Nestled within the heart of Minneapolis, The Fine Line Music Cafe has a knack for quietly hosting some of the most talented musicians on the road today. My experiences there have consistently unveiled acts that, in their brilliance, seem almost too grand for the intimate confines of the venue. So it’s no wonder that Sarah […]
Faye Webster wants her listeners to get the joke. Give her music a casual listen, and you might miss the punchline. There’s a type of humor here that can be found deep beneath the surface in the melancholy waltz’s of her music. Yet, she never takes herself too seriously. Like Courtney Barnett, there’s a smirk […]
On the corner of Hennepin and Lagoon in Minneapolis, an iconic sign and marquee light up the night, casting a much needed glow back over the neighborhood. The Uptown Theatre, once a cherished local movie theater, has reemerged this year as a new concert venue hoping to become just as memorable, proudly reclaiming its position […]
Article by Casey Carlson. Photography by Darrell Lloyd. ZHU brought his Immersive Live Tour to the Minneapolis Armory last week, and it was a night that fans will remember as pure electronic bliss. The show featured a massive, high resolution LED wall that projected stunning visuals, as well as a number of special effects that […]
“It’s our fourth time playing First Avenue” revealed Adam Weiner during his show last night. He retained his usual seat on the bench behind his upright piano, affectionally named Nellie (that is, if affectionate means having it’s named carved into the wood on the side.) Nellie, like Adam, both appeared to have been through hell […]
As band members entered the stage in the darkness, they carried lanterns with them – casting a warm glow. It guided them to their spots on the stage while also illuminating the faces of the crowd, many of whom were already glowing with excitement. It was reminiscent of the final night at summer camp, where […]
Photos by Alexander Just. Words by Casey Carlson When you think of eras like the 80’s and 90’s, you’re likely to think of the art and culture of that era more than any economic or societal events. Especially if you never lived in those eras, or, like me, werent there for very long. Thanks to […]
To know Eric Clapton, you need to know blues music. After all, that’s where slowhand himself got his start with guitar. And while he’s ventured into pop music and acoustic ballads over the last sixty years of his career, Clapton always comes back to his roots in the blues. The blues have always had it […]
Words by Casey Carlson. Photos by Joe Lemke I don’t think there was any member in the audience that expected Pearl Jam to be seated for their first five songs. It seemed out of place for the band, whos been known for their electrifying energy and stage presence, right from their first ever shows. Even […]
Photos courtesy of Chris Phelps Summer’s most difficult concert ticket to get may have belonged to Taylor Swift, But The Killers gave her a run for her money with a surprise performance at First Avenue last night. Announced just one week prior and selling out nearly instantly, the tickets to their intimate show became priceless. […]
It’s exciting to finally be able to return to The Ledge Amphitheater in St. Cloud on a summer night. We’re just at the halfway point of a Minnesota summer, and with outdoor festivals and shows in full swing, Myself and many other fans that packed the amphitheater couldn’t wait for tonight’s special lineup that many […]
MUNA’s music is all about self-expression and empowerment, and their live show is no different. The band members are all incredibly talented musicians in their own right, and their return to the Twin Cities, marking their second show here since August, was a breathtaking display in more ways than one. MUNA’s been on a roll […]
It’s graduation day at the University of Minnesota, and if you know somebody with a music major, they were likely in the audience of The Varsity Theatre for a very intimate performance from Theo Katzman. Katzman is perhaps best known for his role in Vulfpeck, performing guitar, drums, and vocals throughout the band’s discography. In […]
Whats a good indie act without a complicated frontman? For some musical acts, when you buy a ticket, you’re essentially buying a level of hope. Hope that the band will play your favorite song, your cherished deep cut, that they’ll spot you in the crowd and share a brief moment of eye contact. Or, lately […]
You’ve heard an M83 song whether you’ve known it or not. But the band has much more depth than the one-or-two hit songs used for every cinematic moment in the last ten years. Midnight City and Outro are both songs that were the cornerstones of cinematic, euphoric moments in films and commercials since M83 released […]
Remember last summer when we covered MUNA? And it was a really good show and we wanted them to perform in arenas? Well, we got close. The Palace Theatre is larger than their last show at First Avenue (which you can find our coverage here) And while we are getting a larger venue for them […]
Not just your heady uncle’s jam band. “Ive heard from five different people tonight that the band isnt going on until closer to 9:00” Said the security guard I spoke with last night in the photo pit. Its rare these days that bands play exactly on time anyways, but a whole 45 minutes late to […]
“We aren’t kidding when we say the Twin Cities is like a second home to us” Said Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith between songs last night. “I’ll never forget our first tour through here, and for some fucked up reason we sold out First Avenue! You guys keep showing up, and it means a lot to […]
While it wasn’t built for it in mind, US Bank Stadium is the largest concert venue in Minnesota. It was built for Vikings games and NCAA Championship games to be played in front of over 50,000 people. But even though it’s seven years old, the powers that be haven’t figured out how to make anything […]
Any fourteen year old who picked up an acoustic guitar to fulfill their singer-songwriter dreams has sat at the end of their bed, staring at the wall of their bedroom imagining it’s an arena full of screaming fans. They’ve imagined creating a riff on guitar that’s instantly recognizable, and leaving the crowd speechless with their […]
Since their inception in 2018, Bob Weir has brought the Wolf Brothers to the Twin Cities on three occasions, making their return to St. Paul last night a welcome sight for fans who were once concerned that these performances might be rare – or that Weir may not return. Despite concerns about his age, Weir […]
Ive often spoke about how I grossly underestimated bluegrass in the past. Ever since then, it seems to have continued it’s resurgence tenfold. Even acts like Billy Strings have started to sell out entire arenas tens of thousands in capacity. Resurgance may not even be the right way to put it. Perhaps Bluegrass music is […]
Night two. The incredible Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. If you came for Red Rocks and skipped this one, well, sorry.
Photographs by Alexander Just Written by Casey Carlson Lydia Liza was standing at the back of the audience she had just performed in front of, fans who noticed her stopped, hugged, and thanked her for her music, before wandering back into the crowd as Jake Bugg began his set. “It’s not really that exhausting” […]
Kind Red Spirits hit the stage at the Triple Rock social club along with Jaedyn James & The Hunger and Tabah Kind Red Spirits an American rock and roll band based out of Minneapolis. Band dynamics range from slow, building folk ballads to high energy punk rock and soul. Kind Red Spirits are very chameleon […]
The Perfect Rejects Ep Release Party has been a long time coming and on Saturday they delivered. The Twincites hip hop band preformed their Ep Pryhme Ordeal in its entirely to a pack house in the heart of NE Minneapolis at Club Underground. Frontman of the Rejects Aaron King Stoneburg aka “Stoney” introducing the band in […]
I also photograph marketing for small businesses, one of my clients is a local pizza place. At the pizza place was a server named Sierra Swan. Sierra and I became friends. I knew she was new to Minnesota and was a musician. Sierra told me that she was taking a break in the music […]
Releasing his latest album to vinyl Thursday, Stef stops by First Avenue Friday to a sold out main room, says fuck you with a smile, and rolls out – but not before putting on a killer show. It doesn’t get old seeing P.O.S live with his almost sarcastic this-is-amazing-I-can’t-believe-I-get-to-do-this style on stage. Stef brings you […]
Cold War Kids hit First Ave on 3/15/2017 playing a mix of some old favorites and some new songs like Love is Mystical off their upcoming album L.A. Divine. The band, including lead vocalist/guitarist Nathan Willett, leaves it all on stage. You could hear that Willett was losing his voice – but that didn’t stop him from giving it […]
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