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Brother Ali and Ant at First Avenue (15 Dec 2024)

Read More Brother Ali Brother Ali and Syrian-American rapper/activist Omar Offendum will be appearing at Augsburg college on Saturday, March 9, in Minneapolis. ...

Local rap legends Brother Ali and Ant co-headlined First Avenue on Sunday night. Openers were Dee-1 and MaLLy.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes finest enchanted us with a unique blend of beats and rhymes. Ant (aka Anthony Davis) the other half of the world famous and Minnesota based artist Atmosphere co-headlined the evening with a rich blend of beats, samples, on the turntables. The crowd was pumping and was moving and grooving for his whole set.

Ant’s new release is due out Jan. 24th 2005, titled Collection of Sounds Vol. 3. He dropped two of his singles from his upcoming release, “Welcome Back”, and “Perfection”. It would have been nice to have Atmosphere and Slug in the building but was a nice mix of instrumentals.

Brother Ali closed out the night with a vengeance. After a 5-year hiatus not playing First Avenue, it was nice to have the legend back. Brother Ali’s rap flow is like none other and always nice to understand and dissect all his lyrics. Old school rap like Jurassic 5 and De la Soul were some of my favorites back in the day and Ali Douglas Newman brings that same flavor.

He played a bunch of his hits including “Forest Whitiker” and “Uncle Sam Goddamn”. Producer Ant was out on set for the majority of the show as he helped produce and mix on all the tracks on Brother Ali’s upcoming February release. Brother Ali’s new release titled "Satisfied Soul" comes out 2/14/2025. My favorite track has to be “The Counts”!

If you like good Hip Hop and Beats, go catch one of Brother Ali’s tour dates!

Brother Ali at First Avenue (15 Dec 2024) photo courtesy of Brody Ant Brother Ali

brody ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Atmosphere at Harrah's Voodoo Lounge, North Kansas City MO (2024-10-12)

ATMOSPHERE SETLIST In Her Music Box Okay Puppets The Loser Wins Shoulda Known F**k You Lucy / Pour Me Another GodLovesUgly Sunshine The Waitress Yesterday The Best Day Party for the Fight to Write / Shoes Spaghetti Strapped Reflections / Modern Man's Hustle Lovelife God's Bathroom Floor Painting Scapegoat Flicker  Hear Hear Happymess Freestyle rap Trying To Find A Balance  ATMOSPHERE TOUR DATES Oct 13 George's Majestic Lounge Fayetteville, AR* Oct 15 Saturn Birmingham, AL* Oct 16 Georgia Theatre Athens, GA* Oct 18 Haw River Ballroom Saxapahaw, NC* Oct 19 Music Farm Charleston, SC* Oct 20 The Mill & Mine Knoxville, TN* Oct 22 The NorVa Norfolk, VA* Oct 23 The Jefferson Theater Charlottesville, VA* Oct 25 Brown County Music Center Nashville, IN* Oct 26 The Sylvee Madison, WI* Oct 27 Capitol Theatre Davenport, IA* Mar 13-16, 2025 Vinoy Park St. Petersburg, FL Reggae Rise Up Florida * - The Traveling Forever Tour feat.  NOFUN! and Reverie Read More Atmosphere Please note that Clyde Iron Works is located in Duluth, Minnesota. I've never been there before, but I would think this is a smaller than the usual venue that superstar rapper Atmosphere and his usual Rhymesayers …

Through the noise of slot machines, poker tables and roulette wheels, and into the Voodoo Lounge at Harrah’s in North Kansas City, Minnesota came to Missouri (and Kansas) as Atmosphere, NOFUN! and Reverie brought their “The Traveling Forever Tour” for a Saturday night stop of musical community from three underground label live heavyweights.

The three-act night began with a short but effective set from NE Los Angeles underground rap star Reverie, accompanied by her DJ, and who has a pair of new singles out recently – “Sippin’ Slow” and “Young OG. She credits her rap career for saving her from the streets and has been to 27 countries and 32 states as a result of her ongoing career.

Set highlights included a vengeful rap against her ex’s (and dedicated to everyone’s ex’s in the audience), the sampling of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge” (and she got the crowd to sing the song’s chorus against her rapping verses) and the calling-you-out-on-it track, “Scheming” from her 2016 EP, “Das Kleine”.

Middle act NOFUN! was anything but that, and we have to call them out on their band name that is farthest from the truth, because the nine-piece Los Angeles collective (plus musicians) crowded the stage with a joyous chaos, for a thirty-minute set that was nothing but fun.

The backgrounds of their members couldn’t be more different (from LA, Nashville, Dublin and Chicago among others) and each brings their influences of west coast rap, indie rock, bedroom pop, and anything in between (remember Jurassic 5, 2 Skinnie J’s?), to a cluttered but happy table of diverse people coming together to make one music (more groups should be like this).

Recent single is “8-Mile” (which is one that doesn’t feature an exclamation point) as a follow-up to last year’s buzzworthy singles “DAYTRIP!”, “Spend It!”, and “STOPDROP N ROLL!”. The group kept energy high and traded off verses among the many members (dizzying fun to watch) and has been enough overall good tour mates for the headliner to take them out on the last three tour legs, for their first shows beyond the west coast.

Ok, we’ll admit it- being Minnesota-based, we’ve probably taken Atmosphere for granted (as have many Mpls locals). They’ve been a force in Minneapolis since 1996 (pretty close to matching our own time in the Land o’ 10,000 Lakes), are bonafide local legends, and we’ve seen them numerous times, more informally than formally (which explains some lack of previous coverage).

We’ve the seen the duo of Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ Ant (Anthony Davis) in rooms as small as the back of their own Rhymesayers store in Uptown, to as large as headlining the MLB All-Star Game concert at Target Field in front of 40,000+, and everything in-between.

At First Avenue, they still regularly sell out multiple nights and the same can be said for other historic venues like Red Rocks in Denver, but it’s not really until you get out-of-market in the Midwest (like we did in Des Moines) or here in KC, to see the love is everywhere, for the pair and their music.

Their ninety-minute set began a bit subdued, with Slug sporting a De La Soul hoodie, glasses, and casually entering and toasting the crowd. But, energy soon ramped up on the second song, last year’s “Okay” reminding everyone in these high-stress, post-pandemic, post-Minneapolis-burning as a result of police brutality times, that all was going to be all right and that your neighbor is generally your friend.

Kansas City was on the itinerary on those first tours outside MN, so the area fan base is strong and still remains so, a quarter-century later, and despite Slug’s (and many in the audience’s) now graying hair and slightly slower step. “Old people! Out late on a Saturday night”, he joked looking around the crowded room.

Fans, of course, responded most to the older tunes such as “F**k You Lucy / Pour Me Another”, “GodLovesUgly” and “Sunshine”, but also to the newer tracks such as current single, “Hear Hear” from their latest “Talk Talk” EP (on their own Rhymesayers label, of course). Like the silent partner (the Teller to his Penn), Ant stayed behind his laptop, mixers and turntable, headphones in one ear, cueing the next beat and visibly grooving on the sounds.

The spirit of the show was joyous and inspiring as usual, with Slug often asking the crowd to point their fingers at the sky or to collectively raise both hands in unison, but also took time out to reflect on grief as a preface to 2008’s “Yesterday” (about Slug and his father) which was followed by the uplifting “The Best Day” reminding us all to do the best we can and try to stay in a proper mindset.

