W♥M (Archive)

Minneapolis: January 15 to January 19, 2019

Drama 2018 Tour Read More Drama Opening the show was Chicago-based duo Drama (not to be confused with UK’s Drama, punk band Drama, Norwegian pop rock Drama, or New Jersey’s Dramarama). The R&B/dance group …

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from January 15 to January 19, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

DRAMA
+ Manchita, Nick Jordan
7th Street Entry
Sat 01/19/2019 (8pm/$12)
first-avenue.com

R&B duo Drama (Na'el Shehade and Via Rosa) blew us away when we caught them opening for Jain last year. We’re excited to see that the The Chicago-based duo will be headlining their show at the 7th Street Entry on Friday

Locals Manchita (formerly of Grrrl Prty) and Nick Jordan to open.

Tour dates:

01/19 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN
01/23 Aisle 5 Atlanta, GA
01/24 Gasa Gasa New Orleans, LA
01/25 White Oak Music Hall Houston, TX
01/26 Mohawk Austin, TX
01/27 Three Links - Deep Ellum, TX
01/30 club congress Tucson, AZ
01/30 Club Congress Tucson, AZ
01/31 Valley Bar Phoenix, AZ
02/01 Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA
02/08 Barboza Seattle, WA
02/09 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
02/10 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, BC, Canada

Other shows in the area:

Laura Gibson 2018 Tour Drake Bell at Cabooze King Princess at First Avenue King Princess at First Avenue Read More Laura Gibson It's been five years since we last wrote about Laura Gibson, but I'm glad that she's back in our life. I saw her play at 7th Street Entry on Monday night, to a smattering of fans and families. … Tuomo & Markus The three-band evening began with a crisp set from Tuomo & Markus, a new project described as Nordic Americana from Finnish soul/jazz artist Tuomo Prättälä and singer/songwriter Markus Nordenstreng of The Latebirds. …

LAURA GIBSON
+ Stelth Ulvang
7th Street Entry
Tue 01/15/2019 (7pm/$12)
first-avenue.com

Singer/songwriter Laura Gibson will be at the 7th Street Entry on January 15th. Her last album Empire Builder was a “a triumph” according to Uncut Magazine. I can relate, as the first time I heard “La Grande”, I fell in love with Gibson’s ghostly tale in March 2012. She writes great songs.

Show up early to check out Stelth Ulvang, the multi-instrumentalist currently playing with The Lumineers and Dovekins.

Tour dates:

01/10 The Olympic Venue Boise, ID
01/11 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT
01/13 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO
01/15 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN
01/16 Hideout Inn Chicago, IL
01/17 The Mill Iowa City, IA
01/18 Back Room Milwaukee, WI
01/19 Odeon Louisville Louisville, KY
01/22 The EARL Atlanta, GA
01/24 Cactus Cafe Austin, TX
01/25 Double Wide Dallas, TX
01/26 Shoeshine Charley's Houston, TX
02/12 The Van Buren Phoenix, AZ
02/13 Grand Ole BBQ El Cajon, CA
02/26 Whelan's Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
02/27 Soup Kitchen Manchester, England

DRAKE BELL
Cabooze Outdoor Plaza
Wed 01/16/2019 (6pm/$20)
cabooze.com

Teenage heartthrob Drake Bell of Nickelodeon's hit series “Drake & Josh”, is bringing his music and comedy to the Cabooze on Wednesday, January 16th, 2019.

Tour dates:

01/16/2019 Cabooze Outdoor Plaza Minneapolis, MN
01/19/2019 Blue Moose Tap House Iowa City, IA
01/20/2019 Bourbon Theatre Lincoln, NE
01/24/2019 Chop Suey Seattle, WA
02/20/2019 Grog Shop Cleveland Heights, OH

KING PRINCESS
+ Banoffee
First Avenue
Thu 01/17/2019 (6pm/$20)
first-avenue.com

One of the hottest music act today, King Princess, is stopping by First Avenue on Thursday, January 17th. The show is sold out. It all started with her breakout smash hit song “1950” and now with the new track “Pussy Is God” (on Mark Ronson’s Zelig Records).

Show up early to check out Melbourne-born, LA-based multidisciplinary artist Banoffee.

Tour dates:

01/17 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
01/18 Metro Chicago, IL
01/20 Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON
01/21 Corona Theatre Montreal, QC
01/23 Warsaw Brooklyn, NY
01/24 Irving Plaza New York, NY
01/25 Royale Boston, MA
01/27 9:30 Club Washington, DC
01/28 TLA Philadelphia, PA
01/30 Terminal West Atlanta, GA
01/31 EXIT/IN Nashville, TN
02/02 Granada Theater Dallas, TX
02/03 Emos Austin, TX
02/06 Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ
02/08 The Fonda Theatre Los Angeles, CA

TUOMO & MARKUS
Cedar Cultural Center
Fri 01/18/2019 (7pm/$20)
thecedar.org

We caught Tuomo & Markus with the Jayhawks in Dec 2018 and said, “The three-band evening began with a crisp set from Tuomo & Markus, a new project described as Nordic Americana from Finnish soul/jazz artist Tuomo Prättälä and singer/songwriter Markus Nordenstreng of The Latebirds. Performing as just a duo, the pair returns as a proper six-piece, in just a few weeks, in support of debut album Dead Circles, to headline the Cedar Cultural Center on January 18.”

Well January is here, so expect the duo to headline the Cedar this Friday, January 18th.

Tour dates:

01/13 Mercury Lounge New York, NY
01/17 Martyrs' Chicago, IL
01/18 The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

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

Minneapolis: June 24, 2016

Read More Mina Moore Over at the 7th Street Entry, singer Mina Moore (aka Yasmina Moore-Foster) is billed has headliner, or at least co-headliner. Moore is also in a band called Dear Data ....

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on June 24, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

WHILK & MISKY
at 7th Street Entry
Friday, 06/24/16, 8pm ($12/$15)
first-avenue.com

Duo Whilk & Misky is headlining the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis next Friday. Since their debut EP The First Sip came out, it was widely supported by DJs Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens and Pete Tong, resulting in about 15 million streams and landed on the Spotify Viral 50 top five with both ‘Clap Your Hands’ and the song ‘Babe I’m Yours’.

Local openers listed will be Eric Mayson and Mina Moore.

Tour dates:

6/15 U Street Music Hall, Washington
6/16 Firefly Festival, Dover
6/18 Valley Bar, Phoenix , AZ
6/19 Constellation Room, Santa Ana, CA
6/20 Bardot, CA
6/22 Larimer Lounge, Denver, Colorado
6/24 7th Street Entry, Miinneapolis , Minnesota
6/25 Lincoln Hall, Chicago
6/26 Electric Forest, Michigan

Read More David Bazan David Bazan's new record Curse Your Branches came out yesterday on one of my favorite record label, Barsuk Records. To understand Bazan, you have to look back at the band he started, Pedro the Lion. … Laura Gibson It's been five years since we last wrote about Laura Gibson, but I'm glad that she's back in our life. I saw her play at 7th Street Entry on Monday night, to a smattering of fans and families. …

DAVID BAZAN
at Turf Club
Friday, 06/24/16, 7pm ($20)
turfclub.net

David Bazan is returning to Minnesota next Friday, June 24th, touring in support of his new Blanco album (Barsuk Records). In addition to the new record, he also made his previous solo release Fewer Moving Parts, Curse Your Branches and Strange Negotiations available on all streaming services for the first time.

Laura Gibson is supporting Bazan for this leg of the tour. Gibson’s latest Empire Builder came out last month on Barsuk.

Bazan tour dates:

06/17: Salt Lake City UT Kilby Court *
06/18: Denver CO Lost Lake Lounge *
06/20: Kansas City MO Record Bar *
06/21: Omaha NE Reverb Lounge *
06/22: Davenport IA Daytrotter *
06/23: Madison WI High Noon Saloon *
06/24: St. Paul MN Turf Club *
06/25: Milwaukee WI Colectivo Coffee *
06/27: Louisville KY Zanzabar *
06/28: St. Louis MO Old Rock House *
06/29: Indianapolis IN The HI-FI *
06/30: Chicago IL Lincoln Hall *
07/01: Ferndale MI The Loving Touch *
07/02: Toronto ON The Great Hall *
07/03: Ottawa ON Pressed *
07/05: Cambridge MA The Sinclair
07/06: Hamden CT The Ballroom
07/07: Brooklyn NY Music Hall
07/08: Philadelphia PA Johnny Brenda's
07/09: Washington, DC Black Cat
07/10: Charlottesville VA The Southern
07/11: Carrboro NC Cat's Cradle Back Room
07/13: Asheville NC Grey Eagle
07/14: Atlanta GA The Earl
08/04: Jacksonville FL Jack Rabbits +
08/05: Orlando FL The Social +
08/06: Tampa FL Crowbar +
08/08: Birmingham AL The Syndicate +
08/09: Nashville TN Exit/In +
08/10: Memphis TN Hi-Tone Cafe +
08/11: Little Rock AR Stickyz Rock'n'Roll +
08/12: Tulsa OK The Vanguard +
08/13: Denton TX Dan's Silverleaf +
08/14: Houston TX White Oak Music Hall +
08/15: Austin TX The Parish +
08/17: El Paso TX Bowie Feathers +
08/18: Albuquerque NM Low Spirits +
08/19: Phoenix AZ The Crescent Ballroom +
08/20: San Diego CA Casbah +
08/21: Costa Mesa CA The Wayfayer +
08/22: Los Angeles CA Teragram Ballroom +
08/24: San Francisco CA The Independent +
08/27: Portland, OR Mississippi Studios +
08/28: Vancouver BC The Biltmore Cabaret +

* with Laura Gibson
+ with Michael Nau

Read More Paul de Jong Temporary Residence Ltd will be releasing Paul de Jong's If this April 28th, 2015. If you're a fan of The Books (read our previous coverage from 2009), you may know de Jong as the co-founder of the band. …

PAUL DE JONG
at Cedar Cultural Center
Friday, 06/24/16, 7pm ($10/$12)
thecedar.org

Paul de Jong, from The Books, is touring in support of his debut album If (Temporary Residence Ltd).

Like the Books, De Jong’s concert will showcase his unique musical blend of odd spoken word samplings, mashed studio recordings and live instruments. In addition to playing live, he will also be showing video clips that seem to have been pulled out of one of the oddest of 10-gallon hats American culture has yet produced.

Paul de Jong will headline the Cedar Cultural Center next Friday, June 24th. Matt Latterell to open.

Paul De Jong Summer Tour Dates

6/16 Space Gallery – Portland, ME
6/17 Spotty Dog – Hudson, NY
6/20 Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
6/21 Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
6/23 Crescendo, Madison, WI
6/24 Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
6/26 Foam, St. Louis, MO
6/27 Fraish Theatre – Lexington, KY
6/29 Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
6/30 National Sawdust – Brooklyn, NY
7/1 Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY
7/2 Iron Horse – Northampton, MA

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

Portland Cello Project, featuring Laura Gibson, at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06/29/13)

Tour Dates 07/01 Bozeman, MT - The Filling Station 07/12 DANCE PARTY MADNESS 07/13 DANCE PARTY MADNESS 08/14 Seattle, WA - Two Union Square 08/15 Bellingham, WA - The Wild Buffalo Read More Portland Cello Project These guys are pretty fun, Portland Cello Project (PCP), the last few times I saw them, and they like to play heavy metal on cello. I guess their latest project is working on the "Beck's Song Reader". … Laura Gibson It's been five years since we last wrote about Laura Gibson, but I'm glad that she's back in our life. I saw her play at 7th Street Entry on Monday night, to a smattering of fans and families. …

Portland Cello Project (PCP) returned to Minneapolis at the Cedar Cultural Center last night, June 29th. This is one of those rare bands that is sponsored by MPR's Classical station, as noted by the Cedar's introduction.

Before I actually talk about PCP and Laura Gibson, I should give you a little background. On December 2012, Beck (yes, that "Loser", baby) wrote Song Reader, but he didn't actually want to go in the studio to record the album. So Song Reader became a 100-page book of sheet music and artwork. So PCP decided to record Song Reader, and thus, this recent tour, we got to hear those songs live with Laura Gibson singing all the lyrics.

