W♥M

Mikaela Davis at Turf Club, St Paul (17 Aug 2023)

Mikaela Davis Setlist Home in the Country Cinderella In My Groove Far From You Leave It Alone Promise The Pearl Saturday Morning Get Gone Don't Stop Now Candyman (Grateful Dead cover) -- Encore -- Pure Divine Love Tour Dates 08/20 Evanston, IL SPACE 09/16 Navarro, CA Camp Deep End 10/02 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up * 10/03 Los Angeles, CA The Belasco Theater * 10/05 San Francisco, CA August Hall * 10/06 San Francisco, CA August Hall * 10/07 Sacramento, CA Ace Of Spades * 10/09 Spokane WA Martin Woldson Theater * 10/10 Boise, ID Knitting Factory Concert House * 10/11 Bozeman, MT The Elm * 10/13 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre * 10/14 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre * * w/ The Mountain Goats Read More Mikaela Davis Supporting Watson will be harpist/singer Mikaela Davis from Rochester, New York. Willie Watson Upcoming Tour Dates: 10/18 Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi + 10/20 St. Louis, MO @ Sheldon Concert Hall + … Pit Stop Pit Stop, a fresh, new band from Minneapolis, plays original tunes combining elements of Americana, Blues, Country, Folk, Rock and a dash of Doo-wop. …

Harpist Mikaela Davis headlined the Turf Club in St Paul on Thursday night.

Opening the show was Minneapolis-based Ryan Gebhardt. Originally from New York, with his band The Humble Cheaters, but he decided to go solo with his self-debut LP, Stanley, in 2017, with his move to Minneapolis.

We first heard of him when he opened for Alice Phoebe Lou in Feb 2022.

About half-way into the show, before “Monday Lover”, Ryan announced a special guest, Sarah Mevissen, from Pit Stop, to help sing the remainder of the set. We actually like Pit Stop, having randomly caught them a few times in 2022, so this appearance was a real treat.

Songwriter and harpist Mikaela Davis closed out the night. You don’t normally see a giant harp in this type of rock venue. I’m not trying to discourage it, but it’s hard to appreciate chamber music or orchestra in a noisy bar setting. Maybe it’ll be better at the Cedar Cultural Center, which she did play in Oct 2014, where the audience would be of the NPR variety.

If you didn’t know, Davis first found fame when she covered Elliott Smith’s “Twilight”, using her harp, which is a unique take on the song.

Mikaela Davis, with her full band, featuring Alex Coté on drums, Cian McCarthy on guitars/vocals, Shane McCarthy on bass/vocals, and Kurt Johnson on steel guitar, is currently touring in support of her Kill Rock Stars debut And Southern Star.

Mikaela Davis at Down in the Valley (16 Aug 2023) photo courtesy of Jesse Roberson

As part of the touring promotion, Davis did a meet and greet at Down in the Valley record store in Golden Valley the day prior. This is a great way for fans to meet their favorite artist. Davis, adding, “Thanks to all who came to my in-store at Down In The Valley and bought a record/ CD 💿”.

At her show at the Turf Club, Mikaela Davis mistakenly announced that this was their first ever headline show in the Twin Cities… but her guitarist quickly corrected her, “We played the 7th Street Entry, a long ass time ago.” (they headlined the 7th Street in Minneapolis on October 23, 2018, with Dem Yuut as opener).

She knew the difference between St Paul and Minneapolis, of course, telling us that they originally listed the Turf Club as “Minneapolis” on the tour poster. She noticed and thought that no one would care… but at the last minute decided to “hold the press!” and made the correction on the tour poster to “St Paul.” So, the moral of the story is that they worked hard on the poster, that you should buy one.

Davis ended her set with a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Candyman”. What I think happened was Bob Weir called up Mikaela Davis on his residency in New York, and she joined the The Wolf Pack (the band with a horns and strings section), and she played on the remainder of his set, including “Candyman.”

Mikaela Davis came back for the encore to play an early 2016 single, “Pure Divine Love”. The lyrics of the song was actually co-written by drummer Alex Cote, with the chorus of “Pure divine love is here, love of mine have no fear. You found me.”

After this headlining 2023 tour ends tomorrow (August 20th at Space in Illinois), she’ll be opening for The Mountain Goats throughout October… or as we like to call it, Rocktober.

Ryan Gebhardt (with Sarah Mevissen) Ryan Gebhardt (with Sarah Mevissen) Ryan Gebhardt

Ryan Gebhardt

Mikaela Davis Mikaela Davis Mikaela Davis

Mikaela Davis at Turf Club, St Paul (17 Aug 2023)

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

We♥KC! April 6-11, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Kevin Morby Former bassist for Woods and frontman of The Babies, Kevin Morby is back with his third solo album Singing Saw, out now on Dead Oceans Records. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Easter weekend approaches and with the weather staying warmer (89 degrees as I write this), there’s some colorful shows to hop to (see what we did there), and a good excuse to leave the house, if visiting family gets to be too much.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from April 6th-11th.

THURSDAY APRIL 6

Noel Miller, Uptown, $30

His one-liners and topical social commentary has made him a force to be reckoned with in the comedy world. In addition to starring in the YouTube series That’s Cringe, he co-presents podcast Tiny Meat Gang with fellow comedian Cody Ko,

Outside of music, Noel recently released his first short film, Suki, a dark comedy about a relationship between a detective and a serial killer.

David Koechner (comedy), Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, $25-$30

KC’s own Koechner is known for a wealth of characters in movies and TV including Champ Kind from “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and Todd Packer from “The Office.”

Koechner’s start was in improv in 1987. He was a member of the famous Chicago Second City comedy troupe. He was also a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” from 1995-1996. He still loves the art of improv as much as stand-up and acting.

Kevin Morby w Erin Rae, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $30

How is this Not sold out!!?? KC native Morby has seven acclaimed solo albums and myriad records of various collaboration under his belt and usually sell out every local appearance.