“Scapegoat” goes all the way back to 1997 and Slug reminded the audience of it being their breakthrough track, the one that sent them out on the road beyond MN state lines, to begin building a more regional fan base and beyond. Longtime fans all felt a lump in their throat during 2014’s “Flicker”, a song dedicated to fellow Twin Cities rapper Eyedea (aka Mikey Larson), gone too soon in 2010.

The encore wasn’t the encore anymore, as the pair (Ant, accompanied on the back table by Dee-1) re-titled it “Bonus Features” because “we’re all adults” and know those are at the end of a feature-length film. As is custom, Slug freestyle rapped with a mastery built on thirty years of honing his craft (managing to work in a couple KC shout-outs) and the evening ended with their “Trying To Find A Balance”, joined mid-song by all the openers on a now overly crowded stage, to remind us all again, that this was a show built on community, joy, and positivity.

Atmosphere has deemed the current outing “The Traveling Forever Tour” and while it may seem like a lifetime after a quarter-century, it’s still a special night for the fans that come out to experience a hip-hop show and leave with a good feeling and spirit of common musical community.

(click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

ATMOSPHERE at Harrah's Voodoo Lounge, North Kansas City MO (2024-10-12)

ATMOSPHERE at Harrah's Voodoo Lounge, North Kansas City MO (2024-10-12)

NOFUN! at Harrah's Voodoo Lounge, North Kansas City MO (2024-10-12)

REVERIE at Harrah's Voodoo Lounge, North Kansas City MO (2024-10-12)

John C ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥X / twitter.com ♥ bsky.ap

Dìdi

Dìdi (弟弟) Read More Trylon Cinema We caught the last showing for 7 Grandmasters, as part of the An Exploitation Extravaganza showcase, at the tiny 90-person non-profit Trylon Cinema in Minneapolis. … Sound Unseen Fat Wreck Chords (and some of your favorite punk bands: NOFX, Foo Fighters, Bad Religion, Against Me!) at the Sound Unseen Film Festival in St Paul. The film will come to VOD and Blu-ray/DVD on November 22nd via The Orchard and … Motion City Soundtrack Motion City Soundtrack can still qualify as a local band, despite their nationwide popularity and proof that they still connect in Minneapolis, was seen at a crowded main stage for their late afternoon set …

Didi, a movie about an awkward Asian teenager, won the Audience Award after its world premiere at the Sundance festival on January 19th, 2024. Although it is set for a theatrical release on July 26th it’s not making its way to Minnesotan theaters until August 9th so it was an absolute joy to see this state’s first sneak preview at the Trylon Cinema on July 25th.

The south Minneapolis theater in the Longfellow district seats 90. For every guttural laugh I had, the crowd amplified it making each hilarious scene even grander in scale. For every sad emoji moment, there were audible gasps and even exclamations, or more like whispers of “noooo....” For example, when the main character Chris decides to delete his old YouTube videos, forever lost to the ether.

The film was set in 2008, 5 years after MySpace was launched. It could be argued that at the time, this was the preferred social media platform since TheFacebook was not available to kids 13 and older until 2006. For those not familiar with MySpace, there was a huge music presence, making it a much easier way to consume the medium when the internet was young. And yes, I remember having to rate my friends, agonizing who would make it to my top 8.

There was a ton of great music reflected in the movie but the connection to MN is local artist’s Motion City Soundtrack has a song playing in one of the scenes as well as a new song titled “Stop Talking” written for the movie, that is the first song as the credits start to roll. Sound Unseen, which hosted the event, reached out to the band, but they declined, forwarded their regards but fans will be excited to find out that they were busy recording their new record. Other bands on the actual soundtrack include Belle & Sebastian, Hellogoodbye and Atmosphere.

On a personal note, growing up Asian, it felt like this movie was written for me. Like literally, my little brother is a skater who makes videos and we grew up in a town in California seriously close to Fremont where the movie is set. The subtext every time the mom, played by Twin Peak’s Joan Chen, asked Wang Wang if he had eaten yet, was one I had heard every time my own mother asked. But even if you’ve never frenched a French fry, I highly recommend seeing this movie.

DÌDI (弟弟) - Official Trailer

quynh ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Minneapolis: August 7 to August 10, 2024

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

08/07 The Revivalists with flipturn at Palace Theatre Read More The Revivalists New Orleans favorites The Revivalists also had a seventy-five-minute set (plus additional encore time) to win over the crowd, in support of their latest album, Pour It Out Into the Night which was just released … Flipturn Florida five-piece indie band Flipturn is named after a swimming maneuver, has a new single, “Playground” out this week, and promises their live show to be a complete and total release of inhibitions, for band and crowd alike. ....

08/07/2024 Wednesday

The Revivalists
with flipturn
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

The Revivalists will be headlining the Palace Theatre this August 7, 2024.

The Revivalists at Starlight Theatre (30 June 2023)

We saw The Revivalists in June 2023 and wrote, “New Orleans favorites The Revivalists also had a seventy-five-minute set (plus additional encore time) to win over the crowd, in support of their latest album, Pour It Out Into the Night which was just released on June 2nd via Concord Records. The eight-piece band has been constantly active and prolific since its 2007 beginnings, managing two pandemic-era EPs recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL, as well as the brand-new record and singer David Shaw was eager to show off the new songs, starting with opening track “Good Old Days” and Shaw getting things started on the good foot singing, “These are the good old days, they're ahead and behind”.”

Flipturn (28 Oct 2022)

Flipturn to open. We caught the band in October 2022 and wrote, “Flipturn’s been enjoying selling out multiple shows on their current headlining tour. The reasons that singer recounted was, “People just discovered us on their own. They'd hear about our shows, they'd check us out, and they'd keep coming back. Our live show is the reason we've been able to grow.””

Tour Dates:

Jun 29 Hartford, CT, US The Capital Groove

Jul 10 Vancouver, BC, Canada Vogue Theatre

Jul 11 Outdoor Woodinville, WA, US Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery

Jul 12 Whitefish, MT, US Under the Big Sky

Jul 15 Salt Lake City, UT, US Red Butte Garden

Jul 17 Outdoor Paso Robles, CA, US Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Jul 18 Saratoga, CA, US Mountain Winery

Jul 20 Napa, CA, US Meritage Resort

Aug 6 Outdoor Kansas City, MO, US Grinders KC

Aug 7 St. Paul, MN, US Palace Theatre

Aug 7 Albany, NY, US Palace Theatre

Aug 9 Chicago, IL, US The Salt Shed

Aug 14 Outdoor Morrison, CO, US Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Aug 15 Outdoor Morrison, CO, US Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Oct 18 Saint Augustine, FL, US The St. Augustine Ampitheatre

Oct 19 Tampa, FL, US Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park

08/09 Old 97's at First Avenue Read More The Old 97's We caught The Old 97s earlier this year at SXSW, and also last year at the Fine Line Music Café, in Minneapolis, which Emily described singer Rhett Miller's vocals as nothing short of "fantastic and passionate." ...

08/09/2024 Friday

Old 97's
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

The Old 97’s is out touring in support of their new album American Primitive, available on ATO Records.

