W♥M

Rock the Garden 2022 (Main Stage)

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats Setlist The Future Failing (Fast) Look It Here I'm On Your Side You Worry Me Baby I Lost My Way, (But I'm Going Home) I'll Be Damned Baby I Got Your Number So Put Out Wasting Time A Little Honey Love Me Till I'm Gone Face Down in the Moment Babe I Know Oh, I Hey Mama Survivor Coolin' Out Intro I Need Never Get Old -- Encore -- Out on the Weekend S.O.B. Love Don't Sleater-Kinney Setlist High in the Grass All Hands on the Bad One Bury Our Friends Worry With You Surface Envy Can I Go On Jumpers Price Tag Shadow Town No Cities to Love The Fox A New Wave Reach Out Modern Girl Dig Me Out Entertain beabadoobee Setlist Worth It Together Care Talk He Gets Me So High Coffee Sorry She Plays Bass See You Soon Back to Mars Last Day on Earth Cologne Read More Rock the Garden As usual, the Rock the Garden did a great job organizing the music festival. Although the original scheduled was delayed about 30 minutes, because of the weather... once the music started, they did an amazing job … Nathaniel Rateliff I think Nathaniel Rateliff and his band The Night Sweats have finally made it. It's hard to believe that we've been writing about him since 2013.... Sleater-Kinney What are you doing on V-Day? If you're a Sleater-Kinney fan, you'll be at this sold out show. According to my bad memories and physical ticket stubs, I've seen Sleater-Kinney at least three times, and have expressed sadness ... Beabadoobee Beabadoobee with Christian Leave, BlackStarKids The Truman. $20-$25 aka Beatrice Laus, this Filipino/British breakout bedroom-pop artist put out a new EP, Our Extended .... Bombino Internationally acclaimed musician Bombino will be stopping by the Cedar Cultural Center on Saturday, October 8th. The Tuareg guitarist and singer-songwriter from Niger will be playing some tracks ...

After a long two year absent, Rock the Garden returned to the Walker Art Sculpture Garden on a beautiful Saturday, June 11th.

The show is big, featuring seven bands on two stages, so the review will be broken up into two parts, the Main Stage and the Garden Stage.

Gates opened at 1pm, and first band on the main stage was Niger’s internationally acclaimed Tuareg guitarist and singer/songwriter Bombino (Omara Moctar). The hot weather of Minneapolis’ afternoon reminded the band of their home country, Niger.

They played their distinctive guitar-driven songs, driving the audience to stand up and started dancing.

Bombino’s latest is a live album Live In Amsterdam, which came out in 2020 via Partisan.

Next up on the main stage was Filipino-British singer-songwriter, Beabadoobee, stylized as beabadoobee, playing some tunes from her debut album Fake It Flowers. Beabadoobee just played the Governors Ball in New York City, after wrapping up her current run opening for Halsey’s Love and Power U.S. arena tour.

Beabadoobee is the only band W♥M haven’t seen, so we were very excited for their appearance at Rock the Garden. You see, there’s a lot of buzz for Beabadoobee, who won the Radar Award at the 2020 NME Awards, as well nominated for the Rising Star Award at the 2020 Brit Awards, nominated as breakthrough act for 2020 in the annual Sound of 2020.

It’s easy to see why Taylor Swift and Harry Styles have already mentioned how much they like Beabadoobee. They have a very 90s rock ‘n roll sound, and they played it loud and hard. So hard that the drum shield fell over during their performance.

Beabadoobee’s forthcoming album Beatopia, will be out July 15 on Dirty Hit.

Sleater-Kinney was the co-headliner of Rock the Garden. The Olympia group is touring in support of their tenth studio album, Path of Wellness.

Sleater-Kinney at First Avenue (10/15/1998) photo: Alison

We’ve been following this Riot Grrrl band since the mid-90s, having enjoying bands such as Bikini Kill, Team Dresch, and Bratmobile. We’ve seen SK since 1998, and was sad to learn that their original drummer Janet Weiss left the band. We recently saw Weiss in Quasi in April 2022 and noted, “Weiss is famous for being founding member of Sleater-Kinney, but have played with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, as well as part of Wild Flag.”

Currently Sleater-Kinney is Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar) and Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), but for touring, they added Vincent Lirocchi on drums, Fabi Reyna on additional guitar, and Galen Clark on keys.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats closed out Rock the Garden 2022.

Nathaniel Rateliff at the Bluebird Theater, Denver (04/25/13) photo: Kira

We are still very proud of covering Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats very first appearance at Bluebird Theater in Denver (Apr 2013): “Nathaniel Rateliff, debuted his new musical endeavor last Thursday at the Bluebird Theater accompanied by soul outfit, The Night Sweats…. The Night Sweats, a seven-piece ensemble (drums, keys, bass, guitar, trumpet, and alto & bass sax), took the stage first decked out in full suits. In classic soul style, they began to play and sway in an introductory number as Rateliff sauntered onto the stage. Hearing Rateliff’s traditionally gentle and alluring vocals morph into that of a bellowing soul god with “Trying so Hard Not to Know” the night immediately shifted from exciting to epic. Channeling the dance moves of James Brown, Rateliff spastically skittered across the stage bringing a soul revival to the Denver theater.”

Who knew that show in 2013 would eventually spawn into one of the most popular band around? Now with their third studio album, The Future, on Stax Records, the band is more popular than ever.

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats tour dates:

June 21—St. Augustine, FL—The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
June 22—Charleston, SC—Credit One Stadium
June 28—Lewiston, NY—Artpark
June 29—Lafayette, NY—Beak and Skiff
July 1—Asbury Park, NJ—Stone Pony Summer Stage
July 3—Gilford, NH—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
July 29—Winnipeg, MB—Burton Cummings Theater
July 30—Regina, SK—Conexus Arts Center
July 31—Saskatoon, SK—Coors Event Centre
August 2—Calgary, AB—Grey Eagle Events Centre
August 9—Vancouver, BC—PNE Amphitheater
August 10—Redmond, WA—Marymoor
August 11—Troutdal, OR—Edgefield
August 13—Berkeley, CA—The Greek Theatre
August 14—Los Angeles, CA—Hollywood Bowl
August 18—Phoenix, AZ—Arizona Federal Theatre
August 23—Denver, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 24—Denver, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre
September 13—Boston, MA—Leader Bank Pavilion
September 15—New York, NY—Radio City Music Hall
September 21—Washington, DC—The Anthem
September 23—Wilmington, NC—Live Oak Bank Pavilion

Bombino

Bombino

Beabadoobee

Beabadoobee

Beabadoobee

Philip Bither (Walker Art Center's Senior Curator of Performing Arts) and Jade (The Current music director)

Sleater-Kinney

Sleater-Kinney

Sleater-Kinney

Rock the Garden audience

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats at Rock the Garden, Walker Art (11 June 2022)

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

Photos: Rock the Garden 2022 (11 June 2022)

06/11 Rock the Garden 2022 Read More Rock the Garden As usual, the Rock the Garden did a great job organizing the music festival. Although the original scheduled was delayed about 30 minutes, because of the weather... once the music started, they did an amazing job … Nathaniel Rateliff I think Nathaniel Rateliff and his band The Night Sweats have finally made it. It's hard to believe that we've been writing about him since 2013.... Sleater-Kinney What are you doing on V-Day? If you're a Sleater-Kinney fan, you'll be at this sold out show. According to my bad memories and physical ticket stubs, I've seen Sleater-Kinney at least three times, and have expressed sadness ... Low Low’s Christmas show is taking place at First Avenue on Saturday. All proceeds will benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Low adds, “Despite the commerce involved, we hope you will consider .... Beabadoobee Beabadoobee with Christian Leave, BlackStarKids The Truman. $20-$25 aka Beatrice Laus, this Filipino/British breakout bedroom-pop artist put out a new EP, Our Extended .... Divide and Dissolve Divide and Dissolve, the Melbourne, Australia duo of T//R and S//N (Takiaya Reed –guitar/sax; Sylvie Nehill- drums) who asked for quiet as they began, then Reed went into a verbal diatribe decrying worldwide white ....

Bombino from West Africa. The band wanted to play early so they can catch a flight to Moraco.

Divide and Dissolve played the Garden Stage. They had a speech about how tge Minneapolis police.

 

Beabadoobee from England. Singing “you get me so high”. The drum sound guard fell over before “Back to Mars”.

Minneapolis catch the flow with Dām Funk

All hands on the bad ones, Sleater-Kinney rocked the stage.

Greeting from Duluth, Low said.

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats is the 100th band at Rock the Garden

 

SET TIMES

 

(M) = Main Stage

(G) = Garden Stage

 

2:30 Bombino (M)

3:30 Divide and Dissolve (G)

4:30 Beabadoobee (M)

5:30 Dām Funk (G)

6:30 Sleater-Kinney (M)

7:45 Low (G)

8:30 Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (M)

Divide and Dissolve

Dām Funk

Low

Bombino at Rock the Garden (11 June 2022)

Beabadoobee at Rock the Garden (11 June 2022)

Sleater-Kinney at Rock the Garden (11 June 2022)

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats at Rock the Garden (11 June 2022)

 

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

Minneapolis: This Week (06/12/2022)

Hello, Minnesotans. As you know, I post the W♥M Minneapolis preview calendar a month in advance. Things may have changed, and/or I just wanted to remind you about the shows that we will be covering this week. I hope to see you at one of these shows.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

06/07 Tune-Yards with Anjimile at Fine Line Read More Tune-Yards Musically and visually, it was a delightful to witness: colorful war paint, ukulele, pots, pans, and coke bottles, great beats, and funky dancing ... with lots of loops.... Anjimile 2. Twain - How Many Times 3. Anjimile - Coyote Creek 4. Tasha - Are You Out There 5. Stef Chura - Good Time ....

06/07/2022 Tuesday

Doors Open 7PM, Show Starts 8PM ($31/$33)

UPDATE: Venue change to Fine Line Music Cafe (from First Avenue)

Tune-Yards
with Anjimile
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

It’s been many years since we last saw or heard from Tune-Yards. We last saw her in Mar 2018 and said, “The stage was set with dramatic lighting framing the back end of the stage and a curved center frame with gauzed curtains that would accentuate the shadows of tUnE-yArDs as the three-piece took to the stage for their seventy-seven minute headlining set beginning with ‘Home’. “I always feel on holy ground” Garbus posted on social media just prior to playing the historic venue.”

Tune-Yards’ latest album Sketchy came out in 2021, via 4AD.

Anjimile to open.

Tour Dates:

Jun 1 St Louis, MO, US Delmar Hall
Jun 3 Bloomington, IN, US Bluebird
Jun 4 Chicago, IL, US Do Division Saturday
Jun 7 Minneapolis, MN, US First Avenue
Jun 11 Pittsburgh, PA, US Mr Smalls Theater
Jun 13 Cambridge, MA, US The Sinclair
Jun 15 Brooklyn, NY, US Brooklyn Steel
Jun 16 Washington, DC, US 9:30 Club
Jun 18 Philadelphia, PA, US Union Transfer
Aug 23 Manchester, UK Gorilla

06/09 Mess Esque with GOLD MINEFIELD at 7th St Entry Read More Mess Esque Australian duo Mess Esque (Mick Turner and Helen Franzmann), are on tour in support of their self-titled debut album (via Drag City). The tour will stop by Minneapolis at 7th Street on June 9th. … Zak Sally Zak Sally, local artist (and former bassist for Low and Enemymine), discussed the new book with Daniel Clowes. It wasn’t really so much about the actual book, but more like a casual conversation of how he first met Clowes …

06/09/2022 Thursday

Doors Open 7PM, Show Starts 8PM ($15)

Update: Gold Minefield is a new project from Duluth-native musician/comic artist Zak Sally (The Hand; formerly of Low, Enemymine)

Mess Esque
with GOLD MINEFIELD
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Australian duo Mess Esque (Mick Turner and Helen Franzmann), are on tour in support of their self-titled debut album (via Drag City). The tour will stop by Minneapolis at 7th Street on June 9th.

If the name Mick Turner is familiar, he’s previously from Dirty Three, who we saw in Sep 2012 and said he was stoic: “Flamboyant and energetic [Warren Ellis], along with somber-faced Jim White on drums and stoic Mick Turner on guitar, gave the crowd the sonic feast, songs that stretched and swelled with emotion and with every kick of Ellis’ pointed shoe. Ellis indeed provided humor and dramatics to the show; dressed in what one audience member concluded was an LSD-inspired shirt (Ellis insists the tie-dyed purple and turquoise shirt, buttoned down Tom Jones-style, was the result of throwing up Kool-Aid), the violinist drilled the bow into his instrument, causing stringy bits to rub off and into his considerable salt-and-pepper beard.”

GOLD MINEFIELD to open.

Tour dates:

5/24/22 The Moroccan Lounge Los Angeles CA
5/27/22– 5/28/22 Solid Sound Festival North Adams MA
5/27/22 The Middle East Boston MA
5/29/22 SPACE Portland, ME
5/31/22 Baby's All Right Brooklyn NY
6/1/22 PhilaMOCA Philadelphia PA
6/2/22 Pie Shop Washington DC
6/3/22 Club Cafe Pittsburgh PA
6/4/22 Beachland Tavern Cleveland OH
6/6/22 Zanzabar Louisville KY
6/7/22 Hi-Fi Indianapolis IN
6/9/22 7th Street Entry Minneapolis MN
6/10/22 The Back Room at Colectivo Milwaukee WI
6/11/22 The Hideout Chicago IL*
6/13/22 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco CA

*w/ AZITA

06/09 Syd with Destin Conrad at Varsity Theater Read More The Internet Meanwhile, The Internet (featuring Odd Future member Syd and Matt Martians) comes to the Triple Rock Social Club, fresh off their SXSW appearances. I couldn't find any information regarding a new album.…

06/09/2022 Thursday

Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm ($15)

Syd
with Destin Conrad
at Varsity Theater
livenation.com

Singer/songwriter, producer Syd, formerly known as Syd Tha Kyd, is headlining the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on June 9th.

You know, I’ve complained about how The Internet is such a common name that it’s hard to find them on the ... er… internet. Now that Syd dropped “That Kyd”, it’s hard to find her online as well…. Anyway, we saw The Internet in Oct 2018 and wrote, “There were no encores, but based on hearing the entire audience singing along, I think they ended on a really high, positive note. Currently, The Internet is enjoying their time hanging out with Gorillaz.... where they are playing in front of thousands of fans every night. After this Gorillaz tour, expect The Internet to sell out even more headlining gigs.”

Destin Conrad to open.

Tour dates:

Jun 2 Boston, MA, US Royale Boston
Jun 3 Philadelphia, PA, US Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)
Jun 5 Detroit, MI, US St. Andrew's Hall
Jun 6 Cleveland, OH, US Agora Theatre & Ballroom
Jun 9 Minneapolis, MN, US Varsity Theater
Jun 11 Outdoor Los Angeles (LA), CA, US LA Pride In The Park
Jun 14 Seattle, WA, US Showbox at the Market
Jun 15 Portland, OR, US Wonder Ballroom
Jun 17 Washington, DC, US SOMETHING IN THE WATER
Jun 22 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Novo

06/10 Jordana with Harry Teardrop at 7th St Entry Read More Jordana Twenty-one year old artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jordana is touring in support of her new album Face The Wall. She’ll tour with Wallows in May, then with New York’s …

06/10/2022 Friday

Doors Open 6PM, Show Starts 7PM ($13/$15)

Jordana
with Harry Teardrop
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Twenty-one year old artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jordana is touring in support of her new album Face The Wall. She’ll tour with Wallows in May, then with New York’s Harry Teardrop (no relations to local Frankie Teardrop), and eventually with Remi Wolf.

Face The Wall will be out on May 20th via Grand Jury. The title, as Jordana explains it, “The album title has a few meanings to me. Mostly, it's about not giving up. The wall can be anything in your way. The album is a sort of reminder to myself that I have to face those things, and I can't take the easy route and turn around.”

Tour Dates:

05-15 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Waller Creek Ampitheatre ^
05-16 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Waller Creek Ampitheatre ^
05-17 - Dallas, TX - The Factory in Deep Ellum ^
05-18 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall ^
05-20 - Atlanta, GA - Coca-Cola Roxy ^
05-21 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle ^
05-23 - Orlando, FL - The Orlando Ampitheater ^
05-24 - Miami, FL - The Fillmore ^
05-26 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live ^
05-27 - St Augustine, FL - The Saint Augustine ^
05-28 - Columbia, SC - The Senate ^
05-29 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore ^
06-02 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd *
06-03 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s *
06-04 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right *
06-05 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East *
06-07 - Toronto, ON - Drake Underground *
06-09 - Chicago, IL - Schubas *
06-10 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
06-13 - Portland, OR - Holocene *
06-14 - Seattle, WA - Barboza *
06-16 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop *
06-17 - Los Angeles, CA - The Moroccan Lounge *
06-18 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room *
09-22-25 - Dover Heights, DE - Firefly
10-04 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel #
10-06 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl #
10-07 - Richmond, VA - The National #
10-09 - Boston, MA - Roadrunner #
10-11 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 #
10-12 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 #
10-15 - Toronto, ON - Danforth #
10-16 - Toronto, ON - Danforth #

^ w/Wallows
* w/Harry Teardrop
# w/Remi Wolf

06/11 Rock the Garden 2022 Read More Rock the Garden As usual, the Rock the Garden did a great job organizing the music festival. Although the original scheduled was delayed about 30 minutes, because of the weather... once the music started, they did an amazing job … Nathaniel Rateliff I think Nathaniel Rateliff and his band The Night Sweats have finally made it. It's hard to believe that we've been writing about him since 2013.... Sleater-Kinney What are you doing on V-Day? If you're a Sleater-Kinney fan, you'll be at this sold out show. According to my bad memories and physical ticket stubs, I've seen Sleater-Kinney at least three times, and have expressed sadness ... Low Low’s Christmas show is taking place at First Avenue on Saturday. All proceeds will benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Low adds, “Despite the commerce involved, we hope you will consider .... Beabadoobee Beabadoobee with Christian Leave, BlackStarKids The Truman. $20-$25 aka Beatrice Laus, this Filipino/British breakout bedroom-pop artist put out a new EP, Our Extended .... Divide and Dissolve Divide and Dissolve, the Melbourne, Australia duo of T//R and S//N (Takiaya Reed –guitar/sax; Sylvie Nehill- drums) who asked for quiet as they began, then Reed went into a verbal diatribe decrying worldwide white ....

06/11/2022 Saturday

June 11 is the big day for Rock the Garden! We cannot wait. For those attending, here is their policy for COVID-19: “We all want to do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community and keep our patrons, staff and artists safe. In accordance with Minnesota guidelines, while we will not require proof of vaccination or enforce a mask mandate, we encourage guests to exercise good judgment to keep this year’s event fun and safe. We reserve the right to update our guidelines at any time as determined by government agencies, artists, or the promoter. In that case, we will notify guests and participants on how to comply with safety requirements.”

Rock the Garden
at Walker Art Sculpture Garden
rockthegardenfestival.com

Saturday, June 11, is the big Rock the Garden show. We’ve previously written about the 2022 line, see details below… but here’s something new: we’ve previously seen Australian duo Divide and Dissolve in Feb 2018, as opener for local favorite Polica:

Outside of an angry punk band or two, no band in recent memory has started so polarizing before ever playing a note, than Divide and Dissolve, the Melbourne, Australia duo of T//R and S//N (Takiaya Reed –guitar/sax; Sylvie Nehill- drums) who asked for quiet as they began, then Reed went into a verbal diatribe decrying worldwide white supremacy, seeking to empower black and indigenous people, and reminding the mostly white audience, that this was not their land.

Similar statements were given before each song played, with the expected crowd response ranging from a smattering of applause to cat calls and insults- but inciting seems to be part of their purpose, so in that regard, it worked. Musically, they play a heavy, low tempo, skeletal doom rock blend meant to incite as much as their statements, with latest self-release being last week’s Abomination.

>>>
We’re so happy to see the return of Rock the Garden at the iconic Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

As with previous events, there are two stages, food trucks, beer tents, and great music.

This year, they are bringing co-headliners Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Sleater-Kinney… both excellent bands.

I don’t want to brag, but we were first to report Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats at the band’s first appearance at Bluebird Theater in Denver (Apr 2013): “Nathaniel Rateliff, debuted his new musical endeavor last Thursday at the Bluebird Theater accompanied by soul outfit, The Night Sweats.” The band went on to sign to Stax Records for their self-titled debut album in 2015.

Incidentally, if you ever see a Nathaniel Rateliff’s solo show (which we did in in April 2014), his music and performance is very different than a Night Sweats show. And trivia, but Rateliff previously appeared at Rock the Garden in 2016.

As for Sleater-Kinney, I’ve been seeing the band live since 2000 … with the last one in Feb 2015 after they re-united for a tour. That show was somewhat bitter-sweat, as it would be the last time we would see them with original drummer Janet Weiss (who we just saw in Quasi in Apr 2022).

Gates open at 1pm, music starts at 2:30pm.

Lineup:

• Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (co-headliner)
• Sleater-Kinney (co-headliner)
• LOW
• beabadoobee
• DāM-FunK
• Bombino
• Divide and Dissolve

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Minneapolis: June 7 to June 11

06/07 Tune-Yards with Anjimile at First Avenue Read More Tune-Yards Musically and visually, it was a delightful to witness: colorful war paint, ukulele, pots, pans, and coke bottles, great beats, and funky dancing ... with lots of loops....

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

06/07/2022 Tuesday

Tune-Yards
with Anjimile
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

It’s been many years since we last saw or heard from Tune-Yards. We last saw her in Mar 2018 and said, “The stage was set with dramatic lighting framing the back end of the stage and a curved center frame with gauzed curtains that would accentuate the shadows of tUnE-yArDs as the three-piece took to the stage for their seventy-seven minute headlining set beginning with ‘Home’. “I always feel on holy ground” Garbus posted on social media just prior to playing the historic venue.”

Tune-Yards’ latest album Sketchy came out in 2021, via 4AD.

Anjimile to open.

Tour Dates:

Jun 1 St Louis, MO, US Delmar Hall
Jun 3 Bloomington, IN, US Bluebird
Jun 4 Chicago, IL, US Do Division Saturday
Jun 7 Minneapolis, MN, US First Avenue
Jun 11 Pittsburgh, PA, US Mr Smalls Theater
Jun 13 Cambridge, MA, US The Sinclair
Jun 15 Brooklyn, NY, US Brooklyn Steel
Jun 16 Washington, DC, US 9:30 Club
Jun 18 Philadelphia, PA, US Union Transfer
Aug 23 Manchester, UK Gorilla

06/09 Mess Esque with GOLD MINEFIELD at 7th St Entry Read More Dirty Three An upcoming performance by Australia’s renowned instrumental rock band Dirty Three should have music fans frothing at the mouth with excitement. The band will be touring behind Toward the Low Sun …

06/09/2022 Thursday

Mess Esque
with GOLD MINEFIELD
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Australian duo Mess Esque (Mick Turner and Helen Franzmann), are on tour in support of their self-titled debut album (via Drag City). The tour will stop by Minneapolis at 7th Street on June 9th.

If the name Mick Turner is familiar, he’s previously from Dirty Three, who we saw in Sep 2012 and said he was stoic: “Flamboyant and energetic [Warren Ellis], along with somber-faced Jim White on drums and stoic Mick Turner on guitar, gave the crowd the sonic feast, songs that stretched and swelled with emotion and with every kick of Ellis’ pointed shoe. Ellis indeed provided humor and dramatics to the show; dressed in what one audience member concluded was an LSD-inspired shirt (Ellis insists the tie-dyed purple and turquoise shirt, buttoned down Tom Jones-style, was the result of throwing up Kool-Aid), the violinist drilled the bow into his instrument, causing stringy bits to rub off and into his considerable salt-and-pepper beard.”

GOLD MINEFIELD to open.

Tour dates:

5/24/22 The Moroccan Lounge Los Angeles CA
5/27/22– 5/28/22 Solid Sound Festival North Adams MA
5/27/22 The Middle East Boston MA
5/29/22 SPACE Portland, ME
5/31/22 Baby's All Right Brooklyn NY
6/1/22 PhilaMOCA Philadelphia PA
6/2/22 Pie Shop Washington DC
6/3/22 Club Cafe Pittsburgh PA
6/4/22 Beachland Tavern Cleveland OH
6/6/22 Zanzabar Louisville KY
6/7/22 Hi-Fi Indianapolis IN
6/9/22 7th Street Entry Minneapolis MN
6/10/22 The Back Room at Colectivo Milwaukee WI
6/11/22 The Hideout Chicago IL*
6/13/22 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco CA

*w/ AZITA

06/10 Jordana with Harry Teardrop at 7th St Entry Read More Remi Wolf Los Angeles’ Remi Wolf was last seen in Minneapolis with Cautious Clay (aka Josh Karpeh), in December 2019. …

06/10/2022 Friday

Jordana
with Harry Teardrop
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Twenty-one year old artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jordana is touring in support of her new album Face The Wall. She’ll tour with Wallows in May, then with New York’s Harry Teardrop (no relations to local Frankie Teardrop), and eventually with Remi Wolf.

Face The Wall will be out on May 20th via Grand Jury. The title, as Jordana explains it, “The album title has a few meanings to me. Mostly, it's about not giving up. The wall can be anything in your way. The album is a sort of reminder to myself that I have to face those things, and I can't take the easy route and turn around.”

Tour Dates:

05-15 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Waller Creek Ampitheatre ^
05-16 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Waller Creek Ampitheatre ^
05-17 - Dallas, TX - The Factory in Deep Ellum ^
05-18 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall ^
05-20 - Atlanta, GA - Coca-Cola Roxy ^
05-21 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle ^
05-23 - Orlando, FL - The Orlando Ampitheater ^
05-24 - Miami, FL - The Fillmore ^
05-26 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live ^
05-27 - St Augustine, FL - The Saint Augustine ^
05-28 - Columbia, SC - The Senate ^
05-29 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore ^
06-02 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd *
06-03 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s *
06-04 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right *
06-05 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East *
06-07 - Toronto, ON - Drake Underground *
06-09 - Chicago, IL - Schubas *
06-10 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
06-13 - Portland, OR - Holocene *
06-14 - Seattle, WA - Barboza *
06-16 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop *
06-17 - Los Angeles, CA - The Moroccan Lounge *
06-18 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room *
09-22-25 - Dover Heights, DE - Firefly
10-04 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel #
10-06 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl #
10-07 - Richmond, VA - The National #
10-09 - Boston, MA - Roadrunner #
10-11 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 #
10-12 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 #
10-15 - Toronto, ON - Danforth #
10-16 - Toronto, ON - Danforth #

^ w/Wallows
* w/Harry Teardrop
# w/Remi Wolf

06/10 White Line Darko at Driftwood Char Bar

06/10/2022 Friday

White Line Darko
with Zippo Man
at Driftwood Char Bar
driftwoodcharbar.com

New Minneapolis psychedelic rock outfit White Line Darko (Kenneth Zierman, Nolan Juusola, Nolan Leahy, Ben Ouellete, and Matthew Nickolay) will be holding their double single release show for “Turning Out!” this June 10 at the Driftwood Char Bar in Minneapolis.

The third release was engineered and produced by Matt Patrick, who owns and operates Library Studios.

Zippo Man listed to open.

Additional details:

White Line Darko - a Minneapolis-based psychedelic rock band - will be releasing their upcoming double single, "Turning Out!," on June 10, 2022. The project contains two new singles, "Penthouse" and "The Times," and will be performed alongside a slew of other tunes at Driftwood Char Bar.

Show start time of 9 PM. $10 cover, 21+ for entry.

06/11 Rock the Garden 2022 Read More Rock the Garden As usual, the Rock the Garden did a great job organizing the music festival. Although the original scheduled was delayed about 30 minutes, because of the weather... once the music started, they did an amazing job … Nathaniel Rateliff I think Nathaniel Rateliff and his band The Night Sweats have finally made it. It's hard to believe that we've been writing about him since 2013.... Sleater-Kinney What are you doing on V-Day? If you're a Sleater-Kinney fan, you'll be at this sold out show. According to my bad memories and physical ticket stubs, I've seen Sleater-Kinney at least three times, and have expressed sadness ... Low Low’s Christmas show is taking place at First Avenue on Saturday. All proceeds will benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Low adds, “Despite the commerce involved, we hope you will consider .... Beabadoobee Beabadoobee with Christian Leave, BlackStarKids The Truman. $20-$25 aka Beatrice Laus, this Filipino/British breakout bedroom-pop artist put out a new EP, Our Extended .... Divide and Dissolve Divide and Dissolve, the Melbourne, Australia duo of T//R and S//N (Takiaya Reed –guitar/sax; Sylvie Nehill- drums) who asked for quiet as they began, then Reed went into a verbal diatribe decrying worldwide white ....

