W♥M (Archive)

Triple Rocks at the Triple Rock: San Cisco, Saint Rich, and Two Cow Garage

Read More San Cisco No encores were played, but that's just as well, because, let's be honest, there's no way they can top "Awkward". It's better to end on a high note. Still, that didn't stop the fans from screaming out "One more song!" chants. …

SAN CISCO
sancisco.com

Sure, San Cisco's been coming to Minneapolis for the one hundred times, but that doesn't mean we're tired of them! In fact, it should be fun to see them again as they stop by the Triple Rock Social Club with Smallpools tomorrow!

And if you were wondering, yes, their self-titled debut album is finally available in the U.S. via RCA Records!

Check out their cover of Daft Punk's "Lucky" on YouTube

Tour dates:

07/31 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock*
08/02 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08/03 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08/04 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08/06 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre
08/09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
08/12 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's*
08/13 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex*

* with Smallpools

SAINT RICH
saintrich.com

Merge Records will be releasing Saint Rich's debut album, Beyond the Drone, on October 1st! The band consists of a musical partnership of Delicate Steve bandmates Christian Peslak and Steve Marion… and you can expect their music to sound "beyond drone"?

I guess you should check out their new song, "Officer", streaming on SoundCloud now:



Christian and Steve will be heading out on tour this September (kicking it all off at Minneapolis' Triple Rock) with Wild Belle:

09/13 Minneapolis, MN — Triple Rock Social Club
09/14 Omaha, NE — Waiting Room
09/16 Denver, CO — Bluebird Theater
09/18 Salt Lake City, UT — Urban Lounge
09/19 Boise, ID — Neurolux
09/21 Seattle, WA — Crocodile
09/22 Vancouver, BC — Fortune Sound Club
09/24 Portland, OR — Doug Fir
09/27 Pioneertown, CA — Pappy & Harriet's
09/28 Los Angeles, CA — Echoplex
09/30 Tucson, AZ — Club Congress
10/03 Dallas, TX — HOB – Cambridge Room
10/07 Philadelphia, PA — First Unitarian Church
10/08 New York, NY — Bowery Ballroom
10/09 Boston, MA — Paradise
10/22 Washington, DC — U Street Music Hall
10/23 Pittsburgh, PA — Rex Theater
10/26 Chicago, IL — Metro

TWO COW GARAGE
facebook.com

Leading up to their September 10th release for The Death of the Self-Preservation Society on Last Chance Records (their first album since 2010's Sweet Saint Me thanks to their indiegogo crowd-funding campaign), Columbus' Two Cow Garage will hit the road on their U.S. tour.

The band's front man Micah Schnabel talk about recording of the new album: "We've recorded there a few times and we have just fallen in love with it. We sleep in the old farm house and wake up every morning to go out and record all day and night. The studio is actually up in what would be the hayloft and it overlooks the farm. It's just a great place to be locked away and not have the distractions of every day life."

Additional cities will be to be added to the tour soon, in the meantime, here are the confirmed dates:

08/02: Weberfest - Kokomo, IN
08/03: Rumba - Columbus, OH
08/09: Main Street - Toledo, OH
08/24: Ace of Cups - Columbus, OH
10/10: Southgate House Revival - Cincinnati, OH
10/11: Reggie’s Music Joint - Chicago, IL
10/12: Club Girabaldi - Milwaukee, WI
10/14: Triple Rock - Minneapolis, MN
10/15: Record Bar - Kansas City, MO
10/17: Triple Nickel - Colorado Springs, CO
10/18: Hodi’s - Ft Collins, CO
10/21: Burt’s Tiki Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT
10/26: Dante’s - Portland, OR

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Brian Wilson w/ Al Jardine & David Marks - MN Zoo (07/27/13) live review

Setlist California Girls Catch a Wave Hawaii Dance, Dance, Dance Little Deuce Coupe Girl Don't Tell Me In My Room Surfer Girl Please Let Me Wonder Then I Kissed Her Don't Worry Baby Cottonfields Little Bird Do it Again Summertime Blues Do You Wanna Dance? I Get Around Heroes and Villains Your Imagination Goin' Home That's Why God Made The Radio God Only Knows California Saga Sail On, Sailor Marcella Darlin' Pet Sounds Wouldn't It Be Nice Sloop John B Good Vibrations Encore: All Summer Long Help Me Rhonda Barbara Ann Surfin' USA Fun, Fun, Fun Summer's Gone Tour Dates 10/20/13 Greek Theatre - Los Angeles CA Read More The Beach Boys Die-hard Beach Boys fan will want to take a look at the deluxe 50th Anniversary edition called Made in California, coming out August 27, 2013, from Capitol/Universal. The six disc release will contain 60 previously…

The sounds of summer could be heard emanating from the Weesner Amphitheatre at the Minnesota Zoo, even if the weather was doing anything but cooperating. On a brisk and very fall-like Saturday night, over 1,450 fans jammed into the outdoor venue to witness two solid sets of mostly Beach Boys songs performed by Brian Wilson with Al Jardine and David Marks and a 9-piece backup band.

AL JARDINE DAVID MARKS

Wilson, Jardine and Marks have carried on for a brief 7-city summer tour, following a successful 50th anniversary album/73-show tour under The Beach Boys name which fizzled after singer Mike Love took the band and name in a different direction following. Of the split acts, Wilson’s version can be described as the more ‘authentic’ one, as he wrote/co-wrote most of the bands hits and sidemen Jardine and Marks were there in the mid-60s, just as the surf band was making musical waves everywhere.

The 71 year-old Wilson seemed to be in good spirits and fairly engaged, perched on the stool behind his ivory piano, opening strong with ‘California Girls’ which got the crowd immediately into the summer spirit on a chilled misty evening. Hits followed- ‘Catch a Wave’, ‘Little Deuce Coupe’ and ‘Surfer Girl’, the first song Wilson ever wrote, still sounding of the beachfront comfort and west coast harmonies it had a half century prior.

