March Madness: Minneapolis Shows

[Sleeper]

From http://weheartmusic.typepad.com/blog/2012/02/march-madness-minneapolis-shows.html

>>>
I'm officially coming out of hibernation in March!

So… the problem with really successful bands like Atmosphere (who
consistently sells out shows at First Avenue) is that they're not
quite a Papa Bear-sized stadium band (Xcel or Target Center which can
house about 10,000+). They've certainly outgrown mid-sized venues like
First Avenue (1,500) or the Baby Bear (7th Street Entry of 250
capacity).

Your alternative might be the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, which I have to
confess is just too massive because of its stadium-esque seating
arrangement on top and a dance floor. Its capacity is around 4,000,
and even well-known bands have had a hard time coming close to selling
out.

Enter The Brick, a bigger-sized venue of 2,000+, for the "just
perfect" Bear sized. The venue hasn't officially opened, but I'm glad
to be one of the first to see a live show there, this March 19th for
Jane's Addiction and Black Box Revelation.

You should already know BBR from my previous articles and, unless
you've been living under a rock, you should also know Jane's
Addiction. For youngsters who aren't familiar with Paul McCarthy, you
should youtube "Been Caught Stealing", everyone will be singing along
to this classic.

From The Brick's press release, here are some upcoming bands:

• JANE’S ADDICTION: Monday, March 19 (18 & over show)
• BRIT FLOYD: Wednesday, March 28 (18 & over show)
• FEED ME: Friday, March 30 (18 & over show)
• BEATS ANTIQUE: Saturday, April 14 (16 & over show)
• HUNTER HAYES: Thursday, April 19 (All ages show)
• INCUBUS: Wednesday, May 9 (18 & over show)
• SLASH: Monday, May 14 (18 & over show)
• THE SHINS: Friday, June 1 (18 & over show)
**Additional shows will be announced in the coming weeks.
I will report back on how the Brick "stacks" up to its other
competitors like the Epic and First Avenue when I see Jane's Addiction
and BBR.

If the weather keeps up, here are my March shows:

MARCH 1: Young Prisms at 7th Street Entry
facebook.com/Youngprisms

I've already written about Young Prisms, since then I've gotten the
chance to listen to their album, In Between. It's good if you enjoy
shoegazey-ish music, which I happen to like. I can't wait to see them.

Feb 22 - Cafe Du Nord - San Francisco, CA $
Feb 24 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
Feb 25 - Comet Tavern - Seattle, WA ^
Feb 26 - The Shakedown - Bellingham, WA^
Feb 29 - The Aquarium - Dempsey’s - Fargo, ND#
Mar 1 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN #
Mar 2 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
Mar 3 - Cafe Bourbon Street - Columbus, OH #
Mar 4 - DC9 - Washington, DC #
Mar 5 - Glasslands - Brooklyn, NY #
Mar 6 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA#
Mar 7 - Great Scott - Allston, MA #
Mar 8 - The Red Door - Portsmouth, NH #
Mar 9 - Le Cagibi - Montreal, QC #
Mar 10 - Drake Hotel - Toronto, ON #
Mar 11 - Paperhouse - Detroit. MI #
Mar 21 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA *

$ w/ Melted Toys
^ w/ Grave Babies
# w/ Boy Friend
* w/ The Black Ryder

MARCH 3: Twilight Sad at 7th Street Entry
thetwilightsad.com

Scotland's Twilight Sad was recently in the news because they had to
cancel a few shows due to Visa complications. They are indeed "sad" at
this, even issuing a press release regretting the cancellation of the
Washington D.C. and Philadelphia tour dates.

The tour is to promote No One Can Ever Know, available now (February
7th) via Fat Cat Records… but I'm sure the real reason for them to be
here is to watch Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2.

The rest of their tour dates will still go on as scheduled:

Feb 25 Brooklyn NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Feb 26 Allston MA – Brighton Music Hall
Feb 28 Montreal QC – Il Motore
Feb 29 Toronto ON – Lee’s Palace
Mar 01 Grand Rapids MI – Pyramid Scheme
Mar 02 Chicago IL – Empty Bottle
Mar 03 Minneapolis MN – 7th Street Entry
Mar 05 San Diego CA – Casbah
Mar 06 Los Angeles CA – The Echo
Mar 07 San Jose CA – The Blank Club
Mar 08 San Francisco CA – The Independent
Mar 10 Seattle WA – Tractor Tavern
Mar 11 Portland OR – Doug Fir Lounge
Mar 14 – Mar 18 Austin TX – SXSW

MARCH 7: IAMDYNAMITE at 7th Street Entry
iamdynamite.com

The space and lowercase hater band IAMDYNAMITE will be releasing their
debut LP called SUPERMEGAFANTASTIC in June. You can preview and
download their free track, "Stereo" at Soundcloud.

If you want to see them live, here are their tour dates:

Mar 1 - Pianos - New York, NY - Early show @ 7:30pm
Mar 3 - Thunderbird Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA
Mar 7 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN
Mar 8 - Elbo Room - Chicago, IL
Mar 9 - Blueberry Hill - St Louis, MO
Mar 10 - Woodruff's - Ypsilanti, MI
Apr 5 - The Viper Room - Los Angeles, CA

MARCH 10: The New Amsterdams at Triple Rock Social Club
newams.net

I read that The New Amsterdams are set to play their first performance
in over four years; their last album, At the Foot of My Rival was
released in 2007. What you should know about this band is that it is
Get Up Kids' Matt Pryor's solo project. Since we saw the 'Kids getting
back together last year, I suppose the music-bug have bitten more than
normal.

Pryor has just released his sophomore solo album, May Day: "I've been
wanting to do a New Ams gig with Old Canes for ages. I've been so busy
with The Get Up Kids and solo stuff that we haven't had time to do it.
Since it was Crici (Old Canes) and my birthdays right around there we
decided to do it now. So, in a sense it's actually our birthday
parties."

2/27 - New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall *
2/28 - New Haven, CT @ Lily's Pad *
2/29 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott *
3/1 - Montreal, QC @ Club Lambi *
3/2 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel *
3/3 - Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar *
3/4 - Pittsburgh, PA @ The Smiling Moose
3/6 - Akron, OH @ Musica
3/7 - Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
3/8 - Howell, MI @ The Pike Room
3/9 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
3/10 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club

* w/ The Front Bottoms

MARCH 18: Vishtèn at Cedar Cultural Center
vishten.net

Vishtèn is described sound like "Acadian, Quebecois, Irish, Scottish,
and US American roots music". I have previously mentioned that any
bands playing at the Cedar, I would definitely like to attend. I like
the venue, although I wish the parking situation could be better
around the Cedar area.

03/16/2012, Fri in Springfield, OH
03/17/2012, Sat in Ann Arbor, MI
03/18/2012, Sun in Minneapolis, MN
03/21/2012, Wed in Winona, MN
03/22/2012, Thu in Wisconsin Rapids, WI
03/23/2012, Fri in Milwaukee, WI
03/24/2012, Sat in Chicago, IL
03/27/2012, Tue in Oklahoma City, OK

MARCH 23: Cursive at 400 Bar
cursivearmy.com

I was surprised to see this band playing at such a small venue, at the
400 Bar. But perhaps it's not a shock, since according to legend and
lore, the 400 Bar supported and gave Bright Eyes his chance to shine.
Conor Oberst owns Saddle Creek Records (which Cursive is currently
signed to), and you can see why he would book at the 400.

Cursive is currently on tour to promote their seventh album, I Am
Gemini, which came out NOW via Saddle Creek Records. Below are all
their 2012 tour dates. Seeing as they've been selling out their
California shows, I would recommend buying your tickets in advance.

02/21/12 San Francisco, CA Amoeba – Free Show!
02/22/12 San Francisco, CA Noise Pop Festival+
02/23/12 Los Angeles, CA Amoeba – Free Show!
02/24/12 LOS ANGELES, CA TROUBADOUR+
02/25/12 Pomona, CA Glass House+
02/26/12 San Diego, CA Casbah+
02/27/12 TEMPE, AZ CRESCENT BALLROOM+
02/28/12 ALBUQUERQUE, NM LAUNCHPAD+
03/01/12 Wichita, KS Abode+
03/02/12 Kansas City, MO The Record Bar+
03/03/12 Omaha, NE Slowdown+
03/22/12 Iowa City, IA The Mill*
03/23/12 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar*
03/24/12 Madison, WI High Noon*
03/25/12 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
03/26/12 Champaign, IL High Dive*
03/27/12 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig*
03/28/12 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls*
03/29/12 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop*
03/30/12 Buffalo, NY Mohawk*
03/31/12 Toronto, ONT Horseshoe Tavern*
04/02/12 Boston, MA Middle East*
04/03/12 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom*
04/04/12 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom*
04/05/12 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer*
04/06/12 Washington, DC Black Cat*
04/07/12 Raleigh, NC Kings Barcade*
04/08/12 Atlanta, GA The Earl*
04/09/12 St. Augustine, FL Cafe Eleven*
04/10/12 Orlando, FL The Social*
04/11/12 Tallahassee, FL Club Downunder*
04/13/12 Houston, TX Fitzgeralds*
04/14/12 Austin, TX Mohawk*
04/15/12 Dallas, TX Trees*
04/16/12 Little Rock, AR Revolution Music*
04/17/12 Memphis, TN Hi Tone *
04/18/12 Lexington, KY Cosmic Charlies*
04/19/12 Covington, KY Bangarangs*
04/20/12 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway*
04/21/12 Columbia, MO Mojos

+ with UME and Virgin Islands
* with Cymbals Eat Guitars and Conduits

MARCH 24: Chastity Brown at Cedar Cultural Center
chastitybrownmusic.com

Chastity Brown is to release Back-Road Highways on the Nashville-based
C & D Music Network, the CD release party will be held on Saturday,
March 24th at the Cedar. Playing with her will be Romantica and Black
Audience

MN Back-Road Highways Tour Dates
3/1/2012 - Duluth - Amazing Grace - 7pm, $10
3/9/2012 - Grand Marais - Gunflint Tavern - 9pm
3/10/2012 - Grand Marais - Gunflint Tavern- 9pm
3/12/2012 - Lutsen - Papa Charlies - 8pm
3/16/2012 - Mankato - The Coffee Hag - 8pm
3/24-2012 - Minneapolis - Cedar Cultural Center - 8pm, $10

MARCH 28: The Wedding Present at 400 Bar
scopitones.co.uk

Apparently, the Wedding Present are on tour for the 21st Anniversary
of Seamonsters. Has it really been that long? Throughout 2012, the
band will be playing their third album, in its entirety…. "plus 40
minutes of other music."

One thing I should mention, since I saw them in 2010, their strongest
track on that show was from Seamonsters: "Corduroy".

March – April : North America20/03 : Washington, DC, USA – Rock And
Roll Hotel with The Jet Age
21/03 : Brooklyn, NY, USA – Bell House with The Jet Age
22/03 : New York, NY, USA – Le Poisson Rouge with The Jet Age
23/03 : Allston, MA, USA – Brighton Music Hall with The Jet Age
25/03 : Toronto, ON, Canada – Horseshoe Tavern with The Jet Age
26/03 : Pontiac, MI, USA – Crofoot with The Jet Age
27/03 : Chicago, IL, USA – Double Door with The Jet Age
28/03 : Minneapolis, MN, USA – 400 Bar with The Jet Age
30/03 : San Diego, CA, USA – Casbah
31/03 : Los Angeles, CA, USA – Troubadour
01/04 : San Francisco, CA, USA – Independent
05/04 : Vancouver, BC, Canada – Biltmore Cabaret
06/04 : Seattle, WA, USA – Crocodile
07/04 : Portland, OR, USA – Mississippi Studios

MARCH 31: Fanfarlo at The Varsity Theater
fanfarlo.com

We've written about Fanfarlo's a couple of times. Kate G wrote about
their show in New York: "they had a man suspended upside down from the
rafters and escape from a straitjacket," which sounds pretty amazing.

Well, their new record is called Rooms Filled With Light, available on
February 28th, but you can stream it right now at NPR.

NPR is smitten by the album, asking "Is "charming" a genre?"

03/05 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA
03/06 Webster Hall New York, NY
03/07 U Street Music Hall Washington, DC
03/09 Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC
03/10 Vinyl Atlanta, GA
03/13 Fitzgerald's Houston, TX
03/14 The Loft Dallas, TX
03/19 Blueberry Hill's Duck Room St. Louis, MO
03/20 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN
03/22 Zanzabar Louisville, KY
03/23 Blind Pig Ann Arbor, MI
03/24 Mod Club Toronto, ON
03/25 Mr. Small's Theater Pittsburgh, PA
03/27 Skully's Music Diner Colmbus, OH
03/28 Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL
03/29 High Noon Saloon Madison, WI
03/31 The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
04/01 Record Bar Kansas City, MO
04/03 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
04/05 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
04/06 Neurolux Boise, ID
04/07 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
04/09 The Biltmore Vancouver, BC
04/10 The Crocodile Seattle, WA
04/15 Coachella Indio, CA
04/17 Slim's San Francisco, CA
04/22 Coachella Indio, CA

Did I miss any bands? Are you playing in town? Let me know!