My Concert Attendance History: An Incomplete List

So I'm bumping this to update it I suppose, but also what I just posted on the Social Medias

why have I never heard of this site until now? http://www.concertarchives.org/

I guess I'll have to start transcribing the list below into there, time permitting.

I suppose though, given the extensive yet somewhat organized list below, I have already done some of the work compared to many others who would be starting from scratch or using their last.fm or rateyourmusic.com pages.


11/6/15 2:08PM
So it came to me like a month ago while stumbling upon setlist.fm for something that I should try and compile and update all the concerts/live shows I've been to. And by date, month, year and venue and including every act on the bill.

Now this is far from complete, and I have some of the local concerts I've seen here, but am missing dozens if not 100's, which given some time, I'll try and edit-in I suppose.

1988 (1)

4/15/88 Canadian Brass - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN

1992 (2)

2/29/92 Maynard Ferguson - Mounds View High School Mounds View, MN

8/28/92 Steve Miller Band - Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Falcon Heights, MN

1993 (1)
6/22/93 Sting - Target Center Minneapolis, MN

1994 (1)
4/8/94 Rush/Primus - Target Center Minneapolis, MN

1995 (3)
4/17/95 Wynton Marsalis - Ted Mann Concert Hall Minneapolis, MN
5/23/95 Boston - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
7/30/95 Van Halen/Our Lady Peace - Target Center Minneapolis, MN

1996 (3)
5/30/96 Styx/Kansas - St.Paul Civic Center St.Paul, MN
8/26/96 King's X/Galactic Cowboys - The Mirage Minneapolis, MN
10/29/96 Rush - Target Center Minneapolis, MN

1997 (5)
7/9/97 Queensryche/Malicious Mischief - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
7/22/97  The Who - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
11/01/97 Kansas - Treasure Island Casino Red Wing, MN
11/2/97  Dream Theater/Big Wreck - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/18/97 Yes - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN

1998 (2)
8/23/98 Deep Purple/Emerson Lake and Palmer/Dream Theater - Grand Casino Hinckley, MN
10/19/98 King's X/Galactic Cowboys - Ground Zero Minneapolis, MN

1999 (1)
2/2/99 King's X/Galactic Cowboys - Medina Ballroom Minneapolis, MN

2000 (6)
2/11/00 Dream Theater/The Dixie Dregs/The Star People - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
6/16/00 North East Art Rock Festival
Happy the Man/Anekdoten/Iluvatar/DFA/North Star - Zoellner Arts Center Bethlehem, PA
6/17/00 North East Art Rock Festival
Transatlantic/Par Lindh Project/Il Balletto Di Bronzo/Thinking Plague/Nexus - Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA
8/13/00 Dream Theater - The Quest Minneapolis, MN
8/15/00 King's X/Podunk - The Quest Minneapolis, MN
12/ /00 Chick Corea - The Dakota Jazz Club St.Paul, MN

2001 (14)
2/23/01 Prog Power USA
Symphony X/Jag Panzer/Reading Zero/Onward/Etheria/ - JJ Kelley's Lansing, IL
2/24/01 Prog Power USA
Pain of Salvation/Evergrey/Ion Vein/Power of Omens/Zero Hour JJ Kelley's Lansing, IL
5/5/01 Savatage/Fates Warning - The Lab St.Paul, MN
5/01 Bill Bruford's Earthworks - The Dakota Jazz Club St.Paul, MN
5/30/01 Yo-Yo Ma - The Ordway Theater St.Paul, MN
6/23/01 North East Art Rock Festival
Porcupine Tree/Deus Ex Machina/White Willow/Under the Sun/Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - Zoellner Arts Center Bethlehem, PA
6/24/01 North East Art Rock Festival
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso/After Crying/California Guitar Trio/Djam Karet/The Underground Railroad - Zoellner Arts Center Bethlehem, PA
7/26/01 Spock's Beard/Event - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
8/23/01 East Meets Jazz - The Dakota Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
9/14/01 The Flower Kings/ - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
10/26/01 Tim Reynolds/Greg Howard - The Women's Club Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/5/01 King's X/Moke - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/10/01 Prog Power USA
Kamelot/Evergrey/Steel Prophet/Spiral Architect/Superior - Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
11/21/01 King Crimson/John Paul Jones - Grand Ballroom in River Center St.Paul, MN


2002 (18)
3/13/02 Dream Theater - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
3/22/02 Collective Unconscious performs The Beatles Abbey Road - Bryant Lake Bowl Minneapolis, MN
5/30/02 Sleepytime Gorilla Museum/Bubblemath - The Lab St.Paul, MN
6/17/02 King's X/Tapping the Vein - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/29/02 North East Art Rock Festival
Nektar/Echolyn/Miriodor/Isildurs Bane/La Torre dell'alchimista/ - Patriots Theater Trenton, NJ
6/30/02 North East Art Rock Festival
Steve Hackett/Caravan/Enchant/Gerard/Spaced Out - Patriots Theater Trenton, NJ
7/19/02 Kansas - Hennepin Ave Block Party Minneapolis, MN
8/2/02 George Duke/Jeff Kashiwa/California Guitar Trio - Old Chicago Navarre Uptown Art Fair Minneapolis, MN
8/26/02 The Victor Wooten Band/ - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/6/02 Scott Henderson Trio/Dean Magraw and Jim Anton - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
10/9/02 Tried for Fine/Bubblemath - The Uptown Bar Minneapolis, MN
11/2/02 Rush - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
11/8/02 Herbie Hancock - Ted Mann Concert Hall Minneapolis, MN
11/15/02 Prog Power USA
Blind Guardian/Pain of Salvation/Edguy/Silent Force/Zero Hour - Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
11/16/02 Prog Power USA
Angra/Gamma Ray/The Devin Townsend Band/Threshold/Reading Zero - Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
11/18/02 Porcupine Tree/Greg Howard - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
11/23/02 Yes - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
12/ /02 State 4/Little Tin Box - 4th Street Station St.Paul, MN
2003 (27-29)
1/11/03 Dean Magraw with Randy Sabien and Jim Anton - Weisman Art Museum Minneapolis, MN
1/24/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
1/31/03 Vulvox/Trend 86 - The Uptown Bar Minneapolis, MN
2/4/03 Larry Coryell - The Dakota Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
2/28/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
3/18/03 Bireli Lagrene - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/28/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
4/25/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
5/20/03 Opeth/Lacuna Coil - The Quest Club Minneapolis, MN
5/23/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
5/28/03 Iced Ink/Sacred Ground (Beef) - 4th Street Station St.Paul, MN
6/20/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
7/26/03 Porcupine Tree/Opeth - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
7/29/03 Roy Haynes - The Dakota Jazz Club - St.Paul, MN
7/31/03 Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - The Weesner Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo Apple Valley, MN
8/4/03 Peter Frampton - Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN
8/13/03 Steve Hackett - Borders Books Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN
9/11/03 California Guitar Trio - Sartell, MN

9/15/02 Oregon at The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
9/29/03 Remember Shakti - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN
9/ /03    Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer - St.Benedict College St.Joseph, MN
10/10/03 The Mars Volta/Saul Williams - The Quest Minneapolis, MN
10/25/03 King's X/Fishbone - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
10/30/03 Ian Anderson - The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul, MN
10/ /03   Jean-Luc Ponty - Rossi's Blue Star Room Minneapolis, MN
11/5/03  Hammer of the Gods - BB Kings New York City, NY
11/23/03 Iced Ink/Sacred Ground (beef)/Lost Mind Found - 4th Street Station St.Paul, MN

Unclear:
Rachel Z - The Dakota Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
Jean-Luc Ponty - The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul,MN
2004 (16-17)
1/10/04 Jon Anderson - Keswick Theatre Glendale, PA
3/13/04 Dream Theater - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
3/24/04 The Musical Box - The Pabst Theatre Milwaukee, WI
4/14/04 California Guitar Trio - Paramount Theatre St.Cloud, MN
5/ /04    Iced Ink/Odds Vs./Lost Mind Found
5/16/04 King's X/Serotone - The Rock Maplewood, MN
*5/18/04 Opeth - The Quest Club Minneapolis, MN
7/18/04 Eric Clapton/Robert Randolph and the Family Band - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
7/27/04 Ozric Tentacles - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
8/24/04 Deep Purple/Joe Satriani/Thin Lizzy - XCel Energy Center St,Paul, MN
9/7/04  Yes/Dream Theater - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
9/17/04 Prog Power USA
Edguy/Pain of Salvation/Brainstorm/Wuthering Heights/Adagio- Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
9/18/04 Prog Power USA
Weapons of Mass Destruction (Savatage)/Kamelot/Tad Morose/Dreamscape/Into Eternity - Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
9/30/04 Brian Wilson - Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10/2/04 Marillion/John Wesley Park West Chicago, IL
10/22/04 California Guitar Trio - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

