Let the music play - new Concert Reviews/Experiences

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Costa Rican Gopher said:
First time I'd been there. As a guy who pretty much grew up in that theater, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Thought nostalgia might ruin it for me, but it was great. Sort of that Huntington Bank Stadium "there are no bad seats in the house" feeling.

I could have been anywhere in that theater, had sight lines, easy access to beer/bathrooms & not had people all over me (except the front row between Kim & Kelly) :)
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I totally missed out on the stocking cap kid. Sounds like he was in a mosh pit of 1.

Of the dozens of concert shirts I have purchased through the years, this is probably the coolest ever, except for the Replacements-Midway Twins gear.


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Costa Rican Gopher said:
Black stocking cap/white t-shirt kid. The kid was an absolute savage! You would have thought he was whacked out on crank at a Slayer concert in 92'. Just a big, wild, inappropriately thrashing, dummy. People around me in our my section couldn't stop watching him. The group was amazing, and Kim Deal still has "it", but he was the real star of the show, imo. I'd love to know what makes that kid tick. :)

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That's him alright!
 


The Jayhawks announced their annual Holiday shows with a bit of a different twist playing at the Fitz. Per Gary's intsa post it will have more of an acoustic feel.

Matthew Sweet is the opener both nights. It's been about 30 years since I have seen him live.

www.thecurrent.org

The Jayhawks with special guest Matthew Sweet

The Jayhawks with special guest Matthew Sweet at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul on December 20 and 21, 2024.
www.thecurrent.org
 

Not exactly concert-related but music related. Damned if this isn't pretty impressive, and completely ridiculous. But it's worth a watch.

 


Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
Not exactly concert-related but music related. Damned if this isn't pretty impressive, and completely ridiculous. But it's worth a watch.

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I had to watch it again to make sure it was kinda badass, or just an exaggerated first impression. That's the damndest thing I've seen in a while.
 

Saturday night, fell asleep around midnight after watching the Gopher football game then woke up about 3:30 AM to catch a flight to Nashville.

Made it in time to catch the Colts-Titans game. Flacco moves like a fossil in the pocket but got the job done to lead Indy to a 20-17 victory.

After a brief nap at the hotel, back to Broadway to see Jason Isbell & The 400 unit at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Wow. What a place.

Just incomparable in every aspect. Church pew seats, amazing sightlines everywhere and acousticly pristine. It really is a cathedral. Built in 1892, it's 2 decades older than Fenway Park for crying out loud.

It's my 4th time seeing them tour for Weathervanes for which this band lineup was put together a little more a year ago. Each show has gotten better and better. I hope Isbell can keep his crew together long term.

It was the 4th show out of a 8 show annual residency. His hometown crowd gave him an extra boost of energy. Also there was a resounding cheer for the Tennessee lyric in Flying Over Water. Even though it's only a year old Cast Iron Skillet is a full blown audience sing along, and in that place sounds like a choir.

For an encore cover, they tore into the R.E.M. Document radio hit The One I Love. We were also treated to both his Drive-By Truckers standards Outfit and also the curtain closer Decoration Day.

Bucket list item fulfilled. Have to hit Red Rocks soon.

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After a year now, I think Weathervanes is firmly in my Mt Rushmore for albums by any artist, this century.

I've already had a nap today.
 
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Ope3 said:
Jack White's Nashville joint.
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My trip to Music City concluded with seeing Bob Mould on the eve of his birthday. The show was at the little club (The Blue Room) attached to Jack White's Third Man Records Studio compound. Just a phenomenal acoustic space, I can't think of anything of it's size (capacity 250) that sounds that amazing.

Bob looked and sounded great, voice was full and he was in a very pleasant mood.

Opening 6 songs were full of fury including Hüsker Dü classics, Flip Your Wig & I Apologize.

At that point he was ready to chat up the audience, so I hollered "Happy Birthday, Bob!" salute, which he graciously acknowledged.

I was in the dead center of the club, and my shout out was a que for a woman in the front row to bestow a gift to him. Turned out to be a Dudley Dü Right caricature/print playing a Flying V. He was touched by the gesture.

On it continued, Sinners and Their Repentances was dedicated to JD Vance.

