Concert Announcements - October 19, 2012

Sold out – there are no tickets remaining for Converge, Torche, Kvelertak, and Mourner tonight, Friday, October 19 at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis.

The Throw The Fight show scheduled for Friday, October 27 at the North Star Room in Mounds View has been canceled. According to an October 16 post at the venue’s Facebook page, the North Star Room is “changing directions” and “taking a break from shows.”

New Jersey-based black metal band Krieg launches an East Coast assault with Minneapolis’s own Profound Lore recording artist Wolvhammer and Doomsday that lands at the Hexagon Bar in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 27.

Progressive doom/hard rock band Royal Thunder takes the stage at The Nether Bar at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Sunday, October 28. Joining them is two of the Twin Cities’ best grind/sludge bands, Ambassador Gun (newly signed to Prosthetic Records) and Blue Ox.

Local power metal band Dawn Of Valor has secured the support slot for ex-Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate at Mill City Nights on Sunday, November 4.

The P.O.D. and Nonpoint show at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Friday, November 16 has been canceled. A statement on the First Avenue website reads: “Due to a scheduling conflict with P.O.D., the November 16 show has been canceled. Etix sales will be automatically refunded. Any tickets purchased at First Avenue or our local outlets can be refunded at The Depot Tavern.” You can still catch P.O.D. on Saturday, December 8 at Myth in Maplewood in support of 3 Doors Down and Daughtry.

Due to the above cancellation, Nonpoint has been re-booked on Friday, November 16 for a show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis.

Alternative hard rock band Candlebox will be playing in Burnsville at the High Five Bar & Grill on Saturday, December 1. I believe the High Five is the same venue as the now-closed Primetime Bar & Grill.

West End Motel, the side project of Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds, plays the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on Sunday, December 9 with support from Ricer for an 18+ show. Tickets are $10 and go on sale today, Friday, October 19 at 12:00 noon through etix and other local First Avenue ticket outlets.

Returning to Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Thursday, December 20 is the one and only Steel Panther. This is an 18+ show. Their last show here sold out, so get your tickets soon—they go on sale today, Friday, October 19 at 10:00 am through the Mill City Nights website or AXS, their box office, and Electric Fetus in Minneapolis.

Chicago’s legendary hard rock band Styx returns to the area for a show at the Mystic Lake Showroom in Prior Lake on Friday, December 28.

Poison frontman Bret Michaels is back again, this time for a show at Treasure Island Casino in Welch on New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31.

Full details about the Doro and Sister Sin show on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14 have been released, and the big news is that Station 4 and Swordlord Productions are presenting this as a FREE show. It’s a 21 and up show and doors are at 7:00. Get their early and be sure to show your appreciation by being generous at the bar.

As if hosting Michael Schenker on Saturday, October 27 wasn’t enough, Neisen’s in Savage will also present legendary guitar god Uli Jon Roth on Saturday, February 16. No ticket information is available at this time.

In Concert This Week - October 18, 2012

There’s a ton of great shows across a wide swath of metal, punk, and rock styles this week so do yourself a favor and get out to one of these shows!

It’s a night of rap metal at Station 4 in St. Paul tonight, Thursday, October 18 with (hed)pe, Sore, and Dopesic. Also tonight, alternative punk band Dinosaur Jr. and Shearwater play The Cabooze in Minneapolis.

Tomorrow, Friday, October 19 is an insane night with three wicked shows taking place. First, Greek symphonic black metal infidels Septicflesh return after over a year for a headlining show at Station 4 in St. Paul with Brazil’s insane thrashers Krisiun, Israeli/Dutch black/folk metal band Melechesh, Canada’s Ex Deo, and black metal band Inquisition from Seattle. Second, upstart doom metal bands Witch Mountain and Castle will level the Turf Club in St. Paul with Bisento, Leon Boots, and DJ John Henry. Lastly, Converge, Torche, Kvelertak, and Mourner will tear up the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis - this show is sold out!

Saturday, October 20 brings the return of Smashing Pumpkins for a sold out show at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul with special guest Anberlin. Not far from there, Station 4 in St. Paul has a local show that same night with Deretia, Daigoro, Eldergaad, and Compassion Dies.