The large backing band (most from the Wondermints Plus, who performed with Wilson on the SMiLE Tour) proved more than musically able, each member having a turn in the spotlight; especially Jeff Foskett providing that needed Beach Boys falsetto and Darian Sanaja, who carried the vocals on a nice version of ‘Darlin’.

SETLIST PHOTO

After a 50 min. first set, the band took a short break before returning for their 75 min closing set, the rain by then past, and audience primed to hear the band’s biggest hits.

Beginning solemnly with the quiet ‘Our Prayer’, it quickly built momentum, highlighted early on by the 1-2 punch of the recent Beach Boys reunion single, ‘That’s Why God Made the Radio’ (from their highest charting album to debut) and a powerful ‘God Only Knows’, dedicated to Wilson’s late brother Carl and which brought an extended and well-deserved standing ovation following. Al Jardine, still blond haired in a white suit, led a spirited ‘Sloop John B’, sandwiched between mega hits ‘Wouldn’t it Be Nice’ and ‘Good Vibrations’, which ended the 2nd set.

A six-song encore followed, anchored by ‘Surfin USA’ and ‘Fun Fun Fun’ which really got the crowd moving and singing, before Wilson came out again saying ‘the rock and rolling is done’ and ending with the melancholy but appropriate ‘Summer’s Gone’.

BRIAN WILSON

The sound was mixed well and clear from our upper vantage point, though the crowd in our section were constantly up and down the stairs mid-song (young people and their multiple beer runs and baby boomers and their weak bladders), which proved more than an annoyance when trying to forget the October-like evening and assimilate into the endless summer of the lyrics and melodies.

All in all though, a satisfying reminder of Wilson’s impact on music history in creating a defining sound; and with word of an upcoming album back on Capitol Records featuring Jeff Beck on guitar, proof that this aging legend, still has more than a little gas left in the tank.

Brian Wilson (with Al Jardine & David Marks) at Weesner Family Amphitheater, Apple Valley (07/27/13)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ brianwilson.com

Bleeding Blood

Read More Surfer Blood You know, I caught Surfer Blood opening up for Foals this year and I have to say - they are quite good! I hope they come back to Minneapolis soon…

SURFER BLOOD
surferblood.com

The first time I saw Surfer Blood, opening up for Foals, I thought they were a very good live band. They certainly have the stage presence, and this is good to win over the audience when they were opening up for a headliner.



If you were curious what they sound like, you can grab a free demo of "Saber Tooth" via Australian magazine Monster Children.

You can hear the final mix on their second album, Pythons, out now on Warner Bros./Kanine Records.

NPR love the new album, saying the album contain "real craftsmanship into 10 songs that sound effortless, but surely weren't. By any definition, Pythons is more streamlined and straight-ahead than Astro Coast, but it's still catchy as anything."

Surfer Blood is set to tour North America this fall with opener, Gauntlet Hair, starting on September 29th in Atlanta.

Dates with * indicates with special guest Gauntlet Hair.

08/09 San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands 08/10 Redmond, WA - 1077 The End's Summer 08/15 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop 08/23 Reading, UK - Reading Festival 08/24 Leeds, UK - Leeds Festival 08/25 Paris, France - Rock en Seine 09/06 Portland, OR - MFNW 09/08 Sacramento, CA - Launch 09/14 Chicago, IL - Riot Fest 09/29 Atlanta, GA- Terminal West* 09/30 Charlotte, NC- Visualite Theater* 10/01 Carrboro, NC- Cat’s Cradle* 10/03 Washington DC- Rock and Roll Hotel* 10/04 Philadelphia, PA- Theater of Living Arts* 10/05 Brooklyn, NY- Music Hall of Williamsburg* 10/09 Toronto, ON- Lee’s Palace* 10/06 New York, New York- Bowery Ballroom* 10/07 Boston, MA- Brighton Music Hall* 10/10 Columbus, OH- The Basement*

10/11 Chicago, IL- Bottom Lounge 10/12 Iowa City, IA- Gabe’s* 10/13 Minneapolis, MN- Triple Rock* 10/15 Kansas City, MO- Riot Room* 10/16 Denver, CO- Larimer Lounge* 10/17 Salt Lake City, UT- Urban lounge* 10/18 Las Vegas, NV- Beauty Bar* 10/19 San Diego, CA- The Irenic* 10/21 Los Angeles, CA- El Rey* 10/22 San Francisco, CA- The Independent 10/23 Santa Ana, CA- Constellation Room 10/24 Phoenix, AZ- Crescent Ballroom* 10/26 Dallas, TX- Trees* 10/27 Austin, TX- Red 7* 10/28 Houston, TX- Fitzgerald’s* 10/29 New Orleans, LA- One Eyed Jacks* 10/30 Mobile, AL - Alabama Music Box* 10/31 Tallahassee, FL- Club Downunder* 11/09 Tampa, FL- Coastline Festival 11/10 West Palm Beach, FL- Coastline Festival

Read More Reading Rainbow Philadelphia's Reading Rainbow and The Dodos played Cedar Cultural Center on March 23rd. Obviously the former band stole their name from LeVar Burton's* PBS programming of the same name. .…

BLEEDING RAINBOW
bleeding-rainbow.tumblr.com

Philadelphia's Bleeding Rainbow just released their third LP Yeah Right earlier this year on Kanine Records. And if you were wondering if they stole their name from the LeVar Burton show - yes they did. In fact, their first two records were released under Reading Rainbow, but probably through legal reasons they changed it to 'Bleeding'.

