W♥M

Minneapolis: June 16 to June 21, 2017

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from June 16 to June 21, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Ghost Sweden’s Ghost (also known as Ghost BC) will be headlining the Myth in Maplewood (St Paul area), this July 28th, touring in support of their new album Meliora (which came .…

IRON MAIDEN
at Xcel Energy Center
Friday 06/16/17 (6pm/$39.50)
xcelenergycenter.com

Legendary metal band Iron Maiden is headlining the Xcel Energy Center this Friday, June 16th. Their first MN show in 17 years!

The English band’s latest album The Book of Souls is available now, and like all their previous releases, features the iconic Eddie the Head as the band’s mascot.

Trivia: Did you know singer Bruce Dickinson is the cousin of Rob Dickinson (of Catherine Wheel)?

Show up early to see Grammy-winning (for “Best Metal Performance”) artist Ghost. This is the perfect pairing, as both bands are known for their showmanship and theatrics. We previously caught the band last year and noted, “Assuming a leader role immediately, Papa (Papa Emeritus III) had the crowd responding at will, swinging a thurible (the metal censer suspended from chains) back and forth to fill the room with sweet incense, and even brought a pair of “sisters of sin” on stage, to distribute communion to the faithful pushed up along the front barriers during ‘Body and Blood’ (though he warned the crowd against any “touching” beforehand).”

Tour dates:

6/13 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
6/15 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino
6/16 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
6/19 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy
6/21 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
6/23 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
6/24 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
6/27 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
6/28 - Scottsdale, AZ - Talking Stick Resort
7/1 - San Bernardino, CA - Glen Helen Amph
7/3 - Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena
7/5 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
7/7 - West Valley City, UT - USANA Amph
7/9 - Lincoln, NE - Pinnacle Bank Arena
7/11 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
7/12 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino
7/15 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage
7/16 - Ville De Quebec, QC - Centre Videotron
7/19 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
7/21 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
7/22 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center

Read More JD & The Straight Shot JD & The Straight Shot's album is called Right On Time, and this review is not right on time as it was released June 24th. To be fair, it was submitted only days before the …

DON HENLEY
at Xcel Energy Center
Sunday 06/18/17 (6:30pm/$79.50)
xcelenergycenter.com

The boys of summer is back ... You know we love The Eagles and Don Henley, so this is a show that you can’t miss. He will be playing hits from the past four decades.

Again, show up early to check out JD & The Straight Shot. Although we wrote about this Americana band in 2008 (nearly a decade ago), this is the information they provided for us: “JD & The Straight Shot’s sound is steeped in the quiet fire of Americana with distinctive elements of roots music topped off with a dash of classic rock. The band is currently working on their forthcoming album due out in 2017. JD & The Straight Shot has been touring nonstop in support of their 2016 all-acoustic album Ballyhoo!. In addition to playing with Don Henley, the group has performed alongside luminaries such as Joe Walsh, the Eagles, Keith Urban, the Dixie Chicks, Jewel, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Chicago.”

Tour dates:

6/13 Toronto, ONT @ Budweiser Stage
6/15 Cincinnati, OH @PNC Pavilion
6/17 Chicago, IL @Huntington Bank Pavilion
6/18 St. Paul, MN @Xcel Energy Center

Read More Ecid It wasn't just his set that was like that. Ecid, a local rapper, opened up the show with more energy than all of the openers I've ever seen at a rock show. Just like Sage and B. Dolan, … Russ Atlanta-based DIY rapper Russ is on his “Yung God Tour”, he will be headlining the Fine Line Music Café this Halloween. Russ does everything himself, writing, performing, producing, mixing, … 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. … Susto Charleston-based Susto (pronounced “soos-toh”) will be stopping by the 7th Street Entry. The band recently debut on CBS This Morning: Saturday. … Badflower Also on the bill is Badflower (not to be confused with Badfinger). The band is described as “one of L.A.’s most buzzed-about rock ‘n’ roll bands.” The band features Josh Katz … Night Moves The locally based band, promoting their debut, Colored Emotions (Domino) impressed us enough opening for Poliça (in Minneapolis and Colorado) and Django Django last year…

Other shows in the area:

06/16/2017 Brooklyn-based hip-hop artist Ecid returns to his old stomping ground at the Triple Rock Social Club this Friday. Triple Rock? More like Quadtrouple Rock with DJ Adatrak, Moodie Black, and Carnage The Executioner to open. 9pm, $10.

06/16/2017 Acclaimed artist Garland Jeffreys is touring in support of his new album, 14 Steps To Harlem (Luna Park Records/Rough Trade). The album is receiving critical praise from USA Today who calls it “timeless,” while American Songwriter proclaims, “[Garland is] one of rock’s most compelling voices” ... check it out yourself at the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant. 6pm, $30.

