W♥M (Archive)

Tiny Ruins at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (30 July 2014)

Tiny Ruins Setlist Me at the Museum, You in the Wintergardens Carriages Chainmail Maker Ballad of the Hanging Parcel White Sheet Lightening Jamie Blue Adelphi Apartments Old As the Hills Straw into Gold She'll Be Coming 'Round -- Encore -- Priest With Balloons Tour Dates 07/31 Iowa City, IA - Trumpet Blossom Cafe 08/01 Chicago, IL - Hideout 08/04 Toronto, ON - The Garrison 08/05 Montreal, QB - Casa del Popolo 08/06 Allston, MA - Great Scott 08/07 Washington DC - DC9 08/09 New York, Ny - Mercury Lounge (early show) 08/10 Brooklyn, NY -Baby's All Right 10/08 Detroit - Loving Touch * 10/09 Columbus - Wexner * 10/13 Iowa City - Gabe's Oasis * 10/14 Champaign - High Dive * 10/15 St. Louis - Luminary Arts * 10/17 Dallas - Kessler Theatre * 10/18 Austin - Mohawk * 10/20 Atlanta - EARL * 10/21 Asheville - Grey Eagle * 10/23 Carrboro - Cat's Cradle * 10/24 Charlottesville - Jefferson * 10/25 Baltimore - Ottobar * * with Sharon Van Etten Read More Tiny Ruins New Zealand singer-songwriter Tiny Ruins, aka Hollie Fullbrook, is currently touring North America. Her latest album Brightly Painted One is out now on Flying Nun Records. … Anonymous Choir The "band" was the Anonymous Choir, a large cast of women backup singer lead by Nona Marie (Dark Dark Dark). The music portion was provided by the Ventures Cover Band, plus two additional horn players who came on later … Zoo Animal Next was Zoo Animal, a band that I've seen a few times. Mostly with just Holly Newsom by herself, so it's always nice to see her backed up with a full functioning band. …

New Zealand's Tiny Ruins is currently touring in the U.S., promoting their second album Brightly Painted One (Flying Nun Records), stopping by the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis last night, July 30.

Holly Hansen

Opening up the show were two local bands; starting with Holly Newsom, now performing under her original name, Holly Hansen. The new/old name confused a few fans, even one person insisted that First Avenue had the wrong person on the bill, as they swear that Holly Hansen and Holly Newsom were two different people. One thing was for sure was that she's still normally in a full band called Zoo Animal.

Hansen played gentle quiet songs, and often had one-way chats with the audience between her songs. She had some funny moments on stage, like forgetting how to play a chord mid-song, and gracefully calling the show as "a night of sweethearts" (which to be fair, was a quote that she stole from her mother, who was in the crowd).

Anonymous Choir

Next up were Anonymous Choir, who we previously wrote that the band was lead by singer Nona Marie from Dark Dark Dark. Color me impressed, they managed to fit all seven women on the tiny 7th Street Entry stage.

Music on their set included plenty of Leonard Cohen ("Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye", "I'm Your Man", "Chelsea Hotel") and Neil Young ("After The Gold Rush", "I Believe In You", and "Don't Let It Bring You Down"). Throwing in a Curtis Mayfield cover of "I've Been Trying" for good measure. Highlight of the set was a cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill", which was quite fitting considering that it was Bush's birthday last night.

As for Tiny Ruins, this was a solo project originally from 2009 by singer/songwriter Hollie Fullbrook. Currently, with the release of the sophomore album Brightly Painted One, she's recruited bassist Cass Basil and drummer Alexander Freer, to head out on tour with her in the USA.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that the majority of songs on the setlist is from Brightly Painted One, possibly because the new songs now require Basil and Freer's involvement...

Fullbrook had a lot of little stories about her songs, which you quickly realized that all her songs are personal insight on her life. One particular story she told was for "Ballad of the Hanging Parcel". Although she's currently based in New Zealand, she spent her first ten years living in Bristol, England. One night, she climbed out her house and tied a string to a rock (?) and hung it over the garden step. The next morning her neighbor friend wondered how it got up there and Fullbrook suggested that it was magic. The swinging rock remained there for the next two years.

The highlight of the Minneapolis show has got to be "Jamie Blue", which the band claimed was the first time they played it live on this tour. The story behind this was they spent the night at the Necropolis in Glasgow and Fullbrook took a shining to one of the painting from the 1800s, which she named Jaime Blue on account that the town crier also sold blue buttons on the side of the road.

Setlist

Also, "Night Owl" was listed (see photo), but I do not believe they played this song, at least according to my notes.

