W♥M: The National

05/17/2025

Minneapolis This Week (May 25, 2025)

What’s happening this week.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Momma at Fine Line (19 May 2025)

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Momma

Momma is a rising Los Angeles indie rock band and opened the evening with a thirty-minute-set, in support of recent record “Household Name” and more recent single, “Bang Bang” …

19 May 2025 Monday

Momma
with Wishy
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

New York, by the way of California, Momma (formed by Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten) is headlining the Fine Line, in Minneapolis, on May 19, 2025, in support of their new album Welcome to My Blue Sky (Polyvinyl Records).

Momma at Azura Amphitheater (11 June 2023)

We saw the band in June 2023 and said, “Momma is a rising Los Angeles indie rock band and opened the evening with a thirty-minute-set, in support of recent record “Household Name” and more recent single, “Bang Bang”. The band would make a return appearance as well, jumping on stage to join Weezer for a song during their set.”

Wishy to open.

Tour dates:

Apr 23, 2025 WFPK Waterfront Wednesday Louisville, KY

Apr 25, 2025 Skully's Music Diner Columbus, OH

Apr 26, 2025 Motorco Music Hall Durham, NC

Apr 28, 2025 Terminal West Atlanta, GA

Apr 29, 2025 The Basement East Nashville, TN

Apr 30, 2025 Growlers Memphis, TN

May 2, 2025 Last Concert Cafe Houston, TX

May 3, 2025 Tulips Fort Worth, TX

May 4, 2025 Mohawk Austin, TX

May 6, 2025 Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ

May 9, 2025 The Fonda Theatre Los Angeles, CA

May 10, 2025 August Hall San Francisco, CA

May 12, 2025 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR

May 13, 2025 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, BC

May 14, 2025 Neumos Seattle, WA

May 16, 2025 Kilby Block Party Salt Lake City, UT

May 16, 2025 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT

May 17, 2025 Marquis Theater Denver, CO

May 19, 2025 Fine Line Minneapolis, MN

May 20, 2025 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL

May 22, 2025 The Axis Club Toronto, ON

May 23, 2025 Club SAW Ottawa, ON

May 24, 2025 Théâtre Fairmount Montreal, QC

May 28, 2025 The Sinclair Cambridge, MA

May 29, 2025 The Atlantis Washington, DC

May 30, 2025 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA

May 31, 2025 Warsaw Brooklyn, NY

Jun 4, 2025 - Jun 8, 2025 Primavera Sound Barcelona, Spain

Jun 12, 2025 - Jun 15, 2025 NOS Primavera Sound Festival Porto, Portugal

Jun 13, 2025 Victoria Park London, UK Outbreak Festvial

Jun 14, 2025 - Jun 15, 2025 Manchester B.E.C Arena Manchester, UK Outbreak Fest

Sep 21, 2025 Ascend Amphitheater Nashville, TN

Sep 23, 2025 Red Hat Amphitheater Raleigh, NC

Sep 24, 2025 Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC

Nov 4, 2025 Pitchfork Festival Paris, FR

Nov 8, 2025 Pitchfork Festival London, UK

Tennis at First Avenue (21 May 2025)

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Tennis

Husband/wife duo Tennis is back in town. Their forthcoming album Yours Conditionally will be out March 10th via Mutually Detrimental / Thirty Tigers. …

Billie Marten

Yorkshire’s Billie Marten is touring in support of her new album Drop Cherries (IMPERIAL Music). The album was recorded entirely on tape in Somerset and Wales ....

21 May 2025 Wednesday

Tennis
with Billie Marten
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Acclaimed indie-pop duo Tennis (husband and wife Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore) is touring in support of Face Down In The Garden (Mutually Detrimental). The tour will stop by First Avenue, in Minneapolis, on May 21, 2025.

Tennis at First Avenue, Minneapolis (08 April 2023)

We saw Tennis in April 2023 and said, “So it’s been a long time since we last saw the band. This is due to conflicting shows, or the fact that the COVID pandemic caused cancellations throughout the last few years. Seeing the band on stage, you can tell that the band is very excited to be playing live again. As you can see in some of the photos below, Alaina’s look is of love and adoration. It carries in the way she sings and how the band play to the beat.”

Billie Marten at 7th Street Entry (16 June 2023)

Billie Marten to open. We caught Billie Marten in June 2023 and said, “Billie Marten is a woman in love, she asks “Anyone in love?” Every note, every words, there is a hint of longing. From what I’ve gathered, listening to her talk, her love (Will Taylor of Flyte) was very far away. Of course, the longing and sadness could have something to do with her severe seasonal affective disorder (SAD).”

Tour dates:

05/16 – Las Vegas, NV – Swan Dive *

05/17 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall *

05/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Block Party #

05/21 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue †

05/23 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed †

05/24 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Annex †

05/25 – Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron †

05/27 – Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall †

05/30 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner †

05/31 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall †

06/01 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 †

06/03 – Washington, DC – The Anthem †

06/05 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz †

06/06 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern †

06/07 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville †

06/09 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum †

06/10 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall (Downstairs) †

06/11 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater †

08/18 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts by the Bay

08/20 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre

08/22 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy + Harriet’s

08/23 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren

08/24 – Santa Fe, NM – The Bridge

08/26 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom

08/28 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall

08/29 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Grand Lodge

08/30 – Vancouver, BC – Malkin Bowl

09/02 – Sacramento, CA – Channel 24 ^

09/04 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery ^

* w/ Special Guests Husbands
† w/ Special Guest Billie Marten

# Festival Appearance

Friko at Fine Line (22 May 2025)

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Friko

Chicago band Friko (vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger) opened the show. Prior to their First Avenue appearance, the full band stopped for a signing of their .…

22 May 2025 Thursday
Friko
with youbet
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Chicago’s Friko (vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger) to headline the Fine Line, in Minneapolis, on May 22, 2025.

Friko at First Avenue (15 Sep 2024)

We saw Friko in Sep 2024 and wrote, “Chicago band Friko (vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger) opened the show. Prior to their First Avenue appearance, the full band stopped for a signing of their album Where we've been, Where we go from here (ATO Records) and live session at the Electric Fetus record store, in Minneapolis. The group is known for their high-energy live shows, and they certainly let loose on the main stage at First Avenue. Singer Niko mentioned that being on stage and playing to an audience was their dream. Playing at the venue that Prince made famous, well, that was a dream come true. You can tell that the band idolized Minneapolis and the First Avenue venue.”

youbet to open.

Tour dates:

April 30 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux $

May 2 - Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl $

May 3 - Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s $

May 4 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios $

May 7 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop $

May 9 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room HLP $

May 10 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar $

May 13 - Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed #

May 14 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown #

May 17 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Block Party

May 18 - Denver, CO @ Marquis $

May 20 - Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge $

May 21 - Des Moines, IA @ xBk $

May 22 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line $

*w/ Peel Dream Magazine
% w/ Starcleaner Reunion
$ w/ Youbet
# with Black Country New Road

Matt Berninger at First Avenue (23 May 2025)

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The National

The National has become one of our favorites, having traveled last year to San Diego to catch their live show, back then in support of album, “First Two Pages of Frankenstein." …

23 May 2025 Friday
Matt Berninger
with Ronboy
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Matt Berninger, the singer of The National, is doing a solo tour, stopping by First Avenue, in Minneapolis, on May 23, 2025. Berninger’s second solo album, Get Sunk will be out May 30th, via Book/Concord Records.

