The Hold Steady at State Theatre on 11/1/07

By: Kelly Hopf Basgen
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   Craig Finn of the Hold Steady - Photo by Stacy Schwartz No one was more excited during The Hold Steady show at the State Theatre on Thursday night than lead singer and Minneapolis native Craig Finn. Although every night on stage appears to be the best night of Finn’s life, he seemed overjoyed – and at times overwhelmed – by the opportunity to play to a sold-out crowd a...

Three Nights of Guitar Heros on 10/31/07

By: Joe Lang
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  Bill Frisell’s Disfarmer Project (27 October 2007, Walker Art Center)  Disfarmer Trio - Photo from www.songtone.com In a classic Simpson’s episode, a grumpy patron scoffs at the performance of a jazz violinist prompting Lisa Simpson to respond, “You have to listen to the notes he’s not playing.”   The man hilariously growls back, ...

The Global Drum Project at Orchestra Hall on 10/27/07

By: Joe Lang
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Poster from planetdrummusic.com “In the beginning was noise,” Mickey Hart began his 1991 book Drumming at the Edge of Magic. “Noise began rhythm.” And in that same year, Hart joined with Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo on the Grammy award-winning Planet Drum. Sixteen years later, he has rejoined his Planet Drum band mates for Global Drum Pro...

Bon Iver with Megafaun at Uptown Bar and Café on 10/26/07

By: Jon Behm
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Bon Iver - Photo by Jon Behm Ben Iver played the Uptown Bar last Friday. Don’t worry if you don’t know who he is. He existed for one night and one night alone. On Friday night only, the faux-French named Bon Iver was presented as Ben Iver, due to a small spelling error on the part of the Uptown Bar. Bon Iver is the current project of Justin Vernon, an Eau Cla...

Architecture in Helsinki at 400 Bar on 10/24/07

By: Jon Behm
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  Charles Byron of Panther - Photo by Jon Behm Word is out, the kiddies love Architecture In Helsinki.  At least they did Wednesday night at the 400 Bar.  With their boundless energy and their low alcohol tolerance, they made this 26-year-old feel like a senior citizen.  I may have to stop going to 18+ shows before I develop an early case of cranky old man syndrome. Two bands ...

Van Halen at Target Center on 10/24/07

By: Andrew Thomas
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   Photo from van-halen.com by Andrew Bennett Diehard fans have debated Eddie Van Halen's statement that the most recent incarnation of Van Halen is a "new band." If it is indeed new, why does the band only play material that is 23-plus years old? While the true test will be whether or not Van Halen 4.0 can functionally produce new music after this tour, there was plenty of evi...

The Thermals with Reporter and Superhopper at Triple Rock Social Club on 10/22/07

By: Ryan Ruff Smith
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  The Thermals - photo by Adam Bubolz It was a Monday night, and there was no denying it. When Superhopper got things started, there were just a handful of spectators scattered around the Triple Rock. This didn’t seem to faze the local group, who blazed through a set of fast, catchy rock tunes energetically.  Next up were The Thermals’ tourmates, Portland’s Reporter. A few...

GWAR with Cradle of Filth at Myth Nightclub on 10/21/07

By: Jen Paulson
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Oderus Urungus, Lord of Earth - Photo by Jon Behm Halloween came ten days early for me this year at Maplewood’s Myth Nightclub. Goth-metal corpses Cradle of Filth brought the rock-lock flashing, fists waving in the air mania that is their fans, GWAR spilled enough fake blood on the main-floor crowd to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool. Openers Veins of Jenna ...

The Polyphonic Spree at Pantages Theatre on 10/19/07

By: Jen Paulson
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Tim DeLaughter of The Polyphonic Spree - Photo by Stacy Schwartz I think people who don’t like The Polyphonic Spree aren’t familiar with them at all. I can guarantee those people have never and might never see one of their live shows due to their bias—and that’s a damn shame. Not only is the music technically top of the line and orchestral—the empowering,...

Final Fantasy with Basia Bulat at 7th Street Entry on 10/13/07

By: Jen Paulson
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Basia Bulat - Photo by Stacy Schwartz As the stage was being set for adorable Ontario native Basia Bulat, I wondered what would be happening with the three single mics set up at the front, along with the drums and electric grand piano. I was standing, unaware of what my ears were about to experience—Bulat’s deeply lush and gorgeous voice. As then, the band shuffled out. Bulat had an excellent, warm...