For the encore, Fullbrook came back on stage, solo. She asked if there were any requests and had to turn down some songs because some of those songs required a piano. When she heard "Priest With Balloons" shouted out, she quickly said, "I'll do that one." She then tells us the story behind the song, "About four or five years ago, there was a Brazilian priest Carli, who jumped off a cliff with a bunch of helium balloons and floated off into the sky." The truth, as it turned out, "was not good."

Tiny Ruins is currently touring in support of Brightly Painted One. Exciting news is that they will be opening up for Sharon Van Etten this October.

Tiny Ruins at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (30 July 2014)

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

Get On Up: The James Brown Story - movie review

Universal Pictures Get On Up: The James Brown Story Rating: PG13 In Theaters: August 1st, 2014 Director: Tate Taylor Writers: Steve Baigelman, Jez Butterworth, John Butterworth, Tate Taylor Actors: Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, Lennie James, Tika Sumpter, Jill Scott, Dan Aykroyd Genre: Drama Run Time: 2 hours 19 minutes Synopsis In his follow-up to the four-time Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster The Help, Tate Taylor directs 42’s Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in Get on Up. Based on the incredible life story of the Godfather of Soul, the film will give a fearless look inside the music, moves and moods of Brown, taking audiences on the journey from his impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Boseman is joined in the drama by Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, Lennie James, Tika Sumpter, Jill Scott and Dan Aykroyd. Read More James Brown I am not sure I have heard such horn arrangements since the glory days of the James Brown Band. This band clearly has its own sound, however, even when it seems to be tipping its collective hat to Tito Puente …

The new James Brown bio pic, Get On Up, is an “I Feel Good” kind of movie... when it should have been “I Feel Great”.  The Universal Pictures release is due out this Friday, August 1^st (bravely going against Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy at the box office), features Chadwick Boseman in the title role, and lists Mick Jagger and Brian Grazer among the film’s producers.

Boseman (a very likeable actor who played Jackie Robinson in 42) admirably plays Brown from ages 16 to 60 and the movie begins somewhat oddly with a 1988 confrontation Brown has with an insurance seminar going on in one of his buildings.  From there, the narrative shifts to the 1960’s, then to the ‘30s with scenes of Brown as a small child, in a jumpy timeline structure that is easy enough to follow, though never quite takes hold in setting an emotional connection with the on-screen personalities.

Nelsan Ellis proves revelatory as Brown’s longtime friend and stage partner, Bobby Byrd, who stuck with the Godfather of Soul, through many a thick and thin, before finally splitting up their friendship in a poignant later scene of the movie.  Brown’s history as a performer is touched on in several somewhat brief episodes to fit it all into the 138 min. running time; from his signing with King Records, to interactions with Little Richard, to even a scene slighting The Rolling Stones themselves as Brown had to give up the headlining slot of the fabled T.A.M.I. Show filming of two nights in the early ‘60s.

As worthy as Boseman is in the lead role (the makeup on him as an aging Brown often looked eerily like the man himself), other roles that went to more "name" actors, weren’t as successful.  Dan Aykroyd as mentor Ben Bart never transcended the fact that it was Aykroyd, and Craig (The Office) Robinson as sax player Maceo Parker, seemed woefully miscast, though The Roots' Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter as Pee Wee Ellis and singer Jill Scott as Brown’s second wife, Deidre 'Deedee' Jenkins, seemed convincing enough.

Music in a picture like this takes center stage, and Boseman does a decent job in lip-synching to many of Brown’s tunes;  the highlight of which perhaps, occurs late in the film as a previously unheard live version of “Tell Me” is used as former friend Byrd and his wife, re-connect with Brown later in life.

Viola Davis is her usual outstanding as Brown’s estranged mother in little to no makeup, but Oscar winner Octavia Spencer is somewhat wasted in a small role penned by English brothers, The Butterworths, who successfully also wrote the recent adaptation of Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise.

Direction from Tate (The Help) Taylor is mostly well done, if at times  over symbolic, though Taylor, who is from Jackson, MS, clearly has an affinity and working knowledge of people from the south.  A few cameos are present as well, with nu-soul singer Aloe Blacc playing Famous Flames bandmate, Nafloyd Scott and New Edition singer Ralph Tresvant as Sam Cooke, among others.

Aspiring to be as great a picture as Ray with Jamie Foxx was, Get On Up isn’t afraid to shy away from Brown’s darker side (abusing his wives, owing the IRS, fining band members, and leading police on a high-speed chase), it just doesn’t fully soar to engaging heights, like the funk music Soul Brother #1 helped invent that has inspired almost every musician after him.

Not to say it doesn’t entertain, but Get On Up doesn’t attain the “Star Time” status the legacy of James Brown himself, deservedly earned.

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Counting Crows w/ Toad the Wet Sprocket, Myth Nightclub - Maplewood, MN (25 July 2014)

Counting Crows Setlist Sullivan Street Untitled (Love Song) (The Romany Rye cover) I Wish I Was a Girl Come Around Mr. Jones God of Ocean Tides Start Again (Teenage Fanclub cover) Omaha Richard Manuel Is Dead Scarecrow Sessions Round Here (Earthquake Driver/Private Archipelago version) Possibility Days A Long December Hanginaround -- Encore -- Palisades Park Rain King Holiday in Spain Toad the Wet Sprocket Setlist Whatever I Fear The Moment Good Intentions Something's Always Wrong New Constellation Windmills Crazy Life Come Down California Wasted Come Back Down All I Want Fall Down Walk on the Ocean Daniel and the Lion Setlist Death Head Need You Flash Flood On Berlin Free Love Forever Tour Dates 07/30/14 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Live 08/01/14 Catoosa, OK Hard Rock Casino 08/02/14 Durant, OK Choctaw Casino Resort 08/04/14 Socorro, TX Socorro Entertainment Center 08/06/14 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Tori Amph 08/07/14 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre 08/09/14 Del Mar, CA Del Mar Racetrack 08/10/14 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Beach 08/12/14 Redmond, WA King County's Marymoor 08/13/14 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert 08/15/14 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre 08/17/14 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre * all dates with Toad the Wet Sprocket Read More Counting Crows ‘Wonderland’ is arriving early... … or at least a slice of it. Counting Crows have again decided to spend their summer on the road, in early promotion of their next upcoming album … Toad the Wet Sprocket Monty Python are due to reunite shortly for a series of shows in London, and California four-piece Toad the Wet Sprocket (who are named after a band in a Python skit) are back on the road, in support of their …

Suburban Minnesotans got a taste of California sunshine as two very West Coast bands brought their sounds to Myth in nearby Maplewood, MN over the weekend.

The Outlaw Roadshow Tour featuring Santa Barbara reunited four-piece Toad the Wet Sprocket and Bay Area alt-rockers Counting Crows hit town, showcasing both new songs and the late ‘80s/early ‘90s hits that made them famous.

Daniel and the Lion

The night began with a bit of regional flavor as Madison, WI-born band Daniel and the Lion, opened with a solid set that ran just shy of thirty minutes.  The group, now based in Nashville, was handpicked by Crows’ frontman Adam Duritz to open the tour, and is in support of its two latest releases, last year’s full-length Death Head and last fall’s follow up EP, Final Night (Rotown Records).

The band, led by duo Daniel Pingrey  and Jimmie Linville is not a Christian rock group, as their name might infer (though it is a reference to the Bible's Book of Daniel) and plays a melodic blend of folk pop that fit it well with the other two bands on the bill.  The audience did seem to pay attention, which is often rare with a band third on the bill, and in spite of singer Linville wearing an opposing Green Bay Packers cap, that a fan in front even tried to rip from his head.

Toad the Wet Sprocket

Toad the Wet Sprocket next took the stage for a performance just shy of an hour, efficiently managing to play thirteen songs in that time, blending selections from their recent album New Constellation (on the band’s own Abe’s Records-their first new material in sixteen years), alongside the older familiar songs that first put them on the map.

Changing it up from their previous setlists, the band opened with ‘Whatever I Fear’ from 1997’s Coil before launching into the new ‘The Moment’, with singer Glen Phillips prefacing it by saying, “We’re gonna play you a song from THIS century, if that’s cool.” The band [Glen Phillips (vocals/guitar), Todd Nichols (guitars), Dean Dinning (bass), Randy Guss (drums)] is clearly still having a good time reuniting and bringing their music to fans, new and old.

Hits ‘Good Intentions’ and ‘Something’s Always Wrong’ followed, and grabbed the crowd’s attention, many of whom were clearly there more for Toad, than the other acts. Guitarist Nichols took over lead vocals for the swaying ‘Crazy Life’ and the band was more than ably backed by Jonathan Kingham on keyboard, steel guitar, and mandolin.

Glen Phillips

‘Come Back Down’ from the 1990 release, Pale, was a setlist surprise and the band closed with three timeless alt-radio hits, ‘All I Want’, ‘Fall Down’, and best-known song, ‘Walk on the Ocean’, with my only complaint being the vocals set a little low in the mix, which especially made Phillips’ comments between songs, a little hard to understand amidst some audience conversations.

Vocal volume wasn’t an issue during Counting Crows’ 104 min. set, as singer Adam Duritz’ mic (once it arrived on stage, as he went to sing the first song and it wasn’t there) was in front of their mix and clearly heard.  The seven-piece is out in pre-promotion of their upcoming  Somewhere Under Wonderland (Capitol Records) due out Sept, 2^nd, playing a generous helping of the new songs, along with an ever-rotating setlist incorporating many of their previous hits.

