Let the music play - new Concert Reviews/Experiences

[Ope3]

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)

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.

 

[tikited]

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.

View attachment 33802
A lk=

That's him alright!

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

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.


View attachment 33805

LOVE IT!!!!

 

[Ope3]

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.

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

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

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]

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

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.

 

[Ope3]

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.



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.

 

[Ope3]

Jack White's Nashville joint.

 

[Ope3]

Jack White's Nashville joint.

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.

 

[Ope3]

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.

Bob said he still has the Flying V, didn't bring it on tour though.

 

[Ope3]

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.

 

[Ope3]

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?

 

[tikited]

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

 

[tikited]

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

"Playing KISS covers, beautiful and stoned. "

 

[Ope3]

"Playing KISS covers, beautiful and stoned. "

I dug it when Kotche "twirled his sticks" on que.

I'm in for the long haul. Great start to the weekend.

 

[Ope3]

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.

 

[Ope3]

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.

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

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]

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.

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

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.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

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.)