Let the music play - new Concert Reviews/Experiences

[Ope3]

It happened a few weeks ago, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention Jeff Tweedy's performance at 1st Ave back on Nov 6th. The place was every bit as packed as it was for the Garbage show I saw last month, even on a Thursday night.

While he was there in 2022 with Golden Smog, this marked the first time he had been at the venue with his solo project band since 2015. Line-up includes his two sons, Spencer on drums and Sammy on synth & some vocals. The rest of the band includes contemporary friends of his kids. All pretty solid, it's not a vanity project

While maybe not as energetic as a Wilco show, I found the evening quite enjoyable. It's in promotion of his wonderful TRIPLE album, Twilight Override.

No Wilco material, but that was fine by me. I wanted as much material from the new album as possible. 17 songs were included. Nothing weak.

The encore was marked by a wonderful tribute to Conrad which I already commented on in his thread. It also set the stage for a couple of big surprise covers.

Each stop they have been featuring a song as a 1 time tour performance that is also a nod to the locale that they are playing. We were treated to a bring down the house Prince cover of "Kiss". Sammy on lead vox. If that wasn't enough, due to the reverence for Minneapolis, we got a bonus. The Replacements, "Androgynous".

A delightful treat.

 

[Ope3]

Pearl Jam N2 at Hard Rock Live got off to a great start just from the shout outs I was getting from wearing my Replacements/Midway T-shirt. It included a photo opportunity with a guy from Jordan, MN sporting the exact same get up.

He asked what song did I want to hear most. I went with my #1 PJ song, Release. Boom. Didn't have to wait long, show opener, played in complete darkness. That was followed by a deep cut, Of the Girl. Next up, my #3 fave, Given to Fly with minimal light so that the band appeared as silhouettes on the screen behind.

There was really no let up with crowd pleasers throughout and an ample amount of Dark Matter material. Jeremy, Elderly Woman, Daughter, Even Flow, Black, Porch, Just Breathe & Betterman were also included in the setlist. Ed also called an audible into Faithful for which I approve.

The evening finished with the NY standard Rockin' in the Free World and Yellow Ledbetter.

Great show. Great night. Great weekend.

I have now determined I am a fan of The Cadillac Margarita.

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As a Fan Club member which helps out with these foundation donations, I approve. Cool story.

https://www.startribune.com/pearl-jam-zamboni-donation-two-harbors-minnesota/601532927

 

[Ope3]

Anyone skipping tonight's Lemonheads show at The Fine Line based on last year's Shame About Ray/Come on Feel stop (same venue), I don't blame you. That was a mess, which is actually about as kind as one can label it. However, you missed out on a dandy of a show.

I threw caution to the wind and made a late game day decision to attend. This was based on how strong the new album is, Love Chant, and the solo Nashville (mostly ) In Store I saw him at in October, which Evan kept his bleep together.

The opening act Erin Rae was a solid singer song writer who also added some backing vocals on Love Chant. She thanked Dando and more importantly his wife for hosting her on this tour. That gave me hope with her around he would be lucid & present.

Indeed he was. It's the most I have seen him smile in the past 10 MPLS shows, COMBINED. The voice also held up for the most part.

We got about half the new album along with some Lemonheads standards in the main set.

The solo/acoustic had some John Prine but then the we got a real treat. He fired off a Replacements double shot, Skyway > If Only You Were Lonely.

The rest of the trio came back on stage for Into Your Arms and ended the night with If I Could Talk.

Thank you Mrs Dando.

 

[Ope3]

Anyone skipping tonight's Lemonheads show at The Fine Line based on last year's Shame About Ray/Come on Feel stop (same venue), I don't blame you. That was a mess, which is actually about as kind as one can label it. However, you missed out on a dandy of a show.

I threw caution to the wind and made a late game day decision to attend. This was based on how strong the new album is, Love Chant, and the solo Nashville (mostly ) In Store I saw him at in October, which Evan kept his bleep together.

The opening act Erin Rae was a solid singer song writer who also added some backing vocals on Love Chant. She thanked Dando and more importantly his wife for hosting her on this tour. That gave me hope with her around he would be lucid & present.

Indeed he was. It's the most I have seen him smile in the past 10 MPLS shows, COMBINED. The voice also held up for the most part.

We got about half the new album along with some Lemonheads standards in the main set.

The solo/acoustic had some John Prine but then the we got a real treat. He fired off a Replacements double shot, Skyway > If Only You Were Lonely.

The rest of the trio came back on stage for Into Your Arms and ended the night with If I Could Talk.

Thank you Mrs Dando.

Post show Pizza Luce.

