The Hold Steady tonight
Former Minnesotans The Hold Steady (who never were a band in Minnesota and 4/5ths of whom are actual former residents) have grown up. The band stopped name checking Minnesota street and cities on their just released new record "Stay Positive" and they graduated from venues like the VFW where they played last in Fargo in 2005 to playing the Fargo Theatre tonight. They've also opened for everyone from the Rolling Stones to the Stooges and played nearly every major festival in America and Europe. The band is frequently featured on late night television as they were recently on the Late Show with David Letterman and upcoming on Later with Craig Ferguson. On the new record, the Hold Steady try to broaden their already broad (for indie rock anyway) horizons. This is about the only indie rock band that could get away with writing a ballad or using a double necked guitar and it doesnt seem pretentious. For all the references to their musical similarity to Springsteen and Zeppelin, the band name checks punk and hardcore more as influences in both lyrics and interviews. Both the sound of course leans more towards the latter. Every year the bands fan base continues to grow and the critical acclaim wider spread. We really are lucky to have a band of this caliber in Fargo. I really feel they are one of the most important bands of our time. Through themes in his lyrics touching on both, frontman Craig Finn reaches young and old audiences alike forming a unique ability for both to relate to it. The Hold Steady play the Fargo Theater on Wednesday with openers the Loved Ones. Show is at 8 pm sharp for All-Ages. This is one you don't want to miss.
The Hold Steady:
Posted by: Chris Hennen on 7/23/2008 at 3:15 PM | Comments (3) | Permalink
Jay Reatard Tuesday
The biggest and hottest act in punk rock, Jay Reatard, plays the Aquarium on Tuesday. With a recent signing to Matador Records, opening slot on a mostly sold out Black Keys tour, and word spreading on his knack for writing the most catchy garage punk tunes around these days, the hype surrounding Jay Reatard has continued to grow by leaps and bounds over the last 6 months. Jay and band are in the midst of a 3 week tour that includes stops at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle. Not many cities the size of Fargo are included in the jaunt so we should consider ourselves lucky to be hosting a stop. The live show of Jay Reatard might give you whiplash, he can play up to 20 to 25 songs in under 35 minutes. His songs are short but live they are often played at break neck speed back to back to back with nary a moment to catch breath. The enigma that is Jay Reatard exploded recently with a highly publicized (thanks to You Tube) incident, but that has only served to make the legend grow even more. You know what they say "as long as you spell my name right". There are a lot of other cities that would kill for this tour to stop in their town, some of them way bigger than Fargo. If you haven't heard Jay Reatard yet, do yourself a favor and take a listen. Its important than we represent that Fargo deserves shows like this on Tuesday at the Aquarium. Jay's star is only gonna get brighter when Matador releases the next singles compilation (of 45s being released every other month in limited editions of 500 copies) this Fall and new full length record in early 2009. Mr. Reatard will continued to be talked about in indie rock circles for nothing else because of the prolific amount of work he produces. So before you read about him in Rolling Stone or see him on late night TV, catch Jay Reatard at the Aquarium and prove that Fargo can be just as tuned into whats cool as soon as everyone else is. They always say we're 6 months to a year behind on trends. Lets prove them wrong. Tennessee's Cheap Time, and locals Les Dirty Frenchmen and Final Fight warm up the 10 pm 21 and over show, which has a cover of $10.
Jay Reatard:
Posted by: Chris Hennen on 7/22/2008 at 2:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Bob Log III and Scott H. Biram
Two of the funnest, most prolific and best one man bands have combined for a 6 week summer tour that brings them to Fargo on Friday. Bob Log III (who's last appearance in town was in 2003 at Ralphs Corner) and Scott H. Biram (a previous visitor in the summer of 2006 to the Aquarium) are co-headlining a barn burner of a jaunt called the Hillgrass Bluebilly Tour. The two acts will be headlining a night at the Deep Blues Festival outside Minneapolis but before that stop at the Aquarium. Bob Log III, best known for a song called "Boob Scotch" plays in a helmet (complete with megaphone microphone) and taps the kick drum with his right leg, cymbals with his left, and plays slide guitar with his hands. I think he would definitely qualify as a multi-tasker. The result is bluesy, dirgy, punk rock and roll that fits his snarky attitude and between song banters. "Boob Scotch" is a song where Mr. Log asks a female from the audience to dip her boob in his scotch, after which Mr. Log takes a drink. At his last appearance in Moorhead, there were no takers much to his disappointment. This is emblematic of both acts, they love their women, whiskey and music and sing lots about all of them sometimes in the same song. Scott H. Biram doesnt play drums with his feet but still creates quite a racket himself with a guitar and distorted vocals. He is quite bluesy as well with a tinge of country and punk. He hails from Austin, TX and records for Bloodshot Records. Biram's done some time on the road with the Legendary Shack Shakers. At his last Fargo appearance, he played for well over 90 minutes and talked with nearly everyone in the building after the show. He frequently takes requests and feeds off the crowd's energy. A lot of his songs tell dark tales about truck driving, past lovers, and receiving the short end of the stick. You can tell Biram's from Texas just by listening to him. Possessed By Paul James has the tough act of warming up crowds for these two high energy acts. Playing Tennessee bluegrass might be way of easing that pain and making people glad he's around on this bill. Its not often you 3 get one man acts who actually sound like bands and who create more racket than a lot of bands. But thats the case on Friday at the Aquarium. No folk here, just southern fried blues rock and roll. Cover is $10 for 21+ with music at 10 pm.
Bob Log III:
Scott H. Biram:
Posted by: Chris Hennen on 7/17/2008 at 6:32 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink