Mason Jennings tickets on sale now!

Local favorite, Mason Jennings has announced a show - Saturday, December 19th (what was I saying about those holiday season shows)?!

After falling for Minneapolis's music when he was a teenager, at 19 Mason Jennings followed his father and took up residency in Minneapolis. He began to write and record his own music, always shying away from the major labels that pursued him. If you remember a few years back, Mason Jennings was famous for this Thursday night residency at the good ol' 400 Bar.

In 2006 Mason Jennings was the first artist signed to Isaac Brock's Glacial Pace record label, however, that partnership went a little south and he is now on Brushfire Records. Brushfire is of course Jack Johnson's label. This makes sense - pretty much every time Jack Johnson plays here Mason Jennings opens for him.

Mason Jennings is on tour in support of his 2009 album, "Blood of Man." First Avenue tickets are on sale now for this show. This show will sell out! If you want to go buy your First Avenue tickets now!!!

Solid Gold tickets are now available!

Another home town bans will be having a big show at First Avenue during this fine month of November: Solid Gold.
Solid Gold is a newer local band, they have gotten some national attention when the went on tour this past summer. Their debut album, "Bodies of Water" was released in 2008. I am sure you have heard the song "Get Over It" on 89.3 The Current a few times, the Current plays Solid Gold quite frequently.

First Avenue tickets for this show are on sale now. Sold Gold tickets should be a hot commodity, like I said they are a pretty popular local band with a following. I don't think they will have a difficult time filling the 1200 person venue.

And did I mention that the show is Friday the 13th?
The Hood Internet opens the show.

The Big Pink is sold out :(

I am a very sad panda today! One of my new favorite bands, The Big Pink, is coming to town on the 25th of this month. I will readily admit I am a new fan so by the time I fell in love with them the show was sold out. Its cases like these that I think First Avenue should just move it to the main room. Oh wait! They can't because stupid Ike Reily Assassination is in town that night! Argghhh ... I want to go!!!

First Avenue tickets are so sold out for this show it is not even funny. I have checked all the local places, tried to get on the list, but to no avail. I don't know what I am going to do!

And I am sure you have read my rants on how crowded the 7th Street gets even without a sold out show and how hot and (literally) steamy it gets in there. But I would put up with it all, I just want to see a good show.

So to those of you who would like to see the Big Pink on Wednesday, November 25th, well you are just SOL because First Avenue tickets are no where to be found. Let me know if you would like to add your name to my petition to move the Ike Reily Assassination show to the 7th Street Entry and the Big Pink to the main room!!!

Hopefully see you at the show!!!

Black Angels Rocked the Hizhouse!!!

First Avenue was the place to be on Monday night. Seriously, if you have not been to a Black Angels show you need to treat yourself next time they are in town. They are just fantastic.

First Avenue tickets were sold out for this event. The Black Angels were opening for the Raveonettes which were not bad as well. I do not know much of their catalog minus what I hear on the Current and XM Satellite Radio.

The Black Angels played all of my jams: 'Young Man Dead' "Sniper at the Gates of Heaven' and 'The First Vietnamese War' among others.

I can't wait to see them again, they are one of my favorite bands!

The closest I will get to the Black Angels is seeing the Pink Mountaintops at the Turf Club in a couple of weeks - another band I can't wait to see!!!

Holiday Shows Are Rolling In

Lots of acts that started in Minneapolis move on to other cities to live, however, the holiday season always brings them back. Many bands still have families and friends back here to visit and what a better way to see them all than to have a concert?

Soul Asylum have announced their first 'back to mpls' show of the holiday season. Friday, December 4th in First Avenue's main room. They usually sell one show out and add another, or play at another venue if First Ave is booked. The Jayhawks (or just maybe Gary Louris), Bob Mould, Atmosphere, Gear Daddies, Hold Steady are all bands that have shows around this time of year because they are all back in town for the holidays.

First Avenue tickets for Soul Asylum's show on December 4th go on sale this Saturday. They always sell out, so if you want to go be sure to buy First Avenue tickets well in advance.

Do you have your Raveonettes Ticket Yet?

One week from today!!! The show I have been looking forward to for 2+ months will be here! The Black Angels (YES!!!!!!!!) are opening for the Raveonettes! I have not seen Austin, Texas's finest Black Angels since June 2008 when they were here with the Warlocks.

The Raveonettes usually have a pretty big draw at their shows, the past couple of times they have played the shows have sold out, granted most of them were at the 7th Street Entry. SO if you do not have your First Avenue tickets for this show buy them asap! Otherwise you may be standing outside in our very cold Minnesota weather listening in the street.

See you at the show!!!

Sam Roberts Band Show Announced!!!

One of my long time favorite (gasp!) Canadian bands, the Sam Roberts Band will be in town for a show this November. I have been a fan since my first year of college when I caught their video on a late night showing of "Subterranean" on MTV. Remember that show?! Anywho, I'm usually not a supporter of the Canadians (Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Alanis Morrissette - all people that annoy me and are in fact from Canada). But I love these guys, their first album is filled with 100% awesome jams - you can listen to it from beginning to end.

The other part of the Sam Roberts Band's story that is interesting to tell is that Sam Roberts wasn't supposed to be a musician, he was supposed to be a hockey player. After he suffered an injury that ended his promising hockey career while he was recovering he learned how to play guitar and began writing music. The result was the the self titled release "Sam Roberts Band" and the band has been touring ever since.

First Avenue tickets are on sale for this event now, it will sell out because it is in the 7th Street Entry - everyone's favorite place with one bar and one bathroom - but hey, at least it won't be a million degrees outside so it won't smell like a locker room!