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Review: Tim and Eric bring an awkward Chrimbus to Minneapolis
By Greg Swan, on November 20th, 2010%
Special guest review by Doug Hamlin, who would like the Internet to bring him a sandwich.
Typically when I am at the State Theatre, it is to buy tickets for a show at the Orpheum across the street. So I tried to remember what the last actual performance I saw at the State was, and I settled on “The Nutcracker” in 2003. (Sadly, this means I’ve missed some really great shows during the past seven years.)
Wednesday night’s performance of “Adult Swim Presents Tim & Eric Awesome Tour Great Job Chrimbus Spectacular 2010″ was exactly like “The Nutcracker” in every way.
As you know, . . . → Read More: Review: Tim and Eric bring an awkward Chrimbus to Minneapolis
Review: Dungen at Triple Rock
By Greg Swan, on October 8th, 2010%
A guest post from Doug Hamlin, who earlier this week sent my entire office the news that my new baby girl was born – with the wrong name. Then the president of my company sent my family flowers with that wrong name on the card.
I distinctly remember the first time I saw Dungen. It was a Tuesday.
In fact it was the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2008. I rode the light rail to the 400 Bar after a particularly busy night copy editing stories for TV news websites, and there was a palpable excitement among most everyone on . . . → Read More: Review: Dungen at Triple Rock
Recap of Warped Tour 2010, Shakopee, MN
By Greg Swan, on August 2nd, 2010%
Warped Tour 2010, baby…
It was my fifth Van’s Warped Tour – hosted again on the lovely manure-covered lawn of Canterbury Park.
Which didn’t seem to stop the kids from getting down and dirty in the mosh pit.
Gross.
Anyway, here are some bands I saw play their musical instrument machines…
The Exposed
Lead singer had a large gauge ear lobe tube in left ear only.
We the Kings
Nice of their grandparents to come to the show…
After Midnight Project
The Word Alive
This guy could scream.
I mean really scream.
The Sparring — here was their strategy: if nobody comes to see your band, get a 40 foot mic cord and walk . . . → Read More: Recap of Warped Tour 2010, Shakopee, MN
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band at Warped Tour 2010, Shakopee, MN
By Greg Swan, on August 2nd, 2010%
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band was the best damn surprise of Warped this year.
With Reverend Peyton on resonator guitar and lead vocals, his wife Breezy on washboard and (kissing?) cousin Aaron “Cuz” Persinger on drums, the Southern Indiana trio brought a taste of the south to the tour
They were intense, raw and gritty. Just how I like my southern fried potatoes. And speaking of, the best song of the set was “Mama’s Fried Potatoes.” Delicious.
Their latest album is called Wages, and you can stream most of it here.
MORE . . . → Read More: Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band at Warped Tour 2010, Shakopee, MN
Andrew W.K., Warped Tour 2010
By Greg Swan, on August 2nd, 2010%
Holy crap… Andrew W.K. does indeed know how to party hard.
Dirty pants
I mean really dirty pants
More . . . → Read More: Andrew W.K., Warped Tour 2010
By Greg Swan, on July 20th, 2010%
First off, I’ll just admit that I haven’t been to a rock festival since 1996, let alone the Pitchfork Music Festival, until now. I would never have thought of going until a friend asked me. Pitchfork’s reputation is controversial, but my friend assured me that their concert band selection was good.
The festival was laid out pretty well with local Chicago restaurants serving food from a line of stands, everything from Indian to Thai to diner food. I was surprised that the only beer available were Heineken or Newcastle Wheat. It would have been nice to see a brewery . . . → Read More: Pitchfork Music Festival was a snoozefest
Earl Greyhound at 80-35 Music Festival
By Greg Swan, on July 16th, 2010%
Earl Greyhound at 80-35 Festival in Des Moines on July 3, 2010.
I saw Earl Greyhound at SXSW in March of 2006, and the power trio were unreasonably awesome. Since then I’ve been following them very closely.
Earl Greyhound was my favorite band of the festival. With raw power, intense energy and bluesy, psychedelic rock, the crowd had no idea what hit them.
Favorite tracks included “S.O.S.” off the group’s 2006 release Soft Targets and “Oye Vaya” off their new Suspicious Package.
That new disc has some weak spots, especially “The Eyes of Cassandra.” I’m afraid that song didn’t fare well live at 80-35, . . . → Read More: Earl Greyhound at 80-35 Music Festival
Solid Gold at 80-35 Music Festival
By Greg Swan, on July 15th, 2010%
Minneapolis’ own Solid Gold at 80-35 Festival in Des Moines on July 3, 2010.
More posts from . . . → Read More: Solid Gold at 80-35 Music Festival
Yo La Tengo at 80-35 Festival
By Greg Swan, on July 14th, 2010%
Yo La Tengo at 80-35 Festival in Des Moines on July 3, 2010.
More posts from . . . → Read More: Yo La Tengo at 80-35 Festival
moe. at Minnesota Zoo, July 12, 2010
By Greg Swan, on July 13th, 2010%
I saw moe. at the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines in March of 2001, and they rocked. I’ve been a huge fan ever since.
However, I hadn’t seen them live for almost a decade (TRAGEDY).
Last night I had the good fortune of seeing them at one of the best venues in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area — the outdoor bird sanctuary stadium at the Minnesota Zoo.
First off, the venue is gorgeous. There are 1400+ seats curved around a stage architected to allow toddlers intimate experiences with low-flying raptors. The audience is almost sitting on top of the band in a small . . . → Read More: moe. at Minnesota Zoo, July 12, 2010
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Comedy, 
chrimbus, 