Tuxedo at The Cedar Cultural Center 8/14/19

Great show at The Cedar Cultural Center from Mayer Hawthorne's synthy-funk duo Tuxedo with Jake One.

The 2nd time my wife and I have seen Tuxedo, and this definitely, overall was a BETTER show than the one a couple of years ago at The Fine Line.

Mayer played bass on some of the tunes, including their cover of Chic's "Good Times."

He did not however play it on the groovey opening track The Tuxedo Way, as it sounded like it was sequenced in.

Why? no idea. And actually "The Tuxedo Way" definitely has a GOOD TIMES-like bassline, so combining or transitioning them would have made some sense to me.

But the highlights besides the 1st song were "On a Good One," which is another banger from Tuxedo III, the new Tuxedo album.

You and Me, So Good, The Right Time, 2nd Time Around

and the 2 Mayer tunes that are kind of staples, Designer Drug and Henny and Gingerale

Great show, great energy, and good SIZE crowd.

The crowd itself? MIXED as my wife and I stood near some tall and very TALKATIVE guys..frat-boys-like. I tolerated it, mocking them a bit by using my hand showing chatter.

Some people like to go to concerts, drink beer, and let not only their friends, but others there who paid good money to see and HEAR the music, HEAR THEIR CONVERSATIONS as well.

Also what does it say when you have a 30 minute wait to buy a bottle of water? LACK OF VOLUNTEERS? I guess.. I used to love, and still like The Cedar, and realize only so many volunteers are available, but I have seen 50 or more concerts there, and not once have I ever had to wait that extensively to buy a bottle of water.

I was thirsty after the show since I wasn't willing to wait that long and miss Tuxedo, so I didn't even bother. I bought merch instead.

But, overall, still a great show, and I'm not sure how we could have done it differently. Parked nearby for cheap, later (8:20-ish, doors were at 7). The DJ went on past his time (8:48..should have been done at 8:30. And he may have been the same DJ that opened at The Fine Line in 2017, which I think the same happened...the guy needs to learn when his time is up and to get off the stage, but apparently it doesn't matter to anyone).

Maybe the only tune they didn't do, which I don't they played in 2017 either, is my favorite off Tuxedo II, Back in Town, but I'd have to check the set list. Otherwise, the set list, energy, performances, etc were very good and rival-ed many of Mayer's incredible solo shows.

Christian Wunderlich was great. The new keyboardist was good, although I think we missed the rhythm section a fair amount at times.

Set List
The Tuxedo Way
Number One
Shy (with snippet of So Ruff, So Tuff by Zapp)
You and Me
2nd Time Around
Vibrations
So Good (with snippet of Feels Good by Tony Toni Toné)
The Right Time
On a Good One
Good Times (Chic cover)
Toast 2 Us (with snippet of Big Poppa… more )
Get U Home
July (with snippet of Corsican Rose by Mayer Hawthorne)
Designer Drug (Mayer Hawthorne song)
This Beat Is Mine (Vicky D cover)
If U Want It
OMW
Rotational
Fux With the Tux
Do It

Encore:
Watch the Dance
Henny and Gingerale (Mayer Hawthorne song)

Mayer Hawthorne - Man About Town (2015-2016)..("Love Like That" Streaming)

2/17/16 11:23PM

edit: the next single "Love Like That" now streaming


The release date is now April 8th, but the title "Man About Town" rings a bell or 2, which for myself I suppose it is Kevin Gilbert and the song "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge" from his band Toy Matinee:

Tempted by half-Elvis, half man-about-town

But as far as the track list and artwork, etc. I expect it to be good, even though it's hardly a long record clocking in at just under 34 minutes (per the iTunes track times, Amazon has it at 34:02).

The fiancee will want probably 1 of the big bundles and a tour hopefully will follow with a date in Minneapolis (preorder page on his site mentions a headlining tour). I think this album would be a huge deal right now to her, but with The Monkees album, it may take a little bit of a backseat, which could be interesting to find out how she feels about it vs The Monkees album (2 of her favorites in the same year; for me it might be like when dredg and The Dear Hunter came out the same year..or Marillion and Fates Warning, etc).

http://store.mayerhawthorne.com/
Facebook Post (with all the preorder links)


1 Man About Town 0:41
2 Cosmic Love 3:13
3 Book of Broken Hearts 3:31
4 Breakfast in Bed 4:07
5 Lingerie & Candlewax 3:37
6 Fancy Clothes 4:05
7 The Valley 3:32
8 Love Like That 4:06
9 Get You Back 3:36
10 Out of Pocket 3:22

1/14/16 2:00PM
Yet to be announced titled new album coming in April. 1st single "Cosmic Love" streaming:

Story

Mayer Hawthorne opening for Hall and Oates, Irivine, CA 8/30/15

I don't live near Irvine, CA of course, but with Mayer and Hall and Oates on 1 bill together, the Fiancee would freak out to see this show.