Tour kicks off this August:

8/28 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
8/30 Iowa City, IA – The Mill &
8/31 Madison, WI – The Frequency &
9/01 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
9/02 Fargo, ND – The Aquarium
9/05 Vancouver, BC – Media Club ^
9/06 Seattle, WA – Barboza *
9/07 Portland, OR – Star Theatre %
9/09 Santa Cruz, CA – Crepe Place
9/10 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop #
9/11 Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
9/13 Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Bar
9/15 Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
9/16 Tucson, AZ – Solar Culture
9/18 Dallas, TX – Three Links $
9/19 Austin, TX – The Mohawk $
9/20 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s $
9/21 Baton Rouge, LA – Mud + Water $

& w/Heavy Times
^ w/TitusAndronicus
* w/Bleached
% w/The Dodos
# w/The Love Language
$ w/Twin Peaks

Read More Great Escape Festival Festival tickets for Great Escape are now sold out. Headliners are: Bastille (Saturday), Billy Bragg (Friday), and Everything Everything (Thursday). Plus one million other smaller support acts. .…

BASTILLE
bastillebastille.com

Bastille's debut album, Bad Blood, is coming out in the U.S. on September 3rd from Virgin Records. Bastille also be promoting the U.S. release with a tour - making his television debut on "Conan" last week (July 24th).

The US version of the album will include 3 bonus tracks: "The Silence," "Weight of Living, PT. 1," and "Laughter Lines." In addition, if you pre-order the album on iTunes, you get an instantly receive a download of "Flaws". Vinyl fans will want to look at getting the fan bundle with a signed lithograph, 12" vinyl collectors box, and more … I didn't look at the price, but it's probably expensive.

Bastille – North American Fall Tour
9/16 San Diego, CA House of Blues
9/18 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theater
9/19 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
9/20 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
9/21 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
9/23 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
9/25 Toronto, ON Opera House
9/27 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
9/28 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
9/29 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
9/30 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Love Metals

IRON & WINE
ironandwine.com

South Carolina born singer-songwriter Samuel Beam, also known as Iron and Wine, is now on tour promoting his fifth studio release and latest project Ghost on Ghost, his debut with Nonesuch Records.

According to Beam, this album moves away from the “anxious tension of the last couple albums and feels like a reward to myself.” Come see the reward for yourself on his current tour. Dates are listed below.

09/18/13 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
09/19/13 Winnipeg, MB - Pantages
09/20/13 Saskatoon, SK - Odeon
09/21/13 Calgary, AB - Macewan Hall
09/23/13 Regina, SK - Orr Center
09/24/13 Fargo, ND - Fargo Theatre
09/25/13 Des Moines, IA - Hoyt-Sherman
09/26/13 Madison, WI - Capitol Theatre
09/27/13 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
09/28/13 Toronto, ON - Sound Academy

SOFT METAL
facebook.com/SOFTMETALS

Los Angeles' Soft Metal formed in 2009 after Ian Hicks and Patricia Hall met at a DJ night. Since then the duo just released their sophomore album Lenses and will be heading out on tour in support of it. Apparently their music video for the first single from the album, "Tell Me", is a bit naughty because it was taken from film called "Hardcore" (made for the Seattle Erotic Art Festival).

Tour dates:

7/30 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
7/31 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
8/02 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
8/04 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
8/05 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
8/07 - Milwaukee, WI - The Cactus Club
8/08 - St Louis, MO - The Firebird
8/09 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean
8/10 - Louisville, KY - Electric Blue
8/14 - Columbus, OH - Kobo
8/15 - Detroit, MI - Garden Bowl
8/16 - Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel
8/17 - Montreal, QC - Divan Orange
8/21 - New Haven, CT - BAR
8/22 - Cambridge, MA - TT the Bear’s
8/23 - Providence, RI - Fete (Lounge)
8/24 - Washington, DC - Comet Ping Pong
8/29 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
8/30 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Brillobox
8/31 - Philadelphia, PA - Ortileb’s
9/01 - Brooklyn, NY - Captured Tracks Festival
9/04 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
9/05 - Charlotte, NC - Snug Harbor
9/06 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
9/07 - New Orleans, LA - LA Circle Bar
9/13 - Scottsdale, AZ - Pub Rock

SILVER SWAN
facebook.com/silverswans

We've mentioned Silver Swan a couple of times, . The San Francisco band is back with a new single "Sea of Love", which debut earlier this month via This is Fake DIY.

Singer/songwriter Ann Yu commented on the song, "Sea of Love is one of the first songs we wrote for the new album and really set the tone for the rest of the songs. I was starting a new relationship and the newness of it all overwhelmed me with questions of the unknown, the intensity of the feelings, and the hope that what you are experiencing is truly real. The song is about rediscovering yourself through the eyes of your lover and about embracing their wonderment, by letting go of all fear and choosing to feel."

Hear "Sea of Love" now:

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Those Darlins at Loring Park 7/27/2013

Tour Dates 08/09: St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway 08/10: Appleton, WI – Mile of Music Festival 08/31: Troy, OH – Gentlemen of the Road 09/05: Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s 09/07: Guthrie, OK – Gentlemen of the Road 09/13: Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder 09/14: St. Augustine, FL – Gentlemen of the Road 10/14: New York, NY – Mercury Lounge Blur the Line Those Darlins' new album Blur the Line is coming out October 1st, 2013. Read all album details at Paste Magazine about their cover art causing some "con-tro-ver-sy" in Nashville. Read More Those Darlins If you aren't familiar with this Nashville cowpunk trio, you can check them out for FREE at Loring Park in Minneapolis on July 27th (Saturday). Should be fun, don't expect them to do "Funstix Party" at this family-friendly .…

The Tour de Fat is a touring festival organized by the New Belgium Brewing Company that celebrates alternate means of travel (bikes!) and delicious adult beverages (beer!). The event featured plenty of entertainment ranging from stage shows to interactive bicycle-inspired games all used to promote their eco-friendly message of cutting out those pesky carbons. It was kind of like a smaller, greener Lollapalooza; all the weirdness and wackiness of this particular subculture of bike fanatics complete with an awesome bike petting-zoo where you could ride unusual bikes around a pit. There was music, food from local restaurants, and lots of people dressed in fairy wings and head-to-toe animal costumes. The only thing missing was someone eating fire and Perry Farrell driving around in a golf cart drinking wine.

