The incredible rise of the 62-year-old aspiring soul singer has been
well documented. His debut album "No Time for Dreaming" rocketed him
from a hard life in the Brooklyn Housing Projects to Rolling Stone
Magazine's top 50 albums of 2011. His upcoming show at First Avenue
is not to be missed and tickets are still available. The addition of the
amazing Caroline Smith (seriously, check her out) as the opener is just
the icing on the cake. Here are the details: http://first-avenue.com/event/2013/12/charlesbradley
After a 6-year hiatus, Suicide Girls is bringing back the most popular Burlesque Tour in US history and it stops by the Varsity Theater this Friday. What could be better than seeing stripteases and performances poking fun at Star Trek, Avengers, Game of Thrones, The Big Lebowski, Pulp Fiction, Planet of The Apes and The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Here is the info: http://varsitytheater.org/events/inked-magazine-presents-suicidegirls-blackheart-burlesque-tour/
It's that time of year again. Friends and family fly back to Minnesota from all over the planet for Thanksgiving and the night before they just want to hang out, and drink a few beers. To celebrate this tradition of getting inebriated the night before a day of suffering through Aunt Betty's stories for the 100th time, Famous Dave's in Uptown hosts Drinksgiving.
Headlined by the White Iron Band, this pre-Thanksgiving party has become a staple for many of us here at MN Underground. What more can you ask for on the eve of overeating and family feuding? Throw in three great local bands, copious amounts of booze and stir...
Things get kicked off with Jimmi and The Band of Souls...A dirty mix of Blues, Roots and R&B and a mix of both covers and original tunes get things started off just as you'd expect.
Also gracing the stage of Famous Dave's Calhoun BBQ & Blues Club is Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. Invading from the "other side of the river" in Steven's Point, WI, these guys bring a ton of game, even if they are Sconnies ;). Blending a twangy mix of bluegrass and old-timey folk music, they are a perfect fit for the evening's festivities.
Closing out the show, for as many years as I can remember, the White Iron Band deliver a rowdy rockus brand of "outlaw country" that makes me proud to call myself a Minnesotan. Always entertaining and unmistakably local, these guys love to party just as hard as anyone in the building. So, grab a Grainbelt Premium and get your ass out on the dancefloor. Drinksgiving is upon us...
Doors at 8:00, all ages show (cough), and it's only $8.... See you there.
Derek Vincent Smith, better known by his stage name, PrettyLights, took the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) by storm last weekend selling out his Saturday show at
The Myth in Maplewood, Minnesota - a St. Paul suburb - during his one night stop on the Analog Future
Tour. SIMshows, a staple EDM promoter in the Twin Cities, brought this huge
name to town just a week after selling out the Aokify America Tour at EPIC
Nightclub in Minneapolis. That was a crazy night in its own right, check out
our coverage the Aokify America Tour HERE. But for now, back to Pretty Lights. I had never been to The Myth
before, but everything I had heard about it was positive – other than the heavy
handed security at the entrance – so I was pretty excited all around. There is
a Days Inn less than a block from the venue that some of our friends booked a
room at because of its proximity and low cost. DO NOT BOOK A ROOM IN THAT GOD FORSAKEN HOTEL! Trust me,
spend the extra money, stay at a Holiday Inn or something. It’s worth it. After
partying a bit in the hotel room from hell, we decided to make the short walk
over to the show. The 3,200 person capacity venue looks like an industrial warehouse
of sorts from the outside - it’s a stand-alone structure in what appears to be
a fairly commercial area. The will-call line took forever for us to make our
way through so we ended up missing Paul Basic, which was a total bummer; yet, walking
into the venue during Blood Diamonds was pretty sweet in its own right.
Below: The Crowd Gets Fogged From Above
Pretty Lights took command of the stage around 11pm accompanied by his full band: Adam Deitch of Break Science on Drums; Brian Coogan of New Orleans All-Stars on Keyboard; Borahm Lee of Break Science on Keyboard; Scott Flynn of John Brown’s Body on trombone; and Eric Bloom of Lettuce on Trumpet. Having seen Pretty Lights twice previously, I was beyond excited to see this all-star lineup of musicians accompany this musical madman on stage.
The band
stood on raised platforms that were outlined in high powered LED’s that changed
colors throughout the performance. Throughout the show Pretty Lights pulled
tracks from every part of his catalog and the band members played an integral
role in the composition of every live track. It was so awesome to see Pretty Lights
with live horns. The funk just sounded so much funkier, and the jams sounded so
much more alive with the help of all these musical technicians on stage with
him while they pounded tracks like: “Color of my Soul,” “Lets Get Busy,” “More
Important than Michael Jordan,” “Finally Moving,” One Day They’ll Know,” “I
Know The Truth,” “Hot Like Dimes,” and that’s not even scratching the surface
of what was played that night. At one point Derek hopped on the guitar and
played a couple of riffs which was pretty sweet if you ask me.
But what was even sweeter were the lights. Holy shit, they were incredible. Easily one of the best light shows I have ever seen. I’m not sure what they were, maybe huge Co2 cannons installed in the circle fixture on the ceiling that got the whole room fogged up and the lasers in full effect. A huge shout out to the visual engineer for he was just as an integral part to the entire performance as each of the musicians themselves. Spot on all night and crisp as hell. I would definitely not miss Pretty Lights any time soon if he is coming to a city near you, it's well worth every penny you will spend making that concert happen. Big shout out to SIMshows for bringing this amazing act to the cities on a Saturday night. Check out their event calendar for all their upcoming shows. All photos are of Pretty Lights' laser show & performance by Troy Manley.
3rdeyegirl.com
Here is the link from Prince (@3rdeyegirl): https://www.wetransfer.com/downloads/e59e7b53ed5eef555c66e1c41cafc9ac20131118102323/7c35e0
Image Via First Avenue's instagram
After attending the Tuesday night late show, I can honestly say that Dave Chappelle is as funny as ever and more than deserves the star. My wife and I were lucky enough to grab a couple of seats right in the front and were (at several points in the evening) engaged by Dave Chappelle asking about our marriage and kids which blended right into his material on his family. We even got a couple of fist bumps for still holding hands after twelve years of marriage. Definitely a memorable experience and one I will not soon forget. Thanks Dave!
Still trying to decide what to do this weekend? If you are a fan of EDM at all, you have heard the name Pretty Lights. Well, Derek Vincent Smith aka Pretty Lights, will be invading Myth night club in Maplewood Saturday night.
This show is SOLD OUT, but I found a number of tix available on Craigslist and eBay... We have ours on lock...
Minneapolis gets stop #2 on the freshly announced Arcade Fire - Reflektor tour.
March 8th at Target Center.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster HERE.
I know we have been waiting for Arcade Fire to make a stop here for quite a while...
Who else is excite to hear about this tour?
Check out this review of Dave Chappelle's Monday late show at First Avenue from the Star Tribune's Chris Riemenschneider. Dave Chappelle performed for nearly three straight hours! Could be a long night since I have tickets to tonight's late show.
Dave Chappelle goes nearly three hours in second First Ave set
Trampled By Turtles played three sold out shows at the famous night club, First Avenue, in downtown Minneapolis. The shows ran April 17,18 and 19th and from all accounts were incredible.We made it to one of the shows and was arguably the best TBT show we have ever been to. They have a limited run of picture books that document the night in spectacular fashion as well as LP or CD/DVD combo. They have multiple packages for a very reasonable price, so don't be afraid to give a little TBT for Christmas. I know I will.
Several of the MN Underground crew will be venturing out to the suburbs tomorrow night to see The Black Crowes (@TBlackCrowes). The Black Crowes have sold over 35 million albums and are known as one of rock’s best live acts. They’re currently touring the U.S. on their “Lay Down With Number 13” tour, their first tour since recently ending a two-year hiatus. The tour has been getting rave reviews and we are certainly looking forward to the show. Tickets are still available.
The Black Crowes @ Myth - St Paul, MNMichael Franti and Spearhead drop a new video for "Life is Better With You" today... Mr. Franti may be the most positive human being on the planet and his tunes just make you wanna smile. Here's a little love to end your work day... :)
Saturday night was the 28th annual Krewe of D.A.D.'s Masquerade Ball... A Tribute to Lowell George, Little Feat's long time guitarist/vocalist/song writer. The show got started early and rocked on right to 2AM.. We got there early, knowing full well that the place was going to fill up fast and that there was great music in store. The Facebook party page had sketched out a basic roadmap for the evening; 3 sets, Paul and Fred from Little Feat, the NOLA Suspects, then all of them together to end off the evening... Hold on to your shorts folks...
Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett took the stage right at 9:00 and dove head first into a collection of tunes nearly any music fan would recognize. Just the two of them on stage, their guitars and microphones. That's all they needed.
Not familiar with The New Orleans Suspects... Well, let me suggest you get acquainted. These guys are some of the most storied and talented musicians in New Orleans music, and arguably rock music as a whole. "Mean" Willie Green has been the drummer for the Neville Brother's Band since the 1980's, Reggie Scanlan has played bass for The Radiators for over 30 years, Jake Eckert was the lead guitarist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, CR Gruver has played keys for The Meters Experience, and a laundry list of other jazz legends, and Jeff Watkins has lent his saxophone skills to James Brown for over 12 years, and worked as Joss Stone's producer for 6. These 5 guys put more funky-jazzy musical talent on stage than your brain can handle.
As if all of that wasn't enough, the third and final set of the evening was all these ridiculously talented musicians on stage together, at the same time... Playing favorites from both The Suspects and Little Feat's rosters, as well as a few artfully chosen covers, not a person in the Cabooze was sitting still. The party was rockin', and we were all sad to see it end, including the guys on stage.
A Special thanks to the Krewe of D.A.D.s for putting this show together. Further proof that the Minnesota music scene has a little bit of everything, and a little NOLA funk doesn't go unappreciated.
Watch Poliça + Marijuana Deathsquads perform live from the 9:30 Club in DC around 8:00 CST via @nprmusic. Here is the link: http://www.npr.org/event/music/243265907/poli-a-live-in-concert?sc=tw&cc=share
Dave Chappelle is coming to town for a 4 night stand at the iconic First Avenue starting Monday November 11th. There will be two shows a night and it does appear that all of the shows are sold out at this time. However, if you are willing to spend the extra cash, I'm positive that many tickets are available on all of the various ticket broker sites.
Electro Jam band Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) announced their 2014 tour date as booked so far...
We get a stop at First Avenue on Feb 5th!
See all the new tour dates below!
Fan club tickets go on sale this Thursday November 7th at 10am local time exclusively at www.STS9store.com.
01.23.14 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
01.24.14 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA
01.25.14 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA
01.26.14 – Montbleu Ballroom – Tahoe, CA
01.28.14 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT
01.29.14 – Belly Up – Aspen, CO
01.30.14 – Belly Up – Aspen, CO
01.31.14 – Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO
02.01.14 – Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO
02.04.14 – TBD Venue – TBD, NE
02.05.14 - First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
02.06.14 – Hoyt Sherman Place – Des Moines, IA
02.07.14 – Riverside Theatre – Milwaukee, WI
02.08.14 – Aragon Ballroom- Chicago, IL
02.09.14 – Orbit Room – Grand Rapids, MI
02.11.14 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
02.13.14 – State Theatre – Portland, ME
02.14.14 – Lupo’s – Providence, RI
02.15.14 – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
02.16.14 – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
02.19.14 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
02.20.14 – The Norva – Norfolk, VA
02.21.14 - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium – Asheville, NC
02.22.14 – Tennessee Theatre – Knoxville, TN
Reggie Scanlan just posted this to his Facebok page recently:
The New Orleans Suspects have been rehearsing for the last two weeks for the upcoming shows with Paul and Fred from Little Feat ... In addition to a bunch of surprise covers we have ready for you, we have got these Little Feat tunes in really good shape. I think everyone is going to love it.
*Dixie Chicken
*Spanish Moon
*Two Trains Running
*Fat Man in the Bathtub
*Willin'
*Down on the Farm
*Skin it Back
*Rocket in My Pocket
*On Your Way Down
Plus lots more from the New Orleans Songbook.....
We have teamed up once again with IkonicSound.com to offer our readers a chance to win two (2) free tickets to see Steve Aoki here in Minneapolis on November 9th at Epic Minneapolis...
Check out the full details over at
Just found a young DJ that is just 18 years-old and a freshman at the University of Iowa... Brandon Stogsdill, aka DJ Stogs, is dropping tracks well beyond his years. Check out his collection of electro/house mashups and original productions. I'm betting we'll see more from this kid in the near future... Really diggin' "I'm Boneless and Famous", killer track...
Just days after releasing their new EP "Black Out Days", Phantogram dropped by Minneapolis to play a show for a Sold Out First Avenue last night. Being a fan since their debut album "Eyelid Movies" and having caught their show last time through town , I was excited to see them again.
The show started off really slow. I know audiences here in MN aren't known for being crazy, but this was about as stoic and underwhelmed a packed First Ave as I had ever seen. After a handful of songs the duo of Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter dug into their archives and dropped "Mouthful of Diamonds" on the crowd which seemed to zap some life into everyone, and the once melancholy audience was now rocking the roof off the place.
Tracks off the new EP were well received, with "Black Out Days" setting the tone for the next hour. From there they went on to close out their set with a pounding rendition of "When I'm Small" which reminded any Phantogram fan what made them love this band in the first place. Synth heavy rock with a thumping bass beat and a style imitated but never quite duplicated. Barely leaving the stage, they returned for their encore to a frenzied light show and the track "Celebrate Nothing" off the new EP. They wrapped up the show with "Futuristic Casket" leaving little doubt that they just love to rock hard.
They may not be very chatty from stage, but Sarah did give the fans a "Thank You Minneapolis, We love it here"... Well Sarah, We (I) love you guys too, please come back soon!
After a number of years of close partnership, with several shows a month being booked and promoted by the legendary Minneapolis club, the owners of First Avenue have come to an agreement and the Turf Club will be under their management as of October 15th. The long-time St. Paul music staple hosting acts of all sorts, and voted "Best Country Music Venue" by City Pages, will see upgrades but keep the club's vibe.
Let us hear your thoughts... Is this a good thing for the Turf? What do you think?
Here is First Avenue's official release:
First Avenue is excited to announce we have entered into a purchase agreement with the Turf Club and will take over as acting managers of the St. Paul, MN venue on October 15, 2013.
As a venue with our own rich and distinct history, we recognize the importance of embracing and maintaining what makes the Turf Club a gem of the Twin Cities. While we plan to keep the charm of the club, we will also be investing significantly in improvements to the venue. And don't worry; we love the Clown Lounge as much as you do - it's not going anywhere.
"I'm really excited to see the next era of the Turf Club with the team coming in from First Avenue. While I am looking forward to some new investment, I'm confident it will carry on the tradition of the Saint Paul Music Club started by Rob and Leah Rule that made it such a treasure" said St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.