This Is A Photograph, Morby’s latest album, finds him leaning more toward Americana with his signature mature songwriting and arrangements.

He’s also worked on Music from Montana Story, the official soundtrack for the 2021 film Montana Story, including latest single “Like a Flower.” Morby’s soundtrack is 13 tracks and only 18-minutes long, with plenty of moody guitar instrumentals plucked out in sparse soundscapes and also boasts “One Paper Kid,” a collaboration with Katie Crutchfield aka Waxahatchee.

Laura Jane Grace w Weakened Friends, Knuckleheads, $23.50-$37

Best known as the founder, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of punk band Against Me! for the past two-plus decades, Laura Jane Grace is also a prolific solo artist (with backing band The Devouring Mothers) whose most recent album is 2020's “Stay Alive” recorded in Chicago with the legendary Steve Albini.

Expect a healthy helping of Against Me! Favorites (more of those than solo songs) and local faves, The Black Mariah Theater who we caught at the end of last year, are supporting as well.

FRIDAY APRIL 7

Martha Redbone, Lied Center. $11-$30

The multi award-winning Roots musician draws from the folk and mountain blues sounds of her childhood in the Kentucky Appalachian hills, mixed with the grit of teenage years in per-gentrified Brooklyn.

Redbone will perform Bone Hill—The Concert, an epic story of one woman’s return to her childhood homeland on Black Mountain and the coal mines of Harlan County, KY, where her family have lived for centuries. Traveling back in time to her childhood and her ancestors spanning four generations of women in a Cherokee family, Bone Hill explores their lives and stories.

Kevin Morby w Erin Rae, Apr 7, recordBar, SOLD OUT

sold out in seconds, see above for details.

Future and Friends, T-Mobile Center, $55-$260

After hosting a string of shows in January as part of his One Big Party Tour that showcased acts such as Lil Durk, Kodak Black, Jeezy, and more, innovative rapper Future looks to extend the festivities with his arena tour. The Future and Friends One Big Party Tour will boast a star-studded lineup with Don Toliver, G Herbo, Mariah the Scientist and Dess Dior hitting the road.

Future is coming off a successful run with his ninth studio album, I NEVER LIKED YOU., which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 last year, anchored by its Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Wait for U” featuring Drake and Tems.

Rakim, Madrid Theatre, $29.50-$59.50

The pioneering slow flow rap of game-changing innovator and God MC will be live and in-person in midtown Kansas City! Hip hop great and rapper Rakim (William Griffin Jr.) is rightfully known as one of greatest MCs of all time, pioneering the complex lyrical rhyme pattern that transformed rap music in the 1980s.

Rakim formed the Eric B. & Rakim duo with producer DJ Eric B. The pair’s first album Paid in Full was named MTV’s greatest hip hop album of all time. The album produced six classic singles: Eric B. Is President, I Ain’t No Joke, I Know You Got Soul, Move the Crowd, My Melody and Paid in Full.

The album went gold then platinum in 1997. Rolling Stone listed the album on its “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and Time magazine included the album among the 18 albums of the ‘80s that were included in its “All-TIME 100” albums. Come witness the greatness.

Floyd Nation (Pink Floyd tribute), Kauffman Center, $57.50

Since there’s looks to be no chance of another Waters/Gilmour/Mason reunion, this tribute band might be your closest next best option. Expect to be immersed in sound, lights and lasers as they take you on an epic audio journey, bringing back your best memories of the iconic psychedelic music we all grew up with.

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

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

SATURDAY APRIL 8

Asleep at the Wheel, Brennan Leigh, Joshua Hedley, Uptown, $25-$79

The Past, Present and Future of Country & Western Music! Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years. Inspired by western swing and honky-tonk country, the band has accrued 10 Grammy Awards. Ray Benson carries the band back onto the road, where they’ve remained a staple for five decades.

Brennen Leigh is a rising songwriter, guitar player, mandolin player and singer. Her new 7^th album Obsessed with the West is an ode to Western swing featuring Asleep at the Wheel as backing band.

Joshua Hedley is “a singing professor of country & western,” he declares on his new album, Neon Blue. His 2018 debut, Mr. Jukebox, showcased his knowledge of country’s history, in particular the ballads of the 1950s and ‘60s.

Straight Jokes! No Chaser Comedy Tour featuring Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Earthquake & D.C. Young Fly, T-Mobile Center. $59.50-$129.50

Mike Epps who will host, is known for his comedy, along with his notable acting roles. Cedric the Entertainer is an actor, comedian, and game show host, known for being one of The Original Kings of Comedy. Earthquake is a comedian, actor, and voice-artist known for stand-up on BET, HBO, Comedy Central, Showtime, and more. D.L. Hughley is one of the most popular and recognized stand-ups, having made an impression in the television, film, and radio arenas. DC Young Fly is a comedian, actor, host, rapper, and singer best known for his “roasting sessions” videos on Instagram and Vine.

SUNDAY APRIL 9

Mountain Goats, Liberty Hall- Lawrence, $37-$47

The longtime indie folk band from Claremont, CA led by John Darnielle formed back in 1991 and have amassed a cult following and released over 20 albums to date, are out on their Spectral Tide 2023 Tour. The now-North Carolina-based band’s newest album is last year’s Bleed Out.

Mac Ayres, The Truman, $27.50-$55

Ayres is a self-taught producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist from Long Island, NY. In the summer of 2017, Mac released his debut EP "Drive Slow" and 5^th and latest studio album is this year’s Comfortable Enough.

Pokey Bear, April 9, KC Music Hall, CANCELED

MONDAY APRIL 10

TUESDAY APRIL 1!