The band entered to the intro music of ‘Lean on Me’, with Duritz sporting a profane Nine Inch Nails t-shirt, and reached back to their 1994 debut, August and Everything After, for the set-opening and somewhat somber ‘Sullivan Street’. A cover of a song by The Colour offshoot band, The Romany Rye followed, with tempo gradually building on ‘I Wish I Was a Girl’ and the bouncy ‘Come Around’.

First and biggest hit, ‘Mr. Jones’ had even the most casual fans nodding their heads in a fairly straight-forward version of the song, and the new ‘God of Ocean Tides’ (the first song written for the upcoming album) fit in well amongst the older tracks.

Counting Crows

The remainder of the band, David Bryson (guitar), Charlie Gillingham (accordion, keyboards), Dan Vickrey (guitar), David Immerglück (guitar, banjo, mandolin), Jim Bogios (drums) and Millard Powers (bass), kept up with Duritz’ (who had also since changed into a vintage T-Rex t-shirt) tempo/key changes and slight improvs with Gillingham taking center stage on accordion for early classic, ‘Omaha’, which had the crowd shouting the chorus back to the band.

Adam Duritz

An extended ‘Round Here’ was a mid-set highlight, adding in elements of new song, ‘Earthquake Driver’ and Duritz’ former band, Sordid Humor’s ‘Private Archipelago’. After the new ‘Possibility Days’, Duritz moved to piano, again accentuated by Gillingham’ accordion for hit, ‘A Long December’ before a buoyant ‘Hanginaround’ ended the main set.

The three-song encore started with current single, ‘Pallisades Park’, an epic new number dotted with Duritz’s familiar lyrical references of funhouses, trains, sky rockets, and carnivals. ’Rain King’ and ‘Holiday in Spain’ ended the evening, with Duritz staying on stage to direct the singing crowd as the closing outro music of The Mamas & Papas’ ‘California Dreamin’ filled the speakers.

California had indeed come to Minnesota… for the evening anyway.

Counting Crows at Myth Nightclub, Maplewood (25 July 2014)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Girls and Boys

Read More Boys Noize Popular Berlin-based producer/DJ Boys Noize stopped by Minneapolis' Mill City Nights in support of his latest EP Go Hard (coming out June 24th via Boysnoize Records). …

BOYS NOIZE
boysnoize.com

Alex Ridha, aka Boys Noize, announced recently that he will be co-headlining a tour with Baauer.

The 24 tour dates finds Boys Noize returning to Mill City Nights in Minneapolis in mid-October. We caught Boys Noize last year at the same venue, where Gretchen compared Ridha to Tchaikovsky, "performing the last movement of his number 4 symphony."

Tour dates:

08/10 – New York, NY @ Governors Island
10/02 - San Diego, CA @ SOMA
10/03 - Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
10/04 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
10/07 - Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater
10/08 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
10/09 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
10/10 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
10/11 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
10/12 - Missoula, MT @ The Wilma Theatre
10/15 - Minneapolis, MN @ Mill City Nights
10/16 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Horny Goat Tent
10/17 - Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
10/18 - Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
10/21 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bluebird
10/22 - Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
10/23 - Denver, CO @ The Ogden
10/24 - Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theatre
10/25 - El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
10/27 - Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
10/28 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
10/29 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
10/30 - New Orleans, LA @ Republic New Orleans
10/31 - Orlando, FL @ House Of Blues
11/01 - Miami, FL @ The Fillmore

ASHTRAY BOY
facebook.com/pages/ashtray-boy

80/90s indie-rock band Ashtray Boy (aka singer-songwriter Randall Lee from The Cannanes) will have all nine albums available for download and streaming platforms for the first time, via Minty Fresh Records. You may recall that I was rather impressed by The Cannanes' comeback EP last year.

Stream "Shirley Maclaine" featuring Liz Phair on Soundcloud.

G.R.L.
grlmusic.com

All-girl American-British-Canadian group G.R.L. is releasing their debut self-titled EP today, July 29th via Kemosabe Records/RCA Records. The EP features their current single "Ugly Heart" with a video that has already racked up over 4.8 million views.

Described by People Magazine as "the sexy new girl-group" and Time Magazine calling "the rising girl group go for the jugular with a stampeding new single," I'm sure we'll be hearing more from G.R.L. in the future.

G.R.L. EP track listing

1. Ugly Heart
2. Show Me What You Got
3. Rewind
4. Don't Talk About Love
5. Girls Are Always Right

SHY GIRLS
facebook.com/shygirlsmusic

Portland, Oregon's Shy Girls (songwriter and vocalist Dan Vidmar) recently release "All for Show" via Red Bull Sound Select. You can hear the track via soundcloud.com.

They describe this new song as a departure from Shy Girls' usual sound and citing it more closer to a Jono Ma's (of Jagwar Ma) influence.

