Let the music play - new Concert Reviews/Experiences

[Ope3]

Just got tickets to see Shannon and Narducy play Life's Rich pageant in March.

Should be well worth it. Same backing crew that was here for Fables.

 

[Full Speed Ahead]

Last Friday I went to see Durry at First Ave. It's the kickoff of their new "This Movie Sucks" tour, this time mostly staying in the U.S. (a few stops in Canada). I've been following these folks over the years, from "Marah and Mainsail" to "Coyote Kid" to now "Durry". They've slogged through a lot of "hope we have enough money to buy gas to get us to the next show" deals to now selling out pretty decent venues (BTW, I may be getting old but a sold out show at First Ave is too many people - not sure how FIrst Ave gets fire code permission to pack that many people in a building). Nice to see another Minnesota band (they're from Lakeville - brother and sister on guitars and vocals, his wife on bass, and a friend on drums) making it on the concert tour scene. Do catch their show if they come to your town.

 

[stocker08]

I don't have tickets yet as I was waiting for the Rutgers game time to be announced. I still want to though. I'm still working out if I like the new album or not. Soooooo different than previous ones.

It's good. Not nearly as good as 'Blue Weekend'.

Gophers play at 11 according to ESPN.

 

[stocker08]

(BTW, I may be getting old but a sold out show at First Ave is too many people - not sure how FIrst Ave gets fire code permission to pack that many people in a building).

You aren't alone. It's the exact reason why I've been passing on shows at First Avenue recently. It's been too packed to even enjoy the show the last few times I've been there. The Fillmore and The Armory are WAY better venues to see shows, imo.

 

[Ope3]

Sounds great at the Bank.

Steve Earle

 

[Ope3]

So far at the Bank, the most impressive to me has been Lukas Nelson. Playing to the crowd with a Neil Young cover, Unknown Legend, helped his cause.



Local boys, Trampled by Turtles were also quite the crowd pleasers.

 

[Ope3]

Dave.

 

[Ope3]

Now that the dust has settled some thoughts on Farm Aid.

In general, I am not really huge on festivals of this magnitude because it's incredibly hard to please everyone. Artists I am big fans of (Steve Earle & Neil Young) the thought of just getting 20-30 minutes leaves one feeling short changed.

Still it was a blast. The artists I am casual fans of, Waxahatchee, Trampled by Turtles and Dylan all gave solid sets.

Not really being familiar with Billy Strings, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Lukas Nelson, they all performed to the point that I want to start sampling their catalogs. Going forward, I am more than willing to see them as headliners (or warm up bands). Especially Strings.

Lukas bringing Sierra Ferrell on stage for a Neil Young cover (Unknown Legend from Harvest Moon) was a huge crowd pleaser.

Acts that I am familiar with but there is zero chance I will ever pay to see them headline were still very entertaining, including Wynonna Judd, Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews (w/ Tim Reynolds). Judd and Chesney's bands are incredibly professional.

With Chesney, I could only name 1 song before hand Beer in Mexico. With his charisma and upbeat songs, I get the attraction. Whoever his guitar player is, put down perhaps the most impressive guitar solo of the entire day.

Ditto for Matthews. Incredible musician who had the entire stadium single along with Ants Marching.

Just about every act had an A1 fiddle player. DM didn't have one, so he drafted one from another act.

Legacy acts John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan delivered. Leading the crowd from his Cougar days with an audience sing-a-long of Jack and Diane was great fun. While his voice is rough, it still works to solid effect on Pink Houses and Rain On the Scarecrow.

For Dylan, I totally was enthralled with All Along the Watchtower and Highway 61 Revisited. Thanks for coming home.

Neil's set was a blistering effort, starting with a brand new song on the current state of affairs. Breaking in his new band (The Chrome Hearts) with classics like Keep on Rocking in the Free World, Southern Man, Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) & Old Man was undoubtedly the highlight. He was timeless, rolling the clock back 30-50 years.

Willie finished it off in fine fashion. As Pearl Jam fan how could I not be impressed by the duet with Lukas on Just Breathe. Adding Last Leaf on the Tree produced some tears in the audience. Quite heartfelt.

Glad I made it on this 40th Anniversary.

 

[Ope3]

Neil Young.



Willie Nelson putting a bow on it

 

[Ope3]

Garbage still getting it done tonight at 1st Ave. Shirley Manson is still an epic force of nature.

 

[Ope3]

You aren't alone. It's the exact reason why I've been passing on shows at First Avenue recently. It's been too packed to even enjoy the show the last few times I've been there. The Fillmore and The Armory are WAY better venues to see shows, imo.

I won't disagree that it's more challenging to see a show at First Ave. The shows themselves though are better and have more energy at the good old Greyhound Bus Station generally speaking IMO.

Also the Fillmore & The Armory are under of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster umbrella, which is rapidly having a negative impact on several bands survival.

Shirley Manson of Garbage has touched on this as part of their decision to make this the final North American Headliner Tour. She referenced Wolf Alice having the same issue.

Both acts chose First Ave recently to perform. Rock on.

Garbage Bids Farewell to First Avenue in Final Headlining Tour

It’s fitting that Garbage played First Avenue on what they’ve declared to be their last major North American headlining run, at least in the near

www.musicinminnesota.com

Shirley Manson explains Garbage's final US headline tour is due to "the thievery of the record industry"

Garbage’s Shirley Manson has said the reason their current tour will be their last is due to “the thievery of the record industry”.

www.nme.com

 

[Ope3]

Garbage still getting it done tonight at 1st Ave. Shirley Manson is still an epic force of nature.