Unclear: Likely November or maybe March as they toured the US during those times:
The Australian Pink Floyd - The State Theater Minneapolis, MN

2005 (17-18)
2/17/05 Umphrey's McGee - The Quest Club Minneapolis, MN
2/22/05 Pat Metheny Group - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN

05/06/05 dredg/Vedera - The Ascot Room Minneapolis, MN
5/19/05 The Mars Volta - Roy Wilkins Auditorium St.Paul, MN
5/29/05 Porcupine Tree/Salubrious Invertebrae - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/19/05 Marillion (Los Marillios Trios)/Jason Hart - The Double Door Chicago, IL
6/25/05 The Moody Blues - Northrop Auditorium Minneapolis, MN
7/3/05 Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Weesner Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo Apple Valley, MN
7/24/05 Gigantour
Dream Theater - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Irivine, CA
9/8/05 The Victor Wooten Band/MC Divinity - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
9/18/05 Cygnus and the Seamonsters/George Brooks Summit - The Vic Theater Chicago, IL
9/23/05 System of a Down/The Mars Volta - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
10/22/05 Steve Hackett - Rossi's Blue Star Room Minneapolis, MN
11/6/05   The Australian Pink Floyd - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
11/19/05 Jethro Tull - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
11/19/05 Wishbone Ash - Star Central Minneapolis, MN
11/20/05 King's X/Casanatra - Star Central Minneapolis, MN

Unclear:
Machinery Hill - The Riverview Cafe Minneapolis, MN
2006 (29)
2/10/06 Mutemath/Vedera - The Ascot Room Minneapolis, MN
2/25/06 California Guitar Trio - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/17/06 Dream Theater - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
4/17/06 Three - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
4/18/06 dredg/Ours - The Metro Chicago, IL
5/18/06 Mutemath/Under the Influence of Giants - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/11/06 Bruce Springsteen performs Pete Seeger - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
7/2/06   Roger Hodgson - Harriest Island at the Taste of Minnesota St.Paul, MN
7/2/06   Davy Jones - Harriet Island at the Taste of Minnesota St.Paul, MN
7/26/06 Muse/The Cloud Room - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
8/10/06 Live - Myth Maplewood, MN
8/12/06 Kaddisfly - Profile Center Minneapolis, MN
8/23/06 Mae/The New Amsterdamns/Vedera - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
8/30/06 Umphrey's McGee - Minnesota State Fair Falcon Heights, MN
9/01/06 Head Automatica/Men Women and Children - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
9/14/06 dredg/Portugal the Man - The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA
9/15/06 dredg/Portugal the Man - The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA
10/05/06 Kasabian/Mew The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
10/06/06 Mutemath - The Loft at Barfly Minneapolis, MN
10/19/06 Opus Dai - The Toybox Minneapolis, MN
10/20/06 Zappa Plays Zappa - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10/26/06 Kaddisfly/Cue the Doves - The Toybox Minneapolis, MN
10/26/06 Mew - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
10/29/06 Anathallo/Fitzgerald - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/6/06   King's X - The Rock Maplewood, MN
11/12/06 The Decemberists - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/13/06 Under the Influence of Giants - The Loft at Barfly Minneapolis, MN
11/20/06 Margot and the Nuclear So and So's/Elected - Modified Tempe, AZ
12/8/06   The Who - XCel Energy Center St.Paul,MN


2007 (32)
2/14/07 Dir En Grey/Fair to Midland - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
4/23/07 The Dear Hunter (Say Anything/Saves the Day/Meg and Dia) - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
4/05/07 Mutemath - The Fine Line Music Cafe - Minneapolis, MN
5/10/07 Andy McKee/Antoine Dufour - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
6/16/07 Fair to Midland/69 Eyes - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
7/3/07 The Police/Fiction Plane - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
7/5/07   Ours/April Bauer - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
7/24/07 St.Vincent - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
8/9/07   Dream Theater/Redemption/Into Eternity - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
8/23/07 Fair to Midland/Far From Falling - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
9/6/07  The Receiving End of Sirens/Envy on the Coast/Emanuel/Middle Class Rut - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
9/9/07   Rush - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
9/12/07  Editors/Biffy Clyro - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
10/14/07 Pat Metheny Group/ Nachito Herrara - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN
10/16/07 The New Pornographers/Benjy Ferree/Emma Pollock - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/19/07 The Polyphonic Spree/Rooney/The Redwalls/Person to Person - The Pantages Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10/21/07 Between the Buried and Me/Horse the Band/Animosity/Giants - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
10/23/07 Figurines/The Appleseed Cast/Dappled Cities - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
10/23/07 Do Make Say Think/Apostle of Hustle - The Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
10/26/07 Empires/Nomia - Memory Lanes Minneapolis, MN
10/27/07 Minus the Bear/The Helio Sequence/Grand Archives - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/31/07 Al Di Meola - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
11/6/07   Behemoth/Job for a Cowboy/Gojira/Beneath the Massacre - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
11/07/07 Annuals (soundcheck) - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/07/07 Dethklok - Coffman Memorial Union Minneapolis, MN
11/07/07 Battles/White Williams - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
11/14/07 Nonpoint/Skindred/Karnivool - The Rock Nightclub Maplewood, MN
11/16/07 Blues Traveler/Lisa Bouchelle - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
11/17/07 Enslaved/Arsis/The Faceless/The Agonist - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
11/18/07 RX Bandits/Men Women and Children/Nurses - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
12/1/07  Particle/House of Fools - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
12/16/07 Fair to Midland/Resident Hero - Station 4 St.Paul, MN

2008(36)
2/8/08 Marilyn Manson/Ours - Myth Maplewood, MN
2/22/08 St.Vincent/Foreign Born - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
2/13/08 uneXpect/Visideon/Echoes of Eternity - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
2/25/08 Nicole Atkins and the Sea - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
3/1/08 Russian Circles/Dalek/Young Widow - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
3/24/08 Black Mountain/Nordic Nomadic/Birds of Avalon - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis,MN
4/7/08 Dimmu Borgir/Behemoth/Keeper of Kalessin - Myth Maplewood, MN
4/8/08 Baroness/Genghis Tron/ - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
4/8/08 Between Two Skies
4/11/08 Kansas - Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN

4/20/08 - The Fall of Troy/Tera Melos/The Dear Hunter/Foxy Shazam The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
5/7/08 The Swell Season - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
5/12/08 Progressive Nation
Dream Theater/Opeth/Between the Buried and Me/3 Myth Maplewood, MN
5/12/08 Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
5/22/08 Rush - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
5/29/08 Kaddisfly/Between Two Skies - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
6/12/08 Ours/Plain Jane Automobile/God or Julie - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
6/13/08 Annuals - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
6/19/08 Return to Forever - The Orpheum Theate Minneapolis, MN
6/25/08 Liquid Tension Experiment - Park West Chicago, IL
6/28/08 Fair to Midland/Far From Falling - The Rock - Maplewood, MN
7/6/08 Umphrey's McGee - Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre Apple Valley, MN
7/22/08 The Apples in Stereo/Poison Control Center/Big Fresh - The Turf Club St.Paul,MN
9/6/08 Jenny Dalton/Murzik/Lamb Lays with Lion - The Ritz Theater Minneapolis,MN
9/7/08 Eight-Head - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
9/22/08 Cavil at Rest - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
9/26/08 Nordic Roots Festival
Vasen - The Cedar Cultural Center
9/28/08 Nordic Roots Festival
Hoven Droven/Hurdy Gurdy - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/02/08 Three/Tub Ring - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
10/10/08 Oceans - Ogara's Bar and Grill St.Paul, MN
10/15/08 Minus the Bear/Annuals - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/21/08 Ours - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/31/08 We Valedictorians - The Music Box Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10/31/08 Vulnerata - Big V's St.Paul, MN
11/17/08 dredg/Judgement Day - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
12/5/08 Amanda Palmer - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

2009 (41)
1/12/09 Jeremy Messersmith/Best Friends Forever/Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
1/22/09 Greg Herriges - Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
2/01/09 Umphrey's McGee - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
2/13/09 Delta Spirit/Other Lives - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
3/1/09 Collective Unconscious performs The Beatles Abbey Road - St. Joan of Arch Church Minneapolis, MN
3/20/09 Collective Unconscious performs Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water - Little Falls High School Little Falls, MN
4/5/09 Fair to Midland/Far From Falling - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
4/9/09 Bloc Party - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
4/10/09 dredg/Torche/From Monuments to Masses - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/11/09 Paper Route/Brooke Waggoner - Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/19/09 Robyn Hitchcock/Adam Levy - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
5/2/09 Elvis Perkins/Other Lives/Dawes - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
5/9/09 Between Two Skies - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
5/15/09 Protest the Hero/Misery Signals/The Number Twelve Looks Like You/Fall From Grace - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
5/22/09 The Bewitched/Natalie Lovejoy - Bryant Lake Bowl Minneapolis, MN
5/28/09 Doves - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
6/04/09 St.Vincent - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/6/09 What's That? (Radiohead Tribute)/Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute) - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/10/09 Ozric Tentacles - The Loft at Barfly Minneapolis, MN
6/13/09 Within Reason/Janus/Pop Evil - The Rock Night Clun Maplewood, MN
6/17/09 Blind Pilot/Local Natives - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
6/20/09 Red Pens/Total Babe - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
6/21/09 Hiromi's Sonic Bloom - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
*6/23/09 King's X/B!Cold Colours - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
7/2/09 mewithoutYou/Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
7/24/09 Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute) - The Lowry Theater St.Paul, MN
8/8/09 Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute)/Animus (Dream Theater tribute) - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
8/9/09 dredg/RX Bandits/As Tall as Lions - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
8/21/09 Progressive Nation
Dream Theater/Zappa Plays Zappa/BigElf/Scale the Summit - Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
8/30/09  Do the Dean
Boiled In Lead /Prudence Johnson and Dan Chouinard/Greg Herriges Trio/Diane Jarvi/ AntonCafé Accordion Orchestra/Marc Anderson, JT Bates and Jim Anton/Laura Mackenzie and Dáithí Sproule/Marcus Wise and Mike Salovich/Nirmala Rajesakar and Marcus Wise/Elgin Foster/Tim Sparks/The Petesons/Axis Mundi/Eric Hohn and Blair Krivanek/ Lehto and Wright/Eastside/Dakota Dave Hull - Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
9/9/09 Ramona Falls - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
9/11/09 Prog Power USA
Crimson Glory Tribute/Royal Hunt/Sabaton/Diablo Swing Orchestra/Mindflow/Cage - Center Stage Atlanta, GA
9/12/09 Prog Power USA
Fates Warning/Brainstorm/Pagan's Mind/Orphaned Land/Circus Maximus - Center Stage Atlanta, GA
9/30/09 The Dear Hunter/The Felix Culpa/Empires - The Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
10/12/09 Fair to Midland/The House Harkonnen/Far From Falling - The Rock Maplewood, MN
10/13/09 School of Seven Bells/Warpaint/The Depreciation Guild - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
10/17/09 Mutemath/As Tall as Lions - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/29/09 The Bewitched - The Bryant Lake Bowl Minneapolis, MN
11/8/09 Steely Dan - Northrop Auditorium Minneapolis, MN
11/24/09 Soap performs Pink Floyd's Animals - Downtime Bar and Grill Minneapolis, MN
11/29/09 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros/Fool's Gold/Local Natives - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN

2010 (33)
1/9/10 Lehto and Wright - Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
3/2/10 Laura Veirs/The Old Believers/Cataldo - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/15/10 The Clientele/Field Music - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/17/10 Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute)
3/25/10 Afton Showcase (We Valedictorians/Total Babe/Howler) - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/7/10  As Tall As Lions/Bad Veins - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/7/10  Judgement Day - The 400 Bar - Minneapolis, MN
4/10/10 Rocky Votolato/Brooke Waggoner - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
4/12/10 Fair to Midland/Karnivool/Something to Burn - The Rock Nightclub Maplewood, MN
4/20/10 The Antlers - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
5/1/10 The Apples in Stereo/Generationals/Laminated Cat - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
5/8/10  The Most Serene Republic/Annuals - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
5/14/10 Howler - The Beat Coffee House Minneapolis, MN
5/14/10 Greg Laswell/Jimmy Gnecco/Brian Wright - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
5/17/10 Local Natives - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
6/11/10 The New Pornographers/My Gold Mask - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/12/10 Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute) - Tuttle's Hopkins, MN
6/29/10 Renaissance/Steve Hackett - Park West Chicago, IL
7/1/10 Styx/Kansas - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
7/18/10 Wolf Parade/The Mools - First Avenue Minneapolis,MN
7/30/10 Cynic/Intronaut/Dysrhythmia - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
8/16/10 Jon Anderson - The Guthrie Theater Minneapolis, MN
8/22/10 Do the Dean
Boiled in Lead/Kari Tauring with Drew Miller/Frank Boyle and His Eminent Acoustic Entourage/Dakota Dave Hull/Prudence Johnson/Anthony Cox/Hart Lieberman and Smith/Marcus Wise/Laura Mackenzie/Marc Anderson/Eric Hohn/Elgin Foster/Greg Herriges/Cory Wong/
Lehto and Wright - Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
8/24/10 East of the Wall/Iron Thrones/name - Tarnish and Gold Minneapolis, MN
8/27/10 Rush - Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Falcon Heights, MN
9/3/10 Karnivool - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
9/19/10 School of Seven Bells/Active Child - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
9/18/10 Katatonia/Orphaned Land - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
9/23/10 Menomena/Tu Fawning The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/1/10 Local Natives - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/9/10 Dean Magraw and Marcus Wise - The Artists' Quarter St.Paul, MN
11/17/10 Circa Survive/dredg/Codeseven/Animals as Leaders - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
11/18/10 Cloud Cult - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

2011 (35)
1/24/11 School of Seven Bells/Mystery Palace - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
2/17/11 Deerhoof/Ben Butler and Mouse Pad/Heatdeath - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
3/1/11 Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea/Buffalo Moon/Cotton Jones - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
3/4/11 Menomena/Cloak Ox - The Whole Music Club Minneapolis, MN
3/19/11 The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
3/19/11 Brute Heart/The Great Confinement/The Funeral and the Twilight - The Kitty Cat Klub Minneapolis,MN
3/24/11 Fair to Midland/Periphery/Scale the Summit - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
3/26/11 Judgement Day/Metropolis/Ruth and Rosie/The Gatino Quartet - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
5/13/11 Dean Magraw's Red Planet - The Artists' Quarter St.Paul, MN
5/14/11 Brute Heart/Tender Meat/Lighted/Patches/Jerusalem and the Starbaskets - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
5/19/11 Progasm
Orphan Bloom/Watercolors/The Royal Veil/Brice Plays Drums - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
6/4/11 Raphael Saadiq - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
6/25/11 Zebulon Pike/The Book of Right On/Battlefields - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
6/29/11 Elvis Costello and the Imposters - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
7/16/11 Fair to Midland/10 Years/Kyng - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
7/2/11 The Monkees - The Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater Apple Valley, MN
7/22/11 The Dear Hunter - The Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
7/29/11 Cloud Cult/Caroline Smith - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN
8/13/11 Chris Isaak - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
8/24/11 Return to Forever/Zappa Plays Zappa - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
9/7/11 Vasen - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/1/11 The Besnard Lakes/Malajube - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
10/2/11 St.Vincent/Cate Le Bon - McGuire Theater Walker Art Center Minneapolis, MN
10/2/11 St.Vincent/Cate Le Bon - McGuire Theater Walker Art Center Minneapolis, MN
10/6/11 Kaki King - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/7/11 Opeth/Katatonia - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/10/11 Minus the Bear/The Velvet Teen - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/30/11 East of the Wall/Iron Thrones/Witchden/Earthrise - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
11/4/11 Boogie Wonderland - Minnesota Music Cafe St.Paul, MN
11/5/11 Manchester Orchestra/The Dear Hunter/White Denim - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
11/11/11 The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra/Trent Romens/Karmic Sound System/Z-Puppets Rosenschnoz - The Ritz Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/13/11 Cynic/Three/Scale the Summit - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
11/25/11 Rush Heads/Quadrant 4 - The Red Parrot Eau Claire, WI
12/13/11 Fair to Midland/Dead Letter Circus/Aficionado/Throw the Fight - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
12/17/11 The Book of Right On/Kill the Vultures/Gay Witch Abortion - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