Look for Shy Girls to perform live in Chicago on Sunday, August 3rd at this year's Lollapalooza, as well as the Official Lollapalooza after party featuring Jhene Aiko on Saturday, August 2nd.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Morrissey vs Morrissey-solo

Read More Morrissey For the uninitiated, Morrissey started his career in music as the singer/lyricist of The Smiths. After the band broke up in 1987, Morrissey went on to a successful solo career with his debut Viva Hate, scoring hits like "Everyday Is …

Celebrity gossip website TMZ is reporting that Morrissey's bodyguard Bradley Steyn was asked to "hurt" and harm David T, the fan behind Morrissey-solo.com.

The article went on to detail that Morrissey's manager wanted David killed, or as quoted "could be gotten rid of," as they discussed how to get the fan's home address.

When Steyn refused, he was fired the next day.

While I don't believe that Morrissey or his manager (Donnie Knutson) would go so far as murder, the physical harm is very believable because of the whole Morrissey-solo and Morrissey backstory. If you haven't been keeping on the drama, let us re-examine their relationship:

Morrissey-solo was originally a fanzine called Sing Your Life. It made the digital transition and became one of the first Morrissey fansite on the internet.

The website kept fans informed of Morrissey news and releases, even during Morrissey's inactive years. The relationship was good, at least up to 2000, when Morrissey-solo was allow to take photographs of two Morrissey signings for ¡Oye Esteban! DVD release (one in Los Angeles and one in New York).

In 2003, David posted a rumor that the UK touring staffs have not been paid. If you read the article, it did not accuse Morrissey of any wrongdoing and it only ask if anyone can prove/verify the statement (but there are some juicy bits in the response section). Morrissey's lawyers issued a cease and desist, but David refused to take down the original article or delete users' comments.

Morrissey wearing "F*** Morrissey-solo" T-Shirt Bradford - St. George's Hall (June 27, 2011)

After years of legal struggling, Morrissey eventually made it public by letting everyone know how he felt about the "poisonous" website, when the entire band wore "F*** Morrissey-solo" T-shirt for the encore at St. George's Hall, Bradford in 2011.

Shortly after the T-Shirt thing, David was ejected from a Morrissey show (to add insult to injuries, the concert tickets were not refunded!). The Guardian ran a story on this and quoted David:

"I've never intended to cause distress to Morrissey or his band. I post little commentary on the site, preferring to leave the discussion to site users – he seems to blame me for his fans' opinions. I don't agree with every post on there but I believe in free speech – I don't like to censor, which is something he is supposedly against.

It's a control thing. If he doesn't have control of the site then he doesn't like it – he wants to knock it down...."

Then it became official, via a press release, David was banned from all future Morrissey concerts, for life.

Full disclosure, I am a friend of David and have submitted various stories to Morrissey-Solo. I am also a big Morrissey/The Smiths fan, but I'm am not conflicted here. I'm on Team David all the way.

UPDATE: Statement from Morrissey. From true-to-you.net:

I cannot admit to actually "knowing" Bradley Steyn. Yes, I am aware that he is South African and that he lives in Los Angeles, and that he has "walked off" three Morrissey tours - which really is his own business, not mine. My personal involvement with him has been zero, and he has certainly never been Head Of Security on any Morrissey tour.

I am aware of the false story he has placed on various news sites wherein he claims I asked him to "hurt" (kill?) David Tseng. Although Steyn's story lends itself to its own ridicule, I feel I must say to those who have not yet worked it out, that the story is a vexatious lie.

It is common knowledge that I dislike the SoLow site, and I am aware that all of the opinions posted on the site are controlled or written by David Tseng, and that David Tseng will give maximum and inexhaustive publicity to anything said in the negative about me. This is a general truth that most people accept about SoLow. It is nothing new, and I have long since learned to accept it.

The very idea that I would ask a complete stranger (Bradley Steyn) to physically attack David Tseng surely cannot register with any sane person as being likely. As mildly irritating as David Tseng may be, he is not someone who troubles me enough to even bother with.

The shabby truth of this drama is that Bradley Steyn has been trying to extract money from what he terms "the Morrissey tour", and he has failed. He is now desperate, and this story is his latest escapade to gain someone's attention. What he is telling the world is that, as a music venue security officer, anyone who works with him in the future should expect the same harassment and persecution as he is now - mysteriously - wielding my way. It is beyond belief, and it is shocking that someone who makes claims of professionalism would lower himself to this level.

Please note that Bradley Steyn's statement is now in the hands of the Los Angeles Police Department, and is subject to both criminal and civil action.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden at the Midwest Music Museum, Minneapolis (28 Jul 2014)

Setlist Island of the Misfit Give up the Ghost Looking Around Everything Went Down On the Radio Hangover Big Idea Next To You Wide Open Plain Blue Hotel Tour Dates 07/29/14 Lincoln, NE Vega 07/30/14 Denver, CO Herman's Hideaway 07/31/14 Salt Lake City, UT Club Metro 08/01/14 Boise, ID Neurolux 08/02/14 Spokane, WA The Bartlett 08/04/14 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern 08/05/14 Portland, OR The Secret Society 08/06/14 Eugene, OR Cozmic Pizza 08/07/14 San Francisco, CA Neck Of The Woods 08/08/14 Los Angeles, CA Three Clubs 08/10/14 Sedona, AZ Oak Creek Brew Co. 08/11/14 Albuquerque, NM Ned's 08/13/14 Oklahoma City, OK The Conservatory 08/14/14 Fort Worth, TX Lola's Sixth 08/15/14 Austin, TX Swan Dive 08/16/14 Houston, TX Jet Lounge 08/19/14 New Orleans, LA Gasa Gasa 08/20/14 Birmingham, AL BottleTree 08/21/14 Atlanta, GA The Music Room 08/22/14 Charlotte, NC Evening Muse Read More Kate Tucker Since the closing of the 400 Bar, we've been waiting in anticipation of their rebirth at the Mall of America. One of the very first show booked at the brand new 400 Bar will be Kate Tucker & The …

It was the first of many for Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden, their first ever Minneapolis show, their first mall show, and their first museum show. It was a great experience for this Nashville-based band, as they are making their way across the country and experiencing all the various shapes, colors, and feels, of the USA.

Originally scheduled to appear at the grand re-opening of the 400 Bar, now located at the Mall of America, the show was moved to its neighboring space, the Midwest Music Museum. The museum is currently displaying Bob Bonis' photographs of the Beatles in America, and Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden's stage was set up in the main lobby of "Beatles in Minnesota" showcasing photographs of the Beatles' only appearance in Minneapolis in 1965.

Kate Tucker at Cedar Door, Austin (19 Mar 2009)

Before I talk about Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden's show at the Midwest Music Museum, I just wanted to revisit our history with the band. When I heard their self-titled album in 2007, I really thought the band was going to be "really massive."

I love their album and was excited to finally see her live along with Meiko and Ed Harcourt at SXSW in 2009. Although it was just her as a solo artist, she also debut her latest project The Honeydove that year.

Anyway, about last year, the band launched a successful Kickstarter to raise money to release The Shape The Color The Feel on vinyl and also fund various video projects. Needless to say, now that the album is out, they're touring in support of it, and as expected, most of the songs on their set were taken from the new album.

Whenever I see bands play at libraries or art galleries, it's a weird vibe. You are so trained on trying to be quiet, but this was a rock show!

As for the new songs, they sounded pretty good live. The band seems really well-rehearsed with the Minneapolis date being one of their very first gigs in their 30+ tour dates this year.

Setlist

Right before they played their finale, "Blue Hotel", Tucker mentioned that the song was getting airplay on The Current and that they've just debut the music video by Miriam Bennet on Esquire and they seemed really pleased with it.

Again, Tucker mentioned that playing in a photo gallery was quite a unique experience for them, adding, "You can't hide behind the lights or through the haze of liquor..."

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden are currently on tour in support of The Shape The Color The Feel. The Beatles exhibit runs through September 7th.

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden at the Midwest Music Museum, Minneapolis (28 Jul 2014)

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

News: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour Announce Fall US Tour

Read More Asteroids Galaxy Tour Turnout for the Triple Rock show was excellent with the majority of the fans sporting AGT T-Shirts (they sold out their stock of large shirts last night) in front singing along to every song (even at the non-singles!) …

Let me remind you of how big of fans we are of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour: reviewed their debut EP in 2008, interviewed them at SXSW 2009, and seen them at 7th Street Entry (02/08/2012) and Triple Rock Social Club (11/03/2012).

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour's third studio album Bring Us Together (coming out September 16 via Hot Bus/Rough Trade) will be "darker", as songwriter Lars Iversen explains, "The sound is more processed, and less 'manual' than before- with more weighting on repetitive beats, bass grooves, chopped-up loops, and a more laidback vocal style."

To get you excited about the new record, check out the title track "Bring Us Together", available as a free download via soundcloud.com.



Here is their official confirmed October US Tour dates:

10/17: San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo's 365 Club
10/18: Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
10/20: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
10/22: New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
10/23: Washington, DC @ The Howard Theatre
10/24: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts

Unfortunately, for this initiate Bring Us Together tour, the band will only be playing major markets, such as Los Angeles and New York. Hopefully additional tour dates will be announced later, so they can truly bring us together.

