W♥M: Xcel Energy Center

01/08/2025

Minneapolis: February 7 to February 8, 2025

11/12/2024

Billie Eilish at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul MN (2024-11-11)

BILLIE EILISH SETLIST

Intro (contains elements of "THE GREATEST")

CHIHIRO
LUNCH
NDA ((shortened))
Therefore I Am
WILDFLOWER
when the party's over (with live looped vocal layers)
THE DINER
ilomilo
bad guy
THE GREATEST
Your Power
SKINNY
TV
BITTERSUITE
(interlude)
bury a friend
Oxytocin
Guess (Charli xcx collaboration, performed at B-Stage)
everything i wanted (performed at B-Stage)
BLUE ('true blue' part)
lovely / idontwannabeyouanymore / ocean eyes
L'AMOUR DE MA VIE (contains elements of "OVER NOW EXTENDED EDIT")
What Was I Made For?
Happier Than Ever
BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Outro taped music: BLUE ('Born Blue' part)

TOWA BIRD SETLIST

Intro
FML
Ew
Rat Race
This Isn't Me
Deep Cut
May Flower
Sorry Sorry
Hollaback Girl (Gwen Stefani cover)
B.I.L.L.S.
Wild Heart
Drain Me!

Billie Eilish

Vevo has a long history of helping emerging artists break through to new and wider audiences… which included helping Billie Eilish and dodie in their early stage of their career.

(Reporting and photos from fan-in-the-stands John "PBS" Rafalski)

Following the success of her third studio album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, which was released in May 17, singer-songwriter and two-time Oscar winner Billie Eilish is out on a completely sold-out arena tour, produced by Live Nation, that moves to Australia and Europe and the UK following the current US run. (FYI, Eilish played the 250-capacity 7^th St. Entry in Minneapolis just six years ago).

In keeping with her sustainability beliefs, Eilish has partnered with Reverb for the tour to commit to such actions as reducing greenhouse gas pollution, decreasing single-use plastic waste, supporting climate action, and updating concession offerings to promote and encourage plant-based food options with Support+Feed, with a portion of ticket sales going to Reverb for their continued efforts.

There was an eco-village set up in the main concourse to bring attention to causes, public transportation was encouraged for travel, there was a reusable water bottle program, and tickets were further controlled in an effort to make sure actual fans had the opportunity for tickets to this sold-out tour.

===

The evening began with a short set from Hong Kong-born rising singer-songwriter Towa Bird and band, in support of the debut full-length, “American Hero” released in June (via Interscope Records). Previous to this slot and a club tour run, Bird opened last year for singer/actor Reneé Rapp's Snow Hard Feelings Tour (who Bird happens to also be dating).

The indie-pop artist is another TikTok sensation, having played unique guitar riffs over other artists’ songs, eventually getting signed and then working with Olivia Rodrigo in 2022. Bird and band kept energy high, working in a shortened but energetic Gwen Stefani cover, soon followed by Bird’s debut single, “Wild Heart”, out just over a year ago.

===

Ahead of her two-night Twin Cities stand, Billie Eilish could even be found thrift-shopping at a South Minneapolis vintage store, happily taking pictures with anyone that noticed her shopping right before the store’s closing time.

For this tour, almost every seat had a good view, as a large and mostly bare rectangular stage on one end gave a clear view from every corner of the arena. The visuals and lightning color choices seemed very deliberate to match to the songs, as did the moving cube hanging above, small bursts of pyro and even down to the oversized blue and white striped shirt that drew attention to her. Even brother Finneas’ absence didn’t seem to be too consequential.

The crowd screams finally died down during “when the party’s over” when Eilish looped her own vocals over each other to replicate the harmonies of the song, and there was a starkness to her sitting cross-legged on such a massive stage as 18,000+ people followed her every word and move.

The other part of the arena got a better look mid-set as Eilish made her way to a smaller B-stage for her collaboration with Charli XCX and a heartfelt “everything I wanted”. Early hit, “ocean eyes” was played as part of a medley and Eilish showed on an emotional “What Was I Made For?” why that song won the Academy Award.

The title track of her second album, “Happier than Ever” led into the soothing rhythmic beats of “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” and confetti shower for all, to end the night with a subtle exclamation. Billie Eilish continues her sold-out tour into 2025

BILLIE EILISH TOUR DATES

Nov 13 United Center Chicago, IL
Nov 14 United Center Chicago, IL
Nov 16 T-Mobile Center Kansas City, MO
Nov 17 CHI Health Center Omaha, NE
Nov 19 Ball Arena Denver, CO
Nov 20 Ball Arena Denver, CO
Dec 3 Rogers Arena Vancouver, BC
Dec 5 Climate Pledge Arena Seattle, WA
Dec 6 Climate Pledge Arena Seattle, WA
Dec 8 Moda Center Portland, OR
Dec 10 SAP Center San Jose, CA
Dec 11 SAP Center San Jose, CA
Dec 13 Desert Diamond Arena Glendale, AZ
Dec 15 Kia Forum Inglewood, CA
Dec 16 Kia Forum Inglewood, CA
Dec 17 Kia Forum Inglewood, CA
Dec 20 Kia Forum Inglewood, CA
Dec 21 Kia Forum Inglewood, CA

2025

Feb 18 Brisbane Ent. Centre Brisbane, Australia
Feb 19 Brisbane Ent. Centre Brisbane, Australia
Feb 21 Brisbane Ent. Centre Brisbane, Australia
Feb 22 Brisbane Ent. Centre Brisbane, Australia
Feb 24 Qudos Bank Arena Sydney, Australia
Feb 25 Qudos Bank Arena Sydney, Australia
Feb 27 Qudos Bank Arena Sydney, Australia
Feb 28 Qudos Bank Arena Sydney, Australia
Mar 4 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, Australia
Mar 5 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, Australia
Mar 7 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, Australia
Mar 8 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, Australia
Apr 23 Avicii Arena Stockholm, Sweden
Apr 24 Avicii Arena Stockholm, Sweden
Apr 26 Unity Arena Oslo, Norway
Apr 28 Royal Arena Copenhagen, Denmark
Apr 29 Royal Arena Copenhagen, Denmark
May 2 ZAG Arena Hanover, Germany
May 4 Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 5 Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 7 Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 9 Uber Arena Berlin, Germany
May 29 Lanxess Arena Cologne, Germany
May 30 Lanxess Arena Cologne, Germany
Jun 1 O2 Arena Prague, Czechia
Jun 3 Tauron Arena Kraków, Poland
Jun 4 Tauron Arena Kraków, Poland
Jun 6 Stadthalle Vienna, Austria
Jun 8 Unipol Arena Bologna, Italy
Jun 10 Accor Arena Paris, France
Jun 11 Accor Arena Paris, France
Jun 14 Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona, Spain
Jun 15 Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona, Spain
Jul 7 OVO Hydro Glasgow, UK
Jul 8 OVO Hydro Glasgow, UK
Jul 10 The O2 London, UK
Jul 11 The O2 London, UK
Jul 13 The O2 London, UK
Jul 14 The O2 London, UK
Jul 16 The O2 London, UK
Jul 17 The O2 London, UK
Jul 19 Co-op Live Manchester, UK
Jul 20 Co-op Live Manchester, UK
Jul 22 Co-op Live Manchester, UK
Jul 23 Co-op Live Manchester, UK
Jul 26 3Arena Dublin, Ireland
Jul 27 3Arena Dublin, Ireland

