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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

PAUL DI'ANNO Expands US Tour

Original Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno has expanded the previously released American tour dates for December and January. These promise to be special shows, as he will be playing the entire self-titled debut album of Iron Maiden in its entirety, plus songs from Killers. Let's hope the St. Paul show actually happens this time; Di'Anno canceled his last scheduled date at Station 4 on February 28 the day of the show without any explanation. The current list of Paul Di'Anno is listed below, and support will come his backing band Icarus Witch.
December 20 - Foxborough, MA, Showcase Live
December 21 - New York, NY, B.B. King's Blues Club
December 22 - Asbury Park, NJ, Stone Pony
December 23 - Baltimore, MD, Bourbon Street
December 24 - Cleveland, OH, Agora Ballroom
December 25 - Chicago, IL, Reggie's Rock Club
December 26 - St. Paul, MN, Station 4
December 30 - Seattle, WA, El Corazon
January 1 - Hollywood, CA, Key Club
January 6 - Santa Ana, CA, Galaxy Theater
January 7 - Ventura, CA, Ventura Theater
January 8 - Ramona, CA, Ramona Mainstage

JAMES LABRIE Cancels North American Tour

To wrap up the progressive metal-themed concert announcements, we now have some bad news. Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie has canceled his upcoming North American tour for November and December. The announcement was made due to delays in securing US work visas for a couple of the band members. James posted a statement about the news on the forum of his official website. The tour was to promote his new solo album, Static Impulse, and included a date in St. Paul at Station on Wednesday, December 8.


CIRCLE II CIRCLE To Play Limited US Shows, Including Fridley On November 14

Another amazing progressive metal band is coming to town, and this time it's Circle II Circle. The band has announced several dates for the US in November, and they hit G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park in Fridley this Sunday, November 14. Circle II Circle has only done limited touring in the States, so this is a rare opportunity to see them if you live in one of these cities. Support for the Fridley date will be from 32 Headshots and School Of Rock. Circle II Circle, of course, features former Savatage vocalist Zak Stevens. The band recently released their fifth album, Consequence Of Power, through AFM Records. Their current US tour dates are below the flyer.
November 9 - Biloxi, MS, The Fillin' Station
November 11 - Akron, OH, Ripper's Tap House
November 12 - Beach Park, IL, Cruiser's Bar And Grill
November 13 - Cudahy, WI, Vnuk's Lounge
November 14 - Fridley, MN, G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park, w/32 Headshots and School Of Rock
November 19 - Ocean Springs, MS, Lynchburg Landing
November 20 - Biloxi, MS, Biloxi Town Green
November 28 - Biloxi, MS, Mississippi Coast Harley-Davidson
December 31 - Ocean Springs, MS, Ocean Springs Festival

SYMPHONY X Announces Spring 2011 North American Tour With NEVERMORE, SOILWORK, POWERGLOVE, And BLACKGUARD

Long-dormant progressive metal band Symphony X have announced a Spring 2010 North American tour with one of the most impressive bills seen in some time. Joining as support on tour are Nevermore, Soilwork, Powerglove, and Blackguard. The month-long jaunt will hit most areas of the US, including a stop at Station 4 in St. Paul on Monday, May 2. Here is the complete itinerary:
April 21 - Philadelphia, PA, The Trocadero
April 22 - New York, NY, Best Buy Theatre
April 23 - Worcester, MA, The Palladium
April 25 - Montreal, QC, Metropolis
April 26 - Quebec City, QC, Salle Albert Rosseau
April 27 - Toronto, ON, The Opera House
April 29 - Cleveland, OH, Peabody's
April 30 - Detroit, MI, Blondie's
May 1 - Chicago, IL, Bottom Lounge
May 2 - St. Paul, MN, Station 4
May 4 - Denver, CO, Ogden Theater
May 6 - Seattle, WA, Showbox
May 7 - Portland, OR, Hawthorne Theatre
May 8 - San Francisco, CA, The Grand Ballroom
May 10 - Los Angeles, CA, Wiltern Theater
May 11 - Tempe, AZ, Marquee Theatre
May 13 - Dallas, TX, Trees
May 14 - Houston, TX, Scout Bar
May 15 - San Antonio, TX, Backstage Live
May 17 - Orlando, FL, The Club at Firestone
May 18 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Culture Room
May 19 - Atlanta, GA, The Masquerade
May 20 - Raleigh, NC, Volume 11
May 21 - Charlotte, NC, Tremont Music Hall
May 22 - West Springfield, VA, Jaxx

Friday, November 5, 2010

ROGER WATERS The Wall Live Concert Review

Roger Waters
The Wall Live
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN

Roger Waters came through the Twin Cities midway through his mammoth tour to play Pink Floyd’s The Wall in its entirely. Expectations were high for the sold-out crowd, and significant buzz was built up a couple days prior when Roger Waters was spotted having dinner with his entourage at Bar La Grassa in Minneapolis. Rumors flew throughout the local media that Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour had accompanied Waters to Bar La Grassa, raising hopes that St. Paul would be the city where Gilmour joined Waters on stage as he promised to do on one show of the tour. The dinner rumor proved to be unfounded, unfortunately, and Gilmour did not appear at this show. Nevertheless, this was a show of epic proportions that left no one disappointed.
Click to hear Roger Waters perform “Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)”.
The Wall was performed in the album’s running order, and Waters was greeted with thunderous applause as he strolled the front of the stage while the band launched into “In The Flesh?” A partial wall was already constructed several feet back from the front of the stage, and the band was set up towards the back. While the band seamlessly worked their way through the early part of the album, including “Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)”, “Mother”, and “Goodbye Blue Sky”, the crew was kept busy as they gradually added bricks to the wall. The ever-enlarging wall was used as a video projection surface, and a circular screen was suspended behind the band. The circular screen was used to great effect during “Mother”, showing vintage live footage of Waters performing in sync. Speakers suspended throughout the arena were used to achieve a surround sound effect for many of the recorded sound effects during the show. Giant props were also brought out at times, such a giant marionette, an inflatable pig, and a suspended airplane that crashed into the wall at the end of the “In The Flesh?” By the time the first half of The Wall ended with “Goodbye Cruel World”, the wall was completed and was a sight to behold as it stretched from one side of the arena to the other at a massive height, probably about 15–20 feet high.
Click to hear Roger Waters perform “Goodbye Blue Sky”.
Click to hear Roger Waters perform “Young Lust”.
Following a 20 minute intermission, “Hey You” kicked off the second half of The Wall, and it initially seemed strange to have the band performing out of sight behind the wall. The band wasn’t entirely invisible, as clever tricks were used to showcase Waters and the band during this part of the set. A section of the wall was knocked out to show Waters lounging in a room setting while he sang “Nobody Home”. One of the more dramatic parts of the show was when one of the guitarists was perched on a scaffold atop the wall for the solos in “Comfortably Numb”. Towards the end of the show, the band rose up through risers in the floor so they could play in front of the wall. The show reached a climax with “Waiting For The Worms” as Waters yelled into a megaphone as the cacophony was built up into “The Trial”. At this point the crowd was in a frenzy, shaking their fists while chanting “tear down the wall!” The entire wall structure collapsed, and the band returned amidst the rubble to play the closer, “Outside The Wall”. Band members left the stage one by one as the dying notes faded until Waters was left standing to thank the audience.
Click to hear Roger Waters perform “Comfortably Numb”.
Click to hear Roger Waters perform “Run Like Hell”.
Roger Waters defied all expectations this night, and this show will go down as one of the most memorable for all who attended. The band executed The Wall to perfection, and the lavish production was on the level of what you’d expect from a Broadway or Vegas show. Some critics have complained about the guitarists aping David Gilmour’s work, but what do you expect? More people would feel let down if the music was altered simply for the sake of making it different. In fact, the was allowing to stretch the songs at times, notably during extended guitar and keyboard solos during songs such as “Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)”, “Comfortably Numb”, and “Run Like Hell”. No other band can put on an arena-sized production at this level, so this was a concert for the ages.
Check back soon for a posting of the audio from the entire show!!