Speaking of music: Nashville rockers Those Darlins closed the days’ festivities, brightening up an overcast day with a set of their swaggering tunes. The band were fairly tame at first, churning out the songs with little interaction with the crowd aside from a few thank you's from guitarist Jessi Darlin. After a few songs, however, they seemed to get into a groove. Jessi ventured from behind the mike to the edge of the stage, staring magic daggers into everybody’s face and ripping it up on her guitar. Songs like “Be Your Bro,” with its girl-group-esque echo and rhythm, the dark shimmy-shake of “Screws Get Loose” and the bruised melody of “Why Can’t I Change” sounded fantastic in the chilly Loring Park air. The song that capped off the performance, however, was the real treat of the set.

Despite the smattering of young children wandering the park with their parents, Those Darlins kicked into their gleefully dirty ditty “Funstix Party,” a song I’m sure inspired many after-school-special conversations in many Minneapolis homes that evening.

Those Darlins at Loring Park, Minneapolis (07/26/13) photo courtesy of Sheena Dean

emily () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ thosedarlins.com

Alasdair Roberts at the Icehouse, Minneapolis (07/24/13)

Tour Dates 07/26: Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Music Festival 07/27: Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Music Festival 07/28: Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Music Festival 07/29: Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre 07/31: Washington, DC @ Kennedy Center 08/01: New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub From Alasdair Roberts: The line-up for this July 2013 North American tour of Alasdair Roberts & Friends tour is: Alasdair Roberts: acoustic guitar, voice Stevie Jones: upright bass, voice Ben Reynolds, electric guitar, harmonica, voice Read More Alasdair Roberts In 2005, I discovered Alasdair Roberts. He was the closest thing to a traditional folk singer at the festival. Back then he was singing a collection of traditional death ballads taken from his album, "No Earthly Man". I fell in love with his haunting .…

Alasdair Roberts was raised in central Scotland, in the hamlet of Kilmahog (a name behind whose origin you just know there’s a good story). Roberts is fond of good stories himself, be they sanguinary or romantic, and on Wednesday evening (July 24) he trotted a bunch of them out on the Ice House stage in Minneapolis. Roberts played acoustic guitar, and was joined by Ben Reynolds on electric guitar and harmonica, and Stevie Jones on upright bass and backing vocals. Of the virtually limitless possibilities of what three people on a stage can do, it’s always interesting to sit back and observe not just what a trio chooses to do, but what a trio proves capable of doing. Roberts has garnered attention in the role of Scottish troubadour for some two decades now and it’s a role he appears to embody capably and with an easy assurance. He has released seven albums over that time, and on this evening he shared a few selections from the latest, called A Wonder Working Stone.

Roberts and company began their set with the first two numbers off that latest album, The Year of the Burning and The Merry Wake, respectively (although appearing in reverse order on the album). These were followed by the well-known Scottish folk ballad, The Fair Flower of Northumberland. Roberts sang in a lilting brogue that accorded well with the lyrics and melodies of the ballads and story-songs that were at times rollicking, at other times soulful, sometimes melancholy, and occasionally, playful.

Whatever the mood of the song being performed, the joy Roberts took in performing was always visible and palpable. The songs were, for the most part, acoustic ballads seasoned with licks on the Fender electric wielded by Reynolds, which much of the time had the sound and feel of retro rock and roll licks, a la Credence Clearwater or The Animals, sort of retro-fitted into the songs, rather than imparting any sort of elegiac or Scottish-tinged character, which might have been more apropos. Reynolds also whipped out a blues harp at various points, providing some pleasant accompaniments, although one might have hoped for him to crack open his cupped hands and get closer to the mike so as to more generously liberate, and share, the sounds he was producing.

Roberts was affable and chatty between songs, giving the song titles and even some background on each. He introduced his band members before launching into the third song (‘Northumberland’), after which Reynolds on his blues harp ushered us into a tune whose melody was reminiscent of Red River Valley, but which after a while went in different directions, especially during the climax, when Roberts flopped onto the floor of the stage and rolled around a bit with guitar in hand (you gotta love a playful Scottish troubadour).

When Roberts played the new album’s third track, titled Fusion of Horizons, I couldn’t help hearing echoes of Incense and Peppermints released by the group Strawberry Alarm Clock nearly fifty years ago. Once again, I detect this retro vibe from the days of rock and roll’s infancy, and wonder whether it is by design or just a natural by-product of the music these musicians have assimilated throughout their lives, which then becomes a part of their own musical expression. But whatever other musical influences may be contributing to the songs and performances of Alasdair Roberts, it is the Scottish inflected voice and Scottish folk tradition that takes center stage as the audience is treated to musical tales of bonnie lasses and merry wakes, tales that we somehow find familiar and endearing.

he sings from the heart

Roberts is an ordinary looking fellow, long-legged and gangly, and cuts an amusing figure when he becomes especially animated and begins hopping around the stage; neither his singing nor his playing is what one would call extraordinary; he sings and plays the guitar capably, as though it were easy and came naturally; his stage behavior, occasional spirited antics aside, is workmanlike: he is there to do a job and he sets about getting it done. But Roberts does his job with evident pleasure and he sings from the heart: that pleasure and those heart-stirrings made their way to the audience and they responded accordingly. Which is to say: favorably and enthusiastically.

That audience enthusiasm came in handy for the final tune. Introduced by Roberts as “a grisly old song from the old country,” the song is called The Cruel Mother and afforded the audience the rare opportunity to participate in a sing-along on the subject of infanticide. Nobody seemed troubled by this, but instead, obediently and with gusto, sang the prescribed verses which alternated with the verses sung, a capella, by Roberts. The audience’s lines were the following:

The sun shines down on Carlisle Wall
And the lion shall be lord of all

This selection was special, and I don’t say that about every song about infanticide. There was something in Roberts’ humanity and air of vulnerability while standing alone at center stage and singing those naked verses that seemed to draw the audience closer to him; if you hadn’t appreciated him before this song, you did by the time it ended. Or at least so it seemed, judging from the rousing cheers that brought him back to perform one final song. When Roberts left the stage for the last time, the audience seemed well pleased with the lad from Kilmahog and what he had shared with them that evening; one feels that the spirit of Robert Burns, had it been present (and it seemed to be), could have been no less so.

The band that opened for Roberts was called Painted Saints. Their first tune was a haunting, discordant melody. Their second tune was very discordant, featuring accordion and cello. The third number (and here I concede that the word number may be pter than tune), was somber, and featured lap slide guitar, with the pleasant-toned tenor of the singer rising and falling in smooth modulations. This band’s performance was uneven, to put it kindly, but they did successfully demonstrate the ability to create a distinctive mood, even if not one I’d like to inhabit too often or for too long. Throughout their set, the word that recurred in my mind was haunting. A couple of the numbers struck me as the kind of music you might hear as the collection of dolls in your dead baby sister’s bedroom suddenly began stirring and coming to life. Which is to say: the stuff of Gothic horror films featuring ghosts. The singer’s whistling did nothing to dispel this effect but only heightened it. The ensemble, like that of Alasdair Roberts, was a trio: a fiddle/cello player, a banjo/lap guitar player, and the singer/frontman, Paul Fonfara, who played guitar, accordion and clarinet. The band is the brainchild of Fonfara, whose grubby little creative hands—as a glance at the band’s web site reveals—appear to keep busy in a number of varied artistic endeavors. Though as open to experimental music as the next guy, I felt the first half of the set managed to charm, while the second half, sorry to say, did harm. At one point between songs, Fonfara looked out over the audience and remarked that they seemed “a stern bunch.” If so, they must have had good cause, for the same stern souls were later whooping it up during Roberts’ set. Fonfara seemed a likable chap, tall and angular-featured, lean and lanky in down-to-earth Tom Joad-like attire, but the last couple of numbers, which featured an abrupt segue into an infelicitous record-and-playback gambit on clarinet, succeeded by a barrage of jarring and jolting guitar chords, resulted in the set ending, for this reviewer, on a winceworthy note. I am all for a good haunting, but like the good Mister Scrooge, I will cower in horror and grow more stern when you shake your chains a bit too jarringly.

Alasdair Roberts at the Icehouse, Minneapolis (07/24/13)

doug ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ alasdairroberts.com ♥ paintedsaints.net

Frampton's Guitar Circus at State Theatre Minneapolis (7/21/13) live review

Setlist Tour Dates 07/26/13 Airway Heights, WA Northern Quest 07/27/13 Manson, WA Deep Water Amph 07/28/13 Tulalip, WA Tulalip Resort Casino 08/05/13 "Bethlehem Musikfest" 08/06/13 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Pavilion 08/07/13 Simsbury, CT Simsbury Meadows 08/08/13 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Pavilion 08/10/13 Atlantic City, NJ Mark G. Etess Arena 08/11/13 Vienna, VA Filene Center 08/13/13 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amph 08/14/13 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion 08/16/13 Aurora, IL RiverEdge Park 08/17/13 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah's Casino 08/18/13 Kansas City, MO Kauffman Center 08/20/13 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amph 08/21/13 Albuquerque, NM Route 66 Casino 08/23/13 Las Vegas, NV LVH Theater 08/24/13 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre 08/25/13 San Diego, CA San Diego Civic Theatre 08/28/13 Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery 08/30/13 Lincoln, CA Thunder Valley Casino 08/31/13 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amph 10/20/13 Paris, France Zenith Paris 10/22/13 Dresden, Ger Messehalle 10/24/13 Erfurt, Ger Messehalle 10/25/13 Regensburg, Ger Donau-Arena 10/26/13 Berlin, Ger Max-Schmeling-Halle 10/29/13 Dusseldorf, Ger Mitsubishi Electric 10/31/13 Stuttgart, Ger Hanns Martin 11/01/13 Dortmund, Ger Westfalenhalle 1 11/02/13 Mannheim, Ger SAP ARENA 11/05/13 London, UK Roundhouse Read More Peter Frampton Peter Frampton is an English musician, singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive! .…

KENNY WAYNE SHEPHARD

Peter Frampton has run off and joined the circus. Not an actual circus, mind you, a Guitar Circus that he brought to the State Theatre for over three hours of time-honored hits, technical wizardry, and musical theatrics that pleased the mostly baby-boomer crowd. Frampton’s Guitar Circus, touring since May and through the end of the year, brings guitar legend Peter Frampton back out on tour, with a few of his similarly-skilled axe-wielding friends-- in the case of the Minneapolis date, Toto’s Steve Lukather and opener Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

While his long blonde locks of the 70s have faded to minimal greying hair, Frampton’s guitar skill has become more honed and varied over the decades, able to still rock at volume pushing levels as well as delicately dissect an acoustic number, with voice lowered a few octaves but still impressive and familiar as ever. His crackerjack band included long-timer Stanley Sheldon on fretless bass, Adam Lester on guitar, Dan Wojciechowski on drums, and MN native Rob Arthur on keyboards, who even waved at his grandmother in attendance.

The set surprisingly started with two deep cuts, “Magic Moon” then “Doobie Wah”, both from Frampton’s 1974 album, ‘Somethin’s Happening’, which allowed the band to stretch and prepare their musical chops for the rest of the evening. The appropriate “Lines on My Face” followed with Frampton waxing poetic about his seminal live album of 1976 and pointing out someone in the audience who held the vinyl high.

Toto’s Steve Lukather then appeared mid-set, which gave a needed charge to the proceedings and ramped immediately into one of the band’s biggest hits,1978’s “Hold the Line”, with Frampton as backup. Frampton mock dueling instrumentally with Lukather was visually thrilling and lived up to the circus tour name, both feeding off of, and complementing the other’s riffs.

With Lukather retreating backstage, Frampton continued the set with “Baby I Love Your Way”, a soft rock classic that morphed into a theatre sing-a-long, crowd swaying to and fro, while photographs of a younger Frampton illuminated the digital screen behind the stage. Following, he mentioned his 2006 instrumental album, ‘Fingerprints’ (much to the loud chagrin of one excited concertgoer in the audience) and played his version of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” as only Frampton could, complete with feedback, roaring chords as verses, and talk box choruses.