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

BILLIE EILISH at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul MN (11 Nov 2024)

BILLIE EILISH at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul MN (11 Nov 2024)

BILLIE EILISH at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul MN (11 Nov 2024)

TOWA BIRD at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul MN (11 Nov 2024)

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

Posted at 02:12 PM in Billie Eilish, St Paul, Towa Bird, Xcel Energy Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/28/2024

93X Family Reunion 2024

26 Sep 2024 Godsmack with Chevelle, Wage War, Nothing More, Sleep Theory at Xcel Energy Center

Godsmack Setlist

Surrender
You and I
When Legends Rise
1000hp
Cryin' Like a Bitch!!
Speak
Straight Out of Line
Awake
Keep Away
Voodoo
Batalla de los tambores
Whatever

-- Encore --
Under Your Scars
Bulletproof
I Stand Alone Sweet Tides

Chevelle Setlist

Young Wicked
Self Destructor
Door to Door Cannibals
Face to the Floor
Hats Off to the Bull
Family System
Send the Pain Below
The Red
Mars Simula

Wage War Setlist

THE SHOW’S ABOUT TO START
Low
Stitch
Circle the Drain
NAIL5
BLUR
MAGNETIC
Manic

NOTHING MORE Setlist

House on Sand
Angel Song
If It Doesn't Hurt
Go to War
Jenny
This Is the Time (Ballast)

Sleep Theory Setlist

Fallout
Enough
Gone or Staying
Stuck in My Head
Numb

Read More

Godsmack

93X’s much-anticipated “Family Reunion” makes its return to the Xcel Energy Center on September 26, 2024. The show will feature headliner Godsmack. …

Wage War

The crowd was full of energy for majority of the night. I loved watching them while Wage War played. Wage War is a band that I saw back in December when they opened for Every Time I Die. …

Nothing More

Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, courtesy of The Noise and 93x, this February 2nd, along with their guests: Nothing More, Wovenwar, and Thank You Scientist. …

Any one of the bands during 93X Family Reunion tour could have had their own headlining show, but alas, this website is not called WeHeartHeadliners, so on a beautiful Thursday night 9/26/24 here are a few takeaways.

It was evident that each band was appreciative of the sponsors and of the audience, so much so that even the time spent at the Xcel Energy Center was respected. In other words, I was astounded that a metal show started when the ticket said it would. Whether we were referred to as St. Paul, a general “Minnesota!”, or even the repeatedly “Minneapolis and the surrounding areas” by one opening band in particular, every band was (Minnesota) nice enough to throw out guitar picks and drum sticks.

Sleep Theory played a tight set with just five songs starting with “Fallout” and ending with “Numb.” They thanked the crowd hurriedly and rocked all the songs that get played on the radio station 93X. Even Wage War had said that it was OK if that’s “how you came to find us.”

Nothing More played a half dozen songs. Before they playing “Jenny,” the lead singer Jonny Hawkins said it was about his sister. The song is famously about her mental health and is even more poignant during September in that it’s Suicide Prevention Month. The band is asking for their fans support @afspnational. Check out their Instagram page for more information.

Speaking of pathos, Wage War’s new album is also catching all the feels. “Stigma,” which was released June of this year, was described in reference to the movie Inside Out 2 which has a Minnesota connection. WeHeartMusic have been a fan of theirs in the past and this time around, the audience did stand up and listen. You could say they and we will always be magnetic; we hopefully will be able to pull them back every time.

Chevelle played a couple of songs from 2016 and 2021 before rhyming “here’s some old sh** for the mosh pit.” Is that the same banana suit from the Metallica concerts? The yellow surfer brought me an ear-to-ear smile. The band appropriately played “The Red” to a blood red background. Prior to their set and after, the video game Pong was on the screen. Godsmack’s curtain started to come down so lead singer Pete Loeffler stated it was probably a sign for them to “get off the f***ing stage” but that they had one more song for us. The curtain fell down to the ground after they played their last song “Mars Stimula.”

There was a 20-minute intermission before Godsmack’s video came on detailing their 26 year history. It started out with the band member’s names and ended with a shot of the band walking the halls of the venue onto the stage. They opened with “Surrender” and each song was back-to-back bangers. At one point, two drum sets were on stage with Sully jamming out with Shannon, the mix of music being covers including but not limited to AC/DC, Metallica and Aerosmith (one of their hometown favorites). Lead vocalist Sully Erna said that this night was the first day of their last concert of the year.

The first encore was Sully at the piano for “Under the Scars” with a QR code on the screen. He explained it was for their nonprofit charity The Scars Foundation, whose mission is all inclusive. It not only sheds light on suicide prevention and all forms of mental illness but even those affected by bullying. Pictures of artists lost to us scrolled on the screens of Chris Cornell, Amy Winehouse, Eddie Van Halen, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, and so much more.

Finally, the night ended with “Bulletproof” and “I Stand Alone” with balloons and confetti raining down on the masses.

1 / 6

Godsmack at 93X Family Reunion (26 Sep 2024)

quynh ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Posted at 09:16 AM in Godsmack, Nothing More, Quynh, St Paul, Wage War, Xcel Energy Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

11/02/2023

Tool at Xcel Energy Center, St Paul (31 Oct 2023)

10/31 TOOL at Xcel Energy Center

Tool Setlist

Fear Inoculum
Jambi
The Pot
Rosetta Stoned
Pneuma
Descending
The Grudge

-- Intermission --
Chocolate Chip Trip
Culling Voices
Invincible
Swamp Song

Read More

Tool

06/09/17 Progressive metal band Tool will be headlining the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul this Friday. Once & Future Band to open. 6:30pm, $75. …

90’s progressive metal, art rock band Tool (singer Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, bassist Justin Chancellor, and drummer Danny Carey) headlined the Xcel Energy Center, in St Paul, on Halloween.