06/11/2022 Saturday

Rock the Garden
at Walker Art Sculpture Garden
rockthegardenfestival.com

Saturday, June 11, is the big Rock the Garden show. We’ve previously written about the 2022 line, see details below… but here’s something new: we’ve previously seen Australian duo Divide and Dissolve in Feb 2018, as opener for local favorite Polica:

Outside of an angry punk band or two, no band in recent memory has started so polarizing before ever playing a note, than Divide and Dissolve, the Melbourne, Australia duo of T//R and S//N (Takiaya Reed –guitar/sax; Sylvie Nehill- drums) who asked for quiet as they began, then Reed went into a verbal diatribe decrying worldwide white supremacy, seeking to empower black and indigenous people, and reminding the mostly white audience, that this was not their land.

Similar statements were given before each song played, with the expected crowd response ranging from a smattering of applause to cat calls and insults- but inciting seems to be part of their purpose, so in that regard, it worked. Musically, they play a heavy, low tempo, skeletal doom rock blend meant to incite as much as their statements, with latest self-release being last week’s Abomination.

>>>
We’re so happy to see the return of Rock the Garden at the iconic Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

As with previous events, there are two stages, food trucks, beer tents, and great music.

This year, they are bringing co-headliners Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Sleater-Kinney… both excellent bands.

I don’t want to brag, but we were first to report Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats at the band’s first appearance at Bluebird Theater in Denver (Apr 2013): “Nathaniel Rateliff, debuted his new musical endeavor last Thursday at the Bluebird Theater accompanied by soul outfit, The Night Sweats.” The band went on to sign to Stax Records for their self-titled debut album in 2015.

Incidentally, if you ever see a Nathaniel Rateliff’s solo show (which we did in in April 2014), his music and performance is very different than a Night Sweats show. And trivia, but Rateliff previously appeared at Rock the Garden in 2016.

As for Sleater-Kinney, I’ve been seeing the band live since 2000 … with the last one in Feb 2015 after they re-united for a tour. That show was somewhat bitter-sweat, as it would be the last time we would see them with original drummer Janet Weiss (who we just saw in Quasi in Apr 2022).

Gates open at 1pm, music starts at 2:30pm.

Lineup:

• Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (co-headliner)
• Sleater-Kinney (co-headliner)
• LOW
• beabadoobee
• DāM-FunK
• Bombino
• Divide and Dissolve

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Best of the Fest: NXNE, Rock the Garden, Newport Jazz Festival

Read More NXNE Eighties nostalgia was in full swing last night at the NXNE showcase at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto, Canada, as Men Without Hats and Devo were on the same bill. What an excellent pairing, if I do say so myself. …

Read more Music Festival

NXNE
Toronto, Canada
June 14-19, 2022
www.nxne.com

NXNE (North by North East) is returning this Summer. Honestly speaking, this is one of my favorite music festival. What started off as a knock off of SXSW, NXNE has become its own thing. The major differences is that it’s in Canada and venues are a little spread out (somewhat like New York’s CMJ festival).

When we went to NXNE in 2011, we saw Evan Dando, Juliana Hatfield, Art Brut (what an incredible show!), Cults, Kevin Seconds, Washington, Brian Wilson (he didn’t play), Peelander-Z, Ty Segall (we were stuck on a boat with him), Men Without Hats, Devo, and Stars (sort of saw them from a very far distance).

Of course, that was in 2011, before the pandemic. I’m just speculating, but based on their 2022 title, “North By Northeast Music Festival Puts Focus Into The Clubs”, it would appear that the festival organizers are going to focus on smaller clubs and smaller bands (which I personally think is the right move). The festival still promises six days of music, featuring over 300 bands! And the BEST PART, it’s only $20. That’s unheard of for a major music festival.

Speaking about the low price, NXNE Founder and President Michael Hollett said, “That’s actually cheaper than when it first started (in 1995). Especially given the pummelling the live music scene has taken over the last two years, we committed to removing financial barriers to NXNE to best connect artists with audiences; even for artists, it’s free to submit and they get paid to play.”

As of this writing, since it’s still early days, no bands have been announced. A preview of the roster is coming on May 4th (next week).

Read More Rock the Garden As usual, the Rock the Garden did a great job organizing the music festival. Although the original scheduled was delayed about 30 minutes, because of the weather... once the music started, they did an amazing job … Nathaniel Rateliff I think Nathaniel Rateliff and his band The Night Sweats have finally made it. It's hard to believe that we've been writing about him since 2013.... Sleater-Kinney What are you doing on V-Day? If you're a Sleater-Kinney fan, you'll be at this sold out show. According to my bad memories and physical ticket stubs, I've seen Sleater-Kinney at least three times, and have expressed sadness ... Low Low’s Christmas show is taking place at First Avenue on Saturday. All proceeds will benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Low adds, “Despite the commerce involved, we hope you will consider .... Beabadoobee Beabadoobee with Christian Leave, BlackStarKids The Truman. $20-$25 aka Beatrice Laus, this Filipino/British breakout bedroom-pop artist put out a new EP, Our Extended ....

Rock the Garden
Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 11, 2022
rockthegardenfestival.com

We’re so happy to see the return of Rock the Garden at the iconic Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

As with previous events, there are two stages, food trucks, beer tents, and great music.

This year, they are bringing co-headliners Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Sleater-Kinney… both excellent bands.

I don’t want to brag, but we were first to report Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats at the band’s first appearance at Bluebird Theater in Denver (Apr 2013): “Nathaniel Rateliff, debuted his new musical endeavor last Thursday at the Bluebird Theater accompanied by soul outfit, The Night Sweats.” The band went on to sign to Stax Records for their self-titled debut album in 2015.

Incidentally, if you ever see a Nathaniel Rateliff’s solo show (which we did in in April 2014), his music and performance is very different than a Night Sweats show. And trivia, but Rateliff previously appeared at Rock the Garden in 2016.

As for Sleater-Kinney, I’ve been seeing the band live since 2000 … with the last one in Feb 2015 after they re-united for a tour. That show was somewhat bitter-sweat, as it would be the last time we would see them with original drummer Janet Weiss (who we just saw in Quasi in Apr 2022).

Gates open at 1pm, music starts at 2:30pm.

Lineup:

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (co-headliner)

Sleater-Kinney (co-headliner)

LOW

beabadoobee

DāM-FunK

Bombino

Divide and Dissolve

Read More Newport Jazz Festival George Wein, who set the standard for what outdoor music gatherings would become with his leadership of the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals from the 1950s into the 21st century, died Monday at his home …

Newport Jazz Festival
Newport, Rhode Island
July 29 - 31, 2022
newportfestivals.org

The Newport Jazz Festival returns to the historic Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, on July 29-31.

This year is somewhat special as it’s going to be a nice tribute to the Newport Jazz and Newport Folk Festival Founder George Wein, who died in Sept 2021.

Line-up announced so far, features Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding and many others.

Line-up:

Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding,The Fearless Flyers, Angelique Kidjo’s Remain In Light, Terence Blanchard, PJ Morton, The Ron Carter Quartet, BADBADNOTGOOD, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Lettuce, Cory Wong, Sons of Kemet, Nubya Garcia, Jazzmeia Horn, Nate Smith + KINFOLK, Jason Moran & The Bandwagon, Benevento/Russo Duo Acoustic, Nicholas Payton Trio, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Makaya McCraven, Yussef Dayes, Antonio Sanchez & Bad Hombre, Mononeon, Shabaka Hutchings, Vijay Iyer Trio, The Baylor Project, The Soul Rebels, Sampa The Great, Celisse, Emmet Cohen Trio, The Nth Power, Theon Cross, Thana Alexa: Ona, Lady Blackbird, Tuba Skinny, Samara Joy, Melanie Charles, Giveton Gelin, Holly Bowling, Laufey, and more artists to be announced.

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

Quasi at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (16 Apr 2022)

Read More Jon Spencer Drawing generously from garage rock and heavy soul, New York’s Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is an unbridled blues rock fist in the face of the status quo. Guitarist Judah Baker, drummer Russell Simins and shrieker / singer / guitarist Jon Spencer … Quasi The Portland duo Quasi (Sam Coomes and Janet Weis) are currently touring in support of their ninth album called Mole City. If their names sounded familiar, that's because they've both played for Sleater Kinney …

At the 11th hour, we got word that Jon Spencer & The HITmakers was no longer playing the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on Saturday, April 16th. This same night, The Airborne Toxic Event postponed their appearance at First Avenue. This doesn’t surprise us anymore, we’ve already seen numerous cancellations due to COVID, etc.

I hope Spencer feels better, this is one of rock’s hardest working musician. Most people know him from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, but he’s been involved in Pussy Galore and Boss Hog as well.

We caught Jon Spencer in June 2015 and wrote, “Against an American flag backdrop, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion kicked into their set with a slew of new tracks starting with “Wax Dummy,” off the recent album Freedom Tower - No Wave Dance Party 2015. Jon Spencer and guitarist Judah Bauer dragging their picks across those guitar strings was like striking a match and throwing it into an audience well lubricated by alcohol and sweat. The result was as combustive as Russell Simins pounding his sticks into those skins. Babe, consider me on fire.”

