DeVotchKa at First Avenue on 5/7/08

By: Jon Behm
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Nick Urata - Photo by Jon Behm To describe a DeVotchka show you must examine its components.  Such a spectacle deserves more than blanket descriptions and generalizations. Wednesday night’s First Avenue performance was no exception.   First you have the DeVotchKa Strings – a relatively new addition to the band. They consist of a viola and cellist who, when added to band members Tom Hager...

The Swell Season with Damien Dempsey at Orpheum Theatre on 5/7/08

By: David de Young
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   The Swell Season - Photo by David de Young Full disclosure: Not only am I a fan of Dublin’s The Frames, they have been one of my favorite bands on the planet for many years. I have seen each of their Minneapolis shows since 2002 (when they played the 400 Bar) and have even seen them twice in Ireland. This doesn’t disqualify me from being able to write an unbiased review of T...

Cut Copy at 7th Street Entry on 5/6/08

By: Jon Behm
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The 80’s revival that has been slowly gaining traction over the past 5 or so years seems to have now entered all facets of life. With a few exceptions, to experience Cut Copy’s 7th Street Entry set on Tuesday night was akin to revisiting 1987, complete with synth-driven electro-pop, skintight stonewashed jeans and prominent neon colors. I am just waiting for the night when I see someone carrying a brick-style mobile phone while bouncing on a pogo-ball. ...

The Blind Shake with The Cops at Hexagon Bar on 5/2/08

By: Jon Behm
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  The Blind Shake. Photo by Jon Behm I always expect to see casualties after a Blind Shake show. After the tsunami of skittering guitars and machine gun precision drumming comes to a halt, it’s like you are coming out of a foxhole to survey the carnage. Even when they have technical difficulty (such as they did on Friday night at the Hexagon where the mics weren’t nearly loud enough) ...

Kathleen Edwards at The Varsity Theater on 5/2/08

By: David Rachac
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Kathleen Edwards - Photo by Alexa Jones I can’t say that I was totally enamored by Kathleen Edwards’ latest CD Asking For Flowers – compared to previous efforts, too many songs seemed overly orchestrated and subdued, custom-made for appearances on “Grey’s Anatomy” or NPR, but with only a couple of songs that allowed Edwards to let her inner Tom Petty out. Mix my weak enthusiasm...

Elbow at Fine Line Music Café on 4/30/08

By: David de Young
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   Elbow - publicity photo from their MySpace As the strains of “Starlings,” the opening track off their new album The Seldom Seen Kid began to play, Elbow emerged one member at a time onto the Fine Line Music Cafe stage in Minneapolis Wednesday – first each of their two tour string players, who also double as backup singers, then the band itself, each member bearing a trum...

The Acorn at 7th Street Entry on 4/26/08

By: Travis Even
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  The Acorn - Photo by Travis Even Born several years ago as the solo project of Ottawa musician Rolf Klausener, The Acorn has blossomed over the course of four recordings into a talented sextet. This 7th St. Entry show marked the fourth day of the group's inaugural American tour in which they ventured south to support their newest full-length Glory Hope Mountain. T...

Kraftwerk at The Rave / Eagles Club on 4/20/08

By: Almostred
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Robots - Photo by Almostred “Three German guys walk into a bar…”   There is a very short list of bands that I would go out of my way to see anymore, and Kraftwerk is near the top of that list. An inexplicably routed three-date Midwestern warm-up for Coachella brought them to the Myth in Maplewood last weekend, a show I missed because of a prior obligation. Lu...

Saul Williams with Dragons of Zynth at The Varsity Theater on 4/19/08

By: Mary Rea
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When an edgy, innovative, boundary blurring and visionary artist like Saul Williams makes a tour stop in the Twin Cities, I secretly give thanks to the live music gods and goddesses (who surely conspire with the Varsity Theater and their producing partners) for booking acts that influence and inspire local music-lovers and musicians alike. For despite our virtual access to great live footage, there’s nothing like the first appearance of...

The Current Fakebook featuring Chuck D with Brother Ali and Slug at Fitzgerald Theater on 4/19/08

By: Jen Paulson
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Chuck D started his Minneapolis weekend presenting the new Public Enemy documentary at the Oak Street Cinema on Friday night as an event for the Minneapolis/St. Paul Film Festival, rounding it out with the anticipated music and interview event that is Fakebook. An evening with the rap music innovator, activist and artist had been announced months back and induced quite the flurry of excitement.   Chuck D and B...