Although opener Steel Beans, a.k.a. Jeremy DeBardi, is from Everett, Washington, in true Minnesotan form, his first conversation with the audience was that of the weather. Specifically, the big snowstorm coming from Winnipeg that caused what should have been an 8-hour trip into a grueling 13. The one-man band does it all simultaneously, playing guitars, drums, vocals and even drives himself to gigs. His set included freestyle poetry where he sang about Halloween and the St. Paul hotel. He referred to the last song as his “tearjerker pop song” then sauntered off the stage waving his golden billowing cape.

Tool has been referenced as a thinking man’s metal. There was math found in the geometric shapes and symmetry of the kaleidoscope visuals. I could even see it in the alien mothership. The stage backdrop started out with a skeleton, then a Hellraiser-esque man with no skin, appropriate for the darkness of the music and the time of the year. Maynard had a plastic bag of candy that he was tossing to the front row. Security “manhandled” a photographer to make way to the front of the stage. Was there a bouncy ear of corn rocking out in section 102? Kudos to the costumes of actual tools in the crowd. Spotted were hammers, saws and a wrench.

There was a 12-minute intermission that lends itself to the 10 second countdown. Another 20 minutes or so of music ending with a favorite “Swamp Song”. At that point, restrictions of “no cell phone pictures” were lifted with the stressed point that the band would only allow it so long as flashes were turned off. Even his 8-year-old daughter knew better. Threats that they would personally kick those in their vaginas if they were distracted by the phones, and if you didn’t have a vagina, they would install one just so that they could kick it. I was wading knew deep in sparkly confetti. The show was definitely worth running the risk of coming home to an eggy house.

Remaining tour dates:

November 1 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum
November 3 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boiling Arena
November 4 Charleston, WV Charleston Coliseum
November 6 Rochester, NY Blue Cross Arena
November 7 Allentown, PA PPL Center
November 10 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
November 13 Manchester, NH SNHU Arena
November 15 Boston, MA TD Garden
November 16 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
November 19 Montreal, QC Bell Center
November 20 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
November 21 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena

Tool

Steel Beans

Tool (Danny Carey)

Tool (Maynard James Keenan)

Tool (Adam Jones)

Tool (Justin Chancellor)

Tool at Xcel Energy Center, St Paul (31 Oct 2023)

Q ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Posted at 10:10 PM in Quynh, St Paul, Tool, Xcel Energy Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

11/01/2023

Queen + Adam Lambert at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul MN (2023-10-28)

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT SETLIST

Machines (Or 'Back to Humans') / Radio Ga Ga
Hammer to Fall
Another One Bites the Dust
I'm in Love with My Car
Bicycle Race
Fat Bottomed Girls
I Want It All
A Kind of Magic
Killer Queen
Don't Stop Me Now
Somebody to Love
Love of My Life
'39
Timpani Solo
Under Pressure
Tie Your Mother Down
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
I Want to Break Free
You Take My Breath Away (Intro only)
Who Wants to Live Forever
Guitar Solo
Is This the World We Created...?
The Show Must Go On
Bohemian Rhapsody'

Encore:
Ay‐Oh
We Will Rock You
Radio Ga Ga
We Are the Champions

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT TOUR DATES

30 Oct Chicago, IL United Center
31 Oct Chicago, IL nited Center
02 Nov Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
03 Nov Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
05 Nov Denver, CO Ball Arena
08 Nov San Francisco, CA Chase Center
09 Nov San Francisco, CA Chase Center
11 Nov Los Angeles, CA BMO Stadium
12 Nov Los Angeles, CA BMO Stadium
04 Feb Nagoya Vantelin Dome
07 Feb Osaka Kyocera Dome
10 Feb Sapporo Sapporo Dome
13 Feb Tokyo Tokyo Dome
14 Feb Tokyo Tokyo Dome

Read More

Queen

Since Freddie Mercury's death in 1991, Queen has been without a regular lead singer. Various vocalists have temporarily joined on stage, including Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, …

Still a Royal Wonder to behold--

After a four-year hiatus, The Queen + Adam Lambert Rhapsody Tour featuring original members- guitarist Sir Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor made a stop in downtown St. Paul at the Xcel Energy Center, for a pair of capacity weekend shows.

The 135-minute career-spanning set didn’t have (and didn’t need) an opening act and was mostly packed with familiar radio hits and anthems that most in the audience had no problem in singing along to. A few deep cuts thrilled the most passionate fans and the state-of-the-art stage design, effects, and set pieces, all made for a visually thrilling and musically fulfilling evening.

With almost six decades of legacy to draw from, the show’s feel toed the line between a modern, glitzy high-powered Vegas-esque tribute, and a heartfelt continuation of preserving the memory of its massive song catalog and their departed lead singer that so strongly defined their musical persona.

The Tour is actually a continuation of a pre-pandemic trek, embarked upon following the success of the recent film biopic, but the setlist and staging has since been re-thought, after the tour resumed. What hasn’t changed is the expert guitar work of May, Taylor’s somewhat ageless drumming, and the soaring vocals and cheeky demeanor of Lambert, reveling in the bombast, his numerous costume changes, and songs that perfectly showcase his vocal range.

Beginning with a “Radio Ga Ga” medley and emerging from an on-screen dystopian robot environment (where all had the face of the machines on the Freas painted cover of “News of the World”), the setlist was hit after hit, after hit, to the crowd’s delight. Taylor would assume the lead vocals for the somewhat goofy “I’m in Love with My Car” and Glambert’s two-wheeler coming up from the stage for “Bicycle Race” was actually a shiny, large, tricked-out motorcycle.

Halfway through the main set and following the pleasing vocal harmonies of “Somebody to Love” (with the audience signing along to finish), the show turned very emotional as the video version of the late Freddie Mercury appeared, to lend a hand, err, voice on “Love of My Life."

The second stage that jutted into the audience was an active area, with May often walking out during his extended guitar parts and during a mid-set of slower, acoustic songs where those near the back, got a closer view of the trio.

Both May and Taylor logged solo time during the set, long enough to showcase their individual talents, but not too long as to overstay their welcome, but it is when the trio (and their formidable backing band, anchored by longtime keyboardist Spike Edney) is together, was the time when their “kind of magic” really happens.