With Jon Spencer not performing, opening band Quasi (Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss) unexpectedly headlined the 7th Street Entry show.

Coomes started his career with The Donner Party, and later joining Heatmiser. Weiss is famous for being founding member of Sleater-Kinney, but have played with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, as well as part of Wild Flag. Both brought their talents to the show, which Weiss keeping such great timing on the drums and Coomes sometime playing keys with the help of his foot (much like Little Richard on his T-Shirt).

The two played their standard 45-min set, which included “Breaking the Balls” and “It's Raining”… but once they ran out of those songs, it was open mic territory. To be fair, Weiss warned us that, “Those were the song we practiced! We’re going to try out some new ones, let’s see what happens.”

The non-setlist songs included “Hell”, “The Happy Prole”, and an instrumental jam that became their set finale.

Remaining Tour dates:

4/18 Omaha, NE Waiting Room 4/19 Denver, CO Globe Hall 4/20 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge 4/21 Boise, ID Neurolux 4/22 Portland, OR Dantes 4/23 Vancouver, BC Fox Cabaret 4/24 Seattle, WA Madame Lou’s 4/26 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill 4/27 Los Angeles, CA The Echo 4/28 San Diego, CA Casbah

4/29 Tucson, AZ 191 Toole 4/30 Phoenix, AZ Valley Bar 5/01 Santa Fe, NM Tumbleroot Brewery 5/02 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep 5/03 Wichita, KS Wave 5/04 Kansas City, MO Record Bar 5/05 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill Duck Room 5/06 Indianapolis, IN Hi-Fi 5/07 Louisville, KY Zanzabar 5/08 Charlottesville, VA The Southern

Quasi at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (16 Apr 2022)

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

Minneapolis: April 16 to April 17

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide

04/16 The Airborne Toxic Event with Mondo Cozmo at First Avenue Read More Airborne Toxic Event The Airborne Toxic Event is back in Minneapolis this Sunday... along with Los Angeles synth-pop band In the Valley Below, who will be playing tracks from their album The Belt. Personally, I think In the Valley Below should tour with Death From Above 1979 ...

04/16/2022 Saturday

The Airborne Toxic Event
with Mondo Cozmo
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles’ The Airborne Toxic Event is set to finally embark on their epic Hollywood Park Tour … stopping by First Avenue in Minneapolis on April 16th. Their new sixth album Hollywood Park will be out March 22.

Support on this tour is from Mondo Cozmo (aka Joshua Keith Ostrander). Mondo Cozmo’s new album This is for the Barbarians is due out April 8th via Last Gang Records.

Tour Dates

03/22 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
03/24 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
03/25 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
03/26 - Austin, TX - Emo's
03/28 - Kansas City, MO - Truman
03/29 - St. Louis, MO - Del Mar Concert Hall
03/30 - Nashville, TN - The Basement East
03/31 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre
04/1 - Charlotte, NC - The Underground
04/2 - Washington, DC - 930 Club
04/3 - Washington, DC - 930 Club
04/5 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
04/6 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
04/7 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA (SOLD OUT)
04/8 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA
04/10 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
04/12 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
04/14 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre (SOLD OUT)
04/15 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre
04/16 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
04/18 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
04/19 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
04/20 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
04/22 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
04/23 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
04/24 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
04/27 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
04/29 - San Diego, CA - Observatory
04/30 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
07/16 - San Francisco, CA - Davies Hall (with The San Francisco Symphony)
10/6 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
10/8 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep (SOLD OUT)
10/09 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
10/11 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly's
10/12 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
10/13 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
10/14 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
10/16 - Rochester, NY - Anthology
10/17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre
10/18 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
10/20 - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
10/21 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
10/22 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
10/24 - Chattanooga, TN - The Walker Theater
10/25 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
10/26 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle

04/16 Magnetic Fields with Jake Xerxes Fussell at The Fitzgerald Theater Read More Magnetic Fields Randomly: Ryan and I had a great time talking about the Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs in our 69-minute podcast, you should listen. ....

04/16/2022 Saturday

The Magnetic Fields
with Jake Xerxes Fussell
at The Fitzgerald Theater
first-avenue.com

In a rare appearance, beloved The Magnetic Fields is returning to the Twin Cities, at the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul on April 16th. This is on the news that Merge Records reissued one of the band’s earliest release The House of Tomorrow, remastered on opaque spring green vinyl (as well as basic black).

Tour dates

Apr 6 Tarrytown, NY, US Tarrytown Music Hall
Apr 7 Northampton, MA, US Calvin Theatre
Apr 9 Raleigh, NC, US Duke Energy Center
Apr 10 Raleigh, NC, US Duke Energy Center
Apr 15 Iowa City, IA, US Englert Civic Theater
Apr 16 St. Paul, MN, US Fitzgerald Theater
Apr 18 Seattle, WA, US Moore Theatre
Apr 19 Portland, OR, US Aladdin Theater
Apr 20 Portland, OR, US Aladdin Theater
Apr 22 Vancouver, BC, Canada Hollywood Theatre
Apr 23 Vancouver, BC, Canada Hollywood Theatre
Apr 25 San Francisco, CA, US Palace of Fine Arts
Apr 26 San Francisco, CA, US Palace of Fine Arts
Apr 27 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Theatre at Ace Hotel
May 31 Asker, Norway Asker Kulturhus
Jun 2 Stockholm, Sweden Göta Lejon
Jun 2 Primavera Sound Festival Weekend 1
Jun 2Arrow right icon Kværndrup, Denmark Heartland Festival
Jun 8 St. Gallen, Switzerland Palace
Jun 9 Vienna, Austria Theater Akzent
Jun 9 Primavera Sound Festival Weekend 2
Aug 31 London, UK Eventim Apollo
Sep 1 Leeds, UK O2 Academy Leeds
Sep 1 Sixpenny Handley, UK End of the Road Festival
Sep 5 Glasgow, UK O2 Academy Glasgow
Sep 7 Dublin, Ireland 3Olympia Theatre
Sep 8 Cork, Ireland Cyprus Avenue
Sep 12 Paris, France La Gaité Lyrique
Sep 14 Frankfurt, Germany Zoom
Sep 16 Berlin, Germany Huxleys Neue Welt
Sep 17 Hamburg, Germany Kampnagel (K 6)
Sep 18 Copenhagen, Denmark Operaen

04/16 Jon Spencer & The HITmakers with Quasi at 7th St Entry Read More Jon Spencer Drawing generously from garage rock and heavy soul, New York’s Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is an unbridled blues rock fist in the face of the status quo. Guitarist Judah Baker, drummer Russell Simins and shrieker / singer / guitarist Jon Spencer …

04/16/2022 Saturday

Jon Spencer & The HITmakers
with Quasi
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Blues Explosion Jon Spencer is back with his band The HITmakers. I believe the touring drummer will feature Sleater Kinney’s Janet Weiss …. Who will also serve as opening band Quasi.

Talking about Weiss, Spencer said, “As a long-time fan of her wicked drumming style, I am so very excited to have this opportunity to play with Janet!”

Since SK broke up, we’ve seen Weiss drumming for various projects… including working for Stephen Malkmus as The Jicks. I’ll never forget the first time I saw them play at 80/30 Festival in Iowa and realizing it was Weiss.

Tour dates:

4/11 Buffalo, NY Rec Room
4/12 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
4/13 Detroit, MI El Club
4/14 Chicago, IL Schubas
4/15 Milwaukee, WI Back Room
4/16 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
4/18 Omaha, NE Waiting Room
4/19 Denver, CO Globe Hall
4/20 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
4/21 Boise, ID Neurolux
4/22 Portland, OR Dantes
4/23 Vancouver, BC Fox Cabaret
4/24 Seattle, WA Madame Lou’s
4/26 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
4/27 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
4/28 San Diego, CA Casbah
4/29 Tucson, AZ 191 Toole
4/30 Phoenix, AZ Valley Bar
5/01 Santa Fe, NM Tumbleroot Brewery
5/02 Colorado Springs, CO The Black Sheep
5/03 Wichita, KS Wave
5/04 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
5/05 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill Duck Room
5/06 Indianapolis, IN Hi-Fi
5/07 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
5/08 Charlottesville, VA The Southern

04/17 Clinton Kane with Lexi Jayde at Fine Line Read More Clinton Kane I GUESS I'M IN LOVE Clinton Kane August 20, 2021 Fix It to Break It by Clinton Kane …

04/17/2022 Sunday

Clinton Kane
with Lexi Jayde
at Fine Line
first-avenue.com

Vevo DSCVR Artist to Watch 2022 Clinton Kane will finally be in Minneapolis at the Fine Line Music Café on April 17th. The Norwegian-Filipino star is bringing along Los Angeles’ Lexi Jayde on this tour.

Tour dates:

04/07/22 Oakland, CA The New Parish
04/08/22 Oakland, CA The New Parish
04/10/22 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
04/11/22 Seattle, WA Neumos
04/12/22 Vancouver, BC Rio Theatre
04/14/22 Salt Lake City, UT Soundwell
04/15/22 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
04/17/22 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
04/18/22 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
04/20/22 Columbus, OH A&R Music Bar
04/22/22 Detroit, MI El Club
04/23/22 Toronto, ON Velvet Underground
04/24/22 Montréal, QC L’Astral
04/26/22 Washington, D.C. Union Stage
04/27/22 Philadelphia, PA The Foundry
04/29/22 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
04/30/22 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
05/03/22 Nashville, TN The Basement East
05/04/22 Atlanta, GA The Loft
05/06/22 Houston, TX Bronze Peacock
05/07/22 Dallas, TX Cambridge Room
05/08/22 Austin, TX Antone’s
05/10/22 Phoenix, AZ Valley Bar
05/12/22 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
05/13/22 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

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

We♥KC - August 1-15, 2021 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Jackie Venson at Knuckleheads   Wynonna & the Big Noise at Knuckleheads   Foo Fighters at Azura Amphitheater   Paul Cauthen at Knuckleheads  Slash and Bash Horror and Sci-Fi Movie Festival   Garth Brooks at Arrowhead Stadium   Wilco and Sleater-Kinney at Arvest Bank Theatre   Soul Asylum and Juliana Hatfield at Grinder's  Read More Jackie Venson Austin-born Jackie Venson will be playing the 7th Street Entry on Saturday, July 20th. Tour dates: 07/11/2019 Smith's Olde Bar Atlanta, GA … Sleater-Kinney What are you doing on V-Day? If you're a Sleater-Kinney fan, you'll be at this sold out show. According to my bad memories and physical ticket stubs, I've seen Sleater-Kinney at least three times, and have expressed sadness ...

Despite a virus resurgence (especially in southwest Missouri), live shows have gladly made a return for what will be no doubt, some celebratory shows.  In theKansas City / Lawrence, KS area, concerts are getting more frequent with about every venue re-opened and plenty of outdoor concerts, despite the recent triple-digit heat.

As always, check the venue websites and social media to verify the show goes on as scheduled, and for any virus protocols or mask mandates, that may be required.  As examples, Jason Isbell’s August 3^rd show was recently canceled and The Decemberists postponed their entire tour, though the show still appears on the local venue’s website. ZZ Top is continuing onward, despite the recent death of bassist Dusty Hill, who had previously bowed out of the tour, with shoulder and hip issues.

Here’s what’s happening in the area for the first half of August (a few recommended shows are highlighted below):

Sun 08/01/2021

Jackie Venson, Knuckleheads.  $12
We thoroughly enjoyed seeing Venson opening for Gary Clark, Jr in 2017and she is in her element live, as evidenced by two live albums out in 2020, as well as her latest self-released studio album, Vintage Machine. Expect guitar fireworks from the Austin-based singer-songwriter.

Gucci Mane with Lil Tjay, Yung Bleu, more, Liberty Memorial North Lawn. $49.50-$150

Tue 08/03/2021

Cody Ko and Noel Miller, Uptown. $35-$142
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Azura Amphitheater. CANCELED.
Jason Mraz, Starlight. $30.50-$99.50

Wed 08/04/2021

Wynonna w Big Noise, Knuckleheads. $49.50-$74.50
A timeless entertainer, Judd kept pretty busy during the lockdown, recording the live special Concert from My Place with husband Cactus Moser and guests Brandi Carlile and Waylon Payne that you may have seen on PBS, and now’s the chance to see her live.

Thu 08/05/2021

Foo Fighters with Radkey, Azura Amphitheater $49-$105
Tickets surprisingly still remain for this show (on the lawn) for one of rock’s biggest and most enduring acts who get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this fall.  Medicine at Midnight(on RCA/Roswell Records) is the band’s latest and Grohl and co. have brought along opener Radkey,led by three brothers from St. Joseph and who were featured in Grohl’s recent doc, What Drives Us.

Paul Cauthen w Leah Blevins, Knuckleheads. $25
Cauthen has gradually built up his reputation as an Americana folk singer with a distinctive baritone voice, both as a member of Sons of Fathers and solo, and his recent collaboration with opener Leah Blevins, led to her debut album, First Time Feeling (on Crabtree Records), out this week.

Slash and Bash Horror and Sci-Fi Movie Festival, Topeka Perf Arts Center Thurs-Sat, $20.
On the pop culture front, anyone in the Topeka area might enjoy this three-day film festival featuring dozens of movies showing, guests like Victoria Price (daughter of Vincent Price), a game room, vendor selling area, and more.  More info: Here

Greyson Chance, Bottleneck-Lawrence. $25-$65

Fri 08/06/2021

Lady A w/ Carly Pearce, Niko Moon, and Tenille Arts, Azura Amphitheater. $20-126
The good news is that Lady A (no longer Antebellum) both has a new record out, What a Song Can Do (Chapter One) (on Big Machine Records) and are back on tour with three other acts, for a full evening.  At last word, promo lawn tickets for just $20 were still available.
Tanya Tucker with Erin Enderlin, Knuckleheads. $48.50 sold out

Sat 08/07/2021

Garth Brooks, Arrowhead Stadium,  $94.95
The best-selling solo artist in U.S. history brings his show to Arrowhead Stadium and broke the entertainment box office record there- selling out 74,500 tickets in an hour. The show is also encouraging virus protocols, with a vaccination station on-site for those still needing a shot.
The Decemberists, Grinders CANCELED.
Dermot Kennedy, Uptown. $35-$277
Tech N9ne, Kansas City Live! $27.50-$100

Sun 08/08/2020

ZZ Top w Willie Nelson, George Thorogood, Azura Amphitheater, $34.50-$249.
A formidable triple-bill is somewhat sullied by the recent death of ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill, but the show must go on, according to singer Billy Gibbons.  Hill had bowed out after two shows of the tour, citing hip and shoulder issues, so their longtime bass tech is stepping in.

Mon 08/09/2021

Struggle Jennings with Brianna Harness and Caitlynne Curtis, The Truman. $20-$40

Tues 08/10/2021

My Baby, Knuckleheads. $15
(hed) pe, Cafe Acoustic- St. Joseph, $20-30

Wed 08/11/2021

Shakey Graves with Tré Burt, The Truman. $27-$54
Dropkick Murphys / Rancid / The Bronx, Grinder's, $45-$99

Thu 08/12/2021

Wilco and Sleater-Kinney, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland. $35-$87.50
Previously scheduled for Aug 2020, It’s Time!as the name of their tour proudly announces. 

This co-headlining show is an alt-rock lover’s dream (w/NNAMDÏ opening), with Wilco taking song requests via their website, and an exclusive 7” available at the merch stand, with the two longtime bands covering a favorite song of the other’s.

Fri 08/13/2021

The Dead South, Grinders. $25-$75
Jackopierce, Knuckleheads. $20
All Time Low with The Maine and Grayscale, KC Live! $25-$85

Sat 08/14/2021

Eddie Griffin, Uptown. $39.50-$127
Mike Zito’s Big Damn Band with Tito Jackson, Knuckleheads. $25
DaBaby, Azura Amphitheater. $49.50-$199.50
Bryce Vine, Liberty Hall Lawrence. $30-$50
Unlikely Candidates, Bottleneck- Lawrence, $15

Sun 08/15/2021

Soul Asylum w Juliana Hatfield and Local H, Grinder's, $30-$60
On their Back in Your Face Tour, this triple-bill might have played arenas twenty-five years ago, so be grateful to see them in slightly smaller venues.  Prince covered Soul Asylum’s Stand Up and B Strong on the just-released Welcome 2 America, and Juliana Hatfield released latest album Blood last year, as did Local H with their latest, Lifers. 

Maks & Val: Stripped Down Tour, Kauffman Center. $39.50-$74.31

John5 w Jared James Nichols, Black Satellite, Bottleneck- Lawrence. $22.50

john (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Rocktober: October 13 to October 16, 2019

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from October 13 to October 16, 2019.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Tegan & Sara 2019 Tour Read More Tegan & Sara Tegan and Sara are back with their "Let's Make Things Physical Tour." The last time we saw the Quin sisters at First Avenue last year, they played practically every song from their latest album Heartthrobs. …

TEGAN AND SARA
Fitzgerald Theater
Sun 10/13/2019 (7pm/$40.50)
thefitzgeraldtheater.com

The very popular Tegan and Sara will be playing the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul on Sunday, October 13th. The show is sold out… but if you’re willing to buy their new book High School - you can meet them for a book signing at Next Chapter Booksellers before the concert.

We last saw them in Chicago in June 2014 and said, “With Warner determined to sell the girls as hip, lesbian older sisters to Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, Tegan and Sara were soon everywhere: performing on Ellen, having a version of “Closer” performed on Glee, appearing onstage with Taylor Swift, even recording an Oreo commercial. They spent most of 2013 as a support act for The Killers and fun. and will end 2014 with a support slot on Katy Perry’s Prismatic tour. They nearly swept the Canadian Juno Awards this year, winning the pop album, single, and group of the year awards. By all accounts, it’s a triumphant time for the Quins.”

T&S’s new album Hey, I’m Just Like You is out now on Sire Records.

Tour dates:

10/9 – Edmonton, AB – Myer Orowitz Theatre
10/10 – Calgary, AB – Bella Concert Hall (early & late shows)
10/12 – Winnipeg, MB – Garrick Centre
10/13 – St. Paul, MN – Fitzgerald Theatre
10/15 – Evanston, IL – Northwestern University
10/16 – Columbus, OH – Lincoln Theatre
10/17 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
10/19 – Toronto, ON – Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre
10/22 – Ottawa, ON – Algonquin Commons Theatre
10/23 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
10/25 – Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre
10/26 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
10/27 – Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
10/29 – Nashville, TN – CMA Theater
10/30 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
11/1 – Austin, TX – State Theatre (early & late shows)

Other shows in the area:

Cigarettes After Sex at First Ave Jidenna at First Ave Sleater-Kinney at Palace Theatre Jay Som at 7th Street Starcrawler at Turf Club Read More Sleater-Kinney What are you doing on V-Day? If you're a Sleater-Kinney fan, you'll be at this sold out show. According to my bad memories and physical ticket stubs, I've seen Sleater-Kinney at least three times, and have expressed sadness ... Jay Som The show was opened up by Jay Som from San Francisco, California. Her sweet and quiet demeanor was met with cute songs about real life events such as riding a bus. ...

CIGARETTES AFTER SEX
First Avenue
Sun 10/13/2019 (7pm/$23)
first-avenue.com

Cigarettes After Sex is currently on tour in support of their sophomore album Cry (available October 25 on Partisan Records).

What is interesting about this upcoming show, is that there won’t be an opening band … instead fans are invited to watch a short film called “You’re the Only Good Thing In My Life”.

Tour dates:

10/8/19 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
10/10/19 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theater
10/11/19 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
10/12/19 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
10/13/19 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
10/15/19 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
10/16/19 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
10/17/19 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
10/18/19 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater
10/19/19 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue

JIDENNA
+ Kelechi
First Avenue
Mon 10/14/2019 (7pm/$25)
first-avenue.com

GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum rapper, singer, producer, artist, and actor Jidenna will be playing First Avenue this Monday, October 14th, in support of his second album 85 To Africa.

Tour dates:

10/8 Boise, ID
10/11 Salt Lake City, UT
10/12 Denver, CO
10/14 Minneapolis, MN
10/15 St. Louis, MO
10/17 Louisville, KY
10/18 Chicago, IL
10/19 Milwaukee, WI
10/20 Cincinnati, OH

SLEATER-KINNEY
+ Shamir
Palace Theatre
Tue 10/15/2019 (7pm/$32.50/Sold out)
palacestpaul.com

Of course, Sleater-Kinney has sold out their tour, including the upcoming Palace Theatre in St Paul. We’ve seen the group numerous times, but unfortunately, the band took a long break (and eventually their original drummer Janet Weiss left the band). Angie Boylan is now the new drummer.

We caught SK in Feb 2015 and wrote, “As expected, SK mostly played songs from their latest record, No Cities to Love (Sub Pop). I've seen SK three other times (2000, 2002, and 2005) and they've always played First Avenue. This fact was mentioned by Carrie Brownstein who said, "Perhaps it's true that we never place a place as much as First Ave..." then quickly followed by "Don't quote me on that though!" She could be right, including a cancelled date and last night's date, SK booked First Avenue at least 6 times.”

SK’s new album The Center Won’t Hold is out now.

Tour dates:

10/09/2019 Martin Woldson Theater Spokane, WA
10/11/2019 Knitting Factory Boise, ID
10/12/2019 The Depot Salt Lake City, UT
10/13/2019 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
10/15/2019 Palace Theatre St. Paul, MN
10/15/2019 Palace Theatre New York, NY
10/16/2019 Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI
10/18/2019 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
10/19/2019 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
10/20/2019 Old Forester's Paristown Hall Louisville, KY
10/21/2019 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN

JAY SOM
+ Boy Scouts
7th St Entry
Wed 10/16/2019 (7pm/$16)
first-avenue.com

Jay Som (aka Melina Duterte) is back with her new album Anak Ko. We caught her in March 2017 and wrote, “San Francisco’s Jay Som closed out the night. Jay Som (aka Melina Duterte) has been in Minneapolis a few times, including July 2016 and October 2016, but this time has a headliner.... and with a debut album called Everybody Works finally out on Polyvinyl Records. The record is so good that as soon as it came out, Pitchfork declared it as “Best New Music”.”

Show up early to check out Boy Scouts (aka Taylor Vick)… she’ll be playing tracks from her new album Free Company.

Tour Dates:

10/15 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theatre
10/16 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry
10/17 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
10/18 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
10/19 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
10/21 – Detroit, MI – El Club
10/22 – Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground
10/23 – Montreal, QC – Bar le Ritz PDB
10/25 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere
10/26 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
10/27 – Burlington, VT – ArtsRiot
10/29 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry
10/30 – Washington DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
10/31 – Raleigh, NC – Kings
11/1 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
11/2 – Nashville, TN – High Watt

STARCRAWLER
+ Poppy Jean Crawford
Turf Club
Wed 10/16/2019 (7pm/$13)
turfclub.net

Los Angeles-based Starcrawler is headlining the Turf Club this Wednesday, October 16. We saw them at Desert Daze 2017 and frontwoman Arrow de Wilde makes the band looks insane!

Starcrawler’s Devour You will be out October 11 via Rough Trade. If you collect vinyl, be aware that there’s a scratch and sniff sleeve!

Poppy Jean Crawford to open.

Tour Dates:

10/8/19 - Vancouver, BC - Fortune Sound Club
10/9/19 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
10/11/19 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
10/12/19 - Denver, CO - Lost Lake Lounge
10/14/19 - Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room
10/15/19 - Omaha, NE - Reverb Lounge
10/16/19 - Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club
10/17/19 - Chicago IL - Lincoln Hall
10/19/19 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
10/22/19 - Montreal - Bar Le Rtiz PDB
10/23/19 - Somerville, MA - ONCE Ballroom
10/25/19 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/26/19 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
10/27/19 - Washington, DC - Pie Shop

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

W♥M's Favorite 15 Shows of 2015

Read More Sleater-Kinney What are you doing on V-Day? If you're a Sleater-Kinney fan, you'll be at this sold out show. According to my bad memories and physical ticket stubs, I've seen Sleater-Kinney at least three times, and have expressed sadness ... The Decemberists Sure, their music is associated with hipsters and it's fair to assume singer Colin Meloy writes lyrics like he's from 1920, but The Decemberists are an unbelievably good band. … Belle & Sebastian Our favorite Scottish band Belle & Sebastian is releasing Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance tomorrow, January 20th, via Matador Records, their first new record since 2010's Write About Love. ... Sam Smith Sam Smith has sold out Madison Square Garden in NYC and The Forum in Los Angeles in minutes, with a second show in Los Angeles being added on January 29, 2015. The month-long .... Big Star Big Star is releasing some singles on Record Store Day. This is to coincide with the release of the documentary of Big Star called "Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me", which you can check out the … Blur After the release of The Magic Whip (first album since Think Tank was released in 2003), this world tour sees Blur play Australia (including the Splendour in the Grass festival in Byron Bay) … Wizard World Minneapolis Wizard World Minneapolis officially began its pop culture weekend takeover last night, with a kickoff event held last night at the rotunda in the Mall of America. In addition to a trivia contest for … Violent Femmes Violent Femmes have announced details of their eagerly awaited new EP, HAPPY NEW YEAR. The four-track EP will be released April 18th, exclusively on 180 gram champagne clear vinyl … Go 96.3 We were really impressed with Go 96.3 FM's first Go Show #1 (featuring New Politics and Banks at Aria on Mar 2015). We were wondering how they can top that debut show … Festival Palomino We covered Trampled By Turtles' first ever Festival Palomino last year. It was such a great learning experience for us, and we had a great time... so much that it made it onto my top ten favorite shows from 2014 (out of … The 1975 Matt Healy, lead singer for Manchester UK band, The 1975, is a marked man. And this past weekend, he returned to the city where it all happened. … The Adicts The version Cristina loves is the Adicts' version. Song of the week is Adicts' "Falling in Love". ... FFS FFS - the unique collaboration between Franz Ferdinand and Sparks - have announced their first ever North American live dates. This once-in-a-lifetime tour .… Weezer Weezer's singer Rivers Cuomo brought out his dad, Frank Cuomo, and they play "Back to the Shack". One of the most touching things I have witness in my many years of watching Weezer shows. … Carole King Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a musical on the life of songwriter Carole King, based on the biography written by Douglas McGrath. The musical has a residency at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis until the end of November. …

This year (2015), W♥M covered 346, which is an absolutely amazingly large number considering that we basically don't cover shows from December to February.

With so many shows, it's hard to just pick 15 shows to talk about... and I know there are a few that I feel bad about leaving off the list. I recommend looking over our list below and clicking on the shows you are most interested in reading and checking out for yourself.

With that said, here 15 favorite moments of 2015:

Sleater-Kinney at First Avenue
14 February 2015

This was my fourth time seeing Portland's Sleater-Kinney, and it was possibly my favorite. After "breaking up" in 2006, it was a bit of a surprise when they announced their reunion in October 2014 (with a new album No Cities to Love no less!). Of course, their entire 2015 North American show immediately sold out, but we were lucky enough to be there.... as were all the dedicated fans (who we haven't seen in quite a while).

We wrote, "I also wanted to mention that this wasn't just a SK reunion, but a reunion for all their fans. Personally speaking, I saw old friends I have not seen in nine years and it was all because SK came back to the music scene... so from the bottom of my heart, thank you Sleater-Kinney. "

The Decemberists at Northrop Auditorium
24 March 2015

Similar to Sleater-Kinney, beloved The Decemberists disappeared from the music scene in 2011. We caught singer Colin Meloy solo in 2013, and although he did play some Decemberists songs, it just didn't feel the same. When the opportunity to see them live, after they announced an unexpected new album What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, we jumped on board on the sold out show.

Their encore, with a giant whale, was a delight: "...then was a direct hit to the gullet, with their other folky mega-epic, the bouncy ‘The Mariner’s Revenge Song’ which stretched some twenty minutes. People were prompted to scream at a certain part ¾ of the way into the song, and the reaction was not unwarranted as a large cut-out profile of a whale ambled on stage to slowly eat each of the band members in a row, to the crowd’s shrieking delight."

Belle & Sebastian at Enmore Theatre and Rock the Garden
29 January 2015/20 June 2015

My all-time favorite post-Britpop is Scottish band Belle & Sebastian. Although the band experienced some difficulties with their label (basically Jeepster Records didn't think they can grow beyond their cult-like status) and losing a few key band members (including sweet songstress Isobel Campbell), the band seemed to be in top form on this 2015 tour. They first hit the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Australia, and eventually made their way to Minneapolis at Rock the Garden.

Personally speaking, as a diehard fan, I felt it wasn't their strongest performance in Minneapolis. They've been gone for 9 years from the city, and their song choices weren't what I wanted or expected. Still, despite all that, their two song finales were unfortgettable: "The two closing tracks, ‘The Boy With the Arab Strap’ and ‘I Didn't See It Coming’ were absolutely unforgettable. Murdoch walked on the front barrier and asked if anyone wanted to dance and encourage fans to come on stage. About thirty fans jumped to the stage and just had an absolute blast singing and dancing... and, yes, taking plenty of selfies."

Sam Smith at Roy Wilkins Auditorium
24 January 2015

We were lucky enough to have caught Sam Smith right before his road to stardom: winning six Grammy Awards (in Feb 2015) - including Record of the Year and Song of the Year - and Brit Award winner for British Breakthrough Act and Global Success.

We wrote, "With his career just starting (though he mentioned he’s had a manager since age 12) and a strong chance that he walks away with several Grammys next weekend, Sam Smith’s local debut was worth the wait, with likely several more appearances in the years ahead, to come."

Wizard World Minneapolis
01-03 May 2015

The second annual Wizard World Minneapolis was a whole lot of fun. Unlike 2014's show, this year they had a few musical acts in conjunction to the comic book/geek fandom show: Critical Hit and our favorite Japanese Superhero band Peelander-Z. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, the Peelander-Z show was cut short.

As we reported, "After just 25 minutes, the venue cut off the band's instruments!! Everyone in the audience and the band looked incredibly puzzled by the shutdown. The fans were screaming "One more song! One more song!" and Pink replied, "If only we could, but they won't let us play!"

Barenaked Ladies and Violent Femmes at Treasure Island
12 June 2015

After Brian Ritchie sued singer Gordon Gano in 2007, The Violent Femmes broke up. It was only recently (2015) that they reformed, so we were more than happy to make that long drive to Treasure Island Casino in Red Wing, Minnesota, to see them. Embarrassingly enough, I thought this was my first time seeing VF, until I was reminded by a friend of mine that we had seen them in early 2000 at First Avenue. Suddenly, the memories flooded back! I will confess that I have a terrible memory.

Anyway, seeing VF was such fun! Everyone in the audience were singing to every word (expect for the two new songs), but I will also mention that I LOVE Colin Hay (from Men At Work) and he was definitely the highlight of the Barenaked Ladies' set. BNL aren't bad either, they were surprisingly a very entertaining band.

We wrote, "Say what you will about Canada's Barenaked Ladies, but they are a great live band. All those years touring, singer Ed Robertson has developed an amazing ability to randomly improvise some raps and songs. My personal favorite was the "Ring Ding Ding for Red Wing" rap, it's clear to me that they just actually thought of it while randomly shouting out rhymes."

Go 96.3 Shows
13 March 2015/07 August 2015/03-04 December 2015

We were quite impressed with Go 96.3's very first show at Aria in early March 2015 (featuring New Politics and Banks). They spared no expenses, and it showed! They would later go on to book Go Fest 2015 (featuring Cold War Kids and Matt & Kim on 07 August 2015) and Go Snow Show (featuring Metric and Silversun Pickups on 03-04 December 2015). In fact, all the Go Shows are nothing less than spectacular. We speculate that they are possibly just losing money (thanks to their affordable pricing of "$9.63" or FREE), but we also think that getting their brand name out is well worth it.

We wrote, "So, with little Snow outside, but plenty Show inside, consider the inaugural Go96.3 Snow Show a success with the hope that this becomes a bigger and better holiday tradition, for years ahead. "

Blur in Sydney, Los Angeles, and New York
25 July 2015/20 October 2015/23 October 2015

Legendary Britpopster Blur is finally back in Australia, playing their first gig in 18 years in the country. The whole gang is back (including Graham Coxon), and we love the band so much, we travelled to Los Angeles and New York for Blur's final two US tour. It's hinted heavily that this was the band's final U.S.A. appearance. A sad reminder that for this megastar band in England... that they never really broke America.

We wrote, "I'll just say the show was bittersweet. Albarn plans to spend next year working on the band that did break the States, Gorillaz, and he has enough side projects to distract him from the band he first started out in. This may be their last concert in the country they couldn't break."

FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) at First Avenue
09 October 2015

FFS is the special project of Franz Ferdinand and Sparks. The two bands recorded an album and as expected with these type of one album-only tour, they basically played the entire album. As an added bonus, selective songs from their respective catalog was also played, including the wildly popular FF's song "Take Me Out" (the entire audience was bouncing and singing along to this number).

Of all the places the band could have chosen to play, they surprisingly added Minneapolis to their limited first-ever US tour... and it was well worth it for fans who showed up to catch this unique performance.

As we reported, "Both bands collaborated to produce some of the most interesting pop songs on the FFS album. It's smart, it's catchy, it's fun, and it's uniquely FFS. While I do not think there will be a sequel in the future, this was, by far, the most interesting team-up we've seen in a while."

Big Star's Third at First Avenue
20 September 2015

This is one of our favorite 2015 shows: Big Star's Third. Every show they do is different, mainly because they have different guests. With all these great guests, you would think they can easily screw up, but they were all surprisingly well-rehearsed and seemed to know their material and what they had to work with.

We concluded, "This show was such a massive pleasure to watch. Between a stage loaded with talent and music loaded with emotion, it was hard to walk away from this and not be inspired and heartened. Big Star created some of the most beautiful and timeless music of all time, the soundtrack to our lives. Stamey, Stringfellow and every single person who contributed to Wednesday night’s performance brought that soundtrack to life. "

The 1975 at First Avenue
10 December 2015

This was our third time seeing The 1975, fifth time if you count their two promotional appearance at Cities 97 and the Mall of America... and we called it long ago: This band is going to be massive! Not only have they sold out every appearance in the Twin Cities, but ahead of their sophomore album, they've already announced a date at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. We think it's going to sell out, which very few bands have managed such a feat. We'll wait and see. If you need further proof that the band has made it - after we saw them at First Avenue, there were bootleg T-Shirt vendors!

As reported, "From the show’s early sell out, to the stage production, and the crowd’s intense reaction to every song, it was clear right away that the band has outgrown its club confines and is destined for bigger things (something we predicted when we first saw them too)."

Festival Palomino 2015
September 2015

We felt that the inaugural Festival Palomino last year was nothing short of perfect... however, the organizers (First Avenue and Trampled by Turtles) improved on perfection! We love the new setup and, based on these two successful shows, we're pretty sure they will be hard at work on a great 2016 Festival Palomino.

We praised, "If local festivals were racehorses, Festival Palomino is best in show. Again.

The Trampled by Turtles-curated festival, held again in the inside greens of the horse racetrack at Canterbury Park in the southwest suburb of Shakopee, triumphed once more in its sophomore year, as a prime example of a highly enjoyable, expertly-run day of music. "

Rev Horton Heat & The Adicts at First Avenue
24 September 2015

This was an odd-pairing, but we were really excited about UK's The Adicts' very first Minneapolis show. They were just super-duper entertaining. The band clearly has their live show down to a T, incorporating various fun stage props, various costume changes, and choreographic dance routines. The only down side to these shows is that they are practically the same routine every night, so if this is your second or third time seeing them, it'll get old fast... but personally speaking, since it was their first Minneapolis show: we loved it.

Worth the price of admission: "If anything, The Adicts is one of the most entertaining bands touring right now. I've never seen so many stage prop used on stage, from pounds of confetti (used in streamers, umbrellas, hats, etc.) to Chinese take-out cartons (used for "Chinese Takeaway"), playing cards (used for "Joker in the Pack") to light-up plastic glass (used during "Who Spilt My Beer?") to various costume changes (hats, gloves, shirts) to beach balls, to stuffed monkeys (thrown into the audience). Although this may seem gimmicky, you can't ignore that this was a first-rate production and worth the price of admission. "

Weezer at Burgerama IV and Basilica Block Party
29 March 2015/10 July 2015

We're big fans of Weezer since 1994. Admittedly, the band's outgrown us, but we still have a soft spot for the nerdy band. Seeing them at Burgerama IV in Santa Ana was a treat, but because Rivers' dad came on stage to sing "Back to the Shack" with the band. We caught them again locally at Basilica Block Party, and it's probably our favorite Basilica show in recent memory.

The fans loved it, "As soon as the first few chords of ‘Hash Pipe’ were played, the audience immediately recognized it and started screaming and singing. Other big hits blocks included ‘Surf Wax America’, followed by ‘Island in the Sun’ with personalized "Minneapolis" lyrics, and ‘Beverly Hills’ (which did gangbuster in California, but surprisingly did really well in Minnesota as well)."

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
25 November 2015

This one is still fresh in my mind, so it's one of my favorite music event I've attended. I can probably count on my hand the few plays and musicals I've attended (The King and I, Macbeth, A Christmas Carol, etc.), but watching Beautiful: The Carole King Musical was simply just magical. The seamless set changes, the constant costume changes (and one great "quick change" costumes), the great singing and music playing... they were just flawless! It probably helped that they act the same scene night after night for the last 200+ shows, but it was still pretty amazing to witness live. I have told people that it is like watching a movie, only it's completely live.

We concluded, "If you're a fan of live musical, you definitely will want to attend a show. It is a lot of fun, and the musical numbers will bring back a lot of wonderful memories."

Below are links to all 346 shows we covered in 2015: