W♥M (Archive)

Angel Olsen at First Avenue, Minneapolis (02 October 2017)

Angel Olsen Setlist Never Be Mine Hi-Five Shut Up Kiss Me Give It Up Not Gonna Kill You Heart Shaped Face Acrobat Sister Those Were the Days Special Woman -- Encore -- Sweet Dreams Windows Tour Dates 10/04 — St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant 10/05 — Lawrence, KS @ The Granada 10/07 — Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival 10/14 — Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival 10/18 — San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena 10/20 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum 10/21 — Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena 10/22 — Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center 10/23 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot 11/18 — Mexico City, DF @ Corona Capital 11/28 — Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater 11/29 — New York, NY @ Town Hall 11/30 — New York, NY @ Town Hall 12/01 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel 12/02 — Portland, ME @ State Theatre 12/04 — Boston, MA @ House of Blues 12/05 — Montreal, QC @ Rialto Theatre 12/06 — Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre 12/07 — Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre 12/08 — Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre 12/09 — Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre 12/10 — Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom 12/12 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer 12/13 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer 12/14 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 12/16 — Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel Read More Angel Olsen Angel Olsen will be headlining First Avenue on October 2nd. Olsen fans can look forward to Phases, a collection of B-sides, rarities, and demos on November 10th via Jagjaguwar. ...

Like Neko Case and Sharon Van Etten before her, Angel Olsen has proven herself to be not just the keeper of one powerful and heavenly voice but also an impressive lyricist and songwriter. Before going out on her own, Olsen worked and toured with Bonnie “Prince” Billy providing back-up vocals, piano and guitar. Olsen’s full-length debut Half Way Home (2012) comprised of hushed dark folk numbers but her musical output has gotten much fuzzier and louder since then. Favored themes of longing and self-discovery, however, continued in her lyrics throughout 2014’s Burn Your Fire For No Witness and then last year’s divine garage-rock jewel My Woman. After almost a year of My Woman being on repeat on my stereo, I finally got my chance to be whisked away by the swoon-worthy Angel Olsen live in concert.

Mount Moriah photo: Amy

North Carolina’s Mount Moriah served as a fine opening act, their easy-going yet soulful country tunes warming up a crowd wet from rain and weary from reading the news. Lead singer/guitarist Heather McEntire, guitarist Jenks Miller and bassist Casey Toll played songs from their most recent album 2016’s Learn How to Dance (like “Little Bear”) as well as 2013’s Miracle Temple. They also delivered a fantastic and timely cover of Nina Simone’s righteous “I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free.”

Now, let me state the obvious: Angel Olsen has a voice that makes knees weak, blind men see and dreams come true. Hyperbole aside, it truly is a stunning thing, both vulnerable and sensual, reminding me of great vocalists like Brenda Lee or Patsy Cline. With her trembling wail on the set opener “Never Be Mine” and the charged frustration of “Shut Up and Kiss Me”, Olsen dug into her chest and presented the packed First Avenue club with her heart. Enraptured, fans responded by respectfully keeping quiet before each song and then letting loose a mad wave of adulation at a song’s end.

More songs from My Woman scorched up the set: “Give It Up”, the incendiary “Not Gonna Kill You”, the 7-plus minute “Sister” complete with a noise-y swirling outro jam. Older tracks like “Hi-Five” from Burn and especially “Acrobat” from Half were fleshed out properly by Olsen’s gray-suited five-piece band. Aiding Olsen with each jaw-dropping crescendo was Mount Moriah’s McEntire, expertly harmonizing on each song as well as providing keys.

Following the audio orgasm that was “Woman”, Olsen and her band departed briefly leaving fans to sort out their bliss before they returned to the stage. After a bristling take on “Sweet Dreams”, Olsen grinned at the crowd and said, “I’m in love with you and I wanna have your child!” Maybe it was the music, melodies gauzy with desire and doused in reverb, or maybe it was the achingly honest lyrics or maybe, just maybe, Prince, the father of modern baby-making music, was there in spirit… but there were feelings. So many feelings. They filled the room, carried by that brilliant voice. Every single person at First Avenue was experiencing something overwhelming thanks to Angel Olsen. As she sings in “Not Gonna Kill You”: however painful let it break down all of me/’Til I am nothing else but the feeling.

Angel Olsen at First Avenue, Minneapolis (02 October 2017) photo: Amy

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The Coathangers at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (26 July 2017)

The Coathangers Setlist Watch Your Back Dumb Baby Smother Captain's Dead Nosebleed Weekend Johnny Burn Me Make It Right Perfume Wipe Out Springfield Cannonball Arthritis Sux Follow Me Parasite Shut Up Cheap Cheap -- Encore -- Nestle In My Boobies Follow Me Read More The Coathangers All-girls punk trio The Coathangers is back in town, this time headlining the 7th Street Entry to support their new EP Parasite on Suicide Squeeze Records. There is a limited pressing of only 2,000 copies …

The last time I saw The Coathangers, Atlanta’s frenzied punk architects, they were drilling sonic lasers into earholes and burying their sweet faces into the heaving bosoms of their fans at the Triple Rock Social Club nearly two years ago. Having missed them last July, I was eager to catch their set last Wednesday at the 7th Street Entry.

Residuels

The night’s two openers could not have been more perfect: first, Killmama, a duo from Florida who played the kind of bluesy garage-rock that’ll put hair on your chest. Next up was Philly trio Residuels whose gritty sound recall 60s hard rock icons like MC5. The way lead singer and guitarist Justin Pittney shreds on his guitar, however, reminds me of Eddie freaking Van Halen.

Concert-goers were still desperately trying to squeeze up front as The Coathangers emerged from the curtained-off backstage, each woman bearing an altered version of the band’s rad tour shirts (the design, take from their newest EP Parasite, imagines the band as sirens calling sailors to their doom). Under the glow of the blood-red stage lights, the band cranked out a 50-minute set of gleefully deranged punk that was both buoyant enough to groove to, but hard enough that you’ll probably chip a tooth in the process.

Setlist

They kicked off with  “Watch Your Back” and unloaded a slew of Nosebleed Weekend (2016) tunes like “Dumb Baby,” “Make It Right” and the brood-y title track as well as a handful of Parasite cuts (like my fav “Captain’s Dead”) that absolutely slayed. As the night progressed, the three women became noticeably more loose-limbed and the delivery of the songs became more brutal. It peaked with a visceral vocal performance  from drummer Stephanie Luke (Rusty Coathanger) who jumped out from behind her kit to sing and brought along some choice words for our current President and his policies. The packed club rejoiced and showed their affection with party poppers, little tubes that shoot out silver confetti and shards of colored paper. Rusty traded mics and instruments with Meredith Franco (Minnie Coathanger) who lent her voice to a song (“Wipe Out”) before Julia Kugel (Crook Kid Coathanger) took over and brought the set to a close.

Thankfully, the band kept their departure from the stage very brief and returned for an encore to much clamoring and applause. Those Coathangers never leave us hanging for too long!

Grab the new EP Parasite on Suicide Squeeze Records and catch the band as they make their way around the Midwest and head south.

Remaining tour dates:

08.01.17 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
08.02.17 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
08.03.17 – Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Yacht Club
08.04.17 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
09.16.17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Project Pabst
10.07.17 – Atlanta, GA @ Project Pabst

The Coathangers at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (26 July 2017) photo: Amy

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Chastity Belt, with Monica LaPlante and Darren Hanlon, at 7th St Entry, Minneapolis (01 July 2017)

Chastity Belt Setlist Complain Caught In A Lie Time To Go Home New Song Something Else On The Floor This Time Of Night Stuck Different Now 5AM Seattle Party Joke Tour Dates 07/29/2017 Obsidian Olympia, WA 07/30/2017 Outer Space Arcata, CA 07/31/2017 Arlene Francis Center Santa Rosa, CA 08/02/2017 Strummer's Fresno, CA 08/03/2017 Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA 08/04/2017 Space San Diego, CA 08/07/2017 Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA 08/08/2017 Velvet Jones Santa Barbara, CA 08/09/2017 The Crepe Place Santa Cruz, CA 08/11/2017 Star Theater Portland, OR 08/12/2017 Roebling Point Ent Covington, KY 09/14/2017 The Garage London Read More Chastity Belt Chastity Belt is back in town to support their new album I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone (Hardly Art) at the 7th Street Entry on Saturday, July 1st. We previously saw the all-girls band … Darren Hanlon After a couple of years couch surfing, house sitting and soul searching across the world, Darren Hanlon has emerged with I Will Love You At All. Darren's trademark wit and wordplay, . .... Monica LaPlante Local musician Monica LaPlante opened up the show, fifteen minutes fashionably late. The band was in the Halloween spirit, dressing up as a reverse Robert Palmer and his voluptuous band. . ....

There was something for everyone at the 7th Street Entry Saturday night with the diverse roster of local rockers Monica LaPlante, Aussie folk singer Darren Hanlon and the gauzy garage of Seattle quartet Chastity Belt.

Monica LaPlante photo: Amy

If you haven’t heard of Monica LaPlante, get out from under that boulder of shame and experience the awesome sonic crunch of: Christopher White on guitar! Rory Donovan on bass!

Austin Cecil smashing the drums! And LaPlante thrashing on guitar and vocals! The punchy set drew largely from LaPlante’s recent release NOIR including “Can’t Stop” and crowd favorite “Hope You’re Alone.” The band also played a song that, LaPlante explained, some found offensive. The title? “She’s a Loser.”

Darren Hanlon (with fan dueting) photo: Amy

In a club crowded with folks looking to rock, Darren Hanlon seemed like the odd man out with his set of gentle folk songs. But Hanlon’s earnestness and charm won the Entry over and even those not keen on the music found enjoyment in his wonderful stories and easy-going presence. Those things paired with an electric guitar and I immediately thought of Billy Bragg (the legendary English singer/songwriter and noted Chatty Cathy). Hanlon had such a great time telling stories, he had to remind everyone, “This isn’t a spoken word show!”  The highlight of the show, however, was definitely when Hanlon invited a young fan on stage to sing a duet with him. The girl and her family followed him from Iowa City (where he had played the previous night) where she was lovingly dubbed “my only American fan.”

Chastity Belt’s newest album I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone has been racking up accolades all over the internets and rightfully so: it’s a gorgeous, dark surprisingly intimate record that sounds like it was recorded on the beach on a cloudy day.

Live, the band effortlessly reconstructs that: lead singer/guitarist Julia Shapiro’s low Nico-esque voice coasts inside an exhilarating fog of jangly reverb created by second guitarist Lydia Lund, bassist Annie Truscott, and drummer Gretchen Grimm. Despite the blissed-out nature of the music, Chastity Belt kept their absurdist sense of humor intact in between tunes.

Mid-way through a set that already tackled Alone songs like opener “Complain,” “Caught in a Lie” (my favorite) and “Time to Go Home” (from the 2015 album of the same name), lead singer/guitarist Julia Shapiro told the crowd that the band got their caricatures done at a Jazz Fest that was happening in Iowa City and that they would be willing to part with them to the highest bidder.

Truscott later asked about Minneapolis’ “above ground tunnels” and if they all connect and where exactly you enter before falling into giggles from the unique and varied audience responses. Fantastic music aside, what I love most about Chastity Belt is the real sense of camaraderie. They like playing music not necessarily for other people but for each other.

Chastity Belt kick off their west coast leg at the end of the month in Olympia, WA and then head to Europe in this fall. Check out I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone out now on Hardly Art (post-punk fans will be tickled to see that it was produced by current Wire guitarist Matthew Simms).

Chastity Belt at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (01 July 2017) photo: Amy

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The Zombies at First Avenue, Minneapolis (17 April 2017)

Read More The Zombies The truth is, The Zombies needs no introduction, judging from the feedback on the Zombies' two most famous songs "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season". What people aren't aware ...

Amy attended The Zombies’ Odessey & Oracle 50th Anniversary Finale Tour last night at First Avenue.

DJ Jake Rudh (from Transmission) played music between sets.

Setlist:

-- Set 1 --
1. I Love You
2. I Want You Back Again
3. Moving On
4. Edge of the Rainbow
5. Tell Her No
6. You've Really Got a Hold on Me / Bring It On Home to Me
7. Road Runner (Bo Diddley cover)
8. Just Out of Reach
9. Chasing the Past
10. Hold Your Head Up (Argent cover)
11. She's Not There
12. The Way I Feel Inside
    
    -- Set 2 --
13. Care of Cell 44
14. A Rose for Emily
15. Maybe After He's Gone
16. Beechwood Park
17. Brief Candles
18. Hung Up on a Dream
19. Changes
20. I Want Her She Wants Me
21. This Will Be Our Year
22. Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)
23. Friends of Mine
24. Time of the Season
    
    -- Encore --
25. She's Not There

The Zombies at First Avenue, Minneapolis (17 April 2017) photo: Amy

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Cymbals Eat Guitars at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (10 Oct 2016)

Cymbals Eat Guitars Setlist     Intro: Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” Place Names Finally 4th of July, Philadelphia (Sandy) Warning Beam Mallwalking ...And the Hazy Sea Close Chambers Have a Heart Wish Jackson Laramie Child Bride (Joe solo) Field Mouse Setlist The Mirror Over and Out Half-Life The Order of Things A Place You Return to in a Dream Beacon Accessory Everyone but You Out of Context Read More Cymbals Eat Guitars I already mention that I will be attending the Cursive show at the 400 Bar on March 23rd, but what you probably didn't know that supporting the band will be Cymbals Eat Guitars ... Field Mouse I like dreampop bands, so I was pretty happy to see that Filter Magazine just premiered Brooklyn's Field Mouse's single "Glass" on their website (where you can download the song for free). ... Wildhoney Baltimore shoegaze revivalist Wildhoney will be in town on Sunday, November 22nd, at the 7th Street Entry. The five-piece (singer Lauren Shusterich sings, guitarist Joe Trainor ...

Kanye Who? Sorry, I was at the 7th Street Entry watching Wildhoney, Field Mouse and Cymbals Eat Guitars.

Gracing the Entry stage first was Baltimore, MA five-piece Wildhoney whose intoxicating shoegaze hooked me from the get-go. The band have a superb My Bloody Valentine-esque approach; lead singer Lauren Shusterich’s ethereal vocals skate just below the dreamy wash created by guitarists Joe Trainor and Nathan O’Dell.

It took no time for the crowd to be swept up in the band’s lush melodies, but Trainor grounded us with some brutally loud guitar, and reminded us of the band’s punk rock leanings. Wildhoney have three EPs out: self-titled (2013), Seventeen Forever (2014) and their latest released last October, Your Face Sideways. In July, the band contributed two songs to a four-way split EP Continental Drift featuring fellow Baltimore buds Mercury Girls as well as UK groups The Spook School and Tigercats (out on Slumberland and Fortuna Pop records) and I could not recommend this more!

Field Mouse came next and not only quickened the dream-pop pulse with a set of gorgeous uptempo tunes, but split sides with some great cheeky stage banter. The Philadelphia-based  group recently dropped the polished and powerful Episodic (on Topshelf Records) back in August and the new songs sound excellent (“Out of Context” turned my hair from black into bright white).

Members Saysha Heinzman (bass), Tim McCoy (drums), Zoë Browne (synth/guitar), Rachel Browne (vocals/guitar) and Andrew Futral (guitar) have sonic chops to spare, but I always appreciate a band who likes to chat. Browne and Futral were both droll and hilarious, musing about life on the road (“I don’t know what day it is. I don’t know who I am.”), Browne’s distaste for her guitar tuner and fans choosing to see this bill over Kanye West’s concert in St. Paul. I would also like to point out that all three guitarists were equipped with killer instruments (Fender Jazzmasters?) in three delicious flavors: rose, mint and vanilla. Pastel perfection.

Headliners Cymbals Eat Guitars walked on stage to the sensual groove of Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” a song lead vocalist/guitarist Joe D’Agostino acknowledged as the “greatest song ever written.” And with that Staten Island’s finest unleashed a jubilant, roaring set that boasted tracks from their 2009 debut Why There Are Mountains (“...And the Hazy Sea”), 2014’s LOSE (“Jackson” “Child Bride” - solo Joe) and Pretty Years, their fantastic new album (Sinderlyn Records). CEG have a sound and presence made for clubs like the Entry; much of their catalogue is anthemic and fierce, but still have a cool New York strut to them.

D’Agostino’s voice is an appealing combination of Mike Ness’ gruff earnestness and Tim Armstrong’s defiant snot. He spits and yells when he wants to like on “Beam” and “Warning” and he slinks it up on my favorite tune “Wish” (a song that also features some serious keyboard action from Brian Hamilton).

Pair that with punchy basslines from Matt Whipple and the mad throttle of drummer Andrew Dole and you’ve got yourself a hearty rock ‘n roll feast to warm the gut and destroy the ears (don’t worry, you didn’t need them). The band shed the grandiose for the night’s final number, however, as D’Agostino played the lovely and heartbreaking “Child Bride.” It’s a song D’Agostino plays by himself and it has a sting that, for me at least, carried well into the next day.

The Cymbals Eat Guitars / Field Mouse / Wildhoney tour will end tonight (October 16th) at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia.

Cymbals Eat Guitars Tour Poster

Free Buttons

Field Mouse Setlist

Field Mouse

Wildhoney

Cymbals Eat Guitars at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (10 October 2016) photo: Amy

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

Milemarker at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (17 Aug 2016)

Tour Dates 08/19/16 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle 08/20/16 Lansing, MI @ Mac's Bar 08/21/16 Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class 08/22/16 Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle 08/23/16 Allston, MA @ Great Scott 08/24/16 Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium 08/25/16 Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus 08/26/16 Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel 08/27/16 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle 10/05/16 Pilsen, Czech Republic @Papirna 10/06/16 Brno, Czech Republic @Kabinet Muz 10/07/16 Trencin, Slovakia @ Bio Luc 10/09/16 Jubljana, Slovenia@ Klub Gromka 10/10/16 Zagreb, Croatia Mochvara 10/11/16 Wien , Austria @ Rhiz 10/12/16 Budapest, Hungary@ Durer Kert 10/13/16 Olomouc, Czech @ prostor divadla 10/14/16 Prague, Czech @ 007 10/15/16 Munich, Germany@ Kafe Kul 10/16/16 Dresden, Germany @Groove Factory Read More Milemarker Milemarker returns from their three year hiatus and joins the Eyeball Records family. Milemarker front men David Laney and Al Burian have created their most ambitious ...

The recently regrouped synth-punks Milemarker burst back into Minneapolis Wednesday night with a performance at the Triple Rock Social Club. Along for the ride were local metal act Blackthorne and melodic rock trio The Life and Times.

Blackthorne photo: Amy

Blackthorne’s vicious set was the ONLY way to kick off this heady triple bill. The Minneapolis-based fivesome played loud and hard; lead vocalist Travis Bos delivered some satisfyingly brutal screams amongst Matt Seitzinger’s throttling percussion and the sonic assault of guitarists Steve Brooks and Mickey Kahleck and bassist Bob Eisenbise. Yeah, they totally made it rain blood.

The Life and Times photo: Amy

Kansas City’s The Life and Times switched gears slightly but were no less intense. Featuring the great Allen Epley on guitar and vocals, Eric Abert on bass and Chris Metcalf on drums, The Life and Times are simply one of the best live bands out there (and one of my very favorites). Their sound is influenced by shoe-gaze and psychedelia and the result is massive. Songs that are epic and soaring but soothing, like being embraced by the cosmos. The space-y mood was enhanced by the warm glow from three spotlights circling the band on stage. Epley mentioned that they were in the middle of recording new material and kindly treated the crowd to a track they were working on. The Life and Times’ last album was 2014’s excellent Lost Bees and I strongly encourage you to pick that one up along with the three previous records: Suburban Hymns 2005, Tragic Boogie 2009, and No One Loves You Like I Do 2012. If this new song is any indicator, we’ve got another doozy on our hands.

It has been 8 years since Milemarker had rocked any part of the Twin Cities but picking up where they left off proved to be a piece of cake. In support of their newest record Overseas (to be released August 26th on Lovitt Records), the band jumped on stage armed with driving new songs like “Carrboro” that had heads bobbing. But it was the choice older cuts like “Frigid Forms Sell You Warmth” from the recently reissued Frigid Forms Sell (2000) and set closer “Virtual Sex” (from 2005’s Ominosity) that had fans bouncing for joy.

Milemarker have always had a unique sound not just because they marry synths and hardcore, but because of their flirtation with krautrock. This latest incarnation of the group includes founding members Al Burian (who was whirring around the stage with his bass and kicking the air when he wasn’t slamming into the synthesizer) and Dave Laney on guitar and newcomers Lena Kilkka on keyboards (who was also trading vocal duties with Burian) and drummer Ezra Cale. It can be quite the undertaking for a band to come together after an extended absence from touring and recording and still have musical bite. This is clearly not an issue for Milemarker whose energetic performance Wednesday evening showed they’re still as vital as ever. Here’s to the next chapter in the Milemarker story!

Milemarker at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (17 Aug 2016) photo: Amy

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Autolux at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (10 April 2016)

Setlist Brainwasher Plantlife Subzero Fun Audience No. 2 Selectallcopy Capital Kind of Strain Soft Scene Hamster Suite Listen to The Order Blanket -- Encore -- Anonymous The Science of Imaginary Solutions Turnstile Blues Reappearing Read More Autolux The wait is over! Los Angeles electro-noise trio Autolux has emerged from their 5-year slumber to bring us a new record. After teasing the hypnotic single “Soft Scene” back in November, the band will formally release Pussy’s Dead …

Autolux is currently touring in support of their third album Pussy’s Dead (available now on 30th Century Records/Columbia), stopping by the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis last Sunday, April 10th.

