Jayhawks tickets

One of Minneapolis' favorite band, the Jayhawks, have announced not one, but three shows to commemorate the band reuniting. Since 2005 the Jayhawks have been on a hiatus as a full time band. Members Gary Louris and Mark Olson have been Minneapolis music scene staples since the early 80's. Gary Louris played two sold out shows at the Varsity Theater last summer and you could not find Varsity Theater tickets to either one. Since the success of their solo shows, the band has apparently reunited to play some long over due shows for their fans. First Avenue tickets for all three shows will sell out. Minneapolis music fans go gaga for The Jayhawks.

Last year, Gary Louris oversaw a project called "Music from the North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology." It included all of the Jayhawks' albums, b side, rarities and music videos. Also last year to commemorate the relase of the anthology, the band reunited at the Basilica Block Party as headliners for one the festival's nights.

While Basilica Block Party tickets were far from selling out, First Avenue tickets for these few shows will be. The set of First Avenue shows in June will also be in celebration of the reissue of their first album "The Bunkhouse Album" which was released in 1986 only on vinyl.

See you at the show!

First Avenue Tickets

Sunday night's Yeasayer/Sleigh Bells show was awesome. It by far exceeded my expectations! Sleigh Bells were so much fun to watch, they are a new band that is still working out the kinks and Alexis Krauss was born to be a frontwoman!!! Their set was short though, only half an hour - I can't wait to see them again.

Yeasayer had an amazing set list. How they so vividly and creatively play their sound live is incredible. If you have listened to "Odd Blood" you will know that there a lot of sounds on there that cannot be recorded live so smoothly. Their big song "Ambling Alp" was the song they closed the show with - but it was their jams like "Madder Red" and "O.N.E" that stole the show.

First Avenue tickets were so sold out for this show it wasn't even funny. I actually think they sold too many tickets. There were so many people (way over the 1200 capacity) that you could barely move around. AND in addition to selling out of First Avenue tickets they sold out of Yeasayer shirts. I really wanted one, too :( Next time Yeasayer comes to town they should definitely play 2 shows at First Avenue. They will have no problem selling out First Avenue tickets two nights in a row!

See you at the next one!

Black Keys tickets

The men that cannot stop working, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, Akron, Ohio's Black Keys are back in June for not one, but two shows at First Avenue. The Black Keys have not been in Minneapolis since January 2008 - Dan Auerbach was here for a solo show in between now and then, but the return of the Black Keys has been highly anticipated. First Avenue tickets for the 2008 show were so scarce that a lot of Black Keys fans were left out not being able to go to the show.

Tuesday, June 8th and Wednesday June 9th The Black Keys will headline the mainroom. First Avenue tickets for the Tuesday show are sold out, however, rumor has it that there are still a few left for Wednesdays show. I bought mine for the Tuesday show, with all of the First Avenue tickets I have bought lately, I have to draw the line somewhere I guess.

The Black Keys will be touring in support of their new album, "Brothers" due out May 18th, 2010. Rumor has it that before the end of the year there will be another Blakroc album. And if you're not sure what Blakroc album I am talking about, please run to Electric Fetus and pick up a copy. The Black Keys recorded an album without vocals and instead had some of the world's finest MCs fill in the vocal tracks. It is too awesome!

See you at the show, but if you have not bought First Avenue tickets for the show yet please buy them asap. You don't want to be one of the fans left out of this show again!


These guys are so cool they even got Danger Mouse to produce the first single from their new album "Tighten Up."

Yeasayer tickets

For those of you (like myself) who are lucky enough to have First Avenue tickets for Yeasayer on Tuesday, the show is fast approaching. I am not looking forward to how packed it is going to be in there - it is a super super sold out show. First Avenue tickets have been a very scarce commodity. The show already sold out once, it was originally scheduled for the Varsity Theater, but it sold out out so fast that it was immediately moved to the First Avenue main room.

Honestly, if you have not picked up a copy of Yeasayer's "Odd Blood" you really should treat yourself. It is one of the better albums I have bought in awhile. Listen to it beginning to end - by the end of it all you will not want to skip a track.

The opening band, Sleigh Bells, has been one of the more buzzed about bands at this years festivals. Thing is, they have not even released an album yet. Music crtics are anticipating the release of their debut more so than the Black Keys' release next month. I am excited for both! But Sleigh Bells intriquies me. The guitarist Derek Miller is from famed hardcore thrasher band, Poison the Well, while the lead singer Alexis Krauss was a school teacher. Both met by chance at the restaurant where Derek Miller worked. So much buzz about this band ... I can't wait.

See you at the show!!!!

Julian Casablancas tickets

Well, well, wasn't Julian Casablancas a disappointment. Julian's show was the kickoff in my super awesome concert weekend (he played at First Ave on Thursday night) so it was supposed to be this super fun thing. I honestly thought he was touring because he enjoyed playing music. His dear ol' dad owns the second largest modeling agency in the world, among other things, so he really has no need to be in a band to make money. I supposed its more something to do. Well, Julian C proved it on Thursday night. It was by far one of the more boring and disappointing shows I have ever been to.

First of all, First Avenue tickets were not even close to being sold out for this one. This should have been red flag number one. It was odd being at First Avenue for a show that wasn't so oversold you could actually move around. My friend and I were able to even get A SEAT AT THE BAR in between sets. That is just unheard of. Julian Casablancas looked about 4 steps below enthused to be there. The highlight of the night was seeing my favorite guy, Har Mar Superstar in the crowd. Seriously dude, don't do us any favors! You don't have to tour if you don't want to! It made me sad that I chose to buy my ticket for this show over Surfer Blood, which was playing next door. Ughh, that show received a rave review! And Prince was spotted outside of First Ave after their show.


Yeah, peace is right dude.