Moby washes up at Fine Line

Posted on September 3rd, 2009 – 3:03 PM
By Chris Riemenschneider

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No need to explain what this says about Moby and especially his latest album: While the rest of Live Nation’s shows at the now-shuttered Myth nightclub have relocated to the State Theatre (Snow Patrol, Regina Spektor, Marilyn Manson), the bald electronic pioneer’s Oct. 1 gig has instead landed at the Fine Line, about 1/6th the size of Myth. If you’re (still) a Moby fan, though, the Fine Line’s great, and now the show will have intimacy on its side. Tickets are still available.

Meanwhile, Hollywood Undead is actually moving up in venue size from Myth. The mask-wearing L.A. metal band’s Nov. 7 show with Atreyu will now be held at Roy Wilkins Auditorium. In the case of both these shows, the original tickets will be honored since the venues are all general-admission (even the Wilkins’ seats will be g.a. in this case).

Weezy, Jeezy at Xcel Center

Posted on September 2nd, 2009 – 8:49 AM
By Chris Riemenschneider

wayne.jpgLast night’s show varied little from Lil’ Wayne’s Target Center concert in January, but for a guy who’s been doing nearly the same thing every night since then, I gotta hand it to Weezy for still showing the enthusiasm and energy that makes him one of the top in the business. The new bits were well chosen and added to the fun, including the rock montage and the Michael Jackson tribute at the end of the show. It all made for one heckuva long concert.

Click here to read the full review of the concert. Here’s Weezy’s set list:

A Milli / Got Money / Die 4 My N—az / Phone Home / Swagger Like Us / Mr. Carter / Go DJ / Fireman / Money on My Mind / Got Money / Tupac & Jay-Z bits / Best Rapper Alive / Walk This Way (Aerosmith) / Prom Queen / Play in My Band / I’m Me / DJ Hype bit / Turning Me On / Kush / Pop Bottles / U Ain’t Know / We Takin’ Over / I Run This / Always Strapped / Twist / Too Clean (Chuckee) / Ain’t I (Millz) / Get Bizzy (Gudda Gudda) / 3 Peat / Let the Beat Build / Comfortable / Mrs. Officer / Lollipop / Tie My Hands / Misunderstood / Shoot Me Down w/ Shooter / My Life / Everygirl in the World / Michael Jackson tribute

Young Jeezy’s set included (in order, but not complete):

Bottom of the Map / My Hood / Go Crazy / Trapstar / Put On / Love in This Club / Umma Do Me / I Luv It / Go Getta

The most laughable part of the show – which had a disappointing turnout of about 7,000 fans — came when Jeezy told the crowd to hold up its cell phones to light the arena. When the entire upper deck and half of the back didn’t light up, he said, “Damn, I thought there was more of you up there!”

Idols Live @ Target Center

Posted on September 2nd, 2009 – 2:01 AM
By Jon Bream

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Here is a recap of American Idols Live at Target Center on Tuesday, in order of appearance:

Michael Sarver Songs: I’m in Love with a Girl by Gavin DeGraw; Closer by Ne-Yo

He was more of a hyped cheerleader than a charming singer. What happened to his natural country bent? And enough with the “make some noise” and “let me here you scream.”

Megan Joy Songs: Put Your Records On by Corrine Bailey Rae; Tears Dry on Their Own by Amy Winehouse

Ms Utah Ink was all dolled up (including plastic gems glued onto her tattoos) and didn’t flail her arms as she strutted in some serious heels. She was OK on the first song but a hoarse, unfocused train wreck waiting to happen on the Winehouse.

Scott MacIntyre Songs: Bend and Break by Keane; A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton

One bland obscure choice and one wise choice by this piano man. He tried to assert his personality between songs but an impression of Simon Cowell was off the mark.

Lil Rounds Songs: Be without You and Just Fine by Mary J. Blige; No One by Alicia Keys; Single Ladies by Beyonce

She was vocalizing and not singing, and seemed rushed. Ultimately, she came across like an ordinary lounge act.

Anoop Desai  Songs: Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson; Mad by Ne-Yo; My Prerogative by Bobby Brown

His attractive, soulful voice impressed even though the ballads were a bit boring. His Prerogative was overwrought but he still showed potential.

Matt Giraud Songs: Too Hard to Handle by Otis Redding; Georgia on My Mind by Hoagy Carmichael; You Found Me by the Fray

What a pleasant surprise. He did a rock-star turn with the Black Crowes version of Too Hard to Handle, including a Jerry Lee Lewis-like piano break. He was predictably soulful channeling Ray Charles on Georgia and very assertive on the Fray piece. He’s grown by leaps and bounds since the TV show.