Michigander, recordBar, $15

The ever-buzzworthy indie rock artist (aka Jason Singer and actually from Michigan) is out on tour in support of his EP It Will Never Be The Same (via C3 Records), produced and mixed by Tony Hoffer (Beck, Phoenix, M83), mastered by Dave Cooley (Spoon, Jimmy Eat World, Paramore), and recorded at L.A.’s Sunset Sound (with the exception of “In My Head” produced by Andy Hull and Robert McDowell of Manchester Orchestra).

Sullivan King w Level Up, Benda, Vastive, The Truman, $20-$50

“Pursuit of Violence” marks the final single off Sullivan King’s new album Thrones of Blood, which was released March 17^th blending the DJ / musician’s unique mix of guitar-driven metal and EDM. Three support acts make for a full evening of hard noise.

Nat Geo Live: Life on the Vertical, Kauffman Center, $32.50-$73.50

Mark Synnott is a man on the brink of new discovery. A big wall rock-climber, he’s made first ascents of some of the world’s tallest, most forbidding walls, from Baffin Island to Pakistan. Synnott uses his skills to break scientific ground, reaching inaccessible environments in search of rare species. It’s all in the adventurous spirit of exploration in order to educate about these sites of strange and remote beauty.

National Geographic Live brings you behind-the-scenes stories, unforgettable imagery, and gripping footage from world-renowned photographers, scientists, writers, filmmakers and adventurers. We’ve attended this series previously in Minneapolis and always come away highly “info-tained”.

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

Poker Face

Read More Lie to Me I got a chance to watch the premiere episode of Lie to Me, courtesy of Best Buy. The series will debut on Fox Television on January 21st. I was very impressed with the first episode… Chloe Sevigny So the first item on there is that The Slits to help Chloe Sevigny's new clothing line. If you like any Riot Grrls you know that many of these bands were hugely influenced by The Slits, an early 80s punk … The Mountain Goats It is well known that John Darnielle, the force behind the Mountain Goats, likes heavy metal music. It comes up in interviews often, and hearing him speak … John Hodgman Comedian/actor/author John Hodgman will be at the Cedar Cultural Center on September 29th (details at thecedar.org). I think the first time I heard of Hodgman, it was seeing him as the "PC" in the funny Apple …

I was hesitant to getting into NBC’s Poker Face television show because of its name. I thought it was some Lady Gaga thing or about some casino show. The title is deceiving, because it’s really a “crime of the week” television show about Charlie the human lie detector. The pilot was phenomenal, it managed to setup Charlie’s character and her situation.

I do have some gripes about the show: I don’t really love the lead actress, Natasha Lyonne. She basically plays the same character from Russian Doll, which I love Season 1… but that character got super annoying. In Poker Face she’s also trying to channel Columbo or something. Don’t get me wrong, that no-nonsense, I don’t give a flying F attitude is really fun at first… but after a while, it just gets old.

My other complaint is that the show doesn’t know if it wants to be a comedy or a crime drama. Some episodes are just way too silly, like “Exit Stage Death”, which is about Ellen Barkin and Tim Meadows plotting a murder while being live on stage…. Or “Time of the Monkey”, which is about a couple of retired ladies who murdered a resident in their retirement housing. I don’t mind a goofy time, but how can I take the casino mafia threat seriously if the show is a comedy?

So far, from what I’ve seen, my favorite is the pilot and “Rest in Metal”. This is about a has-been/one-hit wonder band DoxXxology. They had a massive hit single called “Staplehead” and the song became the band’s curse. You see, the song was written by their drummer (who shortly retired after making millions off the royalty), and DoxXxology has to play that song every night. It sounds like the band hates the song, but they must play it.

So the band hired a new drummer via Craiglist and he demoed a song he wrote to the band… and the band knew the song was a hit. They plot to murder the new drummer and steal his song. In the end, DoxXxology got their just deserts, and it’s an awesome ending.

This episode teeters funny and dread, especially when you spotted John Hodgman in the scene, looking for his wife “Molly” or finding his friend “Lucy”. The band itself, Ruby Ruin stars Chloë Sevigny, Chuck Cooper, and John Darnielle - who is actually the guy from The Mountain Goats. I’m pretty sure Darnielle wrote the song for the show, singing “Living on discount macaroni. Can't even get a job with my Uncle Tony. You sent your goons to repo my truck. What the actual f***. I can play guitar and I’m a decent singer, they’ll cut my wedding ring off my dead finger. You say you want a deal but you’re such a phony. You’re never going to get that alimony.”

I like the song, but the lead singer, Ruby Ruin, called it “a turd”.

Later, after the murder, Darnielle would write a song, confessing their wicked deed: “You must learn, you’re all gonna burn, because you can’t unmurdered someone.”

Anyway, the human lie-detector thing is pretty neat. It reminded me of another show called Lie To Me, starring Tim Roth. That show has a similar premise, in which Tim Roth can tell if someone is lying, based on “science”. His group, the Light group helps solves crime with law enforcement.

The season finale to Poker Face aired today, March 9th.

Read more Television.

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

The Mountain Goats at First Avenue, Minneapolis (20 May 2022)

Mountain Goats Setlist Aulon Raid Minnesota Choked Out Younger Pez Dorado Cotton Tidal Wave John Darnielle Solo There Will Be No Divorce Song for My Stepfather Mourn Not The Dead (Ralph Chaplin cover) Wolf Count The Diaz Brothers Shelved Rain in Soho Southwood Plantation Road Broom People Getting Into Knives Heel Turn 2 -- Encore -- Let Me Bathe in Demonic Light The Mess Inside Palmcorder Yajna This Year No Children Read More The Mountain Goats It is well known that John Darnielle, the force behind the Mountain Goats, likes heavy metal music. It comes up in interviews often, and hearing him speak …

Beloved The Mountain Goats (John Darnielle, Jon Wurster, Peter Hughes and Matt Douglas) headlined First Avenue’s mainroom on Friday night.