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

Camera Obscura with Laura Cantrell at First Avenue, Minneapolis (26 Jul 2014)

Camera Obscura Setlist Break It to You Gently New Year's Resolution Let's Get Out Of This Country Forests and Sands Honey In The Sun French Navy This Is Love (Feels Alright) Desire Lines Cri du coeur Every Weekday Do It Again If Looks Could Kill Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken Country Mile My Maudlin Career -- Encore -- Come Back Margaret Books Written for Girls Razzle Dazzle Rose Laura Cantrell Setlist Don't Break the Heart Can't Wait No Way There From Here Kitty Wells Dresses Glass Armour Letter She Sent Starry Skies Do You Ever Think of Me Not the Tremblin' Kind Yonder Comes a Freight Train Read More Camera Obscura Camera Obscura is back with a new album, Desire Lines, out now on 4AD Records. The Scottish band is in America at the moment: … Laura Cantell Are you going to see Camera Obscura this Saturday at First Avenue in Minneapolis? Show up early to catch Nashville-born, New York City-based singer-songwriter Laura Cantrell! …

"You've been a great audience. Thank you for coming to see us ... besides you've got lots of choices, thanks for seeing us," announced Tracyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura. Ask anyone in attendance, and they'll tell you that they've made the right choice in seeing Camera Obscura at First Avenue, last night, Saturday, July 26th.

Laura Cantrell

Opening up the show was traditional Country singer Laura Cantrell. Cantrell apologized for playing some new songs from her latest record, No Way There From Here... and then quickly pointed out, "I supposed they're all new songs to you, because this is my first time playing in Minneapolis."

The story between these two bands goes back ten years ago, when they met at John Peel's birthday party. The two became and remained friends and eventually, (as Tracyanne would later explained), when they planned on touring the USA again, they asked Cantrell to tour with them (expecting her to say "no"). So here they were, on the last date on the USA July 2014 tour.

Left to right: Mark Spencer, Laura Cantrell, and Jimmy Ryan

Accompanying Cantrell on stage were Mark Spencer (guitarist from Son Volt) and Jimmy Ryan (singer of Blood Oranges). Spencer played regular and steel guitars, while Ryan played notably the mandolin.

There were three stand-out songs on Cantrell's set that I immediately was drawn to. The first was "Can't Wait", which had some very clever lyrics about love and cooking in the kitchen. The second was "Starry Skies", the preceding single to No Way There From Here, sounded just perfect (as if it was lifted from the studio recording). And lastly, "Yonder Comes a Freight Train" has that rambling country sound ... musically and lyrically a really fun song. Basically, the song is about a hobo who travels the world on a freight train.

Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura was one of those bands that all my sissy music friends were telling me to check out. So my first introduction to them, was "Your Sound", which I picked up as an import single. Let me tell you, I was not impressed. To be fair, the band was still struggling to find, er, for a lack of a better word, their sound. That single actually didn't even feature Tracyanne Campbell on lead vocals... she would become the voice of the band when Biggest Bluest Hi Fi came out in 2001. By the time I heard "Eighties Fan", I was in love with the band.

I never caught Camera Obscura on their first US tour, but I did manage to see them at the Varsity Theater in July 27, 2006. Saw the band again (twice!) at SXSW 2009, but ended up missing their last appearance at the Cedar Cultural Center, around late May. Needless to say, it's good to see Camera Obscura again at First Avenue, last night.

Tracyanne Campbell was in good spirit. Apparently they don't have "Pedal Pubs" in Scotland, as Campbell quipped, "Yeah, that thing wouldn't last two minutes in Glasgow!"

Setlist

Camera Obscura's set was basically the same set they've been playing throughout the country. Half of the songs were taken from Desire Lines and My Maudlin Career, both albums available via 4AD Records.

The more upbeat songs were hits with the fans ("New Year's Resolution", "Let's Get Out Of This Country", "Do It Again", and, of course, "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken"). Only one early song were played in their set, sandwiched between two songs for the encore, "Books Written for Girls", which Tracyanne described as "a real golden oldie."

As they started to play "Razzle Dazzle Rose", Tracyanne promised that they won't take so long to play Minneapolis again. "Okay we'll I hope to see you soon. Maybe next year?" As they walked off the stage, my head was replaying, "let's do it again!"

Camera Obscura and Laura Cantrell just ended their USA July 2014 tour. Camera Obscura's Desire Lines is available now on 4AD, and Laura Cantrell's latest No Way There From Here is available now on Thrift Shop Recordings/Red Eye.

