May 2010
Solid Gold returns June 4th!
Submitted by dana on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 2:21pmLocal rockers Solid Gold are venturing back to the Mainroom Friday, June 4th. A blend of electro, soul, and a little Minneapolis funk sets the natives apart and has garnered them international critical accailm from MTV to NME. Mystery Palace, JBM, and Brown Moses will be there to support as Solid Gold takes the mainroom and plays from their latest EP "Synchronize". Check out "Bible Thumper" by Solid Gold below and drop by the show!
See "America's Best DJ" of 2009 at the Official Soundset Afterparty
Submitted by machen on Wed, 05/26/2010 - 1:29pmThis Sunday, May 30th the Rhymesayers crew is hosting another epic Soundset Festival at Canterbury Park. But you know that they can't stop, wont stop. So after over 8 hours of hip hop in the sun they're bringing that party back to Downtown Minneapolis for the Official Soundset 2010 Afterparty in First Avenue's Mainroom.
Headlining the event is DJ Times' "America's Best DJ" of 2009 Z-Trip. Check out a nice profile of the prolific DJ riiiiight here.
SAGE FRANCIS in the Mainroom!
Submitted by Blake on Tue, 05/18/2010 - 12:14pmHip-hop artist Sage Francis brings his Li(f)e on the Road tour to the First Avenue Mainroom this Friday. His recently released LP "Li(f)e" challenges subjects such as religion and politics, and features songs composed by Calexico, Mark Linkos(Sparklehorse), Jason Lytle(Grandaddy), Chris Walla(Death Cab For Cutie), and Tim Fite. This is sure to be a memorable show featuring artists Free Moral Agents(Feat. Ikey Ownes of the Mars Volta) and B. Dolan. Check out Sage Francis latest single "The Best of TImes" below and mark your calendars for this Friday.
SCREAMING FEMALES in the Entry!
Submitted by dana on Thu, 05/13/2010 - 1:30pmNext Tuesday in the 7th Street Entry, Brunswick, NJ brings us the fantastic punk rock band Screaming Females. Showing hints of the blues and a tinge of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs the Females are set to perform a great show along with Wisconsin natives Tenement. Check out their single "Bell" below and don't miss out on this great show!
Screaming Females "Bell"
Who deserves a First Avenue star?
Submitted by machen on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 4:08pmWe're updating our star wall and we want to know:
Who do YOU think deserves a star at First Avenue?
Leave a comment with who and why they deserve a spot on the legendary wall.
COUP DE GRACE
That band means a lot to some people around here.
Lady Gaga? Really? Come ON!
Coup de Grace Rocks
What local band deserves a star on the wall? The Coup de Grace, that's who.
WOW
Thank's guys. but it maybe a little late
The Coup De Grace
GIVE THE COUP DE GRACE THEIR STAR BACK. THEY DESERVE IT!
Coup De Grace!
The Best Local band to hit the world! thats saying alot, nicest and most helpful guys you will ever meet and can look bad ass at the same time lol.
They loved what they and loved doing it for us. they deserve there star!
The Coup de Grace
Which other band opened for Pantera and had a crowd of 10,000 give them the bird?! INTENTIONALLY
if you decide not to put them back up SO BE IT, but remember, many people including ALL OF THE ABOVE and ME, MYSELF AND I believe that their efforts shouldn't just go UP IN SMOKE. The Coup was the greatest band that never was and after they went their ways, they all still have accomplished many great things in the music GRAVEWORLD. There will always be PRIDE RAN DEEP and it will be that way TIL' THE BITTER END.
LONG HAIR AND LES PAULS
The Coup De Grace
Over the past several months I was introduced to The Coup De Grace. I can't stop listening to Ten Feet Tall and The Celtic Song. The Coup De Grace deserves their First Ave star back! They've captured the love of many generations.
Do the right thing, First Ave. Give The Coup De Grace their star back.
The Coup De Grace
The Twin Cities best guitar band...EVER! How can you NOT put them on the wall? The harmonizing leads this band put out haven't been duplicated since. Please give them the respect they so deserve!!
Coup de Grace
HUGE local band! Need I say more?
The Coup De Grace
Countless times The Coup completely filled First Avenue. Not many LOCAL bands can say that.. Local Venue should support the best local bands.. My Vote for the best local band..., is no other than.... THE COUPE DE GRACE.
The Coup de Grace
The Coup de Grace was a HUGE addition to First Avenue's lineup throughout the late 80's and 90's....please DO NOT FORGET how great they are by honoring them with a (second-generation) star!
