W♥M (Archive)

The Idan Raichel Project at O'Shaughnessy, St. Paul (14 May 2014)

Setlist Tour Dates 15.05.14 Auditorium Theatre Chicago, IL 18.05.14 Cheviot Hills Recr Center Los Angeles 19.05.14 A. Raphael &Regina Clash Mexico City 26.05.14 Caesarea Amphitheater Israel 27.05.14 Caesarea Amphitheater Israel 05.06.14 Amphitheater Ashdod Israel 13.06.14 Opera Festival Masada, Israel 14.06.14 Zappa Herzliya, Israel 14.06.14 Zappa Herzliya, Israel 15.06.14 Zappa Amphi Shuni Israel 16.06.14 Zappa Amphi Shuni Israel 17.06.14 Zappa Amphi Shuni Israel 18.06.14 Zappa Amphi Shuni Israel 19.06.14 Zappa Amphi Shuni Israel 20.06.14 Zappa Amphi Shuni Binyamina, Israel 10.08.14 Beit Guvrin, Israel 11.08.14 Merom HaGalil, Israel 14.08.14 Tour Opera Tel Aviv, Israel 15.08.14 Tour Opera Tel Aviv, Israel 16.08.14 Tour Opera Tel Aviv, Israel Read More The Idan Raichel Project The Idan Raichel Project returns to Minnesota for a performance at the The O'Shaughnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University in St. Paul on Wednesday, May 14th. We last saw Idan Raichel at the Dakota…

Idan Raichel was in an incredibly good mood at the O'Shaugnessy Auditorium in St. Catherine University on May 14th. This translate to Raichel talking more than usual, rambling on about his parents knowing each other since they were three years old and how he saw an old lady being sold an investment money policy at a bank. As Raichel talked, his flutist jokingly pretends to leave the stage.

Raichel, who normally sport an incredible massive dreadlock, appeared on stage with a shaven head. He tried to explain the top three reasons for cutting his hair, but ultimately it came down to, "because my lady told me to do it."

He continues on about how it's a small miracle that people from all over the world comes out to see them play live. "When we play in Israel, it's considered pop music, but when we play outside of the country, it's considered 'World Music'. Well I hope when you leave here tonight, that you think this is Israeli music."

Raichel may be underselling his music simply as Israeli music because, the truth is, his music spans over many countries: dabbing in Hebrew/Jewish, Arabic, Spanish, and Ethiopian music... plus on top of that world fusion music, there are elements of electronica and dance beats, making for a unique musical blend. His audience, which are mostly Jewish, showed up in strong numbers in support of Idan Raichel's latest work.

Maya Avraham, Cabra Casay, and Avi Wassa

The thing about Idan Raichel is that it almost seems to me that he'd much prefer to be the guy behind the scene (even though some songs requires him to sing as he play keys stage right). Instead, he let the spotlight shine on his three barefooted singers: Maya Avraham, Cabra Casay (alternate spelling Kabra Kasai), and Avi Wassa.

The songs (please refer to the setlist), were mostly from their latest album Quarter to Six (Cumbancha), but mixing in some old fan favorites like "Brong Faya" (which translates to "Burn Fire").

Avi Wassa and dancing fan

It wasn't until near the end of the set that Avi Wassa encouraged fans in the seated O'Shaughnessy to stand up and dance with them. At one point, even inviting a fan in the audience to come on stage and danced with them. The O'Shaugh floor wasn't designed for stomping and jumping up and down, at least in the front orchestra section of the stage, and I felt a real fear that we would collapse on the rowdy dancing. Thankfully, during the quieter song, the audience sat down... but then quickly stood up again once the songs on the set started to pick up again.

The Idan Raichel Project is currently on tour in support of Quarter to Six, be sure to catch this band for a truly world-fusion experience.

The Idan Raichel Project at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Paul (14 May 2014)

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

Minneapolis Music Guide: May 11 - May 17, 2014

Here is a guide of some Minneapolis (and Saint Paul) live shows and events taking place next week: May 11 - May 17.