2012 (32)
2/18/12 Mutemath/Canon Blue - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
3/3/12 Memoryhouse - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
3/28/12 Timbre/Samuel Lockridge/Amy Courts - The Beat Coffee House Minneapolis, MN
4/4/12 Gotye/Kimbra - Epic Minneapolis, MN
4/28/12 Fountains of Wayne/Nicole Atkins - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
5/18/12 Mayer Hawthorne and the County/The Stepkids - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/1/12 Jon Anderson - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
6/5/12 Ramona Falls/The Darcy's - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
6/6/12 Soap performs Pink Floyd's Animals - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
6/22/12 Marillion - Park West Chicago, IL
6/23/12 Marillion - Park West Chicago, IL
6/27/12 Dream Theater - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
7/10/12 Ours - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
8/16/12 Brice Plays Drums/Super Pilots/Peregrine Perspective/There Are No Words - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
8/18/12 Randy Brecker/Super Pilots - Nicollet Commons Park Burnsville, MN
8/21/12 Dean Magraw - Cafe Maude Minneapolis, MN
8/24/12 Media Addicts - The Artists' Quarter St.Paul, MN
8/27/12 The Turtles/Micky Dolenz/Gary Puckett - Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Falcon Heights, MN
9/4/12 Dean Magraw with Davu Seru - Black Dog Cafe St.Paul, MN
9/22/12 Kansas/King's X - Myth Maplewood, MN
9/24/12 Rush - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
10/3/12 Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra/The Ronald Reagans First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/6/12 Timbre - The Lion's Lair Northfield, MN
10/12/12 Debashish Bhattacharya/Steve Sklar/Johnna Morrow - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/16/12 Kimbra/The Stepkids - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/20/12 Menomena/PVT - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
10/26/12 Poncho Sanchez - The Ordway Theater St.Paul, MN
10/29/12 Brute Heart performs live score for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari/MAKR - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
11/8/12 Ramona Falls/The Helio Sequence - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
11/15/12 The Monkees - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
11/27/12 The Who - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
12/19/12 Billy Graczyk - The Artists' Quarter St.Paul, MN
2013 (33)
1/19/13 The Champions of Nothing: Kevin Gilbert Tribute - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
1/23/13 Ramona Falls/Wolfhoppers/Prissy Clerks - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
2/10/13 Coheed and Cambria/Between the Buried and Me/Russian Circles - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
3/20/13 Bend Sinister - JBTV Studios Chicago, IL
3/20/13 Bend Sinister/Single Channel Stereo - Township Chicago, IL
3/23/13 Local Natives/Superhumanoids - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
4/5/13 Michael Nesmith - The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul, MN
4/14/13 The Dear Hunter/Naive Thieves - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
4/25/13 Mindless Self Indulgence/The Red Paintings - Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
5/4/13 Steven Wilson - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
5/17/13 Laura Stevenson/Field Mouse - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
5/20/13 Foals/Surfer Blood/Blondfire - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/15/13 Josh Rouse/Field Report - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
6/15/13 Josh Rouse/Field Report - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
6/17/13 Fitz and the Tantrums/ Sons of Valory/Ivy Levan - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
6/28/13 The Polyphonic Spree - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
6/30/13 Wishbone Ash/Nektar - Famous Dave's Calhoun Square Minneapolis, MN
8/9/13   Yes - Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN
9/15/13 Debashish Bhattacharya's Modern India - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
9/17/13 The Dear Hunter/Rogue Valley - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
9/19/13 Typhoon/Radiation City - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
9/22/13 David Cassidy/Peter Noone/Micky Dolenz - Grand Casino Hinckley, MN
9/22/13 Anathema/Alcest - Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
10/1/13 Billy Cobham - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
10/11/13 Between the Buried and Me/The Faceless/The Contortionist/The Safety Fire - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/16/13 Radical Face/Jonny Rodgers - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/22/13 Janelle Monae/Strange Names - The Skyway Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/1/13  Living Colour - Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
11/16/13 Umami/Aaron and the Sea/Genders - Kitty Cat Klub Minneapolis, MN
11/20/13 Miracles of Modern Science/The Loose Cannons - The Lion's Pause Northfield, MN
11/21/13 Fitz and the Tantrums/Capital Cities/Beat Club - Myth Maplewood, MN
11/24/13 Michael Nesmith - Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI
11/30/13 Goblin/Zombi - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
12/12/13 Boiled in Lead: Acoustic Yule- Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
2014 (27)
2/13//14 Mayer Hawthorne - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
3/7/14  The Musical Box - The Skyway Theatre Minneapolis, MN
3/21/14 Led Zeppelin 2 - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
3/29/14 Warpaint//Cate Le Bon - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
3/30/14 Bend Sinister - The Turf Club - St.Paul, MN
4/8/14  Dream Theater - Performing Arts Center Burnsville, MN
4/23/14 XTC Tribute: Senses Working Overtime 2 - The Icehouse Minneapolis, MN
5/15/14 Cage the Elephant/Foals/J Roddy Watson and the Business - Myth Maplewood, MN
5/16/14 Chromeo/Oliver - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/2/14 The Monkees - The Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater Apple Valley, MN
6/6/14 Mother Falcon/The Family Crest - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
6/9/14  Elvis Costello - O'Shaughnessy Auditorium - St.Paul, MN
6/18/14 Agalloch/Blood and Sun/Obsidian Tongue - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
6/29/14 Michael McDonald - Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN
7/18/14 The Human Empire/Narrow Vines/RisingSide - Minnesota Music Cafe St.Paul, MN
7/25/14 Yes/Syd Arthur - Overture Hall Madison, WI
8/23/14 Nomia/Hardcore Crayons/Morality Crisis/More is More - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
9/7/14 Genders/Strange Relations - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
9/9/14 The Mercury Tree/Brice Plays Drums - Whiskey Junction Minneapolis, MN
9/27/14 A Progressive Soundscape Evening
Scotty Horey/Rising Side/Harakiri - Old Arizona Minneapolis, MN
10/8/14 Motopony/The Family Crest - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/10/14 Sloan - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
10/17/14 Marketa Irglova/Rosi Golan - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/30/14 Kimbra/Empress Of - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
11/9/14 Captial Cities/Cherub/Night Terrors of 1927 - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

12/12/14 Greg Herriges at Dreamland Arts St.Paul, MN
12/13/14 The Birthday Massacre/The Red Paintings - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN


2015 (16)
2.20/15 Zoso: Led Zeppelin Tribute - Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
3/29/15 Stevie Wonder - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
5/5/15 XTC Tribute: Senses Working Overtime - The Icehouse Minneapolis, MN
5/12/15 Rush - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
6/5/15 Josh Rouse/Walter Martin - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/7/15 Steven Wilson - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
7/6/15 The Family Crest/The Lonely Wild - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
7/24/15 This Will Destroy You/The Velvet Teen - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis,MN
8/26/15 Brice Plays Drums/The Mercury Tree/The Bob Pat Band - The Nomad World Pub Minneapolis, MN
9/13/15 The Dear Hunter/Chon - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
9/18/15 Micky Dolenz - St Croix Casino Turtle Lake, WI

9/22/15 Miracles of Modern Science at Honey Minneapolis, MN
10/5/15 Mew/The Dodos - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
11/2/15 The Bird and the Bee/Alex Lilly - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
11/23/15 Between the Buried and Me/Enslaved/Intronaut/Native Construct - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/30/15 Charlie Engen Recital/McNally Smith College Auditorium St.Paul, MN

2016 (13)

2/11/16 Godspeed You Black Emperor/Xylouris White - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

2/26/16 Voivod/Vektor/Eight Bells at the Amsterdam Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN

3/12/16 Cloud Cult at the State Theater Minneapolis, MN

4/3/16 Mutemath/Paper Route at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

4/5/16 The Joy Formidable/Everything Everything at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

5/10/16 Anderson/Ponty at the Ames Center in Burnsville, MN

6/2/16 Robert Fripp and the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists St. Louis Park, MN

7/23/16 Duran Duran/Nile Rodgers at the XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN

8/5/16 Bubblemath/Faun Fables/Paul Fonfara at the Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN

8/22/16 Periphery/SikTh at The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN

8/25/16 King's X/OvrFwrd/Meridian Incident at The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN

10/24/16 Mayer Hawthorne at the Skyway Theater Minneapolis, MN

10/28/16 Marillion/John Wesley at the Vic Theatre Chicago, IL

2017 (15)

4/4/17 Biffy Clyro/O'Brother at the Turf Club St.Paul, MN

4/29/17 XTC An All Star Tribute - Senses Working Overtime 5 at the Turf Club St.Paul, MN

5/11/17 Hall and Oates/Tears for Fears at the XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN

5/13/17 Coheed and Cambria/Between the Buried and Me/The Dear Hunter at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

5/20/17 The Family Crest/Trevor Sensor at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN

6/12/17 Tuxedo at The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN

6/26/17 King Crimson at the State Theater Minneapolis, MN

7/24/17 Bent Knee/Airlands/Oklahoma at the 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN

8/13/17 Mew at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN

8/17/17 Neal Morse Band Amsterdam Bar and Hall St.Paul, MN

8/24/17 The Pointer Sisters at Leinie Lodge at the Minnesota State Fair Falcon Heights, MN

8/27/17 Jason Richardson/The Reign of Kindo/Umi/Stolas at The Amsterdam Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN

9/16/17 Snarky Puppy/Michelle Willis at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

11/14/17 Ne Obliviscaris/Allegaeon at The Amsterdam Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN

12/1/17 Greg Herriges at Dreamland Arts St.Paul, MN

2018 (17)

1/12/18 Deng Ol' Tri'ole at Hook and Ladder Minneapolis, MN

1/17/18 Typhoon/Sunbathe at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN

1/28/18 Michael Nesmith and the First National Band at the Troubadour in Hollywood, CA

2/5/18 Kimbra at The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

3/3/18 Between the Buried and Me/The Dear Hunter/Leprous at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

3/25/18 Protest the Hero/Thank You Scientist/Closure in Moscow at The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN

4/7/18 Cloud Cult at Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN

4/29/18 Jessie Ware/Albin Lee Meldau - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN

5/19/18 Josh Rouse at the Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

6/14/18 The Mike and Micky Show at the Copernicus Center Chicago, IL

7/10/18 Bent Knee/Gatherers/Bubblemath at the 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN

7/20/18 Raphael Saadiq/Ali Shaheed Muhammad at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

8/8/18 The Family Crest/Wilkinson James at the Turf Club St.Paul, MN

10/20/18 Josh Rouse/Grant Lee Phillips at The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

10/21/18 Phil Collins at Target Center Minneapolis, MN

10/23/18 Soft Machine/Beledo at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN

12/21/18 Stella Roma (Greg Herriges) at Dreamland Arts St.Paul, MN

2019 (14)

3/7/19 Jimmy Gnecco/Royston Langdon at the 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN

3/14/19 The Mike and Micky Show at Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN

3/16/19 Queensryche/Fates Warning at Medina Entertainment Center Medina, MN

4/3/19 Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets at the Orpheum Theater Minneapolis, MN

4/20/19 Jon Anderson at The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul, MN

4/25/19 Thank You Scientist/Kindo/In the Presence of Wolves at The Amsterdam Bar and Grille

4/30/19 Foals/Preoccupations/Omni at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

5/31/19 PG13 (Peter Gabriel Tribute) at Patrick's Cabaret Minneapolis, MN

8/9/19 Kindo/Sirintip/Rocco of the Snow/Adrian Bellue at the Skyway Theater Minneapolis, MN

8/11/19 The Bird and the Bee/Samantha Sidley/Alex Lilly at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN

8/14/19 Tuxedo at The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

10/1/19 Billy Cobham Crosswinds Project feat. Randy Brecker at the Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

10/7/19 Steve Hackett at The Pantages Theater Minneapolis, MN

10/9/19 Big Wreck at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN

2020 (2)

2/13/20 The Family Crest/Brian Just at the 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN

2/16/20 Lehto and Wright at Hook and Ladder Minneapolis, MN

2021 (4)

10/20/21 Josh Rouse at The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

11/6/21 The Monkees Present the Mike and Micky Show at The Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI

11/7/21 The Monkees Present the Mike and Micky Show at The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN

11/19/21 Mayer Hawthorne at The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN

2022 (9)

4/8/22 Whose Live Anyway? at The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul, MN

4/12/22 Ours at Amsterdam Bar and Hall St.Paul, MN

4/16/22 Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees at Overture Center Madison, WI 4/21/22 Alan Parsons Project at The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN 4/27/22 The Warning at The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN 7/13/22 Adrian Belew at the Turf Club St.Paul, MN 9/9/22 Josh Rouse at The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN 10/4/22 Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets at The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN 10/25/22 EXTC: XTC's Terry Chambers at The Parkway Theater Minneapolis, MN

2023 (13)

2/21/23 Kimbra/Tei Shei at The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN

3/22/23 Toto at The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN

4/7/23 Black Belt Eagle Scout The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

4/23/23 Micky Dolenz at The Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI

4/29/23 Micky Dolenz at The Pantages Theater Minneapolis, MN

5/30/23 Janet Jackson at XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN

7/7/23 Ours at The Amsterdam Bar and Hall St.Paul, MN

7/12/23 The Family Crest/Scalise at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN

8/18/23 Local Natives at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

9/16/23 The Mavericks/McKinley James at The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN

10/3/23 Peter Gabriel at XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN

10/13/23 Everything Everything at The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN

10/25/23 The Dear Hunter/Delta Sleep at The Amsterdam Bar and Hall St.Paul, MN

2024 (12)

2/4/24 Mayer Hawthorne/Chulita Vinyl Club at The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
2/19/24 Squid/Water From Your Eyes at The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN

3/8/24 Ronny Chieng at The State Theatrer Minneapolis, MN
4/8/24 Raul Malo The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

5/10/24 Whose Live Anyway at the State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
7/7/24 Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis at the Taste of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
7/9/24 The Family Crest/Ben Noble at the Turf Club St.Paul, MN
7/18/24 America at the State Theater Minneapolis, MN

10/4/24 David Cross and Lark's Tongue band The Granada Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/10/24 Josh Rouse at The Parkway Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/14/24 Chromeo/The Midnight at The Palace Theater St.Paul, MN
11/4/24 BEAT (Discipiline King Crimson without Fripp) at The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN

2025 (9)

3/8/25 Kumail Nanjiani The Pantages Theater Minneapolis, MN

4/5/25 Whose Live is it Anyway The Orpheum Theater Mnneapolis, MN

5/9/25 Squid at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN

6/18/25 The Family Crest at The Turf Club St. Paul, MN

9/7/25 Fluffy Treasure island Casino Red Wing, MN 9/9/25 Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - The White Squirrel Bar St.Paul, MN

10/26/26 The Life and Music of George Michael The Pantages Theatre Minneapolis, MN

10/30/25 Lehto & Wright Lakeshore Players Theatre White Bear Lake, MN

11/2/26 Purple Rain the musical The State Theater Minneapolis, MN

2026 (23)

1/15/26 Those Medley Kids  (Fragile)- The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

2/14/26 The Curse of the Vampire Orchestra performs a new score to Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" - The Capri Theater Mnneapolis, MN

2/21/26 Esperanza Spalding - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

3/21/26 Boiled in Lead/Pop Wagner/Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band - The Parkway Theater Minneapolis, MN 

4/5/26 Jane Siberry - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
4/18/26 The Dang Ol Triole - Hell's Kitchen Minneapolis, MN

5/23/26 Joe Jackson - The Pantages Theater Minneapolis, MN
5/31/26 Violins of Hope - Sundin Hall at Hamline University Saint Paul, MN
6/10/26 Inara George (of The Bird and the Bee) -  The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

6/15/26 Kinga Glyk - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

6/25/26 Those Medley Kids (Selling England by the Pound) Crooners Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
7/9/26 BZ3 Organ Trio - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN

7/12/26 Second Hand Dan - Aster Cafe Minneapolis, MN
7/18/26 After Ten - Max's Social House Hudson, WI
7/22/26 The Family Crest - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN

8/11/26 Stanley Clarke - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
8/15/26 Mohini Dey - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
8/21/26 In Your Eyes: Peter Gabriel tribute - Crooners Jazz Clubs Minneapolis, MN

8/29/26 Musiq Soulchild - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
9/10/26 Jeff Buckley Tribute - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

9/15/26 Altin Guin - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN

9/17/26 Crimson Glory - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
10/24/26 BEAT - King Crimson music - Mystic Lake Showroom Prior Lake, MN 

Ideology - Ideology (2015-2016)

This is a long-awaited debut album from this local Minnesota Progressive Metal band whose drummer, Charlie Engen, I've known and seen do these amazing performances at recitals the last few years.

Musically, this is very much in the vein of what I've been hoping to get from Painted in Exile or even like Native Construct last year. Progressive extreme Metal, with well-thought-out, flowing compositions that showcase chops and melody.

Between the Buried and Me fans very likely will love this.

I'll try and add more in here and/or YouTube, etc among other spots soon. But I'm really happy for Charlie and these guys for finally getting this released.

And they should play a show with other local bands like Gracepoint perhaps? Brice Plays Drums or any other of the excellent progressive bands in my hometown.  

Facebook 

https://ideologyband.bandcamp.com/


1. Oxygen (feat. Hedras Ramos) 09:34
2. Synergy 01:39
3. Inhale (Attritionmen) 07:31
4. Exhale (Patefaction) 05:54
5. Circuitry 01:36
6. Bliss 05:56
7. Hazard 01:16
8. Eyes Up! 05:21

React To: 89.3 The Current's "Essential Albums"+Ask a Cool Person

89.3 The Current's Voting Link

With your help, we're compiling a list of the top 893 albums of all time. (MPR graphic/Luke Mills)

As if we haven't already had enough musical madness this month, The Current is getting even crazier: We are compiling a list of the 893 most essential albums of all time.

What are we calling this endeavor? Okay, we didn't get too crazy with the name: The Current's 893 Essential Albums. (The world needs some sanity.)

Sure, we deejays and staffers could compile a list ourselves, but that isn't nearly as much fun as fun involving you and other listeners, readers and members of The Current. We can't do this without you, seriously.

We know this will be difficult — no, nearly impossible — but do your best to rank your personal top 10 albums using the form below. Each of your picks counts as one vote for The Current's 893 Essential Albums (and enters you for a chance to win a $893 gift card to Amazon.com, good for buying music, toilet paper, you name it!). Note: Please, please, please use the format Artist - Album, e.g. The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow. We truly appreciate it.

And because we're a radio station that likes to have fun with programming, we're going to broadcast the full countdown of The Current's 893 Essential Albums according to you during Minnesota Public Radio's spring member drive this May 5 to 12 with each album's defining track, adding up to more than 82 hours of music. Yup, it's happening.

If you share your picks with friends (which we encourage!), be sure to use the hashtag #893albums so we can find you on social media. We'll be highlighting picks from listeners and The Current hosts until voting closes on April 17!

The Current's 893 Essential Albums
Use this form to submit your votes for The Current's 893 Essential Albums and to enter the Amazon.com giveaway between 12:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 23 and 11:59 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 17, 2016.

One (1) winner will receive one (1) Amazon.com gift card. Three (3) back up names will be drawn.

Prize retail value: $893

Taxes and expenses as a result of winning this prize are the responsibility of the winner.

We will contact the winner by Tuesday, April 19, 2016. Winner must accept by 10 a.m. CT on Wednesday, April 20, 2016.


So I saw this in an email, and decided I would do it. Of course none of my submission will end up in their list, or for that matter, even have any music on their air (sans for a rare "coffee break" perhaps).

The list that they end up with, well maybe I'll try and edit-in when it is announced. Assuming I remember/notice it, etc.  But I'm sure it'll be a combination of the neverending praised and played music from albums on their air (Nirvana's Nevermind? Radiohead's OK Computer? , lol). I mean there may be a Zeppelin or Floyd record in there, and The Beatles probably, Sgt Pepper's or Revolver? whichever is more *hipster*? I kind of suspect the hipsters lean towards Revolver per it came 1st and was less commercial.

I could also see Pet Sounds ending up on the list.

But I could also see something like Arcade Fire's Funeral on there, lol.

Or even a Kanye West album, which would be even more eye-rolling.

Anyway, regardless of what ends up on their "Essential" list of 10 albums, the below list is my submission. I can say though it's not a perfect top 10 favorites, nor is it in exact order. I forgot to include Soundscape's Discovery in there anyway.

But certainly the below list of 10 albums are among my top 10+ all-time. The 1st 3 are kind of certain though. The other 7 could likely be replaced by another 10-30, lol.


Marillion - Brave


Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True

 
Apes and Androids - Blood Moon

 
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick


 
Genesis - Foxtrot


Yes - Relayer

 
Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray


Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element Part I


dredg - El Cielo


Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee

On another note related to 89.3 though, Andrea Swensson, whose run the Local part of The Current Blog and just this year took over The Current's Local Show on Sunday evenings (previously hosted by Dave Campbell), started a new series called "Ask a Cool Person," which is potentially an interesting new feature.

It is an interview/profile of some local person whose involved in Music/the Music Community in Minnesota in some way. Not necessarily, but probably more often than not, local Minnesota music. It could be a promoter, a club manager, a musician, record store clerk, radio/media person including journalists and bloggers like myself?

So I emailed Andrea giving her complements about the new feature. A couple of people I know have even been featured with Ellen Stanley and Jon Jon Scott from The Electric Fetus.

And I mentioned to her that I look forward to reading it each week, to see people I know, etc. And also with a suggestion to feature myself and That Drummer Guy perhaps. I even passed along the featured entry I did about progressive rock in Minnesota. It may not happen, as I'm sure there are plenty of people that would make sense to feature as well. And she hasn't emailed me back even, or contacted Josh (TDG). But it would be cool if she did.

I guess I don't expect it, but even if it's a couple of years from now, it would be cool, even if as it's clear and I've mentioned frequently in here for many years about 89.3 and my taste don't exactly mix. I.e. they don't do a lot with progressive rock, even though they could. But, this feature on their blog is not fully about what's on their air or even what they promote largely. So it might be an exception. 

But then again, it is 89.3 and that culture, which I've come to not expect much. But I also figure, there really isn't much to lose in throwing my name/this blog out there again.

Cheapo in Minneapolis MOVING (August 2015 likely)

7/20/15 6:22AM

I went there again yesterday and saw this:


2600 Nicollet Ave S. Minneapolis, MN.

Across the street from Black Sheep Pizza and kiddie-corner from Bad Waitress.
In speaking with Tony and some of the other employees, the plan was initially to open not 1 but 2 stores, 1 likely for VINYL only, and the other for everything else (like St.Paul used to be), but for now, all their sales will be at the 2600 Nicollet location, with the hope to open a 2nd store eventually for Vinyl only. And there will be a Grand Opening and closing date, which will likely be in late August.

I do find it a little odd though being that Treehouse Records is just a few blocks away on 26th and Lyndale. Tony said the folks who go to Treehouse still come to Cheapo already, but I guess I don't necessarily get that impression, at least 100% of them. I.e., some new customers may shop at the new location that didn't before given the even closer proximity. I guess we'll see soon enough.

7/5/15 12:41PM

Just noticed both of these just per Google. Not any specifics as to where, an open date, etc, but more of the same statements of they are moving (not closing), and likely to a smaller location (likely due to cost). Although the part about "Three Decades" I don't know if it is fully accurate as I seem to recall reading the Uptown Cheapo has been in the current location since the late 90's.

http://www.cheapodiscs.com/

Attention Cheapo Aficionados!!

Our Cheapo Uptown store will be moving to a nearby location at the end of the summer. Stay in touch for more details on our shiny new store.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/blog/real_estate/2015/06/cpm-plans-mixed-use-on-cheapo-site-in-uptown.html

The music retailer is looking for another Uptown location after its lease expires in August. A new store would be smaller than the large Lake Street address Cheapo has called home for at least three decades. Cheapo has no plans to close or move its stores in St. Paul or Blaine.

6/22/15-6/23/15 10:40PM-5:58PM

So I went to Cheapo in Uptown tonight for the 1st time in many months and inquired again about their moving situation and it seems they are finally going to move sometime in August and somewhere in South Minneapolis. The story linked below from Channel 4 said they are looking to stay in Uptown, which South Minneapolis is and is not kind of, i.e. there are parts of "South Minneapolis" that are not in Uptown, but also Uptown is considered part of "South Minneapolis."

I'm still wondering where they could end up. Perhaps somewhere else on Lake St, or perhaps like around 32nd/33rd and Lyndale near the Pizza Luce? Or maybe more East Lake St like near the Trylon Cinema and Harriet Brewing?

Anyway, we should find out sometime in the next couple of months. It is bittersweet. Good that they are not actually shutting down for good. Good also for the potential of the area being I suppose a little less crazy and crowded with late-night youths I suppose,which has me trying to avoid the Hennepin/Lake neighborhood late at night, especially on weekend evenings. I do have many memories, both fond and not as fond as I wished, leaving that area around 11:30, Midnight, etc and there being a lot more pedestrians and traffic in general, than I'd prefer.

But maybe bad/sad in that, the Hennepin/Lake area will now have seen 3 businesses I used to frequent gone in the last 2 years (the others being Bar Abilene and The Cafeteria restaurant). The only reason for me to go to that area now will be for the Lagoon and Uptown theaters, and I suppose the Mesa Pizza.

But it does reek of the whole corporate-tized environment of that area and how its become. 2 years ago none of those high-rise Apartments were there, nor the massive parking ramps. It just represents a very different mentality and demographic that I used to think of that area.

But we'll see where Cheapo moves to. I suppose given how long they waited to move, that hopefully means they found a good area and spot. Hopefully with a reasonable parking lot as well.

I even shot a little video that perhaps I will share here soon.

WCCO-TV Story from June 18th, 2015

edit: The comments on Facebook are a mixed bag, with a number of them basically calling this complete Bullshit and the real outcome of Cheapo's lease ending in August, is CLOSING.

You know, all these geniuses and their skepticism can start calling this a joke and that if Cheapo really was going to be actually MOVING and not CLOSING, they'd already have found a location and started moving and announcing details about it LONG AGO.

FINE.

All I can do is pass along what I have read and been told when I asked. I take it at FACE VALUE until there is a reason to believe otherwise.

They're saying the story and video from Channel 4's website says nothing. The owner and/or mgr at Cheapo in Uptown just has their employees saying they will be moving, but it's actually very unlikely, blah blah blah.

That's fine if people want to just not believe anything until it actually happens, but if the news story above and what I was told are actually TRUE, and we have a location and a new building plus an announced re-opening date come say even the last week of August, these folks really ought to eat some crow of some kind.


8/14/13 11:53AM
CP story 

That says it will be open until at least February. Although I have been meaning to go back down there soon (wanting to see if they have any CD copies of TDH's Act III namely), and given before reading that story, the lease was only good through August, I meant to before the end of the month to find out where they are at.

7/22/13 1:27AM
just a brief update:

I went there yesterday afternoon for the 1st time in awhile (and actually found a color 12" single of Rush's New World Man/Vital Signs (live) in fact), and inquired about the lease/move situation.

As it turns out, the owner (I'm assuming) put a BID DOWN for the lease on their current location. Now, when they will know and make public if they will retain/renew the lease for the property/bldg is unclear other than likely before the day the current lease expires, August 31st.

More pure guessing: the company that is ultimately putting in the Parking Ramps and more apartments? down in that area may be interested enough in Cheapo's current space to OUTBID the owner. But that is just my thinking as a worst-case-scenario/potential/possibility.

Hopefully they won't and they will stay where they are (for now at least). But at a minimum, the area and most recent transitions could if it hasn't already impacted Cheapo and that neighborhood.

Just for the sake of seeing it, I'd love to find out what company built the parking ramps (paid for, not the actual Company who did the physical work) and whatever else is being built right now, and find out their motivation. I mean, I wonder if they understand how they are changing that area to become potentially what has not likely ever been from a demographic socio-economic standpoint.

It comes across as CORPORATE, and Lagoon/Hennepin/Lake ain't supposed to be Corporate, at least never has been since I've frequented it.

But they are greedy capitalists I imagine and likely don't give a flying fuck about the music consumer and independent moviegoer in that area.

But for now, what happens to Cheapo still remains to be seen at least.

6/21/13 10:48PM




Well I went down there today, also seeing the Brit Marling/Ellen Page/Alexander Skarsgaard movie The East (very good movie by the way), at Lagoon at 2PM.

But I of course spent some time at Cheapo, and inquired about this situation. And from more than 1 employee I was confirmed the lease does expire at the end of August, and at least 1 suggested without question, THEY ARE MOVING, and NOT CLOSING. I imagine that is what he was told from the owner, so the intention of the owner is to still have a physical retail store. And likely somewhere near the area. So the Harmar thing is very likely nothing he'd consider.

I think he told me there are empty spaces in Uptown, maybe Lake St even. My gf wondered about Hymie's old location, or even where I guess "Dusty Pixels" was? which is/was near The Fifth Element off Hennepin I guess (I never went to Dusty Pixels, at least if it's the store I think it is/was unlike the CD Exchange which was on Lake and then moved to Hennepin and then seemed to be gone soon after.

But the details about this move and plans have still not been announced or even decided exactly. When? right after they close they are out of the current location? Or perhaps a few weeks or months later.

I guess the owner went through a similar situation and move with the Fridley and now Blaine location.

The guy I spoke to also mentioned perhaps there might be only Vinyl and some cds or just Vinyl or the Applause part would have a separate location or business plan. I would imagine there could be some vague changes like that, which I guess for me and many others, as long as they carry Vinyl, and rock Vinyl, I won't be affected as much (although I hope Jazz vinyl is still there too..frankly any and all Vinyl actually, including the 45s, 12-inches namely, which St.Paul had to purge into storage when the East sides cds and dvds killed the amount of space).



6/21/13 12:55AM

A Post in THIS TOPIC on the modern-radio.com message 

claims:

Uptown Cheapo is moving. The lease is up at the end of August.
Moving where and how?
Nobody but the old man knows....

-First stuff like Lagoon Theater having to include multiplex titles in their showings in order to survive.

-Things like the Red Dot Net Stations disappear

-The Daily Hours get CUT, having the store only open until Midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and then only 10PM 7 days a week.

-The neighborhood gets taken over by some SUITS building HIPSTER apartments and PARKING RAMPS and LOTS.

-The Vinyl section downstairs ends up getting purged upstairs and a Bookstore opens up in its place in the basement.

-Then the dwindling of the St.Paul location with a BW3 killing the mom and pops nature of that part of Snelling in St.Paul.

And now, the signature business not only in that area, but more or less for MUSIC in this town, future is up in the air.

Optimistically, they find a location with LOWER RENT, but perhaps at least a bit more convenient. Maybe in NorthEast? I'm racking my brain trying to think of places that are somewhat large enough where they could move to, that aren't incredibly far away. A place like a mall or something might make sense from a RENT standpoint and SIZE standpoint, but the 1 place that keeps coming up is HARMAR which used to be a big Mall that I and many others frequented, but it is somewhat different (if not dead in some ways, now). But one problem with it might just be HOW FAR AWAY it is.

Based on that, if there were a Mall or area in Uptown that had a bunch of businesses, and 1 large space now vacant (like where Hollywood Video used to be for example, off Hennepin), that might make the most sense. But I just am blanking right now, on my relatively limited knowledge of Business Real Estate in the Uptown area.

Maybe the owner does have some things at work, but then again, there's probably a better than 50% chance, the owner DOES NOT AT THIS POINT, and is really just buying time, hoping to find something in the coming weeks.

It's too bad, the idea of the Minneapolis and St.Paul stores combining almost seems like it could have SAVED the East Side of St.Paul now, had they known that the Uptown location was going to have to move anyway.

Sure, it would be better to have 2 locations in Minneapolis/St.Paul (Blaine is there too, but it's still in a remote suburb), but if 1 of them, especially Uptown were going to possibly have to close, and the other downsized, the alternative of having 1 LARGER location with the 2 of them combining forces in whatever way they could, and saving the larger part of St.Paul (or likely keeping it, and keeping the West Side as All Vinyl and Cassettes), I'd take the larger combined store over losing Uptown all-together.

It would still kill much of the inventory that comes from Uptown and the Mpls area, but I imagine St.Paul's inventory would grow and include some different stuff at times, that would have ended up at Uptown anyway.

But that's all a woulda, coulda, shoulda, and hypothetical fiction that didn't and likely won't happen.

But the sad reality is, the future of my favorite music retailer is up in the air. Times are certainly in the transition stage this Summer. This past week, my gf's older/ailing dog of 12 years time seems to be closing down (if not now, likely soon I'm very sad/afraid to believe).

The deaths of James Galdolfini and Vince Flynn fwiw.

And now this.

I guess I'll bump/edit this when I find out more official or specific information. But for now, I am concerned if not a bit depressed about this. My friend Jess on FB did point out, at least they likely would have some kind of SALE, which is all but a small consolation, but I guess it's a little something.

I also wonder if perhaps the owner will go to INTERNET sales, which kind of would suck comparably, but my love/support of Cheapo, and THAT Cheapo especially, would want me to still purchase as much music from them as possible.

I think this does have a lot to do with the nature of that area recently and those buildings changing the atmosphere. Some SUIT likely went in there and talked to their owner and offered them too much, they couldn't refuse. That and how they are struggling, from a business standpoint, it may have just been a NO BRAINER. But sadly, the idea of moving to a new location may not also have been as obvious to plan in the process of getting out of debt.

Fuck.

89.3's "The Local Show: Critics Edition"

12/18/12 2:30AM

Edit: Here's the stream of it.



And for those not wanting to listen to all 2 hours, here is a transcript of this show.

Of course, I was right, as they didn't say a word about anything I submitted below. Not that I would expect them to, but it just goes to show, it's a numbers game, and perhaps the people who ran this thing on 89.3, may (likely do) not give two shits about anything I write about here in this blog.

I will say, it was kind of clear who I would side with among those critics. Raihala and even Reed Fischer I seemed to agree with more than the others. I actually always liked Ross Raihala when I used to listen to the Pioneer Press podcast he was on a few years back, and frankly, I've never gotten as much of a snobbish impression from him compared to some of the other music media in this town. Now, that doesn't mean he's not guilty of what many of the others are, but just from hearing his responses on this show, and remembering those podcasts back in the day, I definitely find his approach to be more inviting.


12/15/12 12:48PM
I was going to wait until after this special show tomorrow on 89.3 to actually publish this, but I'm deciding to do it now given I don't expect them to include anything from it anyway. And even if they do, I won't be able to hear it live since my family's annual Channukah party/dinner will be taking place during the time it will air (6-8PM). Perhaps they will put it on their website to stream, which will help. If that happens, I'll have to listen to it and link it up.

http://blog.thecurrent.org/post/2012/11/local-show-critics-edition

Every year on The Local Show, we do our critics edition to talk favorite local releases of 2012 as well as trends and predictions. This year, we're welcoming back Reed Fischer of City Pages, Chris Riemenschneider of The Star Tribune, Ross Raihala of The Pioneer Press and our very own Andrea Swensson to give us their takes on Minnesota music.

But we also need your opinions on the matter! Below, you'll find questions that the critics have been asked to answer, and David Campbell wants some additional ammo to bounce off the crew in the studios. We'll also choose one listener-submitted question for the critics to tackle.

Submit your responses by end-of-day Monday, December 3, and tune in Sunday, December 16 from 6-8 p.m. on The Local Show to hear the discussion play out.



Did the "super secret fraternity of local tastemakers/gatekeepers" get it right in 2012? If not, who was overlooked? I'm not sure who all is part of this "super secret fraternity" but I might infer whoever they are, they may be in to be put on "[double]/super secret probation" ;)

But if the question refers to the most known local music media:
-89.3's Local Show
-Citypages (both print and web)
-The music columnists from both major newspapers
 -Radio K's "Off the Record"
-Vita.mn
-MPLS.tv
-mplsmusic.com
-some of the minnesota music blogs/sites

I'd say overall, no, they did not get it right. Why I say that is some of my favorite music that came out in 2012, was from Minnesota, and more or less none of these sources talked about them. These artists, that I'd say got overlooked would include the likes of Brice Plays Drums, Media Addicts, Mike Linden, Lehto & Wright and The Royal Veil.


Which artists or stories were overhyped in 2012? Who didn't live up to the hype they got, or was mentioned far more than was deserved?
-Owl City definitely. Awful mall-pop. This should in no way represent the kind of music Minnesota can produce. I really wish the local and national music media would stop talking about this project, as it's a huge waste of time to mine and many other music fans I know.
-The Velvet Teens: If for no other reason, but the fact there is a terrific band named The Velvet Teen, and this new local band of nearly the same name, makes music that doesn't even come close to comparing, or even being any good.
-4 on the Floor
-P.O.S. (if only this guy lived up to the initial P O and S like PAIN OF SALVATION, but he does not in much if any way) like a lot of local artists who somehow get big nationally, I find nothing about his music that is interesting. There are other, better local Hip-Hop artists (No Bird Sing, Lazerbeak, Guante) who deserve more attention than him and people like Brother Ali.

EDIT: these I forgot to include, but I find it worth adding here and now at least. I'm sure there are others I am not remembering, and if/when that happens I may also add them.
-Hayley Bonar She is a dime-a-dozen and yet the music media makes her out to be the next big thing in female singer/songwriter types. I hear absolutely nothing unique about her or her voice. Give me Alicia Wiley or Jenny Dalton among many others instead.
-Polica so their singer likes to use a vocoder? yeah, but that's hardly is new, nor means the vocal lines and songwriting is anything amazing.
-Trampled By Turtles: Boiled in Lead are SO MUCH better than this band, and not to forget, have been around MUCH LONGER. Why the music media and hipsters keep praising them to no end is kind of baffling. Boiled In Lead should be receiving the same amount (if not VASTLY more) of attention. But are they? of course not.

What were the most impressive live events that took place in 2012? What made these events great?
-Brice Plays Drums and The Super Pilots @ 400 Bar. This was a tremendous show, and probably the best local concert I attended in 2012. Maybe a lot to do with the fact The Super Pilots were a band I had never seen before, and they totally blew me away. They have this outstanding approach to Jazz-fusion that I can't help but be romanticized by in my love of groups like Return to Forever and Weather Report. And Brice Plays Drums, simply put, are my favorite local band right now. They put out my favorite local album each of the last 2 years, and they also deliver the goods live. I think there's far too many people who have no idea what they are missing by never hearing them. They are as talented a young band to come along in a few years, and have this incredible knack for composing epic songs with multiple-sections that segue unbelievably well. In other words, they are like a Minnesota answer to both Yes and The Mars Volta. And if even a fraction of the people became aware of them, that could and should, they'd have a chance to continue making a lot more music and play concerts like this down the road.

-Mutemath @ First Ave. What made it great was more or less what makes every Mutemath concert great. They bring tons of energy, it's never boring, they get the crowd involved, and they do these infectious group drum jams. And having seen them 4 or 5 times before, they somehow keep on matching if not topping each performance.
-Mayer Hawthorne @ First Ave. This show was great because he has this great vibe about him, playing to the crowd constantly. And his band is super tight. And like Mute Math, his music just has an added flavor to it live. The Stepkids were a fun opener, and Mayer even covered a Hall & Oates tune!
-Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra @ First Ave. Despite the lack of Soundproofed walls at First Ave, this show was highly memorable and engaging. Amanda's got a great band, plus the local musicians who came on and played with both her band and the opening/side musicians. She played most of her excellent new record "Theatre is Evil" and even did some incredible covers like George Michael's "Careless Whisper."
-Kimbra @ The Varsity Theater. Kimbra has a freakish amount of energy, her songs seem to almost take on a life of their own live. She played most of "Vows" including "Withdraw" which I was not expecting, but thrilled to see and hear live. But most of the songs she played, had these great new arrangements live, it was in some ways, like hearing them for the 1st time again.
-The Monkees @ The State Theatre. This was an incredibly unexpected EVENT concert for many including my girlfriend whose longed to see Michael Nesmith play live for over 26 years. And to have it finally happen, was historic. Their performance, including Mike's, was more or less flawless. They played much of both their "Headquarters" and "Head" records along with a number of other standards, and more obscure tracks. What  also added to it was the way they used Videos in the background throughout the entire show, including a couple of moments to spotlight the late Davy Jones. This show came on, and seemed to be over almost too fast, given the band didn't take a set break. It was maybe the shortest yet fulfilling 2+ hours of my and my girlfriend's concert going life.
-The Who @ Target Center. I just attended this concert last week, and I think it was almost unexpected how good and epic a show it was. The band performed their entire Quadrophenia record, in an entirely new way. They used video/audio clips and performances from both the late John Entwistle and Keith Moon, almost like they were in the building. The arrangements using a horn section really added new things to many of the tunes on that great record.

edit: this does not include the highly memorable 2-night event seeing Marillion for the 3rd and 4th times in Chicago. But that was not in Minnesota afterall.

Predictions for 2013: who's currently operating under the radar that's poised for a breakout year in 2013?
-The Royal Veil. They released a promising self-titled debut EP that fused different styles of psychedelic and progressive hard rock. And their debut full-length "King of the Ocean" is coming out early in 2013, and it is without question one-of, if not my most anticipated local album right now for 2013.
-The Book of Right On will release "How Many Ways Can You Say That You're Speaking" the album they were looking to put out in 2012, but due to the unforeseen setback of one of their drummers leaving, it didn't get released. But they as interesting a band doing progressive rock, that I've heard in many years. And having heard some their newest music live, I am totally excited to finally hear it on record. Hopefully some news about their drummer situation and this 2nd album of theirs will be announced soon.
-Greg Herriges and Telluric Currents: It's been nearly 4 long years since the release of 'Telluric Currents" an amazing record that fuses acoustic rock, folk, ethnic (East Indian, Greek, Japanese and others), and progressive music, molded into tremendous songwriting and moodiness. As a big fan of his, I am hoping 2013 will finally be the year he and his group (known as "Telluric Currents" now) follows up that tremendous album from 2009.
-Cloud Cult: Minnesota's most visible band doing progressive rock of late, and their last 2 albums especially have been among the best of their career. With that recent history, I can't see any reason not to be excited about their next album.
-Bubblemath. Will their long awaited 2nd album finally come out? a good friend of the band said it may finally.
-Between Two Skies: The same question desires to be raised to them as was Bubblemath.
-Elgin Foster: From talking to him, he has an amazing group of guest musicians like John Wright, Dean Magraw and others, on 1 or more records coming in 2013. I'm intrigued certainly.
-The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra: I guess they are working on their 3rd full-length record. Their 1st 2 are both really great records that combine elements of bluegrass, jazz and progressive rock. I'm definitely up for checking out what they have in store next.

Ask your own question to the critics. If chosen, they'll discuss it on the show.
Why is there so little coverage of progressive rock both on radio stations like The Current and Radio K, and in print?
For example, a few years ago, one of my favorite bands, The Dear Hunter, headlined a concert at The Triplerock Social Club. And other than one staff writer from vita.mn, Jay Boller, I saw and heard absolutely nothing about it in both print and electronic sources. The Dear Hunter had actually even just made an appearance on National Television in fact, on G4's "Attack of the Show." So it's not exactly if they were a band who are totally unknown.

Why do you think some venues and artists never end up playing shows here? Specifically, why do you think a venue like First Ave doesn't book certain artists that may not be as "hip" to the Pitchfork audience? I'm referring to a few of the modern college-progressive rock bands such as Porcupine Tree, dredg, Fair to Midland and some others. These bands all have fan-bases that are large enough to show up at First Ave, and in some cases, have played other venues many times to sellout crowds, yet the promoters and the people who run First Ave specifically, don't seem to know about this, or care to book them. And I am awfully puzzled why. Porcupine Tree specifically toured the US I counted 7 straight tours where they skipped our town. And for some reason, had First Ave wanted to book them, they likely would have come here. But it never happened.