Cowboy Mouth at the Fine Line | July 23, 2020

New Orleans-natives Cowboy Mouth offer some hometown flavor in their songs, mixing a rowdy rock sound with bits of twang and a dose of brass accompaniment. Proud of their Louisiana roots, the band aims to bring a helping of Mardi Gras to their live shows, turning it from a concert into a party.

Brandy Clark w/ Alex Hall at the Fine Line | August 13, 2020

Brandy Clark’s new album, Your Life is a Record, received an influx of gleaming reviews upon its release at the beginning of March – from The Wall Street Journal to The New Yorker to Pitchfork. For a genre that comes across as decidedly divisive for many music fans, it’s especially uncommon for a country artist to appeal to new fans without isolating their old ones. And yet, Brandy Clark appears to be on that unique trajectory with her folksy country music.

Hunny w/ Heart to Gold in the 7th St Entry | August 29, 2020

HUNNY crafts bright-eyed, danceable pop music perfect for sunny summer days or cool autumn evenings. In the vein of The Neighbourhood or Bad Suns, HUNNY makes refreshing guitar-friendly synth-pop that bounces around with an earnest energy that goes unmatched.

The Dip at the Fine Line | September 23, 2020

Fans of St. Paul & the Broken Bones will surely find plenty to enjoy when spinning The Dip. Whether it’s juicy hooks, blaring horns or soaring vocals, The Dip brings a modern feel to their retro-soul sound, resulting in an inimitable blend of new and old.

King Buffalo in the 7th St Entry | September 24, 2020

King Buffalo take stoner rock to another level with monster guitar riffs and slow-burn ballads driven by their psych-heavy sound. Some songs drift along quietly, while others power ahead with defined purpose. Their two-in-one style makes for a rock concert not to be missed.

Sampa the Great at the Turf Club | September 29, 2020

From Africa to Australia, Sampa the Great’s journey has taken her all over the world in her young rap career – and you can hear it in her music. Sampa puts a unique twist on the ‘90s hip-hop feel with strokes of jazz and African music laced into her production.

The post Rescheduled Shows: Cowboy Mouth, Brandy Clark, Hunny, The Dip, King Buffalo, Sampa the Great appeared first on First Avenue.

Johnny A. at the Turf Club | June 8, 2020

For decades Johnny A. has bounced around renowned music circles as support for artists like Bobby Whitlock and Peter Wolf while also building a name for himself as a skilled and technical guitarist. From CCR to the Yardbirds, Johnny A.’s credentials as a distinguished guitar-place run the gamut.

Kevin Krauter in the 7th St Entry | August 1, 2020

Kevin Krauter will be a familiar name for anyone familiar with the band Hoops, the lo-fi tape-rock band he helped form back in 2015. Krauter’s solo work, including his new album, Full Hand, has a delicate yet pointed feel to it, mixing quiet synths with gentle guitar that makes for an ethereal sound.

Anna Burch w/ Long Beard at the Turf Club | August 27, 2020

At a time when women are absolutely dominating the singer-songwriter category, Anna Burch deserves a spot near the top with the likes of Lucy Dacus, Snail Mail, Phoebe Bridgers, and the like. Her sophomore album, If You’re Dreaming, is out on April 3.

The Ballroom Thieves in the 7th St Entry | September 2, 2020

The Ballroom Thieves’ minimalistic folk music has garnered a swift and strong following thanks to songs like “Only Lonely” and “Bees.” The trio splits vocals among the three of them – accompanied by cello, acoustic guitar, and gentle percussion – that makes for folksy music with a sleek commercial appeal.

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Mattiel at the Turf Club | July 25, 2020

Very few rock bands are capable of striking the elusive sweet spot between jagged and commercially accessible. In just two albums, Mattiel has demonstrated her knack for analog-driven rock ‘n’ roll accompanied by radio-friendly melodies and hooks. Her 2019 album, Satis Factory, affirmed her skillset as a songwriter while merging a honky-tonk feel with garage rock sensibilities.