The Coup de Grace
Ill second that. They rocked that damn house down.
keep it LOCAL!
Local bands should get top billing.... definitely keep:
REX DAISY!!!
Trip Shakespeare
Husker Du
Replacements
Prince
DAWES!!!!!!
DAWES, MAKE THEM A STAR.
YOU KNOW THEY DESERVE IT!!!!!!!!!!
SOUL ASYLUM
I think Soul Asylum should have their star kept because 1. Their a Minnesota band and 2. They play at first ave almost every year and they put on a great show everytime! I shouldn't need to say more. Please keep soul asylum!
COCK ESP
I know most of the big Mpls groups (mats, du, prince, etc.) are assured stars, but I'm worried you might forget one of our cities greatest live bands; Cock ESP.
They're one of the best and longest established noise acts in the U.S.
Harsh noise is a genre I wouldn't expect to be well represented in the stars, so you've gotta throw at least one group up there and who better than our own homegrown maniacs?
This performance alone should get them a spot: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHZbLJFWoIc
MUSE!!
I think that Muse most definitely deserves a star! They are amazing and by far the best! Also two local bands that kick arse Quietdrive and Machine 22
Keep TRIP SHAKESPEARE!!!
The best local band ever. NO, the best band ever. This band lured my lost soul to Minneapolis with their poetic and humorous lyrics, magical musicianship, their hallowed harmonies, their swaying hips, and their strangely compelling costumes. My heart would break into a million tiny blackened pieces if the Trip Shakespeare star were not to come back.
And a new star should be assigned to Matt Wilson and John Munson's new project: The Twilight Hours!
Who deserves a star?
Cows
the Heroine Shieks
The Replacements
Husker Du
Shellac
Big Black
the Jesus Lizard
Fugazi
Black Flag
Local Star
DJ Big Daddy Greg Comstock--He rocked the mainroom and the local airwaves for years.
Who deserves a First Avenue star?
Steve McClellan
Conrad
arcwelder
The Hang-Ups
Husker Du
The Replacements
Rifle Sport
Soul Asylum
The Ramones
Richard Thompson
The Jayhawks
Uncle Tupelo
Son Volt
Wilco
Motorhead
Elliott Smith
The dB's
R.E.M.
Nirvana
Sparklehorse
The Buzzcocks
Violent Femmes
Flaming Lips
Cheap Trick
Devo
dozens of others that I can't think of right now, but will probably remember a few minutes after I send this . . . .
who do u think deserves a star at first ave
Prince Rogers Nelson does he helped keep you all alive and i am thankful 2 u and Prince for many years of the great First Avenue and it's music peace 2 u from the heart
Who deserves a First Avenue star?
Leave it black:
Lady Gaga? Seriously?
Savage Aural Hotbed and Drinking with Ian
Savage Aural Hotbed are local legends – they've put on some of the most sparkarific and unique shows I've ever seen. Their instrumental inventions are pure ingenuity.
Drinking with Ian started out filming at the Entry 5 years ago and has since graduated to the the main room. The show is loyal to their local celebrities, comedians and musicians, and for that they deserve a star.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has given something to pop music which hasn't been seen in a while: Substance. She takes shallow ideas and lyrics, but turns them into something more. Those who interpret her lyrics and videos soon discover she has more to say in her art, and her true messages are hidden between the lines.
She's become not only a music icon, but a fashion icon as well. She has given mainstream people something to dance to and outcasts something to believe in.
This woman has built bridges across so many genres and types of people she could be considered a Musical Ambassador. Those who hate her often do not know much about her or her kind personality, which proves the fact that she is a very deep person- first assumptions are often wrong when it comes to this woman.
Playing piano since she was four, writing music since eleven, accepted early into NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She played at clubs all over NYC for years before she was signed, making her own clothing and working as a Go Go Dancer just to get DJs to play her music. She has always been dedicated to her work and has never given up, even in the face of rejection.
The more I read about her and learn about her, the more I discover how amazing she truly is as a person and artist.
The Stars
Minneapolis Sounds...and some others
I think they should include all the Minnesota history makers, and then fill it out with the rest. If anyone is interested, the MN Historical Society keeps an archive of everyone who's played there since 1981, which is pretty awesome. Here's the band listin 1981-1998: http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00233.xml
Minneapolis Sound: PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION, Prince, Morris Day & The Time, Husker Du, Bob Mould, The Replacements, Paul Westerberg, The Jayhawks, Wallets, The Suburbs, Semisonic, Trip Shakespeare, Gear Daddies, Boiled in Lead, Lipps, Inc., Soul Asylum, Babes in Toyland, Zuzu's Petals, Savage Aural Hotbed, The Honeydogs, Stuart Davis, Curtiss A, Har Mar Superstar, Mint Condition, Mazarati, Limited Warranty
Rap/Hip Hop/Funk: Public Enemy, Salt-n-Pepa, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Ice Cube, Del the Funky Homosapien, Tower of Power, Sheila E., De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Maniac MC, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Wyclef Jean & the Refugee All-Stars, Run DMC, Africa Bambaataa
Blues/Jazz: Bo Diddley, T-Bone Barnett, Sonny Rollins, Spider John Koerner, Robert Cray
Others of Note: U2, Violent Femmes, BoDeans, Ramones, Smithereens, Soundgarden, Pixies, Miss Bette & The Harlettes (aka Bette Midler), Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Tragically Hip, Concrete Blonde, Pixies, Buzzcocks, Lenny Kravitz, They Might be Giants, Hothouse Flowers, The Dead Milkmen, Black Uhuru, Smashing Pumpkins, Lemonheads, Jane's Addiction, Goo Goo Dolls, L7, Gin Blossoms, Phish, Alice in Chains, Jefferson Starship, Sheryl Crow, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Hole, Cheap Trick, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Bjork, No Doubt, Psychedelic Furs, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Robert Palmer, Tina Turner, UB40, 10,000 Maniacs,
Songwriter Types: Richard Thompson, Chris Isaak, Billy Bragg, Warren Zevon, Ben Folds Five, Richie Havens, Elliot Smith, Pete Yorn, Lucinda Williams, Todd Rundgren
Rev Horton Heat. Everytime
Rev Horton Heat.
Everytime he's here, he works his butt off. and he draws big time
Cursive The Soft Boys Jimmy
Cursive
The Soft Boys
Jimmy Eat World
Against Me!
All of these bands have been around for a long enough time and have played First Ave a few times each. They always play their best shows at First Ave as compared to other local venues.
MOS DEF
MOS DEF most definitely deserves a star! AND DE LA SOUL!!!!
Mason Jennings & NeedToBreathe
Mason Jennings, because he plays here regularly and is incredible! Also, NeedToBreathe because they had one of the best live shows i've seen!
Lifter Puller.
Lifter Puller.
Along similar lines as The Hold Steady, Lifter Puller. I guess you could say they're even more "local."
The Hold Steady.
The Hold Steady.
Obviously, they are a twin cities band. Also, they exemplify all that is rock 'n' roll. They have catchy riffs, scathing lyrics, they're always evolving creatively, and they can put on the best live show I've ever seen. It would be a crime to leave these guys out, and I'm sure you've have a hoard of pissed rabid fans on your hands.
ALSO JUST HAVE A STAR FOR THE
ALSO JUST HAVE A STAR FOR THE MOVIE AFTER ALL IT WAS FILMED THERE PURPLE RAIN :)
I BELIEVE IT SHOUILD THE
I BELIEVE IT SHOUILD THE ROYAL PURPLENESS ...PRINCE .
I ALSO THINK THE TIME ..... SHELIA E. , MADONNA , AND OF COURSE THE ONE AND ONLY MICHEAL JACKSON .. STILL IS MISSING HIM (R.I.P) YOUR MUSIC LIVES ON IN MY HEART AND SOUL
Who deserves a First Avenue Star ??
Prince & The Revolution
The Time
Should DEFINATELY be on the wall ...
Curtiss A
He deserves a star for being a legend in his own time, and doing what he does at First ave for SO long!
Earl ROOT (R.I.P.)
Please replace EARL ROOT's star!
You know he deserves it!!!
Prince deserves a Star
Prince definitely deserves a star. If it weren't for Purple Rain many people would not know of First Ave
And also The Time.
Steve should get two stars. First Ave side and 7th Street Entry.
Many of these bands would have had a much harder time getting started if it wasn't for Steve McClellan. He is the one that deserves a star far more then anyone else.
PRINCE of course
I don't think First Ave would be known across the world if it wasn't for the lil musical genious...maybe his star should be a gold neon star or some sort of incandescent light over the entrance doors; maybe on the sidewalk in front of the entrance doors.
Stars
Daniel Corrigan, a photographer who's documented more shows in that one venue than I've seen in my lifetime, deserves a star.
Also, as I'm assuming the classics will go back up (i.e. Suburbs, Prince, et al):
They Might Be Giants
Mallman
Metric
GWAR
Sugar
Tapes N' Tapes
Cloud Cult
Trip Shakespeare
Voltage! Fashion Amplified
Ted Leo
Andrew Bird
Dosh
Charlie Parr
Drinking with Ian
P.O.S.
Paul Westerberg
Girl Talk
Doomtree
Ike Reilly
Jim Walsh
DeVotchKa
Bon iver
Of Montreal
Hold Steady
Fleet Foxes
Mason Jennings
Flogging Molly
Rebel Rebel Rock for Pussy
Two facebook pages for Steve McClellan to have his STAR!
At present, over 600 votes-400 on one, 200 on the other in less than 48 hours.
Prince. There's no such band
Prince. There's no such band in history that could replace him whatsoever. Keep the legend on.
Gonna need lots of teeny-tiny stars
Conrad the Rastawegian and Steve for sure. I'm a former employee there from way back when, with connections to no one, and I can tell you these guys are pillars of the Mpls scene. They built that which you love.
Also, no Hank III?
Prince
If it weren't for Prince, I don't know if we'd even have heard of First Avenue out here in New York. Give the man a star. :-)
the give Steve a star group on Facebook at 311 people
Now has 311 members, in less then 24 hours. Ill shut up about this if if you just give him a damn star already.
Love Steve hate steve He built it, he f'ing babe ruth of mpls rock. he changed the game.
The list of people in the group is a Mpls rock and roll hall of fame
stars
I think Insane Clown Posse should get the biggest star, or maybe have theirs be different colors or something.
A star for our best music writer.....
Jim Walsh, or at least one of his bands (Laughing Stock, The Mad Ripple).
Also Steve McClellan, Conrad, Slim and Chrissie Dunlap, and Bill Batson are the people I most closely associate with First Ave's heyday.
Kristoff Krane ALBUM RELEASE SHOW!
Submitted by dana on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 2:55pm"The beats are inventive, mixing free-jazz, funk, and a found sound here and there in a tight, spare manner that's somehow light and tense at the same time." says Citypages and we have to agree. Local up-and-coming hip-hop extraordinaire Kristoff Krane will be releasing his self-produced LP "Picking Flowers next to Roadkill" in the 7th Street Entry this Saturday! Artists Strange Matter, Big Trouble, Guante+Cats, and Ecid will also be there to celebrate.
Check out Krane's previous singles "Miracle" and "Is it right?" below
WATCH: Mayda live at Voltage: Fashion Amplified
Submitted by machen on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 1:08pmTPT's MN Originial keeps cranking out wonderful videos featuring local artists. Check out this video from Voltage: Fashion Amplified featuring Mayda performing "Stereotype"
STREAM: Chasing the Sun: The Best of the Honeydogs
Submitted by machen on Mon, 05/03/2010 - 11:51amJust in time for their show this Saturday, The Honeydogs have posted Chasing the Sun: The Best of The Honeydogs for your listening enjoyment. Steam the compliation here and while you're singing along to your favorite jams, get your tickets to see them in the Mainroom!
LISTEN: New Wolf Parade tracks
Submitted by machen on Mon, 05/03/2010 - 11:21amPitchfork has just posted two new songs and a whole bunch of other Wolf Parade goodies. Head over to hear "Ghost Pressure" and "What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had to Go This Way)", read an interview with Spencer Krug, and check the tracklisting for their upcoming album Expo 86 out on June 29th on Sub Pop.
That should get you good and ready to see them live in the Mainroom on July 18th.
Seeing Star(s)
I was lucky to see shows like Pearl Jam, Primus, Fishbone, Rage Against the Machine , Ska Fests, Deathprobe's and Sunday Night Dance Parties at a young age.
If you had told me I would be playing in main room less than 10 years later, I would have said you're nutz! I never have taken it for granted and am honored to have played on the same stage as so many of my musical influences. It is because of First Ave and promoters/DJ's/Friends like Nick Gunz, Fresko, Dj Echo, Simply Adrian, JT, DVS1, Aaron Bliss, Woody, and Centrific that I have friends so close they're family today. That building on the corner of 1st Ave & 7th Street is Home.
The exposer of Djing at First Ave also paved the road to be honored with a Minnesota Music Award as well as being named City Pages Club DJ of the Year (I love you Jen Boyles! That bio-still cracks me up :)
This is more of a thank you than a request. So from the bottom of my black heart :) THANKS FOR ALL THE MEMORIES PAST AND ONE's TO COME! CHEERS!
(hristian)ames
THE MELVINS FOR SURE!!!
THE MELVINS SHOULD GET A STAR FOR SURE!!!!