How they programmed the show is to start with "Mission: Impossible" theme, then a classical rendition, and after that, they welcomed Laura Gibson on stage to sing "Rough on Rats", "Why Did You Make Me Care?", and "Title of This Song" (which got a laugh when Gibson was trying to introduce the confusing title). She would later return after the break to sing "Paper Tiger" (which is Beck's song from Sea Change), and "Last Night You Were a Dream".

Also worth noting is John Whaley on trumpet, which is his only appearance with PCP because of his location. I thought his contribution was welcomed, particularly on the "March of the Swiss Soldiers" (aka "Lone Ranger" theme song) because of the trumpet intro.

Some covers/standards were played*: Beck, Brubeck, and Bach (affectionately called "The three Bs"), Kanye West and Jay-Z (including "That's My B"), and their closing song, Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". They would later return for the encore to play Pantera and another classical.

Check out Portland Cello Project on this tour with Laura Gibson. This a-typical show does a good mix of featuring classical and modern pop songs. If you're a Beck fan, these shows should not be missed!

* NOTE: Not all their songs were standards; they mentioned that songs like "Robin Hood Changes His Oil" and "Denmark" were original compositions.

Portland Cello Project, featuring Laura Gibson, at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (06/29/13)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ portlandcelloproject.com ♥ lauragibsonmusic.com

Saturday Night in Minneapolis (June 29th, 2013)

It's busy busy busy this Saturday, June 29th, in Minneapolis!

Read More Caveman Caveman's first release "Coco Beware" reached my ears in early 2012 and I knew from that point on that they'd not only be a personal favorite of mine, but affect other people similarly…

ROGUE WAVE
roguewavemusic.com

You know, I have often mistaken this California band for Minneapolis' own Rogue Valley. Rogue Wave is basically Zach Rogue (vocals, guitar) with Patrick Spurgeon (drummer) and various band members.

Originally signed to Sup Pop, but currently with the release of Nightingale Floors on June 4th, 2013, is through Vagrant Records.

The band is currently on tour in support of the new record.

06/28/13 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
06/29/13 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe
06/30/13 Summerfest
07/12/13 San Francisco, CA The Independent
07/13/13 San Francisco, CA The Independent
07/16/13 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
07/17/13 Seattle, WA Neumos
07/18/13 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
07/20/13 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
07/21/13 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern

The Minneapolis date (Saturday, June 29th) at the Fine Line Music Café will feature Caveman for support.

Read More Portland Cello Project As for Portland Cello Project, as I have previously mentioned, they are cellists who play rock/pop/metal/hip-hop songs in the classical orchestra style. Unlike the previous shows I saw PCP…

PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT
portlandcelloproject.com

These guys are pretty fun, Portland Cello Project (PCP), the last few times I saw them, and they like to play heavy metal on cello.

I guess their latest project is working on the "Beck's Song Reader".

Check out one of their songs:



The good news is that PCP is currently on tour with Laura Gibson - who I saw last year and absolutely love her "La Grande" song.

Portland Cello Project, featuring Laura Gibson on tour:

06/28 Chicago, IL - The Hideout
06/29 Minneapolis, MN - The Cedar
07/01 Bozeman, MT - The Filling Station
07/12 DANCE PARTY MADNESS
07/13 DANCE PARTY MADNESS
08/14 Seattle, WA - Two Union Square
08/15 Bellingham, WA - The Wild Buffalo

TWIN CITIES PRIDE FESTIVAL
tcpride.org

The 41st Annual Twin Cities Pride Festival is happening this weekend, Sat & Sun, June 29 & 30, 2013, at Minneapolis' Loring Park.

This year's theme:

Twin Cities PRIDE is pleased to announce the theme for the 2013 PRIDE Festival: "I HAVE PRIDE". In honor of the continued support for equality and inclusiveness in Minnesota for GLBT rights, Twin Cities PRIDE will be concentrating the 2013 festival theme on raising awareness for individuals' dedication to its 6 pillars - Strength, Enthusiasm, Happiness, Growth, Confidence and Power.

