Tonight - WHITE EMPRESS in Spring Lake Park

As usual there's a lot of updating and posting of content that needs to be done here. I should have helped spread the word about this show earlier, but if you aren't aware already, get out to Pov's 65 in Spring Lake Park tonight, Saturday, May 9, to see the one and only White Empress. This is the Twin Cities-based band led by former Cradle Of Filth guitarist Paul Allender and rounded out with an experienced group of musicians, including fantastic vocals by Mary Zimmer (ex-Luna Mortis).

Support for the show will come from We Are Legion, Faith Hills Have Eyes, and Black Box Warning. This is an 18+ show; doors open at 8:00 and tickets are only $10 at the door.

If you missed the band's debut performance in Minneapolis in October you won't want to miss tonight's show. Their first show was thrown off kilter with the drummer bailing one week before the show. This forced the band to find an LA-based drummer available immediately who was flown to the Cities for some intense rehearsals. White Empress pulled off a great, albeit shortened set under the most dire of circumstances. In this context tonight's show should be tight and polished. Tonight is also the last night of a short Midwest run before White Empress heads to Japan.

I'll have much more to post about White Empress in due course (including a ton of live photos), but for now here are a few photoshoot-style photos of the band that were shot immediately after their first performance in October. Despite the pressures of that night, the band was in high spirits and was gracious to gather around for these shots after meeting with fans.

CJ RAMONE Reveals June U.S. Tour, St. Paul Date June 10

CJ Ramone, former bassist and vocalist for punk icons The Ramones, will hit the road this June for a tour of the eastern half of the U.S. to promote his latest solo record Last Chance To Dance, released in November on Fat Wreck Chords. His band includes guitarist Steve Soto and Dan Root from Adolescents, and you expect to hear a healthy dose of Ramones classics. Support on the tour will come from Shonen Knife. The tour will storm through St. Paul at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall on Wednesday, June 10; tickets go on sale today, Friday, March 13 at 11:00 am through Ticketfly.

Watch the video for “Won’t Stop Swinging” from Last Chance To Dance.

June 6 – Columbus, OH, Ace of Cups

June 7 – Chicago, IL, Bottom Lounge

June 9 – Milwaukee, WI, Cactus Club

June 10 – St. Paul, MN, Amsterdam Bar and Hall

June 11 – Lincoln, NE, Vega

June 13 – Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge

June 14 – Atlanta, GA, Hell at The Masquerade

June 16 – Chapel Hill, NC, Local 506

June 17 – Louisville, KY, The New Vintage

June 18 – Cincinnati, OH, The Woodward Theater

June 19 – Baltimore, MD, Metro Gallery

June 20 – Long Branch, NJ, Brighton Bar

June 21 – Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts

June 22 – New York, NY, Le Poisson Rouge

June 23 – Hamden, CT, The Ballroom at The Outer Space

June 24 – Cambridge, MA, Middle East Downstaris

EMPERORS & ELEPHANTS To Play Various Midwest Dates, SXSW Showcase, Mankato March 27

 Emperors & Elephants performing November 18, 2014 at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. You can view all pictures (40) from this concert in Flickr here, and look for a review of this show coming soon.

Chicago-based rock band and Pavement recording artist Emperors & Elephants have a few shows in the Midwest in March and April, including one at Buster’s in Mankato on Friday, March 27 with St. Paul’s Matrekis. The band’s itinerary also includes a trip to Austin, Texas for a showcase a the SXSW Festival on March 15. Emperors & Elephants wrapped up 2014 touring with Tantric in support of their debut album Devil In The Lake.

Watch the lyric video for "Who You Are" by Emperors & Elephants.

Advance tickets for the Mankato show are on sale now for only $5 ($7 at the door), and this is a 21+ show. Here is the complete list of upcoming Emperors & Elephants shows:

March 13 – West Chicago, IL, Cairo Ale House, w/Fashion Bomb, ADD, Kurt Arft

March 14 – Denison, TX, Fat Daddy’s

March 15 – Austin, TX, Delve Inn, SXSW Showcase

March 27 – Mankato, MN, Busters, w/Matrekis, Nowhere Fast

March 28 – Algona, IA, Afterlife Lounge, w/Matrekis, Far From Innocent, Down One Digit

April 25 – South Barrington, IL, Penny Road Pub, w/Platinum, Kurt Arft

INSOMNIUM Announce North American Headlining Tour with OMNIUM GATHERUM, Minneapolis Concert August 18

Finnish melodic death metal band Insomnium will circle the North American continent for a headlining tour with support from fellow Finns Omnium Gatherum during August and September. The campaign starts August 9 in Montreal at the Heavy Montreal Festival, and ends September 7 back in Quebec in Quebec City. Tuesday, August 18 will be see the tour stop in Minneapolis at the 7th Street Entry with local support from Cold Colours. This is an 18+ show, and tickets are on sale now through etix.

Watch the video for "While We Sleep" from the latest Insomnium album Shadows Of The Dying Sun.

August 9 – Montreal, QC, Parc Jean Drapeau, Heavy Montreal Festival

August 11 – New York, NY, Gramercy Theatre

August 12 – West Springfield, VA, Empire

August 13 – Worcester, MA, The Palladium

August 14 – Albany, NY, Bogies

August 15 – Pittsburgh, PA, The Altar Bar

August 16 – Westland, MI, The Token Lounge

August 17 – Joliet, IL, Mojoes

August 18 – Minneapolis, MN, 7th Street Entry, w/Cold Colours

August 19 – Winnipeg, MB, The Zoo

August 21 – Edmonton, AB, Pawn Shop Live

August 22 – Calgary, AB, Nite Owl

August 23 – Vancouver, BC, Red Room

August 24 – Seattle, WA, El Corazon

August 25 – Portland, OR, Hawthorne Theatre

August 26 – San Francisco, CA, Thee Parkside

August 27 – West Hollywood, CA, Whisky A Go Go

August 28 – San Diego, CA, Brick By Brick

August 29 – Las Vegas, NV, LVCS

August 30 – Mesa, AZ, Club Red

September 1 – Denver, CO, Bluebird Theater

September 3 – Louisville, KY, Expo Five

September 4 – Cleveland, OH, Agora Ballroom

September 5 – Toronto, ON, The Garrison

September 6 – Ottawa, ON, Ritual Nightclub

September 7 – Quebec City, QC, Le Cercle

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY Announce U.S. Tour with DEATH ANGEL and COC - BLIND, Play Minneapolis April 27

Cavalera Conspiracy have announced a month-long tour of the U.S. in April and May (complete dates below) to support the Pandemonium album. Bay Area thrash band Death Angel, Corrosion Of Conformity - Blind, and Lody Kong (which includes Max Cavalera's sons) will serve as openers for the trek. The tour arrives at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Monday, April 27. Tickets for the Minneapolis show are on sale now through etix for $25 ($30 at the door), and it's an 18+ show.

Watch the video for "Babylonian Pandemonium" by Cavalera Conspiracy.

April 10 - El Paso, TX, Trick Falls
April 11 - Dallas, TX, Gas Monkey Live
April 12 - Austin, TX, Empire Control Room & Garage
April 13 - Houston, TX, Scout Bar
April 15 - Raleigh, NC, Lincoln Theatre
April 16 - Amityville, NY, Revolution
April 17 - Worcester, MA, Palladium
April 19 - New York, NY, Marlin Room at Webster Hall
April 20 - Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Soundstage
April 21 - Cleveland, OH, Agora Ballroom
April 22 - Pontiac, MI, The Crofoot
April 23 - Columbus, OH, Newport Music Hall
April 24 - Joliet, IL, Mojoes
April 25 - Milwaukee, WI, The Rave
April 27 - Minneapolis, MN, First Avenue
April 28 - Lawrence, KS, Granada Theater
April 29 - Denver, CO, Summit Music Hall
May 1 - Seattle, WA, Studio Seven
May 3 - San Francisco, CA, Regency Ballroom
May 4 - West Hollywood, CA, House of Blues
May 5 - Tempe, AZ, Marquee Theatre

Tonight - WARRANT & WINGER in Medina, CAIN Vocalist JIGGS LEE in St. Paul

It's been hard to be inspired to write recently, so apologies all around for the lack of any new content or updates. Quite honestly there hasn't been a whole lot in the metal world that's gotten me excited. Part of it has been the lack of exciting live shows the last 2–3 months. It dawned on me not too long ago that I've been relentlessly attending concerts for 30 years now. I feel blessed that I have quite literally seen almost every metal and hard rock band that I want to see (many times, in the case of my favorites), and more often than not, in the bands' prime. It may be hard to understand, but during the long, cold Minnesota winter it takes something special to drag me out of the house away from my family.

Mock if you will, but seeing Winger tonight has gotten me fired up. They're playing a co-headlining show with Warrant at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina. It's a 21+ show and Winger goes on first at 8:30 so don't be late! It may be hard to remember that before Winger became everyone's favorite band to mock, they were initially heralded as a technical musician's band when their debut album was released in 1988. Kip Winger and Paul Taylor had both spent time in Alice Cooper's band in the mid-80s, and as drummer for the Dixie Dregs Rod Morgenstein had racked up a string a Drummer of the Year honors. So I've never been shy about liking the band from the start, and three of the four original members still periodically put out great albums (2009's Karma is my favorite) and do small tour runs. I first saw the band opening for Cinderella with Bulletboys in 1989, again promoting In The Heart Of The Young with Kiss and Slaughter, and then headlining on the Pull tour. This 1993 show was especially memorable since I had won a radio contest and spent the Fourth of July at a barbecue picnic with the band the day of the show. Winger came through Station 4 in St. Paul a few years ago promoting the IV album in a fairly low-key show. Their last scheduled appearance in Medina for the Karma album together with Blackfoot was unfortunately canceled. Warrant is one band I've never seen, but I have seen current singer Robert Mason with Cry Of Love supporting Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers (with Journey guitarist Neal Schon in his band at the time). I've got some cool old Winger memorabilia I'll dig out for a "From The Vault" post, including an uncirculated audio recording from a tour for their first album.

Check out the video for "Rat Race" from the latest Winger album Better Days Comin'.

The only other show of note tonight is happening at the Amsterdam in St. Paul. Jiggs Lee, vocalist for local 70s cult hard rock band Cain, is playing as Jiggs Lee and Brothers Invasion with other local bands in a free benefit show for the American Cancer Society.

I'll get around to updating the concert calendar and getting some regular posts up. This looks to be a great year ahead for metal and hard rock!

Tonight - WHITE EMPRESS in Minneapolis!!

Yes, I know it's been a while. Personal and professional obligations have kept me from doing any writing here, but this blog isn't about me so I'll get to the important stuff (metal).

Get down to The Cabooze in Minneapolis tonight, Thursday, October 30, to witness the first-ever live performance of White Empress, the new band put together by former Cradle Of Filth guitarist Paul Allender which features an exceptional band including former Luna Mortis vocalist Mary Zimmer. Also on the bill are Cwn Annwn, Plague Of Stars (featuring powerhouse vocalist Melissa Ferlaak, ex-Visions Of Atlantis, Echoterra, Aesma Daeva), From Light Rose The Angels, and Splitdriven. White Empress recently released their excellent debut album, Rise Of The Empress, through Peaceville.

The Appleton and Milwaukee dates listed on the poster above were cancelled due to drummer Zac Morris not being available due to a last-minute emergency. The free shows in Madison on Friday and Saturday nights are going ahead as planned. Drummer Jon Siren flew in from Los Angeles on short notice to make these shows possible! Jon's drum credits include work with a wide variety of acts, including Early Man, Hate Dept., and Information Society.

I've have a lengthy, long-overdue interview with Paul that is nearly ready to publish - look for it soon! If you can't make it to any of these White Empress shows, I'll have a review of tonight's Minneapolis show posted in due course.

Cult thrashers INDESTRUCTIBLE NOISE COMMAND Announce U.S. Tour Supporting TANTRIC, Minneapolis Show November 18

Connecticut thrash band Indestructible Noise Command, reactivated 20 years following the release of two minor classics in the late 80s (Razorback and The Visitor), have announced an unlikely tour pairing with Tantric that hits most areas of the U.S. in November. Fortunately, the tour stops in Minneapolis at the 7th Street Entry on Tuesday, November 18. The full itinerary is below, and check out the blistering lyric video for “Stirring The Flock” from their newly released fourth album Black Hearse Serenade.

November 5 – Colorado Springs, CO, Sunshine Studios Live

November 7 – Las Vegas, NV, The Divebar

November 8 – West Hollywood, CA, Whisky A Go-Go

November 10 – Phoenix, AZ, Joe’s Grotto

November 12 – Grand Junction, CO, Mesa Theater Lounge

November 13 – Denver, CO, Roxy Theatre

November 14 – Waterloo, IA, Spicoli’s Grill/Reverb Rock Garden

November 15 – Cherry Valley, IL, Take 20

November 16 – Ringle, WI, Q&Z Expo Center

November 18 – Minneapolis, MN, 7th Street Entry

November 19 – Madison, WI, The Annex at the Red Zone

November 20 – Lafayette, IN, Hideaway Bar & Grill

November 21 – Westland, MI, The Token Lounge

November 22 – Battle Creek, MI, The Music Factory

November 23 – Akron, OH, Ripper’s Rock House