The Old 97s at Fine Line Music Cafe (12 Nov 2013)

We last saw The Old 97s in Nov 2013 and wrote, “If the Shades brought the crowd to an enthusiastic boil, then the Old 97s turned the place into an outright volcano of excitement. Bassist Murry Hammond strode out on stage, followed by drummer Philip Peeples sporting a fantastic ‘stache, singer/guitarist and dreamboat extraordinaire Rhett Miller and lead shredder Ken Bethea and they launched into a breathless two-hour set starting with the sing-along classic “Barrier Reef” from the band’s 1997 offering Too Far to Care. The Old 97s have acquired quite a following in their 20-year career and you couldn’t ask for a better audience; the energy off stage was just as potent as the energy on stage. Grown men and women were giggling like schoolchildren, grins plastered on their faces and all eyes adoringly on one of the greatest live bands ever. Miller mentioned several times how much he loved the Twin Cities (he was in St. Paul last month for Wits) - so much that, half way through the set, they unveiled a new song Miller jokingly called “high art.” It’s title? “Let’s Get Drunk And Get it On.” Another toast to the Cities came in the form of a reworked Bob Dylan song; Miller rewrote “Desolation Row” with new lyrics and called it “Champaign, IL,” to Dylan’s approval.”

Update 7/16/24: John Buffalo has been announced as support. The Old 97’s personally asked Buffalo to join them on a short Summer tour. When asked about the invite, John Dufilho (who records as John Buffalo) said, “Having the 97’s put their stamp of approval on my new solo project, John Buffalo, means the world to me. Plus, their crowds are the best. This trip is gonna be crazy fun. I’ve toured with them before, with The Deathray Davies and with I Love Math, but never solo. I’m definitely gonna be trying some new things.”

Tour dates:

7/5 – Berwyn, IL – FitzGerald's

7/31 – Lexington, KY – The Burl

8/1 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone

8/2 – Saint Louis, MO – Delmar Hall

8/3 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi Annex

8/4 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag

8/6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation

8/7 – Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre

8/8 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly's

8/9 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue

8/10 – Davenport, IA – The Raccoon Motel

8/11 – Kansas City, MO – Madrid Theatre

9/10 – Boston, MA – Royale

9/11 – Amherst, MA – The Drake

9/12 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom

9/13 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

9/14 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

9/15 – King of Prussia, PA – Concerts Under the Stars

9/17 – Lititz, PA – Mickey's Black Box

9/18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Café

9/19 – Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club

9/20 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry

9/21 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground

9/22 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre

9/24 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm

9/25 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room Greenville

9/26 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre

9/27 – Columbia, SC – The Senate

9/28 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse

9/29 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina's

08/10 Atmosphere & Friends with NOFUN!, Wave Chapelle and DJ Stage One at First Avenue Read More Atmosphere Please note that Clyde Iron Works is located in Duluth, Minnesota. I've never been there before, but I would think this is a smaller than the usual venue that superstar rapper Atmosphere and his usual Rhymesayers …

08/10/2024 Saturday

Atmosphere & Friends
with NOFUN!, Wave Chapelle and DJ Stage One
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Minnesota’s favorite rapper Atmosphere announced some new headlining dates, titled “The Traveling Forever Tour”. The hometown show hits First Avenue on August 10, 2024.

Atmosphere (11 August 2009)

We saw Atmosphere in August 2009 and said, “Atmosphere made their first appearance in Des Moines and they left impressed, to say the least. Atmosphere’s front man, Slug, coined us “his family reunion” and that he’s very proud to call Des Moines his friend.”

NOFUN!, Wave Chapelle and DJ Stage One to open.

Tour dates:

7/20 - San Diego, CA @ Bayfest ^

7/21 - Tacoma, WA @ Reggae On The Way Festival ^

8/01 - Bend, OR @ Midtown Ballroom *

8/02 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House *

8/03 - Olympic Valley, CA @ Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival ^

8/04 - Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Music & Arts Festival ^

8/06 - Billings, MT @ Downtown Billings Skatepark *

8/08 - Fargo, ND @ Up District Festival Field *

8/09 - Superior, WI @ Earth Rider Brewery *

8/10 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue #

8/16 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre +

8/17 - Los Angeles, CA @ Rhyme Fest ^

10/02 - Casper, WY @ Ford Wyoming Center -

10/04 - Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen -

10/05 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union -

10/06 - Las Vegas, NV @ Reggae Rise Up ^

10/08 - Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theater -

10/09 - El Paso, TX @ 11:11 -

10/11 - Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre -

10/12 - North Kansas City, MO @ Voodoo Lounge Harrah's KC -

10/13 - Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge -

10/15 - Birmingham, AL @ Saturn -

10/16 - Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre -

10/18 - Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom -

10/19 - Charleston, SC @ Music Farm -

10/20 - Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine -

10/22 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa -

10/23 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater -

10/25 - Nashville, IN @ Brown County Music Center -

10/26 - Madison, WI @ The Sylvee -

10/27 - Davenport, IA @ Capitol Theatre -

^ Festival Performance
* with HEBL and NOFUN!
- with NOFUN! and Reverie
# with NOFUN!, Wave Chapelle, and DJ Stage One
+ with Method Man & Redman, Deltron 3030, Skratch Bastid, and NOFUN!

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com ♥ bsky.ap

Minneapolis: November 25 to November 30

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

11/24 Atmosphere with HEBL and NOFUN! at First Avenue 11/25 Atmosphere with HEBL and NOFUN! at Palace Theatre Read More Atmosphere Please note that Clyde Iron Works is located in Duluth, Minnesota. I've never been there before, but I would think this is a smaller than the usual venue that superstar rapper Atmosphere and his usual Rhymesayers …

11/24/2023 Friday

Atmosphere
with HEBL and NOFUN!
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

11/25/2023 Saturday

Atmosphere
with HEBL and NOFUN!
at Palace Theatre
first-avenue.com

Incredibly popular local hip-hop pioneers Atmosphere sold out his Friday, November 24th, show at First Avenue, that he’s booked a second show at the Palace Theatre.

Atmosphere’s new Talk Talk EP is out now.

Atmosphere (11 August 2009)

We saw Atmosphere in August 2009 and said, “Atmosphere made their first appearance in Des Moines and they left impressed, to say the least. Atmosphere’s front man, Slug, coined us “his family reunion” and that he’s very proud to call Des Moines his friend.”

HEBL and NOFUN! to open.

Tour dates:

11/2 - Missoula, MT @ The Wilma
11/3 - Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
11/4 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
11/6 - Seattle WA @ The Showbox
11/7 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
11/9 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
11/10 - Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
11/13 - Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
11/14 - San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
11/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
11/16 - San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
11/18 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
11/19 - Albuquerque, NM @ Revel
11/21 - Omaha, NE @ The Admiral
11/22 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
11/24 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11/25 - Saint Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre

2024
1/06 - St. Petersburg, FL @ St. Petersburg Pier

*This date not a headline performance

11/25 The Rockford Mules with High on Stress and DJ Assassin9 at Mortimer's

11/25/2023 Saturday

The Rockford Mules
with High on Stress and DJ Assassin9
at Mortimer's
mortimersbar.com

Local band The Rockford Mules (featuring bassist Craig Peck, singer and guitarist Erik Tasa-Vocals, guitarist Ryan Rud, and drummer Joel Habedank) is having a vinyl release party for The Last Camaro on Saturday, November 25th.

This is the band’s first new album in over a decade and they are thrilled to play those new songs at this upcoming show.

The Rockford Mules have been around since 2005 and have opened for Lucero, The Violent Femmes, Fu Manchu, Shooter Jennings, and many others.

