W♥M (Archive)

Minneapolis: June 4 - June 6, 2015

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area for June 4 to June 6, 2015.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Glass Animals The latest UK buzz band, Glass Animals, recently just sold out their show at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, last night, September 9th. …

GLASS ANIMALS
at First Avenue
Thursday 06/04/15 , 8pm ($20/Sold Out)
Details: first-avenue.com

After a successful sold out show at the Cedar last year, UK's Glass Animals returns to Minneapolis... selling out a much bigger venue - the main room at First Avenue.

Opening up the show will be Gilligan Moss.

Tour dates:

05/24/15 Seattle, WA The Neptune
05/25/15 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theatre
05/26/15 Portland, OR McMenamins Crystal
05/28/15 Boise, ID Knitting Factory
05/29/15 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
05/30/15 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
05/31/15 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
06/02/15 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe
06/03/15 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
06/04/15 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
06/07/15 Free Press Summer Fest
06/08/15 New Orleans, LA The Civic Theatre
06/10/15 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
06/11/15 Bonnaroo
06/12/15 Norfolk, VA NorVa
06/13/15 Richmond, VA The National
06/15/15 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
06/16/15 Buffalo, NY Asbury Hall At Babeville
06/17/15 NXNE Festival
06/18/15 Saratoga Springs, NY Vapor
06/19/15 Firefly Music Festival
06/20/15 Pawtucket, RI The Met
06/26/15 Down The Rabbit Hole
07/04/15 Blissfields
07/05/15 Metropolis Festival
07/17/15 Dour Festival
07/18/15 Dublin Longitude
07/24/15 St. Louis, MO Old Rock House
07/25/15 96.5 The Buzz Beach Ball
07/27/15 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall
07/28/15 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
07/29/15 Detroit, MI The Majestic Theatre
07/31/15 Chicago, IL Lollapalooza
08/02/15 Osheaga Festival
08/03/15 Rochester, NY Water Street Music Hall
08/07/15 Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival

Read More The Script The Irish rock band The Script had a three column stadium light, which I felt was underused. Instead the attention is always focused on singer Danny O'Donoghue who spent much of their songs in high energy mode …

THE SCRIPT
at The State Theatre
Friday 06/05/15, 7pm ($33.50)
Details: hennepintheatretrust.org

We have a couple of shows taking place on Friday, June 5th.

The first is for multi-platinum Dublin rockers The Script, who we last saw in 2012 at the Orpheum. We had a very good time, especially hard to ignore how energetic and fun singer Danny O'Donoghue was having on stage.

The Irish band is back in town on June 5th to promote their fourth studio album No Sound Without Silence.

US Tour dates:

05/26/15 Boston, MA House Of Blues
05/27/15 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
05/28/15 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
05/30/15 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Beach
05/31/15 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
06/02/15 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern
06/03/15 Tempe, AZ Marquee
06/05/15 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre
06/06/15 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
06/07/15 St. Louis, MO The Pageant

Read More Josh Rouse Josh Rouse is a folky singer/songwriter, his latest album is called El Turista, but the dude's been writing and releasing music since his debut Dressed Up Like Nebraska in 1998. In the decade of writing music …

JOSH ROUSE
at Fine Line Music Cafe
Friday 06/05/15, 8pm ($21.50/18+)
Details: finelinemusic.com

Singer/songwriter Josh Rouse is in town on June 5th in support of his latest The Embers of Time album, available now via Yep Roc Records. When we first mentioned him in 2011, I believe he was still based in Nashville. Currently Rouse lives in Spain.

Walkmen's Walter Martin to open the show. I believe this is the third Walkmen to go solo, previously I've heard Peter Matthew Bauer's debut record Liberation and singer Hamilton Leithauser with his solo Black Hours. Walter Martin's latest We're All Young Together is out now on Family Jukebox.

Tour dates:

05/27/15 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom
05/28/15 West Hollywood, CA Troubadour
05/29/15 San Francisco, CA The Chapel
05/30/15 Petaluma, CA McNears Mystic Theatre
06/01/15 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
06/02/15 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
06/05/15 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe
06/06/15 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall
06/07/15 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall Ballroom
06/09/15 Ferndale, MI The Magic Bag
06/10/15 Toronto, ON Legendary Horseshoe
06/12/15 Cambridge, MA The Sinclair
06/13/15 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge
06/14/15 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
06/15/15 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
06/17/15 Saxapahaw, NC Haw River Ballroom
06/18/15 Atlanta, GA Terminal West
06/19/15 Asheville, NC New Mountain Theatre
06/20/15 Nashville, TN 3rd & Lindsley

Read More Matthew Santos This is album is a work of art. True musicianship meets great songwriting and vocals. Its a shame that not more people know of Matthew Santos' work. …

MATTHEW SANTOS
at 7th Street Entry
Friday 06/05/15, 8pm ($10/18+)
Details: first-avenue.com

Two time Grammy nominee soul/folk/indie rock artist Matthew Santos will be stopping by the 7th Street Entry. Santos is on tour in support of his latest record Into the Further, which is coming out June 2nd, 2015.

No opening act listed.

Tour dates:

06/04/15 Marshfield, WI Wildwood Station
06/05/15 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
06/11/15 Los Angeles, CA Lyric Theatre
06/12/15 Long Beach, CA The Federal Bar
06/13/15 Napa, CA Oxbow
06/16/15 Sacramento, CA Low Brau

Read More The Lowest Pair Portland/Minneapolis' The Lowest Pair will be releasing their album The Sacred Heart Sessions at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on April 4th. ...

PICKIN' FOR AUTISM
at Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Saturday 06/06/15, 6:30pm ($12)
Details: amsterdambarandhall.com

Duo The Lowest Pair (featuring Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee) is headlining the Pickin’ For Autism: A Fundraiser for Lionsgate Academy on Saturday, June 6th.

Lineup and details:

The Lowest Pair
The Lowest Pair features the duel banjo picking of Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee. Draped in Kendl’s high lonesome harmonies and Palmer’s Midwest croon, their debut release, 36¢, (Team Love Records) was hailed by many outlets and American Songwriter praised their ”earnest, earthy songcraft.”

Steve Kaul and the Brass Kings
Your favorite Alt Folk Trio is mutating... growing extra limbs, gestalt phenomena and more...Steve Kaul, Brad Ptacek, Mikkel Beckmen, & Jillian Rae. Steve Kaul & The Brass Kings play their old-time instruments in very unexpected ways.

Kind Country
Kind music for kind people. Kind Country is a Minneapolis based band that plays American standards as well as their own brand of Cosmic American music.

Lenz and Frenz
J Lenz, guitar picker from local old time bluegrass band, Pert Near Sandstone, brings his "frenz" along for one big campfire jam! Lenz and Frenz can be any combination of local musicians, covering lots of old favorites from traditional folk/bluegrass, to classic rock, or 90's tunes.

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