Megan and Lil/Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You by Frankie Valli… Vocally, it was a train wreck (plus Megan started laughing uncontrollably). Is this song the right duet choice for these two women?

Scott and Matt/Tell Her About It by Billy Joel…. dueling pianos was fun.

Michael/Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley…Why?

Anoop, Matt, Scott,Michael, Meg, Lil/Beggin’ by the Four Seasons. This was a nice vocal workout and effectively staged. A solid close to a largely underwhelmingly first act.

Allison Iraheta Songs:So What by Pink; Cry Baby by Janis Joplin;Barracuda by Heart

What a rock-star turn. She demostrated her bravura voice on TV but she showed much more confidence in concert. If Giraud was a surprise, Allison stealing the show was the biggest surprise. Knockout voice, presence, command and control. I got goose bump during Cry Baby.

Danny Gokey Songs: PYT by Michael jackson; Maria Maria by Santana; What Hurts the Most and My Wish by Rascal Flatts

The hip jacket with epulets looked out of place on the pride of Milwaukee. He tried too hard to sell the uptempo tunes, complete with a mock Ricky Martin dancing on the Santana tune. But Gokey totally delivered on the Rascal Flatts ballads. He has a big-time voice and a bright future as a televangelist.

Adam Lambert Songs: Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin; Starlight by Muse; Mad World by Tears for Fears; Slow Ride by Foghat (with Allison); Life on Mars w/ Fame w/ Let’s Dance by David Bowie

Loved Glambert on TV when he proved he was hands down the most talented contestant ever on “Idol.” In concert, though, he got a bit too theatrical as if he was trying to act like a rock star instead of just singing like one. Fame got a little too swishy/campy. A Queen or Kiss song might have been a better choice.

Kris Allen Songs: Heartless by Kanye West; All These Things That I’ve Done by the Killers; Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers; Bright Lights by Matchbox Twenty; Hey Jude by the Beatles

He was warm, earnest and forgettably innocuous as he played guitar and piano. Even though this was the strongest Idols Live lineup thus far, it wasn’t because of this year’s winner. 

Ensemble: Don’t Stop Believin by Journey w Steam’s Na Na Na Na Goodbye  

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Jackson Browne @ State Fair

Posted on September 1st, 2009 – 12:14 AM
By Jon Bream

5browne0901.jpgLet’s rethink Monday’s Jackson Browne concert for a moment. What if he eliminated a couple of those obscure, dull songs from the 1990s from the first set, skipped the (unnecessary) intermission and just played the concert straight through.

Then, it wouldn’t have been such a tired and tiresome first half, and a fun and musically ambitious second half. Instead, it probably would have been a pretty good concert that would have satisifed fans of Browne’s classic 70s and 80s stuff and allowed him to show that yes, the Hall of Famer still creates thoughtful if not compelling music.

Click here for the full review. Here are the sets Browne played:

Set I: I’m Alive (1993)/Barricades of Heaven (96)/I’ll Do Anything (93)/Fountains of Sorrow (74)/Time the Conqueror (2008)/Off of Wonderland (08)/In the Shape of a Heart (86)/Too Many Angels (93)/The Naked Ride Home (02)/Take It Easy (73)

Set II: Jamaica Say You Will (72)/Rock Me on the Water (72)/Doctor My Eyes (72) w About My Imagination (02)/Lives in the Balance (86)/Going Down to Cuba (08)/Just Say Yeah (08)/The Late Show (74)/For a Dancer (74)/The Pretender (76)/Running on Empty (77) ENCORE I Am a Patriot (89)/The Load Out w Stay (77)

Last call for Becky T & Old School at Lee’s

Posted on August 31st, 2009 – 12:00 PM
By Chris Riemenschneider

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After holding down Monday nights at Lee’s Liquor Lounge since 2002 (minus when they temporarily moved to the Eagles Club in 2006), trad-country stalwarts Becky Thompson & Old School will play their last weekly gig there tonight (8:30 p.m., free).

“It feels like we’ve played the place out,” bassist James Dungan-Seaver explained. By no means is this the end of the band, which has been around for 30-plus years. It’s also not the end of the Monday night country dance shows at Lee’s. But it is the end of a tradition. Â

Slug and Murs to be Felt again

Posted on August 30th, 2009 – 10:48 AM
By Chris Riemenschneider

felt3.jpgWho could ever follow Christina Ricci and Lisa Bonet into the hearts of two of indie-rap’s biggest heroes? Rosie Perez, that’s who. The “Do The Right Thing/White Men Can’t Jump” starlet is the subject of the third installment of Slug and Murs’s “tribute” albums under the name Felt. After working with Grouch of Living Legends and Ant, the duo tapped Aesop Rock to produce “Felt 3.” The CD will be out Nov. 17 on Rhymesayers. More details and samples at their MySpace page.