Will Sheff opened the show… He is the singer/songwriter of Okkervil River, who we saw in Nov 2013. Obviously comparing Sheff’s full band vs his solo live show is unfair, but, yes, Sheff’s solo shows is a little quieter. Still, Sheff managed to play Okkervil River using pre-recorded backing tracks and his guitar, and to good effect.

We did previously described Okkervil River’s songs as “depressing”: “Their songs, based on their lyrics and banter on stage, is quite depressing. We're talking mostly death (shooting someone in the head), and hanging (suicide). With all this dark subject, it's easy to see why they've chosen to cover Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love", a nice tribute to the musician who recently passed away. I suspect the song only made it into the set since last Sunday, but it sure sounded well-rehearsed.”

Another ‘depressing’ song made it onto his setlist, “Famous Tracheotomies.” This song, as Sheff described it, was when he was young, he almost died during this surgery. Obviously, he didn’t die, but would go on to write a song about other celebrities who had underwent tracheostomy operations.

>>>
The Mountain Goats
with Will Sheff
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

The Mountain Goats (John Darnielle, Jon Wurster, Peter Hughes and Matt Douglas) will be returning to First Avenue this May 20th. Since the pandemic, the Mountain Goats have released three albums, so they are excited to play those songs live for us… plus, of course, all their classic hits from before the pandemic.

We saw the Goats in at Fletcher Opera Theater, Raleigh in Sept 2012 and said, “The Mountain Goats played two sets to a hushed crowd at the Fletcher Opera Theater on Friday, the second night of the Hopscotch Music Festival. The first set was a showcase of heavy metal songs, Darnielle solo in the spotlight on a large piano.”

Will Sheff to open.

Tour Dates:

Apr 30, 2022 The Observatory Santa Ana, CA
May 2, 2022 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, CA
May 3, 2022 Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ
May 5, 2022 The Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA
May 6, 2022 Fremont Theater San Luis Obispo, CA
May 8, 2022 The Showbox Seattle, WA
May 9, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 10, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 11, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 12, 2022 Midtown Ballroom Bend, OR
May 14, 2022 The Depot Salt Lake City, UT
May 15, 2022 Washington's Fort Collins, CO
May 17, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 18, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 19, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 20, 2022 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
May 21, 2022 The Sylvee Madison, WI
Jun 25, 2022 That Music Fest Durham, NC
Jul 9, 2022 Music Farm Charleston, SC
Jul 10, 2022 Intuition Ale Works Jacksonville, FL
Jul 11, 2022 Palladium Theater St. Petersburg, FL
Jul 12, 2022 The Moon Tallahassee, FL
Jul 14, 2022 Minglewood Hall Memphis, TN
Jul 15, 2022 Off Broadway St. Louis, MO
Jul 16, 2022 Wooly's Des Moines, IA
Jul 17, 2022 Wave Wichita, KS
Nov 10, 2022 WUK Foyer (WUK) Vienna, Austria
Nov 11, 2022 Columbia Theater Berlin, Germany
Nov 12, 2022 Paradiso Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nov 14, 2022 De Roma Antwerp, Belgium
Nov 16, 2022 Roundhouse London
Nov 17, 2022 Manchester Cathedral Manchester
Nov 18, 2022 Vicar Street Dublin, Ireland

Will Sheff

Will Sheff

The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats at First Avenue, Minneapolis (20 May 2022)

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

Minneapolis: May 20 to May 22

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

05/20 The Mountain Goats with Will Sheff at First Avenue Read More The Mountain Goats It is well known that John Darnielle, the force behind the Mountain Goats, likes heavy metal music. It comes up in interviews often, and hearing him speak …

05/20/2022 Friday

The Mountain Goats
with Will Sheff
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

The Mountain Goats (John Darnielle, Jon Wurster, Peter Hughes and Matt Douglas) will be returning to First Avenue this May 20th. Since the pandemic, the Mountain Goats have released three albums, so they are excited to play those songs live for us… plus, of course, all their classic hits from before the pandemic.

We saw the Goats in at Fletcher Opera Theater, Raleigh in Sept 2012 and said, “The Mountain Goats played two sets to a hushed crowd at the Fletcher Opera Theater on Friday, the second night of the Hopscotch Music Festival. The first set was a showcase of heavy metal songs, Darnielle solo in the spotlight on a large piano.”

Will Sheff to open.

Tour Dates:

Apr 30, 2022 The Observatory Santa Ana, CA
May 2, 2022 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, CA
May 3, 2022 Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ
May 5, 2022 The Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA
May 6, 2022 Fremont Theater San Luis Obispo, CA
May 8, 2022 The Showbox Seattle, WA
May 9, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 10, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 11, 2022 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
May 12, 2022 Midtown Ballroom Bend, OR
May 14, 2022 The Depot Salt Lake City, UT
May 15, 2022 Washington's Fort Collins, CO
May 17, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 18, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 19, 2022 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
May 20, 2022 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
May 21, 2022 The Sylvee Madison, WI
Jun 25, 2022 That Music Fest Durham, NC
Jul 9, 2022 Music Farm Charleston, SC
Jul 10, 2022 Intuition Ale Works Jacksonville, FL
Jul 11, 2022 Palladium Theater St. Petersburg, FL
Jul 12, 2022 The Moon Tallahassee, FL
Jul 14, 2022 Minglewood Hall Memphis, TN
Jul 15, 2022 Off Broadway St. Louis, MO
Jul 16, 2022 Wooly's Des Moines, IA
Jul 17, 2022 Wave Wichita, KS
Nov 10, 2022 WUK Foyer (WUK) Vienna, Austria
Nov 11, 2022 Columbia Theater Berlin, Germany
Nov 12, 2022 Paradiso Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nov 14, 2022 De Roma Antwerp, Belgium
Nov 16, 2022 Roundhouse London, United Kingdom
Nov 17, 2022 Manchester Cathedral Manchester, United Kingdom
Nov 18, 2022 Vicar Street Dublin, Ireland

05/21 Curtis Stigers at Dakota Jazz Club Read More Curtis Stigers On Curtis Stigers's 2022 release, this multi platinum artist takes a look back with new versions of his international hits "I Wonder Why," "Never Saw A Miracle," and "You're All That Matters To Me," .…

05/21/2022 Saturday

Curtis Stigers
at Dakota Jazz Club
dakotacooks.com

It’s been 30 years since Curtis Stigers’s debut album, which spawned international hits “I Wonder Why”, “You’re All That Matters To Me”, and “Never Saw A Miracle”. Recently, Stigers released This Life (Pandemic Poodle Records), which is a celebration of his debut album, and features new renditions of some of his most popular songs.

“I Wonder Why” reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 9 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991, while “You're All That Matters to Me” reached number 6 as the follow-up single in the UK. “Never Saw a Miracle” reached number 34 in the UK charts.

Expect to hear all his hit songs on this upcoming 2022 North American tour… which will include a stop by the Dakota Jazz Club this Saturday, May 21st. If you are not familiar with this venue, you need to arrive on time. The show lists 7pm, which means the show will start exactly at 7.

Curtis Stigers on Tour

May 01 Ameris Theater - Atlanta, GA
May 04 Musical Instrument Museum - Phoenix, AZ
May 05 Dazzle - Denver, CO
May 18 Texas Jazz - San Antonio, TX
May 19 Parker’s Jazz - Austin, TX
May 21 The Dakota - Minneapolis, MN
May 24 Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
May 25. Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA

05/21 Sunflower Bean with Jackie Hayes at Fine Line Read More Sunflower Bean In celebration of their debut album Human Ceremony (Fat Possum), Sunflower Bean (Jacob Faber, Julia Cumming, and Nick Kivlen) is currently on tour - headlining the 7th Street Entry this Tuesday, April 5th. ..…

05/21/2022 Saturday

Sunflower Bean
with Jackie Hayes
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

New York trio Sunflower Bean (vocalist and bassist Julia Cumming, guitarist and vocalist Nick Kivlen, and drummer Olive Faber) is touring in support of their upcoming new album Headful of Sugar.

We like the trio, having catch them on their first appearance in the area in Oct 2015 and wrote, “For the crowd catching the band, they were completely in love with the band, as evident by looking over their merch table and seeing them sell, sign, and pose for photos with their newfound fans.”

Jackie Hayes to open.

Tour Dates:

5/05 - Washington, DC - Union Stage +
5/06 - Asbury Park, NJ - Asbury Lanes +
5/12 - New York, NY - Webster Hall • +
5/14 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry +
5/19 - Detroit, MI - The Loving Touch #
5/20 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge #
5/21 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line #
5/22 - Madison, WI - High Noon #
5/24 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Pyramid Scheme #
5/25 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop #
5/26 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace #
6/01 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar $ %
6/02 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre $ %
6/04 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent $*
6/07 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios $%
6/08 - Vancouver, BC - Wise Hall $%
6/09 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile $%
6/11 - Denver,CO - Bluebird Theatre%

• Mannequin Pussy
$ Palehound
+ Hello Mary
# Jackie Hayes
% - Liily
* - Fake Fruit

05/21 Tomberlin with Jana Horn at 7th St Entry Read More Tomberlin HAND HABITS + Tomberlin, Half Tramp 7th St Entry Wed 04/03/2019 (7pm/$12) Hand Habits (Meg Duffy) is back in town, touring in support of her sophomore album placeholder (Saddle Creek). ....

05/21/2022 Saturday

Tomberlin
with Jana Horn
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Tomberlin (aka Sarah Beth) is currently on tour in support of her new album i don’t know who needs to hear this… (Saddle Creek). The tour will stop by the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on May 21st.

Jana Horn to open.

Tour Dates:

May 1, 2022 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club ^
May 2, 2022 Manchester, UK @ Yes (Basement) ^
May 3, 2022 Edinburgh, UK @ Voodoo Rooms ^
May 4, 2022 Birmingham, UK @ Cuban Embassy ^
May 5, 2022 London, UK @ St Matthias Church ^
May 6, 2022 Cardiff, UK @ Clwb for Bach ^
May 7, 2022 Brighton, UK @ Kmedia Studio ^
May 8, 2022 Dublin, IE @ The Grand Social ^
May 13, 2022 Somerville, MA @ Crystal Ballroom *
May 14, 2022 Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA *
May 16, 2022 Montréal, QC, Canada @ Bar Le Ritz PDB *
May 17, 2022 Toronto, ON, Canada @ The Baby G *
May 18, 2022 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom *
May 20, 2022 Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village *
May 21, 2022 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
May 22, 2022 Des Moines, IA @ xBk *
May 25, 2022 Boise, ID @ The Shredder *
May 26, 2022 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
May 27, 2022 Vancouver, BC, Canada Wise Hall *
May 28, 2022 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile *
Jun 01, 2022 Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room *
Jun 02, 2022 Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar *
Jun 04, 2022 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
Jun 05, 2022 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
Jun 07, 2022 Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar *
Jun 08, 2022 Columbus, OH @ Natalie's Grandview *
Jun 09, 2022 Washington, DC @ Songbyrd Music House *
Jun 10, 2022 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *

^ Solo shows w/ Maia Friedman
* Full band shows w/ Jana Horn

05/22 Bitch + Katie Cash at Icehouse Read More Bitch Bitchcraft was born in a move from New York City, where Bitch had lived for 15 years, to a log cabin in the woods. There was all the time in the world to make art, and it was there ....

05/22/2022 Sunday

Bitch and Katie Cash
at Icehouse
icehousempls.com

Former New York City resident Bitch will be playing the Icehouse in Minneapolis on May 22. I am surprised to see that they are playing around 7pm. Normally, because the Icehouse is a business, they won’t host shows until after the restaurant closes… which meant that shows normally starts at 10:30pm… so I’m surprised to see the listing for 7pm. I am all for this, as previously the Icehouse had a bad reputation for such late shows.

You may have heard of Bitch if you like Margaret Cho, as Bitch co-wrote one of her songs. Bitch’s latest Bitchcraft is out now on Kill Rock Stars.

Katie Cash to open.

Bitch Tour Dates

05.09: Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Cafe
05.11: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
05.12: Grandview, OH @ Natalie’s
05.13: Newport, KY @ Southgate House
05.15: Indianapolis, IN @ Irving Theater
05.17: Detroit, MI @ PJ’s Lager House
05.18: Evanston, IL @ SPACE
05.19: Des Moines, IA @ xBk Live
05.20: Madison, WI @ Bur Oak
05.22: Minneapolis, MN @ Icehouse

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Minneapolis: November 17 to November 18, 2017

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from November 17 to November 18, 2017.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Halsey We were lucky enough to have caught Halsey with the Kooks in 2014 and with Imagine Dragons in June 2015. Hot on the heels of her acclaimed Room 93 EP, Halsey will release ... Charli XCX Originally the Charli XCX show at the Schubas Tavern in Chicago sold out, so the promoters booked an additional late show. That too sold out, and we were lucky enough to have caught her …

HALSEY
+ Charli XCX, Partynextdoor
Xcel Energy Center
Sat 11/18/2017 (6pm/$29.50 )
xcelenergycenter.com

It’s hard to believe that it was only three years ago that Halsey went out on her first tour with The Kooks in 2014. I have always known that she’s special, in fact, even writing, “I've seen a lot of bands in my time, and I have to say, keep an eye out for this one. For someone who claimed this was her very first tour.... she is completely comfortable on stage, she can work the crowd, and she knows how to use her sexuality.”

As predicted, she’s massive now. I even predicted the sex part, as she landed the front cover of Playboys’ the Music Issue (Sep/Oct 2017).

Now she’s headlining the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul this Saturday. The very large stadium is only reserve for such established acts like Bob Dylan or Madonna… so it’s simply incredible that rising star Halsey is booking the arena.

Partynextdoor and the lovely "I love it" girl Charli XCX to open.

Partynextdoor Tour dates:

11/14 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
11/15 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
11/18 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
11/19 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
11/21 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
11/22 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center

Read More Cut Copy This is just a quick post to get a photo and touring information online for Australian synth-pop / dance / indietronica four-piece Cut Copy online. Stay tuned for a full review of their First Avenue … Twain Opening up the show was Twain, a band that we previously mentioned was led by Mt. Davidson. Joining him were two helpers, Peter Pezzimenti & Ken Woodward. The Minneapolis show ... St Vincen Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, is on the cover of two magazines this month: Death + Taxes and Texas Music. Since I've never heard of her, this bares investigating! … Mothers I went to see Mothers at the 40 Watt Club. They are a band that evolved from the solo work of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kristine Leschper. When I hear her … The Mountain Goats It is well known that John Darnielle, the force behind the Mountain Goats, likes heavy metal music. It comes up in interviews often, and hearing him speak …

Other shows in the area:

CUT COPY
+ Palmbomen II
First Avenue
Fri 11/17/2017 (7pm/$25)
first-avenue.com

Cut Copy is back with Haiku From Zero… their first proper studio album in nearly four years and first for Astralwerks. Palmbomen II (Kai Hugo) to open.

Cut Copy - Fall North American Tour

11/12 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
11/14 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
11/15 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
11/16 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada
11/17 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11/18 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
11/21 - Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
11/22 - Montreal, QC @ Virgin Mobile Corona
11/24 - New York, NY @ Terminal 5
11/26 - Boston, MA @ Royale
11/28 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
11/29 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
11/30 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
12/1 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
12/2 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
12/3 - Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
12/5 - Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live
12/6 - Miami, FL @ North Beach Bandshell

ALL THEM WITCHES
+ King Buffalo
Turf Club
Fri 11/17/2017 (8pm/$13)
turfclub.net

The Nashville-based psych-rock quartet All Them Witches returned this year with Sleeping Through The War via New West Records.

Tour dates:

11/12 – Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar*
11/14 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups*
11/15 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi*
11/16 – Iowa City, IA @ The Mill*
11/17 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club*
11/18 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room*

*with King Buffalo supporting

KANSAS
State Theatre
Sat 11/18/2017 (7pm/$50)
hennepintheatretrust.org

America's legendary progressive rock band Kansas will be at the State Theatre on Saturday as part of their Leftoverture 40th Anniversary Tour. Their new live album Leftoverture Live & Beyond came out on November 3, 2017.

SAN HOLO
Skyway Theatre
Sat 11/18/2017 (8pm/$20)
skywaytheatre.com

San Holo (not to be confused with Han Solo) will be at the Skyway Theatre on Saturday. Holo’s latest single is ‘The Future’, the followup to the 70+ million streamed ‘Light’. ‘The Future’ features the vocals of Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow

SON LITTLE
+ Jade Bird
Turf Club
Sat 11/18/2017 (8pm/$15)
turfclub.net

Son Little (not to be confused with SonReal, who played the previous night) will be in St Paul at the Turf Club on Saturday. The Grammy winning producer have asked Jade Bird to open.

11/12 Tractor Tavern , Seattle, WA
11/14 The State Room. Salt Lake City, UT
11/15 Globe Hall, Denver, CO
11/17 Reverb Lounge, Omaha, NE
11/18 Turf Club, St. Paul, MN
11/19 Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
11/21 Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto

ST.VINCENT
Palace Theatre
Sat 11/18/2017 (7pm/$40/Sold Out )
palacestpaul.com

After spending time in the Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens’ band, Annie Clark re-invented herself as St Vincent. She’s reinvented herself again with her latest Masseduction, available now on Loma Vista Recordings. Whatever she is doing, it’s certainly interesting, and fans are loving it… which explains why her forthcoming show at the Palace Theatre is sold out.

THE DESLONDES
+ Twain
7th Street Entry
Sat 11/18/2017 (8pm/$12)
first-avenue.com

New Orleans’ The Deslondes is touring in support oof their sophomore album Hurry Home (New West Records).

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
+ Mothers
First Avenue
Sat 11/18/2017 (8pm/$28.50)
first-avenue.com

The Mountain Goats will be headlining First Avenue’s mainroom this Saturday in support of their new double LP All Hail West Texas (Merge Records). Athens’ Mothers to open.

The Mountain Goats on tour:

Nov 12 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
Nov 13 Boston, MA – House of Blues
Nov 15 Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
Nov 16 Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
Nov 17 Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
Nov 18 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Dec 02 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre
Dec 04 Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center
Dec 05 Richmond, VA – The National
Dec 06 Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre

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

Minneapolis: July 07 to July 08, 2017

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from July 07 to July 08, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Basilica Block Party The 20th Anniversary of the Basilica Block Party is taking place on Friday (July 11) and Saturday (July 12). I have mentioned before that it's not a great place to see music (because of the talkers.... Brandi Carlile After the first few songs, the band is joined on stage by none other than Brandi Carlile! Carlile actually sang backup on many of Ray's songs, including the encores. … Walk The Moon The latest song, "Shut Up And Dance" was the #1 song on Spotify charts... and it's a good indication of what's to come when they release their sophomore album on RCA Records later this year..…

BASILICA BLOCK PARTY
at Basilica St. Mary
07/07/17-07/08/17 (5pm/$60)
basilicablockparty.org

The annual Basilica Block Party starts next Friday, July 7th and spill over to Saturday. Tickets are $60 per day, or if you bought early bird tickets, they were discounted to $55.

We’re big fans of the event, with Basilica Block Party 2015 as one of our all-time favorite shows.

This year, fan-favorites Brandi Carlile and Walk The Moon will be taking the headliner stage.

Please note, there are three stages and their set time overlaps - so either be prepared to see only partial sets or “camp out” at your favorite stage.

Friday, July 7: Great Clips Stage Brandi Carlile NEEDTOBREATHE John Paul White The Roosevelts PreferredOne Stage The Shins Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness Cobi Star Tribune Stage Night Moves Jaedyn James & the Hunger Nick Jordan

Saturday, July 8: Great Clips Stage WALK THE MOON Gavin DeGraw Ben Rector Julia Brennan PreferredOne Stage AWOLNATION Walk Off The Earth Enemy Planes Star Tribune Stage Nooky Jones Jackson & The Roosters J.S. Ondara

Read More Bauhaus As you can see from his setlist (which does not list encores), he had wedged in three Bauhaus songs in the middle of his set. Those songs were well-received... as for most of the well-known songs. . .…

POPTONE
at First Avenue
Saturday 07/08/17 (8pm/$20)
first-avenue.com

Poptone is Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins, of Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, and Tones on Tail. Joining the duo to form Poptone will be Haskins’ daughter Diva Dompé, formerly of the Los Angeles rock band Blackblack.

We’re obviously fans, so if you grew up in the same time period, you really need to be at First Avenue on Saturday.

For this retrospective tour, Poptone will play songs from all their previous bands, heavily leaning on the rare Tones On Tail songs. Expect to hear dance classics ‘Ok This Is the Pops’ and ‘Go!’

Transmission’s DJ Jake Rudh will play music videos before the show.

Tour Dates:

07/06 - St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall **
07/08- Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
07/09 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
08/03 - Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony **
08/04 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero Theatre **
08/05 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza **
08/08 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club **
08/11 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage **

Read More Hippo Campus The crowd at the music stage began swelling very early on, as local favorites Hippo Campus played first, with a spirited 40 min. set that included new single, ‘South’ (EP out Oct 2 on Grand Jury Records) .…

HIPPO CAMPUS and POLIÇA
at Bayfront Park
Saturday 07/08/17 (4:30pm/$25)
bayfrontfestivalpark.com

This is a really solid event. If you live in Duluth, or willing to drive from Minneapolis, the show looks outstanding.

We previously have seen all headlining bands before, with Hippo Campus recently in March 2017 and noted, “The buzz for Hippo Campus at their homecoming show was simply amazing. As soon as the band took the stage, a hundred cellphones went up in the air to record every moment of the band. The audience was generally young teenagers, but that is expected for a semi-rare all-ages weekend show at First Avenue. The last time we saw Hippo Campus, they were definitely one of the key attractions to Rock the Garden 2016. Their RTG 50-min set “wowed the many in the crowd who were there to see them play a danceable mix of familiar and some yet-to-be-released songs.” Some of those preview songs are now available on their debut record landmark (Grand Jury Records). ”

This show is presented by First Avenue, The Current, and KUMD. Since this is an open area, so the show will go on rain or shine.

Lineup:

Hippo Campus

Polica

Low

Remo Drive

J.S. Ondara

Read More Haerts Also, as tradition goes, we stopped by the Leinie Lodge Bandshell to catch a little set from Texas-born, Louisiana-based Marcia Ball playing some old time rock and blues on her keyboard. …

Other shows in the area:

07/07/2017 Don’t know how is it that Chicano Batman hasn’t been sued by DC Comics, but the band is thriving with their recent release of Freedom is Free via ATO Records (Billboard consider the album as “Best Albums of 2017 So Far”). Khruangbin will open the Turf Club in St Paul... the event is sold out. Brainstory is also on the bill. 8pm, $20.

