The Fresh Beat Band (previously known as "The Jumparounds" but due to copyright issues the name was changed) is a children's TV series on Nick Jr. It features four friends Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout going through music school together that love to sing and dance. They address problems a preschooler comes across everyday and helps them deal with them. Join all four of them at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul for two performances on Thursday, March 1st with one at 2pm and another at 5pm. Fresh Beat Band tickets are still available so check them out & reserve yours today before it's too late!
30 Eylül 2012 Pazar
The Fresh Beat Band Fitzgerald Theater Tickets
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The Fresh Beat Band (previously known as "The Jumparounds" but due to copyright issues the name was changed) is a children's TV series on Nick Jr. It features four friends Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout going through music school together that love to sing and dance. They address problems a preschooler comes across everyday and helps them deal with them. Join all four of them at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul for two performances on Thursday, March 1st with one at 2pm and another at 5pm. Fresh Beat Band tickets are still available so check them out & reserve yours today before it's too late!
The Fresh Beat Band (previously known as "The Jumparounds" but due to copyright issues the name was changed) is a children's TV series on Nick Jr. It features four friends Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout going through music school together that love to sing and dance. They address problems a preschooler comes across everyday and helps them deal with them. Join all four of them at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul for two performances on Thursday, March 1st with one at 2pm and another at 5pm. Fresh Beat Band tickets are still available so check them out & reserve yours today before it's too late!
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Wisconsin Badgers Hockey Tickets
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Hey Gopher hockey fans!! As you may know, the Gophers are currently in Madison preparing to face off against the Badgers tonight at the Kohl Center. They will have a couple days to recharge before hosting the Badgers right here at the Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis this weekend. There will be a game Friday and one Saturday; both starting at 7pm. We still have a fairly nice selection of seats to choose from for Friday night currently start as low as $79. Any of our seats can be easliy picked up from our Minneapolis office located about 5 minutes from Mariucci Arena. Don't miss out on one of the hottest games of the season!! If you have any questions call us at 612-341-4131. GO GOPHERS!
Hey Gopher hockey fans!! As you may know, the Gophers are currently in Madison preparing to face off against the Badgers tonight at the Kohl Center. They will have a couple days to recharge before hosting the Badgers right here at the Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis this weekend. There will be a game Friday and one Saturday; both starting at 7pm. We still have a fairly nice selection of seats to choose from for Friday night currently start as low as $79. Any of our seats can be easliy picked up from our Minneapolis office located about 5 minutes from Mariucci Arena. Don't miss out on one of the hottest games of the season!! If you have any questions call us at 612-341-4131. GO GOPHERS!
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Tickets
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Hey Minnesota Timberwolves fans!! Although our star rookie point guard Ricky Rubio is out for the rest of the season, the Timberwolves still need your support on the court! If you haven't been to a Timberwolves game recently, what are you waiting for? If it's a good deal on tickets, I've got just what you're looking for. The Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the Denver Nuggets this Sunday, March 25th at 2:30pm. The best part? Tickets are still available starting as low as $14 in the upper level or $49 in the lower. Any of them can be easily picked up for free from our Minneapolis office located at 212 Chicago Avenue right before the game.
GO TIMBERWOLVES!!
Hey Minnesota Timberwolves fans!! Although our star rookie point guard Ricky Rubio is out for the rest of the season, the Timberwolves still need your support on the court! If you haven't been to a Timberwolves game recently, what are you waiting for? If it's a good deal on tickets, I've got just what you're looking for. The Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the Denver Nuggets this Sunday, March 25th at 2:30pm. The best part? Tickets are still available starting as low as $14 in the upper level or $49 in the lower. Any of them can be easily picked up for free from our Minneapolis office located at 212 Chicago Avenue right before the game. GO TIMBERWOLVES!!
The Ting Tings First Avenue Tickets
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English musical duo Jules de Martino and Katie White formed in 2007 in Salford, England. Since then, they have released a total of four singles and two albums. Jules plays the drums, lead guitar, bass guitar, vocals and piano. Katie plays the guitar, bass drums, vocals, bass guitar and cowbell. The duo met and bonded over a mutual love of Portishead. Some of their other musical influences include Fleetwood Mac, Pet Shop Boys and TLC. Their sound ranges from acoustic folk to bangin' electro, R'n'B, and rock and roll. The Ting Tings have won numerous awards including a MTV Music Video Award in 2008, three UK Festival Awards in 2008 & two Ivor Novello Awards in 2009, along with being nominated for many more. Now you have the opportunity to see them perform live at First Avenue on Monday, April 2nd at 7:30pm. Ting Tings tickets are still available for just $69 each and can be easily picked up from our Minneapolis office before the show. If you're interested in attending, give us a call today at 612-341-4131.
English musical duo Jules de Martino and Katie White formed in 2007 in Salford, England. Since then, they have released a total of four singles and two albums. Jules plays the drums, lead guitar, bass guitar, vocals and piano. Katie plays the guitar, bass drums, vocals, bass guitar and cowbell. The duo met and bonded over a mutual love of Portishead. Some of their other musical influences include Fleetwood Mac, Pet Shop Boys and TLC. Their sound ranges from acoustic folk to bangin' electro, R'n'B, and rock and roll. The Ting Tings have won numerous awards including a MTV Music Video Award in 2008, three UK Festival Awards in 2008 & two Ivor Novello Awards in 2009, along with being nominated for many more. Now you have the opportunity to see them perform live at First Avenue on Monday, April 2nd at 7:30pm. Ting Tings tickets are still available for just $69 each and can be easily picked up from our Minneapolis office before the show. If you're interested in attending, give us a call today at 612-341-4131.
River's Edge Music Festival at Harriet Island Park
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Prepare yourself for the biggest music concert St. Paul has seen in years! River's Edge Music Festival takes place this weekend at Harriet Island. Some of the main headliners include Tool, The Flaming Lips, Dave Matthews Band and Sublime with Rome. Other performers include Datsik, Puscifer, Diplo, Policia, Scissor Sisters and many more! We still have River's Edge Music Festival 2-day passes available for just $109 each! That's a steal if you consider how many artists you will see in just two days. We also have VIP passes available if you prefer upgraded restrooms, clubs & viewing areas and free non-alcoholic beverages. There will also be a wide variety of food and merchandise vendors and even a silent disco. If you have any questions feel free to call us at 612-341-4131.
Prepare yourself for the biggest music concert St. Paul has seen in years! River's Edge Music Festival takes place this weekend at Harriet Island. Some of the main headliners include Tool, The Flaming Lips, Dave Matthews Band and Sublime with Rome. Other performers include Datsik, Puscifer, Diplo, Policia, Scissor Sisters and many more! We still have River's Edge Music Festival 2-day passes available for just $109 each! That's a steal if you consider how many artists you will see in just two days. We also have VIP passes available if you prefer upgraded restrooms, clubs & viewing areas and free non-alcoholic beverages. There will also be a wide variety of food and merchandise vendors and even a silent disco. If you have any questions feel free to call us at 612-341-4131.
29 Eylül 2012 Cumartesi
Brothers of the Sun Tour: Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw Tickets - STILL AVAILABLE
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The wait is almost over! This Sunday, July 8th, the co-headlining Brothers of the Sun Tour will be making a stop right here in Minneapolis for the first-ever concert at Target Field. This show is officially SOLD OUT - but we're not! That's right, Ticket King is your #1 source for sold out events. We still have a nice selection of seats to choose from currently ranging from $129-$449 per ticket. However, you'll want to take into account that these have been selling like hot cakes- especially the last couple weeks. If you still haven't purchased your Brothers of the Sun Tour: Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw tickets yet, you'll want to do that ASAP!! Our inventory won't last much longer & you don't want to be left without a ticket at showtime, do you?
The wait is almost over! This Sunday, July 8th, the co-headlining Brothers of the Sun Tour will be making a stop right here in Minneapolis for the first-ever concert at Target Field. This show is officially SOLD OUT - but we're not! That's right, Ticket King is your #1 source for sold out events. We still have a nice selection of seats to choose from currently ranging from $129-$449 per ticket. However, you'll want to take into account that these have been selling like hot cakes- especially the last couple weeks. If you still haven't purchased your Brothers of the Sun Tour: Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw tickets yet, you'll want to do that ASAP!! Our inventory won't last much longer & you don't want to be left without a ticket at showtime, do you?
Preseason: Cheap Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills Tickets
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Heyyy Vikings fans- It's almost that time of year again! Can you believe it? We have just 3 days until the first home preseason game for the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field (aka Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome). This will be the last season the Vikings play at the dome, as construction on the new stadium begins next year and will be finished by 2016. Don't miss your chance to see the Vikings play these last few games at the dome! If you want to attend this Friday evening's game for CHEAP, we have a huge selection of Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills tickets to choose from starting at just $4 in the upper level or $14 in the lower. Any of these seats can conveniently be picked up from our Minneapolis office located just 2 blocks from the dome. We're always open until game time so you don't have to worry about picking up your tickets by a certain time. If you have any questions feel free to call us at 612-341-4131. GO VIKINGS!
