W♥M (Archive)

Minneapolis: January 17 - January 19, 2015

Read More Hamilton Leithauser With NYC-indie rock band The Walkmen on “extreme hiatus”, the members have gone to pursue various solo projects, including singer Hamilton Leithauser, who played a somewhat subdued but still impactful 40 min. set .... Bully Alicia Bognanno has been cutting her teeth on the soundboards of indie clubs and studios in Nashville for the past couple of years. Now, she's putting her technical skills to use in the four-piece rock band Bully ....

Here are some shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul on January 17 - January 19, 2015.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

HAMILTON LEITHAUSER
at Turf Club
Saturday 01/17/15, 8pm ($15)
turfclub.net

Former Walkmen frontman's Hamilton Leithauser will be back in Minnesota this January 17th. Expect a full band (including brothers-in-law), as previously mentioned when we saw him with Ray LaMontagne.

Nashville's Bully, the band fronted by Alicia Bognanno, will open up the Minnesota show. The band was last seen with Drowners in September. They'll likely be playing some tracks from their recently released self-titled EP (Startime International).

Tour dates:

Jan 15 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Café
Jan 16 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Jan 17 St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
Jan 18 Madison, WI – FRZN Fest
Jan 20 Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel
Jan 21 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
Jan 23 Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
Jan 24 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
Jan 30 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

Read More The Devil Makes Three Santa Cruz’s The Devil Makes Three turned First Avenue into a rowdy Nashville honky tonk Thursday night, playing a wild set to a giddy, inebriated crowd. Indeed, the music seemed to spike the air with whiskey … Joe Pug Austin-based Joe Pug returns with Windfall, a 10-song indie-folk gem that is poised to cement his reputation as one of America’s most respected young songwriters. After hundreds of shows …

THE DEVIL MAKES THREE
at First Avenue
Sunday 01/18/15, 7:30pm ($20)
first-avenue.com

We've been covering The Devil Makes Three since 2009 and we're happy to see that the country punk band will be back in Minneapolis at First Avenue again on January 18th. Emily saw them at the First Avenue show in 2013 and wrote, "In all my years of going to see live music, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crowd get so worked up over a Blind Willie McTell cover (“Statesboro Blues”) or that classic blues dirge “St. James Infirmary,” which was the set closer."

Austin-based Joe Pug will open the show. Pug has been called one of America's most respected young songwriters. His album Windfall is coming out on March 10th, but expect him to preview some of those songs on his live set. See his entire tour dates (up to May 2015) listed on news.weheartmusic.com.

The Devil Makes Three Tour dates:

01/07/15 - The Stone Pony - Asbury Park, NJ
01/08/15 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY
01/09/15 - Fillmore - Silver Spring, MD
01/10/15 - House Of Blues - Boston, MA
01/11/15 - Theatre of the Living Arts - Phila, PA
01/14/15 - Opera House - Toronto, Can
01/15/15 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
01/16/15 - St. Andrew's Hall - Detroit, MI
01/17/15 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
01/18/15 - First Ave - Minneapolis, MN
01/21/15 - Barrymore Theatre - Madison, WI
01/22/15 - Pageant - St. Louis, MO
01/23/15 - Wareham - Manhattan, KS
01/24/15 - Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO
01/27/15 - Orpheum Theatre - Flagstaff, AZ
01/28/15 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
01/29/15 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
01/30/15 - Alex Madonna Expo - S.Louis Obispo
01/31/15 - Fox Theatre - Oakland, CA
02/03/15 - Senator Theatre - Chico, CA
02/04/15 - Humboldt State University - Arcata, CA
02/05/15 - McDonald Theatre -Eugene, OR
02/06/15 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, Can
02/07/15 - Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA
04/24/15 - Stagecoach Festival - Indio, CA

Read More The Current Local alt/indie Public Radio station 89.3 FM- The Current celebrates its ninth birthday of changing the Minnesota airwaves, with a two-night celebration in First Avenue’s Mainroom ... Little Man Chris Perricelli, from Little Man, is our guest on We Heart Music Radio. Some topics we touched on ... Broncho Indie punk band Broncho is back on tour in support of their upcoming Just Enough Hip To Be Woman album, set for release on September 16th, 2014, via Dine Alone Records. ...

BILLY IDOL w/ Steve Stevens
at Turf Club
Monday 01/19/15, 7pm ($25/Sold Out)
turfclub.net

Before 80s punk rock 'rebel' icon Billy Idol head out on his headlining 2015 tour, he will be doing a warm-up acoustic show with radio DJ Mary Lucia at the Turf Club on January 19th, as part of the radio station The Current's 10th Anniversary celebration. Accompanying Idol will be his guitarist Steve Stevens, who co-wrote some of Idol's greatest hits, including "Rebel Yell".

Idol's regular opener Broncho (who we've support/have seen twice in the past two years) will not be joining Idol on this special show, however local Little Man (who we've written about numerous times) and San Diego's Tropical Depression will be more than happy to open up the sold out show.

US Tour dates, more more more:

01/19 St. Paul, MN Turf Club
01/21 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
01/22 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
01/24 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater
01/25 Washington, DC Lincoln Theater
01/28 New York, NY Beacon Theater
01/29 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theater
01/31 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
02/03 Montreal, QC Metropolis
02/04 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
02/06 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
02/07 Chicago, IL Riviera Theater
02/09 Denver, CO Paramount Theater
02/12 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth
02/13 Seattle, WA Paramount
02/15 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
02/18 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theater
02/19 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theater
02/21 Las Vegas, NV Cosmopolitan
02/22 Santa Ana, CA Observatory

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

Ray LaMontagne w/ Hamilton Leithauser at Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis (28 June 2014) concert review

RAY LaMONTAGNE Setlist Gossip in the Grain Lavender She's the One For the Summer Pick Up a Gun Supernova Airwaves Ojai Beg Steal or Borrow Smashing Jolene Trouble Like Rock & Roll and Radio (order changed from setlist) Meg White Julia God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise -- Encore -- Old Before Your Time Hey Me, Hey Mama Drive-in Movies HAMILTON LEITHAUSER Setlist 11 ‘o'clock Friday Night The Silent Orchestra Alexandra I Retired I'll Never Love Again In Our Time (I'll Always Love You) The Smallest Splinter I Don't Need Anyone 5 AM Tour Dates 07/10/14 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall 07/11/14 Orlando, FL Bob Carr Perf. Arts Centre 07/12/14 Miami Beach, FL Fillmore Miami Beach 07/15/14 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre 07/16/14 North Charleston Perf. Arts Center 07/18/14 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amph. 07/19/14 Birmingham, AL BJCC Concert Hall 07/20/14 Louisville, KY Louisville Waterfront Park 07/22/14 Interlochen, MI Kresge Auditorium 07/23/14 Grand Rapids, MI Frederik Meijer Gardens 07/25/14 Whites Creek, TN Woods At Fontanel 07/26/14 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheatre 07/27/14 Floyd, VA FloydFest 07/29/14 Knoxville, TN Tennessee Theatre 07/30/14 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre 08/01/14 Austin, TX The Long Center 08/02/14 Dallas, TX The Music Hall At Fair Park 08/03/14 Houston, TX Jones Hall 08/05/14 Santa Fe, NM The Downs of Santa Fe 08/07/14 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre 08/08/14 Salt Lake City, UT Red Butte Garden 08/10/14 San Francisco, CA Golden Gate Park 08/12/14 Troutdale, OR McMenamins Edgefield 08/13/14 Redmond, WA King County's Marymoor 08/15/14 Sandpoint, ID Memorial Field 08/23/14 Dundas, ON Christie Lake Cons Read More Ray LaMontagne This could go cosmic. Folk rock singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne is back on the road in support of his latest, Supernova (RCA Records), which includes a stop at the newly remodeled Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis. …

Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne has always had the look of someone panning for gold.

His stoic face, full beard, large brown hat, and somewhat frumpy earth-toned slacks and jacket, harkens back to the stereotypical image of the “forty-niners” of the mid-1800’s, gone west to seek their fortune.

Except in LaMontagne’s case, the “gold” is his song-crafting and distinctive raspy whisper of a voice that enthralls whenever he opens his mouth, and that was certainly the case for his 105 min. performance at the newly refurbished Northrop Auditorium, on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

The Belle Brigade

Laid back indie-rock sibling duo, The Belle Brigade, opened the night with a brief set, mostly culled from their new album, Just Because (ATO Records) and 2011 self-titled debut.  Multi-instrumentalists Barbara Gruska and younger brother Ethan Gruska charmed with new songs, ‘Ashes’ and current single ‘How I See It’ and were working double duty, as they stuck around as players in Montagne’s band, for the headlining set that was yet to come.

Hamilton Leithauser

With NYC-indie rock band The Walkmen on “extreme hiatus”, the members have gone to pursue various solo projects, including singer Hamilton Leithauser, who played a somewhat subdued but still impactful 40 min. set, showcasing his solo debut, Black Hours (on Ribbon Music).

Backed by a full band (including brothers-in-law), the group opened with the haunting ’11 o’ clock Friday Night’, with its repeated guitar riff, David Lynch-evoking xylophones, and Leithauser’s distinctive vocals, which add a tense edge to anything he sings.

“Here’s one I wrote for my daughter whose name is Georgiana… but the name Alexandra fit a lot better”, Leithauser explained, before going into current single, ‘Alexandra’. It was the last night for both Leithauser on LaMontagne’s tour, and for the band as a unit (at least for a while), so it was fitting that ‘I Retired’ was played next.

“That was ‘I’ll Never Love Again”, Leithauser remarked after playing the song, “I always like to follow that up, awkwardly, with ‘I’ll Always Love You”, to crowd laughter, before he and band launched into ‘In Our Time (I’ll Always Love You)’.

Hamilton Leithauser (closeup)

‘The Smallest Splinter’ was so good live, it should be the next single, and ‘I Don’t Need Anyone’ isn’t a slight on his former band; rather a declarative love song that Leithauser enunciated every word to, in his own imitable style.

Set closing and album-opening ‘5AM’ had the singer shadowed in near darkness, like a gothic Sinatra crooning the cynical lyrics, “Do you wonder why I sing these love songs when I have no love at all?”, that maybe best defines his move from the garage guitar rock of The Walkmen, to his current chamber-pop sound.

Much like his own persona, Ray LaMontagne and band took to the stage with a rumbling quiet whisper, opening with the title track from 2008’s Gossip in the Grain. The light drizzle outside and newly ornate seats, balconies, and surroundings, along with the much-improved acoustics of the restored venue, seemed to be an ideal setting for LaMontagne to host only the second rock show played at the fabled auditorium, after being freshly minted with a near-complete facelift after years of continuing decay.

LaMontagne’s newest, Supernova (RCA Records) is still 60’s nostalgic, but the Dan Auerbach (of The Black Keys) produced effort gives LaMontagne a slightly more psychedelic, brighter, and bigger scope to his music, and the new songs fit well amongst the old.

The screen projections behind the band weren’t quite supernova-status, but did feature constellations, swirling colors, and ebbing patterns, adding to the trippy vibe of many of the newer songs. New album opening, ‘Lavender’ recalled early Pink Floyd or The Rolling Stones’ ‘2000 Light Years from Home’ with its floating keyboards and jangly guitars.   ‘For the Summer’ slowed the pace a bit and had a chorus that seemed to be sung in a different key than the studio version, which was no less powerful, but was slightly irritating to anyone preferring the original.

‘Supernova’ brought things more upbeat again, and the inevitable cat-calling and audience yelling that seems to mark all of his shows, had begun.  LaMontagne’s relative silence and shyness seems to strangely encourage some in the crowd, though he’s gone on record as not being a fan of it.

“You’re so polite” LaMontagne would say before ‘Airwaves’, commenting that “we’ve been playing the last six weeks or so, mostly outdoors, to rowdy… safe to say, stoned audiences for sure.  We usually have a contact high by the third song- that’s been the pattern anyway” LaMontagne said, maybe appreciating all that the refurbished venue had to offer, as much the audience seemed to.

Ray LaMontagne with Zachariah Hickman

‘Beg Steal or Borrow’ brought out a large response from the somewhat reserved crowd, while one of the evening’s highlights came mid-set, with just LaMontagne and handlebar moustached bassist, Zachariah Hickman playing a few stripped numbers, including ‘Jolene’ and a soulful ‘Trouble’.

LaMontagne’s harmonica work on ‘Like Rock & Roll and Radio’ was a thing of delicate beauty and made us want more, before percussion and tempo rose for a bracing ‘Meg White’ which even slipped in riffs from The White Stripes’ own ‘Seven Nation Army’.

The main set ended with the title track from his previous album, God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise and LaMontagne would only respond to the crowd yelling once, just before the encore when a cry of “Lookin’ good, Ray!” was shouted from a lower balcony. LaMontagne paused briefly then deadpanned back, “Yeah, I think I’m aging backwards”, which segued perfectly into encore opener, ‘Old Before Your Time’.

The stomper, ‘Hey Me, Hey Mama’ had all 2500 people clapping along and set finisher, ‘Drive-In Movies’, had heads nodding and people swaying and singing along.  On this gray, damp night, Minneapolis had found gold, at least for 105 minutes.

Ray LaMontagne at Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis (28 June 2014)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Minneapolis Music Guide: June 22 - June 28, 2014

Here is a guide of some Minneapolis (and St Paul) live concerts and events taking place next week: June 22 - June 28.

Read More The Fray Fans hoping to hear the Fray's fourth album might have to look under Joe King (or rather under his simple pseudonym of KING) in the temporary. His first ever solo track "Need a Woman by Friday" went on sale on iTunes recently. … Barcelona I've been meaning to check out this new Barcelona band, as they share their name with the new wave synth nerd band that I mentioned last year. This band, based out of Seattle, is a quartet …

SUNDAY, JUNE 22
THE MYTH
The Fray

Denver's The Fray are back on tour in support of their fourth studio album Helios, out now on Epic Records.

In addition to the latest album, expect the band to play lots of piano-driven hit songs from their double platinum debut How to Save a Life and certified gold self-titled sophomore album.

Opening up for this latest tour are Brooklyn-based Oh Honey and Seatle-based Barcelona (who we previously saw in 2008 - and not to be confused with synthpop Barcelona.)

Tour dates:

06/18 Vancouver, BC Malkin Bowl*
06/21 Moorhead, MN Bluestem Center*
06/22 St Paul, MN The Myth*
06/27 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre*
06/28 Dallas, TX Verizon Theatre*
06/29 Houston, TX Bayou Music Center*
07/03 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest *
07/09 New York, NY Pier 97*
07/12 Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier*
07/11 Toronto, ON Echo Beach*
07/14 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater*
07/18 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amph*
07/19 Nashville, TN Woods at Fontanel*
07/21 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall*
07/30 Boston, MA Blue Hills Pavilion*

*with Barcelona and Oh Honey

Read More Guitar Gods The king of neo-classical shred guitar, legendary guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, will soon return to stages across North America this summer for the first-ever “Guitar Gods” festival tour. …

MONDAY, JUNE 23
SKYWAY THEATRE
Guitar Gods: Yngwie Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth, Gary Hoey, Bumblefoot

Guitar Gods are coming, praise the loud.

Hard rock guitar legends Yngwie Malmsteen, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and Gary Hoey have united for the “Guitar Gods” tour, which makes an upcoming stop at the Skyway Theatre in Minneapolis.

Malmsteen, the “Paganini of heavy metal” has been dazzling crowds with his riffs, solos and fret speed for decades, and has a new album, Spellbound (on his own label), and autobiography, "Relentless: A Memoir," out currently.

Bumblefoot is perhaps best known as the guitarist for the post-Slash incarnation of Guns n’ Roses and is seen playing in their upcoming live DVD/Blu-Ray, Appetite for Democracy, which was filmed at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas.  The multi-genre dabbling Hoey, best known for song, “Hocus Pocus”, plays a blend of rock, blues, and surf, and unfortunately; fourth “God”, ex-Scorprions guitarist Uli Jon Roth, had to pull out of the tour due to last-minute visa issues.

Expect a more than ample share of face-melting shredding, as well as perhaps an on-stage collaboration or two, with the three icons playing together.

06/20/14 Saint Charles, IL Arcada Theatre
06/21/14 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
06/22/14 Joliet, IL Mojoes
06/23/14 Minneapolis, MN Skyway Theatre
06/26/14 Seattle, WA The Showbox
06/27/14 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
06/28/14 Richmond, BC River Rock Casino Resort
07/02/14 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
07/03/14 Beverly Hills, CA Saban Theatre
07/04/14 San Jose, CA Milano
07/05/14 Ramona, CA Ramona Rodeo Grounds
07/07/14 Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues
07/08/14 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
07/10/14 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
07/11/14 Pharr, TX Pharr Events Center
07/12/14 Houston, TX House Of Blues

Read More Courtney Barnett Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett is one of the hottest new artists of the last year and she commenced her first American tour in fine style Tuesday night at the sold out Empty Bottle in Chicago. …

TUESDAY, JUNE 24
VARSITY THEATER
Courtney Barnett

Melbourne's Courtney Barnett was previously here earlier this year, which we caught in Chicago, but now she's back with a full expanded North American tour.

This current tour takes her as far north as Toronto's NXNE and ending at far south as Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin.

North American Tour Dates:

06.17.14 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY **
06.18.14 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA **
06.19.14 - Firefly Festival - Dover, DE
06.20.14 - 06.22.14 - NXNE Festival - Toronto, ON
06.24.14 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN **
07.01.14 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO ^^
07.02.14 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT ^^
07.04.14 - Fortune Sound Club - Vancouver, BC ^^
07.05.14 - Neptune - Seattle, WA ^
07.07.14 - The Triple Door - Seattle, WA
07.30.14 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL
08.01.14 - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL
08.02.14 - Osheaga Festival - Montreal, QC
08.03.14 - Pickathon Festival - Happy Valley, OR
08.07.14 - Casbah - San Diego, CA
08.08.14 - Pappy and Harriets - Pioneertown, CA
08.08.14 - 08.10.14 - Outside Lands Festival - San Francisco, CA
11.07.14 - Fun Fun Fun Fest - Austin, TX

* w/ Phosphorescent
** w/ Benjamin Booker
^ w/ Sharon Van Etten
^^ w/ Your Friend