07/07/2017 Former Drive By Trucker’s Jason Isbell (billed as Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) and The Mountain Goats will be at the new Palace Theatre in St Paul this Friday. The Mountain Goats’ Goths is out now on Merge Records. The show is sold out. 7pm, $49.50.

07/08/2017 Jared & The Mill and Canyon Spells will be playing the 7th Street Entry on Saturday. 8pm, $12.

07/08/2017 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Michelle Branch will be headlining the Fine Line Music Café on Saturday, in support of her new Hopeless Romantic album from Verge Records. No opening band listed on the venue’s website, but her poster shows Haerts. 8pm, $30.

07/08/2017 Today, Philadelphia four-piece, by way of New York, Palm is headlining the Turf Club in St Paul. Their new EP Shadow Expert is out now on Carpark Records. Palberta will open. 8pm, $10.

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

The Mountain Goats: Transcendental Youth

Read More The Mountain Goats It is well known that John Darnielle, the force behind the Mountain Goats, likes heavy metal music. It comes up in interviews often, and hearing him speak …

The Mountain Goats return to the West Coast this December in support of their new album Transcendental Youth, another brilliant excursion in storytelling songwriting from John Darnielle.

Live, Darnielle is both animated and shyly devious, as the blue devils on the cover of Transcendental Youth hint at his obsession with the darker things in life, Darnielle’s vocals sing, shot and sometimes bark the stories of people struggling with love, hope and redemption. Along with bassist Peter Hughes and drummer Jon Wurster, this lineup has brought The Mountain Goats from an intimate folk influenced band into a performance comfortable on some of rock’s most famous small stages. For long-term fans, Darnielle has promised on Twitter that he is “rehearsing older-school tMG jams for the tour and I get a look from the baby like "why is daddy yelling about things"."

Whether this is your first Mountain Goats show or if you are into the hundreds, Darnielle and Co. never disappoint those who come for the music, but leave having absorbed every word spoken or sung.

All dates with (*) indicates with Matthew E. White.

10/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg* 10/14 Brooklyn @ Music Hall of Williamsburg* 10/15 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom* 10/16 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom* 10/18 Boston @ House of Blues* 10/19 Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt* 10/20 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre* 10/22 Grand Rapids, MI @ Covenant Fine Arts * 10/23 Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theatre* 10/24 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre* 10/26 Iowa City, IA @ Blue Moose TapHouse* 10/27 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre* 11/04 Huntington, WV @ Keith-Albee Performing*

11/29 Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West* 12/01 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge* 12/03 Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom* 12/04 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre* 12/05 Austin, TX @ Emo’s East* 12/07 Sante Fe, NM @ Santa Fe Brewing Co.* 12/08 Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom* 12/09 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress* 12/10 San Diego, CA @ Irenic* 12/13 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour* 12/14 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore* 12/16 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre* 12/17 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox*

courtney ♥ www.mountain-goats.com

Hopscotch: The Mountain Goats at Fletcher Opera Theater, Raleigh

Tour Dates 10/06 Reynolds Industries Theatre, Durham, NC 10/09 The National* , Richmond, VA 10/10 The Ottobar* , Baltimore, MD 10/11 Theatre of the Living Arts* , Philadelphia, PA 10/13 Music Hall of Williamsburg* , Brooklyn, NY 10/14 Music Hall of Williamsburg* , Brooklyn, NY 10/15 Bowery Ballroom* , New York, NY 10/16 Bowery Ballroom* , New York, NY 10/18 House of Blues* , Boston, MA 10/19 The Haunt* , Ithaca, NY 10/20 Phoenix Concert Theatre*, Toronto 10/22 Ladies Literary Club*, Grand Rapids, MI 10/23 Pabst Theatre* , Milwaukee, WI 10/24 The Varsity Theatre*, Minneapolis, MN 10/26 Blue Moose Taphouse* , Iowa City, IA 10/27 The Vic Theatre* , Chicago, IL 11/04 Mountain Stage, Huntington, WV *with Matthew E. White Read More Mountain Goats The Mountain Goats' new single, "Cry for Judas," is available as a free download. The song is from the forthcoming Transcendental Youth (out on October 2nd, 2012, via Merge Records).

The Mountain Goats
Fletcher Opera Theater, Raleigh
Hopscotch Music Festival, September 07, 2012

It is well known that John Darnielle, the force behind the Mountain Goats, likes heavy metal music. It comes up in interviews often, and hearing him speak about his love of metal has made me feel a little softer towards heavy metal and its fans, who I had always presumed to be angry, awkward men I couldn't relate to. I am not a metal fan, but I love it when people love music.

The Mountain Goats played two sets to a hushed crowd at the Fletcher Opera Theater on Friday, the second night of the Hopscotch Music Festival. The first set was a showcase of heavy metal songs, Darnielle solo in the spotlight on a large piano. Darnielle's sharp, earnest talk-singing was occasionally backed by a trio of barbershop singers. My description sounds ridiculous, but the performance profoundly touched me. The complex guitar riffs of the metal songs were arranged beautifully for the piano. Stripped down, the songs sounded clear and meaningful to my ears. I do not know enough about metal to know quite which songs Darnielle was singing, but when he paused in one of the songs to sing in his own manner, "All Hail Satan!" I wanted to stand up and cheer. My companions and I giggled appreciatively from high up in the rafters.

For his second set the piano was exchanged for a guitar, and Darnielle played a selection of self-described rarities from his own extensive catalog. I stayed for just a few of them, admiring the wordplay in his lyrics and the simplicity with which he presented them. The audience was quietly respectful, listening to an honest man and his guitar.

It is an exciting time for the Mountain Goats; the latest album, his fifteenth since 1994, is coming out October 2, on Merge Records with a month-long tour to follow. I hope John Darnielle will keep some of those metal covers in his repertoire this fall.

robinx ♥ www.mountain-goats.com