Only real semi-surprise was getting both Too Far Down and Hardly Getting Over It back-to-back. I don't recall getting that combo since pre-Sugar solo shows.

Fun night. Fun trip.
 
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Ope3 said:
At that point he was ready to chat up the audience, so I hollered "Happy Birthday, Bob!" salute, which he graciously acknowledged.

I was in the dead center of the club, and my shout out was a que for a woman in the front row to bestow a gift to him. Turned out to be a Dudley Dü Right caricature/print playing a Flying V. He was touched by the gesture.
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Bob said he still has the Flying V, didn't bring it on tour though.
 
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Richard Thompson at the Fitzgerald in St Paul this past Saturday was quite a treat. I think it was the 4th time I have seem him perform there. It was also the first time post-2020 that I have seen him with an backing electric band, so that was fun as well. He's added his grandson Zak Hobbs as supporting guitar player, and it's obvious that with his lineage and family training, he has chops to overcome any nepo-baby critiques.

The setlist had a lot of cuts from his new Ship to Shore album, which is quite strong and very well received.

A highlight was the lead track from Amnesia, Turning of the Tide. RT acknowledged that actually they were going to play a more punk rock version than the original recording, since he was fond of the Bob Mould cover that was on the tribute album Beath the Retreat.

Other great moments were 1952 Vincent Black Lightening (solo acoustic) and Tear Stained Letter (full band). At age 75 he doesn't have the marathon 2.5 hr sets anymore, but he has not lost his A game on the guitar and is as engaging as ever with his wry sense of humor.

Personally, having spent the day tailgating and at the Terps-Gophers football game, 90 minutes was about right for me anyway.
 

Golden Smog played this past Friday at First Ave. Fun show, really in the spirit before they put out their original 90s albums. Without Tweedy this go around and having Steve Gorman (formerly with the Black Crowes now on KQRS) it was about split between their own stuff and covers.

The played songs by Three Dog Night, Kris Kristofferson/Johnny Cash, T Rex, The Faces, Mission of Burma, The Lemonheads, Neil Young, Bowie, Split Enz & The Velvet Underground.

Despite a little lyric flub Sunday Morning Coming Down was a fantastic tribute to KK. Gary Louris sounded far better than Dando recently on Into Your Arms.

Filling in for Tweedy on a couple of tunes was Jack Torrey of the Cactus Blossoms, including the back up vocals on Glad and Sorry. He also helped out for the encore with an acoustic duet with Louris on Radio King from Down By the Old Mainstream.

Who needs the avatar?
 

Anyone going to Wilco this weekend? I'll be there tonight.
 




tikited said:
"Playing KISS covers, beautiful and stoned. "
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I dug it when Kotche "twirled his sticks" on que.

I'm in for the long haul. Great start to the weekend.IMG_20241213_205902752~2.jpg

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As good as Wilco N1 was, N2 was even better. Just so many of my favorite songs, starting with the version of Spiders (Kidsmoke) that predates the A Ghost is Born Version.

Other deep cuts that are among my favorites:

Art of Almost (acoustic)
If I Ever Was a Child
Late Greats
Laminated Cat (Not for the Seasons)
Bob Dylan's 49th Beard

Added some 90s classics from A.M. & Being There including Blue Eyed Soul, Casino Queen, Sunken Treasure and a Monday > Outtasight then I'm a Wheel main set closer made for a darn near perfect evening.
 
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As a wrap up to the Wilco Winterlude Weekend at the Palace in St Paul, the Strib's Chris Riemenschneider gives a great summary.

As it turned out Chris R was pretty much directly in front of me all 3 shows. Nights 1 & 3 down on the GA main floor while I was right above on the ledge. Night 2 just a few rows in front of me seated in the balcony.

I think we are roughly the same age and have conceded that standing for 3 nights in a row is pretty much a no go. While I prefer the floor, actually sounded great up there.

www.startribune.com

Review: Wilco nerds out but still rocks out in deep-diving, three-night St. Paul run

Minnesota fans were treated to 95 songs total as the Chicago rockers adhered to a no-repeat rule all weekend at the Palace Theatre.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

The weekend was a tremendous blast.

N2 - Had a slight edge in performance and rarities.
N3 - Had a slight edge in sheer volume (both number of songs and actual sound)

No qualms about N1 either which introduced how it was going to be. No opener. No repeats. No special guests.

95 songs.
Over 8 hours total of music.

The finale on Sunday was my 48th Wilco show going back to 1996. There were several songs I had never seen them play before and many that had been a decade or even two since I had seen performed. Even some I have seen quite often were played in a much different style.

So unique, and each band member got their chance to shine.

Bummed it's over. Glad I got to experience it. Everyone should be so lucky to take in their favorite band/artist is this format and setting, especially with friends and family.
 

Ope3 said:
As a wrap up to the Wilco Winterlude Weekend at the Palace in St Paul, the Strib's Chris Riemenschneider gives a great summary.

As it turned out Chris R was pretty much directly in front of me all 3 shows. Nights 1 & 3 down on the GA main floor while I was right above on the ledge. Night 2 just a few rows in front of me seated in the balcony.

I think we are roughly the same age and have conceded that standing for 3 nights in a row is pretty much a no go. While I prefer the floor, actually sounded great up there.

www.startribune.com

Review: Wilco nerds out but still rocks out in deep-diving, three-night St. Paul run

Minnesota fans were treated to 95 songs total as the Chicago rockers adhered to a no-repeat rule all weekend at the Palace Theatre.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

The weekend was a tremendous blast.

N2 - Had a slight edge in performance and rarities.
N3 - Had a slight edge in sheer volume (both number of songs and actual sound)

No qualms about N1 either which introduced how it was going to be. No opener. No repeats. No special guests.

95 songs.
Over 8 hours total of music.

The finale on Sunday was my 48th Wilco show going back to 1996. There were several songs I had never seen them play before and many that had been a decade or even two since I had seen performed. Even some I have seen quite often were played in a much different style.

So unique, and each band member got their chance to shine.

Bummed it's over. Glad I got to experience it. Everyone should be so lucky to take in their favorite band/artist is this format and setting, especially with friends and family.
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on the general subject of live music - ran across an article in Twin Cities Business Magazine on the two Ampitheatre projects in the Twin Cities.

the big one is happening in Shakopee next to Canterbury Downs. it will have a listed capacity of 19,000 with fixed seating and lawn seating to the rear. this is the part that intrigued me:

its footprint is just over 13 acres, half to a third of the norm for an amphitheater of its capacity. It required an atypical stacked design. He called it “America’s first vertical amphitheater.”

so it sounds as if the seating area and stage will be elevated in some fashion. there is a promotional agreement with Live Nation.

the Shakopee site is scheduled to open in late summer of 2025 - maybe August - but at this point, no events are scheduled.

the other development is at the 'Upper Harbor Terminal' area by the river in North Minneapolis. this will be managed by First Avenue and the Minnesota Orchestra, with room for 8,000 people in fixed and lawn seating. the developers say they expect to have a ground-breaking in 2025, with the venue opening in maybe 2027.

and this note from the author of the article:

Sources in the local music community, who did not want to be identified, say they are wary of oversaturation, believing that for both the venues to thrive, each will need to pull acts from indoor venues as well. They expect some of the Orchestra’s summer season to migrate to UHT.

will be interesting to see what type of shows these two facilities will draw. when I lived in Wisconsin, I went to several shows at Alpine Valley - an ampitheater located in between Madison and Milwaukee. good place to watch a show. (don't ask me about the night I could not find my car after a Bob Dylan concert - couldn't remember what lot I was parked in.........and I was sober.)
 

Word has it, the Jayhawks moved from their usual local Holiday venues (1st Ave & The Palace) because their core audience is not able to handle standing for several hours at GA shows. This year it was a 2 show run at the historic Fitzgerald Theater, originally slated to have Matthew Sweet as the Opener.

Sweet unfortunately had a massive stroke. Best wishes on that front.

Freedy Johnston stepped for shows this past Friday & Saturday. I only took in the Saturday show. In a total classy move Freedy opened both nights with Sweet's I've Been Waiting. The audience responded quite warmly to the gesture.

As for the Headliner, they mixed it up a bit which I thought was a great idea. The majority of the main set, Louris was on acoustic guitar and several songs were re-imaged with quit a different spin including, Somewhere in Ohio, Big Star & Waiting for the Sun.

