W♥M

Minneapolis: August 1 to August 3, 2024

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

08/01 Infinity Song at 7th St Entry

08/01/2024 Thursday

Infinity Song
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Buzzing sibling band Infinity Song will be stopping by the 7th Street Entry, in Minneapolis, on August 1st, to promote their album Metamorphosis Complete (Roc Nation).

Tour Dates:

July 10 - San Francisco, CA - Brick & Mortar Music Hall

July 11 - Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour

July 12 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar

July 13 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar

July 16 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge

July 19 - Dallas, TX - Dada Dallas

July 20 - Houston, TX - Bronze Peacock Room

July 21 - Austin, TX - 3TEN Austin City Limits Live

July 24 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West

July 26 - Detroit, MI - The Shelter

July 27 - Toronto, ON - Velvet Underground

July 29 - Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe

August 1 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry

August 2 - Chicago, IL - Park West

August 3 - Chicago IL - Lollapalooza

August 9 - Carnation, WA - Thing Festival

August 18 - London, UK - All Points East

September 13 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion *

September 14 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden *

September 15 - Philadelphia, PA - TD Pavilion at The Mann *

September 26 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre

September 27 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle

September 29 - Columbia, MD - All Things Go Festival

October 1 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd Music House

October 2 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore Philadelphia

October 3 - Boston, MA - The Red Room at Cafe 939

October 4 - Boston, MA - The Red Room at Cafe 939

October 8 - Paris, FR - Pitchfork Music Festival

* Supporting Lake Street Dive

08/02 and 08/03 Basilica Block Party at Boom Island Read More Basilica Block Party We like the annual Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis, so we always make sure they get the spotlight whenever we do these previews. They always bring in some really good bands ....

08/02/2024 Friday
08/03/2024 Saturday

Basilica Block Party
at Boom Island
basilicablockparty.org

Can you believe it? The Basilica Block Party is back! The event was cancelled from 2020, and attendance was poor in 2021 (understandably still recovering from the pandemic), the block party was put on paused until 2024. However, it won’t be held at the Basilica of St Mary (which is where the event got their name)… it’ll now be held at Boom Island Park. Still, we’re happy to see the music event back, especially since Rock the Garden said goodbye last year.

Cake (07 July 2018)

We last saw Basilica Block Party in July 2018 and wrote, “It wasn’t thought possible, but the weather improved even more, to provide a picture-perfect evening on the second and final day of the Basilica Block Party, The Basilica of Saint Mary in downtown Minneapolis. Once again, ten acts were spread across three stages for each night- the Main Stage (sponsored by Great Clips) located in a back lot behind the building along the highway, a Church Stage (sponsored by Preferred One) out front, and a smaller local stage (sponsored by Star Tribune) . The one downside of having so many bands over a six-hour span is that set times overlap, so it often requires some planning (and maybe a little racing between stages) to catch the acts you want to see most.”

2024 Lineup:

Friday - August 2 Goo Goo Dolls The Fray Dean Lewis Red Clay Strays Yam Haus Local Stage Run Westy Run Black Widows The Ocean Blue Whiskey Rock and Roll Club Parishes Cindy Lawson

Saturday - August 3 Counting Crows Needtobreathe Judah & The Lion Phillip Phillips Ingrid Andress Guytano Local Stage St. Paul and The Minneapolis Funk All Stars Nur-D The Mary Jane Alm Band She's Green The Muatas

07/30 - 07/31 Vampire Weekend with Ra Ra Riot at Armory Read More Gin Blossoms 90s hit band Gin Blossoms and The Big Wu will be co-headlining the Common Sound Festival at Beth El Synagogue (in Saint Louis Park, MN) on Sunday. Special guests include The Common Ground Company and Amanda & Berek Awend with The Champions .... Toad the Wet Sprocket Currently on tour with Smash Mouth, the 90's alternative/college music band Toad the Wet Sprocket will be doing a number of side shows...

08/03/2024 Saturday

Ribfest 2024
feat. Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket
with Vertical Horizon and The Holy North
at Vetter Stone Amphitheater
ribfestmankato.com

The 26th Annual Ribfest is taking place August 1 to 4 in Mankato, Minnesota.

Gin Blossoms is co-headlining a tour with Toad the Wet Sprocket. Like the big blocks of televisions from the Allison Road music video, nostalgia lives in these two bands with the Gin Blossoms’ first album released more than three decades ago and Toad the Wet Sprocket touring in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Dulcinea.

Vertical Horizon and The Holy North to open.

Toad the Wet Sprocket (09 Sep 2023)

We last saw Toad the Wet Sprocket in Sep 2023 at the Fillmore and wrote, “Then it was back to the hits, which made watching the crowd an enjoyable exercise. It’s not often you get to see guys in their sixties sing along to “Whatever I Fear” with a misty look in their eyes. It was fun to see a mom jump up to dance to “All I want” while her teenage son remained seated with chagrin.”

TTWS 2024 TOUR DATES

JUL 17 / DEL MAR, CA @ The Sound at Del Mar^

JUL 18 / MONTEREY, CA @ Golden State Theatre^

JUL 19-20 / NOVATO, CA @ HopMonk Tavern^

JUL 22 / PORTLAND, OR @ Revolution Hall^

JUL 23 / SEATTLE, WA @ Neptune Theatre^

JUL 25 / KALISPELL, MT @ Wachholz College Center^

JUL 26 / GREAT FALLS, MT @ The Newberry^

JUL 28 / FORT COLLINS, CO @ Washington’s^

JUL 30 / SPRINGFIELD, MO @ Gillioz Theatre^

AUG 1 / OSHKOSH, WI @ Waterfest at Riverside Park#

AUG 2 / OMAHA, NE @ The Astro Theater#

AUG 3 / MANKATO, MN @ Vetter Stone Amphitheater#

AUG 5 / GRAND RAPIDS, MI @ Meijer Gardens#

AUG 7 / CLEVELAND, OH @ Cain Park#

AUG 8 / TARRYTOWN, NY @ Tarrytown Music Hall^

AUG 10 / PORTLAND, ME @ Thompson’s Point&

AUG 11 / LEWISTON, NY @ ARTPARK#

AUG 12 / DEERFIELD, MA @ Tree House Brewing^

AUG 13 / MEDFORD, MA @ Chevalier Theatre#

AUG 15 / BETHLEHEM, PA @ Wind Creek Event Center#

AUG 16 / CARY, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheater#

AUG 17 / SUGAR HILL, GA @ The Bowl at Sugar Hill#

AUG 18 / HUBER HEIGHTS, OH @ Rose Music Center#

AUG 20 / RED BANK, NJ @ Count Basie Center for the Arts#

AUG 22 / SELBYVILLE, DE @ Freeman Arts Pavilion#

AUG 23 / MIDDLEFIELD, CT @ Powder Ridge Mountain Park#

AUG 24 / ESSEX JUNCTION, VT @ Champlain Valley Exposition#

AUG 29 / SANTA BARBARA, CA @ Lobero Theatre^

AUG 30 / TEMECULA, CA @ South Coast Winery Resort & Spa^

AUG 31 / COSTA MESA, CA @ The Pacific Amphitheater!

SEPT 16 / CEDAR RAPIDS, IA @ McGrath Amphitheatre*

SEPT 17 / MOORHEAD, MN @ Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheater*

SEPT 18 / LINCOLN, NE @ Pinewood Bowl Theater*

SEPT 20 / ALBUQUERQUE, NM @ Revel*

SEPT 21 / COLORADO SPRINGS, CO @ Sunset Amphitheater*

SEPT 22 / VAIL, CO @ Gerald Ford Amphitheater*

SEPT 24 / TULSA, OK @ Tulsa Theater*

SEPT 25 / CHESTERFIELD, MO @ The Factory *

SEPT 27 / PITTSBURGH, PA @ Rivers Casino Event Center*

SEPT 28 / CHARLESTON, WV @ Hollywood Casino Event Center*

SEPT 29 / PHOENIXVILLE, PA @ The Colonial Theatre^

OCT 1 / BROOKVILLE, NY @ Tilles Center*

OCT 2/ ROCHESTER, NY @ Kodak Center*

OCT 4 / FRENCH LICK, IN @ French Lick Resort*

OCT 5 / EVANSTON, IL @ Cahn Auditorium^

OCT 17 / COLUMBIA, SC @ Township Auditorium*

OCT 18 / ASHEVILLE, NC @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium*

OCT 19 / AUGUSTA, GA @ Bell Auditorium*

OCT 21 / POMPANO BEACH, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphitheater*

OCT 22 / FT. MYERS, FL @ Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall*

OCT 23 / CLEARWATER, FL @ The Sound at Coachman Park*

OCT 25 / MACON, GA @ Macon City Auditorium*

OCT 26 / BILOXI, MS @ Beau Rivage Resort & Casino*

OCT 27 / NASHVILLE, TN @ Ryman Auditorium*

OCT 29 / AMES, IA @ Stephens Auditorium*

OCT 30 / ROCHESTER, MN @ Mayo Civic Center*

NOV 1 / PEORIA, IL @ Peoria Civic Center Theater*

NOV 2 / SALINA, KS @ The Stiefel Theatre*

NOV 3 / SIOUX FALLS, SD @ Washington Pavilion*

NOV 6 / DULUTH, MN @ Symphony Hall*

NOV 7 / MADISON, WI @ Overture Center for the Arts*

NOV 8 / MT. PLEASANT, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino*

^TTWS Headlining date
#TTWS co-headlining with Gin Blossoms
&TTWS @ Guster’s On The Ocean Festival
!TTWS opening for Counting Crows
*TTWS opening for Barenaked Ladies

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 ♥ bsky.ap

The Ocean Blue at The Parkway Theater (09/03/2023)

The Ocean Blue Setlist Denmark All the Way Blue Ballerina Out of Control Cake Kings and Queens Paraguay My Love The Limit Love Doesn't Make It Easy on Us Mercury Cerulean Marie Give It A Try Sad Night, Where Is Morning? Slide Ayn Garden Song Drifting, Falling Ask Me Jon Sublime Vanity Fair Between Something and Nothing -- Encore -- Harlequin Pale Shelter (Tears for Fears cover) Tour Dates Sep 8 - Washington, DC @ Howard Theater Sep 9 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Sep 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ardmore Theater Sep 30 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Neptune Festival Oct 6 - San Antonio, TX @ Sam’s Burger Joint Oct 7 - Houston, TX @ Numbers Oct 19 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern Oct 20 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag Oct 21 - Columbus, OH @ Natalie’s Grandview Music Hall Nov 10 - Miami, FL @ The Ground @ Club Space Nov 11 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Nov 16 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah Nov 17 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel Nov 18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom Read More The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue is an indiepop band from the late 80s, originally signed to Sire Records. Currently, the band released Ultramarine and is signed to Korda …

It is John Hughes month at the Parkway Theater and what better way to kick off the 80’s film series than a concert from The Ocean Blue.

When I walked into the theater The Smiths “This Charming Man” was playing through the speakers with bands like XTC, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Sundays and U2 to follow (music provided by DJ Jake Rudh of Transmission).

Local Twin Cities band The Hang Ups opened up the evening with “Top of Morning” from their 1996 album So We Go, which Chris Roberts of MPR claimed to be the soundtrack of urban bohemia in Minneapolis in the mid 90’s.

The Hang Ups formed in 1990 with Brian Tighe on vocals and guitar, Jeff Kearns on bass and Stephen Ittner on drums.  (Ittner was not present at the show.)

Tighe joked it had been a massive undertaking already with only two dates completed. Already he felt tired. Maybe that’s why he launched into a new song, “Helicopter” to give himself a lift.

Although a 90’s band their sound has a feel from an earlier time, not the 80’s, but the 60’s. The local radio station The Current wrote a nice retrospective of their work in 2013, calling their music radiant, melodic, “… music with a kind of grace, lightness of touch and economy.” I also noticed a tinge of minor and at times discordant chords to give their songs a wistful note.

The Ocean Blue opened up their set with “Denmark” from their recently reissued album Davey Jones Locker.

From Hershey, Pennsylvania they formed in 1986 with David Schelzel on lead vocals and guitar, Bobby Mittan on bass and Oed Ronne on guitar and keyboards. (In 2000 Peter Anderson joined in on drums.)

Right out of high school they signed with Sire Records and released two hit albums The Ocean Blue in 1989 and Cerulean in 1991. Schelzel said he was influenced by The Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen, but I also hear Psychedelic Furs in many of their earlier songs.

Schelzel said he was the most nervous about this concert for he was playing in his hometown, he knew a lot of people in the crowd and everyone was seated.

So how did someone from the land of chocolate end up in the land of 10,000 Lakes?

Schelzel took a hiatus from music in his 30’s and went to law school at the University of Minnesota. He loved his time in the Twin Cities so much he decided to stay and become an Intellectual property lawyer. Still he has kept his toes in the musical waters, releasing albums through Korda Records, a music collective he formed with other like-minded musicians like Allison LaBonne of the Owls, Brian Tighe of The Hang Ups and Jim Ruiz.

Although the crowd was mostly seated throughout the evening, fans had no problem rising to dance to “Mercury” “Slide” and “Drifting, Falling,” a song that invited Tighe back on stage to play a saxophone solo, perhaps an ode to that sweet era of hit teenage comedies and cool dance music.

The Hang Ups The Hang Ups The Hang Ups

The Ocean Blue

The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue

The Ocean Blue at the Parkway Theater, Minneapolis (03 Sep 2023)

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: This Week (09/03/2023)

Here are some shows, this week, in the Minneapolis/St Paul area. Kicking off this week is the annual Great Get-Together at the Minnesota State Fair.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

08/28 Portrayal of Guilt with GAG and Fearing at Turf Club

08/28/2023 Monday

Portrayal of Guilt
with GAG and Fearing
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Texas’ Portrayal of Guilt have announced their first U.S. tour since the release of their latest, acclaimed new album, Devil Music (via Run For Cover). The tour will stop at the Turf Club in St Paul on August 28, 2023.

GAG and Fearing to open.

Tour Dates:

Aug 15: El Paso, TX - Old Sheepdog Brewery
Aug 16: Phoenix, AZ - The Underground
Aug 17: Los Angeles, CA- The Echo
Aug 18: Riverside, CA - The Hideaway
Aug 19: San Francisco, CA - Neck of the Woods
Aug 21: Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
Aug 22: Seattle, WA - Barboza
Aug 23: Spokane, WA - District Bar
Aug 24: Boise, ID Shrine - Basement
Aug 25: Salt Lake City, UT - Crucial Fest
Aug 26: Denver, CO - D3 Arts
Aug 27: Omaha, NE - Reverb Lounge
Aug 28: Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club
Aug 30: Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
Aug 31: St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
Sep 01: Indianapolis, IN - Healer
Sep 02: Chicago, IL - Scorched Tundra
Sep 05: Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
Sep 06: Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light
Sep 07: Nashville, TN - DRKMTTR
Sep 08: Memphis, TN - B-Side
Sep 09: Birmingham, AL - Saturn
Sep 10: Atlanta, GA - Slower & Harder
Sep 12: New Orleans, LA - Gasa Gasa
Sep 13: San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger
Aug 15 - Sep 13 w/ Gag (except Sep 10)
Aug 15 - Aug 22 w/ Nuclear Daisies
Aug 19 w/ Graf Orlock
Aug 23 - Sep 01 w/ Fearing (except Aug 25)
Sep 05 - Sep 13 w/ Secret Shame (except 9.10)

08/31 The Nadas at Turf Club

08/31/2023 Thursday

The Nadas
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Iowa-based alt/Americana band The Nadas will be headlining the Turf Club in St Paul on August 31st, 2023, in support of their latest album Come Along for the Ride (due out August 11).

The band is said to have a distinctive 70s-meets-90s sound, blending twangy, Stones-era “country honk” with raw, alt-rock energy and wistful, folk-leaning melodies.

Tour dates:

Aug 4 Reggie's Chicago Chicago, IL
Aug 7 New Album Listening Party at xBkLive
Aug 10 Meridian Bridge Yankton, SD
Aug 11 Iowa State Fair Des Moines, IA
Aug 12 Knuckleheads Saloon Kansas City, MO
Aug 13 Bluebird Café Nashville, TN
Aug 18 Reverb Lounge Omaha, NE
Aug 31 Turf Club St. Paul, MN
Sep 6 Zebulon Los Angeles, CA
Sep 9 Rhythm Room Phoenix, AZ
Sep 14 Oriental Theater Denver, CO
Sep 15 Vultures Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 30 Knoxville Airshow Knoxville, IA
Oct 27 Hoyt Sherman Place
Jun 23, 2024 — Jun 30, 2024 Fan Cruise: French & Italian Riviera

09/01 and 09/02 First Avenue Goes to the Fair Read More Tommy Stinson This Tommy Stinson (bass player for this little known band called The Replacements) with Milwaukee's Midnight Reruns and Philadelphia's Beach Slang is sold out. .… Run Westy Run I am grouping these three shows together because Run Westy Run and Iffy are related. RWR (featuring Daniel, Kirk, Kraig, and Kyle) were never quite as popular as their local peers …

09/01/2023 Friday

First Avenue Goes to the Fair
at Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
first-avenue.com

09/02/2023 Saturday

First Avenue Goes to the Fair
at Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
first-avenue.com

It’s that time of the year again: the annual Minnesota State Fair.

First Avenue will be once again organizing a variety of local bands to play the Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater, inside the State Fair. The show is hosted by Justen Jones with the houseband Al Church and The Congregation.

For Friday night we have these bands:

• Becky Kapell
• Juice Lord
• Laamar
• Tommy Stinson
• XINA
• hosted by Justen Jones

For Saturday night:

• Barlow
• Jaedyn James
• Monique Smaz
• Run Westy Run
• SYM1
• hosted by Justen Jones

09/03 The Ocean Blue with The Hang Ups and Transmission’s DJ Jake Rudh at Parkway Theater Read More The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue is an indiepop band from the late 80s, originally signed to Sire Records. Currently, the band released Ultramarine and is signed to Korda … DJ Jake Rudh This is billed as a Transmission (aka DJ Jake Rudh) / BNLX release show, but music fans may want to take note that at nearly midnight, The Ocean Blue is scheduled to appear. …

09/03/2023 Sunday

The Ocean Blue
with The Hang Ups and Transmission’s DJ Jake Rudh
at Parkway Theater
theparkwaytheater.com

I’m happy to report that the upcoming The Ocean Blue show on September 3, at the Parkway Theater has sold out. We’ve been listening to this indie pop band since the 90s when they covered The Smiths’ “There is a Light that Never Goes Out”.

The Ocean Blue (26 Jul 2019)

We caught the band in July 2019 and wrote, “The Ocean Blue had always wore their influences on their sleeve, play music that sounds very similar to 80s dreampop/shoegazing sound, and even covering The Smiths’ “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” (faithfully, I might add) on their Peace & Light EP. At the end of their 90-min set, they dedicated their cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” to the Transmission audience.”

Speaking of Transmission, DJ Jake Rudh will play music videos between sets.

The Hang Ups to open.

Tour Dates:

Sep 1- Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
Sep 2 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Sep 3 - Minneapolis, MN @ Parkway Theater
Sep 8 - Washington, DC @ Howard Theater
Sep 9 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
Sep 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ardmore Theater
Sep 30 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Neptune Festival
Oct 6 - San Antonio, TX @ Sam’s Burger Joint
Oct 7 - Houston, TX @ Numbers
Oct 19 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
Oct 20 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag
Oct 21 - Columbus, OH @ Natalie’s Grandview Music Hall
Nov 10 - Miami, FL @ The Ground @ Club Space
Nov 11 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Nov 16 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Nov 17 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
Nov 18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom

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: September 1 to September 3

This week has Sir Chloe vs Chloe.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

09/01 and 09/02 First Avenue Goes to the Fair Read More Tommy Stinson This Tommy Stinson (bass player for this little known band called The Replacements) with Milwaukee's Midnight Reruns and Philadelphia's Beach Slang is sold out. .… Run Westy Run I am grouping these three shows together because Run Westy Run and Iffy are related. RWR (featuring Daniel, Kirk, Kraig, and Kyle) were never quite as popular as their local peers …

09/01/2023 Friday

First Avenue Goes to the Fair
at Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
first-avenue.com

09/02/2023 Saturday

First Avenue Goes to the Fair
at Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
first-avenue.com

It’s that time of the year again: the annual Minnesota State Fair.