The National at Moda Center (03 Oct 2024)

We saw the National in Oct 2024 and wrote, “Though the “war” had just wrapped their set, longtime fans of The National were elated when they began their night closing set with 2007’s “Start a War”, an album rarity from their “Boxer” full-length, and a choice for a set opener, we hadn’t seen since maybe that album’s initial release. The band, fronted by Berninger had again delivered a performance that was both intimate, emotional, and also scaled for this sized venue, He, dressed typically in a dark suit, wrapped his lanky arms around himself on “Eucalyptus”, paraded on stage amongst all the square-shaped lighting on “Tropic Morning News” and retreated to the back near the drums, as the Dessner brothers tore into their guitars, facing each other on “Don’t Swallow the Cap”. Selections from 2010’s “High Violet” remain fan favorites, including the anthemic “Bloodbuzz Ohio” and later, the spiteful downpour of “England”, while “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” thrilled with its staccato guitars, fractured riffs, and poignant piano work.”

Ronboy to open.

Tour dates:

May 19 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox

May 20 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo’s 365 Club

May 21 - Los Angeles, CA - Palace Theatre

May 23 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue

May 24 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

May 26 - Toronto, ON - Concert Hall

May 28 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer

May 29 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre

May 30 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

June 1 - Norwalk, CT - District Music Hall

August 22 - Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street

August 23 - Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street

August 25 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3 Galvanizers

August 26 - Manchester, UK - Albert Hall

August 27 - London, UK - Troxy

August 28-31 - Nr Tolland Royal, Wiltshire, UK

August 31 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli Vredenburg

September 1 - Antwerp, Belgium - OLT Rivierenhof

September 2 - Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre

September 4 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys

September 5 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega

September 6 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller Music Hall

September 8 - Hamburg, Germany - Große Freiheit 36

September 9 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli Vredenburg

September 10 - Antwerp, Belgium - OLT Rivierenhof

September 12 - Brussels, Belgium - Cirque Royal

Baroness at Turf Club (23 May 2025)

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Baroness

Inside the club, the mood was not of the Crimson and Blue of the college basketball team, it was somewhat darker with the night’s soundtrack reflected in the spectrum …

23 May 2025 Friday
Baroness
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Baroness will be revisiting their first two albums (the Red Album and Blue Record) at the Turf Club, in St Paul, on May 23, 2025.

Baroness at Bottleneck (02 Apr 2022)

We saw the band in April 2022, and said, “Inside the club, the mood was not of the Crimson and Blue of the college basketball team, it was somewhat darker with the night’s soundtrack reflected in the spectrum of the last five albums from Baroness, all color-themed in title, including their latest, Gold & Grey (2019, on Abraxan Hymns). The night’s setlist was unique as well- its first half consisting of fan-voted tracks, bridged by a short acoustic set, and finished with a choice selection from the band itself, resulting in a well-rounded retrospective of their two decades in music.”

Tour dates:

MAY 7 Metro Baltimore Baltimore, MD

MAY 8 The Meadows Brooklyn, NY

MAY 9 The Meadows Brooklyn, NY

MAY 11 The Sinclair Cambridge, MA

MAY 13 Empire Live Albany, NY

MAY 14 The Song & Dance Syracuse, NY

MAY 16 Grog Shop Cleveland, OH

MAY 17 Magic Stick Detroit, MI

MAY 18 The Pyramid Scheme Grand Rapids, MI

MAY 20 Sleeping Village Chicago, IL

MAY 21 Sleeping Village Chicago, IL

MAY 23 Turf Club St Paul, MN

MAY 24 Waiting Room Lounge Omaha, NE

MAY 25 recordBar Kansas City, MO

MAY 27 Black Circle Brewing Co. Indianapolis, IN

MAY 28 The KING of CLUBS Columbus, OH

MAY 30 Prepare The Ground festival Toronto

MAY 31 Thunderbird Café & Music Hall

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 ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Posted at 12:00 AM in Baroness, Billie Marten, Friko, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Music Guide, Momma, Tennis, The National | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/23/2025

Minneapolis: May 23 to May 24, 2025

10/09/2024

The National / The War on Drugs / Lucius at Moda Center, Portland OR (2024-10-03)

THE NATIONAL SETLIST

intro music: Slippery People by Talking Heads

Start A War
Eucalyptus
Tropic Morning News
Grease In Your Hair
Don't Swallow the Cap
Bloodbuzz Ohio
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
I Need My Girl
Lit Up
Conversation 16
Green Gloves
Bring on the Dancing Horses (Echo & the Bunnymen cover w/Adam Granduciel)
Day I Die
Pink Rabbits
England
Graceless
Fake Empire

Encore:
Mr. November
Terrible Love
About Today

(VIP Soundcheck)
Green Gloves, Start a War, City Middle, Son

THE WAR ON DRUGS SETLIST

Baby Missiles
Pain
An Ocean in Between the Waves
I Don't Wanna Wait
Red Eyes
Strangest Thing
Harmonia's Dream
Comin' Through
Under the Pressure
I Don't Live Here Anymore (with Lucius)

LUCIUS SETLIST

Nothing Ordinary
Tempest
Lucy
Two of Us on the Run
Old Tape (with Adam Granduciel)
Genevieve

THE NATIONAL TOUR DATES

Oct 05 Napa, CA The Meritage Resort & Spa
w/ The War On Drugs & Lucius
Oct 06 Berkeley, CA The Greek Theatre
w/ The War On Drugs & Lucius
Oct 07 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
w/ The War On Drugs & Lucius
Oct 10 Mexico City, MX Palacio De Los Deportes

THE WAR ON DRUGS TOUR DATES

OCT 5 Napa, CA The Meritage Resort And Spa
OCT 6 Berkeley, CA The Greek Theatre Berkeley
OCT 7 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
OCT 10 Mexico City, MX Palacio de los Deportes
OCT 12 Monterrey, MX Live Out Monterrey 2024

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The National

The National dropped their 6th album last month titled Trouble Will Find Me. The album (featuring such talents as St Vincent, Sharon Van Etten and Richard Reed Perry of Arcade Fire), took nearly three years to cultivate...

Ahhh, musical nirvana!

Two of the biggest indie rock bands of the last decade have joined forces (along with a harmonizing pair of songbirds) to commence on their fall Zen Diagram Tour that has crisscrossed the country, and has been the first time either act has toured with others in this way

The National and The War on Drugs, along with Lucius brought their combined musical strength to the Moda Center in Portland, OR for a stirring, fun, and sonically brilliant evening.

We foretold of our journey all the way to the Left Coast to see this fine pairing as part of our Rocktober on the Road series, and we were very glad to have made the trip.

The National has become one of our favorites, having traveled last year to San Diego to catch their live show, back then in support of album, “First Two Pages of Frankenstein." Singer Matt Berninger’s baritone vocals interpreting his literary, often somber “sad dad” lyrics backed by the rhythmic Devendorf brothers and the mesmerizing, trainspotting complex guitar and piano work from the Dessner twins, all make for a unique musical recipe that is alluring, mature, and addictive. Their live album, Rome, captured in Italy this summer, is out in December.

Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs are addictive in their own way (no reference intended) – the guitar jam driven band with synth overtones and a masterful rhythm section, is playing some of the most compelling live rock today, and also has a recent live album out, Live Drugs Again, out just a few weeks ago.

But the night would begin with a short but charming set from Lucius, the LA-via-Brooklyn alternative pop band led by friends (and always very similarly dressed) Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, out in support of 2022’s Second Nature (out on Mom+Pop Records). We’ve been fans of the band since their beginnings fifteen years ago, seeing them then in tiny venues and even record store appearances, and most recently in 2019 in St. Paul, MN.

The pair has toured with Roger Waters on his couple outings among others, and their spot-on harmonies are enough in demand to have worked with numerous names of the day. “Nothing Ordinary” and “Tempest” began their set, both from 2013, with their new song, “Lucy” to follow, perhaps the preface to another new full-length.

To celebrate the tour, the group released “Old Tape” in August, a brand-new single featuring WoD singer guitarist Adam Granduciel guesting, and he would also come out to cheers to join on this live version. Their breakthrough 2013 album, Wildewoman also produced the set’s closing “Genevieve” as the pair waved goodbye in their matching shiny silver gowns.

Though not playing to a full arena-size crowd, The War on Drugs plays with a big, building sound that is custom-ready for venues of this bigger size. Like all acts, they were confined to a shorter set length than accustomed to when headlining, but the band made the most of their time, composing their tight-but-loose songs brick by musical brick with a concentrated meticulous effort, that was also unstructured enough to take its time and let the band clearly have fun as the volume increased.

Starting with 2010’s “Baby Missiles”, Granduciel’s Dylan-esque vocals still seemed glass smooth, with his guitar work driving the musical construction and found him going back to face his band mates or invade the space of keyboardist (and birthday boy on this night), Robbie Bennett. Bassist David Hartley had been replaced by their tour manger (due to recent Asheville NC flooding), but we found out during the set that Craig McQuiston could manage the group, as well as lay down a mean bassline that kept their musical momentum near-constant.

Sax player Jon Natchez punctuated songs at just the right moments, inserting a brief solo from his position near the back, amongst the rolling smoke and dazzling flashing lights. Things only got slower for 2021 ballad “I Don’t Wanna Wait” but quickly revved back up roaring guitar work on “Red Eyes” and the extended jam of “Strangest Thing.”

The lightheartedness of 2010’s “Comin’ Through” gave way to their signature song, “Under the Pressure” which builds and builds until drummer Charlie Hall breaks with a beat some seven minutes in, that sends everyone into a musical euphoria. As they did on the record (and intersecting between acts in a Venn Diagram way), Lucius appeared from the smoke to sing harmonies on “I Don’t Live Here Anymore”, the title track from the band’s masterful 2021 album, that found Granduciel and band stretching the live version out even further.

Though the “war” had just wrapped their set, longtime fans of The National were elated when they began their night closing set with 2007’s “Start a War”, an album rarity from their “Boxer” full-length, and a choice for a set opener, we hadn’t seen since maybe that album’s initial release.

The band, fronted by Berninger had again delivered a performance that was both intimate, emotional, and also scaled for this sized venue, He, dressed typically in a dark suit, wrapped his lanky arms around himself on “Eucalyptus”, paraded on stage amongst all the square-shaped lighting on “Tropic Morning News” and retreated to the back near the drums, as the Dessner brothers tore into their guitars, facing each other on “Don’t Swallow the Cap”.

Selections from 2010’s “High Violet” remain fan favorites, including the anthemic “Bloodbuzz Ohio” and later, the spiteful downpour of “England”, while “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” thrilled with its staccato guitars, fractured riffs, and poignant piano work.

We’ve often said the crew member that handles Berninger’s lengthy mic cord as he goes out into the audience, is the most valuable stagehand, and that was again the case as Berninger was out in front and then along the arena’s stage right side during 2010’s “Conversation 16.”

The so-called “creepy song of the night” (according to Berninger) was another rare nugget, 2007’s “Green Gloves” a dark song about remembering someone, and trying to reconnect. And cross-pollinating bands again to keep in theme with the tour’s name, WoD leader Granduciel returned to the stage once more, for an Echo and the Bunnymen cover that began and was played mostly authentic, but then evolved into another guitar jam exercise with Granduciel playing off against both Dessners.

“Graceless” kept energy high with its talk of “a science to walking through windows” and shades of the current political climate cast a long shadow on the still-relevant “Fake Empire,” to end the main set.

That same feeling (though more redeeming and joyful) extended into the beginning of the encore on “Mr. November” (which Berninger has re-titled “Madame November” at some previous gigs), moved on with growing scale on “Terrible Love” (with its wall-sized lyric of “it takes an ocean not to break”) and would end with the gentle and lamenting “About Today." It's a quiet song about the aftermath of a couple’s fight that would not seem like a encore-ending choice, but the live version grows and grows in scale and volume, into a vibrating horizon of noises and feedback that sounds like every last volt of remaining power was expunged.

Though we didn't get to see Lucius come out to sing on “Rylan” (like on some previous shows) and maybe an end jam with all three acts would have been interesting, The Zen Diagram Tour featuring The National, The War on Drugs, and Lucius did have some fun interactions, was high-caliber musically from all acts, and a kind of diagram we were happy to be located in the middle of, to witness it all.

(click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

THE NATIONAL at Moda Center, Portland OR (2024-10-03)

THE NATIONAL at Moda Center, Portland OR (2024-10-03)

THE WAR ON DRUGS at Moda Center, Portland OR (2024-10-03)

THE WAR ON DRUGS at Moda Center, Portland OR (2024-10-03)

LUCIUS at Moda Center, Portland OR (2024-10-03)

John C ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥X / twitter.com ♥ bsky.ap

Posted at 06:01 PM in John, Lucius, Portlandia, The National, The War on Drugs | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/01/2024

Rocktober on the Road 2024!

Rocktober is so big this year, the WHM KC field office is busting of out their normal space and hitting the road to catch some very special shows that are not hitting out market, and some one-of-a-kind experiences. Here’s what we’re packing our bags for, to catch live.

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show's headline, in case you'd like to attend as well):

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The National

OCT 3 The National / The War on Drugs / Lucius- Moda Center, Portland, OR

Two leading alternative and Grammy-award winning rock bands The National and The War On Drugs have combined forces along with special guests Lucius for a 19-date fall outing dubbed the Zen Diagram Tour, marking the first time any of these bands have toured together in this way. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicked off last month in Gilford, NH and wraps in Mexico City in just over a week.

We’re fans of each and feel it’s money well spent to see any one of them, much less all three- we traveled to San Diego last year to see The National live, can’t wait for finally see The War on Drugs live, and took in the blissful harmonies of Lucius most recently in 2019 in St. Paul.

“I’m excited! These are gonna be short shows for both of our bands, I think. We’ve been doing two-and-a-half-hour shows lately a lot,” says The National’s Matt Berninger. “And that’s amazing, but I’m looking forward to being able to conserve energy and give a much tighter, shorter performance.”

The War on Drugs’ singer/guitarist Adam Granduciel adds. “It’s three great bands, it’s shorter sets than normal, but I feel like that’s just going to reach a greater level of being present with our set, you know? And it’s just about going out and playing great music for people that want to see some great rock and roll music.”

Saga Arcada St Charles IL 2024-10-17 poster

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SAGA

For nearly 50 years, this iconic band has been pioneering music innovation and thrilling audiences globally. Join us for an unforgettable night as they perform hits like "Wind Him Up", "On The Loose", "Humble Stance", and "Don’t Be Late".

OCT 17 Saga- Arcada Theater, St. Charles, IL

One of the best and longest tenured Canadian prog pop rock bands (that many have barely heard of), are returning to the Midwest, playing a rare date outside of Chicago, at the same venue they played five years ago, to the month. Prior to that show, they hadn’t played a Chicagoland concert since 1985, so these live appearances are special and treasured.

Saga formed in 1977 in Oakville, Ontario, releasing their self-titled debut album the following year. Since then, the band has sold over ten million albums and performed in over 20 countries to over 15 million people.

Their hits include "Don't Be Late", "Wind Him Up", "The Flyer", "Scratching The Surface", and their biggest US radio success, "On The Loose" and they were forward thinking enough to film early music videos that MTV played in regular rotation, in its early days.

The band’s recorded content is vast- with almost two dozen studio albums and the latest being the acoustic-leaning, "Symmetry", from 2021 via earMUSIC. Their biggest markets outside of Canada have been such diverse places as Germany, Puerto Rico, and the Nordic countries, but they’ve cultivated some kind of still-loyal core fan base in almost every country.

Approaching fifty years as a band, they’ve sounded refreshed and anew since the return of singer Michael Sadler, and additions of newer members, drummer Mike Thorne and bassist Dusty Chesterfield, giving added life to their classic songs.

Sadler recently had a cancerous growth successfully removed, and the one remaining “X-factor” is legendary guitarist Ian Crichton, who broke his foot/leg and was left unable to play a full live show. Chesterfield stepped into the guitar duties while friend Michael 'Mike' Borkosky joined on bass, but of course, we’re very much hoping Crichton will be healed enough to perform again (even if from a chair).

“We’ll be back, I promise.” Sadler said at the finish of their 2019 Arcada appearance, and five years later, he’s kept his word, and we couldn’t be more excited.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

One of the events we managed to attend was this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, a true end-of-year music highlight.. …

OCT 19- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – Rocket Mortgage Arena, Cleveland, OH

A genre-spanning batch of legends will join the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2024. Expect appearances from Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai, James Taylor, Jelly Roll, Julia Roberts, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lucky Daye, Mac McAnally, Method Man, Roger Daltrey, Sammy Hagar, Slash and The Roots will all be present at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland for the annual ceremony.

The Class of 2024 includes Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest in the performers category. In the musical influence category, Alexis Korner, John Mayall and “Big Mama” Thornton will be inducted; all three pioneers are deceased, with Mayall dying at the age of 90 this July, just three months after his induction was announced.

Additionally, Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield enter the Rock Hall in the musical excellence category. Suzanne de Passe will be given the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Yes, the event will again stream live on Disney+ and be available to stream on-demand afterward, but there’s no substitute for actually being in the building. We loved going to last year’s ceremony at the Barclays Center. As previous, a broadcast special will also air on ABC on January 1 as well.

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Duran Duran

Multi-platinum superstars Duran Duran is currently on their “Paper Gods World Tour”... they’ll be stopping by the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul next Saturday

…

OCT 31- Duran Duran Madison Square Garden, New York City

In a redux of a very special show they performed during their 2022 Las Vegas residency at the Wynn, Duran Duran are summoning all Halloween enthusiasts to show up, dress up, and celebrate at their Danse Macabre Halloween Party.

The band is out in support of the new Deluxe version of their 16th studio album, Danse Macabre, due out October 11, which adds their cover of ELO’s “Evil Woman”, a re-imagined “New Moon” and the spooky instrumental, “Masque of the Pink Death”. The record threads together new music, themed covers, and darkly re-imagined versions of the band’s classic tracks in a fresh and unique way.

“It will be no ordinary show,” the band shared on Instagram about their Halloween MSG concert. “A unique production featuring the hits alongside songs from the crypt on October 31st.” We were blessed to shoot the band live in 2016 during their Paper Gods Tour, and can’t wait to see them again, especially performing this unique Halloween concert.

We’re “moody and gray, mean, and restless” in the best possible way, to catch this very special setlist played live, after missing the previous themed show in Las Vegas.

John C ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

Posted at 04:22 PM in Chicago, Duran Duran, Halloween, John, Lucius, Ozzy Osbourne, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rocktober, Saga, The National, The War on Drugs | Permalink | Comments (0)

11/15/2023

The National at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, San Diego, CA (2023-11-11)

The National 2023-11-11 San Diego SDSU Cal Coast Amph

National 2023-11-11 SDSU Open Air San Diego banner

THE NATIONAL SETLIST

Once Upon a Poolside
Eucalyptus
Tropic Morning News
Squalor Victoria
Don't Swallow the Cap
Bloodbuzz Ohio
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
I Need My Girl
Slow Show
Lit Up
Lemonworld
The Geese of Beverly Road
Conversation 16
Alien
Tour Manager
Turn Off the House
Rylan
Smoke Detector
Day I Die
Light Years
England
Graceless
Fake Empire
About Today

Encore:
Laugh Track
Mr. November
Terrible Love
Space Invader

HAND HABITS SETLIST

More Than Love
Concrete & Feathers
placeholder
Can’t Calm Down
Jessica
Private Life
Aquamarine
4th of July

THE NATIONAL TOUR DATES

NOV 13 Arizona Financial Theatre PHOENIX, AZ
NOV 14 Kiva Auditorium ALBUQUERQUE, NM
NOV 16 Tulsa Theater TULSA, OK
NOV 17 Moody Center AUSTIN, TX
NOV 18 Lawn at White Oak HOUSTON, TX
NOV 19 The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory IRVING, TX

FEB 24 Spark Arena AUCKLAND, NZ
FEB 25 TSB Arena WELLINGTON, NZ
FEB 28 Riverstage BRISBANE, AU
MAR 01 Aware Super Theatre SYDNEY, AU
MAR 02 Aware Super Theatre SYDNEY, AU
MAR 05 Sidney Myer Music Bowl MELBOURNE, AU
MAR 06 Sidney Myer Music Bowl MELBOURNE, AU
MAR 09 Kings Park & Botanic Garden PERTH, AU
JUN 02 Carroponte MILAN, ITALY
JUN 03 Auditorium Parco della Musica ROME, ITALY
JUN 05 Zénith de Paris PARIS, FRANCE
JUN 21 Hurricane Festival SCHEESSEL, GERMANY
JUN 22 Southside Festival NEUHAUSEN OB ECK, GERMANY
JUN 24 INmusic Festival ZAGREB, CROATIA
JUN 25 Stadthalle VIENNA, AUSTRIA
JUN 27 Kunst!Rasen BONN, GERMANY
JUN 28 Live Is Live ANTWERP, BELGIUM
JUL 02 Nr St Austell, Cornwall Eden Sessions, CORNWALL, UK
JUL 03 Cardiff Castle CARDIFF, UK
JUL 04 Sounds of the City, Castlefield Bowl, MANCHESTER, UK
JUL 05 Crystal Palace Park LONDON, UK
JUL 11 Edinburgh Castle EDINBURGH, UK
AUG 06 Royal Arena COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Read More

The National

“11-11” was not only Singles Day in much of the world, but also seemed to have some kind of musical symmetry to the date. So, when we heard that acclaimed alternative rock band The National was on a brief West Coast/TX tour before heading overseas early next year, we just had to make our way over to catch a show.