An 18 min. “Do You Feel Like We Do” ended the main set, effective but somewhat shorter than in his heyday, when he was known to surpass 30 min with the song. “Off the Hook”, from his 1994 solo album started the encore, and the show ended with a bang, as Steve Lukather returned for a celebratory cover of The Beatles “ While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd opened the evening with a dazzling 60 min. set, taking the audience on a journey of songs from his debut at age 17 with 1995’s ‘Ledbetter Heights’, to his most recent, ‘How I Go’ (2011, Roadrunner Records). Shepherd’s guitar fireworks were more dramatic than Frampton’s and helped by his A-List backing band (Noah Hunt - lead vocals, Chris Layton (from SRV & Double Trouble)- drums, Tony Franklin (from Jimmy Page/Paul Rodgers The Firm)- bass and Riley Osbourn (from Willie Nelson / Lost Gonzo Band)- keyboards. Sound was mixed well for both acts, which is sometimes not the case for this venue.

All in all, a three hour-plus guitar extravaganza that often lived up to its circus naming, and was entertaining as any tightrope walker or sword swallower.

Peter Frampton at the State Theatre, Minneapolis (07/21/13) (with guest Steve Lukather on the right)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ frampton.com

Mrs. Skannotto at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (07/23/13)

Tour Dates 07/24 High Noon Saloon Madison, WI 07/25 THE ULTRA LOUNGE- Chicago, IL 07/26 New Way Bar- Ferndale, MI 07/27 McCarthy's Downtown- Cleveland, OH 07/28 Smiling Moose- Pittsburgh, PA Read More Mrs. Skannotto Spanning 15 years, Mrs. Skannotto is bringing their brand of combination ska and reggae rock to the 7th Entry, in Minneapolis, on July 23. Mrs. Skannotto are: Evan Dobbins (Trombone), Justin Lloyd (Trumpet).…

'Ska' was the word down at 7th Street Entry the evening of July 23, 2013. Three bands played their own brand of Ska during the night. I was sad that I just missed The Umbrella Bed's performance. They are local and will be playing around town during the next couple months. I spoke to one of the five members after I arrived, and he told me they consist of two trombones, a tenor sax and even a french horn. Try to catch them later. Umbrella Bed is releasing their new EP November 27.

SURVAY SAYS

Second band of the evening, Survay Says, totally 'punked' it up on the stage. From Blairstown, NJ, they are a 7-piece ska/punk band, but only 5 members were able to make it to the 7th Street show. In their early twenty's, Survay Says really did incorporate the Ska and Punk genre's together. So much fun watching them pogo on stage with their brass. They did a cover of Oasis song Champagne Supernova in their unique version of Ska/Punk that was amazing to hear and watch. The lead singer, Henry, then explained that the next song, Denial, was dedicated to his father that passed away. Not too melancholy and still had a slight punk feel, it was definitely one of the mellower songs they played. The rest of their set was powerful and animated.

Henry, who resembles Hurley from Lost, actually took a live phone call from a friend during the performance. He told his caller, "I am on stage in Minneapolis, dude. I gotta go!" The call added to the humor the band rendered, including a Hello Kitty guitar strap Henry used. Near the end of the set, he announced that all they do besides play music is watch TV, play video games and they still have 40 days left on the road so they need hugs from the audience, which they did get a few of. Very fun band. They are planning to be back in Minneapolis on October 18.

Headliner, Mrs. Skannotto, is also a Ska band but with more of an underlying classic Rock sound. Mrs. Skannotto formed in 1998 in Rochester, NY. Justin Lloyd, Evan Dobbins, Joe Harmon, Mike Frederick, Dan Carter, & Alex Bochetto, they have been compared to bands like; Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Toasters, The Police, but what I kept hearing was tones of the band Chicago, back in the 70's. Poll Dancer is a song about politics, not pole dancing they made a point of clearing up before they played it.

Get Up! was all about audience participation and very easy to figure out when to pump your fist in the air and yell "Get Up, Get Up!" Joe Harmon is the lead vocalist and man, can he belt it out! Powerful and with tremendous quality, he has a voice like nothing I have heard live in a very long time. Amazing! All of the bands musicians were sensational. I spoke to trombone player, Evan Dobbins, and he said that he is a music teacher at a college back in Rochester, NY. Mrs. Skannotto has such a big sound, they almost blasted off of the small stage at 7th Street Entry. Unfortunately, there were only about 20 people in attendance, but it gave everyone plenty of dance room. This band really has to be witnessed in person. Pass the word on!

Mrs. Skannotto at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (07/23/13)

gretchen ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ mrsska.com ♥ survaysays.net

Girls Girls Girls: Cherie Currie, Julie Ruin, Bat for Lashes, SISU, Alison Moyet, and Jessica Hernandez

Read more Girls Girls Girls.

Read More The Runaways We spent a lot of time talking about the Runaways. Well maybe it was mostly Cristina talking about the movie, since I haven't seen it. But it was good, the whole thing reminds me of The Fabulous Stains. …

CHERIE CURRIE
cheriecurrie.com

Admittedly I have still yet haven't seen "The Runaways" movie, starring Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie. I think what that movie brought to the general public is how insanely popular the band got in the late 70s, particularly in Japan.

As we all know, members of the Runaways was even more prolific when the band broke up: Joan Jett getting lots of love with her cover of the Arrows' song "I Love Rock 'N' Roll", as well as other hits like "Bad Reputation" and "I Hate Myself For Loving You". Micki Steele joined another all-girls group The Bangles and had even more massive hits with "Manic Monday", "Walk Like an Egyptian" and "Eternal Flame". Lita Ford, of course also had success with "Kiss Me Deadly" and "Close My Eyes Forever" (duet Ozzy Osbourne).

As for Runaways singer Cherie Currie, after releasing two solo albums (Beauty's Only Skin Deep and Messin' With the Boys), she remain relatively quiet on the music industry side. Last year, there was a rumor going around that Lita Ford and Currie had reunited to record new songs and that a possible tour may happen.

Maybe that will still happen, but in the meantime I'm told that she's working on new material with Matt Sorum of Velvet Revolver and Guns n Roses. Other guests on the upcoming album includes Slash, Billy Corgan (who wrote "Blvds of Splendor" for the album), Julliette Lewis, Duff McKagan, and more. I'll post more details when I receive them.

I am also very excited to announce that Cherie Currie is heading out on tour in August:

Aug. 7 Cleveland – The Foundry
Aug. 8 Ferndale, MI – Magic Bag
Aug. 10 Chicago – Northalsted Market Days Fair
Aug. 11 Minneapolis – The Belmore/New Skyway Lounge
Aug. 15 Loomis/Sacramento, CA – Blue Goose Event Center
Aug. 16 Fresno –Strummers
Aug. 17 SF – Red Devil Lounge
Aug. 18 San Luis Obispo, CA – SLO Brew

Trivia: Cherie Currie recently appeared as herself in Syfy's "Warehouse 13", Season 4, Episode 16, entitled "Runaway".

Read More Kathleen Hanna Vu and Emily cover early Riot Grrrl bands. This is by no means some definitive guide to Riot Grrrls, but we covered the basics: Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and some later Sleater-Kinney and Pussy Riot action…

JULIE RUIN
thejulieruinband.com

Longtime readers will know that I'm actually a pretty big riot grrrl fan, so I'm happy to report that Kathleen Hanna is back with her Julie Ruin project. The new Julie Ruin album, entitled Run Fast, will be out September 3rd via TJR Records (distributed by Dischord).

Also, guess what? Julie Ruin's FIRST EVER tour is taking place this September, with support from our favorite La Sera on some dates.

09/03: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
09/05: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
09/07: Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
09/12: Portland, OR @ TBA Festival
09/15: Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s #
09/17: San Francisco, CA @ Slims #
09/19: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo #
09/22: San Diego, CA @ Irenic #
11/8-10: Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest

* = w/ Swearin’ as support
# = w/ La Sera as support

Read More Bat for Lashes I've always thought Bat For Lashes' singer, Natasha Khan, was a fox, but wowser, check out the cover artwork for her upcoming new album, The Haunted Man. …

BAT FOR LASHES
batforlashes.com

Bat for Lashes is currently back in the U.S. to tour with Depeche Mode, but in between those dates, the band booked a few headlining side shows. Not surprising since they did a similar deal when they played Coachella and decided to do a mini-California tour.

Bat for Lashes, otherwise known as Natasha Khan, will be playing songs form her third studio album The Haunted Man, tour details below:

08/22/13 Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy #
08/23/13 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music
08/24/13 Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank #
08/26/13 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
08/27/13 St. Paul, MN @ Minnesota State Fair
08/28/13 Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe
08/30/13 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
08/31/13 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
09/01/13 Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amph #
09/03/13 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre #
09/06/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center #
09/07/13 Boston, MA @ Boston Calling Festival
09/08/13 Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach #
09/10/13 Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live #
09/12/13 Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amph #
09/14/13 Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA #
09/15/13 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ BB&T Center #

# with Depeche Mode

Read More Dum Dum Girls Dum Dum Girls - too cute and popular for this earth ... and CMJ (yet they played some shows). …

SISU
sisuband.com

Los Angeles' SISU will be releasing their debut full-length record, Blood Tears, this September 17th, via New York's Mono Prism Records. The band feature principle songwriter Sandra Vu, from Dum Dum Girls.

Talking about the non-genre upcoming album, Vu had this to say, "Blood Tears is about the anxiety of starting over, the hangover of failure, breaking up, insecurities, self doubt, finding a voice, finding that you have a voice, speaking up and singing louder…. I didn't want to sound like any one thing — a shoegaze band, an electronic band, a rock band — but I did want to make pop songs with un-pop sounds. Whether a song starts out as noise or with an abrasive synth, I always find my way back to melody and structure."

The band is also heading out on tour this year with Montreal's Dirty Beaches, see tour dates below:

07/26: San Diego, CA @ The Void
07/27: Los Angeles, CA @ Permanent Records
08/30: Los Angeles, CA @ La Cita
09/04: Montreal, QC @ SAT #
09/05: Boston, MA @ Church #
09/06: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom #
09/08: Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel #
09/09: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's #
09/11: Toronto, ON @ Garrison #
09/12: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle #
09/13: St Louis, MO @ The Firebird #
09/14: Nashville, TN @ Exit/In #
09/15: Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree #
09/17: Austin, TX @ Mohawk Inside #
09/19: Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room #
09/20: Los Angeles, CA @ Echo #
09/21: San Diego, CA @ The Void #
09/22: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill #
09/24: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios #
09/25: Seattle, WA @ Barboza #
09/26: Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore #

# w/Dirty Beaches

Read More Alison Moyet He was one of the founding members of Depeche Mode, and he recently teamed up with Martin Gore as VCMG, and the album Ssss is set to released next month. He also reunited with Alison Moyet as the duo Yazoo for a recent tour. …

ALISON MOYET
alisonmoyet.com

Alison Moyet's Live at Bush Hall digital download EP is available next week, July 29th. The five-track EP feature live rendition of her songs, "When I Was Your Girl", "Filigree", "Nobody's Diary" (Yazoo), and "Don't Go" (Yazoo). The selection is taken from her one-off gig at London's intimate Bush Hall, to premiere tracks from her latest album the minutes.