Festival admission is free, however an "ID Check and Beer Garden" wristband will set you back $5. If you want to watch the "Pride in Concert Headline Show", tickets are $10(advance) and $20 (door).

2013 Pride Festival Entertainment Lineup

Loring Stage: Main Stage Hosted by Helen Back Saturday 11:45am - Strange Names 12:40pm - Wiping out Thousands 1:40pm - Duck Duck Punch 2:35pm - RJ & The Soul 3:30pm - Wicked Wenches Cabaret 4:25pm - TIGER VS. 5:30pm - Gates Open PRIDE IN CONCERT Hosted by Bradley Traynor Starring L'Assassins The New Standards Neon Hitch Nina Sky Sunday 12:00pm - Southside Desire 12:45pm - June Bug 1:25pm - Matt Iverson 1:50pm - Freedom Jazz! Big Band 2:35pm - Buffalo Moon 3:15pm - Brent 3:35pm - Roxxy Hall Band 4:25pm - Keri Noble 5:15pm - Closing Celebration Rainbow Stage Up Close and Personal Hosted By Martina Marraccino Saturday 12:00pm - Jeremy Neiderer 12:30pm - JACKSEE 1:25pm - McIntyre Stoudt Jazz Duo 2:20pm - Fuzzy Machete 3:15pm - JACKSEE 4:00pm - Yansen Marie 5:00pm - Three Nuns and a Gun

Sunday 12:30pm - Chris Bargmann 1:15pm - Marx and the Yogis 2:15pm - Hounds of Finn 3:20pm - Jeffrey Goodson 4:00pm - Pennyroyal 4:45pm - Drew Klinkert 5:30pm - Parental Advisory Stonewall Stage A Drag Extravaganza! Presented by SCENE Magazine Hosted by Ravonna Belladonna & Evie Blank Saturday 12:00pm - Saint Cloud Drag Troop 1:00pm - Friends of Pride "JACKSEE" 2:00pm - Majestics 3:00pm - Dragged Out 4:00pm - B.J. Armani's Cabaret 5:00pm - Spotlight Performances (Featuring Comedian Kristin Anderson) Sunday 12:30pm - Friends of Pride 1:00pm - St Cloud Drag Troupe 2:00pm - April's Talent Showcase 3:00pm - Elegance Show 4:00pm - Imperial Court of MN 5:00pm - Friends of Pride P2P Stage A Multi Cultural Experience Presented by RARE Productions MCs: RARE Productions, Paradise Valentio DJs

Saturday 11:00am - Opening Ceremony 12:00pm - Sol's Showcase 1:00pm - Bloomer Beatbox 1:30pm - Bad Medicine Review 2:30pm - RARE Review 2:45pm - BE STEADWELL 3:45pm - Mayda Miller 4:30pm - Sotaboyzz Ent. 5:30pm - Soulacious Sunday 11:30am - Opening 12:00pm - Pigpen's Delight 12:30pm - RARE Review 1:00pm - Toni Foxx: LABEL KILLER 2:00pm - Infamous T 2:30pm - UNL Drum Line 2:45pm - BE STEADWELL 3:45pm - Soul Beautiful 5:00pm - The Chalice 5:30pm - What Tyrants 5:45pm - Stage Close TEEN STAGE Hosted by McNally Smith College Saturday 12:00pm - Battle of the Bands 3:30pm - inIrie 4:30pm - City of the Weak 5:30pm - Battle of the Bands Winner 6:00pm - Dance Sunday 12:30pm - Umbrella Bed 2:00pm - Variety Show/Open Mike 4:00pm - Drunk History

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

A pair of Gibsons

Read More Laura Gibson The best way I can describe her music is that her songs are so delicate and gentle and kind… possibly just like Laura Gibson, herself ....

LAURA GIBSON
lauragibsonmusic.com

We like Laura Gibson. I was lucky enough to have caught the gentle songstress earlier this year.

Recently, NPR named a Laura Gibson's song, "The Carob Trees" as NPR's Song of the Day.

Gibson talked about the origin of the unreleased song, "'The Carob Trees' came after a visit to my friend Raul's family home in the countryside near Valencia, Spain. The house and land had been in his family for many generations. Raul told stories of trapping quail and collecting olives when he was a child, of his parents stomping grapes into wine. Raul's great grandfather collected stones to build terraces up the hillside in order to plant trees on the land. There were olive trees and almond trees, and then also a type of tree that wasn't familiar to me. Raul didn't know the English word, and didn't know the Spanish word. Finally, after he called it "poor man's chocolate" I realized they were carob trees. I was thinking of all the generations who spent time under those trees, and how we move forward in time and in relationships, both within and also outside of our own will. Thinking of will in relationships, and of trees, and of lineage, I was reminded of the story of Adam and Eve. The narrator in the song became a mix of Eve, of Raul's great great great grandparents, and of myself."

Laura Gibson's tour dates:

11.02 The Shakedown Bellingham, WA # 11.04 Rickshaw Theater Vancouver, BC # 11.05 Nyne Spokane, WA * 11.06 Top Hat Missoula, MT # 11.07 Visual Arts Collective Garden City, ID # 11.08 In The Venue Salt Lake City, UT # 11.09 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO # 11.10 Carter Payne Colorado Springs, CO # 11.11 Low Spirits Albuquerque, NM # 11.13 Solar Culture Tucson, AZ # 11.14 Sail Inn Tempe, AZ #

11.15 Soda Bar San Diego, CA ^ 11.16 The Echo Los Angeles, CA # 11.17 Great American Music Hall SF, CA # 11.18 G Street Wunderbar Davis, CA # 11.20 Wow Hall Eugene, OR # 11.23 Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR # 12.13 Capetown Int'l Convention Center S.Africa 12.15 Wits Theatre - Johannesburg, S. Africa # w/ Typhoon & Lost Lander * w/ Terrible Buttons ^ w/ Lost Lander & Run Luca

DAUGHN GIBSON
daughngibson.com

Daughn Gibson just recently signed to legendary Sub Pop Records and will be heading out on tour this Fall, after playing some CMJ shows (including Pitchfork and Sub Pop showcases).

His new Sub Pop debut record will be released in 2013. Check out a preview from Sub Pop's soundcloud:

With all this Sub Pop excitement, let's not forget about his 2012 White Denim's album, All Hell.

Gibson's tour dates:

Oct. 29 - Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle
Oct. 31 - St Louis, MO - Apop Records
Nov. 01 - Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge
Nov. 03 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
Nov. 04 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
Nov. 05 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia
Nov. 06 - Oxford, MS - Lamar Lounge
Nov. 07 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl (w/ Earth)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Laura Gibson at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (03/05/12)

Laura Gibson: La Grande Tour Dates 03/07/12 Madison, WI - The Frequency 03/08/12 Iowa City, IA - The Mill 03/09/12 Chicago, IL - The Hideout 03/10/12 St. Louis, MO - The Gramophone 03/12/12 Tyler, TX - Ricks On The Square 03/15/12 Austin, TX - SXSW Barsuk Showcase 04/03/12 Utrecht, Netherlands - Kargadoor 04/04/12 Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat 04/05/12 Ottersum, Netherlands - Roepaen 04/07/12 Stockton, UK - Stockton Calling 04/08/12 Totnes, UK - Studio Lound 04/10/12 London, UK - Lexington 04/11/12 Liverpool, UK - Leaf 04/12/12 Leeds, UK - Brudenell 04/13/12 Brighton, UK - Komedia Bar 04/14/12 Bristol, UK - Louisiana 04/17/12 Hamburg, Ger - Uebel & Gefährlich 04/18/12 Dresden, Germany - Beatpol 04/19/12 Berlin, Germany -Comet 04/20/12 Gera, Germany - BAP 04/21/12 Magdeburg, Germany - Oli-Kino 04/23/12 Leipzig, Germany - Nato 04/24/12 Düsseldorf, Germany - ZAKK 04/25/12 Frankfurt, Germany - Das Bett 04/26/12 Erlangen, Germany - E-Werk 04/27/12 Geislingen, Ger - Rätschenmühle 04/28/12 Dachau, Ger - Kulturschranne 04/29/12 Zürich, Switzerland - El Lokal 04/30/12 Milan, Italy - Rocket 05/04/12 San Sebastian, Spain - Homeless 05/05/12 Madrid, Spain - TBC 05/10/12 Paris, France - Cafe de la Danse 05/11/12 Brussels, Bg - Les Nuits Botanique 05/12/12 Ostend, Belgium - De Zwerver Read More Laura Gibson It's easy to fall in love with Laura Gibson by reading her biography alone; she was the high-jump champion in her home state of Oregon -- home to a dazzling, myriad assortment of indie gods and goddesses -- and went to college on a math scholarship. What's not to love?