06/16/2017 John Moreland will play Turf Club in St Paul this Friday. Will Johnson (formerly of Centro-matic) to open. Johnson’s latest Hatteras Night, A Good Luck Charm is available now. 8pm, $12.

06/17/2017 Charlie Mars is ending his tour at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis this Saturday, June 17th. Mars’ latest Beach Town. Local Dan Rodriguez to open. 7pm, $25.

06/17/2017 I remember seeing At the Drive-In at Coachella... and then we saw them at their last Minneapolis show (before they broke up). At the Drive-In has reformed and will be playing the Palace Theatre in St Paul this Saturday with Le Butcherettes. 7pm, $43.

06/18/2017 David Bazan (formerly Pedro the Lion) is back in town at the Turf Club. Rana May to open. 7pm, $20.

06/18/2017 Atlanta-based DIY rapper and producer Russ will be at the Myth in support of his debut album There’s Really A Wolf album. 7pm, $34.

06/19/2017 Charleston-based Susto (pronounced “soos-toh”) is headlining the 7th Street Entry on Monday. The band was last in town in February 2017. Skyway Man to open. 7:30pm, $10.

06/19/2017 Turtlenecked will be at Memory Lanes in support of their forthcoming Vulture album (Good Cheer Records). Cool American to open. There’s no details on the venue’s website, but if they play inside, they’ll have to fight against the crashing pin noises (something that Bryant-Lake Bowl deals with). 6pm, $??.

06/20/2017 Nashville based rock band, Goodbye June is saying hello to June at the Triple Rock Social Club this Tuesday. Co-headliner Badflower was previously in town in February 2017. 7pm, $10.

06/21/2017 Local band Night Moves is playing a free show at the Turf Club this Wednesday. Also on the bill: Mariah Mercedes and Jade Earth. 7pm, FREE.

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

Sage Francis at First Avenue, Minneapolis (25 July 2015)

Tour Dates 08/29/15 U Street Music Hall, Washington, DC 08/30/15 Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ, US 09/11 – 09/12 Original Festival 2015 09/17/15 Alexander Gastown, Vancouver, BC 10/29/15 Showcase Lounge, S Burlington, VT 10/30/15 Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME 11/09/15 Waiting Room Lounge, Omaha, NE Read More Sage Francis Personal Journals and A Healthy Distrust were forcefully attention grabbing Albums for me, and caused me to fall in love with Sage Francis. Human the Death Dance and Li(f)e were slower to grow on me, but became …

Sage Francis is a rapper. He doesn't sing about getting turnt up. He doesn't sing about getting drunk on sizzurp. He sings about politics, he sings about his cats, he sings about work, he sings about what I live through every day.

Each song tonight was his best song. Each word was sung with heart, with passion.

It wasn't just his set that was like that. Ecid, a local rapper, opened up the show with more energy than all of the openers I've ever seen at a rock show. Just like Sage and B. Dolan, the other supporting act, it was just Ecid, a microphone, and a computer on stage. There was no one to hide behind, no instrument to cover up mistakes. Just a guy, a computer, and a microphone. It's so raw. I know that sounds cliché, but that's what it is, raw. Each word sang had meaning, each movement had a purpose.

B. Dolan was amazing as always. He was the one that I got to see at Soundset this year. He was good then, he was even better tonight. I think it was the setting. When you're at a festival, yeah, you may play in front of thousands of people, but are any of them even listening? When you play at a venue, you know those people are there for you. Why else would they buy a ticket? I think this gives the musicians more confidence to lay it all out there. They're not afraid to play the b-sides. They aren't afraid to make mistakes. They know they are surrounded by people who will support them no matter what. The musicians have nothing to prove. They've already proven it.

Did I mention I met Sage Francis tonight? It's a little intimidating to meet someone who you've put on a pedestal. You follow them around to the merch table after the show just waiting for your chance to take that selfie with them. You hope to God your phone has enough juice and storage to take that one little picture. Most of the musicians I've met will let you take that selfie and that's the end. Not Sage, no. I was shaking. I got up to him and couldn't even talk. I didn't know what to do. He gave me a huge hug, a kiss on the cheek and then I realized he's no different than you. No different than me.

Tonight was one of the best nights of my life. I was alone at a concert, surrounded by a bunch of strangers. I got lost in the music and was found in a hug with my idol.

Sage Francis (with B. Dolan) at First Avenue, Minneapolis (25 July 2015)

langen (langen@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ itunes.apple.com