Camera Obscura at First Avenue, Minneapolis (26 Jul 2014)

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

The Freakin' Weekend

This is the time of year in Minneapolis/St. Paul when it’s the height of summer and there are always more things to do, than there is time. So, with that in mind, here are a few other weekend options for this weekend, in addition to those already covered in our regular weekly guide:

Read More Prince Prince hopped a plane to Coachella last weekend to watch Outkast with Janelle Monae perform, but he’s back in Minnesota and has again opened the fabled doors of Paisley Park …

All Things Purple

Since Prince isn’t big into celebrating anniversaries (or even the very concept of time itself), First Avenue is picking up the baton and is hosting a Purple Rain 30^th Anniversary Dance Party and Costume Contest, Tonight in the Mainroom.  DJs will spin, a trivia contest, special food and drink and a cash-prize costume contest, highlight the night’s activities.

Details at first-avenue.com:

Celebrating 30 Years of Purple Rain

Costume Contest Prizes:
1st Place - $300 + 3 pairs of tix
2nd Place - $200 + 2 pairs of tix
3rd Place - $100 + 1 pair of tix

The celebration starts off in The Depot Tavern, who are hosting their own Purple Rain Party from 7-10pm leading up to the Dance Party & Costume Contest afterwards in the Mainroom.

The Depot's Purple Rain specialty drink will be on special and Purple Rain-themed donuts will be on hand courtesy of our friends at Glam Doll Donuts. And be sure to arrive by 8pm to compete for prizes in a Purple Rain trivia quiz, hosted by Danny Sigelman.

Listening Party

Not to be outdone, Paisley Park in Chanhassen opens on Saturday night for a Listening Party of presumably the new Plectrum Electrum album with band 3^rd Eye Girl, due out soon, as well as maybe cuts of a rumored solo LP.  The cover charge includes a mystery merchandise item and the usual shroud of uncertainty as to if Prince and/or band will actually perform, is again in question, as always.

Keep in touch with: @3rdeyegirl

Lowertown Blues Festival

Low Down Blues

Mears Park in St. Paul plays host to the Lowertown Blues Festival this Saturday, a Free Admission seven-hour event features multiple acts in concert, including two-time Grammy nominee Shemekia Copeland and multi-genre folk/rock/soul/blues group Hamilton Loomis Band. FYI, the new Green Line light-rail line into St. Paul gives this show extra-easy access to attend.

Additional information at lowertownbluesfestival.com

Tour de Fat

Bikes, Beer, and Black Joe

New Belgium brewery again brings its Tour de Fat festival back to Loring Park this Saturday.  The completely free event features a bike parade, vendors and booths, beer on tap (of course), and a handful of musical acts, headlined by Black Joe Lewis, who closes the festival with their rock/funk/soul blend, at around 4pm.

Event details: newbelgium.com

10 Thousand Sounds Music Festival

Downtown Sounds

Local Alt-weekly City Pages will close off downtown streets around 10^th Street on Saturday, for six hours of music and their 2^nd Annual 10 Thousand Sounds Music Festival.  Food and beverage choices should be plentiful and the multi-genre music lineup is closed out by up-and-coming dreamy indie-folk duo, Sylvan Esso, and local heroes of dual percussion and trip-hop, Poliça.

City Pages has all the details: citypages.com

Great Midwest Rib Fest

BBQ and Tunes

Mystic Lake Casino in nearby Prior Lake is the scene for the inaugural Great Midwest Rib Fest, happening all weekend.  In addition to eight of the country’s best rib cookers vying for cash prizes and trophies, an art festival is on site and entertainment from the likes of Paul Revere and the Raiders and the Oak Ridge Boys, and is Free Admission.

The eatin' starts at mysticlake.com

Ted Nugent at Medina

Motor City Madman in Medina

For those hunters that can’t get enough from the Rib Fest, everybody’s favorite Uncle Ted, Ted Nugent returns to these parts on Sunday, with a headlining show at the Medina Entertainment Center.  Expect a generous helping of the classics as well as cuts from his new, Shut Up & Jam (Frontiers Records), which even features the meat-loving anthem, “I Love my BBQ”.

Details at medinaentertainment.com.

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

Morrissey: World Peace is None of Your Business (Best Buy) Unboxing

World Peace is None of Your Business (Best Buy Edition) Harvest Records Read More Morrissey For the uninitiated, Morrissey started his career in music as the singer/lyricist of The Smiths. After the band broke up in 1987, Morrissey went on to a successful solo career with his debut Viva Hate, scoring hits like "Everyday Is …

Planning on buying Morrissey's latest release, World Peace Is None of Your Business (Harvest Records)? Check out the exclusive Best Buy Edition, which is a double-disc digipak with six extra tracks.

The new tracks are:

1. Scandinavia
2. One of Our Own
3. Drag the River
4. Forgive Someone
5. Julie in the Weeds
6. Art-Hounds

Photos:

World Peace is None of Your Business (Best Buy Edition)

Interior (1)

Interior (2)

Below is an unboxing video of the Best Buy version.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic