W♥M (Archive)

Portugal. The Man at First Avenue, Minneapolis (06/22/13)

Setlist Tour Dates 06/23 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant 06/25 Dallas, TX - House of Blues 06/26 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues 06/27 Houston, TX - House of Blues 06/28 San Antonio, TX - Josabi's 06/29 El Paso, TX - Tricky Falls 07/02 Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Sol 07/03 Telluride, CO - Telluride Conference 07/04 Aspen, CO - Belly Up 07/05 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amph 07/06 Park City, UT - Park City Live 07/10 San Diego, CA - House of Blues 07/11 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues 07/12 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern 07/13 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater 07/16 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom 07/17 Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo 07/18 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom 09/26 Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre 09/27 New York, NY - Terminal 5 09/29 Boston, MA - House of Blues 10/01 Silver Springs, MD - The Fillmore 10/02 Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore 10/03 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle 10/05 Austin, TX - ACL Music Festival 10/08 Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues 10/09 Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution Live 10/12 Austin, TX - ACL Music Festival 10/13 Mexico City, MX - Corona Capital 2013 10/15 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom 10/16 Columbia, MO - Mojo's 10/18 Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater 10/19 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre 10/22 Reno, NV - Knitting Factory 10/23 Ventura, CA - Ventura Theatre 10/26 Las Vegas, NV - Life Is Beautiful Festival Read More Portugal. The Man Portugal. The Man's frontman John Gourley recall working on his seventh album, Evil Friends , as a collaboration with Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton). According to Gourley, "I walked into his [Danger Mouse] place …

For a show that was reportedly had a pre-sale of 800 tickets, it sure felt really sold out as bodies crushed us in the front at Portugal. The Man's show at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 22nd.

Starting the show was Guards, who we previously covered as Richie Follin in Cults (live band), with Deer Tick in 2011, and, most recently, with Palma Violets in April.

GUARDS

Songs on their set was, as expected, mostly from their album In Guards We Trust released in February via Black Bell Records. They played "Silver Lining" early in, before announcing the band's names and brief introduction to their new album with "Nightmare". According to Follin on stage, their "slowest song" is called "Not Supposed To", even though it didn't feel slow at all.

I think the highlight for me was when Follin asked the lights to be turned off at the start of "Sail It Slow", which actually from their 2011 self-titled EP.

PORTUGAL. THE MAN

By the time Portugal. The Man took the stage to their introductory song The Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody", the First Avenue floor was packed. At least it sure felt packed in the front, as bodies crushed us in anticipation for the band to play.

As you can see from the setlist, most of the songs are from the new album, Evil Friends ("Purple Yellow Red and Blue", "Evil Friends", "Atomic Man", "Modern Jesus", "Hip Hop Kids", "Creep In A T-Shirt", and the first encore song "Sea of Air"). From what I've heard live, particularly near the end with "Hip Hop Kids" and "Creep In A T-Shirt" combo, the fans loved dancing to this. This may have something to do with the new record was collaborated with Danger Mouse, who brought a fresh alternative electronic hip hop to their new sound.

Rounding out the rest of the set were odds and ends with the majority of last year's major label Atlantic's In the Mountain in the Cloud ("So American", "Share with Me the Sun", "Got It All (This Can't Be Living Now)", and "Sleep Forever").

Best audience reaction (prior to the encore), was probably "People Say", which is a relatively older song from Portugal. The Man.

Encore was "Sea of Air" followed by a medley of "The Devil" and the Beatles' "Helter Skelter".

What can I say? If you like dancing, check out Portugal. The Man on tour. Sadly, if you live in Spain, I don't see them playing in your country this year. Anyway, the Portland-based band is currently out supporting their the new record Evil Friends, out now on Atlantic Records.

Portugal. The Man at First Avenue, Minneapolis (06/22/13)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ portugaltheman.com ♥ portugaltheman.com

Palma Violets w/ Guards - 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis (04/30/13) live review

Palma Violets Setlist Johnny Bagga Donuts Rattlesnake Highway All the Garden Birds Tom the Drum Chicken Dippers Best of Friends Step Up for the Cool Cats Last of the Summer Wine We Found Love 14 Invasion of the Tribbles Brand New Song Tour Dates 05/01/13 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern 05/02/13 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop 05/03/13 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace 05/06/13 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall 05/07/13 Washington, DC Rock And Roll Hotel 05/08/13 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's 05/09/13 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall 05/10/13 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom 05/25/13 London, UK Victoria Park 06/07/13 Nuremberg, Germany Zeppelinfeld 06/08/13 Nurburg, Germany Nurburg Ring 06/14/13 Newport, UK Seaclose Park 06/15/13 Landgraaf, Netherlands Megaland 06/25/13 Borlange, Sweden Peace & Love Fest 07/04/13 Werchter, Belgium Festivalpark 07/07/13 Belfort, France Eurockeennes Fest 07/13/13 Kinross, UK Balado 07/18/13 Benicassim, Spain Benicassim Fest 07/27/13 Bankstown, Aus North Byron Parklands 08/04/13 Chicago, IL Grant Park 08/10/13 Osaka, Japan Maishima Outdoor 08/11/13 Chiba, Japan Makuhari Messe 08/24/13 Reading, UK Richfield Avenue 08/25/13 Leeds, UK Bramham Park Read More Palma Violets Palma Violets' 180, according to Brody is the "best album so far." Hey, guess what? It just so happens that Palma Violet is doing a North American tour (and they are stopping by Minneapolis!) ..…

“Shake that aloofness sickness! I give you South London’s finest!” shouted pitchman Harry ‘Violent’, UK buzz band Palma Violets’ merchandise huckster, and self-appointed band ‘ambassador of taste and class’. In addition to all the recent UK press hype (incl. NME’s Best New Band & Song of the Year), Palma Violets smartly brought in their own pitchman to fire up the crowd, intro the band, and even join in the festivities onstage, last night at a full 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, along with Brooklyn-based Guards.

GUARDS

Both bands played edgy 45min. sets that left some in the crowd wondering if we’ve just seen the future of guitar-based rock, or just two bands making their way into the Midwest after dual weekends at Coachella. The small sweaty packed club was the perfect venue for those in attendance to make up their own minds.

Richie Follin’s Guards opened the night up with smoke machines, minimal lighting, and their “evil power-pop”, as Follin describes it, promoting their debut full-length, In Guards We Trust (Black Bell Records). Follin previously played in his sister Madeline’s band, Cults, but this is truly a project all his own. Expanding live to a five-piece, the band deftly employed its whisper-to-scream brand of guitar rock, amp volumes moving from 1 to 11 on tracks like “Nightmare”; “Coming True”; “Resolution of One” and “Silver Lining”.

The songs came across as more raw than on record, but solid and more appropriate for a live setting. Follin even requested all the lights down near the end, in a prog-like instrumental that had him waving his guitar everywhere, searching for interesting feedback sounds. With ‘Ready to Go’ on regular local radio rotation, Guards is living up to the song’s title.

With their name inspired by a classic British tablet confection (a la Smarties or Necco), Palma Violets hit the stage like hard candy after Violent’s hype-man intro, with a ferociousness and devil-may-care abandon, in support of their debut, ‘180’ (Rough Trade US). A mix of Clash, Ramones, early Libertines, and Wu Lyf; "Chilli" Jesson (bass), Sam Thomas Fryer (guitars/vocals), Pete Mayhew (keys) and Will Doyle (drums) opened loud with ‘Johnny Bagga’ Donuts’, and immediately followed that with the bouncy ‘Rattlesnake Highway’. ‘All the Garden Birds’ showcased Fryer’s baritone, playing off bassist Jesson’s snarling screams and frantic playing energy.

Their music is purposely imperfect, driven by the gusto, abandon, and wrecklessness of youth, and the desire to whip the room into a frenzy. This didn’t fully strike the audience until mid-set with the driven beat of ‘Chicken Dippers’ and the ear-infecting first single, ‘Best of Friends’, that had heads nodding and the center of the floor pogo-ing in unison.

PALMA VIOLETS

Things calmed a bit for ‘Step Up for the Cool Cats’, their 2nd single, then ended with ‘We Found Love’ and ’14’, both of which (maybe unintentionally) featured riffs that sounded like ‘Sweet Jane’ and ‘Crimson and Clover’, respectively. The two song encore was where things really got crazy – pitchman Violent returned to the stage as the 5th member and keyboardist Mayhew, who was almost motionless for the main set, was bouncing manically across the stage like a completely different person. A where-did-they-find-that cover of 1980’s ‘Invasion of the Tribbles’ by Calgary punk band The Hot Nasties and album hidden track, ‘Brand New Song’ closed the night, with people climbing on stage, instruments being upended, and the fuel of chaotic enthusiasm.

While their sound is more an update than re-invention of guitar rock; as a band, Palma Violets aren’t quite yet in full bloom, but have planted the seeds for something potentially extraordinary.

Palma Violets at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (04/30/13)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ guards.bandcamp.com ♥ palmaviolets.co.uk

En Garde! Guards opening on tour for Palma Violets this Spring

Read More Guards I've actually seen Guards' singer/songwriter Richie James Follin before, without knowing it, but he plays in Cults. Although he's used as background guitarist in Cults, he definitely takes center stage, doing the singing and songwriting in Guards. ..…

For an impromptu solo side project, Guards is a band now coming into its own with building buzz. Former garage-punk band leader of Willowz, Richie Follin took a break from that band after eight years and began posting music of his own, which then caught newfound attention and eventually became Guards. Now the Brooklyn-based band (comprised of Follin, Loren Ted Humphrey (Cults) and Kaylie Church) is out on the road continuing their spring tour in support of their debut, ‘In Guards We Trust’, (Black Bell Records), and hot on the heels of their recent Coachella appearance.

Previous to Guards, Follin played guitar is his sister Madeline’s band Cults, before branching out again on his own with this unique direct, throwback power-pop sound with loud-soft dynamics. Writing less on guitar than his previous bands, their sound resembles an amalgam of the last three decades with a defined indie edge. Comparisons are difficult (a good thing) but hints of The Verve, UK psychedelia, and a bit of 80's influence, all come together to define their sound. Opening for Palma Violets (current UK press darlings) also gives them a potential wider audience to broaden their appeal.

Dates with * indicates with Palma Violets:

04/27/13 Seattle, WA Barboza * 04/30/13 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street* 05/01/13 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern* 05/02/13 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop* 05/03/13 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace* 05/04/13 Montreal, QC - Club Lambi* 05/09/13 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall * 05/10/13 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom* 05/22/13 Barcelona, Spain Parc del Forum 05/25/13 London, United Kingdom Victoria Park 05/31/13 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse 06/01/13 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre 06/03/13 Richmond, VA The National 06/04/13 Washington, DC 9:30 Club 06/05/13 Phila, PA Theatre Of The Living Arts 06/06/13 Boston, MA Royale Nightclub Boston

06/10/13 Millvale, PA Mr. Small's Theatre 06/11/13 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues 06/12/13 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room 06/20/13 Chicago, IL House Of Blues 06/21/13 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater 06/22/13 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue 06/23/13 St. Louis, MO The Pageant 06/25/13 Dallas, TX House Of Blues 06/26/13 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues 06/27/13 Houston, TX House Of Blues 06/28/13 Helotes, TX Josabi's 06/29/13 El Paso, TX Tricky Falls 07/02/13 Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe Sol Stage & Grill 07/03/13 Telluride, CO Telluride Conference 07/04/13 Aspen, CO Belly Up Aspen 08/04/13 Chicago, IL Grant Park

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ guards.bandcamp.com

Deer Tick at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (11/12/11)

Guards Tour Dates 11/15/11 Magic Bag - Ferndale, MI* 11/16/11 Lee's Place - Toronto, ON* 11/17/11 Castaways - Ithaca, NY* * w/ Deer Tick Read More Cults Cults is a favorite among the bloggers, as apparent by the million photographers. Their self-titled album came out a week, or so earlier, on Lily Allen's record label, In The Name Of, and I guess people are in love with it.

Country alt-rock, whatever you call it, it's really big here in Minneapolis... as evident by Saturday's sold-out show at the Triple Rock Social Club.

Due to another show the same night, I ended up missing Thomas Hardy... but I did manage to catch all of Guards' set, whose southern rock sound fits pretty well with Deer Tick.

Unfortunately, because it was sold-out, it was hard for me to get a decent photograph (and I'm not aggressive enough to push my way in the front). Whatever pictures I took, well they turned out pretty awful, especially because there were hardly any lights on.

Guards at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (11/12/11)

I've actually seen Guards' singer/songwriter Richie James Follin before, without knowing it, but he plays in Cults. Although he's used as background guitarist in Cults, he definitely takes center stage, doing the singing and songwriting in Guards.

What's interesting is that the band uses an omnichord onstage (played by the only girl, Kaylie Church, in the band), which is an 80s electronic music instrument made by Suzuki Music Corporation. It was the first time I've never seen or have heard of this weird instrument, so that was a real treat.

As for Deer Tick, since I've previously seen and wrote about them, I won't spend too much time on them. Needless to say, for a band to bring on stage an iced bucket full of Cools, you know that they are serious drunkards. In fact, singer, John McCauley, mumbles how he's forgotten that they were supposed to play (they were late coming on stage).

See all the drunkenness and let the good time rolls when Deer Tick and Guards comes through your town.

Deer Tick at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (11/12/11)

vu () ♥ www.deertickmusic.com ♥ guards.bandcamp.com