For the 2 of us, it may end up around $1200-$1500, including a trip finally to Amoeba I suppose, but that price range isn't completely unthinkable considering some different factors from now until August 30th.

Of course Mayer was once on "Live From Daryl's House" and has even covered "You Make My Dreams"

We'll see, but it would hardly be shocking if we make this *that* trip post-Grad School for her.

This is almost like Marillion + Rush or Ours + dredg for her, so it is *that* much of an EVENT, and likely just a 1-off as Hall and Oates don't do a ton of touring extensively now (more festivals and such).

Also if it is the same venue, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, I think it is, Outdoors, etc..it is the place I saw Dream Theater on Gigantour,

edit: July 24th, 2005, so 10 years and a little over a month..I was out there for a Family Reunion actually, and it was pure luck/coincidence I was able to attend that festival.

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dream-theater/2005/verizon-wireless-amphitheater-irvine-ca-43d6d3db.html

Tuxedo - Tuxedo (2014-2015)

2/23/15 8:13PM
Whole thing is up on NPR's site to stream. Good record. "The Right Time" and "Watch the Dance" are probably my favorites thus far.

http://www.npr.org/2015/02/22/387517135/first-listen-tuxedo-tuxedo

12/02/14 7:06PM

As posted previously, this is the debut record from the collaboration between Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One.

Release date March 3rd

Preorder includes download of "Do It."
http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/album/tuxedo/tuxedo



1. Lost Lover
2. R U Ready
3. Watch the Dance
4. So Good
5. Two Wrongs
6. Tuxedo Groove
7. I Got U
8. The Right Time
9. Roll Along
10. Get U Home
11. Do It
12. Number One

Mayer Hawthorne: Playboy.com Video Interview

Good interview asking Mayer about his favorite records; Steely Dan included! Favorite Artist: I knew about his Barry White influence, but he adds a little more here., His shows, his favorite record stores. The store in the Bay Area, Groove Merchant I can't say I know, and when he mentions Amoeba, while I guess the Hollywood store is the largest, I have yet to go there, and know Amoeba for their Bay Area stores.

Introducing TUXEDO (Mayer Hawthorne + Jake One)

Official video for their song "Do It."

Tuxedo is a relaively new musical project/collaboration between Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One. I guess Jake One is known for his work with the Doomtree label, which is a well known Hip-Hop label from my hometown of Minneapolis, MN.

Tuxedo per a recent interview Mayer Hawthorne gave when he did a live stream on Yahoo below, mentioned how Tuxedo's debut album is looking to be released in February 2015. And per the video, it seems it'll be released on Stones Throw which is the label Mayer originally was with, and includes ex-Apes and Androids live performer Morgan Z's Chrome Canyon project.

Musically, Tuxedo differs from Mayer's solo work in some ways, sounding more funk and electronic I guess. Take Mayer's track "Designer Drug" I suppose their music resembles.

Also this new song/video "Do It" I like how the lyric "Her Favorite Song" is mentioned many times, which of course is the title of the track that received maybe the most exposure from his LP from 2013, Where Does This Door Go. Connection?..sort of Beatles or Zeppelin-esque if there is any.

Also "Do It" and the Nike catch phrase "Just Do It" keep coming to my mind, namely also Mayer's interest in Basketball Shoes (Air Jordan's I recall), although I suppose the odds of there being any connection with the title of this new song and Nike probably isn't likely.

https://www.facebook.com/tuxedo
https://twitter.com/Tuxedo

Rihanna: First Majestyy and now Mayer Hawthorne

This remix by Majesty Brian Jacobs (ex-Apes and Androids/Call Florence Pow), was I guess made/shared a couple of years ago. I hadn't checked it out until like a month ago when he shared another one of his jams on Soundcloud.

But I really like this remix. When Majestyy does these, there's always a cool upbeat electronic flare added to them, so much so, I wonder if the original would sound weird to me after getting used to these remixes.




So, not a REMIX but actually a cover of another Rihanna tune, "Stay" was just shared by of all people, Mayer Hawthorne.

Go Here to Stream it (of course no embed that I can tell, lame as it is, but not surprising).

Record Store Day 2014

My head/arm was cutoff unfortunately, but this stuff is a work-in-progress anyway given this is the 1st time I've tried making a video with my gf.

Chromeo - White Women (2014)

3/3/14 10:07PM


New song "Jealous" on Soundcloud Here


2/17/14 9:22PM
being released May 12th

Facebook
exclaim.ca story

Cover art, which was 1st revealed on this Minneapolis Craigslist post. I'm (or my girlfriend is) not fully clear as to why the ad was posted in the Minneapolis Craigslist (as opposed to Toronto?); the album isn't even being released until 6 days after the show at First Avenue on May 6th. Perhaps it has something to do with the Chromeo guys appreciation for not only Prince but The Time?




1/7/14 1:02AM
New song is pretty sweet "Come Alive."..Minneapolis Tuesday May 6th!





http://chromeo.net/tours/

01 / 09 / 14 HOLY SHIP (DJ SET) Miami, FL
03 / 21 / 14 BUKU Music + Art Project New Orleans, LA
03 / 22 / 14 BUKU Music + Art Project New Orleans, LA
04 / 06 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Tokimonsta), House Of Blues Houston, TX
04 / 07 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Tokimonsta), Stubbs Austin, TX
04 / 08 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Tokimonsta), House Of Blues Dallas, TX
04 / 12 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Tokimonsta), Independent San Francisco, CA
04 / 14 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Tokimonsta), Roseland Portland, OR
04 / 15 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Tokimonsta), Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC 04 / 16 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Tokimonsta), Showbox Market Seattle, WA
04 / 19 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Tokimonsta), Marquee Phoenix, AZ
04 / 30 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), House Of Blues Boston, MA
05 / 01 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), Corona Theater Montreal, QC
05 / 02 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON
05 / 05 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL
05 / 06 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
05 / 07 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), The Pageant St. Louis, MO
05 / 09 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), Royal Oak Music Hall Detroit, MI
05 / 12 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA
05 / 13 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), The National Richmond, VA
05 / 14 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA
05 / 16 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR (special guest: Oliver), Terminal 5 New York, NY
06 / 03 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR, La Cigale Paris, FR
06 / 04 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR, Paradiso Amsterdam, NL
06 / 06 / 14 COME ALIVE TOUR, Roundhouse


11/10/13 11:02PM
This is a somewhat long-awaited 4th album from Canadian electronic-dance/soul duo Chromeo. I guess I know them mostly from my girlfriend's talk/exposing them to me over the last couple of years. Although, I can't forget the fact I saw their name on more than 1 occasion a few years ago, before I knew her.

I kind of hear groups like Kool and the Gang and some other 80's dance/pop synthy music in their sound. "Smooth" might be 1 of the most common adjectives to describe them.

And maybe 1 reason my gf talks about them is Mayer Hawthorne opened for them back in 2011, and she says it may have been the best show she's ever seen.

At any case, they have 2 singles out already, and this record is expected in early 2014 (I thought I saw 1 site that said March). I'll try and update this entry when the tracklist, artwork and release date comes soon.

The Aston Shuffle - Never Take It Away feat. Mayer Hawthorne [Single] (2014)

Great uplifting tune! Never heard of this group The Aston Shuffle, but this song is niice

I wonder if it was this, that Mayer was in the studio working on like a month ago? perhaps, although it doesn't change the fact he has a lot of music that was written and recorded I recall, that hasn't been released yet.

But as for The Aston Shuffle, maybe I need to hear more from them? Maybe they'll be 2014's synthy/dancey breakthrough group like Capital Cities was in 2013?

From the forthcoming album "Photographs", out March 28th.
Pre-order now and receive this and 3 other tracks pre-release.

http://smarturl.it/pxjssg

Mayer Hawthorne Winter 2014 Tour (w/ Quadron)

Press Release? I'll have to put it in later as I don't have time right now to find one.

The Minneapolis show is on the day before Valentine's Day, Friday the 13th, lol. Quadron is another band my gf enjoys, and given the choice between First Ave and places like Myth, Epic or the Skyway Theatre, First Ave is a more preferable choice.

Friday night in downtown? hopefully there won't be a Wolves game or anything.

Still, getting to finally see Mayer headline (unlike the Basilica Block Party and One Republic opening shows last Summer) to support Where Does This Door Go should be sweet. He always puts on a great show regardless. I hope unlike the show in 2012, I'll get to meet him with my gf, but no guarantees about that, esp since it's at First Ave.

But we'll see how much this show gets the Hipster attention given how long it's been since his record dropped.

And a PRESALE sure as hell better be happening as I can't see myself even thinking of doing the Ticketmasochist day-of-sale fighting of the scalpers who bogart all the tickets in 10 minutes, then list the list them soon after on stubhub for 10x the face value.

Mayer Hawthorne - Where Does This Door Go (2013)

7/8/13 9:19AM
NPR STREAMING THE WHOLE THING THIS WEEK (7/8-7/15?) 


6/26/13 11:43AM

New official for "Her Favorite Song"

oh my gawd, Mayer and the Doggeeeee Band!

Jessie Ware?

 
6/22/13 12:13AM

I dig this teaser, which I would guess "Behind the Door" is the title of a documentary about the album?