Opening the show was a bearded and baseball-capped Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, also known as Eureka the Butcher, who provided some mesmerizing beats for fans to groove to as they waited for Autolux. Marcel is probably best known as the keyboardist and percussionist of The Mars Volta.

Setlist

Autolux eviscerated the crowd at their Triple Rock gig last evening with some jaw-droppingly great performances from members Eugene Goreshter (bass), Greg Edwards (guitar) and drummer Carla Azar. Azar, especially, was extraordinary to watch, so controlled and cool - she plays drums like she’s carefully slicing up carcasses and not getting any blood on the floor.

The set drew largely from the band’s latest Pussy’s Dead and their fantastic first record Future Perfect (2004) with a few from Transit Transit (2010). As the band played a backdrop of trippy lights and images were projected on a screen behind Azar and aided in the futuristic fever-dream atmospherics the music induced.

Every Autolux album and tour is like a gift from heaven - you don’t want to miss them while they’re out and about! Pick up the new record out now on 30th Century Records.

Remaining tour dates:

04/17 - Indio , CA - Coachella
04/24 - Indio, CA - Coachella
05/25 - San Francisco - Great American Music Hall
05/28 - Vancouver - Venue
05/27 - 05/30 - George, Sasquatch Festival
06/06 - Paris - La Maroquinerie
06/07 - Amsterdam - Paradiso
06/08 - Hamburg - Molotow
06/06 - Berlin - Lido
06/13 - London - ATP Venue

Autolux at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (10 April 2016) photo: Amy

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

Protomartyr at the 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (12 March 2016)

Setlist Cowards Starve I Forgive You Boyce or Boice Blues Festival Pontiac 87 Scum, Rise! Violent Uncle Mother's What the Wall Said The Devil in His Youth Ypsilanti 3 Swallows Dope Cloud How He Lived After He Died The Hermit Clandestine Time Why Does It Shake? Read More Protomartyr There might be more than just a few transcendent moments when Protomartyr take over the Entry on the evening of March 12th. Last October, the Detroit quartet released their third LP The Agent Intellect, a collection of dark, punchy … The Cult of Lip The evening started off with The Cult of Lip (previously known as Vats). Since there was one less band on the bill, it seemed like everyone else had extra time to play their set. … DIIE Minneapolis four piece DIIE who are described as a tasty blend of psych-rock and desert jazz with an emphasis on shredding. Yesssssssssss. …

As the Twin Cities celebrated a record high temperature for mid-March, folks at the 7th Street Entry celebrated a seriously great Saturday night triple bill: two stellar local bands, D||E and The Cult of Lip, and moody Detroit headliners, Protomartyr.

D||E photo: Amy

D||E is a four-piece consisting of former members of Fire in the Northern Firs and active Hollow Boys member/Ecstattic Studios owner and engineer Ali Jafaar - they’re also a band I’m looking forward to hearing more from. They released an EP last spring and are working on getting out a proper full length (aptly titled UFOs Satanic Terror). The band’s sound is hypnotic, very much rooted in space-y 70s rock.

The Cult of Lip photo: Amy

I’ve seen already seen The Cult of Lip at least twice this year (they opened for Ringo Deathstarr earlier this month) - I even saw them when they were known as VATS (how about that, right?) The trio features Hannah Porter on bass - recognize the name? That’s because she also plays in two other excellent bands, Brilliant Beast and Panther Ray. I love Cult of Lip for their fuzzy, free-wheeling, ear-drum-destroying noise-rock and you should to.

Protomartyr’s Setlist

Protomartyr’s music has a post-apocalyptic quality about it. Drummer Alex Leonard’s percussion is dry and unyielding, Scott Davidson’s bass is menacing and singer Joe Casey’s world-weary poetic ramblings conjure up images of a desperate, chaotic world. These songs, however, are not death waltzes to throw yourself into the grave to; rather they are anthems of survival. The quartet (Leonard, Davidson, Casey and fantastic guitarist Greg Ahee with his Fender Telecaster Thinline) walked on to the Entry’s famous stage and proceeded to hold the rapt sold out crowd in the palms of their hands. The intensity of the performance increased as the night surged on with powerful renditions of “Dope Cloud” and “The Hermit” from last year’s The Agent Intellect and “Scum, Rise!” From the band’s second album Under Color of Official Right (2014). But it was the two closing numbers that really made jaws drop: “Clandestine Time” followed by the chugging “Why Does It Shake?” (both from The Agent Intellect) saw the band completely lose themselves in the reverb-saturated sound. Casey himself, at first somewhat reserved and professor-like in his tweed jacket, jerked back and forth, incapable of holding back and punctured the air with the lyrics, “Why does it shake?/The body/Why does it move?/The fear.”

Protomartyr is heading to SXSW this month before bouncing from the US to Europe and back again this summer; their latest release is called The Agent Intellect.

Remaining tour dates:

Mar. 16 - Sat. Mar. 19 — Austin, TX @ SXSW Mar. 19 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger Mar. 31 — Dublin, IR @ Workman's Club Apr. 1 — Liverpool, UK @ Magnet Apr. 2 — Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast Apr. 3 — Sheffield, UK @ Picture House Social Apr. 4 — London, UK @ 100 Club Apr. 5 — Reims, FR @ La Catonnerie Apr. 6 — Antwerp, BE @ Het Bos Apr. 7 — Groningen, NL @ Vera Apr. 8 — Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Apr. 9 — Rotterdam, NL @ Motel Mozaigue Apr. 11 — Dusseldorf, DE @ Zakk Apr. 12 — Stuttgart, DE @ Club Schocken Apr. 13 — Munich, DE @ Oranjehouse Apr. 14 — St. Gallen, CH @ Palace Apr. 15 — Bologna, IT @ Covo Club Apr. 16 — Rome, IT @ Monk Apr. 18 — Ljubljana, SI @ Gala Hala

Apr. 19 — Zagreb, HR @ Culture Factory Apr. 20 — Vienne, AT @ Chelsea Apr. 21 — Prague, CZ @ Basement Bar Apr. 22 - Poznan, PL @ Spring Break Festival Apr. 23 - Berlin, DE @ Nothing Nice To Say May 3 - Guelph, ON @ eBar May 4 - Ottawa, ON @ Babylon Club May 5 - Montreal, QC @ Virtola May 7 - Winooski, VT @ Waking Windows May 8 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott May 9 - Portsmouth, NH @ 3S Artspace May 10 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place May 28 — George, WA @ Sasquatch Fest June 1 - June 5 - Primavera Sound June 3 - Nimes, FR @ This Is Not A Love Song June 9 - June 11 @ Primavera Sound Porto June 22 - June 23 @ Sled Island Festival June 29 - July 2 - Roskilde Festival Aug. 5-7 — Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon

Protomartyr at the 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (12 March 2016) photo: Amy

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

Bully at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (12 October 2015)

Bully just played a sold-out show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis last night. Chicago's Fake Limbs opened up the show, playing some tracks from their latest The Power of Patrician Upbringing. They ended their set with singer Stephen Sowley going into the audience and singing into everyone's faces. It was intense. Heat photo: amy Next up was Montreal's Heat (not to be confused with Sweden's H.E.A.T. or New Orlean's Heat Dust). The band was really excited to play Minneapolis, as they confessed that The Replacements was one of their favorite bands. Heat's inspiration seemed to be 1970s proto-punk, mixed in with a little 90s shoegaze sound. Look for their latest album Rooms, out now on Kitsuné. As we previously mentioned, Bully's frontwoman Alicia Bognanno is actually from Minnesota. As a result of strong local support for Bognanno, Minneapolis became the very first city on this current tour to sell out when tickets were announced. Of course, Bully was really excited to play a completely packed 7th Street Entry. Opening up their 40-min set was "I Remember", followed by "Too Tough" and "Brainfreeze". Typical of a band with only one album, they played most of Feels Like (StarTime International/Columbia), but throwing in a few covers, the dB's "Black and White" and the B*tthole Surfers' "Who Was in My Room Last Night?" The latter was saved for their encore. Bully is currently touring around the country... and wouldn't you know? They've already announced 2016 dates with Metz. The next Bully date in Minneapolis will be at the Fine Line Music Café on January 18, 2016. It will sell out, so get your tickets now. Read More Bully Opening up the show was Nashville's Bully, lead by singer Alicia Bognanno .... who revealed to us that she's actually from Minnesota. Although the band has been in Minneapolis a few times .... vu ♥ amy ♥ weheartmusic.com photo by amy

The Coathangers with Catbath and Color TV at the Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (12 September 2015)

The Coathangers Setlist Trailer Park Boneyard Watch Your Back Springfield Cannonball Hurricane I Don't Think So Arthritis Sux Adderall Call To Nothing Sicker Sex Beat (The Gun Club cover) Tonya Harding Shut Up Don't Touch My Shit Tour Dates 9/14: Look Out Lounge - Omaha, NB 9/15: Jackpot - Lawrence, KS 9/16: Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO 9/17: Diabolical Records - SLC, UT 9/18: Holland Project - Reno, NV 9/19: TBD Festival - Sacramento, CA 9/21: Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA 9/24: Los Globos - Los Angeles, CA 9/25: Casbah - San Diego, CA 10/24-10/25: Santa Ana, CA - Beach Goth Fest Read More The Coathangers The Coathangers, the all-girls punk band, will be stopping by St Paul's Turf Club, the same venue where we previously saw them open up for Guitar Wolf. Audacity (not to be … Catbath Before the headliner, local trio Catbath opened with a 40 min. set of revved up songs, culled mostly from their debut EP, Bathtime. Travis Franklin, Crystal Stockert, and Kristin Kosieracki have a mid-90’s sounding …

The Coathangers make music that has teeth and once you’ve been bitten you’re done for. Last night, with the help of local acts Catbath and Color TV, the Atlanta trio brought their primal sound to a packed Triple Rock crowd eager to be branded.

Catbath photo: Amy

First up was Catbath, a three-piece whose live show was lively and fun and whose music is impossible to categorize. If I had to describe the music, I would say it’s like Kurt Cobain fronting X covering the B-52s. It’s like a beach party from the muddy banks of the Wishkah. The band is made up of drummer Crystal Stockert, guitarist Travis Franklin and bassist Kristin Kosieracki - they all shared vocals and created some pretty sublime harmonies. Honestly, I’m in love with this band; not only do they really push the cat theme in their songs and merch, but they’ve found a way to combine all these great genres without sounding weird or gimmicky. I read on their Facebook page that last night (they played the Kitty Cat Klub after the Triple Rock gig) was, sadly, going to be their last local show for a few months. Don’t leave us for too long, Catbath!

Color TV photo: Amy

Local quartet, Color TV, was up next and leveled the place with a lightning-fast set of no-frills punk rock. To my delight, they closed their set with a fantastic cover of the Saints’ “Perfect Day.” That song is probably one of the most satisfying two minutes and thirty seconds ever committed to tape and Color TV executed it flawlessly.

The Coathangers only played for about 45 minutes, but it never seemed rushed. It was an absorbing set, in fact, with vocalist/guitarist Crook Kid Coathanger (Julia Kugel), vocalist/drummer Rusty Coathanger (Stephanie Luke) and bassist Minnie Coathanger (Meredith Franco) spitting out track after track from their incredible most recent record Suck My Shirt. Select older cuts like “Arthritis Sux” (2009’s Scramble), “Tonya Harding” (2007’s self-titled) and “Hurricane” (2011’s Larceny & Old Lace) added to the electric atmosphere.

The band kicked off with “Johnny,” from Suck, a song that began with an almost frantic beat before exploding into a cacophonous cloud. Crook Kid switched from Kat Bjelland-like coos to full-throated shrieks and she stabbed and scratched out a lattice of guitar noise. Behind CK but definitely not out of sight, Rusty kept a hypnotic charging rhythm that would lurch to a stop and change the tempo with a break-neck wallop. On the other side of the stage, Minnie created the most irresistible groove with a bassline so menacing, you’d wish you had brought adult diapers. It’s as unsettling as it is exhilarating.

The band seemed to be having as much fun as the crowd. All members had come to the stage equipped with beverages including a bottle of wine. CK joked that they were allowing themselves a drink every two songs, but after a few tunes the “rule” didn’t stick and she started taking healthy swigs out of the wine bottle whenever she wanted. For the final song, “Don’t Touch My Shit,” CK shed her guitar and got confrontational, stalking the stage with the mic and yelping into the faces of delighted fans. She grabbed a second mic, pressed them both to her mouth and slowly planted her head into my friend’s chest. An inadvertent nod to their song “Nestle in my Boobies”?

The Coathangers filter rock and roll to its starkest and most primitive elements; it’s raw, edgy, always exciting and I love it. Get their album Suck My Shirt out on Suicide Squeeze and, for crying out loud, go see them live!

The Coathangers at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (12 September 2015) photo: Amy

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