Heyyy Vikings fans- It's almost that time of year again! Can you believe it? We have just 3 days until the first home preseason game for the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field (aka Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome). This will be the last season the Vikings play at the dome, as construction on the new stadium begins next year and will be finished by 2016. Don't miss your chance to see the Vikings play these last few games at the dome! If you want to attend this Friday evening's game for CHEAP, we have a huge selection of Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills tickets to choose from starting at just $4 in the upper level or $14 in the lower. Any of these seats can conveniently be picked up from our Minneapolis office located just 2 blocks from the dome. We're always open until game time so you don't have to worry about picking up your tickets by a certain time. If you have any questions feel free to call us at 612-341-4131. GO VIKINGS!
Blake Shelton Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Tickets
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American country music artist Blake Shelton made his debut in 2001 with the single "Austin," which spent five weeks at Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song was the first single from his gold-certified debut album Blake Shelton. Since then, Blake has released a total of seven studio albums, three extended plays and two compilations. Now you have the opportunity to see him perform LIVE at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand next Saturday, August 25th at 7:30pm! We still have a nice selection of Blake Shelton tickets to choose from starting as low as $64 in the balcony or $94 in the plaza level. Any of these can be easily picked up from our Minneapolis or St. Paul offices before the show. Don't wait- order yours today!
American country music artist Blake Shelton made his debut in 2001 with the single "Austin," which spent five weeks at Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song was the first single from his gold-certified debut album Blake Shelton. Since then, Blake has released a total of seven studio albums, three extended plays and two compilations. Now you have the opportunity to see him perform LIVE at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand next Saturday, August 25th at 7:30pm! We still have a nice selection of Blake Shelton tickets to choose from starting as low as $64 in the balcony or $94 in the plaza level. Any of these can be easily picked up from our Minneapolis or St. Paul offices before the show. Don't wait- order yours today!
Outdoor Atmosphere Tickets at Cabooze
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Hey Atmosphere fans!! If you missed Slug and Ant the last time they were in the Twin Cities, your prayers have been answered. They're returning to the Cabooze on Friday, September 7th to kick off their fall tour by performing an outdoor gig. The Cabooze lot usually holds about 2,500 people and will be an all-ages show featuring two additional local rap vets- I Self Divine and Carnage. This month-long tour will be Atmosphere's last dates of 2012 so don't miss out! If you still need Cabooze Atmosphere tickets, you've come to the right place! We have general admission tix available for just $39 each. We can ship them to you or you can easily pick them up from either of our offices. If you would like to attend the show I highly suggest buying your ticket now to guarantee entry! This one could sell out!
Hey Atmosphere fans!! If you missed Slug and Ant the last time they were in the Twin Cities, your prayers have been answered. They're returning to the Cabooze on Friday, September 7th to kick off their fall tour by performing an outdoor gig. The Cabooze lot usually holds about 2,500 people and will be an all-ages show featuring two additional local rap vets- I Self Divine and Carnage. This month-long tour will be Atmosphere's last dates of 2012 so don't miss out! If you still need Cabooze Atmosphere tickets, you've come to the right place! We have general admission tix available for just $39 each. We can ship them to you or you can easily pick them up from either of our offices. If you would like to attend the show I highly suggest buying your ticket now to guarantee entry! This one could sell out!
Cirque du Soleil Dralion Target Center Tickets
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If you missed Cirque du Soleil the last time it was in town, or better yet if you've never seen it, don't miss your chance to catch the harmonious blend of Eastern and Western acrobatic poses this weekend! Dralion draws it's inspiration from Eastern philosophy and it's never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The name is derived from its two symbolic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West. The four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form in this show. Each element is represented by its own color. In the world of Dralion, Man and Nature are one, and balance is achieved. Don't miss your chance to get a great deal on amazing seats for the show! We still have a nice selection of Cirque du Soleil Dralion tickets to choose from starting at $109 in the lower level. Check our our inventory & purchase yours while the selection is still so great! Don't forget you can always stop by our Mpls office to easily pick up your tickets before the show!
If you missed Cirque du Soleil the last time it was in town, or better yet if you've never seen it, don't miss your chance to catch the harmonious blend of Eastern and Western acrobatic poses this weekend! Dralion draws it's inspiration from Eastern philosophy and it's never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The name is derived from its two symbolic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West. The four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form in this show. Each element is represented by its own color. In the world of Dralion, Man and Nature are one, and balance is achieved. Don't miss your chance to get a great deal on amazing seats for the show! We still have a nice selection of Cirque du Soleil Dralion tickets to choose from starting at $109 in the lower level. Check our our inventory & purchase yours while the selection is still so great! Don't forget you can always stop by our Mpls office to easily pick up your tickets before the show!
28 Eylül 2012 Cuma
ZZ Ward at Schubas on 6/16/12
To contact us Click HERE
Having heard ZZ (Zsuzsana) Ward for the first time 4 weeks ago on satellite radio I was immediately hooked by her song "Put the Gun Down". I googled her name for info on her tour in hopes of a Chicago gig. Turned out she would be playing in my back yard at Schubas. How happy was I to find the tickets cost a mere $10? To be honest, this was the price to see Adele at Martyrs a few years back. I predict the same potential rise to fame for this newcomer. She writes her own songs and performs like a pro with confidence, raspy sexy tones and sass.She is described as hip/hop/R & B. ZZ is easily ranked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Adele, and KT Tunstall and has a sound that blends the three of them. She does in fact "steal" KT's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" vocal intro. My 9 year old daughter even caught that similarity. All artists do it to a degree so whatevs. Her look is simple yet cool. She wears a signature hat, not too tight leather pants, short moto boots, and tonight a long tie with her white button down t-shirt. Her blond long locks let you know she has a feminine side but she has a decided edge that works well with her vocals and lyrics. Disappointingly, she only had a two song EP for sale at her show (there is a 4 song EP available online) but both of these wcould be hits. I had the chance to meet her at the merchandise table and said "You are going to climb to the top right?". Her response was that she hopes so because she is "busting her ass". In my opinion, her hard work deserves pay off. She was amazing and we were lucky to see her in such a small venue.
ZZ Ward is from Pennsylvania and was raised in Oregon. She performed with her dad who wrote and sang the blues and she has been influenced by Etta, the soul of Muddy and the power of Big Mama. She later spent time with local rappers from Eugene Oregon and fell in love with hip-hop helping to define her style.
ZZ Ward sings "Move Like U Stole It":
Admittedly we had another commitment before the show, a friend's wedding shower. Also a nice event so we left later than planned and managed to miss the first 20 minutes of ZZ's show. From what we saw and heard, we wanted much more. Next time no double booking for me. Regardless of our tardiness, she gets a 5 out of 5 guitar rating. Can you argue?
Take a listen to this:
Put The Gun Down by ZZWard
Having heard ZZ (Zsuzsana) Ward for the first time 4 weeks ago on satellite radio I was immediately hooked by her song "Put the Gun Down". I googled her name for info on her tour in hopes of a Chicago gig. Turned out she would be playing in my back yard at Schubas. How happy was I to find the tickets cost a mere $10? To be honest, this was the price to see Adele at Martyrs a few years back. I predict the same potential rise to fame for this newcomer. She writes her own songs and performs like a pro with confidence, raspy sexy tones and sass.She is described as hip/hop/R & B. ZZ is easily ranked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Adele, and KT Tunstall and has a sound that blends the three of them. She does in fact "steal" KT's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" vocal intro. My 9 year old daughter even caught that similarity. All artists do it to a degree so whatevs. Her look is simple yet cool. She wears a signature hat, not too tight leather pants, short moto boots, and tonight a long tie with her white button down t-shirt. Her blond long locks let you know she has a feminine side but she has a decided edge that works well with her vocals and lyrics. Disappointingly, she only had a two song EP for sale at her show (there is a 4 song EP available online) but both of these wcould be hits. I had the chance to meet her at the merchandise table and said "You are going to climb to the top right?". Her response was that she hopes so because she is "busting her ass". In my opinion, her hard work deserves pay off. She was amazing and we were lucky to see her in such a small venue.
ZZ Ward is from Pennsylvania and was raised in Oregon. She performed with her dad who wrote and sang the blues and she has been influenced by Etta, the soul of Muddy and the power of Big Mama. She later spent time with local rappers from Eugene Oregon and fell in love with hip-hop helping to define her style.
ZZ Ward sings "Move Like U Stole It":
Admittedly we had another commitment before the show, a friend's wedding shower. Also a nice event so we left later than planned and managed to miss the first 20 minutes of ZZ's show. From what we saw and heard, we wanted much more. Next time no double booking for me. Regardless of our tardiness, she gets a 5 out of 5 guitar rating. Can you argue?