Having captured listeners’ attention with lead single Her Favorite Song and the Father’s Day-themed Reach Out Richard (which I’ve adopted as my official theme song), Mayer Hawthone continues to build anticipation for his senior set with The Stars Are Ours. A recent interview revealed that Hawthorne and frequent collaborator Pharrell Willams (co-producer of the record in conjunction with Andrew Cohen) share a passion for Steely Dan, and nowhere is that influence more clear than on this cut, a bluesy, ‘70s-inspired rocker boasting intricate guitar work and a knotty vocal melody. Like what you’re hearing? More retro, yet forward-looking jams await on Where Does This Door Go, dropping July 16, via Universal Republic.

Stream the 2nd to last track "The Stars Are Ours"
(it's also on iTunes by the way)


Deluxe Edition Link
Info:

1 Problematization 0:15
2 Back Seat Lover 3:51
3 The Innocent 3:22
4 Allie Jones 4:04
5 The Only One 3:20
6 Wine Glass Woman 3:47
7 Her Favorite Song 3:33
8 Ay Bass Player 0:14
9 Crime (with Kendrick Lamar) 4:40
10 Reach Out Richard 4:08
11 Corsican Rosé 4:08
12 Where Does This Door Go 4:18
13 Robot Love 3:27
14 The Stars Are Ours 4:31
15 All Better 4:18

1 They Don’t Know You (Bonus Track) 4:05
2 Fool (Bonus Track) 3:07
3 Kaila (Bonus Track) 3:57
4 Small Clone (Bonus Track) 4:00
5 Designer Drug (Bonus Track) 3:33


6/18/13 12:00PM
PRE-ORDERS LINK

Awesome how he finally is releasing Henny & Gingerale and at least Designer Drug will the B-side for that 7" single.


6/13/13 11:57AM
New song below "Reach Out Richard" as as Mayer just wrote:
Love you Dad. This new song is for you.  

Also I love how in this Article from RollingStone.com  he talks about his background with of all genres, \M/etal. Haha,..a genre my gf you can say, is not a fan of, lol.

The singer – who was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has since relocated to Los Angeles – says Where Does This Door Go allowed him to explore all his varied musical influences, from hip-hop to funk and metal. "This is the album that is truly me," Hawthorne says. "It was really about a journey into the unknown, doing something totally different and not knowing where it was going to go or how people were going to respond to it. And if that means really having that sort of DJ Haircut side of me come out and my hip-hop background, and my love for Michael McDonald and Steely Dan and the Cars. . . I used to be a metalhead, too, back in the day. I listened to Iron Maiden and Helmet and those are influences that have finally gotten [a] chance."

6/3/12 8:00PM

http://lifeandtimes.com/mayer-hawthorne-reveals-where-does-this-door-go-tracklist-and-speaks-on-kendrick-lamar-collab

this album is sounding more intriguing in a lot of ways. The only things are, #1 Designer Drug is not included. Could it be this album's "Henny and Gingerale"?

#2 there's a whole bunch of guests, but other than Jessie Ware and I suppose now Pharrell Williams, they're not necessarily names I have favorable backgrounds with.

Although if the songs are good, that may not matter. The comparisons to Thriller and the name dropping of Steely Dan caught my eye in that interview.

I guess with Designer Drug's absence, and the comment about so many songs could be singles; i.e. the album has 4, 5, 6 or more songs as good if not better than Designer Drug, it's absence may also not matter.

But we'll see. July 16th of course is a holiday in more than 1 respect.



L+T: At SXSW, you premiered some of the tracks from Where Does This Door Go. If I’m not mistaken, you originally didn’t know if you were actually going to release some or all of the tracks as an EP or album…or even release them at all. Is that correct? Was there a determining factor that led to your decision to create a LP?

MH: I recorded over forty songs for this album. It was really tough to narrow it down. The track list changed every day. In the end I decided to keep the album short and try to release the rest later. I really wanted to make a party record like [Michael Jackson's] Thriller, where every song could be a single.




1. Problematization
2. Back Seat Lover
3. The Innocent
4. Allie Jones
5. The Only One
6. Wine Glass Woman
7. Her Favorite Song
8. Crime (with Kendrick Lamar)
9. Reach Out Richard
10. Corsican Rosé
11. Where Does This Door Go
12. Robot Love
13. The Stars Are Ours
14. All Better


5/15/13 8:16PM
New single "Her Favorite Song (featuring Jessie Ware)" being released on Monday May 20th, but streamable now.

This is just a out-of-leftfield prediction, but this Mayer Hawthorne may THEE record to come out of nowhere as a legit album of the year contender. Why I say that, I would NOT expect it. But these 2 new songs and trailer really intrigue me.

I may actually get to enjoying Mayer somewhat close to my Mayer-aholic girlfriend does, lol.

4/29/13 9:13AM



Facebook Link

July 16th, 2013. Where Does This Door Go it's easy to presume that is said title and the release date of his next full-length record. Designer Drug the single he released like a month ago, is about as good a track as he's recorded (although my Mayer-aholic girlfriend might argue otherwise). It even has a psychedelic element.

