Been Stellar took the stage at the Fillmore Minneapolis last night, riding the wave of anticipation that comes with opening for a band as high-octane as Fontaines DC. With a crowd already primed for intensity, Been Stellar gave a set that was equal parts grit and catharsis. Opening with “Scream From New York, NY,” the […]
In a time when Twin Cities music festivals seem to be shipwrecked, The Minnesota Yacht Club Festival emerged as an unexpected beacon of hope on the shores of the Mississippi. Set against the backdrop of St. Paul’s Harriet Island – a venue with a rock pedigree that includes R.E.M., Whitney Houston, and Bob Dylan – […]
As the synths of “King of Sweden” filled the ornate confines of St. Paul’s Palace Theatre, Future Islands launched into a set that was measured parts of both nostalgic reverie and feverish catharsis. Frontman Samuel T. Herring commanded the stage with raw emotion and theatrical physicality that most other bands should take note of, his […]
There’s an effortless naturalism to Katie Crutchfield’s songcraft that belies the profound inner depths her music plumbs. At St. Paul’s Palace Theatre Friday night, the Waxahatchee frontwoman spun the magical indie folk tales of her hard-won self-discovery, leaving the modern, yet ornate venue soaked in the radiant melancholy of her confessionals. Modern yet ornate is […]
Nestled within the heart of Minneapolis, The Fine Line Music Cafe has a knack for quietly hosting some of the most talented musicians on the road today. My experiences there have consistently unveiled acts that, in their brilliance, seem almost too grand for the intimate confines of the venue. So it’s no wonder that Sarah […]
First Avenue is often known as the musical melting pot of the city, And while it may skew towards indie acts, It’s still a packed house when California cowboys swing through town. Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real turned the club into their own. Flannel-clad hipsters mingled with denim-dusted veterans wearing tour tees […]
Faye Webster wants her listeners to get the joke. Give her music a casual listen, and you might miss the punchline. There’s a type of humor here that can be found deep beneath the surface in the melancholy waltz’s of her music. Yet, she never takes herself too seriously. Like Courtney Barnett, there’s a smirk […]
On the corner of Hennepin and Lagoon in Minneapolis, an iconic sign and marquee light up the night, casting a much needed glow back over the neighborhood. The Uptown Theatre, once a cherished local movie theater, has reemerged this year as a new concert venue hoping to become just as memorable, proudly reclaiming its position […]
“It’s our fourth time playing First Avenue” revealed Adam Weiner during his show last night. He retained his usual seat on the bench behind his upright piano, affectionally named Nellie (that is, if affectionate means having it’s named carved into the wood on the side.) Nellie, like Adam, both appeared to have been through hell […]
As band members entered the stage in the darkness, they carried lanterns with them – casting a warm glow. It guided them to their spots on the stage while also illuminating the faces of the crowd, many of whom were already glowing with excitement. It was reminiscent of the final night at summer camp, where […]
Photos by Alexander Just. Words by Casey Carlson When you think of eras like the 80’s and 90’s, you’re likely to think of the art and culture of that era more than any economic or societal events. Especially if you never lived in those eras, or, like me, werent there for very long. Thanks to […]
An absolutely stacked triple bill of talent performed at First Avenue last night, the perfect cure to the sunday scaries! We’ve got photos of all three performers below:
Atmosphere in the opening slot may not be something the band has been used to in recent years. But with a couple of other heavy hitters, including Slightly Stoopid, Sublime, and Rome – The Minneapolis based hip hop group – now in it’s 27th year – can still pull a crowd. And yes, that still […]
Photos courtesy of Chris Phelps Summer’s most difficult concert ticket to get may have belonged to Taylor Swift, But The Killers gave her a run for her money with a surprise performance at First Avenue last night. Announced just one week prior and selling out nearly instantly, the tickets to their intimate show became priceless. […]
When you think of folk music, chances are you don’t think about Winnipeg Manitoba. But each year, dozens of bands and thousands more people descend on a provincial park on the outskirts of town to celebrate folk music. It’s a celebration of the genre as a whole, with musicians and bands who have been around […]
It’s exciting to finally be able to return to The Ledge Amphitheater in St. Cloud on a summer night. We’re just at the halfway point of a Minnesota summer, and with outdoor festivals and shows in full swing, Myself and many other fans that packed the amphitheater couldn’t wait for tonight’s special lineup that many […]
MUNA’s music is all about self-expression and empowerment, and their live show is no different. The band members are all incredibly talented musicians in their own right, and their return to the Twin Cities, marking their second show here since August, was a breathtaking display in more ways than one. MUNA’s been on a roll […]
It’s graduation day at the University of Minnesota, and if you know somebody with a music major, they were likely in the audience of The Varsity Theatre for a very intimate performance from Theo Katzman. Katzman is perhaps best known for his role in Vulfpeck, performing guitar, drums, and vocals throughout the band’s discography. In […]
Whats a good indie act without a complicated frontman? For some musical acts, when you buy a ticket, you’re essentially buying a level of hope. Hope that the band will play your favorite song, your cherished deep cut, that they’ll spot you in the crowd and share a brief moment of eye contact. Or, lately […]
You’ve heard an M83 song whether you’ve known it or not. But the band has much more depth than the one-or-two hit songs used for every cinematic moment in the last ten years. Midnight City and Outro are both songs that were the cornerstones of cinematic, euphoric moments in films and commercials since M83 released […]
Not just your heady uncle’s jam band. “Ive heard from five different people tonight that the band isnt going on until closer to 9:00” Said the security guard I spoke with last night in the photo pit. Its rare these days that bands play exactly on time anyways, but a whole 45 minutes late to […]
“We aren’t kidding when we say the Twin Cities is like a second home to us” Said Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith between songs last night. “I’ll never forget our first tour through here, and for some fucked up reason we sold out First Avenue! You guys keep showing up, and it means a lot to […]
While it wasn’t built for it in mind, US Bank Stadium is the largest concert venue in Minnesota. It was built for Vikings games and NCAA Championship games to be played in front of over 50,000 people. But even though it’s seven years old, the powers that be haven’t figured out how to make anything […]
Any fourteen year old who picked up an acoustic guitar to fulfill their singer-songwriter dreams has sat at the end of their bed, staring at the wall of their bedroom imagining it’s an arena full of screaming fans. They’ve imagined creating a riff on guitar that’s instantly recognizable, and leaving the crowd speechless with their […]
Since their inception in 2018, Bob Weir has brought the Wolf Brothers to the Twin Cities on three occasions, making their return to St. Paul last night a welcome sight for fans who were once concerned that these performances might be rare – or that Weir may not return. Despite concerns about his age, Weir […]
Ive often spoke about how I grossly underestimated bluegrass in the past. Ever since then, it seems to have continued it’s resurgence tenfold. Even acts like Billy Strings have started to sell out entire arenas tens of thousands in capacity. Resurgance may not even be the right way to put it. Perhaps Bluegrass music is […]
“Not bad for a Tuesday night!” Said Paul Klien, to a roar of applause at the Armory. Paul, the lead singer for LANY, seemed healthy and confident last night in Minneapolis after needing to reschedule the original date two weeks ago for vocal rest. “I know we’re late, and you could have been to a […]
April 10, 2019 Our cab driver on the previous evening told us, “You haven’t been to Nashville if you haven’t gone down to Broadway St”. Personally, I’d rather hang in dives and dumps than Blake Sheldon’s bar – or especially Kid Rock’s bar. That aside, that’s not what tonight was about. First trip to Nashville. […]
It’s been over 5 years since Brt Rynlds and Charles Bronson, better known as Sex Burger, made their presence known performing and djing disco boogie funk around town. Their unique sound and show took dance floors by storm before their hiatus. Now Sex Burger is back at it again with Dan Staddon sitting behind the […]
I also photograph marketing for small businesses, one of my clients is a local pizza place. At the pizza place was a server named Sierra Swan. Sierra and I became friends. I knew she was new to Minnesota and was a musician. Sierra told me that she was taking a break in the music […]
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