Details on the new album:

Once described as “devil chasing guitar grinding” music has now evolved into a more refined version of themselves that can only happen from years of the same four guys playing together for 17 years. Their new album, “The Last Camaro”, is a 70’s rock infused ode and celebration to a time when your band was your family. The boys have come home… This is their family reunion.

High on Stress and DJ Assassin9 will open the show. The event is hosted by Nate P of Shore lunch with Nate P.

11/28 The Maine with flor and Daisy Grenade at First Avenue Read More The Maine I've seen The Maine many times before. Last time I went to their show, I wrote about how maybe a concert is just an excuse for the feeling of nostalgia. I was back on the hunt …

11/28/2023 Tuesday

The Maine
with flor and Daisy Grenade
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Celebrated emo/pop punk artist The Maine is on tour in support of their highly anticipated self-titled ninth album. “The Sweet Sixteen Tour” will stop in at First Avenue in Minneapolis on November 28th, 2023.

The Maine (03 Sep 2015)

We previously saw The Maine in Sep 2015 and said, “I've seen The Maine many times before. Last time I went to their show, I wrote about how maybe a concert is just an excuse for the feeling of nostalgia. I was back on the hunt last night and got closer to finding that bliss of nostalgia. The show last night was a free show. How cool is that? A free freaking show! My bank account was definitely happy about that.”

flor and Daisy Grenade to open.

Tour dates:

Nov 10 San Diego, CA, US House of Blues
Nov 11 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Bellwether
Nov 12 Anaheim, CA, US House of Blues
Nov 13 San Francisco, CA, US August Hall
Nov 15 Sacramento, CA, US Ace of Spades
Nov 18 Portland, OR, US McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
Nov 19 Seattle, WA, US The Showbox
Nov 21 Salt Lake City, UT, US The Complex
Nov 28 Minneapolis, MN, US First Avenue
Nov 29 Milwaukee, WI, US The Rave/Eagles Club
Nov 29 Milwaukee, MI, US The Rave
Nov 30 Chicago, IL, US House of Blues
Dec 2 Columbus, OH, US Newport Music Hall
Dec 3 Toronto, ON, Canada The Danforth Music Hall
Dec 5 New York (NYC), NY, US Irving Plaza
Dec 6 New York (NYC), NY, US Irving Plaza
Dec 7 Harrisburg, PA, US XL Live
Dec 8 Boston, MA, US Citizens House of Blues
Dec 9 Philadelphia, PA, US Franklin Music Hall
Dec 10 Silver Spring, MD, US The Fillmore
Dec 12 Nashville, TN, US Brooklyn Bowl
Dec 14 Tulsa, OK, US Cain's Ballroom
Dec 15 Houston, TX, US House of Blues
Dec 16 San Antonio, TX, US Vibes Event Center
Jan 19 2024 Phoenix, AZ, US The Van Buren
Jan 20 2024 Phoenix, AZ, US The Van Buren
Feb 28 2024 Portland, OR, US Moda Center
Mar 1 2024 Seattle, WA, US Climate Pledge Arena
Mar 3 2024 Sacramento, CA, US Golden 1 Center
Mar 4 2024 Anaheim, CA, US Honda Center
Mar 7 2024 Fort Worth, TX, US Dickies Arena
Mar 8 2024 Austin, TX, US Moody Center
Mar 11 2024 Oklahoma City, OK, US Paycom Center
Mar 13 2024 Birmingham, AL, US Legacy Arena at The BJCC
Mar 15 2024 Orlando, FL, US Amway Center
Mar 16 2024 Jacksonville, FL, US VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Mar 23 2024 Mexico City, Mexico Lunario del Auditorio Nacional
Apr 22 2024 Cologne, Germany Die Kantine
Apr 25 2024 Manchester, UK New Century
Apr 26 2024 London, UK O2 Forum Kentish Town

11/29 Angel Olsen with Nona Invie at First Avenue Read More Angel Olsen Alternative country / folk singer-songwriter Angel Olsen and her distinctive voice, played to a loyal and raucous capacity crowd at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS, satisfying her ...

11/29/2023 Wednesday

Angel Olsen
with Nona Invie
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Angel Olsen is back in town, this time headlining First Avenue in Minneapolis on November 29th.

Angel Olsen (27 Jan 2023)

We previously saw Olsen in Jan 2023 and said, “To say that the crowd was anticipating Angel Olsen’s ninety-five-minute headlining set, is a massive understatement; as in addition to the locals and students, many had driven in from Kansas City and much farther parts unknown, to catch the buzzing St. Louis-born / Asheville, NC resident, in support of latest full-length, Big Time (Jagjaguwar Records) released last June.”

Nona Invie to open.

Tour dates:

Tue. Oct. 17 - San Diego, CA @ Humphreys Concerts By The Bay +
Wed. Oct. 18 - Garden Grove, CA @ Garden Amphitheatre +
Thu. Oct. 19 - San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom +
Fri. Oct. 20 - San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom ^
Tue. Oct. 24 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall ^
Wed. Oct. 25 - Portland OR @ Revolution Hall #
Thu. Oct. 26 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre #
Fri. Oct. 27 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre ^
Sat. Oct. 28 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre @
Wed. Nov. 29 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue %
Thu. Nov. 30 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom ^
Fri. Dec. 1 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall ^
Sat. Dec. 2 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall >
Sun Dec. 3 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall !
Sun. Dec. 5 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall !
Wed. Dec. 6 - Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl !
Thu. Dec. 7 - Birmingham, AL @ Saturn ~
Fri. Dec. 8 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club ~
Sat. Dec 9 - Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom ~

* w/ Jason Isbell
$ w/ Maxim Ludwig
< w/ The Strokes
+ w/ King Tuff
^ w/ Kara Jackson
# w/ Allegra Krieger
@ w/Led To Sea
% w/ Nona Invie
> w/ Natural Information Society
! w/ Joanna Sternberg
~ w/ Sluice

11/30 Kitchen Dwellers with Armchair Boogie at Fine Line

11/30/2023 Thursday

Kitchen Dwellers
with Armchair Boogie
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

MT-based Americana alt/bluegrass band Kitchen Dwellers will be headlining the Fine Line in Minneapolis on November 30th.

Armchair Boogie to open.

Tour dates:

October 17 @ Thunderbird Cafe and Music Hall | Pittsburgh, PA^
October 18 @ Harvester Performance Center | Rocky Mount, VA^
October 19 @ The Broadberry | Richmond, VA^
October 20 @ Outer Banks Bluegrass Fest | Manteo Island, NC
October 21 @ Salvage Station | Asheville, NC^*@
October 22 @ Cohap Space | High Point, NC^
October 26 @ Suwannee Hulaween | Live Oak, FL
October 27 @ Pour House | Charleston, SC^
October 28 @ Pour House | Charleston, SC^
October 29 @ Visulite Theatre | Charlotte, NC^
October 31 @ Georgia Theatre | Athens, GA^
November 9 @ Cervantes’ Other Side | Denver, CO
November 10 @ Ogden Theatre | Denver, CO^^
November 11 @ Ogden Theatre | Denver, CO
November 30 @ Fine Line | Minneapolis, MN**
December 1 @ The Sylvee | Madison, WI #
December 2 @ Wooly’s | Des Moines, IA**
December 3 @ RecordBar | Kansas City, MO**
December 6 @ Kenny’s Westside Pub | Peoria, IL**
December 7 @ The Stache At The Intersection | Grand Rapids, MI**
December 8 - 9 @ The Summit Music Hall | Columbus, OH**

^w/ Fireside Collective
%w/Mountain Gras Unit
*w/Leftover Salmon
@w/ Arkansauce
^^w/Chris Jacobs
**w/Armchair Boogie
# w/ Sicard Hollow

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Minneapolis: January 9 to January 16, 2020

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from January 9 to January 16, 2020.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

G. Love at First Avenue Read More G. Love & Special Sauce G. Love and Special Sauce's show packed and ended their set with the popular "Cold Beverages" song. By this time, I was ready for bed...

G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE
+ Shamarr Allen
First Avenue
Fri 01/10/2020 (7:30pm/$25)
first-avenue.com

Multi-instrumentalist G. Love (billed as G. Love and Special Sauce) will be headlining First Avenue this January 10, in support of his new album The Juice out January 17 via Philadelphonic/Thirty Tigers).

Shamarr Allen to open.

Tour dates:

January 7 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly's
January 9 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
January 10 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
January 11 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
January 12 - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill
January 14 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
January 16 - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Indianapolis
January 17 - Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar
January 18 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
January 19 - Bensalem, PA - XCite Center
January 21 - Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall
January 23 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl
January 24 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live
January 25 - Uncasville, CT - Wolf Den
January 26 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
January 28 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head On Stage
January 30 - Washington, DC - The Hamilton Live
January 31 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom
February 4 - Greenville, SC - The Firmament
February 6 - New Smyrna Beach, FL - Beachside Tavern
February 7 - Jacksonville, FL - 1904 Music Hall
February 8 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
February 9 - Lake Worth, FL - South Florida Garlic Festival
February 27 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep
February 28 - Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre
February 29 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
March 1 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up Aspen
March 3 - Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House
March 5 - Park City, UT - Park City Live
March 6 - Las Vegas, NV - The Yard at TopGolf Las Vegas
March 7 - Stateline, NV - Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
March 11 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
March 12 - Santa Barbara, CA - Soho
March 13 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
March 14 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
March 16 - San Rafael, CA - Terrapin Crossroads
March 17 - Ashland, OR - Historic Ashland Amory
March 19 - Bend, OR - The Domino Room
March 20 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
March 21 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
March 22 - Vancouver, BC - The Venue
March 24 - Sandpoint, ID - The Hive
March 26 - Bozeman, MT - The Rialto
March 27 - Missoula, MT - Top Hat
March 28 - Hailey, ID - The Mint
March 29 - Teton Village, WY - Mangy Moose

Other shows in the area:

Le Vent Du Nord at Cedar Cultural Center Surfaces at Fine Line Radio K at 7th Street Entry Atmosphere at First Ave Mpls Drew/ Austin Willette at 7th Street Entry Yola at Fine Line Taylor McFerrin at 7th Street Read More Le Vent du Nord Quebec's Le Vent du Nord (The North Wind) is releasing Tromper le temps ("Fooling Time") in the US on November 3rd. Hurdy-gurdy player and songwriter Nicolas Boulerice explained why it's important to … Atmosphere Please note that Clyde Iron Works is located in Duluth, Minnesota. I've never been there before, but I would think this is a smaller than the usual venue that superstar rapper Atmosphere and his usual Rhymesayers …

LE VENT DU NORD
+ Uskudar Eclectic
Cedar Cultural Center
Thu 01/09/2020 (7pm/$18)

The award winning and highly acclaimed Quebec band Le Vent Du Nord is stopping by the Cedar Cultural Center.

Uskudar Eclectic to open.

Tour dates:

01/09/2020 The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
01/10/2020 Blue Note Ballroom Winsted, MN
01/11/2020 Holy Trinity Parish Hall Des Moines, IA
01/12/2020 Boman Fine Arts Center Forest City, IA
01/24/2020 Zankel Hall At Carnegie Hall New York, NY
02/27/2020 Museum Of Fine Arts Boston Boston, MA
02/28/2020 Colonial Theatre Keene, NH
02/29/2020 Chandler Center For The Arts Chandler, AZ
04/25/2020 Carnegie Lecture Hall Pittsburgh, PA
04/26/2020 Happy Days Lodge Peninsula, OH
05/16/2020 Oats Park Arts Center Fallon, NV
06/18/2020 Telluride Bluegrass Festival
06/19/2020 Telluride Bluegrass Festival
06/20/2020 Telluride Bluegrass Festival
06/21/2020 Telluride Bluegrass Festival
07/10/2020 Montana Folk Festival
07/11/2020 Montana Folk Festival
07/12/2020 Montana Folk Festival
07/13/2020 Mendocino Music Festival
08/30/2020 Highland Center For The Arts Greensboro, VT

SURFACES
+ Public Library Commute
Fine Line Music Cafe
Sat 01/11/2020 (6pm/$15/Sold Out)
finelinemusic.com

Texas Reggae-vibe rockers Surfaces will play the Fine Line Music Café on Saturday, January 11th. The band sold out their 7th Street Entry appearance, and as a result was moved to the larger-capacity venue of the Fine Line - unfortunately, that venue has also sold out.

Show up early to check out Public Library Commute. Tour dates:

1/3 - Atlanta, GA (Aisle 5)
1/4 - Charlotte, NC (Neighborhood Theatre)
1/6 - Cleveland, OH (House of Blues Cambridge)
1/8 - Toronto, ON (Velvet Underground)
1/9 - Pontiac, MI (The Pike Room)
1/10 - Chicago, IL (Chop Shop)
1/11 - Minneapolis, MN (7th Street Entry)

RADIO K GIGAWATT RESIDENCY
feat Products, Controversial New 'Skinny Pill', Sass
7th Street Entry
Sun 01/12/2020 (7:30pm/$7)
first-avenue.com

Local radio station, Radio K is putting together their “Gigawatt Residency” show at the 7th Street Entry. The show will feature local bands like Products, Controversial New 'Skinny Pill', and Sass.

About Radio K:

Radio K is the award-winning student-run radio station of the University of Minnesota, playing an eclectic variety of independent music both old and new.

Featuring a vast library of independent music, in-studio performances, videos and specialty shows, Radio K is an essential link to the world of independent and local music.

ATMOSPHERE
+ Lioness, Nikki Jean, DJ Keezy
First Avenue
Mon 01/13/2020 (7pm/$30/Sold Out)
first-avenue.com

The very, very popular Atmosphere is playing First Avenue on Monday, January 13th. Blink, and it’s sold out, of course.

Residency:

01/13/2020 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
01/17/2020 The Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON
01/21/2020 House Of Blues Boston Boston, MA
01/25/2020 College Street Music Hall New Haven, CT
01/27/2020 9:30 Club Washington, DC
01/29/2020 The Cowan Nashville, TN
01/31/2020 Stubb's Bar-B-Q Austin, TX
02/04/2020 The Marquee Tempe, AZ
02/05/2020 Observatory North Park San Diego, CA
02/08/2020 The Novo Los Angeles, CA
02/11/2020 The Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA
02/12/2020 Cargo Concert Hall Reno, NV
02/16/2020 The Wilma Missoula, MT
02/18/2020 Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, WA
02/22/2020 Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA
02/23/2020 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC
02/25/2020 MacEwan Hall Calgary, AB
02/28/2020 Palace Theatre St. Paul, MN

MPLS DREW / AUSTIN WILLETTE
+ Trev, Jake Giller, Themaraj
7th St Entry
Tue 01/14/2020 (7:30pm/$7)
first-avenue.com

MPLS Drew is co-headlining the 7th Street Entry with Austin Willette.

Trev, Jake Giller, and Themaraj (although they are not mentioned below) to open.

MPLS Drew writes:

MPLS Drew and Austin Willette w/ Trev and Jake Giller in the 7th St Entry on January 14
Tickets → bit.ly/37mN5QI

$7.00
7:30 PM doors / 8:00 PM showtime
18+ | ID required

YOLA
+ Amythyst Kiah
Fine Line Music Café
Wed 01/15/2020 (7pm/$26)
finelinemusic.com

Yola is playing the Fine Line Music Café on January 15th, with Amythyst Kiah.

Tour dates:

01/07/2020 The Sinclair Cambridge, MA
01/08/2020 Music Hall Of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY
01/10/2020 9:30 Club Washington, DC
01/12/2020 The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON
01/14/2020 SPACE Evanston, IL
01/14/2020 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL
01/15/2020 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
01/15/2020 Top Hat Lounge Missoula, MT
01/17/2020 Off Broadway Nightclub St. Louis, MO
01/19/2020 A&R Music Bar Columbus, OH
01/24/2020 Terminal West Atlanta, GA
01/29/2020 Girls Just Wanna Weekend
01/30/2020 Girls Just Wanna Weekend
01/31/2020 Girls Just Wanna Weekend
02/01/2020 Girls Just Wanna Weekend
02/02/2020 Girls Just Wanna Weekend
02/08/2020 Scoot Inn Austin, TX
02/11/2020 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
02/18/2020 Venue Nightclub Vancouver, BC
02/19/2020 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
02/21/2020 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
02/22/2020 Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
02/23/2020 Music Box San Diego, CA
02/25/2020 Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
03/11/2020 American Bank Center Corpus Christi, TX
03/12/2020 Frank Erwin Center Austin, TX
03/14/2020 Globe Life Park In Arlington Arlington, TX
03/20/2020 Mississippi Coast Coliseum
03/21/2020 Legacy Arena at the BJCC Birmingham, AL
04/09/2020 Bluesfest
04/10/2020 Bluesfest
04/12/2020 Bluesfest
04/22/2020 Huntington Center Toledo, OH
04/23/2020 Schottenstein Center Columbus, OH
06/06/2020 Gorge Amphitheatre George, WA

TAYLOR MCFERRIN
7th St Entry
Thu 01/16/2020 (7pm/$15)
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles-based producer, composer, pianist, DJ, and vocalist Taylor McFerrin is touring in support of his new album Love’s Last Chance… stopping by the 7th Street Entry on January 16th.

Tour dates:

01/15/2020 Tomorrow Never Knows
01/16/2020 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN
01/16/2020 Tomorrow Never Knows
01/17/2020 Velvet Underground Toronto, ON
01/17/2020 Tomorrow Never Knows
01/18/2020 Tomorrow Never Knows
01/19/2020 Tomorrow Never Knows

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

Minneapolis: November 26 to November 30, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from November 26 to November 30, 2016.

Other shows in the area:

11/28: The Oak Ridge Boys at The State Theatre
11/29: Atmosphere at First Avenue (Sold Out)
11/30: K102 St. Jude Fan Jam, featuring Dierks Bentley, at Myth

NOTE: MØ’s show at Mill City Nights on November 26th has been cancelled.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Two Door Cinema Club There was a lot of young people out that bitterly cold Thursday night, and based on how packed the small venue was for a band from Ireland called Two Door Cinema Club … Broods New Zealand brother/sister duo Broods (Caleb Nott and Georgia Nott) is in the US on a headlining tour, after a successful sold out US tour with Sam Smith. They are touring in support …

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
at Skyway Theatre
Saturday, 11/26/16, 7:30pm ($32.50)
skywaytheatre.com

Northern Ireland’s Two Door Cinema Club (not to be confused with Three Doors Down) is back in Minneapolis this Saturday. We caught the band when they played the 7th Street Entry in 2010 and noted that based on the incredibly packed venue: “There was a lot of young people out that bitterly cold Thursday night, and based on how packed the small venue was for a band from Ireland called Two Door Cinema Club, I can tell you that this band is going to be huge. Especially because the band hasn't even released an album yet.”

New Zealand’s Broods will open. We caught them earlier in August 2016 and wrote, “Learning from their humble U.S. debut club tour in 2015, the band’s current shows are a 1000% improvement. With a larger stage to work in, the band had custom lights (with specific sequences for specific songs), smoke machine, and stations for new touring members Camilla, on keys, and their cousin Johnnie on drums.”

This is a really awesome bill (both bands are normally headliners) and cannot be missed.

Tour dates:

11/25/16 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
11/26/16 Minneapolis, MN Skyway Theatre
11/28/16 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
11/30/16 Los Angeles, CA Shrine Auditorium
12/01/16 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
12/03/16 Valley Center, CA Harrah's Resort
02/09/17 London Alexandra Palace
02/10/17 London Alexandra Palace
03/26/17 Lollapalooza Brazil

Read More Real Numbers Locals Real Numbers to close out the show, while France Camp and The Cult of Lip to open. Upcoming Heaters shows: 09/01 – Chicago, IL – Gingerman 09/02 – Milwaukee, WI – Quarters …

REAL NUMBERS
at 7th Street Entry
Sunday, 11/27/16, 7:30pm ($6)
first-avenue.com

Slumberland Records’ signee Real Numbers is having their Worldess Wonder record release party this Saturday, November 27th. All proceeds will be donated to Free2Be to help LGBTQ youth.

Details:

Release show for our album on Slumberland Records with our dear friends Teenage Moods, Universel & DJ Shawn Reed! What more could you need??

Door $$ will be donated to Free2Be to help LGBTQ youth in the south // Free2Be works to end violence while advocating for the Human & Civil Rights of Sexual & Gender Minorities.

Real Numbers: The Minneapolis trio is tethered to making (distant) pop songs, in a mold that confines them to be terse and bright, sounding like the Desperate Bicycles or even Swell Maps...

Teenage Moods: Teenage Moods shred perfect pop gem songs with such honesty and ease that you can't help but grin until it hurts. Their smart yet ramshackle rhythm section propel skeletal guitar melodies that you think are off-the-cuff until you realize they're classic...

Universel: x-Sleaze / Condominium / Hot Rash / Pisswalker

DJ Shawn Reed: From Night-People Records/ Wet Hair

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

Rhymesayers 20 at Target Center, Minneapolis (04 December 2015)

poster Read More Atmosphere Please note that Clyde Iron Works is located in Duluth, Minnesota. I've never been there before, but I would think this is a smaller than the usual venue that superstar rapper Atmosphere and his usual Rhymesayers … Murs DJ Foundation introduced Murs as he came on asking "whatupdawg?" While most people will probably list "I Used to Love H.E.R." or the Nate Dogg homage as their favorite of the night … Prof Fashawn, in his brief twenty minutes, brought out both Prof and Brother Ali for separate duets and showcased DJ Fresh who twirled the knobs on a mixer embedded in a giant boombox. … The Uncluded For those of you who are fans of both folk and hip hop, look no further than the unlikely duo of Kimya Dawson and Aesop Rock, writing music as The Uncluded. … Eyedea & Abilities I recently found out the untimely passing of Eyedea, who was just twenty-eight years old when he died. We don't cover enough hip-hop, I saw him on stage about four ... P.O.S. They only played two songs during the pop up show but for the second song they brought Stef (better known as local rapper and Doomtree member P.O.S.) up to sing about orange juice called "Shake It Well." The song ...