Take a listen to this:
Put The Gun Down by ZZWard
Laura Marling at The Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago on June 19, 2012
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Laura Marling Concert Setlist at The Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago on June 19, 2012 | setlist.fm
We had upper balcony seats at stage center. Marling was wearing a black sleeveless maxi dress with black retro nikes (laces open). I am buying those shoes if I can find them (just to pretend I am her or am at least her friend). The opening act, Willy Mason, is a dead ringer for Ryan Gosling (oh and he had a nice voice too). Acoustics were great unless Laura was talking (she tends to mumble a bit). A great show as always. She sings so effortlessly and full of a mourning and sadness that hits your core. Sometimes you just have to go there. Marling has her now signature question of the audience: "If you would like an encore, consider this the last song of the night" and then gauges audience approval by decibel of claps. As promised, she left the stage with barely a goodbye after the second song (not even a "see you next time Chicago!").
For a slightly different take on the night and a bit more description, I am posting a review from my friend and concert going partner in crime on occasion, Becca Waterloo:
Laura Marling makes singing look effortless as she throws her head back, half opening her mouth to surprise you with a soft vocal ability with a whole heart behind it. Her band was adorable which backed her up - a bunch of young brits with ukeleles, drums (sometimes played at the same time), french horns, cellos, bass, and keyboard. At times they stepped away to give Marling center stage; the show went on as she carried the weight solo. Marling did what every front runner should do - introduce their band, and they each entertained us with random facts about Chicago in their adorable british accents. The show was the perfect length, in a lovely venue where we sat in front row balcony, looking over them. Definitely enjoyable compared to the Foster the People show two days later (see review posted next).
Becca has missed her calling and should do reviews for pay right? Is a degree in architecture going to get you on guest lists to great shows?
So back to me and my sidebar anecdote for this glorious show:
Two women sitting next to us (seats 1-4) kept reminding us that we cannot sit in their seats because they were indeed "their seats!" (we were in seats 5 and 6). As people showed up for the night, we were continually asked to move down one seat (to the empty seat next to us). No one could see the numbers on the seats so we were a bit confused. So trying to be neighborly and reasonable, we moved down one seat only to be reminded that that seat was "their seat!". We would move back over one and tell the nice folks that we were sorry but they must not be in their correct seat. We kept waiting for the "mystery friends" to show up since only two of seats 1-4 were taken. The imaginary mystery friends never showed up and the two ladies sat every other seat like this: Person _______ Person _______. So that means they each bought two seats per person. No, they were not skinny women but they were not gargantuan either plus there were armrests that were not moveable rendering comfort in the face of obesity unattainable regardless of a two seat purchase. What is the name for this disorder? Sityourassnexttosomeoneelsephobia? I digress.
Willy Mason (Ryan Gosling?):
Here is a video I took of Marling singing "I Speak Because I Can" from the Athenaeum show:
This performance gets a 4 out of 5 guitar rating for overall perfect sound and vocals and great seats but gets ding for bad neighbors to our left, uncomfortable ancient auditorium seats, and not getting another song. Tough crowd.
Helpful tip of the day:
This show was sponsored by Lincoln Hall/Schubas so they offer a free appetizer with dinner at their venues if you can provide your concert ticket. We ate at Schubas Harmony Grill, which has wonderful food. The hummus platter served as our free appetizer and was very hearty and fresh complete with long cut thick carrot and cucumber slices. I also recommend the spicy shrimp tacos. Yum.
Laura Marling Concert Setlist at The Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago on June 19, 2012 | setlist.fm
We had upper balcony seats at stage center. Marling was wearing a black sleeveless maxi dress with black retro nikes (laces open). I am buying those shoes if I can find them (just to pretend I am her or am at least her friend). The opening act, Willy Mason, is a dead ringer for Ryan Gosling (oh and he had a nice voice too). Acoustics were great unless Laura was talking (she tends to mumble a bit). A great show as always. She sings so effortlessly and full of a mourning and sadness that hits your core. Sometimes you just have to go there. Marling has her now signature question of the audience: "If you would like an encore, consider this the last song of the night" and then gauges audience approval by decibel of claps. As promised, she left the stage with barely a goodbye after the second song (not even a "see you next time Chicago!").
For a slightly different take on the night and a bit more description, I am posting a review from my friend and concert going partner in crime on occasion, Becca Waterloo:
Laura Marling makes singing look effortless as she throws her head back, half opening her mouth to surprise you with a soft vocal ability with a whole heart behind it. Her band was adorable which backed her up - a bunch of young brits with ukeleles, drums (sometimes played at the same time), french horns, cellos, bass, and keyboard. At times they stepped away to give Marling center stage; the show went on as she carried the weight solo. Marling did what every front runner should do - introduce their band, and they each entertained us with random facts about Chicago in their adorable british accents. The show was the perfect length, in a lovely venue where we sat in front row balcony, looking over them. Definitely enjoyable compared to the Foster the People show two days later (see review posted next).
Becca has missed her calling and should do reviews for pay right? Is a degree in architecture going to get you on guest lists to great shows?
So back to me and my sidebar anecdote for this glorious show:
Two women sitting next to us (seats 1-4) kept reminding us that we cannot sit in their seats because they were indeed "their seats!" (we were in seats 5 and 6). As people showed up for the night, we were continually asked to move down one seat (to the empty seat next to us). No one could see the numbers on the seats so we were a bit confused. So trying to be neighborly and reasonable, we moved down one seat only to be reminded that that seat was "their seat!". We would move back over one and tell the nice folks that we were sorry but they must not be in their correct seat. We kept waiting for the "mystery friends" to show up since only two of seats 1-4 were taken. The imaginary mystery friends never showed up and the two ladies sat every other seat like this: Person _______ Person _______. So that means they each bought two seats per person. No, they were not skinny women but they were not gargantuan either plus there were armrests that were not moveable rendering comfort in the face of obesity unattainable regardless of a two seat purchase. What is the name for this disorder? Sityourassnexttosomeoneelsephobia? I digress.
Willy Mason (Ryan Gosling?):
Here is a video I took of Marling singing "I Speak Because I Can" from the Athenaeum show:
This performance gets a 4 out of 5 guitar rating for overall perfect sound and vocals and great seats but gets ding for bad neighbors to our left, uncomfortable ancient auditorium seats, and not getting another song. Tough crowd.
Helpful tip of the day:
This show was sponsored by Lincoln Hall/Schubas so they offer a free appetizer with dinner at their venues if you can provide your concert ticket. We ate at Schubas Harmony Grill, which has wonderful food. The hummus platter served as our free appetizer and was very hearty and fresh complete with long cut thick carrot and cucumber slices. I also recommend the spicy shrimp tacos. Yum.
Foster the People Concert Setlist at Congress Theater, Chicago on June 21, 2012
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Foster the People Concert Setlist at Congress Theater, Chicago on June 20, 2012 | setlist.fm
The show was colorful. There was effective use of multi-media, strobes, bubble blowing machines, a mystery person tossing paper airplanes from up above, and of course confetti. We also received a surprise visit from the Ghostbusters Marshmallow Man!
The sound was not perfect and it would have been nice to have one acoustic number without all of the hullabaloo. The dancing and arm waving crowd on the floor appeared to be pleased and the Congress Theater was packed for the second of two sold out shows. We stood and sat (fold up chairs for the taking) in the back of the first floor, on a platform, stage center. If we were on the floor and in between the throngs of people, claustrophobia would have definitely set in. Everyone down there was sweaty arm to arm. This concert was not for anyone with a seizure disorder (strobes and lights) or fear of crowds. We missed the opening acts, Kimbra and Tokyo Police Club. Apparently I did not get the memo that the show start time was moved up to 6:30 pm so we caught the tail end of Tokyo (the last 3 minutes of the last song). So I will not be reviewing these performances although Tokyo and their horns did come out to play with FTP and that was pretty cool. I have not heard good things about Kimbra's solo performances but at this point it would be rumor and not my opinion. Feel free to comment at the end of the blog entry!
Here is a review also from Becca Waterloo, a trustworthy source with discerning music taste and a passion for all good music and good music venues:
Although I arrived late, I certainly wasn't mad about it. The Congress theater may seem like a rustic venue on the outside, it certainly is too rustic on the inside. No circulation on an 85 degree night made standing around in the back unbearable, (where the crowd was even more sparse than the front) my tickets played the most important role of fanning me. Foster has fun music, and their album is certainly underrated; the crowd seemed uninterested in their music unless you were 20 people from the front or closer. Half of the noise being made was dedicated to the conversations of the concert goers. Why did they bother coming? Mark Foster has a ton of energy (and an adorable body/face) which reminded me why I bought tickets in the first place. The stage setup was stimulating, with vibrant colors and visuals, cartoonish backdrops, confetti and paper airplanes. A short concert was expected when you see a band whose career is just kicking off the ground, and it showed through their only-one-song-encore, which was what the crowd went wild for ("Pumped up Kicks") My friend mentioned how she wished the mood of the crowd from the final song could have been how it was throughout the concert. Hipsters claim they're dedicated to music, but it sure didn't show in this crowd. I'd probably see FTP again, with a larger music library underneath them, and a much better concert venue.