I do know this should be a big deal to me given it is such a big deal to my gf. It actually comes out only 4 days after Mayer plays at the 2013 Basilica Block Party in fact, in Minneapolis.

Interesting trailer which shows clips from many movies. The one's I caught:

Being John Malkovich
Beetlejuice 2x's
Willia Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Wizard of Oz
Scarface
The Shining
Alice in Wonderland
The Matrix
Team America: World Police



May 25 University of Denver - Magness Arena Denver, CO
Jun 08 Cultivate Festival - Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA
Jul 12 Basilica Block Party Minneapolis, MN

with One Republic
Jul 23 Ravina Festisval - The Pavillion Highland Park, IL
Jul 25 LC Pavillion (Outdoor)  Columbus, OH
Jul 27 Meadow Brook w/ OneRepublic Rochester Hills, MI
Jul 28 Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center  Canandaigua, NY
Jul 30 Newport Yachting Center  Newport, RI
Aug 01 Bank of America Pavilion  Boston, MA
Aug 02 Mgm Grand Theater At Foxwoods  Mashantucket, CT
Aug 03 Musikfest  Bethlehem, PA
Aug 05 Filene Center At Wolf Trap  Vienna, VA
Aug 06 Cape Cod Melody Tent  Hyannis, MA
Aug 08 Tags w/ OneRepublic Big Flats, NY
Aug 09 Pier Six Pavilion  Baltimore, MD
Aug 10 Hudson Waterfront Park  Hudson, NY
Aug 12 Hard Rock Live  Orlando, FL
Aug 13 Seminole Hard Rock Live Amphitheatre  Hollywood, FL
Aug 15 Chastain Park Amphitheatre  Atlanta, GA
Aug 16 Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre Charlotte  Charlotte, NC
Aug 18 The Woods at Fontanel  Nashville, TN

Mayer Hawthorne - Designer Drug (New Single/No Joke)

Facebook Announcement

Soundcloud Link with Free Download available




The girlfriend will possibly go apeshit to get to hear a new tune from her guy, Mayer. Perhaps this will be more of things to come for Mayer and we'll see his next LP drop later in 2013.

Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra @ First Ave 10/3/12

This is another one of those reviews, that should have been posted just after the concert ended, but I only got about 4 hours of sleep last night as I didn't get home until 1:30AM. I may never learn the lesson, but weeknight concerts that are 18+ or 21+ unless a nap or in-late-to-work-request is made prior, really are not a desirable circumstance.

But, as far as reviewing this somewhat largely anticipated concert.

An Estimation of the Set List 

(I believe there was at least 1 Dresden Dolls or another cover in here that I am not remembering right now, but if I find a set list I'll edit it in).


-Meow Meow Introduces The Grand Theft Orchestra  
-Smile (Pictures or It Didn't Happen)
-The Killing Type
-Want It Back
-Grown Man Cry
-Astronaut
-Trout Heart Replica
-A Grand Theft Intermission
-Lost
-Bottomfeeder (Amanda goes crowd surfing with a 20x20 Sheet?)
-The Bed Song?..(sometime around this time Amanda read off the depressing messages put in the Box that were then sampled and music played over)
-Berlin
-Careless Whisper including jam (Wham..also George Michael)
-Olly Olly Oxen Free

Encore

-Do It with a Rockstar
-Leeds United





First let me point out, I just scanned a review here from Citypages.com and they referred to the Wham/George Michael tune as "Never Want to Dance Again." While that is a line in the chorus, the song is called "Careless Whisper" and not "Never Want to Dance Again." I myself didn't even know that, but at least would be responsible enough to mention that, or more likely just do a web search.

Is it really so hard to do? That is now the 2ND time in the last 6 months a reviewer on their blog had to be corrected about a fact (the Mayer Hawthorne guitarist's name back in May). Which brings me to ask the question, how do people like that get to positions where they can review (and maybe even be paid?..likely at least free tickets and perhaps backstage passes), and someone like myself receives very little to no recognition? I emailed Citypages more than once about writing for them, but obviously this blog does nothing for them. Blech.

This show was pretty LOUD and crazy at times. Amanda's TGTO or 3-piece backing band was rather tight. Although I suspect it was the people who did the mix last night who are responsible for the drums and guitar being at times too high to hear Amanda sing. At the same time, her vocals had a fair amount of reverb and distorted tone to them anyway, so that could have just been her too.

The extra chamber musicians from both local, and from some of the opening acts like Ronald Reagan, did add a lot to hearing many of these tunes live. Although at times the mix issues made them a bit difficult to hear clearly. As well, Amanda didn't have them on stage for every tune, namely a song like "Astronaut" if I recall, wondering why the string section was not included, given there are string parts in the song anyway..

Around the 4th or 5th song of Amanda's set, I want to say soon after "Want it Back," this act (DJ?) named Konkrete Jungle started spinning some heavy-bass based music in First Ave's "The Record Room," which especially given I was sitting on the Upper Level about 200 Feet in front of the Door, it became disgustingly apparent how distracting their music would become.

People kept going in and out of The Record Room to use the Restroom or for other reasons, and the bass especially was vibrating louder than Amanda's bass guitarist.

And by no coincidence it seems, this was the 2nd straight concert where Amanda played in the Main Room and another musical act in 1 of First Ave's bordering-walls was going on at the same time, and impossible to ignore.

As I recall thinking and probably writing back in 2008, when some hip-hop group could be heard in The Entry when she was playing, especially the quieter parts and just talking to the crowd; First Ave apparently does not SOUND PROOF their walls. Why this is? maybe cost or just lack of complaints?

It's shit like that, among a few other factors like the Hipster environment, failure to book certain bands, and booking Metal and cross promoting Hipfork Media music to the Metal crowd; that prevent that place from even coming close to living up to the reputation it receives. I have come around a bit with it, but last night's distraction from Konkrete Jungle (who may be great at what they do, but that doesn't matter when they end up hijacking my and I'm sure many others concert experience to a point) , in The Record Room just soured my feeling somewhat about First Ave again.

I suppose the key is to look at both The Record Room and The Entry's schedule and consider skipping a show if there's a chance another act may perform simultaneously. Especially if it's a show that I'm on the fence about anyway, on a weekend evening, there's another event to see instead, or just the price of tickets (or going down to find someone selling an extra).

Amanda herself even mentioned it on stage, if there were more time, a large group of fans with her should consider storming in there to try and get the attention of the group performing about how distracting their music is for her, while she was trying to tell a story and read off those depressing experiences from the box.

Putting the mix, arrangements and The Record Room distraction aside, this was a rather wild and chaotic show; probably more so than the show in 2008. Although less theatrical, than that last show was. I just got the sense given it was the "last show" of this tour as they said, Amanda and TGTO along with the musicians from the opening acts, wanted to go out with a bang.

They played more or less every tune I would have wanted off Theatre is Evil save for "Massachusetts Avenue" and "Melody Dean." I suppose some of the Kickstarter Bonus tracks like"Ukele Anthem" and "Provanity" as well would have been nice; but beggars can't be choosers of course and given they played almost the entire record plus a few others and the Wham/George Michael cover, the set list was fulfilling enough.

The pictures and videos even added more. And the pictures, I may me mixing up with something else like for the massive $50 BOOK that the Kickstarter campaign helped fund, I recall Amanda sending out something requesting the Kickstarter backers send in Photos or Videos of themselves? Maybe they were used for something else, but part of me wondered if some of the photos used in the background on the screens were from those Backers, and I wished I had sent one in.

One other thing I am still forgetting or thrown off by is, while this was the last show of THIS LEG of the American Tour, last time I checked, she goes to Europe in a couple of weeks, and then is back in the States doing more shows in November. Unless some of her tour was canceled?

The extra jams and things, along with thank you's I believe also came out last night due to the fact her husband Neil Gaiman was there (I don't think he was at many if any of the other shows thus far), given he lives in nearby Menomonie, Wisconsin. He even did a storytelling of sorts as 1 of the opening acts, telling his "Origin" of sorts about how he became a "writer" in some ways perhaps. I did find some of his story funny, although at times a bit over-the-top with the lude and sexual humor. I do think seeing him talk, I follow more now why Amanda and him are a couple. They do share many elements of being overtly honest, sexual and profane.

I should probably add, all of the opening acts, from Jherek Bischoff stuff including the Chamber pieces, to Chad Raines whose group The Simple Pleasure with their almost David Bowie-meets-Boy George Glam Rock, to Ronald Reagan "Boston's Premiere 80's Pop Saxophone Duo" all were entertaining, and artists I likely will seek out. I did even pick up a copy of Ronald Reagan's new EP which includes "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (Cyndi Lauper) "Take on Me" (A-ha), "We Built This City" (Starship), "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler) and "Beat It" (Michael Jackson) among others, which they played live.

Kimbra September/October 2012 NA Tour (w/ Stepkids)

http://www.kimbramusic.com/news/headlining-tour-announced

Kimbra has announced her first- ever headlining tour of US and Canada! The month- long run kicks off September 25th in Vancouver, BC and runs through to October 27th in Toronto, ON. The Stepkids will support. Ticket on- sales begin Friday, June 15th.