A brisk evening on the campus of San Diego State University at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre turned out to be the right choice to see the right band.

After starting out in Brooklyn (by way of Cincinnati) in the late 90’s, the band members now find themselves spread out, even to other countries, assembling for recording and touring, and are out in support of not only of their acclaimed ninth studio album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein (via 4AD Records) but a surprise follow-up release, Laugh Track, put out in mid-September, that collectively ends a chapter in the band’s evolution (which also includes 2019’s I Am Easy to Find).

===

The evening began with an earlier-than-many-expected half-hour opening set from Los Angeles alternative band Hand Habits- friends of, and handpicked by the headliners, in support of their latest EP, Sugar the Bruise, released in June.

The band is the brainchild of Meg Duffy, the singer and guitarist who has contributed to records by The War on Drugs, Weyes Blood, Perfume Genius, and Sasami, among others and KC locals may remember Duffy as a mainstay in Kevin Morby's live band.

In 2021, they released the full-length LP Fun House and Duffy continues to be busy, collaborating with musician Gregory Uhlmann for their instrumental Doubles album (via Orindal Records), released in September.

Duffy’s voice and lyrics often have a backdrop of sadness, but a tone that also promotes hope, in finding whatever possible light in a situation, as on 2019’s “Jessica” which was dedicated to anyone in the crowd with the same name, as well as a crowd member named Violet. Duffy admits in the song, “I forget you shattered my reality, I forget, (but) I do, I do forgive. “

===

As lights again dimmed, The National took to the stage for a headlining set that ran just shy of 2 ½ hours, beginning gently with the opener from Frankenstein, “Once Upon a Poolside” before twin guitarists Aaron and Bryce Dessner turned up the volume and singer Matt Berninger became more lyrically forceful on the biting, “Eucalyptus”.

Berninger’s lyrics remain complex, literary, and are usually have a somber but oh-so-appealing level of melancholy that rivals classic mope bands like The Cure and The Smiths among others (self-described 'sad dad' rock). Musically, the band is playing at its best on this tour, seasoned after two decades, and featuring the unique simpatico of not one, but two sets of brothers that make up the group.

Bassist Scott Devendorf and drumming brother Bryan may look unassuming as they play, but there’s a structured resonance to the notes they contribute, strengthened by the unspoken language between them, that makes for a compelling rhythm section.

Following a breezy “Tropic Morning News”, the band plucked out a rarity from their song catalog in 2007’s “Squalor Victoria” before returning to radio hits “Don't Swallow the Cap” and 2010’s “Bloodbuzz Ohio.” The Dessners often faced each other during the guitar passages, but also stayed on their own respective sides, at least six feet apart, as if any closer might be too close to risk some kind of explosion.

Songs like the newer “Alien” had an extra punch live, and Berninger would go into the crowd a few times, including on 2017’s “Day I Die” that found him sprinting from one side of the theater seats to the other, all the while singing through his corded microphone. The crew member on stage that was managing the long mic cord looked like he was marlin fishing, careful to know when exactly to reel in, and when to slack the line.

To catch our unified breath following, a sullen “Light Years” made everyone in the crowd feel the distance and separation that’s often a byproduct of loss, then lights synced and the video screen behind the band showed an abstract live feed of the band, as they performed “England” with the crowd all singing along.

2007’s “Fake Empire” continues to be even more apropos in these divisive times with Berninger mentioning randomly earlier in the set, that he and some of the band went to the same high school as fellow Cincy native and current Republican Presidential candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy.

The main set would end on more of a down beat (diehard fans wouldn’t want it any other way) with 2004’s “About Today” and Berninger lyrically wondering, “How close am I to losing you?” but ended with a building instrumental flourish.

The encore would also start on a slower pace, with the title track from the newest album (the video of which, just dropped as well) before they completely unleashed on 2005’s (and month-appropriate) “Mr. November” while 2010’s “Terrible Love” found Berninger in the crowd again, to everyone’s delight.

With the venue’s curfew time fast approaching (sadly not enough time for the "Vanderlyle" sing-a--long), new song “Space Invader” would end the evening, sounding even more impactful than the studio version with Berninger emoting one last time about alternate realities, potential regrets, and being tethered to a life you wonder if you can ever escape; while sonically, the finely tuned noise grew louder and louder, before ending with a true exclamation point.

The National proved again, why they are one of the finest American bands of this century, and the evening proved well worth traveling across half the country for. Any chance to see them live, shouldn’t be missed and we’re anxious to see what their next musical chapter will bring.

(Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

THE NATIONAL

HAND HABITS

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / Twitter.com

Posted at 11:41 PM in Hand Habits, John, San Diego, The National | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/22/2023

Minneapolis: August 9 to August 11

08/09 The Mattson 2 and Paul Cherry with Jaguar Sun at Turf Club

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The Mattson 2

Co-headlining San Diego’s The Mattson 2 and Oakland’s Astronauts, etc. (aka Anthony Ferraro) show is taking place on Monday, September 17th. Tour dates: 9/13: Square Cat Vinyl - Indianapolis, IN 9/14: Ruby - Madison, WI .…

Paul Cherry

Paul Cherewick, aka Paul Cherry, will play the Turf Club this March 22nd. Dougie Poole and Sedona to open. .…

09/15/2022

The National at Surly Brewing Festival Field (09/14/2022)

09/14 The National with Indigo Sparke at Surly Brewing Festival Field

National Setlist

Don't Swallow the Cap
Mistaken for Strangers
Bloodbuzz Ohio
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
I Need My Girl
This Is the Last Time
Slow Show
Ice Machines
Wasp Nest
This Isn't Helping
Conversation 16
Tropic Morning News (Haversham)
Day I Die
Rylan
with Indigo Sparke
Light Years
Pink Rabbits
England
Graceless
Fake Empire

-- Encore --
Weird Goodbyes
Mr. November
Terrible Love
About Today

Read More

The National

Indigo Sparke

Indigo Sparke to open. The National 2022 North American tour dates: Sept. 12: Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre Sept. 13: Kansas City, MO - Grinders KC Sept. 14: Minneapolis, MN - Surly Brewing Festival Field …

It was a fine late-summer evening at Surly Brewing Festival Field, an outdoor venue in the middle of an industrial park in northeast Minneapolis. Parking was at a demolition processing center. To the north of the field were hundreds of shipping containers stacked like cord wood. Perhaps it was the perfect setting for a band from Ohio with a workman like name.

Indigo Sparke opened up with the sun still lingering. She brought along Adam on guitar and Jeremy on drums for an eight-song set, which featured songs from her 2021 album Echo and upcoming Hysteria, which has a release date of October 7^th, 2022.

From Sydney, Australia, Sparke stated she felt a special connection to Minneapolis for she had once lived in the city for a year.

Sparke’s parents are musicians and they bestowed a musical name on their daughter with Duke Ellington’s masterpiece “Mood Indigo.” It’s an apt name for although her sound and lyrics can be sparse, she hovers in a world more complex.

Sparke has a nice voice, a soothing one, the kind of voice you want to hear on the radio when you are driving on a warm summer’s night with the windows rolled down.

The National’s Aaron Dessner joined Sparke for a couple of songs from her new album which he produced. He played his guitar with a far-off, self-contained howl before opening up on “Golden Ribbons.”

The National then took the stage for a nineteen song set from eight albums spanning over a twenty-year career. We Heart Music last saw them headlining the Rock the Garden festival at the Walker Art Center in June of 2019.

“It’s good to see you,” said lead singer, Matt Berninger, to the crowd. “It’s been a while.”

There was a familiarity in the greeting, like old friends meeting after too much time had passed.

For being known for bleak lyrics and anthem-like themes, Berninger and his band mates were in a playful mood, bantering with each other between songs. When Berninger said the next song was “Ice Machines,” Aaron Dessner corrected him with a “No it’s not.”

Berninger had accidentally leapt ahead and had to be reminded that “Slow Show” was next. So Berninger decided the song should now be called “Ice Machines” to the consternation to Dessner. And that would only be the beginning as he jokingly introduced “Mr. November” as “Mr. February” and called their latest release “Weird Goodbyes” as “Fake Empire.” He also spent quite a bit of time surfing through the crowd, which allowed a stage hand to take his place front and center looking much like a fisherman trying to reel in a wayward singer with a mic cord.

The highlight of the evening was when Berninger took a break from the introspective often contradictory lyrics (I'm feelin' sacred, my soul is stripped) and let Aaron and Bryce Dessner take the lead on guitar, keyboard or upright piano. Aaron and Bryce even shared solos in tandem on “Wasp Nest” and “Tropic Morning News.” It was a musical treat to see two lead guitars talking to each other through an exchange of notes. It was far too brief, but the band had more mislabeled songs to cover.

Remaining tour dates:

Sept. 16: Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
Sept. 17: Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park
Sept. 18: Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater
Sept. 19: Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
Sept. 22: Boston, MA - Roadrunner
Sept. 24: Harrisburg, PA - Harrisburg University
Sept. 25: Bridgeport, CT - Sound on Sound Festival

Indigo Sparke

The National

The National at Surly Brewing Festival Field, Minneapolis (14 Sep 2022)

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Posted at 07:26 PM in Dave, Indigo Sparke, Minneapolis, Surly Brewing, The National | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/12/2022

We♥KC- September 12-18, 2022 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence KS)

Read More

The National

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

After a whirlwind busy way to start the month, this week slows down somewhat, with a few cancellations contributing to that. In particular, we’re bummed that Sydney’s Gang of Youths pulled the plug on their North American Tour, citing front man Dave Le'aupepe’s own health issues but hope for the best and a swift return to the road.

Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence, KS metro September 12th-18th.

(Several artists are still requiring precautions for entry, so check with the venue and/or assume vaccination proof, might still be required)

Monday Sept 12

Shinyribs, Knuckleheads. $20

The Austin group is a sonic melting pot of Texas blues, New Orleans R&B funk, horn-driven Memphis soul, country twang, border music, big band swing, and roots-rock. In support of Late Night TV Gold released in August 2021.

William Elliott Whitmore, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $17-$20

The Iowa blues, country, folk singer/musician plays roots-folk that is often inspired by his life on his family farm, in support of 2020’s I'm With You (on Bloodshot Records).

Moonspell, Granada- Lawrence CANCELED

Tuesday Sept 13

The National, GrindersKC, $39.50-$84

One of our favorites, The National are out on a reunion tour, their first since 2019 (and more recent full-length, I Am Easy to Find). “The last couple years have given us ample time for reflection and rejuvenation. Summer 2022 is a time for reunion," the band said in a press release. "We look forward to gathering with friends, old and new. United in music and light, suspended in time. We hope you can join us.”

The band has also partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from each ticket will benefit the PLUS1 Ukraine Relief Fund, supporting the people of Ukraine through effective grassroots nonprofits providing humanitarian aid, refugee support and access to critical information; and Buffalo String Works and their work to ignite personal and community leadership through accessible, youth-centered music education.

Australian singer-songwriter Indigo Sparke will open, in support of Hysteria and new single, “Pressure in my Chest”, her follow up to last year’s Echo (which was co-produced by Adrianne Lenker).

Cheap Trick, Uptown, $45-$125

The band released their 20th studio album In Another World last April (via BMG) and since forming in 1973, the band has performed in 5,000+ shows and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. It’s been a family affair as offspring Daxx Nielsen and Robin Taylor Zander join their fathers as live touring members. We caught them at a 2017 benefit concert which turned out to be a rare Kiss reunion.

Panic! at the Disco, T-Mobile Center, $30.50-$130.50

In support of their seventh studio album, VIVA LAS VENGEANCE, the world tour returns to mostly arenas, with very worth openers Jake Wesley Rogers and Beach Bunny scheduled to open in Kansas City, so make sure to arrive early.

Testament with Exodus and Death Angel, The Truman. $35-$60

The thrash godfathers return with their thirteenth studio album: Titans of Creation, written remotely during the pandemic. We caught the legends live back in 2018, as part of Slayer’s farewell, and support from Exodus and Death Angel (who we caught in 2019) make this a solid, can’t miss show.

Sunny Day Real Estate w The Appleseed Cast, Liberty Hall- Lawrence, $35-$75

For the first time in over a decade, the classic alternative rock band is back on tour, featuring original members Jeremy Enigk, Dan Hoerner, and William Goldsmith (bassist Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters is not scheduled), opening their tour in lovely Lawrence, KS.

Lawrence’s own Appleseed Cast to open, and haven’t had new music since pre-pandemic, so maybe look to hear something new.

The Prom (musical) September 13 thru 18, Starlight Theatre, $15-$98

The Broadway hit that The New York Times declares it “makes you believe in musical comedy again!” The Prom features direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (Mean Girls, The Book of Mormon), book by Tony winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Tony nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), music by Tony nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf) and lyrics by Beguelin.

Wednesday Sept 14

Jimmy Eat World w Charly Bliss, Uptown Theater, $37.50-$77.50

The Mesa, AZ band returns to live stages on their Something Loud tour. Formed in 1993 the four-piece has released 10 studio albums, breaking through with 2001's “Bleed American,” and hit single, "The Middle," which reached number one. We last caught them live in Minneapolis in 2018.

We’re also fans of Brooklyn-based power pop band Charly Bliss who we caught headlining back in 2018 and are due for a follow up for 2019’s Young Enough album.

Call Me Karizma w Astrus*, VIVO Live Music- OPKS,$16, 2 for $20

Young aka Morgan Parriott is a rising singer-songwriter/rapper from the familiar stomping grounds of New Prague, MN (a good brewery is there) and blends hip hop, post punk and more for his sound, out on his The Francis Tour. To coincide, Karizma dropped a music video for track “Delinquents”- “a song about my role as a leader of misfit toys. If you’ve ever come to one of my concerts, you will see every type of person imaginable in the crowd. And I take pride in bringing them all together with my music. We are the delinquents.” And like, The National above, has pledged $1 per ticket to benefit PLUS1.

Arrive early for Astrus*, a buzzing Dallas indie / hip hop artist, blending rap with emo-tinged alt rock and bedroom pop. He writes not just about teen angst, but real tragedy and loss, struggles with addiction, and mental health on singles "She Wonders Why," "Thinking About You" and "I Hope Ur Happy". FAANGS also listed as support.