View attachment 39315

View attachment 39316

Garbage at 1st Ave - Oct 3rd

The band was back where they started. Literally. Ok, maybe a just a few yards from literally. Their first ever live gig was at 7th St Entry in 1994, before they exploded shortly after their self-titled debut album.

I was not at that show, but was able to see them at a couple of festivals (including Edgefest) and twice previously at 1st Ave. Last time was 2005.

It was far from a nostalgia show. The stuff from the new album Let All That We Imagine Be the Light blends right in with their art rock/power punk standards from the 90s.

I dug it all. Just as vibrant as ever, especially Shirley, just owning the stage and audience. The guys haven't lost anything either.

While this is their last North American Tour, Manson did express they will continue to play shows and hopefully will return to Minneapolis.

If that was it though, they went out with a bang.

 

[BleedGopher]

I went to the worst concert performance of my life last weekend, Sister Hazel. I love a good late 1990's college band (Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Blues Traveler, etc.) and figured Sister Hazel would be fun, especially since it was a free concert as some city here in AZ that I've never heard of was celebrating 150 years. They had local bands during the day and Sister Hazel as the headliner. I listened to quite a bit of SH the week leading up to see what their new songs have been and to be honest, it was solid. A mix of their original "All for You" sound with a bit of country/Americana.

Well, apparently the lead singer is having vocal chord issues (surprised more lead singers aren't having this issue considering how many concerts they play) and it was quite evident he shouldn't be performing right now. I felt bad for the rest of his bandmates (the entire original band from Gainsville is still in tact which is commendable) but Ken Block shouldn't be performing right now. About halfway through the concert he couldn't hit a note and was really relying on the rest of the band to carry him through each song.

I admire the grind and any band that has legit hits, especially one as big as All for You was, and can still command a decent crowd 30 years later deserves a tip of the hat, but they aren't even on the same planet as Gin Blossoms, Toad, etc. in 2025.

Go Live Music!!

 

[stocker08]

I won't disagree that it's more challenging to see a show at First Ave. The shows themselves though are better and have more energy at the good old Greyhound Bus Station generally speaking IMO.

Also the Fillmore & The Armory are under of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster umbrella, which is rapidly having a negative impact on several bands survival.

Shirley Manson of Garbage has touched on this as part of their decision to make this the final North American Headliner Tour. She referenced Wolf Alice having the same issue.

Both acts chose First Ave recently to perform. Rock on.

Garbage Bids Farewell to First Avenue in Final Headlining Tour

It’s fitting that Garbage played First Avenue on what they’ve declared to be their last major North American headlining run, at least in the near

www.musicinminnesota.com

Shirley Manson explains Garbage's final US headline tour is due to "the thievery of the record industry"

Garbage’s Shirley Manson has said the reason their current tour will be their last is due to “the thievery of the record industry”.

www.nme.com

I don't disagree with anything you've said. First Avenue is a cool venue. My entire point is that if I'm uncomfortable to the point of not enjoying myself much....then that's a problem and lessens the chance that I'll actively be looking for concert tickets. And that's kind of the experience I've had the past couple of times at First Ave.

On the flip side.....I dig the Fine Line. And the Turf Club has probably been my favorite venue over the past few years. Have had nothing but great experiences at the Turf Club.

I would have liked to see Garbage.

 

[stocker08]

I went to the worst concert performance of my life last weekend, Sister Hazel. I love a good late 1990's college band (Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Blues Traveler, etc.) and figured Sister Hazel would be fun, especially since it was a free concert as some city here in AZ that I've never heard of was celebrating 150 years. They had local bands during the day and Sister Hazel as the headliner. I listened to quite a bit of SH the week leading up to see what their new songs have been and to be honest, it was solid. A mix of their original "All for You" sound with a bit of country/Americana.

Well, apparently the lead singer is having vocal chord issues (surprised more lead singers aren't having this issue considering how many concerts they play) and it was quite evident he shouldn't be performing right now. I felt bad for the rest of his bandmates (the entire original band from Gainsville is still in tact which is commendable) but Ken Block shouldn't be performing right now. About halfway through the concert he couldn't hit a note and was really relying on the rest of the band to carry him through each song.

I admire the grind and any band that has legit hits, especially one as big as All for You was, and can still command a decent crowd 30 years later deserves a tip of the hat, but they aren't even on the same planet as Gin Blossoms, Toad, etc. in 2025.

Go Live Music!!

A decent number of those "one hit wonder" 90's adult alternative bands have some pretty solid records that were just completely overshadowed by the one song that got obsessive radio play. Unfortunately to say.....the couple of Sister Hazel records that I listened to were duds outside of the radio hits ('All For You' & 'Change Your Mind'). Just my opinion. I typically find at least another song or two that I like on most records that have that strong of a single.

 

[Ope3]

I would have liked to see Garbage.

My previous comment really talked up Manson, but that's not to take away from the guys.

She's just a kid compared to them. Butch Vig is 70 now, going on 40 as far as energy. Duke Erickson is even older, but hasn't lost anything, nor Steve Marker as dueling guitar players. Rock steady.