The vocal gymnastics of the operatic monster hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” (with some taped, but vintage backing vocals) would end the main set, and Mercury would make a return appearance to have the audience mimic his call outs, and to make sure the crowd was ready for the encore.

The encore of the anthems that have become a constant on the playlists of sporting venues around the world, seemed very appropriate to hear live and to end the evening with; both as an emphatic punctuation mark, and a way to leave the audience cheering and singing along even as they left the venue. As their Rhapsody Tour continues, it’s clear we’re all still so enraptured, over Queen + Adam Lambert.

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

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT

BRIAN MAY

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT

ROGER TAYLOR

ADAM LAMBERT

BRIAN MAY

ADAM LAMBERT

ROGER TAYLOR

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT

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

Posted at 07:04 PM in Adam Lambert, John, Queen, St Paul, Xcel Energy Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/29/2022

Machine Gun Kelly at the Xcel Center (7/28/2022)

Machine Gun Kelly Setlist

born with horns
god save me
maybe
mainstream sellout
drunk face
ay!
Bois Lie (Avril Lavigne cover)
with Avril Lavigne
more than life
die in california
Floor 13
papercuts
title track

bloody valentine
roll the windows up
El Diablo
WWIII
WW4
emo girl
forget me too
lonely
I Think I'm OKAY
make up sex
my ex's best friend
twin flame

Avril Lavigne Setlist

Girlfriend
Bite Me
What the Hell
Complicated
My Happy Ending
Sk8er Boi
Love It When You Hate Me

Tour Dates

Sun Jul 31 – Montreal, QC – Osheaga
Tue Aug 2 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena”#
Thu Aug 4 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center”#
Sat Aug 6 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre”#
Sun Aug 7 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena”#
Tue Aug 9 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena”#
Wed Aug 10 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center”#
Thu Aug 11 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center”#
Sat Aug 13 – Cleveland, OH – FirstEnergy Stadium*”$#’

*With support from Avril Lavigne
”With support from Travis Barker
$With support from Trippie Redd
#With support from WILLOW
’With support from 44phantom

Read More

Machine Gun Kelly

Opening act Machine Gun Kelly surprised the audience by bringing up hot hip-hop trio Migos mid-set, playing an hour-long set alternating between slicing verse and shredding guitar. …

Avril Lavigne

“Complicated” skate-punk Canadian singer Avril Lavigne will be on a rare tour to promote her new album Head Above Water. ...

WILLOW

WILLOW will warm up the show. WILLOW’s new single “ it’s my fault” is taken from her forthcoming album. Already she’s released a series of collaboration singles, including Yungblud with “Memories” and Siiickbrain with “Purge.” ...

Machine Gun Kelly and his Mainstream Sellout tour pulled into St. Paul Thursday night with opening acts, Willow Smith and Avril Lavigne. But first, some grilling, which seemed a perfect activity for a summer evening. At least that’s what it looked like when I sloped up the hill to the music venue and saw fans peering from across the street to catch glimpses of any band member standing around the Webber grill placed in front of the doors of Xcel Center’s underground parking.

It was a full crowd of 14,000 and they greeted Willow Smith with a welcoming roar. She kicked off her brief, but lively set with the muscular “Transparentsoul”, wearing a multi-colored ski cap aka toque, as if she was ready if an early winter to set in.

Willow’s musical arc, which sprang to life with the platinum pop single “Whip My Hair” at age ten, seems pointed towards a more punkish vibe as she enters her twenties.

Promoting her latest album Lately I Feel Everything, Willow highlighted “Gaslight” and “Don’t Save Me.” A blues undertow could be felt when she wailed through “Come Home.” She can also shred the axe, which would be nice to see as she expands her musical palate.

Avril Lavigne was up next, promoting her latest album, Love Sux. Twenty years has passed since she released her debut album Let Go, letting punk scene know there was now a queen. Twenty years may have gone by, but the spirit of that seventeen year-old is still there.

Lavigne started the set with “Girlfriend” as black and white confetti shot into the crowd. She had an enthusiastic base in attendance, many who took the opportunity to be her backup singers on songs like “Sk8er Boi” and “Complicated.”

It wasn’t difficult to parse Lavigne’s views on love with songs like “Bite Me” and “F.U.” Even the set had the feel of a doomed prom with black balloons and a deep orange back drop with her name encircled with a black heart. Still, she ended on a hopeful note with her last song “I’m With You” as everyone took their phones to light up the arena like fireflies.

Machine Gun Kelly’s helicopter

Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) made a dramatic entrance to “Born with Horns”, maybe the only concert musician to be airlifted to the stage by helicopter. It was a cinematic entrance as he landed with fog rolling down the sloped stage and into the crowd.

The spectacle did not end there. There were fireworks, flamethrowers and multiple monitors placed throughout the stage. Also, a mic stand in the shape of two elegantly long arms stretching to hands to hold MGK’s mic and an ashtray as he smoked more than Frank Sinatra at the Sand’s.

Three guitarists lead the highly charged music most of the evening: MGK in the middle, Justin Lyons to his left and Sophie Lloyd on the right, all of them taking turns to fill the arena with a howling guitar solos.

MGK may have gotten his start and nickname with his blistering hip-hop lyrics, but the evening was mostly filled with full-tilt rock songs like “Jawbreaker”, “Die in California”, Bloody Valentine” and “Drunk Face”. It was a fast-paced show except when MGK ripped his pants and had to do an impromptu costume change.

MGK also brought his opening acts back on stage with Lavigne singing “Bois Lie” and Willow “Emo Girl.”

For being so young, MGK seemed quite wistful saying the St. Paul crowd was by far the largest on tour and how far he had traveled since his first show in the Twin Cities in 2011. It was a great night, he said, for his mom was in attendance and they got to barbecue before the show. And as the evening ended just before the electric company pulled the plug, he thanked the crowd and lingered as the rest of the band filtered off stage. And as he lingered, he scanned the crowd until he found who he was looking for. He smiled, waved and pointed for two women to move past security and head backstage.

They were two silver-haired foxes, probably one of them he calls mom.

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Posted at 07:33 PM in Avril Lavigne, Dave, Machine Gun Kelly, St Paul, Will Smith, Xcel Energy Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/26/2018

Lorde / Run the Jewels / Tove Styrke at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul (23 March 2018)

Lorde at Xcel Energy

Lorde Setlist

Sober
Homemade Dynamite
Tennis Court
Magnets (Disclosure cover)
Buzzcut Season
400 Lux
Ribs
The Louvre
Hard Feelings
Yellow Flicker Beat
I Would Die 4 U (Prince cover snippet)>
Writer in the Dark
Hang With Me (Robyn cover)
with Tove Styrke
Liability
Sober II (Melodrama)
Supercut
Royals
Perfect Places
Green Light

-- Encore --
Loveless >
Precious Metals
Team

Run The Jewels Setlist

intro: We Are the Champions (Queen cover)

Run the Jewels
Legend Has It
Call Ticketron
Blockbuster Night Part 1
Oh My Darling Don't Cry
Stay Gold
Don't Get Captured
Nobody Speak (DJ Shadow cover)
Close Your Eyes (And Count to F**k)
2100
with Boots
A Report to the Shareholders
Thursday in the Danger Room
Down

Tove Styrke Setlist

Borderline
Mistakes
On the Low
Liability (2017 demo, Lorde cover)
Sway
Changed My Mind
Say My Mind

Tour Dates

03/24/2018 Lincoln, NE Pinnacle Bank Arena
03/25/2018 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
03/27/2018 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
03/28/2018 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
03/29/2018 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
04/02/2018 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
04/03/2018 Boston, MA TD Garden
04/04/2018 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center
04/06/2018 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
04/07/2018 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
04/08/2018 Washington, DC The Anthem
04/12/2018 Miami, FL AmericanAirlines Arena
04/14/2018 Duluth, GA Infinite Energy Center
04/15/2018 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
05/26/2018 All Points East Festival
05/29/2018 St. Petersburg, Ledoviy Dvorets
05/31/2018 Moscow, Russia Crocus City Hall
06/02/2018 Primavera Sound
06/07/2018 NOS Primavera Sound
07/13/2018 Festival D'été de Québec

Read More

Lorde

One of the biggest pop singer Lorde is headlining the Xcel Energy Center on Friday. Hot hip hop band Run The Jewel will open. …

Run the Jewels

Megahot rapper/producer duo Run The Jewels' long sold out show at First Avenue is taking place next Friday (October 23rd). Expect to hear some preview from their highly anticipated Run ...

Tove Styrke

If you show up really early, you’ll get a chance to check out Swedish recording artist Tove Styrke. Styrke’s forthcoming album Sway is due on May 4th ….

While not much actual melodrama occurred, there were years of built up anticipation and being a Friday night, a lot of dancing-

New Zealand artist Lorde finally made her Twin Cities area live debut as the Melodrama Tour made a stop in front of over 9,000 people at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul.

The good thing about this three-act evening was that the early arrivers were awarded with a short but entertaining performance by Swedish dance pop artist Tove Styrke, in support of latest full-length, Sway (RCA/ Sony Records) while the bad news (for other cities) is that this would be her last appearance on the tour.

Beats and music were minimalistic, though songs like ‘Mistakes’ were undeniably catchy with Styrke even covering the headliner, on her version of Lorde’s ‘Liability;’ calling it “one of my favorite songs in the world” and done mid-set. “This is a dream come true for me” Styrke gushed, happy that so many had shown up early, swaying in their seats for ‘Change my Mind’ and singing “up, up, up, up” along with Styrke on her closing song about an instant crush, ‘Say My Name’.

The mood then completely turned harder and darker as hip-hop duo Run the Jewels took the stage for their forty-five minute set, beginning with the not-so-humble intro music of ‘We are the Champions’. “Shouts out to Kirby Puckett- we’re gonna burn this… place to the ground!” Killer Mike decreed, he and rapper/producer El-P stalked the stage as DJ Trackstar worked the ones and twos, beginning with their eponymously-named theme song.

‘Legend Has It’ from the group’s latest, Run the Jewels 3 (self-released) was played early on, and familiar to many from its use in the Black Panther trailer. “To the parents that brought your children, we’d like to formally apologize’, El-P joked to the soccer mom chaperones, maybe a little put off by the language and lyrical themes, while the rest of the crowd cheered “R-T-J!” as he promised a “blockbuster night” before playing the song of the same name.

The stage was then laid mostly bare as lights dimmed and the intro music of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up that Hill’ signaled the arrival of Lorde and her dancers for a hundred-minute headlining set in support of second full-length Melodrama (Lava/Republic Records), managing to work in every song from the new record, as well as several older favorites.

The intro music was appropriate, as the first part of the show resembled a Kate Bush performance, with leotard-clad dancers expressively interpreting the songs through movement both inside and outside of the so-called “terrarium”, a clear-walled shipping container-sized box which rose from the floor and would elevate and swing in the air with cabled support.

Her trio of backing musicians literally stayed in the shadows for the show, with the artist shedding her flowing coat early, even using the inside of the terrarium for a quick wardrobe change, instead of ducking backstage. “I’ve never been to your part of the world before… there is already such a good vibe in this room.” Before 2013 hit, ‘Tennis Court’ the twenty-one year old born Ella Yelich-O’Connor said “Friday is good because… Friday means we’re gonna dance a bunch!” which the mostly female audience was happy to comply with.

She reprised her Disclosure collaboration on ‘Magnets’, ‘Ribs’ recounted the anxieties and emotions of her teenage years set at in a party scene, and the crowd dancing got more involved on ‘The Louvre’ ,as Lorde and band “broadcast the boom boom boom”.

Lorde & Tove Styrke

art by vu

A show highlight was when Lorde sat to take an extended break and sing a set of piano-only backed songs beginning with the verse and chorus of Prince’s ‘I Would Die 4 U’, telling a story of meeting him at the Golden Globes and missing (and later regretting) an invitation to one of his legendary late night concerts. Tove Styrke returned to the stage to sit with Lorde for a great duet of a Robyn cover, the two sitting close and hugging affectionately following.

‘Liability’ was sung for the second time this night, leading to the band returning in full for the somber, organ-driven (sort-of) new album title track, ‘Sober II (Melodrama)’ followed by the infectious ‘Supercut’ with the singer emoting “in my head, I do everything right”.

The last three songs of the main set built increasingly on their own thrill factor- the breakthrough hit ‘Royals’ had everyone singing along, ‘Perfect Places’ invited the audience to come along on a journey, and ‘Green Light’ took things to the next level, with a smiling Lorde dancing about cannon confetti and appropriate green lighting, calling the song a “sort of chemical experiment” as she introduced it.

The three-song encore started in a revelatory way, with just the singer and her Akai MPD24 MIDI Pad controller (less than $100 on eBay) taking things very back-to-basics, starting with the spelling lesson of ‘Loveless’, then going into the new and unreleased ‘Precious Metals’.