"After eight years of owning and operating this club I wouldn't just hand it off to any buyers. I've worked closely with First Ave over the years and have seen firsthand what they're capable of," said current Turf Club owner, Tom Scanlon. "I haven't flinched in entrusting the club to First Avenue and I'm excited to see its continued success. "
Building on our 13 years of successful booking and promoting of shows at the Turf Club, we're excited to continue to bring emerging national bands and favorite local acts to St. Paul. "Whether promoting or enjoying a show, I have spent countless nights at the Turf Club and could not be more excited about this new venture," said Nate Kranz, General Manager of First Avenue.
To celebrate 10 years of TBT, the band booked 3 shows at First Avenue in April of this year. All 3 sold out in a matter of hours. To commemorate the events, TBT is releasing their first "Live" album, "Live at First Avenue" on November 12th. Available in CD/DVD, LP/DVD or MP3 formats, and loaded with extras, this is one of those releases you simply NEED to add to your collection. Like any good band, TBT's live shows are something altogether grander than a studio produced album. Add to that their own love of the venue and playing in front of a hometown (ok, home state) audience, and you have a recipe for greatness. We were at one of the 3 shows and it was arguably the best TBT show I have seen. Plus, they are out just in time for Holiday shopping. Nothing like a little TBT under the tree...
Prince is opening the gates to his Chanhassen estate, Paisley Park, to the public. I'm not sure when the last time it was that Prince let us common folks on the grounds, but it seems like it's been quite a while. Consider this an official re-introduction party for the New Power Generation.
In addition to a performance by the New Power Generation, you can expect to see Prince along with the all female trio 3rd Eye Girl. This will bring a funky-raw flavor to the evening with their harder rock riffs and Prince sitting in on the vocals. It definitely evokes a Purple Rain era prince with a punk-pop flavor, in my opinion. Rumor has it that 3rd Eye Girl has been collaborating with Janelle Monae lately and without a current tour seeing her wander up on stage is a very real possibility.
by Amy Nelson @TwinCities.com |
Prince, the New Power Generation, & 3rdEyeGirl at Paisley Park.
$50 donation at the door. NO ADVANCE TICKETS.
Doors at 9 p.m., Saturday, October 5.
Paisley Park Studios, 7801 Audubon Rd., Chanhassen.
No alcoholic drinks allowed, no cell phones, no cameras, no reentry.
Update: Limited parking on-site, and traffic will be directed to overflow lots once it fills.
Just weeks after the release of their critically acclaimed new album, "World Boogie is Coming", the North Mississippi Allstars made a stop in Minneapolis to an eager Cabooze audience. After all the praise the album had been getting, I had to check it out. I was not disappointed, and their live show was on another plane altogether.
As soon as I walked into the Cabooze and had one look at the stage I know I was going to enjoy the evening ahead. There was a rack holding at least 8 guitars; how can this be a bad thing. From early on in the show, these guitars got heavy use. From "Goin' Down South" (video above) to "Rollin' and Tumblin'" played on a coffee can guitar and "Mississippi Boll Weevil" rocked on a cigar box guitar, I have never seen a rotation like it before. These guys rocked the Hill Blues well beyond my expectations and if you weren't dancing your legs must have been broken because it was infectious, you couldn't help yourself. All night long you got an ear full of Rock/Blues with a solid beat, which was at times provided by guest drummer Carl "Stud" White, who looked about 16 years old but wailed on the drums.
If you missed North Mississippi Allstars this time around, I'm sorry. DO NOT let it happen again. This was one of those shows I walked in the doors expecting a good time and walked out a complete fan. The level of skill, soul and pride these guys have in their art is tough to compete with. Plus, who doesn't love going to a show that absolutely rocks out and literally everyone in the place is dancing their socks off??? I for one, am totally hooked... Until next time.
Set List:
01. Shimmy >
02. My Babe >
03. Station Blues
04. Turn Up Satan
05. Rollin 'N Tumblin
06. Goin To Brownsville
07. Boogie
08. Hodown
09. Meet Me In The City
10. Bad Luck City
11. Mississippi Bollweevil >
12. Beautiful Dreamer tease
13. Psychedelic Sex Machine >
14. Mystery Train
15. Shake
16. JR
17. Goat Meat
18. Mean Ol' Wind Died Down
19. The Meeting
20. Shake Em On Down
21. World Boogie
22. Po Black Maddie >
23. Skinny Woman
24. KC Jones
25. Granny, Does Your Dog Bite
Encore:
01. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
02. Goin Down South
03. Snake Drive
04. Hear My Train A Comin
05. Tree You Got Hands
06. All Night Long
07. ML
It is no secret that I am a fan of the Electro-Jam band scene. Bands like Umphrey's McGee and Sound Tribe Sector 9 are on a very regular rotation on the trusty iPod. At this year's Summer Set Music Festival I was introduced to another band contributing to that genre, Papadosio. These guys jam hard and have a sound anyone from the Jam Band or Electro scenes will appreciate.
When I saw their name pop up on the Cabooze's calendar it was an easy decision, I was going. We arrived at about 9:00 for the show. Doors opened at 8:00, so I thought we would be right on time. When we walked through the doors we were two of about 20 people in the place. Needless to say, we were both shocked and unimpressed. Over the next hour or so our faith in the MN music scene was restored however because the place had filled up quite a bit.
Earthcry opened, which turned out the be Anthony from Papadosio making his own music and is said to contain "solfeggio frequencies which are known to aid the human
condition". It definitely worked because the whole crowd was entranced with earthy bass tones the rising and falling waves of his ever present tuning
fork and the spectacular light show. Wishing for more, Anthony departed the stage
with the crowd ready and waiting.
By now there were quite a few people there, still the emptiest we have
ever seen the Cabooze for a Saturday night show in a very long time. For those of you that didn't come out missed out on a great
performance. With custom made graphics and the ability to take their fans on a
musical journey every time they grace the stage this is surely a band you can't
miss out on. Papa's brand of funky, jam laden, dance rock is something you simply need to experience to truly appreciate. They have an incredible sense of their audience and amp up or tone down their sets to match or drive the audience. Seeing them on a stage like that of The Cabooze made this even more noticeable, especially compared to a huge festival stage. Once on board, hang on and be prepared for a ride.
So, if you see Papadosio pop up on the calendar in your neck of the woods, do not miss the chance to take the ride. You won't be disappointed.
The synth-pop duo of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, better known as Phantogram, just released their second new song in as many weeks. "Celebrate Nothing" dropped this morning, along with an announcement that a new EP is just 4 days away. The new EP as well as a much anticipated new full length album "Voices" are the first signs of new music from this energetic duo since their 2011 EP "Nightlife". No official news on the LP release just yet, but I wager to say it isn't all that far off. There have been teases on their Facebook page on a number of occasions.
Any Bob Dylan fans out there??? Yeah, me too. If your Dylan collection leaves a little something to be desired, then here is your chance to not only fill in the blanks, but to own the ultimate Bob Dylan archive. Dubbed the "Bob Dylan Complete Album Collection Vol. 1"
If you are "Old School" and want the CD's, for $255.50 you can have all 35 studio albums, 6 live albums and a double disc called side tracks containing miscellaneous tracks not found on any of the other 40 some odd CDs in the box set.
For me, the harmonica shaped USB drive is the ticket. I mean really, how freaking cool is this thing. Coming in at a measly $319.98, its a steal and will be available on November 15th.
If you are "Old School" and want the CD's, for $255.50 you can have all 35 studio albums, 6 live albums and a double disc called side tracks containing miscellaneous tracks not found on any of the other 40 some odd CDs in the box set.
For me, the harmonica shaped USB drive is the ticket. I mean really, how freaking cool is this thing. Coming in at a measly $319.98, its a steal and will be available on November 15th.
19 Year old singer songwriter Holly Henry had all 4 judges on NBC's The Voice fighting over her on last night's second episode of the season. Her rendition of Coldplay's "The Scientist" got Blake Shelton to turn his chair around within just seconds of hearing her angelic young voice. She repaid his enthusiasm by choosing him to be her coach for the season.
Graduating from Hopkins High School just last year, Holly Henry (Heinrich as the world knew her before) is a self proclaimed songwriter without much singing experience. We're looking forward to rooting for another Minnesota musician.... Good luck Holly!!!
There is a ton of great music going on this week in the Twin Cities. Here are just a few to consider if you are looking for a little live music...
Thursday 9/26:
Will Sparks @ The Marquee
Doors: 9:00pm Get Tickets
This 20 year-old Australian has been killing the international electro-house scene... His remix of Blurred Lines (below) has dominated the Beatport charts. It's a great chance to get your dance on...
Cold War Kids @ First Avenue
Doors: 7:30 $22.00 Get Tickets
With their latest album "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts" released just months ago, they deliver a more polished thoughtful album than we have seen to date. The addition of Dann Gallucci (Modest Mouse guitarist) on both sides of the soundboard adds a sound and feel you have to experience to appreciate.
Friday 9/27:
Caroline Smith @ First Ave with Solid Gold
Doors: 8:00 $15 Get Tickets
This is a "local" music 2-fer... Caroline Smith (and the Goodnight Sleeps) delivers authentic folk instrumentals with an indie rock vibe, bringing a sound that is undeniably captivating. The addition of Solid Gold sets this up to be one of the best Indie Rock evenings on the calendar for quite a while.
North Mississippi All Stars @ The Cabooze
Doors: 8:00 $15 Get Tickets
With the recent release of the critically acclaimed "World Boogie is Coming", North Mississippi All Stars bring their brand of southern rock. Make it to this show and there is zero chance your feet don't stomp.
Saturday 9/28
Nine Inch Nails @ Xcel Energy Center:
Doors: 8:00 $35.50 - $97.00 Get Tickets
With the release of "Hesitation Marks", their first album in 5 years, the band reunites to tour North America and beyond. The album has been well received and the tour has been touted as a "Must See".
Papadosio @ The Cabooze
Doors: 8:30 $15 Get Tickets
Get your electro jam band on... Blurring the lines between EDM and Jam Band, Papadosio brings a blend of sounds few other attempt. If you like Umphrey's McGee or STS9, you're gonna want to check these guys out...
White Iron Band @ Northrup
Doors: 5:00 FREE
Get your MN Pride on for free. Head on over to the U of M campus and pull up a piece of grass on the lawn in front of the Northrup Auditorium. Be ready for a little foot stompin' honkey tonkin'...
Thursday 9/26:
Will Sparks @ The Marquee
Doors: 9:00pm Get Tickets
This 20 year-old Australian has been killing the international electro-house scene... His remix of Blurred Lines (below) has dominated the Beatport charts. It's a great chance to get your dance on...
Cold War Kids @ First Avenue
Doors: 7:30 $22.00 Get Tickets
With their latest album "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts" released just months ago, they deliver a more polished thoughtful album than we have seen to date. The addition of Dann Gallucci (Modest Mouse guitarist) on both sides of the soundboard adds a sound and feel you have to experience to appreciate.
Friday 9/27:
Caroline Smith @ First Ave with Solid Gold
Doors: 8:00 $15 Get Tickets
This is a "local" music 2-fer... Caroline Smith (and the Goodnight Sleeps) delivers authentic folk instrumentals with an indie rock vibe, bringing a sound that is undeniably captivating. The addition of Solid Gold sets this up to be one of the best Indie Rock evenings on the calendar for quite a while.
North Mississippi All Stars @ The Cabooze
Doors: 8:00 $15 Get Tickets
With the recent release of the critically acclaimed "World Boogie is Coming", North Mississippi All Stars bring their brand of southern rock. Make it to this show and there is zero chance your feet don't stomp.
Saturday 9/28
Nine Inch Nails @ Xcel Energy Center:
Doors: 8:00 $35.50 - $97.00 Get Tickets
With the release of "Hesitation Marks", their first album in 5 years, the band reunites to tour North America and beyond. The album has been well received and the tour has been touted as a "Must See".
Papadosio @ The Cabooze
Doors: 8:30 $15 Get Tickets
Get your electro jam band on... Blurring the lines between EDM and Jam Band, Papadosio brings a blend of sounds few other attempt. If you like Umphrey's McGee or STS9, you're gonna want to check these guys out...
White Iron Band @ Northrup
Doors: 5:00 FREE
Get your MN Pride on for free. Head on over to the U of M campus and pull up a piece of grass on the lawn in front of the Northrup Auditorium. Be ready for a little foot stompin' honkey tonkin'...
Last night, Samuel Bean better know as Iron & Wine took the stage to a capacity crowd at First Avenue in Minneapolis. The show had been listed as "Sold Out" for weeks, but upon arrival at the doors tickets were still available, but obviously not very many. As a fan of Iron & Wine from a few years back, I had envisioned Bean on stage with his acoustic guitar and that was about it. Memories of "Such Great Heights" and its simplicity are what had me hooked on his brand of melodic sound. As Iron & Wine took the stage it was glaringly obvious that things had changed, as a dozen people and instruments found their spots and set up shop.
They made the switch from big band to Bean solo a few times, creating a rising and falling tempo to the show. While solo on stage, the room seemed to shrink. As fans shouted requests from the floor Bean would respond directly to them. When a robust "Boy with a Coin" came from the audience Bean's retort had the whole place laughing... He said "I have played this song for every show for the last fucking seven years. If you eat the same fucking meal for the same seven years, it's time to try something else."
To finish off the evening, Bean returned to the stage for a one song encore, the emotional and quintessential Iron & Wine track "Love Vigilantes". Bean stood in front of the microphone and said "I'm gonna do one more then send you on your way"...
While we enjoyed the musical stylings of Iron and Wine, just across First Avenue legions of 50-somethings sat inside Target Center suffering through The Eagles. One of the many requests shouted at the stage was "Hotel California", to which Bean replied, "Just lean your head out the window"... Thankfully, Iron & Wine ended about 20 minutes before The Eagles, allowing most of the crowd to avoid the walking sea of baby boomers.
In whole, it was a great show. If I had to come up with a complaint it was that when accompanied by the full band, Bean's vocals were at times drowned out. The big band sound was a welcomed surprise, but if the sacrifice was to override Bean's melodic voice, it wasn't worth it in my opinion.
Setlist
The Desert Babbler
Carousel
Kingdom of the Animals
Tree By the River
The Trapeze Swinger
Sixteen Maybe Less
Belated Promise Ring
Baby Center Stage
Monkeys Uptown
Such Great Heights
Boy With a Coin
Upward Over the Mountain
Resurrection Fern
Waves of Galveston
Caught in the Briars
Sundown (Back in the Briars)
Jezebel
Grace For Saints and Ramblers
Low Light Buddy of Mine
Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me
Encore
Love Vigilantes
The big band sound that emanated from the stage was altogether something else. Three guys on horns, three on strings, three female backup singers, a guy on drums and another on the keys... It all made for a rich - diverse musical experience. After a few songs, the lights dimmed and the rest of the band disappeared from the stage leaving Bean, his guitar and a microphone; exactly as I had pictured it. The (somewhat older) audience sang along to nearly every song, to the point that Bean commented from the stage how cool it sounded coming through his in-ear monitors.
They made the switch from big band to Bean solo a few times, creating a rising and falling tempo to the show. While solo on stage, the room seemed to shrink. As fans shouted requests from the floor Bean would respond directly to them. When a robust "Boy with a Coin" came from the audience Bean's retort had the whole place laughing... He said "I have played this song for every show for the last fucking seven years. If you eat the same fucking meal for the same seven years, it's time to try something else."
To finish off the evening, Bean returned to the stage for a one song encore, the emotional and quintessential Iron & Wine track "Love Vigilantes". Bean stood in front of the microphone and said "I'm gonna do one more then send you on your way"...
Sorry for the bump in the middle of the video - security was hassling me.
While we enjoyed the musical stylings of Iron and Wine, just across First Avenue legions of 50-somethings sat inside Target Center suffering through The Eagles. One of the many requests shouted at the stage was "Hotel California", to which Bean replied, "Just lean your head out the window"... Thankfully, Iron & Wine ended about 20 minutes before The Eagles, allowing most of the crowd to avoid the walking sea of baby boomers.
In whole, it was a great show. If I had to come up with a complaint it was that when accompanied by the full band, Bean's vocals were at times drowned out. The big band sound was a welcomed surprise, but if the sacrifice was to override Bean's melodic voice, it wasn't worth it in my opinion.
Setlist
The Desert Babbler
Carousel
Kingdom of the Animals
Tree By the River
The Trapeze Swinger
Sixteen Maybe Less
Belated Promise Ring
Baby Center Stage
Monkeys Uptown
Such Great Heights
Boy With a Coin
Upward Over the Mountain
Resurrection Fern
Waves of Galveston
Caught in the Briars
Sundown (Back in the Briars)
Jezebel
Grace For Saints and Ramblers
Low Light Buddy of Mine
Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me
Encore
Love Vigilantes
G-Eazy announces concert to be held at Sigma Chi Fraternity on the University of Minnesota campus for Derby Days on Saturday, October 12. Proceeds to benefit the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Purchase your tickets here.
Here's a preview of what to expect with his single "Must Be Nice"
Pearl Jam drops the "Sirens" video, the second from their upcoming "Lightning Bolt" album
Lightning Bolt 12:39 PM
Eddie Vedder and crew are on the doorsteps of releasing a new album "Lightning Bolt", expected to release Oct. 15 2013. Here is a video for the second track released from it entitled "Sirens"....
Local EDM concert promoters and event organizers Sound in Motion, aka SIM Shows, has put together an epic calendar from now until the end of the year. With a laundry list of great shows throughout 2013 including, Calvin Harris, Hardwell, Infected Mushroom and many others as well as playing a huge role in the second annual Summer Set Music and Camping Festival, which was 3 days of brain melting fun in the sun just over the border in Summerset, WI. Well, the line-up from now until the middle of November is nothing short of awesome...
One week later (9/26), Will Sparks takes the stage at Marquee...
Kicking off October Morgan Page plays Epic nightclub - (Here is his full set from Electric Daisy Carnival)
October 8th Wolfgang Gartner shares the stage with SIMShows founder Jack Trash at Epic
The weekend of October 17th, 18th, and 19th is loaded... Don't plan to sleep from Thursday to Sunday. Thursday night is Laidback Luke at Epic, Friday gets Kill Paris at Muse and Saturday there's the Life in Color Paint Party at Epic, featuring 3LAU...
10/23 Epic hosts Griz: The Rebel Era Tour, which has gotten nothing but incredible reviews thus far.
The Mill City Nights venue is booked for the 25th to be set up for Figure & Crizzly for what could be a Halloween Extravaganza...
Rolling into November, Steve Aoki and the Aokify World Tour take over Epic on the 9th...
(Complete set from Tomorrowland 2013)
As if all of that wasn't enough, Pretty Lights is slated to blow the roof off of Myth on the 15th... It is going to be a fight around the office here to see who gets to cover that show...
See you at the shows...
Things get kicked off tomorrow night (9/19) with Zed's Dead at Mill City Nights...
One week later (9/26), Will Sparks takes the stage at Marquee...
Kicking off October Morgan Page plays Epic nightclub - (Here is his full set from Electric Daisy Carnival)
October 8th Wolfgang Gartner shares the stage with SIMShows founder Jack Trash at Epic
The weekend of October 17th, 18th, and 19th is loaded... Don't plan to sleep from Thursday to Sunday. Thursday night is Laidback Luke at Epic, Friday gets Kill Paris at Muse and Saturday there's the Life in Color Paint Party at Epic, featuring 3LAU...
10/23 Epic hosts Griz: The Rebel Era Tour, which has gotten nothing but incredible reviews thus far.
The Mill City Nights venue is booked for the 25th to be set up for Figure & Crizzly for what could be a Halloween Extravaganza...
Rolling into November, Steve Aoki and the Aokify World Tour take over Epic on the 9th...
(Complete set from Tomorrowland 2013)
As if all of that wasn't enough, Pretty Lights is slated to blow the roof off of Myth on the 15th... It is going to be a fight around the office here to see who gets to cover that show...
See you at the shows...
Residing in Eau Claire, WI doesn't offer the large array of musical genres that the twin cities can, that doesn't mean we don't try. Keeping a close eye on who comes through town is fairly easy when the only venue I truly enjoy is the The House of Rock. When The 4onthefloor comes through it's a fairly large ordeal in my books and this time was no different.
What can be said about 4onthefloor that hasn't been said before. The Minneapolis based quartet have never failed to put on an amazing show. Standing front and center, receiving the sound they have directly off the stage this was the most memorable. Entering the stage they have a presence that demands attention. With four bass drums pounding to the beat, you can't help but feel it in your chest. Breaking a string on his guitar within five minutes Gabriel never missed a beat. Picking up the spare between songs they continued to play one song after the other. They played multiple songs off their newest release, "The Spirit of Minneapolis" , my favorite being, "King of the Jungle". Songs ranging from their first EP to the latest CD you can't help but enjoy every minute of it. The energy the band gives is absorbed by the crowd and returned in a fashion that they refer to as "stomping", with the crowd pounding their feet along with the drums the entire venue erupted with cheers for more.
This being such a small venue the band members come talk to the crowd after the performance, I spoke with multiple members of General B and the Wiz and continued my earlier conversation with the drummer of 4otf about the Vikings inability to draft a proper quarterback. He remembered the encounter from last time they came through town. If anyone gets a chance to see either of these bands don't hesitate for a moment to go. If its a small venue, even better you always have the chance to interact with band member and might even get a few autographs.
News broke yesterday that the Furthur will be on hiatus for the bulk of 2014. After their 4-day Paradise Waits event in Mexico this coming January, that's it for 2014... To calm the nerves of their devoted fans, the former members of The Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, reiterate that this is not the band "breaking up".
Furthur's official announcement...
After more than four years of heavy, year-round touring, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir have decided to put their band Furthur on hiatus in 2014. After the four night Furthur run in Mexico in January, the band will take the rest of 2014 off so that Phil and Bob can focus on their countless solo projects.
Furthur came together in September, 2009, and from its inception was a band Phil and Bob were completely committed to, and still are. In the 18 years since the Grateful Dead stopped being a touring entity, Furthur has proven to be the longest-tenured, and most active band featuring two or more former members of the Grateful Dead. With shows that keep the Dead vibe alive while pushing the musical envelope, well, furthur, this band has brought smiles to hundreds of thousands of fans in the past four years. Most impressive is that this has become a true band, and not just Phil and Bob plus some side players. John Kadlecik (guitar), Jeff Chimenti (keyboards), Joe Russo (drums), and Sunshine Becker and Jeff Pehrson (vocals) have joined the trip to create a band that has become one of the most exciting, honest and inspired touring acts in music today.
What does 2014 hold for Phil and Bob? If their activities outside of Furthur in the past four years are any indication, plenty. Phil’s been playing virtually every night when not on tour with Furthur, whether at his Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, CA, or on the road with Phil Lesh & Friends. Bob’s been hosting one of the most unique web-based variety shows in history, Weir Here, every Wednesday night when he’s not touring, presented live from his TRI Studios in San Rafael. Additionally, Bob’s been having a blast playing his solo acoustic shows, as well as other gigs and tours with newer arrivals to the party. He plans to keep doing what he’s doing, and more of it.
The last time the word “hiatus” was used in regards to the Grateful Dead world was in 1974, and we all know how much good that break inspired. They returned a year and a half later, stronger than ever, and for another 20 years. Furthur’s not breaking up; they’re simply taking a much-needed break. One way or another, we’ll see you around.
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[Original publication at Furthur.net]
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Being away from the stage while recovering from an ankle injury sure hasn't slowed down Prof. Waiting for this show, since the announcement months ago, has been hard but was definitely worth the wait. Set outdoors between two of Minneapolis' great establishments, The Cabooze and Whiskey Junction, it supplied the perfect venue for his return. With a bill to satisfy, including up and comer Mally, well established acts like Evidence and the two brother tandem of SoulCrate Music. Prof had the crowd of 4,000 ready for him to come to the stage.
SoulCrate,one of the best underground acts in hip-hop, quickly impressed playing songs off their recently released album "Welcome Back From Wherever You've Been" - which was ranked #36 on iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap top albums charts within a week after release.One of the last songs' in the set was the best one they performed, "All Day", they use the chorus of the song to get the crowd into chanting along with them. The set being backed by Later Babes DJ trio, how can you go wrong?
The heat continued to rise on and off the stage through out the day; with the acts coming on one after another ,before you knew it, the time for Prof to take the stage had come. The "Get Cryphy" DJ group had the stage before Prof went on and they didn't disappoint. Mixing between beats from the early days of rap to the most recent releases they had the whole crowd jumping and ready for Prof to grace the stage.
Prof's return to the stage was nothing but exceptional, the noise was deafening and the wait was finally over. His set ranged from his brand new track "Zoo" to his most popular track "Animal". He brought several special guests to the stage with him, St. Paul Slim to do several tracks and Shambhala brought the heat as well. With "Animal" 20 people selected from the crowd were brought on stage to dance, shoot confetti and pump up the crowd. From there the set became much slower paced as his time on the stage began to dwindle. With a man in a giant balloon surfing the crowd at one point in the night this was surely not a show many attendees will forget anytime soon.
With the day finally over and a chance to reflect, I had an amazing time and even though I would have enjoyed some of Prof's older joints I can't say I would argue with his claim that "all my songs are fucking amazing".