As they have for the past few years, they added a few Holiday songs including Christmas Must Be Tonight (The Band cover) and If We Make It Through December (Merle Haggard). The Merle song was great, though about as depressing of a "holiday" song as possible.

They also threw in a Matthew Sweet cover, You Don't Love Me. The final song of the evening, Sister Cry, was dedicated to Slim Dunlap.

Anyway, good fun, mixing it up a bit from the standard Jayhawks fare as they approach their 40th Anniversary. Yikes. They also have some new merch.

It was my 2nd Jayhawks venue at a "Fitzgerald" Venue. No connection, but I saw them play on July 4th at Fitzgerald's Bar in Berwyn, IL.

My one complaint, this past Saturday it was sauna like in the balcony in the Fitz. No exaggeration. I was more comfortable at summer shows at First Ave pre-AC. I get heat rises, but a few folks left early with how uncomfortable it was up there. Africa hot.

To quote Ted, "Eff Scott Fitzgerald!"
 

The last show on my calendar to wrap up 2024 was Soul Asylum at First Ave on Saturday night, with a nice bonus of Tommy Stinson as the opener.

To my surprise, Stinson lead a 7 piece band. First time I had seen him as a front man since the Bash & Pop days, 30+ years ago. He sounded great.

Soul Asylum took to the stage to a packed house and behind what I think is a pretty strong album (Slowly But Shirley), best since Stinson and Danny Murphy were in the fold.

One of the "new" songs, Freak Accident, has actually been part of the live repertoire going back to 2004. I just assumed it was a rare B-side or something. Not so. Never released until this recent album.

Other old nuggets included Little too Clean (Hang Time) and New World (Grave Dancers Union). Highlights for me were standards Black Gold, Misery (no Silly Love Songs tag) and Never Really Been.

The last one was the first time I have seen Pirner update the lyric to "Where will you be in 2033". Yikes. That makes it the 5th different decade since the song's inception.

Also included was a tribute to Slim Dunlap, covering his tune Little Shiva's Song.

Very fun night.
 

Ope3 said:
The last show on my calendar to wrap up 2024 was Soul Asylum at First Ave on Saturday night, with a nice bonus of Tommy Stinson as the opener.

To my surprise, Stinson lead a 7 piece band. First time I had seen him as a front man since the Bash & Pop days, 30+ years ago. He sounded great.

Soul Asylum took to the stage to a packed house and behind what I think is a pretty strong album (Slowly But Shirley), best since Stinson and Danny Murphy were in the fold.

One of the "new" songs, Freak Accident, has actually been part of the live repertoire going back to 2004. I just assumed it was a rare B-side or something. Not so. Never released until this recent album.

Other old nuggets included Little too Clean (Hang Time) and New World (Grave Dancers Union). Highlights for me were standards Black Gold, Misery (no Silly Love Songs tag) and Never Really Been.

The last one was the first time I have seen Pirner update the lyric to "Where will you be in 2033". Yikes. That makes it the 5th different decade since the song's inception.

Also included was a tribute to Slim Dunlap, covering his tune Little Shiva's Song.

Very fun night.
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I was there as well. Packed house but very respectful crowd and easily navigable. We had a primo spot and weren’t challenged for position or even forced to hold ground at any point, which is always a bonus. You gave a terrific recap. Thanks.
 
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GopherJake said:
I was there as well. Packed house but very respectful crowd and easily navigable. We had a primo spot and weren’t challenged for position or even forced to hold ground at any point, which is always a bonus. You gave a terrific recap. Thanks.
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Thanks, as Dave would say, "You're too kind!".

One thing I forgot to mention, was Pirner thanking his father for coming to the show. Pretty heartfelt moment, assuming he's got to be well into his 80s.

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Anyone listen to the Wild Feathers on here? Maybe some Jayhawks fans...

Saw them in November and they are fantastic live. 4 of the 5 were lead singers in previous bands. Three of them sing lead off and on and their harmonies are incredible. Definitely worth checking out for several of those who post here. One of my favorite bands of the last 10 years.
 

Ope3 said:
Actor Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) has been side hustling as a singer. He and Chicago musician Jason Narducy have done several gigs in which they tackle covering a full album, most notably Murmur. This month they have been taking it on the road.

Knowing that Mike Mills has given it a full endorsement and that Narducy's cohort in the Bob Mould Band, Jon Wurster would be behind the kit prompted me to take a flier. I figured if those two can replicate Hüsker Dü & SUGAR, they can also handle the guys from Athens, GA.

It was a fun night, the almost sold out crowd gave it's full approval.

Opening set was Murmur + There She Goes.

1st encore they played Chronic Town and 5-6 others. Finished with a 2nd encore of another at least half dozen songs. Backing band was really strong, not just Wurster and Narducy, who mostly played guitar plus the Mills backing vox.

Lots of Reckoning and 3 from Life's Rich Pageant. Only 2 songs post-IRS were Country Feedback and Nightswimming.

No opening band, but they played 80s throwback videos on the curtain. Not sure if I have seen them do that this century.

Knowing the odds of ever seeing REM again are essentially nil, this was a fine substitute.
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As much fun as last years run through Murmur with Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy & Friends this years show was even better. I'm highly biased, but adding Wilco bass player to the role of Mike Mills was an enhancement.

This year it was Fables of the Reconstruction, and while I rate that in the the middle of the pack of the REM catalog, I think it's probably the best one to do in this tribute format. The live versions on this are just amazing, really start to finish. Opening set was the full album followed by covering REMs cover by the Velvet Underground, Femme Fatale.

After maybe a 10 second break, they were back and diving deep into the rest of REMs catalog. I mean really deep. Best to let a pro give the full recap:

www.startribune.com

Review: R.E.M. lives on via Hollywood actor and other familiar faces at First Avenue

Michael Shannon revisited 30-plus songs by the defunct Georgia quartet with members of Bob Mould’s band and Wilco.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Turns out Michael Shannon can play the role of Warren Zevon just as well as Michael Stipe. They just killed it on the Prince's Raspberry Beret in the stye of REM side project the Hindu Love Gods, which was a tour debut.

Other than that, my 2 favorite deep tracks were New Test Leper & Disturbance at the Heron House. "Followers of chaos out of control", seemed to have a pointed message. Understatement.

Instead of flat out hinting they would be back in 2026 for Life's Rich Pageant, Shannon flat out stated they would. While that is my #1 REM album, it's going to be tough to beat. I think they guys can do it.
 

Ope3 said:
As much fun as last years run through Murmur with Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy & Friends this years show was even better. I'm highly biased, but adding Wilco bass player to the role of Mike Mills was an enhancement.

This year it was Fables of the Reconstruction, and while I rate that in the the middle of the pack of the REM catalog, I think it's probably the best one to do in this tribute format. The live versions on this are just amazing, really start to finish. Opening set was the full album followed by covering REMs cover by the Velvet Underground, Femme Fatale.

After maybe a 10 second break, they were back and diving deep into the rest of REMs catalog. I mean really deep. Best to let a pro give the full recap:

www.startribune.com

Review: R.E.M. lives on via Hollywood actor and other familiar faces at First Avenue

Michael Shannon revisited 30-plus songs by the defunct Georgia quartet with members of Bob Mould’s band and Wilco.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Turns out Michael Shannon can play the role of Warren Zevon just as well as Michael Stipe. They just killed it on the Prince's Raspberry Beret in the stye of REM side project the Hindu Love Gods, which was a tour debut.

Other than that, my 2 favorite deep tracks were New Test Leper & Disturbance at the Heron House. "Followers of chaos out of control", seemed to have a pointed message. Understatement.

Instead of flat out hinting they would be back in 2026 for Life's Rich Pageant, Shannon flat out stated they would. While that is my #1 REM album, it's going to be tough to beat. I think they guys can do it.
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Great show. I can't believe they did, Bandwagon! I love Fables and thought the deep tracks were even better.
 

tikited said:
Great show. I can't believe they did, Bandwagon! I love Fables and thought the deep tracks were even better.
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There honestly were perhaps 10 songs I was surprised to see played. I'm glad I didn't check out previous setlists to spoil it.

It's so cool that Berry-Buck-Mills-Stipe not only endorse it but fully revel in it, promote and even have participated in Seattle, Portland, Athens & Brooklyn.

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Frink said:
Yeah I don't own anything by them but I think it might be a fun show.
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Indeed same as owning anything, but I have seen them play and it's a blast.
 

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