2013’s ‘Team’ ended things with further crowd dancing and Lorde singing “I’m kind of over getting told to throw my hands in the air ”(which found everyone doing just that, for some reason,“…so there”). “St. Paul, good night, we love you!” Lorde beamed, taking one last bow before dashing off stage.

With fans still screaming and applauding, Lorde made things worth the five-year long wait to see her live locally, with the crowd and singer sharing those musical moments of being “on each other’s team”.

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

Tove Styrke

Run the Jewels

Lorde

Run the Jewels

Lorde

Lorde at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul (23 March 2018)

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

Posted at 07:54 PM in John, Lorde, Run the Jewels, St Paul, Tove Styrke, Xcel Energy Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

12/16/2017

Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul (10 Dec 2017)

Tour Dates

1/4/2018 - 1/7/2018 Tampa, FL
1/12/2018 - 1/15/2018 Orlando, FL
1/18/2018 - 1/21/2018 Jacksonville, FL
1/25/2018 - 1/28/2018 Raleigh, NC
2/1/2018 - 2/4/2018 Greenville, SC
2/8/2018 - 2/11/2018 Greensboro, NC
2/16/2018 - 2/19/2018 Philadelphia, PA
2/22/2018 - 2/25/2018 Brooklyn, NY
3/1/2018 - 3/4/2018 Bridgeport, CT
3/8/2018 - 3/11/2018 Richmond, VA
3/15/2018 - 3/18/2018 Newark, NJ
3/22/2018 - 4/1/2018 Uniondale, NY
4/5/2018 - 4/8/2018 Baltimore, MD
4/12/2018 - 4/15/2018 Norfolk, VA
4/19/2018 - 4/22/2018 Worcester, MA
4/26/2018 - 4/29/2018 Providence, RI
5/3/2018 - 5/6/2018 Wilkes Barre, PA
7/12/2018 - 7/22/2018 Houston, TX
7/26/2018 - 7/29/2018 Corpus Christi, TX
8/2/2018 - 8/5/2018 San Antonio, TX
8/9/2018 - 8/12/2018 Dallas, TX
8/16/2018 - 8/19/2018 Fort Worth, TX
8/23/2018 - 8/26/2018 Austin, TX
8/31/2018 - 9/2/2018 Moline, IL
9/6/2018 - 9/9/2018 Lexington, KY
9/14/2018 - 9/16/2018 Kansas City, MO
9/27/2018 - 9/30/2018 Columbus, OH
10/4/2018 - 10/7/2018 Albany, NY
10/25/2018 - 10/28/2018 Pittsburgh, PA
11/8/2018 - 11/11/2018 Manchester, NH
11/15/2018 - 11/18/2018 Detroit, MI
11/23/2018 - 11/25/2018 Hershey, PA
11/29/2018 - 12/2/2018 Allentown, PA
12/6/2018 - 12/9/2018 Nashville, TN
12/13/2018 - 12/16/2018 Huntsville, AL
12/20/2018 - 12/23/2018 North Charleston, SC
12/27/2018 - 12/30/2018 Southaven, MS
1/10/2019 - 1/13/2019 Sunrise, FL
1/17/2019 - 1/21/2019 Miami, FL
1/24/2019 - 1/27/2019 Charlotte, NC
2/7/2019 - 2/10/2019 Birmingham, AL
2/14/2019 - 2/17/2019 Atlanta, GA
2/21/2019 - 2/24/2019 Duluth, GA
3/21/2019 - 3/31/2019 Fairfax, VA

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Marvel Comics

Ant-Man is probably my second to least favorite Marvel film. I would have love to have seen a proper Ant-Man film by original director/writer Edgar Wright ...

Make Mine Marvel- live and in person!—

The ever-growing Marvel Comics Universe comes to life in the form of Feld Entertainment’s production of Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes and we were there to take in the final show of the Minneapolis/St. Paul run, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes brings over two dozen iconic characters to life in one epic mission to defend the universe from evil. Spider-Man, the Avengers, Iron Fist, and the Guardians of the Galaxy team up with Doctor Strange in a plot that could be right out of the comics- it’s a race against time to recover the Wand of Watoomb (stolen by Nebula) before it falls into Loki’s hands, needed in order to crown himself ruler over both Asgard and Earth.

The quest takes characters like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, Hulk, Wasp, and Black Widow into New York City streets as well as to The Savage Land, Asgard, and K’un-Lun to battle against some of the most threatening villains, including a Spider-Man’s rogues gallery of the Lizard, the Rhino, and Electro. Special effects, pyro, small explosions, battles, and aerial stunts in front of a large video projection all help to create an immersive family-friendly experience.

The heroic cast is made up of an eclectic mix of aerialists, dancers, acrobats, and stunt performers who stage fight scenes, motorbike chases, fire dances, gymnastic moves, and dodge special effects through a series of landscapes in this fast-paced production with a lot to visually take in.

Split into two halves of about forty-five minutes each, the story moves rapidly with the taped character dialogue adding insight into the storyline and is a perfect fit for young, especially pre-teen, fans of the popular characters.

Although there’s plenty on stage to keep kids’ attention, the show also offers a bevy of themed concessions and merchandise including clothing, costumes, figures, toys, and even items like your own light up Wand of Watoomb (!) and swords (?), Captain America and Spider-Man snow cones in a head cup with custom straw, and even boomerangs (which were demonstrated at intermission).

Getting my own picture taken at a department store with a costumed Spider-Man way back when I was very young and impressionable still holds a favorite memory to me, so I would imagine taking a grade-school aged child to this show, would have a similar positive impact on them. And with the Marvel movie franchises doing record business (part one of the unifying Avengers: Infinity War is coming to theaters May 4, 2018), this is a show that should remain popular well into its 2019 dates.

Feld’s production of the show is professional and visually interesting, honors the characters’ histories (though is based more on the movie versions than the comics), and is entertaining both to children and their parents. Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes brings these favorite heroes to life in a unique and fun way, maybe inspiring some youngsters creatively along the way, as well.

