W♥M

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

2021-09-01 Neko Case at Liberty Hallx  2021-09-04 Dwight Yoakam at Uptown  2021-09-04 Halestorm at Azura   2021-09-08 Needtobreathe at Midland   2021 Dancefestopia   2021-09-12 Big Thief at Liberty   2021-09-14 Squeeze at Uptown   Read More Neko Case Neko Case has a new album The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, which came out September 3rd on ANTI-, and her First Avenue …

Everything’s still open...sort of.  Another wave of the virus has taken hold, and as a result, precautions are being taken again, so make sure to check with venues about their latest protocols/restrictions and stay safe!

In the Kansas City / Lawrence, KS area, many locations and the touring acts themselves, now require proof of vaccination/recent negative test, may have moved their show outdoors, and other changes to better accommodate the current situation.

W♥M loves Neko Case and while we’ve seen her a few times previous with The New Pornographers, have not covered her solo show yet… might this be the time?  Expect 2-3 choice cover songs in concert as well as her solo and band favorites. Also coming soon to Lawrence is Big Thief, a still-rising indie band (who just released two new songs produced by the band’s drummer) that we’ve had a soft spot for, and have covered since 2015. 

Country fans are probably unhappy that Morgan Wallen keeps self-sabotaging his career but can take solace in a free Clay Walker show downtown that same night instead.

Amphitheater shows are a slightly safer bet, being outside, and we like the Halestorm show at Azura mostly because you can get lawn tix for less than $10, and for The Hu, undoubtedly the greatest Mongolian throat-singing folk/heavy metal band of all time.  Jonathan Davis recently battled a bad case of Covid, but theKorn / Staindtour has carried on, though Korn bassist Fieldy previously bowed out of the tour, citing his continued “bad habits”.

Needtobreathe and Switchfoot both come off even better in concert than on record, with each faith-based band often performing like they’re in a large arena, yet somehow both makethe live environment seem intimate and experiential.  Dancefestopia looks like the season’s only hope for a multi-day EDM extravaganza, located just south of the metro, with camping available (glow sticks optional).

More classic rock fans will have to choose on Sept 14, though we lean towards Squeeze who we saw last go ‘round and who are also playing arenas with Hall and Oates (we caught ‘em in 2017 w/Tears for Fears), assuming Difford and Tilbrook are still getting along, as they next head back to the UK for a tour with Madness.

Here’s what’s happening in the area for the first half of September

(a few recommended shows are highlighted below):



Wednesday September 1
Neko Case, Liberty Hall, Lawrence,  $35-50. (vaxx proof required)

Chevelle, Uptown. $35-55.


Thursday September 2


Y’allapalooza featuring Morgan Wallen, Azura Amphitheater. CANCELED


Clay Walker, Kansas City Live! Free.


Friday September 3

Halestorm with The Hu and Cory Marks, Azura Amphitheater. $9.89-$75.

The Phantom Blues Band featuring Mike Finnigan, Knuckleheads. $35-47.50


Saturday September 4


Sevendust with Tremonti and Lydia Can’t Breathe, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $28.50-$38.50


Dwight Yoakam, Uptown. $45-125.


Monday September 6


Korn and Staind, Azura Amphitheater. $29.50-$89.50


Tuesday September 7


Nahko and Medicine for the People, Liberty Hall Lawrence. $30


Wednesday September 8


Chris Renzema, The Truman. $17-$34

Needtobreathe with Switchfoot and The New Respects, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland. $32.50-$65

Thursday September 9

Dancefestopia feat. Griz, Zedds Dead, Rezz, Sept. 9-12, Lacygne, Kansas. $199-$599

Justin Moore w Blaine Howard, Kansas City Live! $25.


Friday September 10


Stephen Lynch, The Truman. $35-$40


The Black Dahlia Murder with After The Burial, Carnifex and more, Granada Lawrence. $25


Saturday September 11


Blue October, The Truman. $35-$65


Adam Carolla, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $29.50-$45


Shake The Lake Country Music Festival, Longview Lake Swim Beach. $49-$149


Son Volt, Knuckleheads. $25-$37.50


Sunday September 12
Big Thief, Liberty Hall. $26-$50

Monday September 13


Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, Kauffman Center. CANCELED.


Tuesday September 14


The Doobie Brothers with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Starlight. $39-$175

Squeeze, Uptown. $35-$277

Wednesday September 15


Bill Burr, Starlight. $35-$85

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

Squeeze / KT Tunstall at State Theatre, Minneapolis (03 Sep 2019)

State Theatre marquee Squeeze Setlist Footprints Big Beng Hourglass Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) Up the Junction King George Street Someone Else's Heart Third Rail In Quintessence The Day I Get Home Please Be Upstanding Annie Get Your Gun Cradle to the Grave Cool for Cats Slap and Tickle Love's Crashing Waves (Difford & Tilbrook cover) Tempted Another Nail in My Heart Goodbye Girl If I Didn't Love You -- Encore -- Take Me I'm Yours Is That Love Black Coffee in Bed KT Tunstall Setlist Another Place to Fall Other Side of the World Little Red Thread Black Horse and the Cherry Tree / Black Betty The River Hold On / Let's Go Crazy (Prince cover) /Walk Like an Egyptian (Bangles cover) Suddenly I See Read More Squeeze "The New Lennon and McCartney", Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook (billed under their popular band name Squeeze) will be playing an acoustic set across America this November. ... KT Tunstall I’ll never forget seeing KT Tunstall over at the now-defunct Epic in Minneapolis in November 2010. KT actually paused the show so she can ask the girl in front to stop talking on her cellphone.

British rock band Squeeze returned to the Minneapolis area with a full band (Simon Hanson, Stephen Large, Steve Smith, and Yolanda Charles), and not just its founding members Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford (who previously appeared as a duo at the Cedar in Nov 2015).

Opening up the show was Scottish singer KT Tunstall, who later explained how they became acquaintance with each other. In contrast to Squeeze’s much larger band, Tunstall came out by herself. She even joked, “Let’s hear it for my band!” (which there was none). Tunstall is no stranger to playing solo, and uses a variety of percussion loops and other tricks to produce a much fuller sound.

Prior to playing her biggest hit to date, “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” (medley with “Black Betty”), she tells us about how she met Squeeze… and somehow Squeeze was the father to “Black Horse..” The story goes that she was invited to play Jools Holland with Squeeze in 2004. She didn’t even have a recording of her songs, so she rushed to a recording studio to produce the song. The whole thing came together very quickly, and the song remain her most famous and signature song. Since meeting Squeeze in 2004, she’s become friends with them and with this recent tour, the band personally asked Tunstall to play with them.

The highlight of her set was for “Hold On”, which she medley with Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” and The Bangles’ “Walk Like An Egyptian”. She explained the reasoning behind the weird covers, that Prince love women and how he hires only women in his band or management. The truth is that the Hold On/Walk Like an Egyptian medley is a staple in her set since 2016. It was still very nice to see her tribute to the Purple One, it’s clear that she’s a big fan (especially since she mentioned she went to Paisley Park earlier in the day).

As for beloved UK band Squeeze, it’s truly a delight to see the band return in full electric gear and playing many of their biggest hits from the late 70s and through the 80s.

Eager fans cheered at hearing the opening notes to such hits as “Cool for Cats”, “Tempted”, or “Another Nail in My Heart” (many of which landed in the second half of their long setlist.

Most of their songs were lyrically written by Chris Difford, with music added by Glenn Tilbrook, much like the Morrissey and Johnny Marr collaboration in The Smiths, so it’s probably better to compare Squeeze to The Smiths, rather than The Beatles … but they are often compared to John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Unless you’re a music Anglophile, chances are you probably haven’t heard of Squeeze. It’s really a shame, because their songs are so catchy and fun… but it’s a rarity that that modern American radio would even play their music. Having said that, they did have a hit with “Tempted” and “Hourglass” in the USA. Unfortunately, by 1982, they broke up … but then reformed in 1985, and then breaking up again in 1999.

The band eventually re-formed in its modern iteration in 2007 (adding new bassist Yolanda Charles in 2017 and Steve Smith - from Dirty Vegas - as percussionist and backing vocalist).

If you’re a new or casual Squeeze fan, this “Squeeze Songbook” tour is actually the perfect tour to see the band on. They’re not really promoting any new album or music (their last album came out in 2017), so they’re just playing most of their biggest hits (but also including some underrated songs).

Remaining “The Squeeze Songbook 2019” USA tour:

09/07, Park City, UT, Deer Valley Resort
09/09, Seattle, WA, The Showbox
09/10, Salem, OR, The Elsinore Theatre
09/12, Oakland, CA, The Fox Theatre
09/13, Los Angeles, CA, The Orpheum Theatre
09/15, Chandler, AZ, The Chandler Center for the Arts
09/17, Austin, TX, The Paramount
09/18, Houston, TX, Warehouse Live
09/19, Dallas, TX, The Bomb Factory
09/22, Atlanta, GA, The Tabernacle

KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall

Squeeze

Squeeze

Squeeze

Squeeze

Squeeze at State Theatre, Minneapolis (03 Sep 2019)

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

Photos: Squeeze and KT Tunstall at State Theatre (03 Sep 2019)

Squeeze and KT Tunstall just played the State Theatre in Minneapolis (Tue 09/03/2019). Stay tuned for a recap, in the meantime, here are some photos.

KT Tunstall

Squeeze at State Theatre, Minneapolis (03 Sep 2019)

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

Photos: Squeeze and KT Tunstall at State Theatre (03 Sep 2019)

Squeeze and KT Tunstall just played the State Theatre in Minneapolis (Tue 09/03/2019). Stay tuned for a recap, in the meantime, here are some photos.

KT Tunstall

Squeeze at State Theatre, Minneapolis (03 Sep 2019)

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

Minneapolis: September 1 to September 6, 2019

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from September 1 to September 6, 2019.

Note: September 2 is Labor Day.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

Squeeze 2019 Tour Read More Squeeze "The New Lennon and McCartney", Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook (billed under their popular band name Squeeze) will be playing an acoustic set across America this November. ... KT Tunstall I’ll never forget seeing KT Tunstall over at the now-defunct Epic in Minneapolis in November 2010. KT actually paused the show so she can ask the girl in front to stop talking on her cellphone.

SQUEEZE
+ KT Tunstall
State Theatre
Sun 08/25/2019 (6:30pm/$39.50)
hennepintheatretrust.org

The “Lennon and McCartney of their generation” Squeeze is celebrating their 45th band anniversary this 2019. To celebrate, the duo is on their “The Squeeze Songbook 2019” tour.

We caught the band in Nov 2015 and wrote, “Everything old is new again as classic UK band Squeeze is back on the road, in the Americas as an acoustic tour featuring founding members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, playing a lively two-night sold out run recently in town and promoting Cradle to the Grave (Virgin/EMI Records), their thirteenth album and first new music since 1998.”

KT Tunstall will open the show. We’ve seen KT a few times, the last being Sep 2016 and we described it as, “The funny story about her biggest hit ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’, she said after moving to Florida, she walked by an Irish bar and heard the local bar band covering her song. The singer started shredding on the solo, and she locked eyes with the singer and gave him the A-Okay hand gesture. The punch line is, the band at the Irish bar, had no idea who she was.”

“The Squeeze Songbook 2019” USA tour:

08/29, Lenox, MA, Tanglewood
08/30, Munhall, PA, Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
08/31, Chicago, IL, Chicago Theatre
09/01, Milwaukee, WI, The Pabst Theater
09/03, Minneapolis, MN, The State Theatre
09/04, Omaha, NE, Kiewit Concert Hall
09/06, Arvada, CO, Arvada Center
09/07, Park City, UT, Deer Valley Resort
09/09, Seattle, WA, The Showbox
09/10, Salem, OR, The Elsinore Theatre
09/12, Oakland, CA, The Fox Theatre
09/13, Los Angeles, CA, The Orpheum Theatre
09/15, Chandler, AZ, The Chandler Center for the Arts
09/17, Austin, TX, The Paramount
09/18, Houston, TX, Warehouse Live
09/19, Dallas, TX, The Bomb Factory
09/22, Atlanta, GA, The Tabernacle

Other shows in the area:

Jon Spencer at Turf Club Barns Courtney at Fine Line Glen Hansard at State Theatre Dominic Fike at Fine Line Ezra Furman at Turf Club Seratones at 7th Street Entry Grace Vanderwaal 2019 Tour Read More Barns Courtney The evening was opened by Ipswich, UK singer-songwriter Barns Courtney (not to be confused with Australian singer/guitarist Courtney Barnett) in support of his Hands EP (Virgin EMI Records). … Ezra Furman Last night's show opened with Ezra Furman. The crowd was sparse to begin with but trickled in throughout the night. Ezra's performance had a raw, garage band… Grace Vanderwaal The youngest star of the evening, thirteen year-old Grace Vanderwaal next took to the stage for a short three-song set. The winner of last year’s America …

JON SPENCER AND THE HITMAKERS
+ Demolition Doll Rods
Turf Club
Sun 09/01/2019 (7pm/$18)
turfclub.net

Singer/songwriter Jon Spencer (famous for his involvement in Pussy Galore, Boss Hog, and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) is back with his new band Jon Spencer & the HITmakers. They will be stopping by the Turf Club this September 1st.

Demolition Doll Rods to open.

Tour dates:

8/28 - Pyramid Scheme - Grand Rapids MI
8/29 - HI-FI - Indianapolis IN
8/30 - Schubas - Chicago IL
8/31 - H.O.G. National Rally - Milwaukee WI
9/1 - Turf Club - St. Paul MN
9/2 - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines IA
9/3 - Ignition Music Garage - Goshen IN

BARNS COURTNEY
+ The Hunna
Fine Line Music Cafe
Tue 09/03/2019 (6:30pm/$22)
finelinemusic.com

UK singer/songwriter Barns Courtney is headlining the Fine Line Music Café this September 3rd… touring in support of his new album 404 (set for release September 6 on Capitol Records). We saw Courtney in Oct 2018 and said, “Rising singer-songwriter Barns Courtney opened the evening with a spirited half-hour opening set that left him completely drenched at the end of things. New full-length is due soon on Virgin Records, but in the meantime, Courtney has released various singles and has both a lyrical sensitivity and a big room stomp sound to his songs, which include radio-friendly songs, ‘99’, ‘Glitter & Gold’, and ‘Fire’ (which first caught on in the Bradley Cooper-as-chef movie, Burnt).”

The Hunna to open.