The Ash & Clay ANTI Records Read More The Milk Carton Kids The Milk Carton Kids started off their set with a Joey Ryan (JR) song, "Permanent", followed by Kenneth Pattengale's "Girls, Gather 'Round". I thought Pattengale's singing style has a very Dylanesque quality…

SUNDAY, MAY 11
DAKOTA JAZZ CLUB
The Milk Carton Kids w/ Brian Wright

Moms, you must have the best children, if they bring you to this Milk Carton Kids show at the Dakota Jazz Club for Mother's Day on Sunday.

For the 'kids', they will enjoy the music, for the mothers, they get to enjoy some great food at the swanky restaurant.

On a serious note, I have spent $75+ on dinner at the Dakota and it was well spent. Delicious.

Tour dates:

05/08/14 Chicago, IL Old Town School Of Folk Music
05/09/14 Chicago, IL Old Town School Of Folk Music
05/10/14 Stoughton, WI Stoughton Opera House
05/11/14 Minneapolis, MN Dakota Jazz Club
05/12/14 Winnipeg, MB West End Cultural Centre
05/14/14 Calgary, AB Festival Hall
05/15/14 Edmonton, AB Mcdougall United Church
05/28/14 Austin, TX Paramount Theatre
05/29/14 Houston, TX McGonigel's Mucky Duck
05/30/14 Austin, TX Paramount Theatre
05/31/14 Dallas, TX Poor David's Pub
06/01/14 Oklahoma City, OK The Blue Door
06/03/14 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
06/05/14 Salt Lake City, UT The State Room
06/06/14 Boise, ID Neurolux
06/11/14 Seattle, WA The Neptune
06/12/14 Vancouver, BC St. James Hall
06/13/14 Vancouver, BC St. James Hall
06/14/14 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
06/15/14 Chico, CA Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
06/16/14 Napa, CA City Winery Napa
06/17/14 Santa Cruz, CA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
06/18/14 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
06/19/14 Santa Barbara, CA Lobero Theatre
06/21/14 Los Angeles, CA Aratani Japan America Theatre
06/22/14 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
06/23/14 Phoenix, AZ MIM Music Theater
06/24/14 Phoenix, AZ MIM Music Theater
07/17/14 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre
07/19/14 Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theater
07/20/14 Rocky Mount, VA Harvester Performance Center
07/21/14 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
07/22/14 Columbus, OH Lincoln Theatre
07/23/14 Pittsburgh, PA Kelly-Strayhorn Theater
07/24/14 Portland, ME Port City Music Hall
07/26/14 Newport, RI Fort Adams State Park
09/19/14 Lyons, CO Planet Bluegrass Ranch

Emblems Anniversary Tour Read More Matt Pond We've written about Matt Pond before, I suppose he's dropped the "PA" part of his name for some reason? His press release explained the reasoning behind the removal of the "PA" section: With the new album, The Lives Inside the.…

MONDAY, MAY 12
TURF CLUB
Matt Pond w/ The Lighthouse And The Whaler

Matt Pond: A decade of Emblems

Matt Pond (PA), the NY-based collective formed by the Philadelphia native, hits the road again with Ohio folk-pop openers The Lighthouse and The Whaler, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of his seminal fifth album, Emblems (Altitude Records) and what Paste Magazine described as “a lush, haunting collection of superbly crafted chamber pop” and what CMJ said was "an ideal record for the mature indie-rock fan with a weakness for string sections."

Thought by many as their favorite of Pond’s 8 LPs and 8 EPs, the tour is a rare chance to see that work performed in its entirety, along with selected new music including cuts from last year’s The Lives Inside the Lives In Your Hands (BMG) and other favorites.

Pond has been busy of late, releasing Skeletons and Friends via Noisetrade and working on another new full-length, via a Pledge Music campaign. Expect a laid back look into the past, as well as one that looks ahead, from this seasoned indie veteran.

Tour dates:

May 08 the Mod Club Toronto, Canada
May 09 Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL
May 10 Duck Room St Louis, MO
May 12 Turf Club St Paul, MN
May 13 Record Bar Kansas City, MO
May 14 The Waiting Room Omaha, NE
May 16 Marquis Theatre Denver, CO
May 17 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
May 19 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
May 20 The Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA

X'ed Out Sargent House Read More The Dillinger Escape Plan The Dillinger Escape Plan and Deftones on the same bill made a whole lot of sense, because both bands' sound is hardcore/borderline metal. Dillinger was incredibly hard to shoot because of they were mostly…

TUESDAY, MAY 13
7TH STREET ENTRY
Tera Melos w/ Holographic Sands and Hardcore Crayons

Tera Melos are currently touring in support of X'ed Out, which came out April 16th, 2013, via Sargent House.

Tera Melos are currently a three-piece band (Nick Reinhart, Nathan Latona, John Clardy), playing rock, jazz, and "unconventional song structure."

The Sacramento-based band will headline some dates after supporting The Dillinger Escape Plan in early May.

Tour dates:

05/09 Amityville, NY @ Revolution Bar *
05/10 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre *
05/11 Pittsburgh, PA @ The Mr. Roboto Project
05/12 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
05/13 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
05/17 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
05/23 Sacramento, CA @ Witch Room
05/24 Fresno, CA @ Golden Parking Lot
06/13 Osaka, Japan @ Shangri-La #
06/14 Nagoya, Japan @ Tokuzo #
06/20 Tokyo, Japan @ Liquidroom #

* w/ The Dillinger Escape Plan
# w/ LITE

The Touré-Raichel Collective at the Dakota 04/16/12

About twenty minutes into the concert Israeli musician, Idan Raichel explained to the audience how he and Malian guitar virtuoso, Vieux Farka Touré, came to be on the stage of The Dakota.  If you need the back story, you can read my album review or check out the NPR story.  The reason Raichel brought the story up was to explain why the newly formed collective did not have much for written material.  “So, welcome to our living room,” Raichel added.  Meaning:  They were going to jam.  And for two hours they played some of the most laid back, yet joyful music I’ve heard in a long time. 

Seeing these two musicians perform together was a real kick.  Besides the differences in religion, culture and hair style, Touré and Raichel couldn’t be any more different in how they play their musical instruments.  Touré sat straight ahead in a chair, facing the audience, cradling his guitar like a newborn, slightly leaning to the left or the right if he needed to talk to a band member or work through a groove.  Virtuoso is not an overstatement.  Even though he is known back home as the African Jimi Hendrix when he straps on an electric guitar, he made playing the acoustic guitar look absolutely effortless as he produced a serene, soulful, West African sound.

Raichel – on the other hand – could not sit still.  I took piano lessons in my youth, and my teacher, Sister Claire, would have been horrified by his technique.  First, he sat askance with his torso and fingers facing the piano while the rest of his body faced the rest of the band.  At times he even crossed his legs and somehow leaned back without missing a note.  Then he was standing, leaning into the inner-workings of the concert piano. 

Sister Claire once told me the piano is a percussive instrument and Raichel took full advantage of this description by muzzling and strumming the piano strings with one hand while plucking keys with the other.  Listening to the album, I really didn’t notice the newly formed notes, but seeing him perform live made the musical experience even more alive and organic. 

What made the night for me was seeing these two musicians interact.  The reason Raichel contorted his body was to dial in on what Touré was creating.  I loved their call and response.  There was a deep fondness and chemistry that you normally don’t see in musicians on their first tour.  Touré even teased his musical partner’s need to be surrounded by three musical instruments the (concert, electric and upright piano) while he somehow got through the night with one guitar.  They were having a good time.  So was everybody else.  At one point Touré tried to get the audience to sing on one of the songs.  It didn’t go so well, mainly because the chorus had just enough backbeat to throw off the Minnesotan crowd, but also why ruin the groove? 

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ fornaught.net