Public Image Limited breaks a long hiatus to play Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Monday, October 22.

Relapse’s thrash band Revocation plays Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, October 23 with support from A Life Once Lost, Ken Mode, Deretia, and Hate Beast.

Industrial/techno band Deviant UK brings their show to the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Wednesday, October 24 with support from Carved Souls, For All The Emptiness, and Thought Thieves. Punk and hardcore fans will want to get out to see Chicago’s Flatfoot 56 with locals In Defence and Hold The Throne at Station 4 in St. Paul on Wednesday, October 24.

To close the week, Christian rock band Classic Petra (the mid-80s version with singer Greg X. Volz) play at the Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park on Thursday, October 25 with Second Timothy. Guitarist Bob Hartman also tours with the current John Schlitt (ex-Head East) version of the band as Petra, so don’t be confused at what to expect at this show.

CONVERGE Album Review

Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind

Epitaph, October 2012

5/10

For my tastes, Converge elicits the same yawn from me as Meshuggah. Both bands are highly acclaimed and widely loved, but I can’t get past certain misgivings about each. In the case of Converge, the chaotic, never-ending discordant noise that permeates their sound grates on these ears, and the vocals, which range from drunken, sloppy yells to hoarse screams, are problematic. A comparison in this regard can be made to Animosity-era Corrosion Of Conformity. It’s undeniable that almost no band can achieve such a raw, brutal, and fast sound. Nearly every song on this 40-minute whirlwind has some ripping thrash riffs, and I have to admit that these parts keep my attention. At times the music is so darn good that I want to keep listening just to see if my criticisms are misplaced. Frequently classified as metalcore, Converge isn’t about “groove” and predictable beatdowns, and they have more in common with classic thrash metal bands. Fan may be screaming at my review, but ultimately, though, All We Love We Leave Behind is a depressing listen and an album that I don’t expect to subject myself to again.

Converge performs this Friday, October 19 at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis with support from Torche, Kvelertak, and Mourner.

Concert Announcements - October 2012

The remainder of October brings a lot of bands to town that don’t tour much or who rarely make to this area, including Michael Schenker, Petra, The Afghan Whigs, Witch Mountain, and many others. Here’s the full details about shows recently added to the concert calendar:

Hardcore/metal band Converge brings with them Torche, Kvelertak, and Mourner to the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Friday, October 19.

Friday, October 19 also has a heavy doom metal bill of Portland’s Witch Mountain and San Diego’s Castle playing the Turf Club in St. Paul.

The Smashing Pumpkins show on Saturday, October 20 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul is sold out.

Four local metal bands are teaming up for a benefit show for the Autism Society of Minnesota at Station 4 in St. Paul on Saturday, October 20. Deretla will be performing a tribute set to Death, Daigoro will pay tribute to Suicidal Tendencies, and Eldergaad and Compassion Dies will also play.

Rising thrash titans Revocation bring A Life Once Lost and Ken Mode to Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, October 23 with local support from Deretia and Hate Beast.

Hailing from Chicago, Celtic punk band Flatfoot 56 headlines an all ages show at Station 4 in St. Paul with support from In Defence and Hold The Throne on Wednesday, October 24.

The legendary, ground-breaking Christian rock band Classic Petra (the mid-80s lineup of Petra with vocalist Greg X. Volz) will light up the Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park with Second Timothy on Thursday, October 25.

A must-see show is legendary guitarist Michael Schenker featuring Robin McAuley at Neisen’s in Savage with support from Lasher on Saturday, October 27. Apparently no advance tickets are being sold, and it will be $20 at the door.

The Afghan Whigs show at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Sunday, October 28 is now sold out.

(hed)pe makes their second appearance in the area this month as main support for Twiztid with Lil Wyte and Potluck at The Cabooze in Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 30.

UPDATE: I forgot about this report over at Blabbermouth that Robin McAuley will not be part of the current US Michael Schenker tour for medical reasons. We wish him all the best in his recovery from surgery.