Headline Tour Dates:
Sept 25 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
Sept 26 – Showbox @ the Market – Seattle, WA
Sept 27 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
Sept 29 – Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA
Sept 30 – Majestic Ventura Theater – Ventura, CA
Oct 03 – Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Oct 05 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
Oct 09 – The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 10 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO
Oct 12 – Verizon Theatre – Grand Prairie, TX
Oct 14 – Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
Oct 16 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
Oct 17 – Metro – Chicago, IL
Oct 20 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
Oct 21 – Theater of the Living Arts –Philadelphia, PA
Oct 23 - 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
Oct 24 – Royale Nightclub – Boston, MA
Oct 26 – Corona Theatre – Montreal, QC
Oct 27 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON

Tuesday evening October 16th in Minneapolis at The Varsity. Stepkids open. If only Ramona Falls could also join the bill. Of course I just saw and enjoyed Stepkids open for Mayer Hawthorne.

link for the Minneapolis show

I just came up with 2 potential plans for avoiding the pathetic situation that occurred last winter with the scalpers for the Gotye show with Kimbra. And it will involve me leaving work for a short period of time this friday, hehe.

Mayer Hawthorne

I'm sure many people know the experience of a significant other and their favorite band/singer etc. Well for me, I didn't really until I started seeing someone a little over a year ago. My girlfriend's favorite musician of all-time is Michael Nesmith, and her favorite band more or less of all-time is The Monkees.

But being that she is a music-head like myself, she has plenty of other favorites. And I'm not sure how long it has been, but at least within the last year, her favorite modern artist is this new Blue-Eyed Soul singer/songwriter/dj etc Mayer Hawthorne.

Now, I checked out Mayer's music out last year, specifically his new record How Do You Do, and while I didn't find it bad, I also didn't hear the genius behind it like she did. For one, his vocals at times, almost sounded like Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers. Which, I don't hate, but again, don't find a lot of motivation to go back to.

But in hearing more of his music, and revisiting some of the How Do You Do tunes, I suppose that specific side to his sound, is limited.

Last Fall, my girlfriend attended the concert at First Ave in Minneapolis that Mayer Hawthorne opened for Chromeo, another band she recently got into. Not as much as Mayer, but definitely one that I continue to hear around her, and also not a band I mind, but also don't find addictive up to this point.

Following that concert, she kept reminding me how it was the best show of the year, and how I missed out. And I did feel bad for missing it, but I sort of was having to pick and choose between something like 6 shows in 10 days, and it ended up being one of the shows I skipped in that short window of time.

She talked about how great Mayer was, how everyone danced, and how Mayer requested they dance, otherwise they didn't have any business coming. And later, she got to meet him not once, but twice at his Merch Booth. Including mentioning to him how I couldn't make it, lol. I suppose that part sort of hit me worse than missing the show.

So, the next time he came here, I really had NO CHOICE but to attend. And that show was last Friday evening, at First Ave again. A concert, a bit like the recent Gotye/Kimbra concert in Minneapolis at Epic (moved from The Varsity Theater), where the demand for tickets got so big, it had to move venues, from The Fine Line to the Mainroom at First Ave.

Luckily, I and my girlfriend (along with a good friend of hers) purchased tickets to this show right when they went on sale in February. Because this show sold out pretty fast, largely in part to the nature of radio stations like 89.3 and Cities 97, pimping it and a few of Mayer's singles to their hipster (sheep-ish) audience.

The crowd demographic reflected that to a large extent, as in observing the difference from the concert last fall, the people who went to the show on Friday night were not the R&B/Soul/Dance loving crowd that apparently were at the show last Fall. Which, I suppose ultimately shouldn't matter, as long as the concert and performance of the music is good. But sadly, Mayer has become Hipster to extent, so much so, I told my girlfriend about how I was reminded of the experience where "my little band isn't MY band anymore" with the likes of Local Natives and Warpaint to an extent.

And Mayer actually never came out to meet the fans, as far as we knew, after the show. Why? My girlfriend and I could only guess due to time. In fairness, we didn't hang around for hours; but it definitely seemed a little different from the other shows she had seen him.

The show itself though, I'd say more than lived up to the hype and expectations. His songs and namely his BAND are really worth the price of admission. They are a very TIGHT group live. The grooves were groovier, the playing is rather energetic, and Mayer does play to the crowd quite well. Although it's noteworthy how at times, he does sound like the DJ he is, just in his voice and vernacular.

But he's Caucasian, and perhaps even Jewish, 2 things I share in common with him among others, which is an ongoing (and maybe always will be) thing to smirk about with my girlfriend. Although she connects with him in a number of things as well, outside of his music; such as Thrift Store shopping, Food exploration and his love of Vinyl/Vinyl shopping. Along with just his background with music and love of Soul and R&B. Including for example Hall & Oates, another Blue-Eyed Soul Artist, whom Mayer covered "You Make My Dreams Come True." And I'll fully admit, I thought was a Billy Joel tune when I heard Mayer go into it, but I was of course corrected immediately by my girlfriend. Although, I'm pretty certain Billy Joel has a tune that is rather similar to it, but I can't come up with at the moment.

I'd surmise this show only had maybe 2 or 3 songs that lost me, which I believe were ballads. But even some of the ballads eventually I ended up enjoying. I more or less concluded Mayer Hawthorne is a superior live performer, than his studio work. Although I probably need to revisit his recordings again, after enjoying this show as much as I did.