If you like what you heard, she's heading out on tour this year in support of the minutes:

09/16/13 Berlin – Heimathafen Neukölln
09/17/13 Stuttgart – Theatrehaus
09/18/13 Hannover – Theater am Aegi
09/21/13 Germany – Capitol Offenbach
09/23/13 Amsterdam – Paradiso Grote Zaal
09/24/13 Hamburg - Grosse Freiheit 36
09/25/13 Cologne - Gloria Theatre
09/27/13 Paris, France - Divan du Monde
09/30/13 Ireland Cork Opera House
10/01/13 Northern Ireland Belfast Waterfront
10/02/13 Ireland Dublin Olympia Theatre
10/04/13 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
10/05/13 Edinburgh Usher Hall
10/06/13 Gateshead The Sage
10/08/13 Sheffield City Hall
10/09/13 Rhyl Pavilion Theatre
10/10/13 Warwick Arts Centre
10/12/13 Northampton Derngate Theatre
10/13/13 Ipswich Regents Theatre
10/15/13 London Royal Festival Hall
10/16/13 Cambridge Corn Exchange
10/17/13 Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
10/19/13 Bristol Colston Hall
10/20/13 Cardiff St. David's Hall
10/21/13 Brighton The Dome
10/23/13 York Barbican Theatre
10/24/13 Salford The Lowry
10/25/13 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
10/27/13 Nottingham Royal Centre
10/28/13 Birmingham Symphony Hall
10/29/13 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
10/31/13 Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
04/03/14 Royal Albert Hall

Read More Gogol Bordello Start wearing purple, wearing purple! Gogol Bordello is back with Pura Vida Conspiracy, coming out July 23, 2013, on ATO/Casa Gogol Records …

JESSICA HERNANDEZ & THE DELTAS
jessicahernandez.net

Jessica Hernandez is a first-generation American, living in Detroit, Michigan. She lists her influences are Gogol Bordello and Tom Waits, both bands that we like on W♥M.

Jessica Hernandez and her band called the Deltas will be heading out on tour this year in support of their live EP Live At the Magic Bag:

07/27 - Detroit, MI / Oakaloosa Music Festival
08/17 - Davenport, IA / River Roots Live
08/18 - Chicago, IL / Schuba's
08/28 - Indianapolis, IN / Do317 Lounge
08/29 - Cincinnati, OH / MOTR Pub
08/30 - Columbia, MO / Ninth Street Summerfest
09/01 - Lincoln, NE / Rye Room @ Bourbon Theatre
09/03 - Denver, CO / Hi-Dive
09/04 - Salt Lake City, UT / Kilby Court
09/06 - Portland, OR / Doug Fir (MusicFest NW)
09/07 - San Francisco, CA / Hotel Utah
09/08 - Santa Ana, CA / Constellation Room
09/09 - Hollywood, CA / Bardot
09/10 - Las Vegas, NV / Backstage Bar & Billiards
09/12 - Scottsdale, AZ / Pub Rock Live
09/14 - Austin, TX / Lambert's
09/15 - Dallas, TX / The Foundry
09/17 - St. Louis, MO / The Firebird
09/28 - Philadelphia, PA / Milkboy

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Savages at the Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (07/21/13)

Tour Dates 07/23/13 El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles 07/24/13 El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles 07/28/13 Fuji Rock Festival, Japan 07/29/13 Astro Hall, Tokyo, Japan 08/16/13 Pstereo Festival, Norway 08/18/13 Beacons Festival, UK 08/23/13 Rock en Seine, Paris, France 08/30/13 , End Of the Road Festival, UK 08/31/13 Electric Picnic Ireland 09/07/13 Berlin Festival, Germany 09/08/13 Bestival, Isle of Wight 09/10/13 9:30 Club, DC 09/11/13 Mr Smalls, Pittsburgh 09/12/13 Terminal 5, NYC 09/14/13 Laneway Festival, Detroit 09/15/13 Basement, Columbus, Ohio 09/17/13 First Avenue, Minneapolis 09/18/13 High Noon, Madison 09/20/13 Bluebird, Denver 09/23/13 Neumos, Seattle 09/24/13 Biltmore, Vancouver, Canada 09/25/13 Wonder Ballroom, Portland 09/27/13 Independent, San Francisco 09/29/13 Independent, San Francisco 10/01/13 Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix 10/04/13 Austin City Limits 10/05/13 Verizon Theatre, Grand Prairie * 10/07/13 Nashvillle Municipal, Nashville * 10/08/13 Arkansas Music Pavilion, Fayetteville * 10/09/13 Brady Theater, Tulsa * 10/11/13 Austin City Limits 10/13/13 Mexico Corona Capital Festival * with QOTSA Read More Savages Exciting news for the all-girl British post-punk band, Savages: they are appearing on Jimmy Fallon tonight on NBC. Savages will be performing "She Will", off of their debut LP Silence Yourself, out now via …

Undoubtedly, one of the hottest UK all-girl bands at the moment is called Savages, from London. They sold out all their headlining North American venues on this tour, clearly they had no idea how popular they were when they booked the small venues. Savages stopped by Minneapolis' Triple Rock Social Club as part of their 11-U.S. tour date in support of Silence Yourself.

JOHNNY HOSTILE

Opening up the show was Johnny Hostile, aka Nicolas Congé, from the indie French group John & Jehn. You should know that Jehn (Camille Berthomier) is actually the singer in Savages. If you think that's incestuous, Gemma Thomson (also in Savages) was previously John & Jehn's live guitarist! Anyway, so it's no surprise that both Gemma (joined on for the fourth song) and Jehn (to sing "The Pricks") lent their talent on Johnny's set. He ended his set with "Hours, Days And Weeks".

As expected, with only one album under their belt, Savages basically played their entire debut album, minus one or two songs. If you were a fan of the album you were in for a treat as "City's Full", "Shut Up", "I Am Here", "Strife", "Waiting For A Sign", "No Face", "She Will", "Hit Me", and "Husbands", were played to an adoring audience.

Rounding out the rest of their set were their very first single, "Flying to Berlin", and some new tracks, "Give Me A Gun" and "F**kers". The latter was the highlight of the set as the band raged with a really high energetic performance.

The other thing you should know about the band is that they're more art-rock than punk, but I can see why people are coming up with those comparisons. They're also quite a serious band, there's nothing funny about their act. They also don't like being filmed via phones, and at one point, Jehnny grabbed someone's phone and threw it on stage. Apparently no one read the notes posted all around the Triple Rock asking people to not film the show!

Anyway, no encores were given, but that's actually pretty common for brand new bands. Savages are currently on tour in support of Silence Yourself, which you can purchase via Matador Records. If you missed this this time around (because all their shows sold out), fear not, you can redeem yourself with a ticket for their September show.

Savages at the Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (07/21/13)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ savagesband.com ♥ popnoire.com/johnny-hostile-jehnny