Red Hot Chili Pipers, Knuckleheads, $20

...we said Pipers, so don’t expect Flea and Anthony! It’s bagpipes with attitude, drums with a Scottish accent and a fusion of trad Scottish music and rock/pop anthems which they proudly call 'Bagrock."

Ricky Montgomery with Delaney Bailey, The Truman. $25-$50

Los Angeles singer, musician and songwriter whose songs went viral on TikTok, leading to being signed with Warner Records in 2020 and has new EP, It's 2016 Somewhere, out now.

Why Don't We, The Midland, CANCELED

Thursday Sept 15

American Aquarium, Knuckleheads, $20

Raleigh NC alt-country band in support of the brand-new Chicamacomico album and the band recently celebrated headlining the historic Ryman in Nashville. “Country music was the voice of the people. It wasn’t always the prettiest voice, but it was an honest voice,” said founder and front man BJ Barham. “I think that’s where country music has lost its way.” Listen as they try and help save it.

Morgan Wade as support

Psycroptic and Fallujah, Bottleneck. $25

Aussie technical death metal band in support of new album Divine Council, and San Fran technical death metallers whose new album, Empyrean, just came out on Friday.

Interloper, Cognitive, April Mist all listed as openers, so a filled night of tech death metal.

Jo Dee Messina, Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, SOLD OUT

The longtime country artist has nine number one hit songs, 16 top 40 songs, and has sold over five million albums worldwide including breakout song, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”

Friday Sept 16

Motionless in White with Black Veil Brides, Ice Nine Kills and Crown the Empire, Sept. 16, Azura Amphitheater. $49.50-$59.50

The second leg of their successful tri-headline "Trinity of Terror" tour with special guests Crown the Empire. As with the previous leg, all three will alternate who gets the closing spot each night, but regardless of where your favorite band on the bill falls, they promise a great set.

After 7 with LeVelle, Da Truth Band and more, Kansas City Live! $20

National Art & Soul Experience (ASX) presents RHYTHM-N-SOUL WITH AFTER 7 LeVelle, Da Truth Band, and DJ Hobo Tone, hosted by Sean Tyler.

Miss May I, Granada- Lawrence, $20

Troy, OH metalcore band formed in 2007 and just released their seventh studio album, Curse of Existence earlier this month, following lead single, “Bleed Together”.

According to vocalist Levi Benton, the album follows the same direction as the single, looking at the different connection in our lives and how the lessons we learn shape who we are as human beings.

Paul Thorn, Sept. 16-18, Knuckleheads. $20-$75

The longtime roots musician, bluesy, rocking and Southern, stages a mini-residency, multi-night stand at the club. 2019’s Never Too Late To Call was seven years in the making, recorded at Sam Phillips Studio in Memphis and produced and engineered by Grammy winner Matt Ross-Spang.

Saturday Sept 17

Barns Courtney recordBar, $20

Count us as fans of the English singer-songwriter, out on his re-scheduled Out with the Old Tour and hitting forty-two North American cities. New single, “Supernatural” has been released and Barns is “currently in the studio perfecting a new body of work,” which is due out later this year. His most recent album is 2019’s 404, which features singles “99” and “You and I” and we’ve been knocked out every time we’ve seen him live.

Vanilla Ice, KC Convention Center,$30-$100

Collaborate and Listen?! Wasn’t Ice just here, playing a set after a Royals game, you say? Well, yes, but aka Mr. Van Winkle again returns to town as part of this weekend’s Collect-A-Con, for a show included with admission ticket. The convention promises 500+ vendors selling Sports Cards, Funko POP!, Comic Books, Toys, Video Games, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering and more. Usually, that’s very up our alley, but we probably won’t hit this one.

Vampa, Aura,$20

VAMPA, aka Emily Mucha, is a young producer / DJ rising in the North and Southeastern dubstep scene, bringing a new wave of deep bass music to the masses. Artists she has previously been on the bill with include Mija, Boogie T, Trampa, Dubloadz, EPROM, Whipped Cream, Nitti Gritti, Blunts and Blondes, Jphelpz, Xaebor, Yheti and more.

Gang of Youths, Bottleneck-Lawrence, CANCELED

Sunday Sept 18

sleep in, relax

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

Posted at 01:49 PM in American Aquarium, Barns Courtney, Charly Bliss, Cheap Trick, Death Angel, Exodus, Gang of Youths, Jimmy Eat World, John, Kansas City, Lawrence, Miss May I, Motionless In White, Music, Panic! At the Disco, Paul Thorn, Testament, The National | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/11/2022

Minneapolis: This Week (09/18/2022)

09/12 Boris with NOTHING at Fine Line

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Boris

Lauren talked about working on the song, “I’ve been a long-time fan of Boris's work and ‘New Album’ has been particularly influential on my musical style. When this came up, Atsuo from the band proposed I …

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

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

09/12/2022 Monday

Boris with NOTHING
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Japanese trio Boris is currently on tour to support their new album Heavy Rocks (Relapse Records).

It looks like Philadelphia’s Nothing will co-headline.

Tour dates:

Aug 19 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom (w/ The Body) *
Aug 19-21 Las Vegas, NV Psycho Las Vegas
Aug 22 Albuquerque, NM Sister
Aug 24 Dallas, TX Studio at the Factory
Aug 25 Austin, TX Empire Garage
Aug 26 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
Aug 27 Baton Rouge, LA Chelsea’s Live *
Aug 29 Atlanta, GA Terminal West
Aug 30 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Aug 31 Washington DC 9:30 Club
Sep 1 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
Sep 2 New York, NY Webster Hall
Sep 3 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
Sep 6 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Small’s Theatre
Sep 7 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Sep 8 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
Sep 9 Indianapolis, IN Post. Festival @ The Vogue
Sep 10 St. Louis, MI Delmar Hall
Sep 11 Chicago, IL Metro
Sep 12 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
Sep 14 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
Sep 15 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall
Sep 17 Portland, OR Revolution Hall
Sep 18 Seattle, WA The Crocodile
Sep 20 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s
Sep 21 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Sep 22 Los Angeles, CA The Regent Theater *
Sep 24 Mexico City, MX House of Vans

* No Nothing

09/14 The National with Indigo Sparke at Surly Brewing Festival Field

Read More

The National

09/14/2022 Wednesday

The National
with Indigo Sparke
at Surly Brewing Festival Field
first-avenue.com

The National are on their first tour since 2019… stopping by Surly Brewing Festival Field on September 14th.

"We are excited to finally share our full tour itinerary for summer 2022,” The National said. “The last couple years have given us ample time for reflection and rejuvenation. Summer 2022 is a time for reunion. We look forward to gathering with friends, old and new. United in music and light, suspended in time. We hope you can join us."

The National has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from each ticket will benefit the PLUS1 Ukraine Relief Fund, supporting the people of Ukraine through effective grassroots nonprofits providing humanitarian aid, refugee support and access to critical information; and Buffalo String Works and their work to ignite personal and community leadership through accessible, youth-centered music education.

Indigo Sparke to open.

The National 2022 North American tour dates:

Sept. 12: Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sept. 13: Kansas City, MO - Grinders KC
Sept. 14: Minneapolis, MN - Surly Brewing Festival Field
Sept. 16: Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
Sept. 17: Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park
Sept. 18: Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater
Sept. 19: Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
Sept. 22: Boston, MA - Roadrunner
Sept. 24: Harrisburg, PA - Harrisburg University
Sept. 25: Bridgeport, CT - Sound on Sound Festival

09/15 Pi'erre Bourne at Fillmore

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Pi'erre Bourne

Pi'erre Bourne, Granada- Lawrence, $20-$25 Out on his Purple Tour with opener Young Kush Blower, in addition to rapping, has produced hits for the likes of Playboi Carti and 6ix9ine, and has recently collaborated with Chavo, TM88, and Cardo. …

09/15/2022 Thursday

Pi'erre Bourne
at Fillmore
livenation.com

Rapper/GRAMMY® Award Winning Producer, and SossHouse CEO, Pi'erre Bourne is on tour in support of his new album Good Movie.

Tour dates:

Sat Sep 10 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues New Orleans
Mon Sep 12 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
Tue Sep 13 - Indianapolis, IN - Deluxe
Thu Sep 15 - Minneapolis, MN - Fillmore Minneapolis
Fri Sep 16 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues Chicago
Sat Sep 17 - Toronto, ON - The Phoenix Concert Theatre
Mon Sep 19 - Detroit, MI - Saint Andrew's Hall
Wed Sep 21 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
Fri Sep 23 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues Cleveland
Sat Sep 24 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart’s
Mon Sep 26 - Boston, MA - House of Blues Boston
Wed Sep 28 - New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
Thu Sep 29 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore Philadelphia
Sun Oct 02 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
Mon Oct 03 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring
Wed Oct 05 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
Sat Oct 08 - Denver, CO - Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom*
Tue Oct 11 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
Wed Oct 12 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
Fri Oct 14 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
Sun Oct 16 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Mon Oct 17 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
Tue Oct 18 - Vancouver, BC - Hollywood Theatre
Wed Oct 19 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox*
Wed Nov 02 – Dublin, IE – The Academy*
Thurs Nov 03 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg*
Fri Nov 04 – Antwerpen, BE - Trix*
Sun Nov 06 – Stockholm, SE - Klubben*
Mon Nov 07 – Copenhagen, DK - Pumphuset*
Tues Nov 08 – Berlin, DE – Columbia Theater*
Weds Nov 09 – Frankfurt, DE - Zoom*
Fri Nov 11 – Warsaw, PL – The Box*
Sat Nov 12 – Prague, CZ - Lucerna*
Mon Nov 14 – Vienna, AT - Flex*
Tues Nov 15 – Zurich, CH - Exil*
Thus Nov 17 – Bristol, UK - Fiddlers*
Sat Nov 19 – Birmingham, UK – 02 Institute 2*
Sun Nov 20 – Manchester, UK – Academy 2*
Mon Nov 21 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom*
Weds Nov 23 – Lille, FR – Black Lab*
Nov 24 – Paris, FR – Elysée Montmartr*
Tues Dec 13 – Brisbane, AU - Triffid*
Weds Dec 14 – Melbourne, AU – 170 Russell*
Fri Dec 16 – Sydney, AU – Metro Theatre*
Sat Dec 17 – Auckland, NZ - Powerstation*

*Non Live Nation Date

09/16 and 09/17 Highly Suspect with Artikal Sound System at First Avenue

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Highly Suspect

M.C.I.D. Four letters that define the Highly Suspect fan and if you don’t know what they are, chances are you will soon, as the trio is clearly on the cusp of making a bigger …

09/16/2022 Friday
09/17/2022 Saturday

Highly Suspect
with Artikal Sound System
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Highly Suspect is not only kicking off their 2022 fall headlining tour in Minneapolis… but they are playing a two-night residency at First Avenue on Sep 16 and Sep 17.

The band’s latest album, The Midnight Demon Club will be out on September 9th.

We last saw Highly Suspect on Mar 31, 2017 and said, “It wasn’t too long before Highly Suspect took the stage to a very restless sold out audience. Any possible signs that the band was on stage were greeted with huge cheers (even for the awkward stage hand who was just trying to adjust the mic). As we previously mentioned, we caught the band as opener in September 2015 and were impressed that more than half the audience was there for Highly Suspect.”

Artikal Sound System to open.

Tour dates:

9/16 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
9/17 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
9/19 - Green Bay, WI - EPIC Event Center
9/22 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life 2022*
9/23 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
9/24 - Maryland Heights, MO - Pointfest*
9/27 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater & Ballroom
9/30 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
10/1 - Atlanta, GA - The Eastern
10/3 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10/4 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
10/7 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
10/8 - Philadelphia, PA- Franklin Music Hall
10/10 - Niagara Falls, NY - The Rapids Theatre
10/13 - Chicago, IL - Radius
10/14 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe Live
10/15 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
10/18 - Des Moines, IA - Val Air Ballroom
10/20 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
10/22 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre
10/23 - Tulsa, OK - Cains Ballroom
10/26 - Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!
10/28 - Wichita, KS - The Cotillion
10/29 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Criterion
11/4 - Dallas, TX - The Factory at Deep Ellum
11/5 - Houston, TX - 713 Music Hall
9/15 - 9/30: with Artikal Sound System
10/4 - 10/18: with Dead Poet Society
10/20: with iann Dior, Spiritbox, and Destroy Boys
10/22 - 11/5: with Tiger Cub

* Festival Date

09/17 Alice Glass ( of Crystal Castles ) with Uffie at Amsterdam Bar & Hall

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Alice Glass

The Zola Jesus and Alice Glass co-headlining tour will be stopping by the Turf Club in St Paul. What’s important to note is that this is Glass’s first-ever solo North American tour. You may recall that we wrote about Glass’ former band Crystal Castles .....

09/17/2022 Saturday

Alice Glass ( of Crystal Castles )
with Uffie
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
first-avenue.com

If you are a fan of Crystal Castles, you all know what happened, Alice Glass accused her music partner Ethan Kath of sexual, physical, and mental abuse and left the band in 2017. Since then, Glass produced music under Alice Glass.

Alice Glass’ official debut album is called PREY//IV, and is out now via Eating Glass Records.

Speaking about the new project Glass shares, “I hope this record reaches those who need to know that they are not alone in this world—who need to know that it’s ok to be hurting. I hope, for some, that it will give them the courage to find a path away from the toxic situations they are experiencing.”

Uffie to open.

Tour dates:

Sep 7 San Francisco, CA, US The Independent
Sep 9 Portland, OR, US Star Theater
Sep 10 Vancouver, BC, Canada Hollywood Theatre
Sep 11 Seattle, WA, US Chop Suey
Sep 14 Salt Lake City, UT, US Metro Music Hall
Sep 15 Denver, CO, US Meow Wolf Denver
Sep 16 Outdoor Chicago, IL, US Riot Fest
Sep 17 St. Paul, MN, US Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Sep 20 Toronto, ON, Canada Lee's Palace
Sep 21 Montreal, QC, Canada Le Belmont
Sep 23 Cambridge, MA, US Middle East - Upstairs
Sep 24 Baltimore, MD, US Ottobar
Sep 25 Brooklyn, NY, US Warsaw
Oct 29 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US Fonda Theatre
Oct 30 San Diego, CA, US Music Box
Oct 31 Pomona, CA, US Glass House

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

Posted at 02:25 AM in Alice Glass, Boris, Crystal Castles, Highly Suspect, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Music Guide, Nothing, The National | Permalink | Comments (0)