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Buzzcocks Setlist
Magnolias Setlist
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It's a mini-British invasion at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, with Paul Weller on Wednesday, and now Buzzcocks last night.
Opening up for the band were The Magnolias, a local Minneapolis band who have been around since the mid-80s. The band played tracks from their previous six albums, including their latest Pop The Lock from 2011 ("Neighborhood Patrol", "Top Of The Charts", "Kissing The Ground You're On", and "Torture Yours").
The band proudly wore their influences on their sleeves - sounding much like The Undertones and Buzzcocks, and not shy about it at all. The audience seemed to enjoy the great little two-minute powerpop songs. This was a good billing.
Highlight of their set was their introduction to "Radio Is Dead," which singer John Freeman said, "I know this show is sponsored by a radio station [89.3 The Current]. This song has nothing to do with that station."
I may have said that Pete Shelley was the only original member of Buzzcocks. Although that is technically true, I believe Steve Diggle (who joined later) is really as much a part of the Buzzcocks as anyone since 1976. And let me tell you - watching Diggle on stage is a delight. I could not take my eyes off of his well-practiced moves; the way he kicks bottled water, the way he holds his guitar, the way he shuffles to and fro... Diggle was having the time of his life on stage and it is just wonderful to watch.
Since all of the Buzzcocks songs are two or three minutes, or less, they were able to fit 25 songs on their setlist. In fact, the setlist was so large that they couldn't all fit on one page. You have got to love the extra songs, more bang for your buck, as they say.
With the new album The Way just released earlier in May 2014, the band, of course, was obligated to play some of those songs live, including the title track, "Keep on Believing", "People Are Strange Machines", "The Way", "It's Not You", and "Chasing Rainbows/Modern Times." From what I've heard, the new tracks sounds like their old songs, which is a relief. And being veterans, they know they had to mix in some old songs with the new. They know what they're doing when they put together the setlist.
Songs I love hearing were "I Don't Mind" with "Fast Cars" (both were played fairly early in), "Autonomy", and "What Do I Get?" Of course, the Bolton band saved the best for last: "Harmony In My Head", "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)", and "Orgasm Addict." As I have previously mentioned "Ever Fallen in Love" is one of my favorite song. Even "Orgasm Addict" is quite funny, that opening line is classic, "Well you tried it just for once and found it alright for kicks, but now you found out that it's a habit that sticks."
Buzzcocks will end their US date at Riot Fest in Chicago (09/13) and Denver (09/19), before heading back to the UK. If you love 70s British punk, rock music, you owe it to yourself to check Buzzcocks on tour. These guys are proving that punk's not dead.
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The Magnolias
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The band proudly wore their influences on their sleeves - sounding much like The Undertones and Buzzcocks, and not shy about it at all. The audience seemed to enjoy the great little two-minute powerpop songs. This was a good billing.
Highlight of their set was their introduction to "Radio Is Dead," which singer John Freeman said, "I know this show is sponsored by a radio station [89.3 The Current]. This song has nothing to do with that station."
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Buzzcocks
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Setlist
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With the new album The Way just released earlier in May 2014, the band, of course, was obligated to play some of those songs live, including the title track, "Keep on Believing", "People Are Strange Machines", "The Way", "It's Not You", and "Chasing Rainbows/Modern Times." From what I've heard, the new tracks sounds like their old songs, which is a relief. And being veterans, they know they had to mix in some old songs with the new. They know what they're doing when they put together the setlist.
Songs I love hearing were "I Don't Mind" with "Fast Cars" (both were played fairly early in), "Autonomy", and "What Do I Get?" Of course, the Bolton band saved the best for last: "Harmony In My Head", "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)", and "Orgasm Addict." As I have previously mentioned "Ever Fallen in Love" is one of my favorite song. Even "Orgasm Addict" is quite funny, that opening line is classic, "Well you tried it just for once and found it alright for kicks, but now you found out that it's a habit that sticks."
Buzzcocks will end their US date at Riot Fest in Chicago (09/13) and Denver (09/19), before heading back to the UK. If you love 70s British punk, rock music, you owe it to yourself to check Buzzcocks on tour. These guys are proving that punk's not dead.
09/13/14 Riot Fest (Chicago)
09/19/14 Riot Fest (Denver)
10/01/14 Cambridge, UK Cambridge Junction
10/02/14 Nottingham, UK Rock City
10/03/14 Manchester, UK The Ritz
10/04/14 Glasgow, UK ABC1
10/08/14 Leeds, UK O2 Academy Leeds
10/09/14 Birmingham, UK The Institute
10/10/14 Salisbury, UK Salisbury City Hall
10/11/14 London, UK The Forum
10/16/14 Brighton, UK Concorde 2
10/17/14 Poole, UK Mr. Kyps
10/18/14 Reading, UK Sub 89
09/19/14 Riot Fest (Denver)
10/01/14 Cambridge, UK Cambridge Junction
10/02/14 Nottingham, UK Rock City
10/03/14 Manchester, UK The Ritz
10/04/14 Glasgow, UK ABC1
10/08/14 Leeds, UK O2 Academy Leeds
10/09/14 Birmingham, UK The Institute
10/10/14 Salisbury, UK Salisbury City Hall
10/11/14 London, UK The Forum
10/16/14 Brighton, UK Concorde 2
10/17/14 Poole, UK Mr. Kyps
10/18/14 Reading, UK Sub 89
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Buzzcocks at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (11 Sep 2014) |
