W♥M

Beach Boys at PACER Annual Benefit, Convention Center, Minneapolis (11 May 2019)

Beach Boys Minneapolis Convention Center Pacer program cover Beach Boys Setlist Do It Again Surfin' Safari Catch a Wave Little Honda Surfin' U.S.A. Surfer Girl Don't Worry Baby Little Deuce Coupe 409 Shut Down I Get Around Be True to Your School God Only Knows Sloop John B ([traditional] cover) Wouldn't It Be Nice California Girls Do You Wanna Dance? (Bobby Freeman cover) Help Me, Rhonda Barbara Ann (The Regents cover) Kokomo Good Vibrations -- Encore -- Fun, Fun, Fun Tour Dates May 26 Altoona, PA The Jaffa Shrine Center May 30 Huntington, NY The Paramount May 31 Carlton, MN Black Bear Casino Resort Jun 14 Bizkaia, Spain Legends Festival Jun 16 Prague, Czech Republic Lucerna Jun 18 Hannover, Germany Swiss Life Hall Jun 20 Roskilde, Denmark Roskilde Congress Ctr Jun 21 Bournemouth Bournemouth International Ctr Jun 22 Hull, UK Hull Bonus Arena Jun 24 London, UK Royal Albert Hall Jun 25 London, UK Royal Albert Hall Jun 26 Festival Printemps de Perouges Jun 27 Paris, France Olympia Jun 28 Antwerp, Belgium Stadsshouwberg Jun 29 Frankfurt, Germany Jahrhunderthalle Jun 30 Abenberg, Germany Burg Abenberg Jul 2 Dusseldorf, Germany Mitsubishi Electric Halle Jul 3 Rotterdam, Netherlands Nieuwe Luxor Theatre Jul 5 Rotterdam, Netherlands Port of Rotterdam Jul 6 Brighton, United Kingdom Brighton Centre Jul 7 Oxfordshire, Cornbury Music Festival Jul 9 Zurich, Switzerland Theater 11 Jul 11 Marbella, Spain Starlite Festival Jul 12 Barcelona, Spain Pedralbes Festival Jul 13 Monte-Carlo, France Sporting Club Jul 16 Berlin, Germany Verti Music Hall Jul 17 Dresden, Germany Junge Garde Jul 19 Halle, Germany Freilichtbühne Peißnitzinsel Jul 20 Munich, Germany Cirkus Krone Jul 21 Stuttgart, Germany Liederhalle Jul 22 Freiburg, Germany Zelt-Music-Festival Jul 25 Asheville, NC Biltmore Estate Jul 27 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena Jul 28 Whitehouse Station, NJ QuickChek NJ Festival Aug 1 Grand Rapids, MI Meijer Gardens Amph Aug 2 New Buffalo, MI Four Winds Casino Aug 3 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Pavilion Aug 4 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Pavilion Aug 14 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Aug 15 Lowell, MA Boarding House Park Aug 16 East Providence, RI Bold Point Park Aug 18 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse Aug 21 Chautauqua, NY Chautauqua Institution Amph Aug 22 Canandaigua, NY Constellation Brands–Marvin Sands Aug 23 Lancaster, PA American Music Theatre Aug 24 Selbyville, DE The Freman Stage at Bayside Aug 25 Vienna, VA Wolf Trap Aug 30 Huron, SD South Dakota State Fair Aug 31 Salem, OR Oregon State Fair Sep 2 Puyallup, WA Washington State Fair Sep 4 Jacksonville, OR Britt Festival Sep 6 Lincoln, CA Thunder Valley Casino Resort Sep 8 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery Oct 16 San Diego, CA Humphreys Concerts Oct 17 San Diego, CA Humphreys Concerts Dec 1 Palm Springs, CA McCallum Theatre Mar 4 Mesa, AZ Valle De Oro Read More PACER Proceeds from the Annual Benefit support PACER’s programs for children with disabilities and PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which was founded in 2006 so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood .... The Beach Boys Wilson, Jardine and Marks have carried on for a brief 7-city summer tour, following a successful 50th anniversary album/73-show tour under The Beach Boys name which fizzled after singer Mike Love …

After seven consecutive months of snow and an extraordinarily long winter, summer has officially come early--

courtesy of The Beach Boys who brought warmth, sunshine, and almost sixty years of hits to PACER Center’s 37th Annual Benefit, presented by Starkey Hearing Technologies, held this past weekend at the Minneapolis Convention Center, to support the work PACER does for families of children with disabilities and children who are bullied.

The mission of PACER Center is to enhance the quality of life and expand opportunities for children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities and their families, so each person can reach his or her highest potential.

PACER, headquartered locally, serves families nationwide, as well as those in-state and operates on the principles of parents helping parents, supporting families, promoting a safe environment for all children, and working in collaboration with others.

The current incarnation of the legendary group is a tight nine-piece band, fronted by original vocalist Mike Love and Bruce Johnston (keys/bass/vocals) who joined in 1965. Love’s son Christian is on rhythm guitar and sings lead on a few songs, and Apple Valley, MN native Brian Eichenberger has re-joined on guitar and high vocals, replacing an ailing Jeff Foskett.

With a stage decorated appropriately with several palm trees, a video screen behind them, and supporting screens on each side, the band entertained the convention center auditorium crowd with a jukebox-like hit parade of twenty-two songs spanning six decades, in just over sixty-five minutes.

The band got the crowd in the mood with a short video montage before opening with 1968’s ‘Do it Again’ (which the band remade in 2011 when Brian Wilson briefly rejoined for their 50^th) with 1962’s ‘Surfin’ Safari’ following close behind.

Love, with silver beard and mustache wore his own Beach Boys cap and a shirt with numerous peace signs emblazoned on it, still the signature voice in a unique musical sound that is so much a part of our lives, it’s hard to imagine a time when it didn’t exist.

As the hits continued, more and more people stood, several in tropical shirts, to dance in the aisles, bop inflatable beach balls around the crowd, and head up front to get a closer look. For ‘Surfer Girl’, Love had everyone hold their cellphone lights in the air, creating a firefly look to the crowd (“it looks like the Milky Way” Love remarked), as he recalled their early area appearance at a ballroom on Lake Minnetonka in the early 60’s.

Eichenberger took lead vocals for a swinging ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ resulting in some hometown applause, and Love introduced ‘Be True to Your School’ as dedicated to people in uniforms… cheer-leading uniforms. Classic ‘God Only Knows’ was performed with Christian Love on lead, taking over the original vocals from late drummer Dennis Wilson and the last third of their set kicked things higher with nothing but monster hits, beginning with ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’.

‘California Girls’ was changed to ‘Minnesota Girls’ a few times on the chorus and Johnston took the lead over for 1965’s ‘Do You Wanna Dance’. The crowd sang back to the band on ‘Help Me Rhonda’ and the band urged everyone to be snowbirds next year and escape the Minnesota chill, to travel to ‘Kokomo’. The trippy electro-theremin of 1966’s ‘Good Vibrations’ still shows how revolutionary that song was fifty-plus years later, and everything ended on a high note with 1964’s ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’, with everyone on their feet, dancing and clapping along.  

Almost sixty years on, the California Sound is still alive and well with The Beach Boys, able to bring warmth and sunshine to even the coldest corners of Minnesota; and on this night supporting a great cause of anti-bullying and promoting a safe environment for all children and young adults and enhancing the lives of people with disabilities, courtesy of the efforts of PACER Center.

(click on any photo below to enlarge and see full image)

Beach Boys at PACER Annual Benefit, Convention Center, Minneapolis (11 May 2019)

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

Minneapolis: May 10 to May 11, 2019

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from May 10 to May 11, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

The Lemons: Varshons II Read More The Lemonheads Originally, The Lemonheads were scheduled to play in the closet-sized 7th Street Entry, but seeing as tickets sold-out, they upgraded the band to the full-sized room at First Avenue. … Tommy Stinson This Tommy Stinson (bass player for this little known band called The Replacements) with Milwaukee's Midnight Reruns and Philadelphia's Beach Slang is sold out. .…

THE LEMONHEADS
+ Tommy Stinson
First Avenue
Sat 05/11/2019 (7pm/$25)
first-avenue.com

The original laidback Evan Dando is returning as The Lemonheads to First Avenue this May 11th in support of their 10th album Varshons 2.

Growing up in the 90s, you absolutely own the Lemonheads’ album, It’s a Shame About Ray. The record had the hit title track, and some fun songs like “Rockin Stroll” and “Alison's Starting to Happen” … and who could forget the Simon & Garfunkel cover “Mrs Robinson”?

We last saw Dando in Oct 2011 and wrote how popular the show was: “Originally, The Lemonheads were scheduled to play in the closet-sized 7th Street Entry, but seeing as tickets sold-out, they upgraded the band to the full-sized room at First Avenue.”

Special guest will be Tommy Stinson, you know, from the Minneapolis-legendary band The Replacements? This should be an amazing show.

Tour dates:

05/04: Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Bowl
05/06: Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
05/07: Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
05/08: Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
05/10: Chicago, ILThalia Hall
05/11: Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
05/12: Omaha, NE The Waiting Room Lounge
05/14: Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre
05/17: Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
05/18: Vancouver, B.C. Rickshaw Theatre
05/19: Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
05/21: San Francisco, CA Slim's
05/22: Petaluma, CA Mystic Theatre
05/24: Los Angeles, CA Teragram Ballroom
05/25: San Diego, CA Casbah
05/26: Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
05/27: Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
05/29: Oklahoma City, OK Tower Theatre
05/30: Dallas, TX Granada Theatre
05/31: Austin, TX Barracuda
06/01: Houston ,TX White Oak Music Hall
06/03: New Orleans, LA House Of Blues
06/04: Atlanta, GA Terminal West
06/06: Nashville, TN Exit/In
06/07: Charlotte, NC The Underground
06/08: Charleston, SC Music Farm
06/09: Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle
06/11: Lancaster, PA Chameleon Club
06/12: Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls Theatre
06/13: Washington, D.C. 9:30 Club
06/14: Philadelphia, PA The Foundry At The Fillmore
06/15: Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club

Other shows in the area:

THAD at Turf Club Lucius at Fitzgerald Beach Boys at Convention Center Albert Castiglia at Hook & Ladder TR/ST at 7th Street Read More The Beach Boys Wilson, Jardine and Marks have carried on for a brief 7-city summer tour, following a successful 50th anniversary album/73-show tour under The Beach Boys name which fizzled after singer Mike Love … Lucius At their Rock the Garden show, Lucius previewed a new song (“Dusty Trails”), which just appeared on their latest album Good Grief. … Pure Bathing Culture Pure Bathing Culture opened up the show, playing a forty-minute set of songs like "Dream The Dare" from their debut Moon Tides album, out now on Partisan Records. Their sound is often compared to …

THAD
+ Savannah Smith, Martin Devaney
Turf Club
Fri 05/10/2019 (8pm/$15)
turfclub.net

Singer-songwriter Thad (known for being the lead singer of Leagues) will be playing the Turf Club on Friday, May 10th. His debut album is set for release this Fall 2019 on ATO Records.

Tour dates:

May 9 – Milwaukee, WI – Colectivo Coffee Lakefront
May 10 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
May 11 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern
May 12 – Detroit, MI – The Crofoot
May 14 – Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel
May 16 – Washington, D.C. – Pearl Street Warehouse
May 17 – Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade
May 18 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live
May 21 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café
May 22 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall
May 23 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle
June 4 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
June 5 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir
June 7 – San Francisco, CA – Café Du Nord
June 8 – Los Angeles, CA – Gold Diggers

LUCIUS
+ Pure Bathing Culture
Fitzgerald Theater
Fri 05/10/2019 (7pm/$36.75)
Sat 05/11/2019 (7pm/$36.75)
thefitzgeraldtheater.com

Lucius is doing a two-night residency at the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul, on May 10 and May 11th, as part of their Live Nudes Tour. The tour may be in support of their acoustic album Nudes… but expect some beats and guitars, and, of course, harmonizing vocals of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig.

Once again, Lucius is bringing along Pure Bathing Culture (who we last caught together on the same bill in March 2016).

Pure Bathing Culture’s new album Night Pass is out now on Infinite Companion.

Tour dates:

May 04 | Ann Arbor, MI at The Ark
May 07 | Bloomington, IL at Castle Theater
May 08 | Madison, WI at Barrymore Theatre
May 10 | Minneapolis, MN at The Fitzgerald Theater
May 11 | Minneapolis, MN at The Fitzgerald Theater
May 12 | Des Moines, IA at The Franklin
May 15 | Santa Fe, NM at Meow Wolf
May 17 | Tucson, AZ at The Rialto Theater
May 18 | Pioneertown, CA at Pappy & Harriet’s

BEACH BOYS
Minneapolis Convention Center
Sat 05/11/2019 (6pm/$75+)
pacer.org

Fun, fun, fun for a good cause--

This year's PACER Annual Benefit features classic band The Beach Boys featuring Mike Love

This event celebrates PACER’s work on behalf of families of children with disabilities and children and youth who are bullied, with all proceeds supporting PACER’s many worthwhile programs.

The evening also features the largest silent auction in the metro (this year with Mobile Bidding via your smartphone) with items from all categories and the live auction offers unique travel and VIP special experiences.

A popular raffle and wine pull as well as extravaganza bags, are also part of the pre-performance evening.

SCHEDULE
Silent auction: 6 pm
Live auction: 8 pm
Benefit performance: 8 pm
Patron party: After the performance
Performance will be ASL interpreted.

Ticket link: bidpal.net

Tour dates:

May 4 Oklahoma City, OK OKC Civic Center Music Hall
May 5 Enid, OK Central National Bank Center
May 7 Topeka, KS Topeka Performing Arts Center
May 8 Ames, IA Stephens Auditorium
May 9 Sioux City, IA Orpheum Theatre
May 10 Mahnomen, MN Shooting Star Casino
May 11 Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis Convention Center
May 26 Altoona, PA The Jaffa Shrine Center
May 30 Huntington, NY The Paramount
May 31 Carlton, MN Black Bear Casino Resort

ALBERT CASTIGLIA
Hook and Ladder
Sat 05/11/2019 (7:30pm/$12)
thehookmpls.com

Originally scheduled at Famous Dave’s, this Albert Castiglia album release show has moved to the Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge. The Miami-based singer/songwriter is promoting his new album Masterpiece (coming out May 24th on Gulf Coast Records).

Tour dates:

May 8---Memphis, TN---Rum Boogie Café
May 10—Kansas City, MO---Knucklehead’s Saloon
May 11---Minneapolis, MN---
May 14---Lincoln, NE---Zoo Bar
May 16---Omaha, NE---Chrome Lounge
May 17---Chicago, IL---Buddy Guy’s Legends
Jun 14-16---Key West, FL---Green Parrot
Jun 21---Ft. Myers, FL---Buckingham Blues Bar
Jun 22---Ft. Lauderdale, FL---LauderAle Brewery
Jun 28---Jupiter, FL---Double Roads Tavern
Jun 29---Sarasota, FL---Sarasota Sky Bar & Club
Jul 27---Pomeroy, OH---Big Bend Blues Bash
Aug 9---Charlotte, NC---US Natl. Whitewater Center
Aug 10---Wheeling, W.VA---Heritage Blues Festival
Aug 16---Wausau, WI--- Big Bull Falls Blues Festival

TR/ST
+ Lydia Ainsworth
Fine Line Music Café
Sat 05/11/2019 (8pm/$17)
finelinemusic.com

TR/ST (pronounced as “trust”, not “trist”), will be headlining the Fine Line Music Café this Saturday, May 11th. TR/ST decided to change his name from the hard-to-Google name Trust.

TR/ST’s new LP The Destroyer - Volume 1, available now on Grouch Via House Arrest.

Lydia Ainsworth to open.

Tour dates:

05/04 - Philadelphia. PA | Underground Arts
05/05 - Washington, DC | U Street Music Hall
05/09 - Detroit, MI | El Club
05/10 - Chicago, IL | Lincoln Hall
05/11 - Minneapolis, MN | Fine Line Music Cafe
05/14 - Portland, OR | Wonder Ballroom
05/15 - Seattle, WA | Neumos
05/17 - San Francisco, CA | Great American Music Hall
05/18 - Los Angeles, CA | The Fonda Theatre
06/07-09 - Austin, TX | Austin Terror Fest

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

Starkey Hearing Foundation 18th Annual Awards Gala at Rivercentre, St. Paul (15 July 2018)

W♥M275: Starkey Hearing Foundation (12 mins) W♥M274: Starkey Red Carpet (8 mins) Music/Entertainment Setlist The Tenors The Prayer Darci Lynne Farmer Who’s Loving You (Jackson 5 cover) The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra cover) / Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles cover) O Mio Babbino Caro w/ Petunia Paul Williams The Rainbow Connection The Tenors Forever Young (Bob Dylan cover) Gloria Gaynor Never Can Say Goodbye I Will Survive Sinbad Sinbad - stand-up set Don Felder Hotel California Alice Cooper/Don Felder/Robbie Krieger No More Mr. Nice Guy I’m Eighteen Five to One / Break on Through (The Doors covers) Brown Sugar (The Rolling Stones cover) School’s Out /Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2 (Pink Floyd cover) Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Once again, on a Sunday July afternoon, St. Paul became Tinseltown if only for an evening as the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s So The World May Hear 18th Annual Gala, in support ... Alice Cooper Rock icon Alice Cooper is bringing his incredibly live show to Mankato’s Vetter Stone Amphitheater this Friday, June 9th. We caught Cooper & Co earlier in December 2015 and said, “Alice Cooper shows … Gloria Gaynor Grammy-awarding winning singer and disco queen Gloria Gaynor; winner of Season 12 of America’s Got Talent Darci Lynne Farmer … The Tenors International vocal group The Tenors, but wanted to first showcase the red carpet arrivals and the numerous celebrity attendees that showed their support. … Paul Williams The music is written by Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams. Ascher was best known for his keyboard and arrangements on John Lennon's album Walls and Bridges and Yoko Ono's A Story. …

The gift of hearing--

It’s one of the five senses many of us take for granted, but to those that are without it, the chance to gain (or re-gain in some cases) that vital gift, brings a feeling of utter joy that becomes difficult to fully express.  Starkey Foundation’s 18th Annual So the World May Hear Awards Gala held at the Rivercentre ballroom in St. Paul, celebrated that precious gift and honored several dignitaries for their own similar humanitarian works.

The annual benefit, which supports the Foundation’s community-based hearing healthcare programs and other global strategic initiatives, filled the upstairs main ballroom with 1,500 supporters and donors for a memorable evening that informed, entertained, enlightened, and thrilled. 

The annual formal gala is the centerpiece of Starkey’s year-long campaign to grow the Foundation’s international life-changing missions and domestically, its Hear Now program continues to provide hearing devices to those in need as well.

We previously showed you the star-studded red carpet arrivals; now, we want to focus on the gala itself and its many memorable music performances.

A silent auction of all types of memorabilia and items greeted supporters in the upstairs lobby and the doors soon opened to a full orchestra playing with dinner being served at the numerous ten-person tables. The evening got off to a slightly rocky start, beginning late with the traditional opening of an American bald eagle, set to fly above the crowd to land on his trainer’s arm on a platform on the other side of the room, not quite happening as expected. 

That proved to be comic gold for returning host and emcee Sinbad, who made light of things and reassured everyone that all was ok, promising a fun and entertaining evening.  Canadian trio The Tenors made a return appearance to the gala, themselves just recently back from one of Starkey’s transformative missions in Zambia, to open the evening with their hit, ‘The Prayer’. 

Bayat Foundation co-founders Dr. Ehsan Bayat and Mrs. Fatima Laya Bayat were honored for their work on behalf of in-need Afghans, before the next performer to the stage was ventriloquist and entertainer Darci Lynne Farmer. The thirteen year-old won season12 of America’s Got Talent and brought with her, puppet Oscar, a Motown-loving mouse to sing a Jackson 5 cover, pulled a couple from the audience to have them croon on cue as human puppets, and thoroughly impressed as she and her rabbit puppet Petunia, sang a classic Italian opera.

Elton John sent a long a short film before songwriter/actor Paul Williams was honored, the grateful philanthropist even sang his trademark Muppet hit, The Rainbow Connection’.  Actor Forest Whitaker then spoke about his own foundation’s peacebuilding initiatives and after a short film set in Dubai, former President Bill Clinton electrified the room with a stirring and inspirational mostly-improvised speech. 

The Tenors then returned to the stage for a soaring version of a classic from Minnesota native Bob Dylan before Starkey Foundation’s Bill Austin gave a humble and emotional address about being the best you are, and giving back. 

The auction then got underway, with tablets on each table to enabling a click-to-donate feature, as well as the chance to accompany the Starkey team on mission experiences to far-flung lands as a life-changing opportunity to provide the gift of hearing to those in need. Comedian Billy Crystal assisted in the proceedings with honoree Paul Williams even donated the opportunity to have him compose a unique song of your own choosing. 

The second half of the evening began with a dancing start as Grammy-winning singer Gloria Gaynor emerged for a too short two-song set, including of course, her disco-era anthem, ‘I Will Survive’, “We’re all speaking the language of love tonight” Gaynor said, introducing the classic song. Lin-Manuel Miranda sent along a video, apologizing that commitments left him unable to attend, also praising Starkey’s efforts with his own foundation, to aid in still weather-stricken Puerto Rico. 

Alice Cooper came out early to help honor his longtime manager, chef, and humanitarian Shep Gordon and then Sinbad returned for a longer, often hilarious stand-up set, riffing on everything from a possible downside of restoring hearing, going through airports, compression socks, and even taking a few questions from the audience. 

Billy Crystal spoke to honor his friend and Special Olympics chairman Timothy Shriver and then amps were turned up and all eyes turned to the left side of the main stage for the evening’s closing musical performance.

“Anybody recognize this guitar?” four-time Grammy Award winning ex-guitarist for The Eagles, Don Felder asked, holding up his signature double neck before strumming the recognizable first chords of ‘Hotel California’’.  Felder then introduced Cooper, and he and the band dove straight into ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’, accompanied by the legendary guitarist from The Doors, Robbie Krieger.

‘I’m Eighteen’ was the result of Cooper’s manager, Gordon saying they needed a song that would make every parent hate him (which worked) then Cooper and Krieger briefly recalled their wilder drinking days together, before a sizzling Doors medley of ‘Five to One/Break on Through’, punctuated by a signature Krieger solo.

“You can dance a little bit on this song” Cooper said, jokingly remarking Paul Williams wrote it, as the band roared into the Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’-  “there’s a little Mick Jagger in all of us”, Cooper exclaimed. Aware of their audience, the band invited a few of the evening’s highest donors (dubbed The Cooper-ettes by Alice) to come up on stage to help sing ‘School’s Out’, which melded the anthemic chorus of a Pink Floyd classic, to make for a thrilling finish. 

But, contrary to what Cooper sang in those time-honored space rock lyrics, while we can do without the thought control, we still do need the education- the education on this night coming in the form of inspiring stories of giving; restoring a person’s hearing and in turn, their dignity; and the priceless feeling of giving back.  Starkey Foundation’s 18th Annual Awards Gala reaffirmed those and more, in a celebration of their simple but very effective mission – So The World May Hear.

Tim Shriver

Tim Shriver

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

Bayat Foundation

Bayat Foundation

Bayat Foundation

Brady Forseth

Shep Gordon

Shep Gordon

Darci Lynne

Darci Lynne

Darci Lynne

Sinbad

Bill Austin

Bill Austin

Auction: Billy Crystal, Brady Forseth

Tenors

Tenors

Tenors

Tenors

Billy Crystal

Paul Williams

Paul Williams

Forest Whittaker

Forest Whittaker

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Gloria Gaynor

Gloria Gaynor

Gloria Gaynor

Gloria Gaynor

Don Felder

Don Felder

Don Felder

Don Felder

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper with Robbie Krieger

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper at Starkey Hearing Foundation 18th Annual Awards Gala at Rivercentre, St. Paul (15 July 2018)

john + vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Starkey Hearing Foundation18th Annual Awards Gala - Red Carpet at Rivercentre, St. Paul (15 July 2018)

W♥M275: Starkey Hearing Foundation (12 mins) Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrities, sports figures, and dignitaries all descended on St Paul over the weekend to attend The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala, which generated a...

Once again, on a Sunday July afternoon, St. Paul became Tinseltown if only for an evening as the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s So The World May Hear 18th Annual Gala, in support of accelerating the pace and scope of Starkey Hearing Foundation missions, and locally helping to support grants for area nonprofits, took place at the Rivercentre.

This year’s honorees included Shep Gordon- Award-winning producer & philanthropist, longtime entertainment manager, chef, and subject of the Mike Myers documentary, Supermensch; Dr. Timothy P. Shriver- Chairman of Special Olympics and author; Ehsan & Fatema Laya Bayat of The Bayat Foundation which lends assistance to in-need Afghans; and Paul Williams- longtime Starkey supporter, composer, singer, songwriter & philanthropist. Playwright and musical composer Lin-Manuel Miranda was also honored, though unable to attend. 

We’ll have full coverage for the gala itself shortly, which was hosted once again by comedian Sinbad and included musical performances from legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper and his band which included guest appearances from ex-Eagles guitarist Don Felder and Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger; Grammy-awarding winning singer and disco queen Gloria Gaynor; winner of Season 12 of America’s Got Talent Darci Lynne Farmer; and international vocal group The Tenors, but wanted to first showcase the red carpet arrivals and the numerous celebrity attendees that showed their support.

Among the additional guests were:

42^nd President of the United States Bill Clinton; comedian and author Billy Crystal; Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker; Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side); singer Portia Clark, Davina Bennett; TV personality Diane McInerney; announcer Alan Kalter; actors Frankie Muniz, (Malcolm in the Middle) and Kyle Massey; and musicians Huey Lewis, Arthur Brown, vocal group ARIA, and Rohan Marley.

Boxers Evander Holyfield and Andre Berto; NBA’s Cole Aldrich, Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Ron Harper, Ralph Sampson; NFL’s Kyle Rudolph, Andrew Sendajo, Ray Lewis, Ahmad Rashad, Greg Jennings, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, , Derrick Coleman, Robert Smith; NHL’s David Backes; MLB’s Justin Morneau; ESPN’s John Brenkus and Paralympian Mallory Weggemann.

Dr Timothy Shriver

Billy Crystal

Kyle Massey and Hana Giraldo

Huey Lewis

Portia Clark

Paul Williams

Quinton Aaron

Billy Crystal

John Brenkus

Ray Lewis

Justin Morneau

Darci Lynne

David Backes

Davina Bennett

Derrick Coleman Jr

Ed “Too Tall” Jones

Don Felder and Diane McInerney

Shep Gordon

Ahmad Rashad and Huey Lewis

Sinbad

Robert Smith

Ralph Sampson

Cole Aldrich

Arthur Brown

Andrew Sendeja

ARIA

Ahmad Rashad and Huey Lewis

Alan Kalter

Tani Austin

The Tenors

Evander Holyfield

Alice Cooper at Starkey Foundation 18th Annual Awards Gala, St. Paul (15 July 2018)

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

W♥M274: Starkey Hearing Foundation Red Carpet

W♥M274: Starkey Red Carpet (8 mins) Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrities, sports figures, and dignitaries all descended on St Paul over the weekend to attend The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala, which generated a...

Vu and John was at the red carpet event for the The Starkey Hearing Foundation 18th Annual Awards Gala

We quickly talked to a few celebrities:

Cole Aldrich and his NBA prospect and missing Verne Troyer

Arthur Brown first time at Starkey, and said he would possibly perform with Alice Cooper

Robby Krieger, guitarist for The Doors, said he would be performing with Cooper

Legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper talked about his work with Starkey, “Knowing you’re going to be playing in front of 150,000 people ... and yet that’s the high point. The high point was doing the clinics. And fitting the ear things in, and snipping it, and putting it in and testing it, and watching that person hearing for the first time. Especially a little kid or a really old person. Listening to their grandchildren for the first time. That’s just amazing. Sometime there’s not a dry eye in the house, ‘cause you know, you’re a tough guy and that doesn’t matter. That’s an amazing thing.”

Song of the show: Alice Cooper’ “School’s Out” (live).

Alice Cooper on tour:

08/03/2018 Wisconsin State Fair Grandstand West Allis, WI
08/05/2018 Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science Sioux Falls, SD
08/06/2018 Kauffman Center Kansas City, MO
08/08/2018 Pikes Peak Center Colorado Springs, CO
08/10/2018 Pearl Concert Theater Las Vegas, NV
08/11/2018 Pechanga Resort & Casino Temecula, CA
08/12/2018 Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA
08/14/2018 City National Civic San Jose, CA
08/15/2018 Jackson Rancheria Jackson, CA
08/16/2018 Grand Theatre Reno, NV
08/18/2018 KettleHouse Amphitheater Missoula, MT
08/19/2018 Angel Of The Winds Arena Everett, WA
08/20/2018 Queen Elizabeth Theatre Vancouver, BC
08/22/2018 Jubilee Auditorium Calgary, AB
08/23/2018 Jubilee Auditorium Edmonton, AB
08/25/2018 SaskTel Centre Saskatoon, SK
08/26/2018 Affinity Place Estevan, SK
08/28/2018 Burton Cummings Theatre Winnipeg, MB
08/29/2018 Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Thunder Bay, ON
08/30/2018 Ordway Center For The Perf. Arts Saint Paul, MN
09/01/2018 Foellinger Outdoor Theatre Fort Wayne, IN
09/02/2018 Rose Music Center Huber Heights, OH
09/04/2018 Taft Theatre Cincinnati, OH
09/06/2018 Beacon Theatre New York, NY
09/07/2018 York Fair Grandstand York, PA
09/08/2018 Tropicana Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ
10/04/2018 Palace Theatre Albany, NY
10/05/2018 Palace Theater Waterbury, CT
10/06/2018 Oncenter Crouse-Hinds Syracuse, NY
10/08/2018 Duke Energy Center Raleigh, NC
10/09/2018 Ovens Auditorium Charlotte, NC
10/10/2018 Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Atlanta, GA
10/12/2018 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Aud. Chattanooga, TN
10/13/2018 Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Biloxi, MS
10/14/2018 White Oak Music Hall Houston, TX
10/16/2018 Toyota Music Factory Irving, TX
10/17/2018 Hartman Arena Wichita, KS
10/19/2018 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN
10/20/2018 Peabody Opera House St. Louis, MO
10/21/2018 Paramount Theatre Cedar Rapids, IA
10/23/2018 Des Moines Civic Center Des Moines, IA
10/24/2018 Coronado Performing Arts Center Rockford, IL
10/26/2018 Stage AE Pittsburgh, PA
10/27/2018 W.D. Packard Music Hall Warren, OH
10/29/2018 DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids, MI

--
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Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on podomatic.com. Recording of this podcast was made possible by Skype, MP3 Skype Recorder, and Audacity.

W♥M273: Animal Years / Eels (07 June 2018) Vu, John W♥M272: SXSW 2018 (25 March 2018) Vu, Brody, Kanine Records, Music for Listeners W♥M271: Super Bowl (22 February 2018) Vu, John W♥M270: MN Fan Fest 2017 (28 August 2017) Vu, John W♥M269: Minnesota Fan Fest (19-20 Aug 2017) (13 August 2017) Vu, John W♥M268: Wonder Woman/George Perez (bonus audio) (13 August 2017) Vu, John

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

Event Preview: The Starkey Hearing Foundation 18th Annual Awards Gala

About Starkey Hearing Foundation Our mission, "So the World May Hear," is about bringing understanding between people through caring and sharing. We believe caring develops trust and by sharing we find our humanity. We believe by growing engagement in this cause that we can increase tolerance and respect for life. Our goal is to pursue our mission with commitment so that future generations can live in a world with more caring and Peace. For more information about Starkey Hearing Foundation, visit starkeyhearingfoundation.org Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrities, sports figures, and dignitaries all descended on St Paul over the weekend to attend The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala, which generated a...

So The World May Hear—

Saint Paul’s Rivercentre rolls out the Hollywood-style red carpet this Sunday for one of the most anticipated events of the year, The Starkey Hearing Foundation 18th Annual Awards Gala.

The So The World May Hear Awards Gala is one of the most acclaimed fundraising events in the country and the evening will not only inspire with thought-provoking honorees and must-see performers, but will also celebrate those who accelerate Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission to provide more hearing aids, raise more awareness, and connect more people with their families and communities.

This year’s honorees include Lin-Manuel Miranda (Composer, lyricist & actor); Shep Gordon (Award-winning producer, chef & philanthropist); Dr. Timothy P. Shriver (Chairman of Special Olympics); Ehsan & Fatema Laya Bayat (Bayat Foundation); and Paul Williams (Composer, singer, songwriter & philanthropist).  

The evening’s entertainment, hosted once more by emcee/comedian Sinbad, will also include exclusive performances by Gloria Gaynor (Grammy award-winning artist and disco queen); Alice Cooper (shock-rock pioneering singer, songwriter); The Tenors (international vocal group); Darci Lynne Farmer (Winner of Season 12 of America's Got Talent) as well as other surprises. 

The gala itself is anticipated to generate more than $9 million, which will accelerate the pace and scope of Starkey Hearing Foundation missions and locally. Proceeds will also support grants for local and regional nonprofits.

Numerous other local and international celebrities are expected to appear as well and we'll be there to document the fun and very worthwhile evening.  

A public area outside the Rivercentre is available to view the Red Carpet arrivals as well.

Limited availability for the Gala remains, with ticket and participation opportunities available here: starkeyhearingfoundation.org/gala

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

Starkey Foundation 17th Annual Awards Gala at Rivercentre, St. Paul (16 July 2017)

Starkey Foundation’s 17th Annual Awards Gala Setlist ARIA You Raise Me Up (Secret Garden cover) Grace Vanderwaal Clay Light the Sky Moonlight Portia Clark So the World May Hear John Fogerty Travelin' Band * Born on the Bayou Centerfield Have You Ever Seen the Rain * Old Man Down the Road Down on the Corner* Up Around the Bend * Bad Moon Rising * Fortunate Son* Proud Mary* *: Creedence Clearwater Revival song Darius Rucker Alright If I Told You Only Wanna to Be with You (Hootie and the Blowfish song) No Diggity (Blackstreet cover) Wagon Wheel (Bob Dylan/Old Crow Medicine Show cover) Steven Tyler & the Loving Mary Band Sweet Emotion* w/ Johnny Horton’s Battle of New Orleans snippet Cryin' * Piece of my Heart (Erma Franklin/Big Brother cover) Will You Stiill Love Me Tomorrow? (Shirelles cover) / Dream On* Walk This Way* / Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin cover) *: Aerosmith song Steven Tyler Tour Dates 08/25/2017 Thackerville, OK Colosseum 09/03/2017 Puyallup, WA Washington State Fair 09/15/2017 Quito, Ecuador Estadio Olimpico 09/18/2017 Belo Horizonte, Brazil Esplanada 09/21/2017 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Rock In Rio 09/24/2017 Sao Paulo, Brazil Allianz Parque 09/27/2017 Curitiba, Brazil Pedreira Paulo Leminski 09/30/2017 Santiago, Chile Santiago Rock City 10/03/2017 Rosario, Argentina Estadio 10/07/2017 Monterrey, MX Mother Of All Rock Festival Darius Rucker Tour Dates 07/29/2017 Quincy, WA Watershed Festival 08/01/2017 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amph 08/03/2017 Prairie du Chien, WI Country On The River 08/04/2017 Detroit Lakes, MN Soo Pass Ranch WE Fest 08/05/2017 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival 08/18/2017 Durant, OK Choctaw Grand Theater 08/19/2017 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah's Council Bluffs 09/23/2017 Alpharetta, GA Kicks Country Fair John Fogerty Tour Dates 08/26/2017 Arrington, VA Oak Ridge Farm Festival 09/20/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 09/22/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 09/23/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 09/27/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 09/29/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 09/30/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 10/04/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 10/06/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 10/07/2017 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 01/10/2018 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 01/12/2018 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 01/13/2018 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 01/17/2018 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 01/19/2018 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater 01/20/2018 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrities, sports figures, and dignitaries all descended on St Paul over the weekend to attend The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala, which generated a...

Life-changing missions to countries halfway around the world, silent auctions with memorabilia from some of the best known celebrities, and even a week’s stay at Steven Tyler’s house—

These were just some of the fundraising items offered at the Starkey Foundation’s 17th Annual So the World May Hear Awards Gala held at the Rivercentre ballroom in St. Paul.

The annual benefit, which supports the Foundation’s community-based hearing healthcare programs and other global strategic initiatives, enjoyed its largest crowd to date – more than 1,500 supporters and donors for an entertainment-filled evening that enlightened, thrilled, and further strengthened the need to spread the gift of hearing. 

Raising more than $7 million at the Gala alone, the event is the centerpiece of a year-long campaign to grow the Foundation’s international missions and domestically, its Hear Now program continues to provide hearing devices to those in need as well. Previously, we covered the red carpet and arrivals; now, we want to focus on the gala itself and its many memorable music performances.

A silent auction of all types of memorabilia and items continued in the lobby as a full orchestra cued up to begin the program at 5:30 as attendees finished dinner and drinks at ten-person tables. Australian vocal ensemble ARIA (the foursome was previously part of The Ten Tenors) opened with their stirring rendition of ‘You Raise Me Up’ as a bald eagle on cue, flew above the impressed crowd, to land on his trainer’s arm, on a lift near the back of the ballroom.

Host and emcee Sinbad then took to the stage for a short routine and welcoming, and then introduced a Special Olympics video as well as Carlson Companies CEO Marilyn Carlson Nelson. The youngest star of the evening, thirteen year-old Grace Vanderwaal next took to the stage for a short three-song set. 

The winner of last year’s America Got Talent competition seemed very humbled and appreciative to be invited and opened with ‘Clay’ from her Perfectly Imperfect EP (Columbia Records). “Music is the universal language, it connects to everyone in some way” she said before ‘Light the Sky’ and ended with picking up the ukulele for her first single, ‘Moonlight’.

In December 2016, the inaugural class of the Starkey Hearing Institute in Zambia graduated and the students were present at the Gala to be recognized. Her Excellency Madam Esther Lungu, First Lady of Zambia, was honored this evening as a Starkey advocate and being a driving force for establishment of the Institute in her country.

Zambian R&B/pop singer Portia Clark would be the next performer, with a brief but very appropriate version of the evening’s theme song, ‘So the World May Hear’.  Ben Affleck, the actor/director currently making waves reprising the role of Batman in November’s Justice League, was introduced by his business partner Whitney Williams and honored for the Eastern Congo Initiative, an advocacy/grant-making initiative working with and empowering the people of the central African country.

Starkey co-founders Bill and Tani Austin each had their time at the podium, with each emoting their thanks to the donors and supporters and telling their own uplifting stories of the gift of giving.  In addition to new tablets on each table which allowed a simple click-to-donate feature, the auction got underway with mission experiences which provide the gift of hearing in places all around the world, were auctioned off, as a life-changing opportunity to be a part of one. Additionally, Elvis Presley‘s first piano is due to hit the online auction block next month, with proceeds going to the Foundation. 

Wilf Family Foundations teamed up with Starkey in 2015 to provide hearing aids to in New York, including 15 Holocaust survivors and were honored, with Larry Wilf accepting on their behalf.  Amps then got turned up as John Fogerty and band took to the stage for a barnstorming ten-song set, headed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer in his usual plaid shirt, son Shane (a recent USC grad) on guitar, and the thunderous drums of Kenny Aronoff.

After the opening ‘Travelin’ Band’, Fogerty acknowledged “everyone dressed up in your fine going-to-a-party clothes” before taking us to the swamp for ‘Born on the Bayou’ then switching to his trademark bat guitar for ‘Centerfield’.  Fogerty admitted loving to play ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain’ because it reminds him of his youngest daughter Kelsey, “the rainbow in my life”, as he and son Shane guitar-dueled on that and a blistering ‘Old Man Down the Road’.  The barrage of CCR hits continued, even working in the highly political ‘Fortunate Son’ before finishing with the classic, ‘Proud Mary’.

Shark Tank investor and FUBU creator Daymond John presented the award to FedEx Corporation for its FedEx Cares Program and commitment to invest in over 200 global communities by 2020 (with Richard Smith accepting) and Starkey partner LSTN Sound Co. debuted details of its partnership with Delta in providing in-flight headphones.

Singer Darius Rucker was next on the stage, with a five-song set of newer country hits and a couple looks back, to his former band, Hootie and the Blowfish.  Rucker has successfully transitioned to the country genre (his most recent being 2015’s Southern Style on Capitol Nashville) and remains a great singer and entertainer.  “I’m blessed to be here -and on this bill”, Rucker said in genuine awe, even dedicating his most famous song, ‘Only Wanna Be With You’ to Fogerty and honoring a Sinbad special request to play a Blackstreet cover that the Blowfish would often do back in the nineties, which had the well-dressed out of their chairs and moving. 

Comedian Sinbad then a longer turn at the mic, to complement the sign language interpreter on her get down moves, roast the wealthy for not donating enough and acting like they do, and taking turns at celebrities in the audience like Jimmy Jam, who he thought had to have no eyes, because he’s never seen without sunglasses. 

Scott and Sandi Borchetta of Big Machine Records (label of Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, etc)and Music Has Value, were honored for their longtime involvement with Starkey and spoke not only about the importance of hearing in the music business, but also of the message that the art of creating music should be fairly compensated for, especially as the industry moves from physical to downloadable.

The evening’s closing entertainment was provided by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, in a solo performance with his own Loving Mary Band and who released the country-tinged We’re All Somebody from Somewhere, last year on Dot Records.  Classic rock fans immediately recognized the beginnings of ‘Sweet Emotion’ which was followed by another Aerosmith radio staple, ‘Cryin’. 

“I got some new friends tonight- Bill and Tani Austin” Tyler said, honestly touched by learning about the good work the Foundation does, and then explained how he first heard Janis Joplin on the radio in 1968, whose banshee wail influenced his own singing and helped him decide to do that as a "job" as he and the band covered ‘Piece of My Heart’. Mid-set, Tyler stopped the music to get directly involved, by auctioning a full week in his own retreat, a house located in a nature preserve in Kihei, Maui which eventually went for $200,000.

Picking things up after that, Tyler leapt to the grand piano in the right corner of the stage, teasing a Shirelles snippet before seguing into Aerosmith’s Dream On’.  Tyler then moved to bongos for the intro of ‘Walk this Way’, which ended with the outro of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’; appropriate in that funds raised at Starkey Foundation’s 17th Annual So the World May Hear Awards Gala would go to such an effort, in the form of a gift of a whole lot of love- the essential sense of hearing.

ARIA

Grace Vanderwaal

Bill Austin

ARIA

Starkey Guests

Silent Auction

Portia Clark

Portia Clark

Portia Clark

Eagle Flight

Esther Lungu

Larry Wilf

Sinbad

Grace Vanderwaal

Zambia Graduates

John Fogerty

Daymond John

John Fogerty

John Fogerty

John Fogerty

John Fogerty

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker

Ben Affleck

Scott & Sandi Borchetta

Scott & Sandi Borchetta

Steven Tyler

Steven Tyler

Steven Tyler

Steven Tyler at Starkey Foundation 17th Annual Awards Gala, St. Paul (16 July 2017)

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

Starkey Foundation 17th Annual Awards Gala - Red Carpet at Rivercentre, St. Paul (16 July 2017)

Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrities, sports figures, and dignitaries all descended on St Paul over the weekend to attend The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala, which generated a...

The weather may have been partly cloudy and overcast, but the stars were still shining bright on the ground at the The Starkey Hearing Foundation 17th Annual Awards Gala, its largest gala to date and in support of accelerating the pace and scope of Starkey Hearing Foundation missions, and locally helping to support grants for area nonprofits.

This year’s honorees included Ben Affleck, director, actor, writer, producer, and founder of Eastern Congo Initiative; Esther Lungu, First Lady of Zambia; the Wilf Family Foundations; FedEx; and Scott Borchetta and Sandi Spika Borchetta of Big Machine Records and Music Has Value.

We’ll have full coverage for the gala itself shortly, which was hosted by emcee Sinbad and included musical performances from Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler with his Nashville-based The Loving Mary Band; country singer/songwriter Darius Rucker; legendary CCR frontman John Fogerty; Zambian pop singer and philanthropist Portia Clark; 13-year-old singer/ukulele winner of America’s Got Talent Grace VanderWaal; and Australian vocal group ARIA, but wanted to first showcase the red carpet arrivals and the numerous celebrity attendees that showed their support.

Among the additional guests were:

Television personality Caitlyn Jenner; Daymond John (Shark Tank); Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker; comedian Norm Crosby; Steven Bauer (Ray Donovan; Scarface); Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side); deaf actress Trishelle Edmond (Master of None); and actors Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Chris McDonald, Verne Troyer (Mini-Me), Frankie Muniz, (Malcolm in the Middle) and Chris and Kyle Massey;American Idol winner/country artist Trent Harmon; drummer Danny Seraphine of Chicago; musician Rohan Marley;acclaimed songwriter Paul Williams.

Boxers Evander Holyfield and Andre Berto; NFL’s Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Kyle Rudolph, Chad Greenway, Stephon Diggs, Sam Bradford, Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes, Alex Boone, Michael Floyd, Greg Jennings, Andre Roberts, Carl Eller, Chuck Foreman, Chris Doleman, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Moe Williams, Will Witherspoon, Tommie Harris, Derrick Coleman, Robert Smith; NBA’s Karl Anthony Towns, Cole Aldrich, Joe Young, Dikembe Mutombo, Ralph Sampson; MLB’s Barry Zito, Roberto Clemente Jr.; and soccer star Tony Sanneh.

Verne Troyer and Cole Aldrich

Grace VanderWaal	Ed “Too Tall” Jones	Quinton Aaron
Chris McDonald	Paul Williams	Danny Seraphine
Joyce McRael	Evander Holyfield	Frankie Muniz
Larry Wilf	Carl Eller	Kevin Sorbo
Caitlyn Jenner	First Lady of Zambia	Sinbad

Ben Affleck	Ralph Sampson	Daymond John	John Randle	Chris Doleman	Jack Brewer
Lance Allred	Dikembe Mutombo	Michelle Lau	Chad Greenway	Trent Harmon	Rich Gannon

Michael Floyd with Kyle Rudolph

Kris Humphries

Rohan Marley

Barry Zito

Alex Boone

Jimmy Jam

Verne Troyer

ARIA

Daymond John

Scott Borchetta and Sandi Spika Borchetta

Adrian Peterson

Ben Affleck

Steven Tyler

Starkey CEO Bill Austin

Ben Affleck w Bill and Tani Austin at Starkey Foundation 17th Annual Awards Gala, St. Paul (16 July 2017)

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

Minneapolis: July 14 to July 17, 2017

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from July 14 to July 17, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Caravan Palace My feet are still tapping, my heart is still scatting, and my lips are still smiling remembering this unique performance. Caravan Palace has left their mark on this girl. Well done, well done. ...

CARAVAN PALACE
at Skyway Theatre
Friday 07/14/17 (8pm/$35)
skywaytheatre.com

Parisian seven-piece electronic big band Caravan Palace is back at the Skyway Theatre this Friday, July 14th.

We previously caught the band in June 2016 and noted, “The energy was tangibly palpable, and reciprocated between the performers and the audience in a way I hadn’t seen in ages. While the colorful and deep hues of electro-waves hypnotized the crowd, the simultaneous brilliance and authentic 20’s swing overtones enlivened everyone’s bones. The audience was truly enraptured. It felt almost sacred, a subtle letting down of our collective guards. Caravan Palace immediately gave us permission to enter into celebration; a wild and yet knowing aliveness took hold, and we danced. And danced. There were so many smiles throughout the audience all night it was infectious.”

Tour Dates:

July 6 Brooklyn, NY Warsaw
July 7 New York, NY Irving Plaza
July 8 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
July 11 Kansas City, MO Arvest Bank Theatre
July 12 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
July 14 Minneapolis, MN Skyway Theatre
July 15 Chicago, IL House of Blues
July 16 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
July 20 Baie St. Paul, QC Le Festif!

Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrities, sports figures, and dignitaries all descended on St Paul over the weekend to attend The Starkey Hearing Foundation 16th Annual Awards Gala, which generated a...

THE STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION
at Rivercentre
Sunday 07/16/17 (3pm/$$)
rivercentre.org

So The World May Hear—

Saint Paul’s Rivercentre rolls out the Hollywood-style red carpet this coming Sunday for one of the most anticipated events of the year, The Starkey Hearing Foundation 17^th Annual Awards Gala.

The So The World May Hear Awards Gala is one of the most acclaimed fundraising events in the country. Because of the generosity of gala sponsors and guests, Starkey Hearing Foundation is leading the world in the creation of a community-based hearing healthcare program and other global strategic hearing health initiatives.

This year’s honorees include Ben Affleck, director, actor, writer, producer, and founder of Eastern Congo Initiative; Esther Lungu, First Lady of Zambia; the Wilf Family Foundations; FedEx; and Scott Borchetta and Sandi Spika Borchetta of Big Machine Records and Music Has Value.

The evening’s entertainment, hosted by emcee Sinbad, will also include exclusive performances by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler with his Nashville-based The Loving Mary Band; country singer/songwriter Darius Rucker; legendary CCR frontman and singer/songwriter John Fogerty; Zambian pop singer and philanthropist Portia Clark; 13-year-old singer/ukulele winner of America’s Got Talent Grace VanderWaal; and acclaimed Australian vocal group ARIA.

The gala itself is anticipated to generate more than $9 million, which will accelerate the pace and scope of Starkey Hearing Foundation missions and locally. Proceeds will also support grants for local and regional nonprofits.

Numerous other local and international celebrities are expected to appear:

Television personality Caitlyn Jenner; Daymond John (Shark Tank); Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker; comedian Norm Crosby; Steven Bauer (Ray Donovan; Scarface); Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side); deaf actress Trishelle Edmond (Master of None); and actors Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Chris McDonald, Verne Troyer (Mini-Me), Frankie Muniz, (Malcolm in the Middle) and Chris and Kyle Massey.

American Idol winner/country artist Trent Harmon; drummer Danny Seraphine of Chicago; musician Rohan Marley; Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sam Moore; acclaimed songwriter Paul Williams; and Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo.

Boxers Evander Holyfield and Andre Berto; paralympian Mallory Weggemann; NFL’s Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Kyle Rudolph, Chad Greenway, Stephon Diggs, Sam Bradford, Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes, Alex Boone, Michael Floyd, Greg Jennings, Andre Roberts, Carl Eller, Chuck Foreman, Chris Doleman, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Moe Williams, Will Witherspoon, Tommie Harris, Derrick Coleman, Robert Smith; NBA’s Karl Anthony Towns, Cole Aldrich, Joe Young, Dikembe Mutombo, Ralph Sampson; MLB’s Barry Zito, Roberto Clemente Jr.; and soccer star Tony Sanneh; and former first daughter and philanthropist Barbara Pierce Bush.

A public area outside the Rivercentre is available to view the Red Carpet arrivals as well.

Limited availability for the Gala remains, with ticket and participation opportunities available here: starkeyhearingfoundation.org/gala

Read More SWMRS Recently, Bay Area quartet SWMRS (Swimmers) released their debut single "Miley", which i-D Magazine described as "the most punk tribute to Miley Cyrus ever." Singer Cole Becker .… The Wrecks The all-ages show started earlier than the usual show time, but that did not stop the fans from showing up early and on time for the first opener, The Wrecks (Nick Anderson, Aaron Kelley …

ALL TIME LOW
at Palace Theatre
Sunday 07/16/17 (5pm/$27.50)
palacestpaul.com

All Time Low will be headlining the Palace Theatre in St Paul this Sunday, July 16th. Please note that this is an all-ages show so show up early to check out SWMRS, Waterparks and The Wrecks.

We previously caught The Wrecks  when they were only 11 months old in October 2016. By now, the Los Angeles alternative rock band are seasoned professionals.

As for bay area quartet SWMRS, we previously caught them in November 2016 and noted, “SWMRS’ music is a very upbeat, in-your-face, style of rock n roll. It’s got a classic sound but a unique feeling to it which makes it something memorable.”

Tour Dates:

07/11 @ Showbox Sodo Seattle, WA
07/13 @ The Complex Salt Lake City, UT
07/14 @ Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
07/15 @ Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO
07/16 @ Palace Theatre St. Paul, MN
07/18 @ The Pageant Saint Louis, MO
07/20 @ Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak, MI
07/21 @ Aragon Ballroom Chicago Heights, IL
07/22 @ Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
07/23 @ Express Live! Columbus, OH
07/25 @ Stage AE Pittsburgh, PA
07/26 @ Rapids Theatre Niagara Falls, NY
07/28 @ House of Blues Boston, MA
07/29 @ The Fillmore Philadelphia, PA
07/30 @ The Fillmore Philadelphia, PA
07/31 @ Central Park New York, NY
08/02 @ Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD
08/03 @ Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD
08/04 @ The Ritz Raleigh, NC
08/05 @ Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
08/06 @ House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista, FL
08/07 @ House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista, FL

Read More Weezer Weezer's singer Rivers Cuomo brought out his dad, Frank Cuomo, and they play "Back to the Shack". One of the most touching things I have witness in my many years of watching Weezer shows. … Graham Parker Cult new-wave artist Graham Parker will be returning to Brit's Pub, next Sunday, July 12th. You may recall reading about Parker's previous Brit's Pub appearance from July 2013. .... Quintron I'll always remember when I saw Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the Triple Rock in 2010. I had no idea there would be a puppet show - right in the middle of a regular concert. ...

Other shows in the area:

• 07/14/2017 22-year-old rapper Phora will be at the Lumber Exchange Event Center (10 S 5th St, #300, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55305) in Minneapolis to support his forthcoming album Yours Truly Forever. The record comes out August 18th. I’ve listed the address because this is not the typical music venues we normally list. 7pm, $18.
  
  
• 07/14/2017 Queen + Adam Lambert is playing Xcel Energy Center. 7pm, $29.50.
  
  
• 07/14/2017 Our favorite nerdrockers Weezer is headlining Treasure Island Resort & Casino. Cold War Kids and The Relationship will open. 7pm, $25.
  
  
• 07/15/2017 Rolling River Music Festival is a family-friendly free event at Central Park Bandshell in Red Wing, Minnesota. Since it’s in an open area, the show will go on, rain or shine. Bands set to play: Horseplay, Sam Lewis, and Girls Guns and Glory (who headlined the 7th Street Entry the night before). 4pm, FREE.
  
  
• 07/15/2017 Quintron and Miss Pussycat is back in St Paul at the Turf Club. We love them, they put on a puppet show. It’s pretty swell. Makr and Celica to open. 8pm, $15.
  
  
• 07/16/2017 Mitski and Kitten Forever and Half Waif will be triple rocking the Triple Rock Social Club on Sunday. The show is sold out. 7pm, $15/Sold out.
  
  
• 07/17/2017 Jonathan Harms is having a Single Release Show at the 7th Street Entry this Monday. Special guests Noodhammer and Adam Biel to open. 7pm, $8.
  
  

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

Jay Leno at 35th Annual PACER Center Benefit, Minneapolis (13 May 2017)

Jay Leno Upcoming Appearances 05/19/17 Lake Delton, WI Crystal Grand Music Theatre 05/25/17 Calgary, AB The Grey Eagle Event Centre 05/26/17 Enoch, AB River Cree Resort And Casino 06/04/17 New Brunswick, NJ State Theatre New Jersey Read More PACER Proceeds from the Annual Benefit support PACER’s programs for children with disabilities and PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which was founded in 2006 so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood .... Jay Leno Jay Leno is of course, the legendary comedian, former host of The Tonight Show, and current star of CNBC’s Jay Leno’s Garage and following his performance, Leno will personally auction a tour for four …

It’s often said that laughter is the best medicine—

The opportunity to laugh along with a legend and be part of a benefit whose proceeds will assist children, youth, and young adults, including those with disabilities, made it one of the most special nights of the year in Minneapolis. 

Emmy Award-winning comedian Jay Leno was the featured performer at PACER Center’s 35th Annual Benefit, presented by Starkey Hearing Technologies, held this past weekend at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Leno, formerly of The Tonight Show, and current star of CNBC’s Jay Leno’s Garage was the evening’s main entertainment and capped the event by personally auctioning several tours of his private collection of hundreds of vehicles, to benefit the work PACER does for families of children with disabilities and children who are bullied. In addition, Leno (a return guest from 2013) even donated money of his own.

The mission of PACER Center is to enhance the quality of life and expand opportunities for children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities and their families, so each person can reach his or her highest potential. PACER, located in Minneapolis, serves families nationwide, as well as those in-state and operates on the principles of parents helping parents, supporting families, promoting a safe environment for all children, and working in collaboration with others.

The nonprofit, tax-exempt organization gets 95+% of its $6mil. annual revenue from contributions and its benefit evening is a very important part of the overall fundraising.  Previous special guests have included Idina Menzel (2016); Crosby, Stills & Nash (2015); Diana Ross (2014); and Earth, Wind, & Fire (2011), among numerous others.

In addition to Leno’s performance, a ballroom was filled with hundreds of silent auction items, from almost every category including art, jewelry, electronics, and children items, to signed sports and celebrity memorabilia, vacations, culinary experiences, theater and entertainment experiences, and much more. 

The most rare and priceless items were held back for the live auction portion and raffle tickets were also available with the grand prize being a unique trip to California’s Napa Valley, which included air/hotel and tasting menus/wine pairings at renown restaurants, French Laundry, and the Michelin Star-awarded Auberge du Soleil.

WCCO’s husband/wife anchor team Amelia Santaniello and Frank Vascellaro returned to serve as emcees for the evening, with Vascellaro incredibly adept and entertaining as he presided over the live auction portion.  Proceeds from the evening support PACER’s programs for children with disabilities and PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, founded in 2006 so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood rite of passage.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (a former PACER board member herself) made a surprise visit and short speech, to lend her support and help begin the evening’s festivities.  Additionally, Andrew Olson was celebrated for the impact that PACER Center has had on his life, and Jack Shink was given a Youth Leadership Award.

At age 67, Jay Leno stills finds himself on the road, playing almost two hundred shows a year, with little sign of slowing down.  For this evening, we were treated to a full performance, lasting seventy-five minutes, with the comedian covering many cultural familiarities and only briefly touching on current politics, about halfway into his routine. 

Leno began with the airlines’ current problems, woes at retail stores, gluttony, the simplicity of his flip phone, steroids in sports, and medical disclaimers… and that was just the first ten minutes! When Leno did approach politics, he did so by making a joke for one side of the aisle, following then with an opposing joke, to keep things balanced. 

Recalling his time in Oslo to host the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, was a series of hilarious cultural misunderstandings, a pre-interview screening of his jokes, and difficulty in pronunciation.  Being Mother’s Day weekend, we also were regaled with several stories of his charming mother, and some of her sometimes quirky personality.  Leno ended his set with a couple of “jokes to go”- two short and memorable zingers one could then recite to others.

With a night of laughter courtesy of Jay Leno, and money raised for the important causes of enhancing lives of youth with disabilities and promoting anti-bullying, the PACER Center’s 35th Annual Benefit was an entertaining evening, worth attending on a yearly basis.

Don McNeil and Paula F. Goldberg

Event Registration	Kids Art	PACER Puppets
Original Art	Silent Auction	Jason Mraz Guitar

Amelia Santaniello, Andrew Olson, Frank Vascellaro

Erin Barlow

Volunteers	Sports Memorabilia	Vikings Signed
Celebrity Autographs	Sen Amy Klobuchar	Frank Vascellaro and Amelia Santaniello
Matthew Woods	Exec Director Paula Goldberg	Jay Leno

Jay Leno at 35th Annual PACER Center Benefit, Minneapolis (13 May 2017)

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