So Becca and I disagreed regarding the level of crowd interest and contentment. We could not locate each other at the venue so Becca and I were with our respective friends (and opinions) but my friend Amy and I also stood at the back of the first floor stage center. From what we could see from where we were, the entire floor below us (we stood on platforms), 100s of people, were dancing and waving their arms in the air forming one giant mass of moving sweat (but no one seemed to mind). The folks near me were not talking and were mostly engaged with the show and/or dancing.
Take a look at the video here that I took to be your own judge:
For those of you who do not know this bands evolution, frontman Mark Foster moved from his hometown after finishing high school in Cleveland to Los Angeles to launch his musical career. He got a job as a jingle writer and after meeting his bandmates formed Foster the People. The name started out as "Foster and the People" but he changed the name because people kept saying Foster the People when he told them the name in crowded bars "Oh, so your band is Foster the People? Cool". He then also decided that this spin on the name would be better since he wanted to be more of a charitable band.The bands first hit "Pumped up Kicks" went viral in 2010 and here they are. Not bad for a high school grad.
Between Becca and I, we give the show a 3 out of 5 guitar rating for excessive heat and sweat, no acoustic vocal moments, a one song encore, and slightly over the top schtick ("Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!). See photos and soon to be posted video for validity.
Helpful tips of the day:
Dinner before at the Paladar Restaurant and Rum Bar next door is a good spot to start your night. Needless to say, they serve rum flights. We opted for mojitos, coconut and blackberry, shrimp cocktail (served in a tall ice cream sundae glass with lots of cocktail sauce), salad with spicy guacamole and salad with candied pecans, apples, and blue cheese. These choices were all refreshing for a hot night but we look forward to coming back for the entrees. This restaurant was recently reviewed by The Hungry Hound and did get busy by the time we left at 7:30pm. Becca says that Old Town Social was great for a pre-show bite too.
With regard to parking, it is zone 102 or meter. I was carrying zone parking passes for the Wrigley area and for Bucktown (both valued highly). I found a man standing outside near his home and asked him if he was willing to trade for one of his 102 passes for one of my highly coveted, hard to get passes. He said something like "I do not need your stinkin' pass" (thankfully he did not say "lady") but kindly, catching us by surprise, went into his home to fetch us one of his anyway. Hey, my stinkin' pass near Wrigley is worth $25 bucks on a Cubs home game day! We have been generous and have donated passes to Cubs game patrons on occasion so I believe what goes around comes around. Thank you Mr. Stranger for making your donation to our stinkin' cause.
The show was colorful. There was effective use of multi-media, strobes, bubble blowing machines, a mystery person tossing paper airplanes from up above, and of course confetti. We also received a surprise visit from the Ghostbusters Marshmallow Man!
 |
| A bit like an ugly sinister looking Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters? |
 |
| Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man - he was evil remember? |
The sound was not perfect and it would have been nice to have one acoustic number without all of the hullabaloo. The dancing and arm waving crowd on the floor appeared to be pleased and the Congress Theater was packed for the second of two sold out shows. We stood and sat (fold up chairs for the taking) in the back of the first floor, on a platform, stage center. If we were on the floor and in between the throngs of people, claustrophobia would have definitely set in. Everyone down there was sweaty arm to arm. This concert was not for anyone with a seizure disorder (strobes and lights) or fear of crowds. We missed the opening acts, Kimbra and Tokyo Police Club. Apparently I did not get the memo that the show start time was moved up to 6:30 pm so we caught the tail end of Tokyo (the last 3 minutes of the last song). So I will not be reviewing these performances although Tokyo and their horns did come out to play with FTP and that was pretty cool. I have not heard good things about Kimbra's solo performances but at this point it would be rumor and not my opinion. Feel free to comment at the end of the blog entry!
Here is a review also from Becca Waterloo, a trustworthy source with discerning music taste and a passion for all good music and good music venues:
Although I arrived late, I certainly wasn't mad about it. The Congress theater may seem like a rustic venue on the outside, it certainly is too rustic on the inside. No circulation on an 85 degree night made standing around in the back unbearable, (where the crowd was even more sparse than the front) my tickets played the most important role of fanning me. Foster has fun music, and their album is certainly underrated; the crowd seemed uninterested in their music unless you were 20 people from the front or closer. Half of the noise being made was dedicated to the conversations of the concert goers. Why did they bother coming? Mark Foster has a ton of energy (and an adorable body/face) which reminded me why I bought tickets in the first place. The stage setup was stimulating, with vibrant colors and visuals, cartoonish backdrops, confetti and paper airplanes. A short concert was expected when you see a band whose career is just kicking off the ground, and it showed through their only-one-song-encore, which was what the crowd went wild for ("Pumped up Kicks") My friend mentioned how she wished the mood of the crowd from the final song could have been how it was throughout the concert. Hipsters claim they're dedicated to music, but it sure didn't show in this crowd. I'd probably see FTP again, with a larger music library underneath them, and a much better concert venue.
So Becca and I disagreed regarding the level of crowd interest and contentment. We could not locate each other at the venue so Becca and I were with our respective friends (and opinions) but my friend Amy and I also stood at the back of the first floor stage center. From what we could see from where we were, the entire floor below us (we stood on platforms), 100s of people, were dancing and waving their arms in the air forming one giant mass of moving sweat (but no one seemed to mind). The folks near me were not talking and were mostly engaged with the show and/or dancing.
Take a look at the video here that I took to be your own judge:
For those of you who do not know this bands evolution, frontman Mark Foster moved from his hometown after finishing high school in Cleveland to Los Angeles to launch his musical career. He got a job as a jingle writer and after meeting his bandmates formed Foster the People. The name started out as "Foster and the People" but he changed the name because people kept saying Foster the People when he told them the name in crowded bars "Oh, so your band is Foster the People? Cool". He then also decided that this spin on the name would be better since he wanted to be more of a charitable band.The bands first hit "Pumped up Kicks" went viral in 2010 and here they are. Not bad for a high school grad.
Between Becca and I, we give the show a 3 out of 5 guitar rating for excessive heat and sweat, no acoustic vocal moments, a one song encore, and slightly over the top schtick ("Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!). See photos and soon to be posted video for validity.
Helpful tips of the day:
Dinner before at the Paladar Restaurant and Rum Bar next door is a good spot to start your night. Needless to say, they serve rum flights. We opted for mojitos, coconut and blackberry, shrimp cocktail (served in a tall ice cream sundae glass with lots of cocktail sauce), salad with spicy guacamole and salad with candied pecans, apples, and blue cheese. These choices were all refreshing for a hot night but we look forward to coming back for the entrees. This restaurant was recently reviewed by The Hungry Hound and did get busy by the time we left at 7:30pm. Becca says that Old Town Social was great for a pre-show bite too.
With regard to parking, it is zone 102 or meter. I was carrying zone parking passes for the Wrigley area and for Bucktown (both valued highly). I found a man standing outside near his home and asked him if he was willing to trade for one of his 102 passes for one of my highly coveted, hard to get passes. He said something like "I do not need your stinkin' pass" (thankfully he did not say "lady") but kindly, catching us by surprise, went into his home to fetch us one of his anyway. Hey, my stinkin' pass near Wrigley is worth $25 bucks on a Cubs home game day! We have been generous and have donated passes to Cubs game patrons on occasion so I believe what goes around comes around. Thank you Mr. Stranger for making your donation to our stinkin' cause.
Hideout Block Party on September 14 and 15, 2012
To contact us Click HERE
Day 1
This was my first Hideout Block Party Festival and I needed to be prepared. The weather turned out to be perfect being sunny during the day and a mild high 60's for the entire night. I bought tickets even before they announced Wilco as the headliner. When you enter the venue, be prepared to wait in line to secure your wrist band. Having a last name in the M-R category turned out to be unfortunate. The line did not move for what seemed like an eternity. In fact, it took so long that we missed the entire set of The War on Drugs. Please HBF organizers, fix this for next year. Although we all remained civilized, there were some unsatisfied people on line. Having failed to secure a babysitter for this weekend, we decided to bring the kids, ages 9 and ummm, errrr, 10 (10 and under are free) to the event. Touted as a family friendly event, there is nothing for kids to do but eat and listen to music. On the first day I did not see face painting or other kid friendly activities. On day two, I almost missed the one small tent that was the home of some magic markers and white sheets, face paints, hula hoops, and some jump rope. There is no grass so hanging out on cement is what you can expect. Not sure which kids will tolerate a full day of "adult" music. My friend's 5 year old son commented, in the voice of Elmer Fudd, "What a wip off mom!". She reported that previous Hideout block parties actually had a whole row of kid friendly tents with activities. Having said that, there was a great spectacle put on by Red Moon Theater after Glen Hansard finished his fabulous set. The theme was "Birds". A vehicle carrying a large winged (think human puppet) bird was released into the crowd with drummers dressed as birds (kind of "Blue Man Group") and performers dressed as birds vocalizing bird calls into megaphones. This was entertaining to the kids and adults but lasted maybe 30 minutes.