Tour dates:

9/3 | Minneapolis, MN | Fineline
9/4 | Chicago, IL | Park West
9/6 | Columbus, OH | Newport Music Hall
9/7 | Toronto, ON | The Mod Club
9/9 | New York, NY | Webster Hall
9/10 | Boston, MA | Paradise Rock Club
9/11 | Buffalo, NY | Rec Room
9/13 | Hamden, CT | Space Ballroom
9/14 | Washington, DC | The 9:30 Club
9/16 | Nashville, TN | Mercy Lounge

GLEN HANSARD
+ OHMME
State Theatre
Wed 09/04/2019 (7pm/$39)
hennepintheatretrust.org

We love Irish singer Glen Hansard (from The Frames and Swell Season) and always happy to see that he’s back in town. We last saw him in Nov 2015 and mentioned, “We've seen Glen Hansard before, but never quite like this. He's joined on stage by a large ensemble (see entire cast and crew photograph below), including both a horn and wind instrument section. Familiar The Swell Season songs were suddenly shown in a new, livelier, and possibly improved, versions of these classic songs.”

Hansard is returning with his new record This Wild Willing.

OHMME to open.

Tour Dates:

9/4 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre
9/6 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
9/7 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater & Ballroom
9/9 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
9/10 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
9/12 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues New Orleans
9/13 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
9/14 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
9/16 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre

DOMINIC FIKE
+ Deb Never
Fine Line Music Cafe
Wed 09/04/2019 (7pm/$20/Sold Out)
finelinemusic.com

Florida-native Dominic Fike will be headlining the Fine Line Music Café this Sep 4th. The show is sold out.

If you’ve got a ticket, show up early to check out Deb Never. She recently released “Ugly” and “Swimming” (taken from her debut House on Wheels EP). Expect to hear those songs on this tour.

Tour Dates:

8/31 - Philadelphia, PA @ Made in America
9/4 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fineline
9/5 -Chicago, IL @ Reggies
9/6 - Detroit, MI @The Shelter
9/9 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
9/11 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
9/12 - Washington, D.C @ Union Stage
9/17 - Miami, FL @ The Ground

EZRA FURMAN
+ Stef Chura
Turf Club
Thu 09/05/2019 (7pm/$15)
turfclub.net

Ezra Furman is touring in support of his new album Twelve Nudes (Bella Union). Furman will be stopping by the Turf Club in St Paul on Sept 5th.

Stef Chura to open.

Tour Dates:

09/5 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
09/7 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
09/8 - Detroit, MI @ El Club
09/9 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
09/10 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz P.D.B.
09/11 - Cambridge, MA @ Sonia
09/12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
09/15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
09/16 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage

SERATONES
+ The Violet Nines, Courtney Yasmineh
7th St Entry
Fri 09/06/2019 (8pm/$13)
first-avenue.com

Louisiana's Seratones is headlining the 7th Street Entry this September 6th. The band’s sophomore album is called Power.

Tour Dates:

8/29 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
8/31 - McMinnville, OR @ Walnut City Music Festival
9/1 - Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
9/3 - Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
9/6 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
9/7 - Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle
9/9 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel
9/10 - Montreal, QC @ Quai Des Brumes
9/11 - North Adams, MA @ Hi Lo
9/12 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott
9/13 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right
9/14 - Washington, D.C. @ Pearl Street Warehouse

GRACE VANDERWAAL
+ Patrick Martin
Varsity Theater
Fri 09/06/2019 (7pm/$29.50)
varsitytheater.com

Singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal will be headlining the Varsity Theater this Friday, September 6th. We saw VanderWaal at Starkey 2017 (when she was 13 years old) and wrote, “The youngest star of the evening, thirteen year-old Grace Vanderwaal next took to the stage for a short three-song set. The winner of last year’s America Got Talent competition seemed very humbled and appreciative to be invited and opened with ‘Clay’ from her Perfectly Imperfect EP (Columbia Records). “Music is the universal language, it connects to everyone in some way” she said before ‘Light the Sky’ and ended with picking up the ukulele for her first single, ‘Moonlight’.”

VanderWaal’s new single “Waste My Time” is out now and Teen Vogue described it as “synthy dance-pop smash”.

Tour Dates:

08/28/2019 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
08/29/2019 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
09/01/2019 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
09/02/2019 Fort Collins, CO Washington's
09/03/2019 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
09/06/2019 Minneapolis, MN Varsity
09/07/2019 Chicago, IL Park West
09/09/2019 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
09/11/2019 Toronto, ON The Opera House
09/13/2019 Boston, MA Royale
09/14/2019 New Haven, CT College Street Music Hall
09/16/2019 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
09/17/2019 New York, NY Webster Hall
09/19/2019 Richmond, VA The National
09/20/2019 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
09/21/2019 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live

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

It's a Hanson Christmas

Read more: Christmas.

Read More Hanson Hanson’s 25th Anniversary - Middle of Everywhere Tour 10/4 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall 10/6 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews 10/7 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues 10/8 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe Live 10/10 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue …

HANSON
hanson.net

Brothers band Hanson recently released their new Christmas album Finally It’s Christmas (available on 3CG/S-Curve Records).

Zac Hanson added, “Finally It’s Christmas feels like the perfect title for this record, following two decades of contemplating a follow-up Christmas release, as well as an amazing year of celebrating the band's 25th year together.”

Track Listing

1. Finally It's Christmas
2. A Wonderful Christmas Time
3. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
4. Til New Years Night
5. Please Come Home
6. Someday At Christmas
7. Joy To The Mountain
8. Jingle Bells
9. Happy Christmas
10. All I Want For Christmas
11. Winter Wonderland
12. Blue Christmas
13. Peace On Earth
14. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Read More Squeeze "The New Lennon and McCartney", Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook (billed under their popular band name Squeeze) will be playing an acoustic set across America this November. ...

CHARLES HANSON
hansonsauctioneers.co.uk

Derbyshire auctioneer and TV star Charles Hanson wants the #1 Christmas song this year. In England, all the songwriters want the #1 Christmas single, as it’s often the most talked about song of the year.

Usually the Christmas #1 single tend to be Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift, but once in a while, through viral videos or proper campaigns, an unknown artist would top #1.

For Hanson’s song, he gathered together a group (billed as Bargain Hunt, after his TV show), consisting of singers Charlie Ross, Phil Serrell and James Braxton. However, when it came to recording the Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” song in London, they were joined by two members of Squeeze (Simon Hanson and Stephen Large) and The Quireboys (Guy Bailey and Chris Johnstone).

The song will benefit BBC Children in Need.

You can read all about Squeeze and Bargain Hunt at hansonsauctioneers.co.uk:

“Squeeze drummer Simon Hanson and keyboards man Stephen Large joined the auction experts in the recording studio to help lay down the track. Squeeze had a multitude of hits from the 1970s through to the 90s including Cool for Cats and Up the Junction.

More musical expertise came courtesy of Guy Bailey and Chris Johnstone of 80s rock band The Quireboys and session singer Annie ‘Thunderlungs’ Bailey.” But it was Grahame Corbyn, who has worked with the likes of George Harrison and Mickie Most, who first spotted the antique boys’ potential.

Read More Jennifer Hanson The name Jennifer Hanson was vaguely familiar until I spotted "Beautiful Goodbye". I bought the cd on a whim and am very glad I did. It has become one of my favorites. I love the variety of music ...

JENNIFER HANSON
jenniferhansonmusic.com

Country music singer (and Miss California 1994!) Jennifer Hanson is released her Christmas EP Under the Tree earlier last month (November 3rd).

The EP features two original Hanson songs, “Only Thing I Really Need” and its title track “Under the Tree”.

When asked why she wanted to release a Christmas EP, Hanson said, “I’ve always loved this time of year, so doing a Christmas EP was a natural thing for me. Finding the cassette of me as a little kid singing ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ sealed the deal. It reminded me of how much I love to perform and always have. Getting back in the studio and recording my own music for release has been a blast. I really hope everyone enjoys the music because I know I had a lot of fun making it.”

Track Listing:

1. Only Thing I Really Need
2. Under the Tree
3. Interlude
4. What Child Is This

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

Looking Back: November 2015

Read More Squeeze "The New Lennon and McCartney", Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook (billed under their popular band name Squeeze) will be playing an acoustic set across America this November. The exciting news is that ...

Here is the wrap-up for last month: November 2015.

Despite Vu's absent from show coverages (the great Winter Hibernation), we still covered 33 shows for November. Most of these shows were spillage from Rocktober 2015... but eventually slowed down due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Forecast for December shows will likely take a dive with only about 10 to 15 shows.

November Awards:

Unique Award goes to Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the Orpheum (11/25). It's just like watching a movie, but completely live. Truly, a magical two hour jukebox of your favorite 50s/60s music biography comes to life on the stage.

Reunion Award goes to The Bird And The Bee at Cedar Cultural Center (11/02). The band's been away for a long time (their last appearance was at the Varsity Theater in 2008), and it was worth it to see them, despite Greg Kurstin's absent from the group.

Best Lineup goes to Suzanne Vega and Duncan Sheik at the Cedar Cultural Center (11/15). These two artists are absolutely perfect together on one bill.

Most Entertaining Show goes to Gogol Bordello at First Ave (11/14). The gypsypunk band played every song from their Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike album.

Legendary Award goes Squeeze at the Cedar Cultural Center (11/25) and also Glen Hansard at the State Theatre (11/20).

Below are links to all 33 shows we covered for the month of November 2015.

• 11/01 Front Bottoms at Varsity • 11/01 Here We Go Magic at 7th St • 11/02 Circa Survive at Mill City • 11/02 Bird And The Bee at Cedar • 11/03 Albert Hammond Jr at Turf • 11/04 Shakey Graves at First Ave • 11/04 Small Black at 7th Street • 11/07 City and Colour at First Ave • 11/08 Parkway Drive at Cabooze • 11/09 Contortionist at Cabooze • 11/10 Matt Pond PA at Turf Club • 11/11 Big Freedia at Varsity • 11/11 Gestures at Electric Fetus • 11/12 WWPJ at Varsity • 11/13 Roger Clyne at Turf • 11/14 Gogol Bordello at First Ave

• 11/14 Hey Rosetta at Triple • 11/15 Suzanne Vega at Cedar • 11/17 Copeland at Varsity • 11/18 Bottle Rockets at Turf • 11/19 Mitski at 7th St • 11/20 Glen Hansard at State • 11/21 Little Fevers at Amsterdam • 11/21 Dandy Warhols at Fine Line • 11/22 Royal Concept at Nether • 11/23 BTB&M at Varsity • 11/24 Odesza at First Ave • 11/25 Beautiful at Orpheum • 11/25 Squeeze at Cedar • 11/27 Tori Kelly at MOA • 11/28 Lights at Varsity Theater • 11/29 Slow Magic at Varsity • 11/29 Together Pangea at 7th Street

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

Squeeze at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (25 Nov 2015)

Squeeze Setlist Set One It's A Beautiful Day (recording) Take Me I'm Yours Cool for Cats Black Coffee In Bed Nirvana Electric Trains Some Fantastic Place Beautiful Game Audience questions with The Man In The Golden Cape Slap and Tickle Chris Difford Fat As A Fiddle Wrecked Cowboys Are My Weakness Up the Junction Set Two Glenn Tilbrook Still Persephone The Elephant Ride Annie Get Your Gun The Truth Happy Days Cradle To The Grave Audience questions with The Man In The Golden Cape They Can't Take That Away From Me snippet of Glenn's favorite song Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) Is that Love? Tempted -- Encore -- Another Nail In My Heart If I Didn't Love You Goodbye Girl Read More Squeeze "The New Lennon and McCartney", Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook (billed under their popular band name Squeeze) will be playing an acoustic set across America this November. ...

The self-described “At Odds Couple” were in town and the Cedar stage in Minneapolis, never looked so elaborate… and so intimate.

Everything old is new again as classic UK band Squeeze is back on the road, in the Americas as an acoustic tour featuring founding members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, playing a lively two-night sold out run recently in town and promoting Cradle to the Grave (Virgin/EMI Records), their thirteenth album and first new music since 1998.

As a recording of ‘It’s a Beautiful Day’ kicked in, the duo rose from adjoining single beds in flannel pajamas, to eat breakfast at a center stage table.  A large video screen was their backdrop and various beverages and miscellany were strewn about to give the impression of a small London flat, maybe next door to Wallace and Gromit.

Openers ‘Take Me I’m Yours’, and hits ‘Cool for Cats’ and 'Black Coffee in Bed’ (Tilbrook solo on keys for this one as Difford changed, remarking “yep, split up already”) set the “morning” mood right, with the spectacled Difford situated stage right, while Tilbrook stayed at the left, moving between sitting keyboard and standing guitar.

The new ‘Nirvana’ kicked off the new numbers from Cradle, this was sounding slightly psychedelic, but still easily fitting within the band’s canon.

Man in a Golden Cape

Difford took over for ‘Electric Trains’ and after ‘Beautiful Game’, a man in a Golden Cape (aka their soundman) dashed into the audience area with a microphone to facilitate a short mid-set Q+A session.  Questions ranged from “Am I cute?” to soccer questions to their early days and the nature of their ever-evolving relationship.

Difford took over for his own mini-set that started with ‘Fat as a Fiddle’, the result of deciding against a personal trainer when the band first reunited.  The strumming ‘Cowboys are my Weakness’ was originally written for k.d. lang, but rejected because “she doesn’t sing about blokes” then Tilbrook rejoined for the first set closing ‘Up the Junction’.

Tilbrook started the second hour with his own solo mini-set starting with the bluesy ‘Still’ and ending with the floating ‘The Elephant Ride’ before Difford rejoined the stage for the peppy ‘Annie Get Your Gun’. As a result of the Q+A, ‘Only 15’ from the setlist was shelved in favor instead, of ‘The Truth’.

The title track from the new album resonated with its Beatles-esque harmonies yet still sounded like classic Squeeze. A second round of Q+A had the duo sing ‘Happy Birthday’, asked about most and least favorite songs, and Tilbrook revealed his  favorite all-time song to be the 1937 Gershwin classic, ‘They Can’t Take That Away from Me’.

Setlist

The second set ended strong with hits ‘Pulling Mussels’ and ‘Tempted’ that had the audience clapping and singing along, and the duo re-emerged for a three-song encore starting with 1980’s ‘Another Nail In My Heart’ and ‘If I Didn't Love You’, both from classic album Argybargy before ending appropriately, with 1979’s ‘Goodbye Girl’.

Not going “back to bed”, the duo instead left to standing applause and cheers, though that would be one interesting flat to live next door to, despite its “at odds” neighbors.  Catch the duo in their flannel pajamas playing their hits, before their landlord takes notice and tries to evict them.

Remaining Squeeze Tour Dates:

7 Dec – Count Basie, Red Bank, NJ
9 Dec – Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
10 Dec – The Wilbur, Boston, MA
11 Dec – The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT
12 Dec – Paramount Theater, Huntington, NY
13 Dec – Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
14 Dec – Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, NJ
16 Dec – Troy Music Hall, Troy, NY
17 Dec – The PlayStation Theater, New York, NY
18 Dec – The PlayStation Theater, New York, NY

Squeeze at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (25 Nov 2015)

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

Minneapolis: November 22 to November 25, 2015

Read More The Royal Concept Sweden's indiepop group, The Royal Concept, is on tour in the USA with The Wombats. Since we're quite fond of these marsupials, you know that I'll definitely want to check out these guys at the Triple Rock Social Club on .… Parade of Lights Los Angeles/Las Vegas alt-electro band Parade of Lights got the evening started with a buoyant set of fresh songs, culled from their two EPs the latest called Golden, was just released on .…

Here is a bonus edition of Minneapolis Music Guide: November 22 to November 25, 2015.

See companion "Wild" Minneapolis Shows.

THE ROYAL CONCEPT
at Nether Bar
Sunday, 11/22/2015, 7pm ($15)
millcitynights.com

The Royal Concept is returning to Minneapolis tomorrow, November 22nd, at the Nether Bar (inside Mill City Nights). The Swedish bandwas previously in town at the Triple Rock Social Club in December 2013

Although their concert poster clearly lists Parade of Lights as national support act, the Venue website only lists New Yorkers Tribe Society as sole opener.

I can confirm with you that we are excited that Parade of Lights will be playing the Nether Bar on Sunday. The Los Angeles (and Las Vegas) quartet is touring in support of their debut album Feeling Electric, which came out this Summer via Astralwerks (which I've previously mentioned is always one of my favorite record label).

We previously caught the band in 2014 and described their show as "a buoyant set of fresh songs" and "nicely polished, incredibly catchy, and very radio-friendly, buoyed by solid electronic and traditional percussion."

Tour dates:

11/22/15 Minneapolis, MN The Nether Bar
11/24/15 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
11/25/15 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
11/27/15 Seattle, WA Barboza
11/28/15 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
12/10/15 Goteborg, Sweden Pusterviksbaren
12/18/15 Orebro, Sweden Satin
12/19/15 Halmstad, Sweden Kajskjulet
12/26/15 Stockholm, Sweden Debaser Medis

Read More Jonah Parzen-Johnson In the introduction to his travelogue, Three Reasons To Live Here, Brooklyn based saxophonist and composer, Jonah Parzen-Johnson, starts pretty big. “I want to be part of a community of people whose first .…

JONAH PARZEN-JOHNSON
at Icehouse
Monday, 11/23/2015, 9pm ($8)
icehousempls.com

Local JT's Jazz Implosion has a residency at the Icehouse every Monday. For this Monday's show, they are presenting "Jen Shyu's Solo Opera Solo Rites: Seven Breaths", featuring Jen Shyu and drummer JT Bates.

New York's Jonah Parzen-Johnson will also be at the show, lending a hand with his baritone saxophone and synthesizer, currently on his second tour of 2015. Parzen-Johnson's latest is a travelogue, Three Reasons To Live Here, which was created as a result of spending nine weeks on tour.

Here's how the publisher described the book:

In the introduction to his travelogue, Three Reasons To Live Here, Brooklyn based saxophonist and composer, Jonah Parzen-Johnson, starts pretty big. “I want to be part of a community of people whose first allegiance is to empathy and mutual understanding.” After the release of his album Remember When Things Were Better Tomorrow in June 2015, Jonah spent 9 weeks on tour, mostly by himself. “I wanted something to do on the road that would mark the time, and immediately connect me to people I ran into as I hit different cities.” By the end of the summer, Jonah had collected three reasons to live in 34 cities in the US and Canada. “In the end, the idea is pretty simple. Empathy and mutual understanding can spread from the tiniest affirmation: I could live where you live.”

Jonah Parzen-Johnson Tour Dates:

11/22/15 Milwaukee, WI West End Conservatory
11/23/15 Minneapolis, MN Icehouse
11/24/15 Madison, WI Mickey's Tavern

Read More Glenn Tilbrook As half of the songwriting team for Squeeze, Glenn Tilbrook is back in the US to play tracks from his acoustic solo album Happy Ending. The record is described as "bits of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen ...

SQUEEZE
at Cedar Cultural Center
Tuesday, 11/24/2015, 7pm ($30/Sold Out)
thecedar.org

"The New Lennon and McCartney", Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook (billed under their popular band name Squeeze) will be playing an acoustic set across America this November. The exciting news is that they have a new album called Cradle to the Grave... featuring their first new songs since 1998's Domino.

One half of Squeeze, Tilbrook was recently in town last year, playing tracks from his acoustic solo album Happy Ending.

After selling out their November 24th show at the Cedar, they quickly added another date (November 25th), which also quickly sold out. If it wasn't for the fact that Thursday (November 26th) wasn't Thanksgiving, I'm sure they could have 'squeezed' in another additional date....

Tour dates:

11/21 Great American, San Francisco, CA
11/24 Cedar Cultural, Minneapolis, MN
11/25 Cedar Cultural, Minneapolis, MN
11/27 Park West, Chicago, IL
11/28 Park West, Chicago, IL
11/29 The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
12/01 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
12/02 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
12/04 The Rex Theater, Pittsburgh, PA
12/05 Scottish Rite, Collingwood, NJ
12/06 Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
12/07 Count Basie, Red Bank, NJ
12/09 Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
12/10 The Wilbur, Boston, MA
12/11 Ridegefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT
12/12 Paramount Theater, Huntington, NY
12/13 Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
12/14 Mayo Performing Arts, Morristown, NJ
12/16 Troy Music Hall, Troy, NY
12/17 PlayStation Theater, New York, NY
12/18 PlayStation Theater, New York, NY

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

Rocktober: October 14, 2014

Here are shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul on October 14, 2014.

Read More Communion Since Communion came to Minneapolis in 2013, we've been covering their monthly shows at the Varsity Theater. I'll have to confess that we're pretty lucky to have Communion .... The Whigs I've often confused this garage Georgia band the Whigs with The Afghan Whigs. Anyway, the Whigs played a few tracks from their 2012 album, Enjoy The Company ("Staying Alive ", "Rock and Roll Forever", "Summer Heat"....

COMMUNION CLUB NIGHTS
at Varsity Theater
Tuesday 10/14/14, 7pm
$9.50 / $15 (Door): varsitytheater.org

The October Communion Club Night is next Tuesday, October 14th. This is a great value for the dollar, and if you're a student or MPR member, you can grab tickets for only $5. You must have a valid ID card.

Also, I'm not sure what's going on with the club, but next month, in November, it's moved to the Turf Club, in St Paul. Next month's Communion show will feature: Mikhael Paskalev, Count This Penny, Peter Miller of We Are The Willows.

Anyway, the October 14th show at the Varsity will feature:

The Whigs: Paste Magazine called this Athens-based band, "the last true rock and roll bands." The Whigs are currently touring in support of their new album Modern Creation.

Field Report: With Communion expanding to Wisconsin, it's only natural that they've also signed on new artists like Milwaukee-based Field Report. Their sophomore record, Marigolden, is out now.

Water Liars: This Mississippi-based trio is currently signed to Big Legal Mess/Fat Possum Records with a current self-titled album.

American Scarecrows: With these Communion shows, there is the staple Minneapolis-based band, and for this show, it's American Scarecrow. They are an Americana/folk band.

Read More Glenn Tilbrook Glenn Tilbrook will be returning to the States this fall for dates in support of his new acoustic solo album, Happy Ending. The tour kicks off on September 23 in Boston and will continue through the end of October, including two ...

GLENN TILBROOK with Jefferson Grizzard
at Turf Club
Tuesday 10/14/14, 7pm
$20: turfclub.net

As half of the songwriting team for Squeeze, Glenn Tilbrook is back in the US to play tracks from his acoustic solo album Happy Ending. The record is described as "bits of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits". The tour started late September and continues to New York at the end of October.... and stopping by St Paul's Turf Club next Tuesday, October 14th.

Opening up for Tilbrook will be Jefferson Grizzard, singer/songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. His latest album Learning How to Lie is out now on Back Porch Syndicate Records.

Tour dates:

10/10/14 San Francisco, CA Brick & Mortar
10/12/14 Denver, CO Soiled Dove Underground
10/13/14 Kansas City, MO The Record Bar
10/14/14 Saint Paul, MN Turf Club
10/15/14 Chicago, IL City Winery Chicago
10/16/14 Evanston, IL SPACE
10/17/14 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
10/19/14 Pittsburgh, PA Hard Rock Cafe
10/20/14 Asbury Park, NJ Wonder Bar
10/23/14 Riverhead, NY Suffolk Theater
10/24/14 Highland Lakes, NJ Highland Lakes
10/25/14 New York, NY Iridium Jazz Club
11/02/14 Cambridge Cambridge Corn Exchange
11/07/14 London Union Chapel
11/13/14 Newcastle Mill Volvo Tyne

Read More David Gray This year looks like an all-star lineup: Including David Gray, The Jayhawks, Lissie, Scars, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Fitz and The Tantrums, G. Love & Special Sauce…

DAVID GRAY with David Kitt
at Northrop Auditorium
Tuesday 10/14/14, 7:30pm
$65 / $49.50: northrop.umn.edu

While Communion is affordable, this show is not... even though it is being held at a university auditorium.

English singer/songwriter David Gray is currently on an intimate "Evening With"-type tour in support of his latest Mutineers (Good Soldier Songs).

Listed as opener for this Minneapolis show is another "David": David Kitt, an Irish musician with already six studio albums under his belt.

Tour dates:

10/10/14 Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Center
10/11/14 Columbus, OH Palace Theatre
10/12/14 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theatre
10/14/14 Minneapolis, MN Northrop Auditorium
10/15/14 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
10/17/14 St. Louis, MO Blanche M. Touhill PAC
10/23/14 London Union Chapel
12/01/14 Liverpool Liverpool Philharmonic
12/02/14 Cambridge Cambridge Corn Exchange
12/03/14 Llandudno Venue Cymru
12/05/14 Cork, Ireland Cork Opera House
12/06/14 Killarney, Ireland INEC
12/07/14 Dublin, Ireland Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

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