Let the music play - new Concert Reviews/Experiences

[Ope3]

I don't have the exact total, but I am pretty sure I have seen Bob Mould 40+ times with REM, Bob Mould Band, Solo Acoustic, SUGAR, Solo Electric, Bob Mould Trio & duo with Jason Narducy. That's second only to Jeff Tweedy for me.

It also was a long gap since the last time I saw him in 2019 both in Chicago and St Paul (x2). He was here in 2021 and just a few months ago at the State Fair but other I had other plans.

Show #1 at the Cedar Cultural Center was a game day decision, meaning had to work on the timing after the Gopher game and what shape I was in after tailgating and being in temps around freezing for close to 5 hrs. It worked out.

Any chill I had was taken care of in the venue as temps had to be well above 80 in the house. Beverage lines were extremely long, but I was good, having my fill at the Bank.

I thought it was a really good show, Bob's voice sounded strong on these final 2 shows of a monthlong tour with over 20 shows. He appears to genuinely appear to enjoy the returns back to the Twin Cities, and I am not sure it has always been that way. Big highlight for me was No Reservations which has not frequently been on the setlists in the past 30 or so times I have seen him. Too Far Down was also another pretty solid rarity.

2nd night at the Turf I had the good fortune to be near the stage, but still able to take in all the sound in a fantastic intimate venue for this type of show. Bobs good vibes continued and it was a love fest all the way through the Love is All Around/Makes No Sense finale. Hardly Getting Over It was also a show highlight (not played the night before).

Also were some really good brand new songs played both nights. Additionally, I found Bob's normal bass player Jason Narducy as a very entertaining and entertaining story teller as an opener. No songs together.

Question for @tikited, do you recall Chartered Trips being played on night 1? It's listed on the Setlist.com, but for some reason I thought it was skipped.

 

[tikited]

I don't have the exact total, but I am pretty sure I have seen Bob Mould 40+ times with REM, Bob Mould Band, Solo Acoustic, SUGAR, Solo Electric, Bob Mould Trio & duo with Jason Narducy. That's second only to Jeff Tweedy for me.

It also was a long gap since the last time I saw him in 2019 both in Chicago and St Paul (x2). He was here in 2021 and just a few months ago at the State Fair but other I had other plans.

Show #1 at the Cedar Cultural Center was a game day decision, meaning had to work on the timing after the Gopher game and what shape I was in after tailgating and being in temps around freezing for close to 5 hrs. It worked out.

Any chill I had was taken care of in the venue as temps had to be well above 80 in the house. Beverage lines were extremely long, but I was good, having my fill at the Bank.

I thought it was a really good show, Bob's voice sounded strong on these final 2 shows of a monthlong tour with over 20 shows. He appears to genuinely appear to enjoy the returns back to the Twin Cities, and I am not sure it has always been that way. Big highlight for me was No Reservations which has not frequently been on the setlists in the past 30 or so times I have seen him. Too Far Down was also another pretty solid rarity.

2nd night at the Turf I had the good fortune to be near the stage, but still able to take in all the sound in a fantastic intimate venue for this type of show. Bobs good vibes continued and it was a love fest all the way through the Love is All Around/Makes No Sense finale. Hardly Getting Over It was also a show highlight (not played the night before).

Also were some really good brand new songs played both nights. Additionally, I found Bob's normal bass player Jason Narducy as a very entertaining and entertaining story teller as an opener. No songs together.

Question for @tikited, do you recall Chartered Trips being played on night 1? It's listed on the Setlist.com, but for some reason I thought it was skipped.

Ugh.. I was a day too late. It sold out. I was waiting on fellow tailgaters to make up their minds.

 

[Ope3]

Ugh.. I was a day too late. It sold out. I was waiting on fellow tailgaters to make up their minds.

Bummer on missing out. Shoot, I could have helped on Sunday if that would have been an option. We had an extra, but were eventually able to find a taker, last minute.

I think I'm right about Chartered Trips not being played. Whomever wrote on Setlist.com listed "Mary Tyler Moore Theme" instead of Love is All Around so I'm skeptical of the accuracy.

If I have a critique it's that not enough of his catalog from Workbook through the 90s was represented. He played See a Little Light, Hoover Dam & If I Can't Change Your Mind both nights, but that's it. That's a ton of Solo/SUGAR material not getting proper due respect.

The trade off was lots of Hüsker stuff, though, so I shouldn't whine.

Update, I remembered that there's Hüsker Dü specific data base, and my memory was confirmed.

Setlist for Bob Mould @ Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis MN, 28 Oct 2023

www.thirdav.com

 

[tikited]

Bummer on missing out. Shoot, I could have helped on Sunday if that would have been an option. We had an extra, but were eventually able to find a taker, last minute.

I think I'm right about Chartered Trips not being played. Whomever wrote on Setlist.com listed "Mary Tyler Moore Theme" instead of Love is All Around so I'm skeptical of the accuracy.

If I have a critique it's that not enough of his catalog from Workbook through the 90s was represented. He played See a Little Light, Hoover Dam & If I Can't Change Your Mind both nights, but that's it. That's a ton of Solo/SUGAR material not getting proper due.

The trade off was lots of Hüsker stuff, though, so I shouldn't whine.

Update, I remembered that there's Hüsker Dü specific data base, and my memory was confirmed.

Setlist for Bob Mould @ Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis MN, 28 Oct 2023

www.thirdav.com

That's a really good setlist. Ended very strong!

 

[Ope3]

That's a really good setlist. Ended very strong!

Yes, Something I Learned Today was pretty powerful after he gave his viewpoint on world events and the House Speaker proceedings.

 

[Frink]

Went to see The Suburbs at Icehouse on Friday. Kind of funny that for such a important long time local band I'm very neutral to them. I've never seen them and really don't know much of their music. So I was happy that it was a really fun show. Cool that they after all this time they still seem to really really enjoy what they were doing

 

[Ope3]

Big announcement for Jason Isbell fans with shows in St Paul as well as a Duluth gig.

Shows — Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

www.jasonisbell.com

 

[Frink]

Big announcement for Jason Isbell fans with shows in St Paul as well as a Duluth gig.

Shows — Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

www.jasonisbell.com

I'm going to at least one of those. Already have tickets to the first show at the palace and maybe one of the others.
My friend who got me the ticket is really going nuts. He and his wife will be joining me the palace and then going to see Isbell on back to back nights in Denver at Red rocks and then some place called Mission.

 

[Ope3]

I'm going to at least one of those. Already have tickets to the first show at the palace and maybe one of the others.
My friend who got me the ticket is really going nuts. He and his wife will be joining me the palace and then going to see Isbell on back to back nights in Denver at Red rocks and then some place called Mission.

W Des Moines is also a reasonable drive. Sort of taking an out of the way route to get there though, from St Paul via Duluth, all on 35 presumably.

 

[Ope3]

I'm going to at least one of those. Already have tickets to the first show at the palace and maybe one of the others.
My friend who got me the ticket is really going nuts. He and his wife will be joining me the palace and then going to see Isbell on back to back nights in Denver at Red rocks and then some place called Mission.

Just in case you weren't aware, but Isbell & the 400 Unit are on this weeks Austin City Limits, which should serve as a good preview.

Check your Local Listings for PBS airtimes. Saturday evening on Ch 2 at Midnight.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Wanna feel old?


50 years ago today, Billy Joel released Piano Man - it znd be has stood the test of time.

 

[Ope3]

Wanna feel old?


50 years ago today, Billy Joel released Piano Man - it znd be has stood the test of time.

He's playing at the Zygi Dome tomorrow with Stevie Nicks.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

He's playing at the Zygi Dome tomorrow with Stevie Nicks.

That would be an awesome show

I’m hoping to find enough scratch to see him at MSG - he’s stopping his residency there 7/24 after his 150 show - he does one a month and sold them all out.

 

[Ope3]

That would be an awesome show

I’m hoping to find enough scratch to see him at MSG - he’s stopping his residency there 7/24 after his 150 show - he does one a month and sold them all out.

I think it will be a decent show tomorrow for those attending, but it's not a good concert venue in general, so I am taking a pass on this one.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I think it will be a decent show tomorrow for those attending, but it's not a good concert venue in general, so I am taking a pass on this one.

Ever been to MSG for a concert? I like it.

Listening to Billy Joel pop up on Pandora and it includes his talking about how he wrote and composed songs - cool nuggets like he used parts from 4 different part songs create “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.”

 

[Ope3]

Ever been to MSG for a concert? I like it.

Listening to Billy Joel pop up on Pandora and it includes his talking about how he wrote and composed songs - cool nuggets like he used parts from 4 different part songs create “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.”

I have not been to MSG, bucket list item both for shows & sporting events.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I have not been to MSG, bucket list item both for shows & sporting events.

Great venue for both IMO.

Best concert I saw there was Prince, in his last tour. He had five nights and we went on a Monday, as the tixs were a little less than the weekend, or the last night (Tuesday). Amazingly he had four encores with a 33 song set and never left the stage. This was the infamous evening when he asked Kim Kardashian onstage to dance during Little Red Corvette and she suxed the joint up that he waived her off while shaking his head and his security escorted her off.

My bro and I were exhausted after the 3rd encore and magically remembered that we had a shot of Jack under our seats to get us ready for When Doves Cry - best show I’ve ever seen and my buddy whose seen ~150 shows, put it in his top three all time.

 

[tikited]

W Des Moines is also a reasonable drive. Sort of taking an out of the way route to get there though, from St Paul via Duluth, all on 35 presumably.

Going to Des Moines for a show is fun. I like that town.

 

[Bad Gopher]

Who will be attending one of Nick Lowe's shows at the Turf Club this weekend? I'll be there tomorrow (Saturday).

 

[tikited]

Who will be attending one of Nick Lowe's shows at the Turf Club this weekend? I'll be there tomorrow (Saturday).

I saw a couple of them the last few years. It's the same show, so I will pass on the Turf Club this time. With that said...it's a good show for sure.

 

[Frink]

Who will be attending one of Nick Lowe's shows at the Turf Club this weekend? I'll be there tomorrow (Saturday).

There is a slim chance I'll be there tomorrow. Sold out but looking for tickets.

 

[Bad Gopher]

There is a slim chance I'll be there tomorrow. Sold out but looking for tickets.

Hope you can track one down. Message me if you end up going; would be good to make your in-person acquaintance.

 

[Ope3]

Some thoughts on Liz Phair's show celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Exile in Guyville Tour this past Friday (11/17/19 at the Palace).

- I don't think I noticed anyone in the crowd under the age of 40.

- Started the show right into Exile and that was the whole main set 18 songs.

- Her voice sounded great and she has also put together a fine backing band that can handle the album.

- 4 song encore, and started with what I consider to be her best guitar work (she was on RS Top 250 Guitar List) Supernova.

- I was disappointed that nothing was played from Phair's latest album (Soberish from 2021), especially since this is her first tour since then. It's a good album, best since Whip Smart IMO.

- Overall very crowd pleasing, and I thought it was quite worth wile.

- Opener Blondshell has some promise.

- Getting through downtown St Paul with the Eagles in town and still lots of nearby streets under construction was a nightmare preshow. For this night, I definitely shared Lebowski's opinion on the Eagles. Liz played for 90 minutes, and I was quite appreciative that it ended at 10:30pm. This was well before the show at the Xcel had wrapped up, so that made for a speedy getaway.

 

[Full Speed Ahead]

That would be an awesome show

I’m hoping to find enough scratch to see him at MSG - he’s stopping his residency there 7/24 after his 150 show - he does one a month and sold them all out.

It was awesome, you should catch him at MSG, sell a kidney, do some white collar crime, whatever it takes to get a ticket. He played the classics (e.g., Piano Man, Allen Town, ect.), went deeper into some of his lesser known tracks (e.g., Summer, Highland Falls, Zanzibar), and threw in a Led Zepplin cover as well as some italian opera. Stevie Nick's voice has "aged" a bit, but not Billy. The guy is still in his prime.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

It was awesome, you should catch him at MSG, sell a kidney, do some white collar crime, whatever it takes to get a ticket. He played the classics (e.g., Piano Man, Allen Town, ect.), went deeper into some of his lesser known tracks (e.g., Summer, Highland Falls, Zanzibar), and threw in a Led Zepplin cover as well as some italian opera. Stevie Nick's voice has "aged" a bit, but not Billy. The guy is still in his prime.

View attachment 28442

Zanzibar is one of my favorite deep cuts. Man I wore out his records in my formative years.

Thanks for the review/encoragement.

I guess I’ll have to be a Big Shot

 

[Full Speed Ahead]

Zanzibar is one of my favorite deep cuts. Man I wore out his records in my formative years.

Thanks for the review/encoragement.

I guess I’ll have to be a Big Shot

Another tidbit about the concert, Billy Joel stayed on the stage way after it was over. After the encores, and the lights coming on, and people starting to leave, he walked back and forth across the stage taking in the arena. Just him, not to applause or anything, he was just taking in the view as the fans were leaving. I've never seen that before in a concert. Usually, the band leaves the stage and that's it. I took it as a, "I won't get to see this too many more times, so I'm going to take it all in while it lasts" moment. Kinda nice.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Another tidbit about the concert, Billy Joel stayed on the stage way after it was over. After the encores, and the lights coming on, and people starting to leave, he walked back and forth across the stage taking in the arena. Just him, not to applause or anything, he was just taking in the view as the fans were leaving. I've never seen that before in a concert. Usually, the band leaves the stage and that's it. I took it as a, "I won't get to see this too many more times, so I'm going to take it all in while it lasts" moment. Kinda nice.

I’m all in.

 

[Frink]

Another tidbit about the concert, Billy Joel stayed on the stage way after it was over. After the encores, and the lights coming on, and people starting to leave, he walked back and forth across the stage taking in the arena. Just him, not to applause or anything, he was just taking in the view as the fans were leaving. I've never seen that before in a concert. Usually, the band leaves the stage and that's it. I took it as a, "I won't get to see this too many more times, so I'm going to take it all in while it lasts" moment. Kinda nice.

Bob Mould did something similar a few years back at The Palace. When his band went off before the inevitable encore, he just sat on a monitor and listened to the applause. When the band came back he said he "just wanted to be in the moment." Good to know some performers aren't entirely jaded after long careers.

 

[Ope3]

Bob Mould did something similar a few years back at The Palace. When his band went off before the inevitable encore, he just sat on a monitor and listened to the applause. When the band came back he said he "just wanted to be in the moment." Good to know some performers aren't entirely jaded after long careers.

Good call. I remember taking note of that as well.

I think Mould was particularly nostalgic that night with it being a 40th Anniversary of playing live shows in the TC. Also having Hüsker bandmate Greg Norton in the opening act made it pretty cool.

 

[Ope3]

Morrissey bailed on a scheduled show in New Zealand.

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz

Dunedin-based Morrissey fan Hamish McNeilly, who saw the singer in 2016 when he last performed in Auckland, was disappointed by the cancellation.

"You are used to sadness as a Morrissey fan, but this makes me miserable now."

While I have tremendous empathy for Hamish, perhaps he can take some solace in that his quote made me laugh out loud.