birmingham, AL Saturn
6/7 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom
6/8 Saxapahaw, NC Haw River Ballroom
6/9 Washington, D.C. 9:30 Club
6/10 Snowshoe, WV Wanderlust Festival
6/11 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop
6/13 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall
6/14 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Café
6/15 Chicago, IL Park West
7/1 New Braunfels, TX Whitewater Amphitheater~
7/2 New Braunfels, TX Whitewater Amphitheater~
8/16 Denver, CO Red Rocks^

~ Supporting Ryan Bingham
^ Supporting Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue + the Record Company

Read More Surfer Blood One of the best live band Surfer Blood will be returning to Minneapolis for the 1000th time (in truth, probably their ninth time) in support of the band's third album 1000 Palms, out now on Joyful Noise. … Winter Los Angeles-based dream pop/shoegaze band Winter, they are touring in support of their debut LP earlier this year on Lolipop Records, with all-new single on Burger Records. …

SURFER BLOOD
at 7th Street Entry
Wednesday 06/14/17 (7pm/$15)
first-avenue.com

We’ve said this before, but Surfer Blood is one of the best live bands out there. Don’t believe me? Read Dena’s account from AthFest 2015: “I have saved what- in my opinion- is the best performance of the festival for last. I am speaking- of course- of Surfer Blood. On Saturday June 27, Surfer Blood dominated the Georgia Theatre and everyone lucky enough to be inside. It was like the second coming of The Beach Boys, with a Weezer-style twist. John Paul Pitts’ enchanting croon took me completely by surprise and transported me to the time I saw Brian Wilson perform Pet Sounds at Chastain Park in Atlanta. Then I remembered the first time I saw Weezer, when The Sweater Song was their first and only single. Taking in my first taste of Surfer Blood, I felt as if I was seeing indie rock history being made all over again, and I was honored to bear witness to such a gift. I am grateful to everyone who encouraged me to see this alternative indie rock band from West Palm Beach, Florida. They are masters of catchy guitar hooks and choruses that you can’t stop singing, much less forget.”

The band is returning to the 7th Street Entry this Wednesday.

Also, it should be noted that their former guitarist Thomas Fekete died in May 2016, at the tender age of 27 to terminal cancer.

Hard to google, Winter will open.

Tour Dates:

6/5 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO*
6/7 - The Bartlett - Spokane, WA*
6/8 - Broken City - Calgary, AB, Canada*
6/10 - Amigos Cantina - Saskatoon, SK, Canada*
6/13 - The Aquarium - Fargo, ND*
6/14 - 7th St Entry - Minneapolis, MN*
6/15 - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines, IA*
6/16 - Cactus Club - Milwaukee, WI*
6/17- Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL*
6/18 - HI-FI Indy - Indianapolis, IN*
6/20 - Now That's Class - Cleveland, OH*
6/21 - El Club - Detroit, MI*
6/22 - MOTR - Cincinnati, OH*
6/23 - Exit/In - Nashville, TN*
6/24 - Saturn - Birmingham, AL*
6/25 - Sunset Sessions @ Park Tavern *

* with Winter

Read More Robyn Hitchcock Robyn Hitchcock will be opening the show. The iconic singer is out promoting his 21st studio recording, but first-ever eponymous release. The new record is basically a re-introduction “Robyn Hitchcock” …

ROBYN HITCHCOCK
at Turf Club
Thursday 06/15/17 (7pm/$20/Sold Out)
turfclub.net

We caught Robyn Hitchcock in April 2017, and one of the minor complaints we had about the show was that he had only an opener’s set time limit.

However, now returning as a headliner at the Turf Club in St Paul, Hitchcock will likely play any songs from his former The Soft Boys and The Egyptians groups (considering that he will play an extra long, or double set).

As previously predicted, the show is sold out!

DJ Ryan Cameron to play music before the show.

Tour Dates:

06/08 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
06/09 - Sonoma, CA - Huichica Music Festival *
06/10 - Sonoma, CA - Huichica Music Festival *
06/13 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah
06/15 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
06/17 - Chicago, IL - Maur Hall
06/18 - Milwaukee, WI - Collectivo Coffee
06/28 - Louisville, KY - Big Four Lawn
07/21 - Seattle, WA - Showbox
07/22 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
07/23 - Grass Valley, CA - Veterans Memorial
07/25 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
08/06 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon 2017 *

* Festival Performance

Read More Delta Rae Speaking of six-piece, the six-piece rock band Delta Rae, from Durham, NC, is currently on tour supporting The Chasing Twisters EP, which Rolling Stone deemed as "heroic" and called the band as …

Other shows in the area:

06/14/17 New Kids On The Block (or rather NKOTB) is headlining this all-90s celebration with Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul, at Xcel Energy Center. Looks like a lot of fun. 6:30pm, $29.95.

06/14/17 + 06/16/2017 Originally, reunited Semisonic was going to play in January 2017, but someone in the group slipped and fell and broke their hand. Winter is no joke in Minnesota... Anyway, it was so serious that the group rescheduled until the summer! The first date is at the Turf Club in St Paul. The second date (06/16) will be at First Avenue. Both dates are sold out, obviously. 7pm, $35/Sold Out.

06/14/2017 We’ve already mentioned that all Summer, the annual Music at the Zoo will be taking place. Generally these tickets are expensive, but the acts are worthy of your attention... Kicking off the Music at the Zoo show on June 14 will be Delta Rae and Lauren Jenkins. Other acts in June: Buddy Guy (Jun 16), Boz Scaggs (Jun 18), Dark Star Orchestra (Jun 22) Mason Jennings (Jun 24), Texas Dance Hall Tour (Jun 25), and Ziggy Marley (Jun 30). 7pm, $37/Various Amounts.

06/15/2017 Retro-rocker Pokey LaFarge and Lillie Mae Rische to play First Avenue. 7pm, $15.

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

Minneapolis: January 1 to January 8, 2017

Start off the year with these Minneapolis/St Paul shows from January 1 to January 8, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Semisonic The majority of the show is about Semisonic and Dan Wilson. The band doesn't regularly release music or go on tour, but once in a while, Wilson and company will play a show here and there. …

SEMISONIC
at Turf Club
Thursday, 01/05/17, 7pm ($35 / Sold Out)
turfclub.net

SEMISONIC
at First Avenue
Saturday, 01/07/17, 8pm ($30 / Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

It’s not quite closing time for this celebrated band Semisonic. The band broke up in 2001, so it’s been a good 15 years since trio (Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter) had played together. Of course, both shows are sold out.

For the Saturday show, Semisonic will be playing their Great Divide album in its entirety. No, that’s not the album with ‘Closing Time’, but expect them to at least play the popular song during their second half of their set, or possibly most likely, saving it for the very last song on the encore.

Personally speaking, All About Chemistry, released in 2001, is probably a better choice if I was programming the setlist.

We previously caught Dan Wilson at the Cedar in June 2014 and wrote, “On the last of his three sold-out shows at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis over the weekend, singer/ songwriter/ producer/ hometown favorite son Dan Wilson had decreed the night’s theme as a “Chef’s Choice”- to be composed of elements of his previous two storytelling evenings, and would also feature some rarely played collaborations and surprises. With his 110 minute performance, the “Chef” did not disappoint.”

Read More Cracker If you listened to our new podcast, you can clearly hear us singing to various Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven songs off the top of our heads. …

CRACKER
at Fine Line Music Cafe
Friday, 01/06/17, 7pm ($20)
finelinemusic.com

Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven are touring together this winter. Personally speaking, I feel like they’re practically the same band, as they’re both fronted by singer David Lowery.

I remember the first time I heard Camper Van Beethoven’s single ‘Take The Skinheads Bowling’ I knew they were a fun band... The band broke up after a few years and Lowery went on to Cracker. Cracker was a more successful band, with ‘Low’ as their big hit song... however, I personally felt ‘"Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)’ is a better song.

We saw Cracker in 2014 and wrote, ““This band is called Cracker,” lead singer David Lowery rumbled into the mic as an Ennio Morricone-style intro led the band on stage. Cracker, like Lowery’s other group, Camper Van Beethoven, has explored a variety of musical genres in the 20-odd years they’ve been making music. Where CVB injected traditional Eastern European music and psychedelia into their punk songs, Cracker has had more of a surf and roots slant to their rock tunes - an amalgamation that has been dubbed “Bakersfield Country,” named for the California city where the band practices. The band that scored the 90s alternative rock hit “Low” can also bust out western-flavored tearjerkers like “Where Have Those Days Gone,” the song that opened their set.”

Cracker’s most recent double-album Berkeley to Bakersfield is out now.

Cracker / Camper Van Beethoven Winter Tour Dates:

12/27 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA
12/28 - Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, CA
12/29 - Music Box - San Diego, CA
12/30 - Whisky A Go Go – Hollywood, CA
12/31 - Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR
01/01 - The Crocodile – Seattle, WA
01/06 - Fine Line Music Cafe – Minneapolis. MN
01/07 - Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
01/08 - The Music Box - Cleveland, OH
01/11 - Neighborhood Theater - Charlotte, NC
01/12 - 9:30 Club - Washington D.C.
01/13 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA (Sold Out)
01/14 - Middle East Downstairs - Cambridge, MA
01/15 - B.B. King Blues Club - New York, NY
01/19 - CAMP-IN 2017 at 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA
01/20 - CAMP-IN 2017 at 40 Watt – Athens, GA
01/21 - CAMP-IN 2017 at 40 Watt Club – Athens, GA

Other shows in the area:

01/01/17 New Year’s Day

01/02/17 New Year’s Day Observed

01/03/17 Beats and rapper Felly and Gyyps will be at the Pourhouse.

01/04/17 Locals Remo Drive, Ego Death (who we previously was confused with Canada's Ego Death) and Autumn Kid will be at the 7th Street Entry.

01/08/17 Reel Big Fish and Anti-Flag will be at Skyway Theatre. Special guests Ballyhoo! and Direct Hit! are also on the bill.

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

Dan Wilson at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06 June 2014) concert review

Three Nights at the Cedar poster Setlist Love Without Fear Easy Silence Secret Smile Breathless A Sing Can Be About Anything Too Much Your Brighter Days Disappearing Treacherous Don’t You Remember DND Closing Time Free Life -- Encore -- However Long Someone Like You Movies Tour Dates 06/11/14 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live 06/13/14 Vienna, VA Jammin' Java 06/14/14 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage 06/19/14 Los Angeles, CA Largo 06/20/14 San Francisco, CA Great American 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...

A pinch of this, a dab of that…

On the last of his three sold-out shows at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis over the weekend, singer/songwriter/producer/hometown favorite son Dan Wilson had decreed the night’s theme as a “Chef’s Choice”- to be composed of elements of his previous two storytelling evenings, and would also feature some rarely played collaborations and surprises.  With his 110 minute performance, the “Chef” did not disappoint.

Wilson had returned to town, in support of his second and latest solo effort, Love Without Fear (Kobalt/Ballroom Music, Ltd) and brought along his right-hand man Brad Gordon on keyboards, drummer Ken Chastain, and for several songs, the Laurel Street Quartet, who added an elegance with their Jacob Slichter-arranged string enhancements.

After a retrospective 45 min. set of his own featuring numerous solo and Rogue Valley songs, local songsmith Chris Koza gave way to the headliner, who began his set with the title track from his new album.  Dressed in jeans and a fitted dark denim jacket, Wilson then went into a stark version of the hit he co-penned with the Dixie Chicks, ‘Easy Silence’.

Dan Wilson

Prefacing the Semisonic song, ‘Secret Smile’, Wilson mentioned his mother’s advice to keep a dream journal and that song being one of the things that resulted from it.  The swooping strings from the quartet added a welcome polish to the acoustic version, while keeping its core pop roots intact.

Dan Wilson Setlist

A “massive hit” in Greece and Macedonia, ‘Breathless’ was next, the audience chuckling along with Wilson’s story about his brush with brief pocketed international fame.  The new ’Your Brighter Days’ is a pop nugget, borne out of a transcontinental plane trip and the inspiration and jet-leg as a result of landing half a world away.  Lead single from the new album, ‘Disappearing’, was delicate and heartbreaking at the same time, Wilson mining his willingness to show vulnerabilities and emotions, that makes him in demand as a creative collaborator, particularly with notable female artists (P!nk, Adele, etc).

Without naming names, Wilson then told an amusing story about his collaboration with Taylor Swift, before launching into ‘Treacherous’, from Swift’s 2012 album, Red; a confessional song about being enticed by something obviously also so dangerous. The Adele collaboration, ‘Don’t You Remember’ was next, with Wilson saying her vision for the song was to show “why the other album songs were so heartbroken”; one of Wilson’s favorites, he admitted though he rarely plays it himself live.

Laurel Street Quartet

Semisonic’s ‘DND’ was a mellow favorite and a shoulda-been hit, from 1998’s Feeling Strangely Fine, with the Laurel Street Quartet adding its appropriate elegance, alongside some gentle harmonica.   Semisonic’s biggest hit, ‘Closing Time’ was punctuated with a relaxed Wilson playfully over-extending a bridge section to the point of absurdity, to the chagrin of the amused audience, which was then followed by some other riffing versions of the song’s chorus.  ‘All Kinds of Beautiful’ had the crowd singing along to the chorus, in a Minnesota polite but not loud tone, and ended the main set.

The new ‘However Long’ with its lyrics inspired by a volcano, began the encore, followed by Wilson’s interpretation of Adele’s epic of sadness and redemption, ‘Someone Like You’.  Semisonic’s ‘Movies’, Paul Simon-like in its lyrical attention to detail and with the string quartet soaring at full energy, closed the evening and three-night stand, with flourish.

And with that, the “Chef” said good night, a palette satisfying, Grammy-winning recipe, prepared and served.

Dan Wilson at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06 June 2014)

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