Wednesday evening, the Dakota Jazz Club was warm and inviting. It provided a much-needed shelter during Christine Rosholt‘s release show for her new CD Lipstick-Live at the Dakota Jazz Club. Having already begun the first set when we arrived, the…
The Swell Season with Damien Demsey at the Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis
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…
Nada Surf with Sea Wolf at First Avenue
“It’s a lot easier to build a great rock and roll set out of a great set of great rock and roll songs,” I noted following Nada Surf’s 2005 performance at the 400 Bar. Having been around a while now –…
Robyn Hitchcock at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen Robyn Hitchcock over the years. It must be approaching a dozen, including the Soft Boys reunion at First Avenue in 2002. In one format or another, I have most of Hitchcock’s recordings…
Robyn Hitchcock at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
By Jen Paulson Sunday night, armed only with a special mix CD’s worth of Robyn Hitchcock knowledge, I settled into my spot at the Cedar, quite excited to see this highly-influential singer/songwriter. Right out of the gate, Sean Nelson treated us to a performance of…
Jens Lekman at The Triple Rock Social Club
My girlfriend and I have an arrangement. If she ever gets a chance to run away with Jens Lekman, she will take it with no regrets. I can’t blame her. After seeing Jens on Saturday night at the Triple Rock,…
Blind Boys of Alabama
Text by Jen Paulson.Photos by Alexa Jones. I have zero experience with Gospel music. To be honest with you, I went to this show on a lark to broaden my musical horizons and to hopefully be schooled by the legendary…
Canasta at the 400 Bar
Chicago’s Canasta played an inspired middle-slot set Friday at the 400 Bar sandwiched between dependable local rock band openers Seymore Saves the World and headliners Cowboy Curtis. Canasta opened with “Microphone Song,†the first track off of We Were Set…
Nada Surf at the 400 Bar, Minneapolis
“‘BETTER late than never’ is a phrase I always drag out when I find a brilliant band who have been around for ages and promptly rush out to buy their back-catalogue in a pathetic attempt to catch up on what…
Robyn Hitchcock at Schuba’s, Chicago — November 06, 2004
Am I crazy? Don’t answer that. After seeing Robyn Hitchcock’s two Minneapolis club shows (The Cedar and the Kitty Kat Club), I headed to Chicago Saturday to see him again at Schuba’s Tavern (3159 N. Southport). Actually, it was a…
Robyn Hitchcock at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
This is supposed to be a Robyn Hitchcock review. Forgive me if it’s interrupted with other realities. Given the events of the past two days (i.e. First Avenue closing and Bush winning the election), that cannot be helped. The Jonathan…
Lloyd Cole (Wednesday, July 16th, 2004, Fine Line Music Café, Minneapolis)
Many longtime Lloyd Cole fans have personal connections to his music, and I’m no different; though to be fair, my connection may be more morbid than most: In the late nineties, I chose the music for my funeral, and two…