Crash Test Dummies at The Fitzgerald Theater | September 27, 2020

Built on the foundation of lead singer Brad Robert’s bass-baritone vocals, Crash Test Dummies have made a brooding brand of soft rock for roughly 20 years. Much like fellow contemporaries Collective Soul and Better Than Ezra, Crash Test Dummies rose to acclaim in the ‘90s adjacent to the grunge music that also stemmed from some of the prolific rock bands of the ‘80s.

Waxahatchee w/ Ohmme at The Cedar Cultural Center | October 15, 2020

One week ahead of the release of her fifth studio album, Saint Cloud, we’ve confirmed a rescheduled date with Waxahatchee—the folksy project powered by singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield. Initial glimpses of Waxahatchee’s forthcoming release promise more of the refined Americana sound that Crutchfield has mastered over the course of the past decade.

Openers Ohmme are veteran players with several projects and collaborations under their belt. Their voices are on both Coloring Book and Surf by Chance the Rapper, they played with Vic Mensa in high school, they’ve worked with producer Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, they provided string arrangements for Whitney, and they sang back-up vocals for Twin Peaks. This show is now all ages.

Killer Queen at The Fitzgerald Theater | October 18, 2020

Killer Queen is as close as it gets to the real deal. However inimitable Freddie Mercury may seem, Killer Queen is somehow able to capture the magic of Queen’s legendary sound and bring it to today’s stage—flashy and fantastic in the best way.

Amyl and the Sniffers at the Fine Line | October 24, 2020

In the short time Amyl and The Sniffers have been around, their riotous live shows have risen in the ranks of notoriety among venues across the globe. Bringing an Aussie flair to a ‘70s punk sound, Amyl and The Sniffers bring an energy to the stage that is simply unmatched.

King Krule w/ Lucy at First Avenue | December 1, 2020

King Krule’s Mainroom debut has been confirmed for the latter end of 2020. Driven by a grimey blues-rock foundation and Archy Marshall’s thick English accent that oozes with emotion, King Krule sounds unlike any other. His new album, Man Alive!, builds on the character Marshall has been cultivating since his first release as a precocious 16-year-old nearly 10 years ago.

The post Upcoming Rescheduled Shows appeared first on First Avenue.

Joely Kelzer: What music inspired you as a kid and made you realize you may want to make music yourself someday?

Sara Bischoff: My

mom is a musician so it just made sense to play music as part of everyday life. But songwriting-wise it was Bob Dylan & Ani Difranco, I listened to both a lot as a kid.

JK: You have an ethereal and breathy style, similar to Mazzy star, is there a particular song or album that influenced the sound of this LP?

SB: I do love Mazzy Star. Hope Sandoval sings in such a relaxed and simple way—it’s so comforting. I keep bringing up the lullaby thing when I talk about Under Violet but that’s the main idea. There were many other things that influenced the first album, but that’s my main idea with Under Violet as a project.

JK: Besides Mazzy Star, who or what inspires your music?

SB: I

think dreams, relationships, nature, animals & memory inspire it.

The

songs “Crimson & Clover” and the song “Sweet Jane” and the song “Blues Run the Game”. Also Ted Lucus, Sibylle Baier, Vashti Bunyan, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Joni Mitchell, Jackson C. Frank, Stevie Nicks, Arthur Russell, Neil Young, Invisible Boy,

Poliça, Julie Byrne, and The Weather Station. Those are some of my favorite songwriters.

Chris

Rose (Vampire Hands/Robust Worlds/Web of Sunsets) had a big influence on my music. My songwriting developed a lot from just being in bands with him and observing his approach to songwriting—lyrics, in particular.

JK: You recently released a full-length, self-titled LP. What as the idea or inspiration behind the album?

SB: I

think it was more of a coping mechanism than anything else. Music is a good friend to have. I think a lot of the songs are about loss and loneliness and finding a way to comfort yourself when you’re feeling that way.

JK: Being from Minnesota, what is your favorite show you have seen in the First Avenue Mainroom?

SB: Poliça

and The Cactus Blossoms are tied.

Blog by Joely Kelzer (Marketing Intern)

The post GET TO KNOW: Under Violet appeared first on First Avenue.

Joely Kelzer: Your bio mentions Lord of the Rings a couple of times, what is the significance of Lord of the Rings to you?

Loki’s Folly: We actually wrote this bio under the influences of sleep deprivation soon before our first show at First Avenue. However, Lord of The Rings does mean a lot to us as we have been watching it forever and we feel really connected to it.

JK: How did you meet each other? How did you decide to start collaborating on music?

LF: Nissa was born on April 3rd, and Annie went to the hospital to meet her baby sister. That is when we met and we’ve been best friends ever since. We both really like music and like sharing it together as sisters which makes it really fun to collaborate and feel like it’s not work. So I guess we decided to collaborate because it was more fun to play together than separately.

JK: Do you have a clear or specific memory related to falling in love with music, and knowing that it is something you would want to pursue yourself?

LF: Nissa can’t remember a time when she wasn’t hitting everything with sticks, even when she got in trouble for it. She was always going to play drums but never thought it would be in front of people. It took Annie a really long time to work up the nerve to play in front of people but as soon as she did, she felt like she found her home.

JK: What was the inspiration behind your breakout single, “The Love Song”?

LF: It is an emotional release in response to not being allowed or knowing how to confront a mean person who won’t leave you alone. We like to use our music for catharsis and support.

Blog by Joely Kelzer (Marketing Intern)

The post Get To Know: Loki’s Folly appeared first on First Avenue.

AQ Mohamud: Growing around Minneapolis, how does the city influence your music?

Nur-D: The city influences my music by its very nature. Sometimes, depending on the day or the street you can be in a different atmosphere which allows for different types of musical influences. Also, real talk, the fact that we have such extreme weather on either side of the spectrum will influence stuff. We get that deep, introspective, stuck inside in a blizzard type music and also that hot, party out on the lake, dance-type music too. Then you take how both hip-hop, Americana folk, and Rock & Roll have such interconnected roots here. It just leads to a different writing style that most other places don’t really have I think.

AQ: You’ve mentioned how you want to dismantle toxic masculinity through your music, what is the process to that?

Nur-D: Well if I could give you the foolproof 100 step plan to effectively dismantle toxic masculinity I would be a very rich dude! While I know the concept is pretty massive in scope for the purpose of this or any one interview I think a good way to start is for more male-identifying people to express their feelings of longing. I know that might sound weird but the fact that men have a need to be desired and want to be wanted is so often seen as weakness. The ability to embrace that part of yourself that wants to be seen, held, desired, cared for is not something that every man feels the safety to explore. So often because of that, they lash out in ways that are destructive for everyone in a society so often run by males. If my music can show that being vulnerable in your skin, being gentle, being teachable, and expressing complex emotion is ALSO a “manly” quality I think that helps us move in the right direction.

AQ: Favorite Netflix Original Show?

Nur-D: Oh dang you’re killing me with this one! There are so many good ones. I would say that it’s probably a good 3-way tie for me with Bojack Horseman, Big Mouth, and Black Mirror.

AQ: You love comic books and other stuff that use to be considered “nerdy.” How do you go about showing through your music that that genre is not nerdy at all, but fun and amazing?

Nur-D: See I think that comics, manga, D&D, all that stuff is still profoundly nerdy. I don’t think my music does anything to change the fact those are pretty nerdy things. But I would like to think that my music shows that’s totally awesome! You can be nerdy AND fun AND geeky AND sexy AND weird. Being odd is mainstream now. So I think it’s time to let our freak flag fly a little higher—plus it allows for people to see that you don’t have to be huddled in a dark basement to enjoy these things. You can be a nerd on a stage in front of a thousand people and it’s great.

AQ: Who deserved NBA Kia MVP in 2017? Russ or Harden?

Nur-D: Harden. The states are pretty clear that, overall, he was doing the most. The spots where Russ overtook him weren’t by so much that he should have lost out to him. But Russ is a great player and I can see how he took home the gold.

AQ: Here in Minneapolis, is it safe to say that at your live shows the majority of the audience is white? Assuming yes, how does that make you feel? 

Nur-D: I can say that the audience of shows that I book myself often look different then shows I find myself being booked on. 

As far as how I feel about shows where the audience is mostly white…most of my time in school was in Rosemount, MN a majority white town, in a majority white school district, with majority white classmates. Every theater, choir, football game, etc. was filled with a majority of white people paying to be entertained. It’s nothing new for me when I look to see a majority of white faces in a crowd. 