What was great about the first night was that you could easily saunter through the massive crowd, even after the band started playing, to the front of the pack. The carpet of people was woven just loose enough making it possible to politely squeeze in to the front (especially if you are one or two people doing so). I did step on one woman's toes (but in my defense, she was wearing flip flops) and got a reprimand. I would recommend not wearing flip flops to a SOLD OUT SHOW that is OUTDOORS IN THE DARK. I did however tell her that I was sorry and that I am indeed not OBNOXIOUS.
Glen Hansard
Moving on. Glen Hansard and his amazing band were on fire. I am looking forward to seeing him at another event sometime in the future, already. Hailing from Swell Season, the movie Once and Irish folk band The Frames origin, his versatility is remarkable. His vocals are both smooth and raspy/emotion packed as he deems fit. He is folky/singer-songwriter one minute and pure rock and roll the next. Having this violinist (please comment if you know his name) with him was a stroke of genius. Even my son stopped horsing around with his sister long enough to comment on the violinist's obvious talent. I am looking forward to buying and listening to his first solo release, Rhythm and Repose.
Iron and Wine
Afterwards Red Moon did there thing warming the crowd up for Iron and Wine. The crowd seemed to transition to a younger, one-hitter toting, crowd. Surrounded by cigarette smokers and the aroma of non-medicinal MaryJane, I had a hard time concentrating on the music at hand. My kids were outside of the music area with my husband - eating elephant ears so no harm done. Family friendly not. After establishing my contact high, I was in full groove with Iron and Wine. I did notice that one song with a more blues rhythm (Woman King) transitioned seamlessly into a down tempo ballad. I could not help but compare this choice with the Grateful Dead's typical set list antics. I now understood the obvious popularity of a one-hitter and it's relationship to Iron and Wine, sort of. Here is a snippet of the song:
I ran into friends that I have not seen in year(s) also. An added bonus although I was informed of missing a great party because one couple did not have my current email and another said I was no longer "on the list" or maybe I was put on the black list. We gave this group a ride home securing our place back on the proper list. Which reminds me, you can drive to the block party but be prepared to walk 10 minutes from where you park. Spots in front are unlikely.
One last comment about night one. The food trucks and restaurant representation were good. A mix of burgers, sliders, veggie options, coffee, and desserts. Big Star restaurant had THE longest line of all. So long after waiting in line 4-ever for a wrist band that I did not get a chance to taste one of their tacos which were sold out by the end of the night. I was informed that they will not be there for the second day. Guess I have to check them out at the restaurant in Bucktown (serving until 3am).
Day 2
Not wanting to subject the kids or us to the kids inevitable whining for multiple hours, my husband was kind enough to drive me and drop me off to enjoy the daytime acts on my own. The plan was to meet up later, progeny in tow, for Wilco. More on how that worked out later.
Entry was a breeze on day 2 making me only moderately tardy for Wild Belle. The brother and sister duo was a must see if you are a soul, pop, indie junkie.
Wild Belle
Natalie (vocals) and Elliott Bergman (keyboard, saxophone,guitar) are a sibling duo from Barrington, IL. Together they are reaching new acclaim in the blogosphereand music scene. Natalie, age 23,has lilting sultry vocals that sound like a collaboration between Amy Winehouseand Macy Gray. She wore a brightred blouse with animal print skinny jeans, an outfit both current andretro. With their first “hit”single, “Keep You” we are transported to a fusion of soul-laced synth-popCaribbean reggae disco lounge music. That was a mouth full. Isthe new genre SSPCRDLM? In anycase the upbeat sound is completely enjoyable. The pair first performed together as part of Elliott’s bandNomo known for dance instrumentals with an African jazz vibe. From what I read via Greg Kot’s review,Natalie was fired by the band after a crowd stood still following a performanceof one of her songs (usually the crowd would be dancing). Blood being thicker than water, Elliottdecided to perform with Natalie forming WildBelle. Natalie is an aspiringsinger-songwriter and a debut album is expected in early 2013. Today, towards the end of theirset they did a cover of Evelyn Champagne King’s “I’m in love” (1981) transporting me back to my carefree endof high-school start of college disco loving days. I am looking forward to Wild Belle’s upcoming releaseand having seen them at the HBP might just turn out to be one of thoserare “I saw them when…” experiences.
I could not get my video from the Block Party to upload so here is a version from You Tube of "Keep You":
Wye Oak
Wye Oak, namedafter Maryland’s honorary state tree, is the Baltimore based couple Jenn Wasner(vocals, guitar) and Andy Stack (drummer, multi-instrumentalist). Their style is considered “90’sIndie Rock/21st Century Folk”. Live, they are more rhythm, volume and feedback-driven loud rock androll than would be obvious on their studio produced albums. There is surprising dimension to theirsound given that there are only two people on stage. This is due to Stack’s ability to play both drums (using hisfeet) and keyboard simultaneously. Wasner is caught losing herself with thefierceness of her guitar riffs throughout the set. Coupled with Wasner’s reverb soaked dreamy lush vocals, andStack’s command of his instruments, the duo packs a mean punch. Given the amount of feedback, volume,distortion, and reverb that the band relies on for their sound, it can be hardto extract and appreciate Wasner’s vocal prowess. I always love a live performance but listening to themvia stereo is a different experience for better or worse. I have recorded here the song “Spiral” which is not yet released. Therecorded studio version takes n a rhythm driven new-wave sound making use ofmarimba and vocal special effects. Overall, they were great to see during the sun drenched blockparty. Wasner commented that shecould see nothing and was “blind” as she looked out over the audience with her“cheap $8 sunglasses” later taking them off to reveal her pretty face andallowing for her sight to return. I recommend the album Civilian highlyas it drew me in completely rendering me as a fan of Wye Oak’s uniquesound. The Block Party ticketpurchase had me at “Wye Oak” even before Wilcowas announced to headline.
Have a listen to "Spiral":
Wilco
Well what can I say about Wilco that has not already beensaid? Even Jeff Tweedy wittingly commentedthat they do so many (sold-out) shows in Chicago, in sequences of 5 (anddie-hards usually buy tickets for all 5 nights of the shows) that it is gettingnear impossible to play something that the audience has not heard. He tried to find a “deep track” butsaid that he was “riding on the edge of the blade” if my memory iscorrect. This was my second timeseeing Wilco, the first time being at Metro. It was shockingly possible to secure a standing spot about 5rows in from center in front of the stage. Having texted my friends who were standing there since 5pm,I actually found them at 6pm to secure my place among the throngs of fans. Even more unbelievable was that it waspossible to leave said secure spot to go use the port-a-potty and find one’sway back to a previously acquired location. The crowd was very accommodating. The stage was blinged out with scraps of tablecloth or clothnapkins swathing light bulbs and dangling from the rafters. The effect worked well with thelighting throughout the show almost forming miniature ghosts, the light bulbsserving as the heads. The sound as expected was loud being way up front but I had a highly coveted multi-pack of ear plugs with me that I handed out to friends who scooped them up like they were breath mints. Myonly complaint would be the necessity for folks to smoke their cigarettes in such tightquarters. Thankfully there was abreeze that dispersed the carcinogens and odor equally among theconcert-goers. Now the contacthigh I received, on the other hand, was a welcomed antidote (with it’s calmingeffect) to the periodic momentary claustrophobic thoughts that were teetering in theforefront of my phobic brain. Fortunately,I had help nearby, by having a friend that is a psychiatrist standing to myleft at the show, on call.
I had planned earlier to meet my family before Wilco. It would have been a historic feat toleave my spot and return at a later time just prior to or during Wilco’sset. My husband decided to arrivewith the kids and hang out by the food trucks. My daughter is an anti-smoking militant and my son hasasthma. Needless to say giventheir age appropriate short stature along with these caveats, standing in theback was a good decision at this “family friendly” event. Next time we will make sure we hire asitter or leave the kids home alone. What age can we “legally” start doing that anyway?
Wilco played in their usual, as expected, glory. Ho hum. Always putting on great shows, performing for multiplehours, and sounding like they are in the studio with perfect as recordedsound. Perfection is so dull andso typical of them. If youare not a fan then you would not be happy regardless. Otherwise you are always in for a treat to see and hearWilco live. My friend Joe, whostood to my left, must be the number one fan of Wilco. He knew every lyric to every song, nolie.
Here is a recording from the Block Party event of the song “CompanyIn My Back” for your listening pleasure.
Unfortunately I had to break free of the crowd prior to theencore since my estranged family was ready to depart. Likely there was another 45 minutes of the show to play outfollowed by another Red Moonspectacle. Right before Ileft, guitarist Nels Cline took out his white double-necked guitar for extraextreme guitar riffs. I lookforward to hearing about what other antics I missed from my die-hard fanfriends that stayed for theduration.
Tweeted Set List:SETLIST: Wilco @ Hideout BlockParty, Chicago, IL || Saturday, October 15, 2012
Hideout Block Party Overall Review:
The line-up, venue, sound, weather and modest ticket priceget a 4 out of 5 guitar rating. The crowd was friendly and controlledand the food truck offerings were of good quality. Of course less cement and a back-drop of mountains wouldhave been appreciated (ie. Telluride Bluegrass Festival) but you cannot haveeverything. I took off one guitarfor the lack of organization on day one to secure out wrist bands and callingthe event “family friendly” since 4 crayons, 3 hula hoops, 2 jump ropes, and 1 tent do not a “familyfriendly” event make. I recommendthe event but if at all possible leave kids that are still in need ofsupervision at home.
Day 1
This was my first Hideout Block Party Festival and I needed to be prepared. The weather turned out to be perfect being sunny during the day and a mild high 60's for the entire night. I bought tickets even before they announced Wilco as the headliner. When you enter the venue, be prepared to wait in line to secure your wrist band. Having a last name in the M-R category turned out to be unfortunate. The line did not move for what seemed like an eternity. In fact, it took so long that we missed the entire set of The War on Drugs. Please HBF organizers, fix this for next year. Although we all remained civilized, there were some unsatisfied people on line. Having failed to secure a babysitter for this weekend, we decided to bring the kids, ages 9 and ummm, errrr, 10 (10 and under are free) to the event. Touted as a family friendly event, there is nothing for kids to do but eat and listen to music. On the first day I did not see face painting or other kid friendly activities. On day two, I almost missed the one small tent that was the home of some magic markers and white sheets, face paints, hula hoops, and some jump rope. There is no grass so hanging out on cement is what you can expect. Not sure which kids will tolerate a full day of "adult" music. My friend's 5 year old son commented, in the voice of Elmer Fudd, "What a wip off mom!". She reported that previous Hideout block parties actually had a whole row of kid friendly tents with activities. Having said that, there was a great spectacle put on by Red Moon Theater after Glen Hansard finished his fabulous set. The theme was "Birds". A vehicle carrying a large winged (think human puppet) bird was released into the crowd with drummers dressed as birds (kind of "Blue Man Group") and performers dressed as birds vocalizing bird calls into megaphones. This was entertaining to the kids and adults but lasted maybe 30 minutes.
What was great about the first night was that you could easily saunter through the massive crowd, even after the band started playing, to the front of the pack. The carpet of people was woven just loose enough making it possible to politely squeeze in to the front (especially if you are one or two people doing so). I did step on one woman's toes (but in my defense, she was wearing flip flops) and got a reprimand. I would recommend not wearing flip flops to a SOLD OUT SHOW that is OUTDOORS IN THE DARK. I did however tell her that I was sorry and that I am indeed not OBNOXIOUS.
Glen Hansard
Moving on. Glen Hansard and his amazing band were on fire. I am looking forward to seeing him at another event sometime in the future, already. Hailing from Swell Season, the movie Once and Irish folk band The Frames origin, his versatility is remarkable. His vocals are both smooth and raspy/emotion packed as he deems fit. He is folky/singer-songwriter one minute and pure rock and roll the next. Having this violinist (please comment if you know his name) with him was a stroke of genius. Even my son stopped horsing around with his sister long enough to comment on the violinist's obvious talent. I am looking forward to buying and listening to his first solo release, Rhythm and Repose.
Iron and Wine
Afterwards Red Moon did there thing warming the crowd up for Iron and Wine. The crowd seemed to transition to a younger, one-hitter toting, crowd. Surrounded by cigarette smokers and the aroma of non-medicinal MaryJane, I had a hard time concentrating on the music at hand. My kids were outside of the music area with my husband - eating elephant ears so no harm done. Family friendly not. After establishing my contact high, I was in full groove with Iron and Wine. I did notice that one song with a more blues rhythm (Woman King) transitioned seamlessly into a down tempo ballad. I could not help but compare this choice with the Grateful Dead's typical set list antics. I now understood the obvious popularity of a one-hitter and it's relationship to Iron and Wine, sort of. Here is a snippet of the song:
I ran into friends that I have not seen in year(s) also. An added bonus although I was informed of missing a great party because one couple did not have my current email and another said I was no longer "on the list" or maybe I was put on the black list. We gave this group a ride home securing our place back on the proper list. Which reminds me, you can drive to the block party but be prepared to walk 10 minutes from where you park. Spots in front are unlikely.
One last comment about night one. The food trucks and restaurant representation were good. A mix of burgers, sliders, veggie options, coffee, and desserts. Big Star restaurant had THE longest line of all. So long after waiting in line 4-ever for a wrist band that I did not get a chance to taste one of their tacos which were sold out by the end of the night. I was informed that they will not be there for the second day. Guess I have to check them out at the restaurant in Bucktown (serving until 3am).
Day 2
Not wanting to subject the kids or us to the kids inevitable whining for multiple hours, my husband was kind enough to drive me and drop me off to enjoy the daytime acts on my own. The plan was to meet up later, progeny in tow, for Wilco. More on how that worked out later.
Entry was a breeze on day 2 making me only moderately tardy for Wild Belle. The brother and sister duo was a must see if you are a soul, pop, indie junkie.
Wild Belle
Natalie (vocals) and Elliott Bergman (keyboard, saxophone,guitar) are a sibling duo from Barrington, IL. Together they are reaching new acclaim in the blogosphereand music scene. Natalie, age 23,has lilting sultry vocals that sound like a collaboration between Amy Winehouseand Macy Gray. She wore a brightred blouse with animal print skinny jeans, an outfit both current andretro. With their first “hit”single, “Keep You” we are transported to a fusion of soul-laced synth-popCaribbean reggae disco lounge music. That was a mouth full. Isthe new genre SSPCRDLM? In anycase the upbeat sound is completely enjoyable. The pair first performed together as part of Elliott’s bandNomo known for dance instrumentals with an African jazz vibe. From what I read via Greg Kot’s review,Natalie was fired by the band after a crowd stood still following a performanceof one of her songs (usually the crowd would be dancing). Blood being thicker than water, Elliottdecided to perform with Natalie forming WildBelle. Natalie is an aspiringsinger-songwriter and a debut album is expected in early 2013. Today, towards the end of theirset they did a cover of Evelyn Champagne King’s “I’m in love” (1981) transporting me back to my carefree endof high-school start of college disco loving days. I am looking forward to Wild Belle’s upcoming releaseand having seen them at the HBP might just turn out to be one of thoserare “I saw them when…” experiences.
I could not get my video from the Block Party to upload so here is a version from You Tube of "Keep You":
Wye Oak
Wye Oak, namedafter Maryland’s honorary state tree, is the Baltimore based couple Jenn Wasner(vocals, guitar) and Andy Stack (drummer, multi-instrumentalist). Their style is considered “90’sIndie Rock/21st Century Folk”. Live, they are more rhythm, volume and feedback-driven loud rock androll than would be obvious on their studio produced albums. There is surprising dimension to theirsound given that there are only two people on stage. This is due to Stack’s ability to play both drums (using hisfeet) and keyboard simultaneously. Wasner is caught losing herself with thefierceness of her guitar riffs throughout the set. Coupled with Wasner’s reverb soaked dreamy lush vocals, andStack’s command of his instruments, the duo packs a mean punch. Given the amount of feedback, volume,distortion, and reverb that the band relies on for their sound, it can be hardto extract and appreciate Wasner’s vocal prowess. I always love a live performance but listening to themvia stereo is a different experience for better or worse. I have recorded here the song “Spiral” which is not yet released. Therecorded studio version takes n a rhythm driven new-wave sound making use ofmarimba and vocal special effects. Overall, they were great to see during the sun drenched blockparty. Wasner commented that shecould see nothing and was “blind” as she looked out over the audience with her“cheap $8 sunglasses” later taking them off to reveal her pretty face andallowing for her sight to return. I recommend the album Civilian highlyas it drew me in completely rendering me as a fan of Wye Oak’s uniquesound. The Block Party ticketpurchase had me at “Wye Oak” even before Wilcowas announced to headline.
Have a listen to "Spiral":
Wilco
Well what can I say about Wilco that has not already beensaid? Even Jeff Tweedy wittingly commentedthat they do so many (sold-out) shows in Chicago, in sequences of 5 (anddie-hards usually buy tickets for all 5 nights of the shows) that it is gettingnear impossible to play something that the audience has not heard. He tried to find a “deep track” butsaid that he was “riding on the edge of the blade” if my memory iscorrect. This was my second timeseeing Wilco, the first time being at Metro. It was shockingly possible to secure a standing spot about 5rows in from center in front of the stage. Having texted my friends who were standing there since 5pm,I actually found them at 6pm to secure my place among the throngs of fans. Even more unbelievable was that it waspossible to leave said secure spot to go use the port-a-potty and find one’sway back to a previously acquired location. The crowd was very accommodating. The stage was blinged out with scraps of tablecloth or clothnapkins swathing light bulbs and dangling from the rafters. The effect worked well with thelighting throughout the show almost forming miniature ghosts, the light bulbsserving as the heads. The sound as expected was loud being way up front but I had a highly coveted multi-pack of ear plugs with me that I handed out to friends who scooped them up like they were breath mints. Myonly complaint would be the necessity for folks to smoke their cigarettes in such tightquarters. Thankfully there was abreeze that dispersed the carcinogens and odor equally among theconcert-goers. Now the contacthigh I received, on the other hand, was a welcomed antidote (with it’s calmingeffect) to the periodic momentary claustrophobic thoughts that were teetering in theforefront of my phobic brain. Fortunately,I had help nearby, by having a friend that is a psychiatrist standing to myleft at the show, on call.
I had planned earlier to meet my family before Wilco. It would have been a historic feat toleave my spot and return at a later time just prior to or during Wilco’sset. My husband decided to arrivewith the kids and hang out by the food trucks. My daughter is an anti-smoking militant and my son hasasthma. Needless to say giventheir age appropriate short stature along with these caveats, standing in theback was a good decision at this “family friendly” event. Next time we will make sure we hire asitter or leave the kids home alone. What age can we “legally” start doing that anyway?
Wilco played in their usual, as expected, glory. Ho hum. Always putting on great shows, performing for multiplehours, and sounding like they are in the studio with perfect as recordedsound. Perfection is so dull andso typical of them. If youare not a fan then you would not be happy regardless. Otherwise you are always in for a treat to see and hearWilco live. My friend Joe, whostood to my left, must be the number one fan of Wilco. He knew every lyric to every song, nolie.
Here is a recording from the Block Party event of the song “CompanyIn My Back” for your listening pleasure.
Unfortunately I had to break free of the crowd prior to theencore since my estranged family was ready to depart. Likely there was another 45 minutes of the show to play outfollowed by another Red Moonspectacle. Right before Ileft, guitarist Nels Cline took out his white double-necked guitar for extraextreme guitar riffs. I lookforward to hearing about what other antics I missed from my die-hard fanfriends that stayed for theduration.
Tweeted Set List:SETLIST: Wilco @ Hideout BlockParty, Chicago, IL || Saturday, October 15, 2012
Hideout Block Party Overall Review:
The line-up, venue, sound, weather and modest ticket priceget a 4 out of 5 guitar rating. The crowd was friendly and controlledand the food truck offerings were of good quality. Of course less cement and a back-drop of mountains wouldhave been appreciated (ie. Telluride Bluegrass Festival) but you cannot haveeverything. I took off one guitarfor the lack of organization on day one to secure out wrist bands and callingthe event “family friendly” since 4 crayons, 3 hula hoops, 2 jump ropes, and 1 tent do not a “familyfriendly” event make. I recommendthe event but if at all possible leave kids that are still in need ofsupervision at home.
Melody Gardot at the Park West on September 25, 2012
To contact us Click HERE
Magnificent Melody did not disappoint. She is nothing short of brilliant. Her costume tonight consisted of a turban, a long black flowing skirt, and beautiful pumps that showed off her finely honed gams. Glitter was sprinkled on her neck and chest like pixie dust representing her magical qualities. She was dressed to emphasize her other worldliness and the Moroccan and other world music influences of her latest album "The Absence". She sings in spanish, french, portuguese (and english) as if she was a native.
Gardot plays guitar and piano with flourish, passion and tranquility as her mood dictates. During her set she can be watched with her head down almost resting on the keyboard as she fiercely plays her jazz chords. While sitting on a stool, legginess in full view, she casually and comfortably plays the strings of her guitar, plucking out the important chords and notes to accompany songs like "Comfort Me", one of my favorites.
Starting with the end first, Gardot ended the show with a medley of Fever and Summertime. Videotaping at the Park West is forbidden but I got a good clip anyway ; )
Gardot started the show with a song from her latest album sung acapella, lights beaming down on her, while she plays a type of percussion maraca in her left hand. Her band slowly came in one by one adding to the richness of the song. She is becoming known not only for her sultry vocals but also her costume choices (she has a degree in fashion design) and her wry and quick wit. After the first song, her mic became loosened and slipped straight down, still upright, stopping at the height of her, um, "pelvis". Without missing a beat, she immediately commented to herself, the audience, and her body part "No, YOU won't be singing tonight" and then acutely added, "Well, maybe later". Wink.
Gardot has a tragic story behind the development of her talent. At age 19, prior to producing her first full-length album, Worrisome Heart, in 2006, she was knockedoff of her bicycle. This resulted a broken pelvis and severe headand spinal injuries which have left her with a host of neurologic problems including memory deficits, an unusual senseof time and a hypersensitivity to light. She had to learn to walk again but was grateful that she survived her near death experience. Already proficient on piano, having played from a young age, her doctors suggested that she try musictherapy to help her recover. While in the hospital, she taught herself the guitar and because she had a difficult time tolerating loud music, she began writing calming and quiet jazz ballads. She still suffers chronically from pain and has a "tens" machine with her (I noticed it on her back) that delivers electrical stimulation to reduce her pain. Armed additionally with a cane, dark glasses to assist with her light sensitivity, and a couple of glasses of wine on stage, she is flawless none-the-less. That person driving the jeep must be in hiding (apparently he/she ran a red light).
Her third album, The Absence, produced by Brazilian composer and guitarist Heitor Pereirais, is more of a travelogue that transports you to several countries that Gardot visited. She is quoted as saying that the album reflects “time spent in the deserts of Morocco, the tango bars of BuenosAires, the beaches of Brazil and the streets of Lisboa”.
Getting to the show we were running late but managed to secure a non-metered legitimate parking spot a block from the Park West. On top of that, we managed to secure two seats in front of the stage. The gods and good karma were with us. Nothing left to do but sit back and enjoy traveling with Gardot to destinations of her choosing. As she quipped, "this is a cheaper way to visit these countries but the pilot does not know how to fly a plane". We enjoyed the trip and landed safely back in Chicago only saddened by her departure.
Her show and awesomeness get a 5 out of 5 guitar rating. Such a memorable experience.
Gardot plays guitar and piano with flourish, passion and tranquility as her mood dictates. During her set she can be watched with her head down almost resting on the keyboard as she fiercely plays her jazz chords. While sitting on a stool, legginess in full view, she casually and comfortably plays the strings of her guitar, plucking out the important chords and notes to accompany songs like "Comfort Me", one of my favorites.
Starting with the end first, Gardot ended the show with a medley of Fever and Summertime. Videotaping at the Park West is forbidden but I got a good clip anyway ; )
Gardot started the show with a song from her latest album sung acapella, lights beaming down on her, while she plays a type of percussion maraca in her left hand. Her band slowly came in one by one adding to the richness of the song. She is becoming known not only for her sultry vocals but also her costume choices (she has a degree in fashion design) and her wry and quick wit. After the first song, her mic became loosened and slipped straight down, still upright, stopping at the height of her, um, "pelvis". Without missing a beat, she immediately commented to herself, the audience, and her body part "No, YOU won't be singing tonight" and then acutely added, "Well, maybe later". Wink.
Gardot has a tragic story behind the development of her talent. At age 19, prior to producing her first full-length album, Worrisome Heart, in 2006, she was knockedoff of her bicycle. This resulted a broken pelvis and severe headand spinal injuries which have left her with a host of neurologic problems including memory deficits, an unusual senseof time and a hypersensitivity to light. She had to learn to walk again but was grateful that she survived her near death experience. Already proficient on piano, having played from a young age, her doctors suggested that she try musictherapy to help her recover. While in the hospital, she taught herself the guitar and because she had a difficult time tolerating loud music, she began writing calming and quiet jazz ballads. She still suffers chronically from pain and has a "tens" machine with her (I noticed it on her back) that delivers electrical stimulation to reduce her pain. Armed additionally with a cane, dark glasses to assist with her light sensitivity, and a couple of glasses of wine on stage, she is flawless none-the-less. That person driving the jeep must be in hiding (apparently he/she ran a red light).
Her third album, The Absence, produced by Brazilian composer and guitarist Heitor Pereirais, is more of a travelogue that transports you to several countries that Gardot visited. She is quoted as saying that the album reflects “time spent in the deserts of Morocco, the tango bars of BuenosAires, the beaches of Brazil and the streets of Lisboa”.
Getting to the show we were running late but managed to secure a non-metered legitimate parking spot a block from the Park West. On top of that, we managed to secure two seats in front of the stage. The gods and good karma were with us. Nothing left to do but sit back and enjoy traveling with Gardot to destinations of her choosing. As she quipped, "this is a cheaper way to visit these countries but the pilot does not know how to fly a plane". We enjoyed the trip and landed safely back in Chicago only saddened by her departure.
Her show and awesomeness get a 5 out of 5 guitar rating. Such a memorable experience.
27 Eylül 2012 Perşembe
Eagles Of Death Metal - Live At Rock En Seine, Domain National De St Cloud, Paris, France 08-25-2012
To contact us Click HERE
Live At Rock En Seine, Domain National De St Cloud, Paris, France 08-25-2012
Setlist:
01 I Only Want You
02 Don't Speak (I Came To Make A Bang!)
03 Bad Dream Mama
04 Cherry Cola
05 Heart On
06 Now I'm A Fool
07 Secret Plans
08 English Girl
09 Already Died
10 Stuck In The Metal
11 Whorehoppin' (Shit, Goddamn)
12 Whorehoppin' (Shit, Goddamn) II
13 Wannabe In L.A.
14 I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)
15 Speaking In Tongues
Info:
Flac
250mb
Ripped by: Huscka
Download: 250,9 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/p09r8pz5r
Live At Rock En Seine, Domain National De St Cloud, Paris, France 08-25-2012
Setlist:
01 I Only Want You
02 Don't Speak (I Came To Make A Bang!)
03 Bad Dream Mama
04 Cherry Cola
05 Heart On
06 Now I'm A Fool
07 Secret Plans
08 English Girl
09 Already Died
10 Stuck In The Metal
11 Whorehoppin' (Shit, Goddamn)
12 Whorehoppin' (Shit, Goddamn) II
13 Wannabe In L.A.
14 I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)
15 Speaking In Tongues
Info:
Flac
250mb
Ripped by: Huscka
Download: 250,9 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/p09r8pz5r
Wolfmother - Live At Rock Werchter, Belgium 06-30-2012
To contact us Click HERE
Live At Rock Werchter, Belgium 06-30-2012
Setlist:
01 Woman
02 California Queen
03 New Moon Rising
04 Dimension
05 White Unicorn
06 Keep Moving
07 Love Train
08 Colossal
09 Joker & The Thief
Info:
Video: MPEG4 Video (H264) 640x360 25fps
Audio: AAC 44100Hz stereo
Screen:
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3976/wolfmotherrockwerchter.jpg
Source:
http://www.skynet.be/ => RTMPDump => YOU
Ripped by: HunterBjork
Download: 437,1 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/35cfecqdd
Live At Rock Werchter, Belgium 06-30-2012
Setlist:
01 Woman
02 California Queen
03 New Moon Rising
04 Dimension
05 White Unicorn
06 Keep Moving
07 Love Train
08 Colossal
09 Joker & The Thief
Info:
Video: MPEG4 Video (H264) 640x360 25fps
Audio: AAC 44100Hz stereo
Screen:
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3976/wolfmotherrockwerchter.jpg
Source:
http://www.skynet.be/ => RTMPDump => YOU
Ripped by: HunterBjork
Download: 437,1 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/35cfecqdd
Lita Ford - Live At Newbury Comics, Norwood, MA 08-19-2012
To contact us Click HERE
Live At Newbury Comics, Norwood, MA 08-19-2012
Setlist:
01 Introduction
02 Living Like A Runaway
03 Relentless
04 Kiss Me Deadly
05 Close My Eyes Forever
By Josephj69
Info:
Lineage:
SP CMC-8c (LSM) > Church BB-UGLY > Sony PCM-M10 (48/24, Line In @8) > Adobe Audition (Editing) > iZotope RX2 (Downsample) > TLH (Fix SBEs)
Position:
Directly in front of Left channel PA, 10' back
Download: 166,1 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/7bo0ia9cp
Live At Newbury Comics, Norwood, MA 08-19-2012
Setlist:
01 Introduction
02 Living Like A Runaway
03 Relentless
04 Kiss Me Deadly
05 Close My Eyes Forever
By Josephj69
Info:
Lineage:
SP CMC-8c (LSM) > Church BB-UGLY > Sony PCM-M10 (48/24, Line In @8) > Adobe Audition (Editing) > iZotope RX2 (Downsample) > TLH (Fix SBEs)
Position:
Directly in front of Left channel PA, 10' back
Download: 166,1 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/7bo0ia9cp
89.3 The Current's 7th Birthday Bash Tickets at First Avenue - SOLD OUT
To contact us Click HERE
Hey friends! If you are a fan of 89.3 The Current, we've got great news for you! As you may know, The Current throws a big birthday bash every year at First Avenue. This will be their seventh year in the radio biz so they're celebrating with two nights of amazing music. The two-day bash will be held tomorrow night and Saturday night at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Both shows will be 18+ and are currently SOLD OUT!! But guess what... Ticket King isn't! We currently have four general admission 89.3 The Current's Birthday Bash tickets left for tomorrow night and six left for Saturday. If you're interested, you'd better grab them now before someone else does!
Hey friends! If you are a fan of 89.3 The Current, we've got great news for you! As you may know, The Current throws a big birthday bash every year at First Avenue. This will be their seventh year in the radio biz so they're celebrating with two nights of amazing music. The two-day bash will be held tomorrow night and Saturday night at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Both shows will be 18+ and are currently SOLD OUT!! But guess what... Ticket King isn't! We currently have four general admission 89.3 The Current's Birthday Bash tickets left for tomorrow night and six left for Saturday. If you're interested, you'd better grab them now before someone else does!
Madonna Xcel Energy Center Tickets
To contact us Click HERE
Hey Madonna fans! Your favorite singer, songwriter, actress, director, dancer and entrepreneur will be making a stop here at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul in just over a month! She's performing two shows, with the first on Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th. Throughout the course of her phenomenal career, Madonna has a record breaking 37 Top Ten Hits on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart as well as a record breaking 40 Number 1's on Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs Chart. She's sold over 300 million albums and also holds the record for the most successful tour by a solo artist in history. If you would like to see her perform LIVE at the Xcel, check out our remaining supply of Xcel Energy Center Madonna tickets and purchase yours while our selection is at it's best! We still have a nice selection for each show so check them out!
Hey Madonna fans! Your favorite singer, songwriter, actress, director, dancer and entrepreneur will be making a stop here at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul in just over a month! She's performing two shows, with the first on Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th. Throughout the course of her phenomenal career, Madonna has a record breaking 37 Top Ten Hits on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart as well as a record breaking 40 Number 1's on Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs Chart. She's sold over 300 million albums and also holds the record for the most successful tour by a solo artist in history. If you would like to see her perform LIVE at the Xcel, check out our remaining supply of Xcel Energy Center Madonna tickets and purchase yours while our selection is at it's best! We still have a nice selection for each show so check them out!
26 Eylül 2012 Çarşamba
Foo Fighters - Live At Reading Festival, Reading, England 08-26-2012
To contact us Click HERE
Live At Reading Festival, Reading, England 08-26-2012
Setlist:
01 Generator
02 These days
03 Monkey Wrench
04 Hey, Johnny Park
05 Alone And Easy Target
06 Bridge Burning
07 This Is A Call
08 In The Flesh (Pink Floyd Cover)
09 Best Of You
10 Times Like These
11 Winnebago
12 Watershed
13 For All The Cows
14 Exhausted
15 Everlong
Info:
Quality: TVRip
Container: MP4
Video codec: MPEG2
Audio codec: AAC
Video: mp4, 832x468p, 1502kbps, 25.000 fps,
Audio: Aac, 96.0 kbps, 48.0 KHz / 24.0 KHz, 2 ch
Download:
Part 1: 400 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/mrc5emtn7
Part 2: 400 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/wegs29iyh
Part 3: 307,6 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/uq52k59wo
Live At Reading Festival, Reading, England 08-26-2012
Setlist:
01 Generator
02 These days
03 Monkey Wrench
04 Hey, Johnny Park
05 Alone And Easy Target
06 Bridge Burning
07 This Is A Call
08 In The Flesh (Pink Floyd Cover)
09 Best Of You
10 Times Like These
11 Winnebago
12 Watershed
13 For All The Cows
14 Exhausted
15 Everlong
Info:
Quality: TVRip
Container: MP4
Video codec: MPEG2
Audio codec: AAC
Video: mp4, 832x468p, 1502kbps, 25.000 fps,
Audio: Aac, 96.0 kbps, 48.0 KHz / 24.0 KHz, 2 ch
Download:
Part 1: 400 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/mrc5emtn7
Part 2: 400 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/wegs29iyh
Part 3: 307,6 MB
http://depositfiles.com/files/uq52k59wo
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