Friday night was the 20th anniversary show for Rhymesayers Entertainment. 20 years of putting out amazing music is a feat in itself. Add practically selling out the Target Center and you have an untouchable beast of a label.

There were far too many acts last night for me to write about each one so I will try and highlight my favorites.

P.O.S.

P.O.S. was one of the first acts to take the stage. He had to play extra early because Doomtree, a local rap collective (no, they are a machine), had a show in Chicago that same night that he had to make it to. There is no rivalry between the two groups which is amazing. Both Rhymesayers and Doomtree are full of amazing musicians and people. I kind of wish that all of Doomtree would have been able to be at the show last night but I understand that last night was supposed to be, and deserved to be, all about Rhymesayers.

Toki Wright was amazing as always. Unfortunately, sets were short due to the sheer amount of groups and musicians they had to get through so he was only able to play three songs but he killed it with the three songs. It's so amazing to see someone like Toki Wright on such a huge stage. Toki was actually one of the teachers at my college and is such a nice, down to earth guy. That's what this scene is all about... the fact that here's one of my old teachers playing to a crowd of thousands. Amazing.

Grieves

Grieves is definitely one of my favorite acts from Rhymesayers. He didn't use this show as a platform to showcase just his new music, he played old songs that I didn't think he was going to play. Grieves is just a skinny white boy living in Seattle but when he takes the stage, he is larger than life.

Prof

Make sure you keep an eye on Prof. Mark my words, he will be the next big thing in the scene up here. His set was full of so much energy, it was unreal. There were numerous inflatable animals and beach balls thrown out into the crowd. There were even two of those "wacky waving inflatable arm men" on either side of the stage. His music was upbeat and fun. Even if you had never heard of him before, you couldn't help but start jumping up and down.

DJ Abilities

DJ Abilities did a touching tribute to Mike "Eyedea" Larsen. Eyedea was a beast in the scene. Together with DJ Abilities, they formed Eyedea & Abilities and were blowing up in the scene when he tragically died of an accidental drug overdose. Almost every rap show I go to in the Twin Cities, whether it is Doomtree or Rhymesayers affiliated, there is mention of Eyedea. Last night Abilities took the stage, as he frequently does in the cities, with his amazing turntable skills. The whole time he played, there was video of Eyedea being played in the background and he sampled many of the songs they did together. The set ended with silence and an old picture of Eyedea and Abilities. You could feel the heaviness in the crowd but it wasn't an awkward heaviness. It was a heaviness that just showed the enormous crowd's appreciation for Eyedea and all that he did for this scene.

The Uncluded

I was shocked when I saw Kimya Dawson walk onto the stage with Aesop Rock. I shouldn't have been so surprised. Had I actually read the lineup, I would have noticed it said "The Uncluded" which is the duo of rapper Aesop Rock and singer/ songwriter Kimya Dawson. Of course, I missed that in the line-up but what a pleasant surprise. Kimya is the woman that did majority of the soundtrack for the hit film Juno. I never thought I would be able to see her live because she tried to live a low-profile life. The smile that filled my face never left from the time she stepped foot on stage. I did go a wee bit fan girl when I realized that she was standing behind me for majority of the rest of the show. How awesome is that, Kimya Dawson was right behind me. Hot damn that was a highlight of the night!

Atmosphere

The show closed out with Atmosphere who is always a crowd favorite. Slug, the rapper of the rapper/ DJ duo, is a beast and king of the scene here. Not just that, he's an awesome, down to earth guy. They brought up many musicians that had already graced the stage along with some surprise acts including, one of my favorites, Murs.

People came from all over for the show last night. It was a huge deal and it was right down the street from my apartment. What an amazing city. What an amazing music scene. What amazing people.

Lineup:

K-Salaam / P.O.S / Toki Wright / Boom Bap Project / Grayskul / Los Nativos / Dem Atlas / Mr. Dibbs / Micranots / I Self Devine / Grieves / Soul Position / Blueprint / Prof / Musab / Abstract Rude / Bk-One / Battlecats / DJ Abilities / Aesop Rock / The Uncluded / Hail Mary Mallon / Dilated Peoples / Evidence / Brother Ali / Freeway Atmosphere / Felt

Rhymesayers 20 at Target Center, Minneapolis (04 December 2015)

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

Minneapolis: December 4 to December 6, 2015

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from December 4 to December 6, 2015.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Atmosphere Please note that Clyde Iron Works is located in Duluth, Minnesota. I've never been there before, but I would think this is a smaller than the usual venue that superstar rapper Atmosphere and his usual Rhymesayers … Prof Fashawn, in his brief twenty minutes, brought out both Prof and Brother Ali for separate duets and showcased DJ Fresh who twirled the knobs on a mixer embedded in a giant boombox. … Brother Ali Brother Ali and Syrian-American rapper/activist Omar Offendum will be appearing at Augsburg college on Saturday, March 9, in Minneapolis. ... P.O.S. They only played two songs during the pop up show but for the second song they brought Stef (better known as local rapper and Doomtree member P.O.S.) up to sing about orange juice called "Shake It Well." The song ...

RHYMESAYERS 20
at Target Center
Friday, 12/04/2015, 5pm ($20/$100 VIP)
targetcenter.com

The special Rhymesayers 20 Year Anniversary Concert is taking place this December 4th at the Target Center. Traditionally Rhymesayers Entertainment record label has sold out First Avenue for many, many years now. Moving it a larger capacity like the Target Center made a lot of sense to us.

Expect all the staple artists from Atmoshpere and Brother Ali to recent addition Prof to be there on Friday to represent Rhymesayers.

Performances by (in alphabetical order):

Abstract Rude

Aesop Rock

Atmosphere

Battlecats

BK One

Blueprint

Boom Bap Project

Brother Ali

deM atlaS

Dilated Peoples

DJ Abilities

Evidence

Felt

Freeway, Grayskul

Grieves

Hail Mary Mallon

I Self Devine

Jake One

K-Salaam

Los Nativos

Micranots

Mr. Dibbs

Musab

P.O.S.

Prof

Soul Position

The Uncluded

Toki Wright

All arena seats (including the entire general admission floor) are only $20.00 (plus facility, ticketing fees and taxes) to celebrate twenty years of Rhymesayers.

Limited VIP packages available (with all the goodies) for $100.00 (plus facility, ticketing fees and taxes). VIP includes: premium VIP seating, exclusive Rhymesayers 20 Shirt, VIP bag, Rhymesayers 20 Sticker, limited edition VIP laminate with lanyard,exclusive VIP entrance and special VIP only bars.

Read More Beat Connection Beat Connection opened up the show. We've previously seen the Seattle-based band in 2012, touring in support of their album The Palace Garden, and was rather impressed with their fanbase ...

BEAT CONNECTION
at 7th Street Entry
Saturday, 12/05/2015, 9pm ($12)
first-avenue.com

Seattle's Beat Connection is back on tour in support of their new album Product 3 (out now on ANTI- Records). We first caught the band in 2012 and was blown away at their fanbase. Their last appearance in Minneapolis was with Django Django in August 2015.

Product 3, as described by Stereogum is "cuts a path through electronic pop, rock, hip-hop, and R&B without ever plunging head-on into any one sound."