He even performed what sounded like a new tune, that sounded like one of the lyrics in the chorus were "I'm on Fire." In glancing at a set list, the song I'm thinking of may have been the single "Love in Motion" by an artist named Sebastian, Mayer was featured on last year. It seemed to be funkier than anything else of the evening. I told my girlfriend, it almost sounded like Prince's song "Kiss" at times.

Although I'm not certain the track with the lyrics which sound like "I'm on Fire," may not have been another tune. But among the set list posted below, that's the only song not on either of his LPs.


Mayer is not Prog, nor Metal of course, and not really College-Rock either. Yet, he does seem to blend a bunch of styles simultaneously, without ripping any artist off. He receives the 60's Soul or Motown tag a lot, and he is from Detroit originally, so that almost makes sense. But there's also something uniquely modern about his songs.

I suppose he's pulling off, in some different ways, what Pepe Deluxé, Janelle Monáe, Kimbra and some others are, by paying homage to his elders and older influences, but still not sounding exactly derivative.

Plus the songwriting along with his band, are things that make his music more endearing to me, and why I can't avoid saying I'm looking forward to not only seeing him live again, but what he records next. Perhaps he'll even collaborate with some of them; Janelle I know he's a fan of anyway.

This is a set list taken from the Detroit show last Tuesday, and I'm pretty sure this is nearly the same (if not the same).

You Called Me
Make Her Mine
Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'
The Walk
One Track Mind
Love In Motion
No Strings
Shiny & New
Dreaming
You Make My Dreams Come True (Hall & Oates)
A Long Time
Finally Falling
Green Eyed Love
A Strange Arrangement
Just Ain't Gonna Work Out
Hooked
The Ills

Encore:
Maybe So, Maybe No
Henny & Gingerale

"Henny & Gingerale" may have been the biggest highlight of the show, as I and I imagine many others in the crowd, kind of felt we didn't want it to end. We wanted Mayer to stay and perform longer. That is one of those great live tunes, where all the band members got to jam a bit (but not excessively), so much so, I think it could have gone on for 10 or 20 minutes and not felt too long. The flow of it just works incredibly well live.

Mayer claims First Ave is his favorite venue in America to play, and I get the sense he may enjoy coming to play in Minnesota, more than some other towns. A bit like Fair to Midland perhaps in that sense. Why? maybe our History with Prince, The Time and the recent hip-hop scene here. He even has come and DJ-ed at First Ave, as that is actually his background. And it wasn't a tour, but just a one-off event of sorts I guess.

But depending how big he gets, and how much 89.3 and the Hipsters latch on to him, it may dictate how eventful his shows will become. We'll see if the *new-ness* factor wears off and maybe his crowd goes back to being more Soul fans like my girlfriend, and less flavor-of-the-month groupies that seemed to be the jist of the population on Friday night.



It's also probably worth adding The Stepkids opened, and were actually pretty interesting. They had a rather surreal, trippy color/lighting background, sort of in the Pink Floyd or you name your psychedelic/dreamy/space-rock approach. I was reminded of a few groups in watching them, namely The Besnard Lakes and School of Seven Bells and White Denim (the last bluesy/riffy/jammy tune especially). And I think seeing them in the settings I've seen those other groups I mentioned, where it may be more intimate and less spread out, might enhance how dreamy/trippy of an effect their music could have live. If they comeback and play say The Turf Club or Triple Rock, I'll definitely be interested to see them in a smaller environment.

Michael Nesmith - Wax Minute

 This song is awesome. I was just reminded by that fact in chatting on facebook with some friends.

I really haven't added much about Mike or The Monkees in here, like I should have. Especially the Davy Jones passing. Why? the ole time, procrastination, and too many other items to post about as well.

My girlfriend worships Mike and The Monkees, among others like Mayer Hawthorne, Josh Rouse, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Hall and Oates to name just a few.

But maybe it's Mike, among all her favorite music, I am most intrigued by. The guy has made some amazing music, with The Monkees and on his own. And I have listened to some of it, but not as much as I'd like.

If/when the time happens, I will try and include a lot more about both him and The Monkees. In the mean time, I will say Michael Nesmith, despite my gf's take, was doing progressive music of a sort. Sort of alternative country of a sort, with psychedelic elements thrown in. Pedal-steel and/or slide-guitar featured at times.

Also some of his music has this driving funk/groove to it. Like the track "Capsule" for example off his 1979 record Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma.

The thing to watch for is, within the last month, Mike is for some reason posting a ton on facebook. Why? perhaps due to his eyesight returning after Cataract surgery. Also maybe due to his realizing time is catching up with him and others with Davy's passing. He is opening for Lambchop on May 4th (ironically my gf's birthday) in San Francisco, along with some other tour dates soon. Plus an album is in the works.