First Avenue will be once again organizing a variety of local bands to play the Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater, inside the State Fair. The show is hosted by Justen Jones with the houseband Al Church and The Congregation.

For Friday night we have these bands:

• Becky Kapell
• Juice Lord
• Laamar
• Tommy Stinson
• XINA
• hosted by Justen Jones

For Saturday night:

• Barlow
• Jaedyn James
• Monique Smaz
• Run Westy Run
• SYM1
• hosted by Justen Jones

09/02 Surf Curse at 7th St Entry Read More Surf Curse Los Angeles’ Surf Curse will be playing the 7th Street Entry on September 26th. Their new album Heaven Surrounds You is out now on Danger Collective. …

09/02/2023 Saturday

Surf Curse
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Ahead of their opening slot for Greta Van Fleet at Xcel Energy Center stadium show on September 3rd, Surf Curse has booked a smaller, intimate headlining show at the 7th Street Entry on September 2nd.

The L.A. indie surf band was created by Nick Rattigan (lead vocals and drums) and Jacob Rubeck (guitars) and gained success with their song, “Freaks”. They were last seen in Minneapolis on Sep 2019.

Tour dates:

Aug 12 Seattle, WA, US Day In Day Out
Sep 2 Minneapolis, MN, US 7th Street Entry
Sep 3 St. Paul, MN, US Xcel Energy Center
Sep 5 Chicago, IL, US Subterranean
Sep 6 Rosemont, IL, US Allstate Arena
Sep 8 Detroit, MI, US Little Caesars Arena
Sep 10 Washington, DC, US Songbyrd
Sep 11 Washington, DC, US Capital One Arena
Sep 12 New York (NYC), NY, US Madison Square Garden
Sep 14 Brooklyn, NY, US Baby's All Right
Sep 14 Brooklyn, NY, US Baby's All Right
Sep 15 Boston, MA, US TD Garden
Sep 16 Medford, MA, US Deep Cuts
Sep 17 Philadelphia, PA, US PhilaMOCA
Sep 19 Philadelphia, PA, US Wells Fargo Center
Sep 22 Indianapolis, IN, US Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Sep 23 Cleveland, OH, US Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Sep 26 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Novo
Sep 26 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Novo

09/03 The Ocean Blue with The Hang Ups and Transmission’s DJ Jake Rudh at Parkway Theater Read More The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue is an indiepop band from the late 80s, originally signed to Sire Records. Currently, the band released Ultramarine and is signed to Korda … DJ Jake Rudh This is billed as a Transmission (aka DJ Jake Rudh) / BNLX release show, but music fans may want to take note that at nearly midnight, The Ocean Blue is scheduled to appear. …

09/03/2023 Sunday

The Ocean Blue
with The Hang Ups and Transmission’s DJ Jake Rudh
at Parkway Theater
theparkwaytheater.com

I’m happy to report that the upcoming The Ocean Blue show on September 3, at the Parkway Theater has sold out. We’ve been listening to this indie pop band since the 90s when they covered The Smiths’ “There is a Light that Never Goes Out”.

The Ocean Blue (26 Jul 2019)

We caught the band in July 2019 and wrote, “The Ocean Blue had always wore their influences on their sleeve, play music that sounds very similar to 80s dreampop/shoegazing sound, and even covering The Smiths’ “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” (faithfully, I might add) on their Peace & Light EP. At the end of their 90-min set, they dedicated their cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” to the Transmission audience.”

Speaking of Transmission, DJ Jake Rudh will play music videos between sets.

The Hang Ups to open.

Tour Dates:

Sep 1- Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
Sep 2 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Sep 3 - Minneapolis, MN @ Parkway Theater
Sep 8 - Washington, DC @ Howard Theater
Sep 9 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
Sep 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ardmore Theater
Sep 30 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Neptune Festival
Oct 6 - San Antonio, TX @ Sam’s Burger Joint
Oct 7 - Houston, TX @ Numbers
Oct 19 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
Oct 20 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag
Oct 21 - Columbus, OH @ Natalie’s Grandview Music Hall
Nov 10 - Miami, FL @ The Ground @ Club Space
Nov 11 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Nov 16 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Nov 17 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
Nov 18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom

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

The Ocean Blue / Graveyard Club at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (26 July 2019)

Ocean Blue / Graveyard Club at Fine Line Ocean Blue Setlist All the Way Blue Ballerina Out of Control Sad Night, Where Is Morning? Kings and Queens It Takes So Long Drifting, Falling Paraguay My Love Mercury Love Doesn't Make It Easy on Us Sunshower Slide Sublime The Limit Ask Me Jon with “The Love Boat” theme song outro Just Let Me Know Between Something and Nothing Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover) Ocean Blue Tour Dates 07/27 Valley Bar, Phoenix, AZ 08/23 Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA 08/24 NorVa, Norfolk, VA 10/04 Union Stage, Washington, DC 10/05 Jammin' Java, Vienna, VA 11/01 Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI 11/03 Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL 11/17 Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA Graveyard Club Tour Dates 7/27 MILWAUKEE Company Brewing 7/29 COLUMBUS Ace of Cups 7/30 WASHINGTON DC DC9 Nightclub 7/31 PHILADELPHIA PhilaMOCA 8/2 NYC Rockwood Music Hall Read More The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue is an indiepop band from the late 80s, originally signed to Sire Records. Currently, the band released Ultramarine and is signed to Korda … Graveyard Club Hometown band The Graveyard Club started the night off with a handful of spooky synth-laced gems and featured main duo Matthew Schufman (vocals/keyboard) … DJ Jake Rudh This is billed as a Transmission (aka DJ Jake Rudh) / BNLX release show, but music fans may want to take note that at nearly midnight, The Ocean Blue is scheduled to appear. …

The special co-headlining show by The Ocean Blue and Graveyard Club at the Fine Line Music Café took place on Friday, July 26. Both bands had new album releases, with Ocean Blue releasing Kings and Queens / Knaves and Thieves on Korda Records, and Graveyard Club releasing Goodnight Paradise on Seafoam City Music.

Before the band came on stage, DJ Jake Rudh from Transmission played a lot of 80s/90s British bands, such as The Sundays, Stone Roses, Echo and the Bunnymen, New Order, and Psychedelic Furs… but oddly also including in some things that didn’t below - like the beautiful La Sera.

At 9pm sharp, Rudh introduced The Ocean Blue (David Schelzel, Oed Ronne, Bobby Mittan, and Peter Anderson), stating that he first saw them on MTV’s 120 Minutes and thought they were British, because they sounded and looked so much like other UK bands of that time period.

Singer/guitarist David Schelzel said that since it was an album releasing show, that the band will be playing mostly new songs, but mixing in some old classics. Their new album Kings and Queens / Knaves and Thieves is their first album in over six years, and it’s strangely being released on a Minnesota record label called Korda Records.

Since the band re-formed, the group is heavily tied to the Minneapolis-music scene, playing their first gig in January 2013 at the Korda Records showcase show in support of Ultramarine (which we wrote about in December 2013).

In fact, Schelzel admired the local music scene, stating how much he loved it and introduced Brian Tighes (from The Owls) to help them play saxophone on “Drifting, Falling”. Other Owls members, Maria May and Allison LaBonne (also from Ice Palace) would join The Ocean Blue to provide backup vocals on a few songs (“Mercury” and “Sublime”). It made sense that these local musicians volunteer to participate because they’re also signed to Korda Records.

Highlight of their set was “Ask Me Jon”, which, once again, featured Tighes on sax. At the end of the song, the band medley in “The Love Boat” theme song, making the live song, “exciting and new.”

The Ocean Blue had always wore their influences on their sleeve, play music that sounds very similar to 80s dreampop/shoegazing sound, and even covering The Smiths’ “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” (faithfully, I might add) on their Peace & Light EP. At the end of their 90-min set, they dedicated their cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” to the Transmission audience.

Local Graveyard Club closed out the show, playing plenty of songs from their new album Goodnight Paradise. It’s a long road from when we first saw them in Sep 2014, describing their music as, “a handful of spooky synth-laced gems” from their debut Nightingales.

With Goodnight Paradise, the synth band (singer/synth Matthew Schufman, singer/bassist Amanda Zimmerman, guitarist Michael Wojtalewicz, and drummer Cory Jacobs) continues their theme of death and spirits: “Witchcraft”, “It Hurts”, “William”, “Ouija”, and “Deathproof”.

What’s cool is that Graveyard Club is heading out on tour after this album release show. See tour dates on the sidebar.

Graveyard Club

Graveyard Club

Graveyard Club

Graveyard Club

The Ocean Blue

The Ocean Blue

The Ocean Blue

The Ocean Blue

The Ocean Blue

The Ocean Blue

The Ocean Blue at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (26 July 2019)

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Red, White, and Blue (May 2019)

Read more: Red, White, and Blue.

The Ocean Blue: Kings and Queens / Knaves and Thieves Read More The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue is an indiepop band from the late 80s, originally signed to Sire Records. Currently, the band released Ultramarine and is signed to Korda …

THE OCEAN BLUE
theoceanblue.com

Dream pop legends The Ocean Blue will be releasing their first new album in six years called Kings and Queens / Knaves and Thieves on June 21 via Korda Records, a Minneapolis-based cooperative label.

We’ve known about the band since their debut record Between Something and Nothing on Sire Records. We bought and became fans, thanks to their faithful cover of The Smiths’ “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” from their single Peace and Light.

Tour dates:

6/22: Lancaster, PA @ Tellus360
6/23: Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
6/27: Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
6/28: Portland, OR @ Holocene
7/26: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fine Line
7/27: Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
8/23: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
8/24: Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
9/5: Lima, PERU @ Coco's Club
9/6: Arequipa, PERU @ El QuinQué
10/4: Washington, DC @ Union Stage
10/5: Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java
11/1: Detroit, MI @ The Magic Bag
11/3: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
11/17: Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
12/6: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall

red steppes: Arcs

RED STEPPES
redsteppes.com

California’s Red Steppes (stylized as red steppes) is the stagename for singer-songwriter Nika Aila States. Her new record Arcs will be released on May 31st via Native Cat Recordings.

Here’s the description they sent in for the album:

red steppes’ debut A Mouth May Grow was rooted firmly in the topography of California; her sophomore release Arcs (Native Cat Recordings) is the fruit of a series of displacements, disturbances, and reorientations. Stylistically diverse, the album delivers minimalist guitar pop, mathy folk, and even a Peter Gabriel-tinged meditation on loss, finding equilibrium in songwriter Nika Aila States’ intimate vocals. Arcs is plush with the kind of photographic lyricism States began exploring with A Mouth May Grow; songs fondly addressed to lovers are mindful of an inevitable transience, lullabies keep account both of the world’s smallest gestures and its great ruins, and a series of scenes unfold as a prayer of sustenance, a knowing salutation aimed at fellow travelers and sailors-by-the-wind.

Beshken: White Gemini

BESHKEN
beshken.us

“White Gemini” is the new song (taken from the album Aisle of Palm) from New York producer and multi-instrumentalist Beshken. The song is about the life of American astronaut Ed White, the pilot of the Gemini IV space mission and first human to walk in space on June, 1965. The song, samples from recorded conversations between White and the command center during both EVA and the Apollo test.

Of the single, Beshken says: “I believe that the motivation behind space travel, besides the pure novelty of being where nobody has been before, is to push humanity forward both philosophically and technologically. In order to further expand upon some of the feelings I have about human progress (or lack thereof), technology, and the environment, I decided to write a song about White. A passionate explorer, he willfully distanced himself from both the stability that our home planet provides as well as the problems that it yields.”

Beshken’s Upcoming Aisle of Palm Album Release Show Dates:

Fri, June 14 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere (Zone One)
Fri, July 12 - Los Angeles, CA - Moroccan Lounge

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

Minneapolis: November 28 - November 30, 2014

Here are some shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul on Friday, November 28 - November 30, 2014. Please note that November 27th is Thanksgiving, but as a bonus, I've included two shows for November 29th.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Thee Oh Sees In advance of a transcontinental North American tour co-headlining with Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees will play at the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina. They take the late slot at the Contemporary Art Museum on …

THEE OH SEES w/ Jack Name
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Friday 11/28/14, 8pm
$15: amsterdambarandhall.com

Songwriter, singer, and guitarist John Dwyer's ever-evolving pop-folk psychedelic group Thee Oh Sees is back in Minnesota, at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St Paul.

Opening up for the show will be Los Angeles' Jack Name* (aka John Webster Johns), who previously worked with Ariel Pink and as guitarist in White Fence.

Also on the bill is local unfriendly radio name F*** Knight, who we previously mentioned for Cassette Store Day 2014.

Tour dates:

11.13 Birmingham, AL- Bottletree
11.14 Memphis, TN- Hi Tone
11.16 Raleigh, NC- Kings
11.17 Philadelphia, PA-Underground Arts
11.18 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
11.21 Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
11.22 Montreal, QC- The National
11.23 Toronto, ON- The Hoxton
11.24 Detroit, MI- Lager House
11.25 Chicago, IL- Empty Bottle
11.26 Chicago, IL- Empty Bottle
11.28 Minneapolis, MN- Amsterdam
12.01 Seattle, WA- The Crocodile
12.02 Portland, OR- Doug Fir (Early Show)
12.02 Portland, OR- Doug Fir (Late Show)
12.04 San Francisco, CA – Chapel
12.05 San Francisco, CA- Chapel

* Not to be confused with Ash's Jack Names the Planets song.

Read More Lydia Loveless Lydia Loveless stopped by the 7th Street in Minneapolis last night, April 24th, as part of her tour in support of Somewhere Else, out now on Bloodshot Records. Turnout to this 7th Street Entry show was incredibly good …

LYDIA LOVELESS w/ Sudden Lovelys
at Turf Club
Saturday 11/29/14, 8pm
$15: turfclub.net

Columbus' Lydia Loveless is back in town... and opening up for her will once again be The Sudden Lovelys. This was the exact same billing when we saw the two bands together earlier this April 2014!

If it is anything like her last appearance, she has a strong support from local (Minneapolis) fans. This upcoming show at the Turf Club should be just as crowded, especially now that the Turf got an upgrade last year, making it cleaner walls and improved bathrooms.

Brave and Alive

Loveless' is currently on tour in support of her latest album Somewhere Else, out now on Bloodshot Records. The Sudden Lovelys' latest Brave and Alive is also out now.

Tour dates:

11/28/2014 Chicago IL Lincoln Hall
11/29/2014 St. Paul MN Turf Club
12/05/2014 Asheville NC The Grey Eagle
12/06/2014 Knoxville TN Bijou Theatre
03/12/2015 Newark OH Ohio State University
04/11/2015 Greer SC Albino Skunk Music Festival
04/24/2015 Indio CA Empire Polo Field

Read More BNLX Minneapolis’ own BNLX took the stage at NYC’s Pianos Thursday night, playing a 45-minute set for a small, but engaging audience. The backroom of Pianos where the band played is of … The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue is an indiepop band from the late 80s, originally signed to Sire Records. Currently, the band released Ultramarine and is signed to Korda …

LIVE TRANSMISSION / BNLX RELEASE SHOW
at Varsity Theater
Saturday 11/29/14, 7pm
$8: varsitytheater.org

This is billed as a Transmission (aka DJ Jake Rudh) / BNLX release show, but music fans may want to take note that at nearly midnight, The Ocean Blue is scheduled to appear.

BNLX's latest EP (#9) features four new tracks, "Flextime", "This Is Love" (PJ Harvey cover), "Til Death Do We Party (110 dbs)" and "It Was the Light".

Additional details can be found on news.weheartmusic.com:

Minneapolis’ most beloved noise pop organization BNLX smashes an uncharacteristically lengthy period of silence with the new “Flextime” EP and an accompanying all-star release party organized with the legendary dance club Transmission.

The new EP (#9 in the BNLX EP series for those of you counting!) ... To celebrate the new EP, we’re throwing a massive Thanksgiving weekend party at the Varsity Theater on Saturday 11/29 in conjunction with our Transmission friends and a truly awesome collection of bands.

Show schedule:

The Ocean Blue 11:45
BNLX 10:45
Two Harbors 9:45
Frankie Teardrop 9:00
The Rope 8:15
Gloss 7:30

with DJ Jake Rudh spinning between sets and MC-ing throughout!

Read More Home Free Home Free, winners of Season four of NBC’s The Sing Off, are bringing their uplifting and inventive vocal style to Christmas – unveiling a new holiday album titled Full Of Cheer, that will be released …

HOME FREE
at Fitzgerald Theatre
Sunday 11/30/14, 2pm
$28: fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org

Home Free are currently on tour for their Christmas album Full Of Cheer, out now on Columbia Records.

For those late to the party, Home Free is an American a cappella group of five vocalists: Austin Brown, Rob Lundquist, Chris Rupp, Tim Foust and Adam Rupp. The group won Season Four of NBC's The Sing Off (2013), and now using their winnings to tour the country. Incidentally, all members are well seasoned, having performed together since 2000, when they were all in their teens.

Home Free's Holiday tour kicks off on November 30th at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul at 2pm (note time). The tour will run until December 22nd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Tour dates:

11/12/14 Buffalo, NY Center for the Arts
11/14/14 Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square Center
11/30/14 Paul, MN Fitzgerald Theatre
12/01/14 Silver Spring, MD Fillmore
12/02/14 Westbury, NY NYCB at Westbury
12/04/14 Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite Cathedral
12/05/14 Sugar Loaf, NY Sugar Loaf Performing
12/18/14 Dickinson, ND Trinity High Performing
12/19/14 Rapid City, SD Performing Arts Center
12/20/14 Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Falls Orpheum
12/21/14 Mankato, MN Mankato Civic Arena
12/22/14 Eau Claire, WI State Theatre

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

Winter Blues

Read more I've Got the Blues or Red White and Blue.

Mark Morriss: This Is The Lie Read More The Bluetones So while going through my CDs, I sort of accidentally re-discovered how wonderful the Bluetones are! I'll always love their early singles (Bluetonic, Cut Some Rug) …

MARK MORRISS
markmorrissmusic.co.uk

Slight Return The Bluetones

"Where did you go, when things went wrong for you. When the knives came out for you? Where did you go?"

We love the Bluetones. Former singer/songwriter of the Bluetones, Mark Morriss has a new single called "This Is The Lie" (which came out December 9, 2013). The single is taken from his forthcoming album A Flash of Darkness, due out February 24th, 2014, via Acid Jazz Records.

Morriss is currently on tour:

12/17/13 Cambridge - Junction
12/18/13 Nottingham - Junction
12/20/13 London - The Forum
12/21/13 Leeds - O2 Academy
12/28/13 Eastney - Cellars
01/10/14 Southampton - Joiners Arms
01/11/14 Brighton - Sticky Mike's
01/16/14 Wakefield - The Hop
01/17/14 Gourock - Cafe Continental
01/18/14 Hereford - The Jailhouse
01/24/14 Pontypridd - Clwb Y Bont
01/25/14 Basingstoke - Sanctuary
01/30/14 Liverpool - Korova
01/31/14 Newcastle - Think Tank
02/01/14 Aberdeen - Cafe Drummonds
02/02/14 Dundee - Buskers
02/22/14 London - The Water Rats
02/28/14 Glasgow - The Admiral

Ocean Blue: Ultramarine Read More The Ocean Blue The Ocean Blue's cover of "There is a Light" originally appeared as a b-side on their EP, Peace and Light. Way back in high school, trendsetter Dan Davis (we all admired this guy in high school) …

THE OCEAN BLUE
theoceanblue.com

The Ocean Blue is an indiepop band from the late 80s, originally signed to Sire Records. Currently, the band released Ultramarine and is signed to Korda records, a record label that is based in Minneapolis.

Korda 2 Komp Korda Compilation

Their song, "No Money In That" was recently used in a Korda compilation album called Korda 2 Komp.

Hear it:



Guitarist Oed Ronne commented about the modern age of music, "It's an interesting time for us to be putting out a new record. So much of the music we see and hear now reminds me of things I loved growing up. My friends in their twenties like The Smiths and New Order. It's a strange thing, but good for us I think. We'd love to reconnect with our old fans, but also make new ones among the ranks of the young."

The Ocean Blue is wrapping up a tour:

12.20.13 - Washington, DC - Jammin Java
12.21.13 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue Read More Miles Davis You would think in a song with “Miles” in the name that Davis would step up to the mic with his muted horn. Instead it’s his sideman on tenor sax, John Coltrane, grabbing the first solo like a quarter-horse out of the gate …

MILES DAVIS
milesdavis.com

Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, originally released in 1959, is the best-selling jazz record of all time. It's been long regarded by critics and fans as one of the greatest jazz album of all time, simply a masterpiece.

HDTracks recently launched a newly design website that allows 24-bit high resolution audio quality (24/96 and 24/192 bit/sampling rates).

According to HDTracks, Kind of Blue is now available for the first time in 24-bit, sourced from the original studio tapes.

A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue Jeremy Taylor & Friends/Secret Stash Records

Personally, I already own the album on CD (and oddly A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue via 12" record from Secret Stash Records) and it sounds fine. I don't have golden ears, so I can't actually hear the differences and it sounds great when I ripped my CD to MP3, even at normal (not high) settings.

Anyway, if you go to HDTrack under "About", they have a video documenting on the remastering process with recording engineer, Mark Wilder (Battery Studios), and producer, Steve Berkowitz (Sony Music).

BRIEFLY:

THE HOT TODDIES hottoddiesmusic.com The Hot Toddies are an all-girls band from Oakland. The girls just released "Summertime Blues", which you can grab for free on soundcloud.com. The track is taken from Friends of Tricycle Records Vol. 3, which you can download here. I believe you may have to sign up/sign in to download it. Seems like the animal-named bands are still a thing: Odd Owl, WOOF, Happy Fangs, and Kitten Grenade.

CLARA MOTO facebook.com Clara Moto new album is called Blue Distance, which was named after a line from Sylvia Plath. You can hear "How We Live in Each Other" on Soundcloud. She's currently on tour: 01/03/14 Le Sucre Lyon, France 01/04/14 Iboat Bordeaux, France 01/05/14 La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris 01/18/14 Palaxa Saint Denis, Reunion

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

There is a Light that Never Goes Out

The Smiths-There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

The Smiths

Cover Lover presents: "There is a Light that Never Goes Out"

Inspirational Place wrote: Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 11:07 PM

[this is good] Sounds a little bit like Morrisey...which is good, real good ;o)

Inspirational Place's comment above, er, inspired me to write about "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" covers. I realized that there's already been several website doing coverage on this song (and its covers), but their articles are ugly! Ok! As a long time Morrissey/Smiths collector, I have also extended my collection to tribute CDs and bootlegs, so most of these songs are already in my little Moz shrine.

A little introduction on Morrissey's obsession on super long song titles. Here's some examples:

• "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me"
• "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want"
• "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before"
• "Please Help the Cause Against Lonliness" (written by Morrissey, recorded by Sandie Shaw)
• "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference"
• "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"
• "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
• "There is a Place for Me and My Friends in Hell"
• "The More you Ignore me, the Closer I Get"

Undoubtedly, one of my favorite long-titled song is "There is a Light that Never Goes Out". This is a really sweet, but sad song. Every time I hear Morrissey sings "and if a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die", ah, well it just makes me cry a little inside.

Obviously the song's been a major influence on a lot of bands (we'll get to that later), but I was surprise to see it in Irvine Welsh's book Trainspotting the first time I read it after seeing the movie (incidentally, one of my favorite top 10 movies of all time):

Trainspotting

Irvine Welsh

Spud wanted to never get to that party, wishing that they could just go on walking and talking. They went down into the underpass and Spud thought that he should try to put his arm around Nicola. Then a passage from a Smiths' song, one he'd always liked called: 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out', came into his head:
and in the darkened underpass
I thought Oh God my chance has come at last
but then a strange fear gripped me
and I just couldn't ask
Morrissey's sad voice summed up his feelings.

He didn't put his arm around Nicola, and his attempts to chat her up were half–arsed after that.

So below are some covers of "There is a Light". This is by no means a definitive list, but it's a pretty good list by diverse artist. Plus many of these covers were released in one format or another with the exception of the Death Cab's version as that was a live radio broadcast. I have several videos also (notably Noel Gallagher's rendition of "There is a Light" that's worth looking up on youtube if you get a chance), but I'm mainly sticking with CD releases.

ANBERLIN schneidertm.net ♥ myspace.com Anberlin-There Is A Light That Never Goes Out When I spoke with Stephen Christian of Anberlin earlier this year on W♥M Radio #24 (incidentally one of our most downloaded show!), I was happy to learn what a big anglophile he was. I suppose I should've seen the writing on the wall as the band's covered some of Britain's best songs.... including The Smiths' "There is a Light that Never Goes out" which appeared on their 2007 album, Cities (The Special Edition version). They're currently on tour in support of their major-label album, New Surrender: 12/10 - The Night the Buzz Stole Christmas @ The Midland - Kansas City, MO 12/12 - The Great Salt Air - Magna, UT 12/15 - Toad's Place - Richmond, VA 01/07 - Nashville, TN @ Rocketown 01/08 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel 01/09 - Harrisonburg, VA @ The Alethia 01/10 - Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club 01/11 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel 01/13 - Montreal, QC @ Studio JPR 01/14 - Ottawa, ON @ Babylon 01/15 - London, ON @ Cowboy's Ranch 01/16 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College Fine Arts Center 01/17 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Eagles Club 01/18 - Des Moines, IO @ People's Court 01/19 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown 01/21 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 01/22 - Fargo, ND @ The Venue 01/23 - Winnipeg, MB @ Garrick Centre **VENUE CHANGE** 01/24 - Regina, SK @ The Exchange 01/25 - Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room 01/26 - Calgary, AB @ The Warehouse 01/28 - Vancouver, BC @ Richard's on Richards Cabaret 01/30 - Billings, MT @ Shrine Auditorium 01/31 - Pocatello, ID @ Icon	DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE deathcabforcutie.com ♥ myspace.com Death Cab For Cutie-There's a Light That Never Goes Out As mentioned above, I don't have this on CD, this was strictly a download via morrissey-solo. We've previously mentioned Death Cab a few times on W♥M because we like Barsuk Records, so be sure to read some of our articles on Death Cab. This is an acoustic version, pretty faithful with Ben Gibbard only messing up slightly (but not noticable) for Philadelphia's Radio 104.5. I've seen the band live before, and I sure wish they'd play this song as I would've gone nuts for it. The band's recently been in the news because their "classic" 1998's debut album Something About Airplanes was re-issued as a limited edition deluxe 10-year anniversary 2-disc set. The bonus disc contains "recently-unearthed recording of the band’s first-ever Seattle show, a February 1998 set at the legendary venue The Crocodile Café". Apparently on this live recording also includes Sean Nelson on vocals for Death Cab's version of yet-another The Smiths' song, "Sweet and Tender Hooligan"! Since I actually own their first album and didn't get a review copy for this release, I probably won't pick up the album (sorry Death Cab!).... Although it's very tempting at such a reasonable price of $12. Oh, hey, they're on tour. 12/09/08 WaMu Theater Seattle, Washington 12/11/08 Oracle Arena Oakland, California 12/13/08 Tucson Convention Center Tucson, Arizona 12/14/08 Gibson Amphitheatre Los Angeles, California 12/12/09 Club Quattro Naka-nu Nagoya 12/14/09 Shinkiba Studio Coast Koto-ku, Tokyo 12/16/09 Big Cat Chuo-ku, Osaka
THE LUCKSMITHS thelucksmiths.com.au ♥ myspace.com The Lucksmiths-There is A Light that Never Goes Out This is one of my favorite cover - as it's also a duet. Originally appeared on the Smiths tribute CD called Romantic and Square is Hip and Aware (the cover art appears to have been taken from the Smiths' "Ask" video), I picked this up way back in 2003. The song recently made its way back on The Luckies' two-disc compilation CD, Spring a Leak released last year. What makes this an invaluable item in your collection will be that it contains songs from their debut 7" single The Macintyre 7 inch which has a very surprisingly country-esque song "Are You Having A Good Time!!". This is rock n roll so everything rhymes! I love it.	THE DIVINE COMEDY thedivinecomedy.com ♥ myspace.com The Divine Comedy-There Is A Light That Never Goes Out 10 years after the release of The Queen is Dead, French Magazine Les Inrockuptibles compiled this wonderful little tribute album consisting of then-famous British rockers doing song-for-song of The Queen is Dead. Although I can't agree with some of the direction of the songs, overall it was a decent effort. Some of the highlight of this album for me is Placebo's fast-paced, yet whiny, version of "Bigmouth Strikes Again" and Supergrass' dope version of "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" Neil Hannon's approach to "There is a Light" is very orchestral - which is basically what The Divine Comedy is known for. Hannon's operatic vocals lends itself to feel more epic.
YO-YO MUNDI yoyomundi.it Yo-Yo Mundi -There is a Light that Never Goes Out Yo-Yo Mundi is an Italian band and that's all I really know about the band. Their cover of "There is a Light" appeared on the Italian Smiths Tribute CD called There is a Light that Never Goes Out. It was released in 2000, limited to 1,000 pressing (it may have been re-issued due to demands). What I love about this release is that the cover artwork is the full print of "The Enchanted Desna" (unknown actors). The picture previously was cropped only showing the baby for "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore".... and in addition, unseen photographs of The Smiths were used. The price is kind of steep if you're on a budget at $20, but hey, if you're a Smiths fan (and generally like covers), this is a great package - if not for the limited run.	WALLEYE myspace.com/walleyemusic Walleye-There Is a Light I'm not sure if that's actually their myspace, but I picked up this Smiths tribute CD called The World Still Won't Listen, which is a hardcore punkified version of Smiths song. I suppose I am more of a fan of melodic punk/pop punk, as these songs on this album is much too much for me. The sound volume on the CD is loud and louder. I can't bring myself to listening to, but it was a nice try, at least a very different take on Smiths songs - which are known for their sensitive side. I don't know any of the bands that made it on The World Still Won't Listen, so there's not much to write here, sorry :/ PS, one thing I liked was that the cover artwork, mimicking The Smiths' compilation album, The World Won't Listen, only with mohawked kids on the cover.
SCHNEIDER TM schneidertm.net ♥ myspace.com Schneider TM - The Light 3000 (There is a Light that Never Goes Out) Possibly the most interesting and inventive cover version of "There is a Light" by electronic artist Dirk Dresselhaus, or better known as Schneider TM. The song originally appeared as a b-side on his Binokular EP (2000) with collaborator KPT.michi.gan. I couldn't find proof of this on wire.com (Wire: please have better search features, please?), but according to wikipedia, the song was voted as "best cover versions ever recorded" by Wire Magazine.	THE OCEAN BLUE theoceanblue.com The Ocean Blue-There is a Light that Never Goes Out The Ocean Blue's cover of "There is a Light" originally appeared as a b-side on their EP, Peace and Light. Way back in high school, trendsetter Dan Davis (we all admired this guy in high school) was really into The Ocean Blue. At the time, I think he was really into Echo & The Bunnymen and Candy Flip (remember their cover of "Strawberry Fields Forever"?) So, that was early 90s, so I was really surprise to see that they're still around - on Sally's review of Blue Skies Daisy Days.
BRAID polyvinylrecords.com Braid-There is a Light That Never Goes Out I thought this punk-ish band's version of "There is a Light" is pretty good. It has a, I don't know, a power-pop to the song - which clearly is not what the song is missing. It's a good take on the song though. The band broke up before I had discovered them, but you can find their greatest hits/compilation Movie Music volume 1 and 2 in used bins at most record store.	NEIL FINN finnbros.com ♥ myspace.com/neilfinn Neil Finn - There is A Light that Never Goes out Probably best known for being in Crowded House (wow, remember those guys?), Neil Finn teamed up with a bunch of superstar rockers, Lisa Germano, Sebastian Steinberg, Ed & Phil of Radiohead (I interviewed Phil Selway for KFSR 90.7FM a long time ago), Eddie Vedder, and of course Johnny Marr. For Marr's appearance, they covered The Smiths' "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" - which sounded fantastic live!

So, a funny thing about the title "There is a Light" was I bought this stupid keychain flashlight at a Smiths convention a while back with the text clearly written on the side: "There is a light that never goes out". You know what? A year into owning this dumb thing, the flashlight stopped functioning. I guess the light went out for me :/

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