Marvel Universe Live

Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul (10 Dec 2017)

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

Posted at 05:31 PM in John, Marvel Comics, St Paul, Xcel Energy Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

12/01/2017

A Perfect Circle at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul (25 Nov 2017)

A Perfect Circle Setlist

The Package
The Hollow
The Noose
Weak and Powerless
Rose
Imagine (John Lennon cover)
By and Down
Thomas
People Are People (Depeche Mode cover)
Magdalena
Vanishing
Passive
Gravity
3 Libras (All Main Courses Mix)
Hourglass
Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums
The Doomed
The Outsider
Feathers

The Beta Machine Setlist

Intruder
Again & Again
All This Time
(Untitled New Song)
The End
Pictures

Tour Dates

11/30/2017 Vancouver, BC P.N.E. Pacific Coliseum
12/01/2017 Seattle, WA KeyArena
12/02/2017 Portland, OR Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12/04/2017 Eugene, OR Matthew Knight Arena
06/05/2018 Stockholm, Sweden Fryshuset
06/06/2018 Oslo, Norway Spektrum
06/08/2018 Aarhus, Denmark "Northside Festival"
06/12/2018 Manchester, UK O2 Apollo Manchester
06/13/2018 London UK O2 Academy Brixton
06/17/2018 Berlin, Germany Zitadelle
06/20/2018 Zurich, Switzerland Halle 622
06/23/2018 Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg Rockhal
06/26/2018 Paris, France Olympia
06/29/2018 Barcelona, Be Prog! My Friend Festival
07/01/2018 Verona, Italy Rock the Castle Festival

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A Perfect Circle

Supergroup A Perfect Circle (featuring guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan) is back in 2017 for a rare tour and promotion of a pending forth studio album ...

The Beta Machine

Show up early to check out The Beta Machine. Please note that the band has a strict no photos policy at their shows. This is the camera policy ...

Dark and doomed never felt (and sounded) so good—

Led by the always-enigmatic Maynard James Keenan, A Perfect Circle re-acquainted almost 8,000 Twin Cities fans with their previous material, as well as played some new music from their upcoming first album in thirteen years, to a fiercely loyal crowd at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

The album started with an also dark opening set from The Beta Machine, an electric rock band formed by current APC members Matt McJunkins (Vocals/Bass/Keyboards) and Jeff Friedl (Drums/Percussion) joined by Claire Acey (Vocals/Keyboards), and Nicholas Perez (Guitars/Keyboards/Vocals). The band has been together almost a decade but has purposely taken its time with its music, self-releasing its first five-song EP, All This Time, earlier this Spring.

“Thank you for coming earlier- you’re amazing!” McJunkins said, looking at a full floor as Acey’s brooding siren call sang the title track. ‘The End’ ran sinister but fast tempo’d with an electronic drum beat keeping pace with the vocals with a sound that already seemed suited for a large hall. “If you want to join us, stand the f##k up” McJunkins implored for the closing ‘Pictures’ anchored by a heartbeat bassline and foreboding melody.

Known for his disdain of photography and cell use for all his bands’ concerts, Keenan and co. imposed a very strict No Photos, Videos, or Cell Phone Use Whatsoever Rule throughout the show, with the venue posting this everywhere- on doors, on each row of seats, along their digital scrolling signs, and via a repeated taped announcement.

Sixty fans were escorted out of a recent Reading, PA show and dozens more at the Mohegan Sun in CT, so the band was more than serious about enforcing this throughout the show, meaning no activity (not even checking the time on a lighted mobile) during the opener, the intermission, or the headline act, which made for more of a rapt attentive audience than probably otherwise.

With a sheer curtain between the crowd and the band, A Perfect Circle began their hundred-minute set with 2003’s ‘The Package’, the curtain dropping mid-song as Keenan sang “give this to me!” to a roaring crowd. The set was, and remained mostly in darkness for the show, bassist McJunkins and guitarist Billy Howerdel prowled out front as Keenan, James Iha on rhythm guitar/keys and drummer Friedl were each perched on individual round platforms towards the back of the stage. Keenan stayed mostly in darkness throughout, though his flowing blonde wig was visible as he swayed and moved about in the fog and black.

“Feels like we’re in Viking Country…” Keenan said four songs in, to shouts and cheers, “...which is kind of awkward to me… because being a Green Bay Packer fan, I feel like I’m going to get raped and pillaged” he joked with dry wit, “I’m from Michigan, what am I going to do, back the Lions?! … Ahh, enough about baseball…!”

“We are artists, our job is to observe, interpret, report- we are merchants of emotion” Keenan said, imploring the audience to start listening and talking to each other again, maybe also indirectly explaining the phone ban as well.

The pair of covers played were both turned on their goth heads, APC-style, as Keenan sang ‘Imagine’ and Howerdel took lead for Depeche Mode’s ‘People are People’. “Are those lighters?!” Keenan said as many went in the air (in place of phones) for the John Lennon cover, “…thank you, smokers”.

Musically, the band were solidly tight, having well shaken off any hiatus rust, with the versatile Iha switching instruments often as the song demanded, and in clear sync with Howerdel (no need to rush any Smashing Pumpkins reunion when he plays so well with this bald Billy, and with likely less drama).

The best was saved for the show’s second half as the audience was treated to three unreleased new songs, due on the upcoming 2018 release, ‘Hourglass’, new single ‘The Doomed’ and ‘Feathers’. In between those, ‘Counting Bodies Like Sheep…’ slayed with its sharp lyrics and anthemic scope and 2004’s’The Outsider’ blazed with Howerdel’s guitars wrestling the song back and forth.

After band introductions (and in place of any traditional stage exit for an encore), Iha killed a few minutes with a couple purposely bad jokes (“Where does a penguin keep his money? – in a snow bank” and “What can you wear that never goes out of style?- a smile”) before the band daringly closed with a brand new song.

“Sadness like a pendulum pulls us round and to and fro” Keenan sang in the closing ‘Feathers’ and fans of A Perfect Circle not only entered, but lovingly embraced the envisioned dark world, entranced by its soundtrack but also seeing a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, “Tell them well, we'll make it through” Keenan sang, and everyone gladly walked that path with him.

(all photos courtesy of the artists, unless indicated otherwise)

Beta Machine

A Perfect Circle: No Photos

A Perfect Circle

courtesy YouTube

A Perfect Circle

A Perfect Circle at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul (25 Nov 2017)

photo courtesy of ejc666

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

Posted at 05:04 AM in A Perfect Circle, John, St Paul, Xcel Energy Center | Permalink | Comments (0)

06/22/2017

Don Henley w/ JD and the Straight Shot at Xcel Energy Center, St Paul (18 June 2017)

Don Henley Setlist

Seven Bridges Road (Steve Young cover)
Dirty Laundry
Sunset Grill
That Old Flame
Witchy Woman (Eagles song)
When I Stop Dreaming (The Louvin Brothers cover)
New York Minute
One of These Nights (Eagles song)
It Don't Matter to the Sun (Garth Brooks [as Chris Gaines] cover)
Peaceful Easy Feeling (Eagles song)
The End of the Innocence
The Last Resort (Eagles song)
The Heart of the Matter
Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears cover)
The Boys of Summer