It's been five years since we last wrote about Laura Gibson, but I'm glad that she's back in our life. I saw her play at 7th Street Entry on Monday night, to a smattering of fans and families. The best way I can describe her music is that her songs are so delicate and gentle and kind… possibly just like Gibson, herself.

The setup is interesting, she has dual mics (with her right one for voice distortion), and they have a trumpeter (which sounded great with her pop songs). Gibson went over to play keys for one song, but for the majority of the show, she's on acoustic guitar.

She didn't have a written set list, which made me think they might do the same set every night, starting off with the upbeat/spaghetti westernish song and title track of her latest album, "La Grande".

In fact, she seem really proud of her latest album, La Grande, named after her hometown in Oregon. Of course, most of the songs played were from the new album, including "Milk-Heavy, Pollen-Eyed", "Crow/Swallow", "Skin, Warming Skin", and her bossa-nova-inspired song, "Lion/Lamb".

Highlight from her show was when the band left her by herself to play one of the first songs she ever wrote, "The Longest Day".

The band closed out the set with everyone's favorite audience participation song, "The Rushing Dark".

Laura Gibson's La Grande album is out now via Barsuk Records. The critics all agree, La Grande is a terrific album. NPR called it "It's a beautiful, complex piece of work that often veers into wonderfully haunting territory. ", Under the Radar said, "Her songwriting's too uncompromising, complex, and sophisticated to ever become dull or staid…", while Q Magazine simply puts it, "A varied and hugely absorbing record.". What they're all trying to say, is that there are no two songs that sound alike on the album, and I agree.

Laura Gibson at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (03/05/12)

vu () ♥ lauragibsonmusic.com

Laura Gibson - "This Is Not the End"

This Is Not The End

Laura Gibson

Laura Gibson assures us -- and we believe -- that everything will be okay
Written for WeHeartMusic by Gus // e-mail

It's easy to fall in love with Laura Gibson by reading her biography alone; she was the high-jump champion in her home state of Oregon -- home to a dazzling, myriad assortment of indie gods and goddesses -- and went to college on a math scholarship.  What's not to love?

And all that before you even pick up her debut album, If You Come To  Greet Me.  From the immediate delicacy of the album's opening song ("This is not the end," she near whispers over a soft, wintry strumming of chords) to her strong-willed, emotional persistence on "Hands in Pockets," you know Laura Gibson is going to crawl into your heart and stay there.

But let's talk a minute about that opening track.  It's obvious that Ms. Gibson draws on that font of inspiration so many artists do -- being, of course, love and the loss thereof.  However, unlike her counterparts, she manages to take the pain of heartbreak and turn it into a brilliant, shining moment of heart-wrenching optimism.  It's inspiring to listen to.  To hear such a soft and fragile voice like Laura Gibson's on this song announce to everyone that despite it all, "this is not the end," is empowering.  When she says it, you believe her.  In this day and age, with the world the way it is, we need more Laura Gibsons.  We need more people telling us everyone will be alright.

And Ms. Gibson's is an easy pill to swallow; lovely, down-home vocals laid over intricate tracks of steel guitars, horn sections, pianos, and the singer-songwriter's good friend the acoustic guitar make this an album steeped in years and years of down-home living.  And with the help of M. Ward and Decemberists production guru Adam Selzer, this album is a dense, wintry jewel.

If You Come To Greet Me, Laura's debut album, was released November 17, 2006 on HUSH records.