 

[stocker08]

Yacht Club Festival lineup out. Yeesh......$150 for a day pass or $275 for a three day pass. Three day pass is fairly reasonable. But $150 for a single day? I just want to see Marcy Playground.....

 

[Ope3]

Over the past roughly 100 days in 3 states, I was able to see Jeff Tweedy perform in 3 incarnations. Last night's treat was a quick jaunt to Chicago to see Golden Smog for a rare non-Twin Cities gig.

Usually he joins the Minneapolis based supergroup (Jayhawks-Soul Asylum-Run Westy Run) on to their home turf. This year after a 3 year gap, they did a couple of New York shows before heading back west at play the Vic on a rainy night.

Very good crowd. Tough ticket, they were going for $250+ on the secondary market. While it was a very predictable Setlist of material, I enjoyed it thoroughly none the less.

Highlights as always were Glad and Sorry (Faces Cover) and Won't Be Coming Home. Gary Louris and Tweedy can harmonize right up there with the Everly Brothers and the Beach Boys, IMO. Speaking of Brian Wilson, Love and Mercy was also featured.

The main set concluded, which rolled into a Louris/Tweedy 4 song duo acoustic set starting with Radio King. That song belongs on each's Mt Rushmore over their prolific catalog.

Kraig Johnson, Marc Perlman, Danny Murphy & Steve Gorman rejoined for another encore. Johnson just tore through the Neil Young classic Revolution Blues and they ended on Weird Tales standard Until You Came Along. I suspect we will get that one again this weekend for the Jayhawks show at the Palace.

Great time.

 

[Ope3]

-7 walking from the parking ramp to the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul on Saturday night. That will put anyone into the holiday spirit for cool double bill of Robyn Hitchcock & the Jayhawks.

It was the first time I had seen Hitchcock in several decades, he delivered a couple of my favorites early on, Balloon Man and Madonna of the Wasps

Between most of his songs there was quite comedic entertaining stage banter. His strong set ended with his Soft Boys classic, I Wanna Destroy You to an appreciative crowd.



The Jayhawks were a stripped down 4-piece, going without an.extra guitar player. In addition to a lot of the same usual stuff there were a handful of new tunes. They will on their new album due out by July which will the 40th Anniversary for the group.

Also included.were a half dozen modern Christmas songs to a very receptive audience.

The night ended with a Golden Smog song, Until You Came Along. Pretty surreal that I was able to witness Gary Louris & Marc Perlman perform it in two different confirmations in the same week, having just seen them in Chicago.



Gary Louris clad in a formal suit and tie, equipped with a Flying V.



The show was dedicated to Konrad, whose image was occasionally shown on the backdrop video screen. Quite a tribute.

 

[Ope3]

Tommy Stinson opening for Soul Asylum tonight with a full band.

 

[Ope3]

The Cave (Northfield)
1st Ave
The Whole/Coffman Union
Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Great Hall/Coffman Union
Edge Fest (Somerset, WI)
State Theatre
The Fine Line
The Red Carpet (St Cloud)
Basilica Block Party
Grand Old Days
Canterbury Downs (Shakopee)
The Quest
Peavey Plaza
Taste of Minnesota (State Capitol)
Rib Fest
Lumberjack Days (Stillwater)
7th Street Entry
St John's Block Party (Rochester)
Pan O Prog (Lakeville)
Nicolet Mall (Super Bowl)

As my friend and I were heading to 1st Ave on Saturday to see the Tommy Stinson/Soul Asylum double bill he asked me how many times I had seen SA. I guessed 30.

Then I mentally went through the list of where I had seen them before (above) and I realized I was way off. I came up with at least 20 venues. Having seen them more than 20 times at 1st Ave alone, I am thinking conservatively it's about 50.

Tommy got things cooking with his band. First time I had seen him fronting one in a long time.

Soul Asylum was clicking. While I miss the old crew dearly, Pirner has this collection of pros playing tight.

There were about a half dozen new tunes along with a couple of favorites from the '00s, Lately & Oxygen. Some usual standards were included: Misery, String of Pearls, Black Gold, Runaway Train & Somebody to Shove (finale).

The thrill for me though was seeing these 3 tunes:

Without a Trace
Sometime to Return
Veil of Tears

Those are probably my top 3 songs in the Pirner catalog, and it's been rare the last few decades that all get played in the same set. Often it's less than 2. Dave let the audience carry the final verse on Without a Trace, much to his delight.







The place was Sold Out and packed, most getting there for Tommy's set which was cool to see.

Good way to cap off 2025 for live shows from Minnesota to Florida, Iowa, Washington, Tennessee & Illinois. A fun ride.

Good times.