-- Encore --
Life in the Fast Lane (Eagles song)
Hotel California (Eagles song)
Wasted Time (Eagles song)
Desperado (Eagles song)
All She Wants to Do Is Dance

JD and the Straight Shot Setlist

Glide
Redemption Train
Nature's Way (Spirit cover)
Perdition
Violet's Song
Moonlight
Ballyhoo
Better Find a Church (Little Feat cover)
Let It Roll

Don Henley Tour Dates

07/15/2017 Los Angeles, CA "Classic West"
07/22/2017 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
07/29/2017 New York, NY "Classic East"

JD and The Straight Shot Tour Dates

06/22/17 City Winery New York, NY
10/31/17 Barbican York, UK
11/03/17 O2 Academy Glasgow, Scotland
11/04/17 O2 Academy Manchester, UK
11/08/17 CIRQUE ROYALE Brussels, Belgium
11/11/17 Vaerket Randers, Denmark

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Don Henley

The boy of summer is back ... You know we love The Eagles and Don Henley, so this is a show that you can‚Äôt miss. He will be playing hits from the past four decades. ‚Ä¶

JD & The Straight Shot

JD & The Straight Shot‚Äôs sound is steeped in the quiet fire of Americana with distinctive elements of roots music topped off with a dash of classic rock. The band is currently working on their forthcoming ‚Ä¶

Father‚Äôs Day evening in the Twin Cities was made even better, with an appearance from one of the musical fathers of The Eagles‚Äî

That band‚Äôs co-founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Don Henley played the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, with a two-hour set of music that covered his more than forty-two years in the music business.

The challenging task of introducing yourself and your music to an audience that was mostly unaware of them was given to openers JD and the Straight Shot, an Americana blues and roots rock group, out in support of their fifth studio album, Ballyhoo!, which was self-released in 2016.

The group is led by guitarist/vocalist Jim Dolan and filled with seasoned musicians (featuring Byron House [Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton] on upright bass; Erin Slaver [Martina McBride, Rod Stewart] on fiddle/violin and Marc Copely [B.B. King, Rosanne Cash] on guitars) and rose to that challenge by huddling close to each other and made the cavernous arena, seem like a small barn for their intimate 45min. set.

Performing as an acoustic six-piece live, the group eased into their set with opening number, ‚ÄòGlide‚Äô, with Dolan‚Äôs noteworthy raspy vocals sounding like a mix of Randy Newman, Tom Waits, and Dr. John. Several songs played could also be heard in films, such as ‚ÄòPerdition‚Äô (from Janie‚Äôs Got a Gun) and ‚ÄòViolet‚Äôs Song‚Äô (from August: Osage County). With the title track to the Ballyhoo! album, Dolan donned a tall hat and burgundy coat, looking like a New Orleans medicine man with the band grooving accordingly and they even worked in snippets of ‚ÄòPaint it Black‚Äô and ‚ÄòWhole Lotta Love‚Äô into their own ‚ÄòLet it Roll‚Äô toward the end.

It was only after the lights came up, could you see several radios of all vintages, suspended from the ceiling over the stage. Lights again darkened and the spotlights shone on each of the radios (maybe 42 in all?) as an audio portion was played to give the audience a history lesson of events or music of the times from the post-war era onward. Then, the stage shone bright as Don Henley and band appeared and began acapella, singing ‚ÄòSeven Bridges Road‚Äô at the front of the stage.

Henley is still out in support of his country-tinged album, Cass County (Past Masters Holdings/Capitol Records), though the night was also a musical celebration of his forty-two years as a musician. While he did play a handful of the newer songs, Henley thankfully chose not to ‚Äúover countri-fy‚Äù any of his earlier classics and most were played as people were familiar with.

And like previous shows on the tour (including last fall at the State Fair), Henley insisted on no audience cameras whatsoever (thus, our stock photos), with security chasing and shoulder-tapping anyone with a cellphone in the air, trying to get a quick still frame or shoot quick video.

‚ÄúAs you can see, I brought a few people with me‚Äù Henley and his dry wit quipped after ‚ÄòSunset Grill‚Äô , referring to the whopping fifteen people on stage with him, including a five piece horn section and crack band including drummer Scott Crago and guitarist Steurt Smith (who The Eagles hired to replace Don Felder in 2001).

Politics were largely on the backburner for the evening, though there were a few indirect references and Henley seemed to sing again-poignant songs like ‚ÄòThe End of the Innocence‚Äô with a little extra vigor.

Henley recognized that Minnesota had a Cass County (one of nine states to have one), and the new songs often featured one of the three backup singers, who each held their own vocally, against his signature tenor. ‚ÄòWitchy Woman‚Äô was a new arrangement of the 1972 Eagles song, ‚Äúthe way we should have done it in the first place‚Äù Henley said, and The Eagles‚Äô ‚ÄòPeaceful Easy Feeling‚Äô was dedicated to Glenn Frey, who performed the unmissable lead vocals on the recorded hit.

One of the musical highlights of the night was 1976‚Äôs ‚ÄòThe Last Resort‚Äô, the closing track on the Hotel California album that was rarely played live, due to the complexity the song required to be performed- ‚ÄúI have the personnel now‚Äù, Henley said. ‚ÄúWe‚Äôve been doing this song for therapy‚Äù, Henley said, introducing his faithful cover of Tears for Fears‚Äô ‚ÄòEverybody Wants to Rule the World‚Äô, a song we heard the original duo play in this very building, just a month before.

After a rolling ‚ÄòBoys of Summer‚Äô, Henley split the five-song encore, beginning it with an amped-up ‚ÄòLife in the Fast Lane‚Äô which featured a stirring dueling guitar solo. Though known as The Eagles‚Äô drummer, Henley never sat behind the kit this evening, but occasionally banged on the basic snare/cymbals set-up, next to the drums.

The newer Eagles song ‚ÄòWasted Time‚Äô became a male-female duet with backup singer Lara Johnston, the chorus of ‚ÄòDesperado‚Äô sounded like a church choir with the combined power of the band and audience voices, and ‚ÄòAll She Wants to Do Is Dance‚Äô gave everyone one last chance to move about after some two hours.

Though his stage presence wasn‚Äôt that much to take in, Don Henley succeeded on the sheer magnitude of the band‚Äôs technical sharpness and all those familiar songs everyone knows by heart, destined to still have airplay, for decades to come. Realizing that the songs are why the people keep coming out and anchoring his show with so many classics, this musical father knows best.