I could probably go on for a long time about all the different factors that make this happen. But to focus on one of the positives I can genuinely say that I am so happy that my music can bring peoples from multiple cultures together under the umbrella of shared interests and fun tunes.

When I look out and see all types of people woven together I kinda feel like I am doing my part to break down the barriers that so often keep us from growing as a society.

Blog by AQ Mohamud (Marketing Intern)

The post GET TO KNOW: Nur-D appeared first on First Avenue.

Olivia Riggins: After being involved with other successful projects around the area, how did you decide to meet up and form Green/Blue?

Annie Sparrows: Jim was dropping some art off for me last year when we got to talking and I found out he had been writing and recording a bunch of new songs (playing and singing all the parts himself) at his house. I asked if I could hear some of it, and loved every song. I had some ideas to add here and there and we started playing guitars together in Jim’s basement. Hideo and Jim had been talking about being in a band together for a while too so Hideo came in on bass and Danny, who I’ve been playing with since 2002 was a perfect fit for drums. Those songs that Jim had recorded will come out on the first Green/Blue LP in March, and since then we’ve been writing, recording, and playing shows pretty much nonstop.

OR: How is Green/Blue’s sound different from your previous work?

AS: It’s more melodic and artful than most of the projects we’ve been a part of in the past. The hooks and songwriting take a front seat while still being really danceable and sounding slightly dangerous.

OR: I’ve heard Green/Blue described as “the Belle and Sebastian of psych-rock”—do you feel like that’s accurate, or how would you describe your sound?

AS: That’s something our friend said to us at one of our first shows – he also asked if we had “singing practice” haha – and it was all kind of a joke that we thought was clever.  It’s sort of accurate in that the songs are more than just a sound or “music” – they have a tendency to evoke emotion from the people who hear them more so than a lot of other tunes that would fall under an “alternative” or “garage” banner. I think Belle and Sebastian does that – but I think we are offering something just a little edgier, that’s its own thing.

OR: I’ve read that an album may be in the works. What themes or messages are you interested in exploring in future releases?

AS: The first Green/Blue album comes out on Slovenly Recordings in March – our record release show is in the 7th St Entry (more info TBD) with one of our favorite punk bands from here called I.V., and a new band called Snake Whips that you will surely be hearing a lot about this summer as they start playing live shows.

OR: What’s the next step for Green/Blue as a band?

AS: We have some shows both in and out of town brewing this spring and summer, and we’ll keep working on writing and recording.

OR: What are you looking forward to in 2020?

AS: Seeing how the band will continue to evolve!

Blog by Olivia Riggins (Marketing Intern)

The post GET TO KNOW: Green/Blue appeared first on First Avenue.

Olivia Riggins: Your first album came out this October—what inspired that album, and what was the experience like releasing your debut?

Joe Werner: The first album was inspired by so many different things. Mostly by bands like Broadcast, Stereolab, Pink Floyd, and Connan Mockasin, to name a few. But mostly I was just trying to write a body of work that you couldn’t just pigeon hole into one category, or sound. I wanted a colorful, and eclectic collection of songs. One criticism that I have of a lot of new “psych-rock”, is that so many bands have only one kind of song, and they repeat that formula ad nauseam on their records, and it makes for a very one-dimensional listening experience.

OR: You all came from various projects/local bands (Driftwood Pyre, First Communion Afterparty, Bridge Club, Flavor Crystals) before beginning Muun Bato. How do your experiences in the local music scene and your experiences in these other bands influence Muun Bato’s sound?

JW: I would say my experience in the local music scene didn’t have much to do with the sound of Muun Bato. I didn’t want it to sound like anything else I had been in before, it has an overall way more mellow sound than a lot of other projects I’ve been in. But I guess a little bleed-through of the past is inevitable. And the other members all bring their own influences, and nuisances with them, which definitely has an obvious outcome on the sound. 

OR: The album art/design and t-shirts for Muun Bato have a fun correlation to the sound you have as a band. Does someone in the band do the design work for Muun Bato?

JW: The person who does all the design work is a really old friend of mine, Sheraton Green of Charles S Anderson Design. We’ve known each other for about 20yrs, and he just gets the aesthetic we’re going for. He has the ability to interpret the sound visually, in the most amazing way. A true master of his craft.

OR: What’s your favorite song to perform live?

JW: “Planet of the Children” is our favorite song to perform I think. It’s the last song on the album, and it’s the last song in our set too. It’s an apocalyptic epic, with operatic highs, and lows, and also seems to be a crowd favorite.

OR: What comes next for you all as a band?

JW: We are playing Off the Record on Radio K on Friday, January 17th, along with a number of local shows TBA soon, and a west coast tour this spring. Also, we’ve begun recording our second album, which I have written about %90 of already. 

OR: What’s your favorite artist/album of the past year?

JW: Vanishing Twin!!! They’re a fantastic band from the UK. Very avant-garde, art-rock stuff. Their newest album “Age of Immunology” is absolutely stellar.

Blog by Olivia Riggins (Marketing Intern)

The post GET TO KNOW: Muun Bato appeared first on First Avenue.

After spending a childhood and adolescence shuffling through Tennessee and Florida, and soaking in the sounds, 21-year-old Briston Maroney has now settled in Nashville developing a style grounded in the scrappy, authentic sounds of the city’s DIY house parties. Having won over Nashville fans and fans across the country, Briston Maroney is ready to win you over on November 18 here in the 7th St Entry. We had the pleasure of speaking with Briston Maroney to get to know him a little before the show! 

Joely: You just released a two-song EP last week, what was your inspiration for these songs?

Briston: The first track was written a year ago and the second was written the day we recorded it! These songs were inspired by the label asking us to record an EP they have now become an awesome snapshot of where I was emotionally at that period of time in life!

Joely: You recently toured with Wallows, what’s a favorite memory you have from that tour?

Briston: The first show of that tour was insane! It was our first European show ever, and one of the most full rooms I have ever been able to play in. The show was fantastic and we got to stand by the merch table and sign some kids shoes after the set, it was an honor!

Joely: Do you have a clear or specific memory related to falling in love with music, and knowing that it is something you would want to pursue yourself?

Briston: My earliest memory of falling in love with music was either finding a CD copy of “White Album” in my dad’s cd collection or hearing Ben Folds Five open up for John Mayer on the “Continuum” tour! Both of these experiences pushed me to want to make my own music for me!

Joely: Being from Florida and Tennessee, and now living in Nashville, how has your music been inspired by these different locations?

Briston: All of these places were full of different memories and cast of important people in my life, and those memories and people shape the sounds I hear and songs I write immensely! 

Joely: This is your first time playing at First Avenue, what are you most excited to do or see during your time in Minneapolis?

Briston: I don’t know much about Minneapolis at all, but I know it’s very cold. I hope to run into some arctic wildlife like a polar bear or something. That would be really special for me. 

A special thanks for Briston Maroney for taking the time for this, and make sure to check out the new EP, as well as the show at 7th St Entry this upcoming weekend!

Blog by Joely Kelzer (Marketing Intern)

The post Get To Know: Briston Maroney appeared first on First Avenue.

Joely Kelzer: You have collabed with the loveable Gully Boys, what is another niiice. collab you would love to happen? 

niiice.: Stars Hollow, from Iowa, is one of our favorite bands, and we got a big ol tour with them this fall that I’m really stoked about.

JK: Who are your biggest influences as far as your style of music?

niiice.: I’d say bands like Tommy Boys, Prince Daddy & the Hyena, and Nirvana especially. I’ve seen Prince Daddy at the Entry and it was D O P E.

JK: What famous song do you wish you had written?

niiice.: Ricky by Denzel Curry. 100% sick.

JK: Is there a niiice story on how the band met?

niiice.: me (Roddie) and Sage are both from different cities in Montana, and never really knew each other but we happened to go to the same college, and Abe is from Cannon Falls. We all moved to the cities in the same year and met pretty soon after we moved here. Love those guys, they my dawgs for real

JK: What would you describe your vibe in 5 words or less?

niiice.: Goofy, but also dumb.

Blog by Joely Kelzer (Marketing Intern)

The post GET TO KNOW: niiice. appeared first on First Avenue.