Special guests Phantoms and Metavari to open.

Tour dates:

11/28 - The Drake - Toronto, ON
12/02 - The Blind Pig - Ann Arbor, MI
12/03 - Subterranean - Chicago, IL
12/04 - The Frequency - Madison, WI
12/05 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN
12/06 - Vega - Lincoln, NE
12/09 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO
12/10 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
12/11 - Watercolor - Boise, ID
12/12 - The Bartlett - Spokane, WA
12/17 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
12/19 - Fortune - Vancouver, BC

Read More The Struts Breakout U.K. band The Struts will be stopping by First Avenue this September 17th, in support of their hit Have You Heard EP (Interscope Records), with single "Could Have Been Me". …

AWOLNATION
at Myth
Sunday, 12/06/2015, 5pm ($29.50)
mythlive.com

Awolnation (stylized as AWOLNATION) will be stopping by the Myth in Maplewood this Sunday, December 6th, in support of Run (Red Bull). Before the electronic rock band head out with Fall Out Boy, they're set to do a number of Radio Station tour - including this one, as part of 93X Nutcracker Presents show.

Our favorite The Struts will open up the show. You may remember that they previously booked (and sold out) the 7th Street Entry, prompting the promoters to upgrade their venue to First Avenue.

Tour dates:

12/01/15 Portland, OR McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
12/03/15 Fairfax, VA EagleBank Arena
12/04/15 102.9 The Buzz's Swanky Sweater
12/05/15 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
12/06/15 Saint Paul, MN Myth
12/12/15 KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas
12/15/15 95X Holiday Whobilation
12/16/15 106.5 The End Presents
12/17/15 105.7 Holiday Spectacular
12/18/15 Night 89X Stole Christmas
01/09/16 Honolulu, HI The Republik
02/26/16 Hollywood, FL Hard Rock Live
03/01/16 North Charleston, SC Coliseum
03/02/16 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena
03/04/16 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
03/05/16 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Resort
03/06/16 Syracuse, NY War Memorial Arena
03/08/16 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
03/09/16 Dayton, OH Wright State University
03/10/16 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
03/12/16 Chicago, IL United Center
03/13/16 Saint Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
03/14/16 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
03/17/16 Birmingham, AL Legacy Arena
03/18/16 Memphis, TN FedExForum
03/19/16 New Orleans, LA Smoothie King Center
03/20/16 San Antonio, TX Freeman Coliseum
03/22/16 Wichita, KS Intrust Bank Arena
03/23/16 Colorado Springs, CO Broadmoor World
03/25/16 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Arena
03/26/16 Irvine, CA Irvine Meadows Amph

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

Minneapolis Music Guide: September 21 - September 27, 2014

Here is the weekly guide of some Minneapolis live concerts and events from September 14 to September 20.

Read More Meiko Meiko has just covered Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime", and she's made it available as a free download on her website. Hear the song now … Buddy Buddy opened up the show. He's normally a seven-piece band, but he's traveling light on this Buddy/Meiko teamup. He started off with "Apologize (If You Tried)," then quickly launched into his Gray's Anatomy song, "Say A Lot." …

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
LORING PASTA BAR
Meiko

Look, we like Meiko, okay? She has a new yet-untitled album coming out next month via PledgeMusic, and it looks like she's heading out on tour in support of said-album.

Meiko at SXSW 2009 Austin, Texas

I have seen Meiko a few times, once at SXSW 2009 and semi-recently at 7th Street Entry in 2012.

For this upcoming Fall/Winter 2014 tour, she will feature the same opener, Buddy, from the last tour. Buddy has a new album called Last Call For The Quiet Life, which came out August 19 via Stove Punchin' Records.

Also, please note that the show will take place at the Loring Pasta Bar (right next to the Varsity) and the show starts late (9pm) and is 18+ only. If I know anything about Meiko, it is that she used to waitress, and she'll definitely be reminding you that you need to tip your waiters/waitress at least 20%.

Meiko US tour dates:

09/19/14 Ames, IA Iowa State University
09/21/14 Minneapolis, MN Loring Pasta Bar
09/24/14 Evanston, IL SPACE
09/30/14 Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Theatre
10/01/14 Athens, GA The Melting Point
10/02/14 Decatur, GA Eddie's Attic
10/04/14 Nashville, TN 3rd & Lindsley
10/14/14 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater
10/18/14 Costa Mesa, CA The Wayfarer
10/19/14 Hermosa Beach, CA Saint Rocke
10/25/14 Dallas, TX Lake Cliff Park
10/26/14 Austin, TX Stubb's Bar-B-Q
11/03/14 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
11/05/14 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
12/11/14 San Francisco, CA Brick & Mortar Music Hall

Read More The War on Drugs Although Kurt Vile is no longer in The War On Drugs, the Philadelphia is proving that they can survive without Vile with a string of sold-out shows. The shoegazey band is currently out on tour in support of their latest release …

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
FIRST AVENUE
The War On Drugs w/ Califone

Philadelphia's The War on Drugs are stronger and more popular than ever. The band sold out First Avenue in Minneapolis, that they were forced to add another show for September 23rd. So here is your chance to grab tickets before the second show sells out...

The War On Drugs are currently touring in support of their 2014 Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian), which was picked as #21 in Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums Of The Decade So Far."

USA Tour dates:

09/15 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix
09/16 -Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews
09/17 -Columbus, OH @ Newport
09/19 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
09/20 -Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
09/21 - Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theatre
09/22 -Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave
09/23 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave
09/24 -Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
09/26 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
09/27 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues Houston
09/28 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's
10/01 - Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
10/02 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
10/03 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
10/04 - Sacramento, CA @ TBD Festival
10/05 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
10/06 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
10/09 - Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
10/10 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
10/11 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
10/12 -St. Louis, MO @ Ready Room
10/13 -Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
10/15 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
10/16 - Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
10/17 - Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom

Read More Atmosphere Imagine Dragons and Atmosphere concert for FREE? WHAT?????? That's what I said when we discussed this free Target All-Star Concert presented by Budweiser event last month. …

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
CLYDE IRON WORKS
Atmosphere w/ Prof

Please note that Clyde Iron Works is located in Duluth, Minnesota. I've never been there before, but I would think this is a smaller than the usual venue that superstar rapper Atmosphere and his usual Rhymesayers crew will ever play at.... so for hardcore fans, you might want to take that hour+ drive up north to catch this show (especially because the November show at First Avenue is sold out).

The tour is called "North of Hell" Tour:

09.16.14 Missoula, MT Wilma Theater
09.18.14 Boise, ID Knitting Factory
09.19.14 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
09.20.14 Aspen, CO Belly Up Aspen
09.23.14 Duluth, MN Clyde Iron Works
11.04.14 Columbia, MO The Blue Note
11.05.14 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
11.06.14 Little Rock, AR Juanita's Cantina
11.09.14 Dallas, TX House of Blues
11.10.14 Houston, TX House of Blues
11.11.14 New Orleans, LA Tipitina's
11.12.14 Atlanta, GA Center Stage
11.14.14 Richmond, VA The National
11.15.14 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live
11.16.14 New York, NY Terminal 5
11.17.14 New Haven, CT Toad's Place
11.18.14 Providence, RI Lupo's Heartbreak
11.20.14 Indianapolis, IN Vogue Theater
11.21.14 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
11.22.14 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
11.23.14 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
11.02.14 Iowa City, IA Blue Moose Tap House