In Concert This Week - June 23, 2014

There are two big show tonight, Monday, June 23 in Minneapolis, the first being the long overdue return of guitar sensation Yngwie J. Malmsteen with Gary Hoey and Bumblefoot at the Skyway Theatre (remember, Uli Jon Roth was forced to cancel!). This is an all ages show that starts early (5:30), and both floor seating and balcony standing seats are still available for $40.50 and $65 (gold seating is sold out). There’s any excellent new interview with Yngwie done by Jim Fusilli titled “A Guitar God Among Men” at the Wall Street Journal (behind their paywall). Speaking with his usual candor, Yngwie slams his time with Steeler:

“He arrived in Los Angeles in 1983, recruited by a producer who placed him in a group that was beneath his talents. ‘It was the most banal band I could be with, but I wanted to be on a piece of vinyl,’ Mr. Malmsteen said.”

San Franciscan black metal band Deafheaven plays a SOLD OUT show tonight at the Triple Rock Social Club with Pallbearer and Wreck And Reference. Doors are at 8:00.

This rest of the week is relatively quiet. On Friday, June 27, Portland’s Raw Nerves, Much Worse, P.A.W.N., and Marrow play a free show at the Hexagon Bar in Minneapolis (21+, 10:00 show), and Oblivion, Bongonya, and Drug Budget also have a free show at the Red Carpet Keller Bar in St. Cloud (21+, 9:00 doors).

Mick in the hospital wearing a Y&T shirt! (Photo from Mick’s YouCaring page – click to donate!)

The Benefit For Mickster event for Metal Witch, Maiden Mpls., and Eternal Voyager guitarist Mick Dougherty takes place Saturday, June 28 at Pov’s 65 in Spring Lake Park. Mick is recovering from renal cancer that necessitated removal of a kidney, and he needs help with massive medical bills. The benefit show is only a $10 donation, and you can also make donations online through YouCaring. All ages are free to attend from 3–6 for a silent auction, games for kids, and the chance at door prizes, while an 18 and over crowd can stick around for the bands starting at 9:00, including Hollowstone, Jokers N Thieves, Electric Eye, Cold Colours, Maiden Mpls., and The Goodbars.

Mick playing with Eternal Voyager on September 29, 2011 at Station 4 in St. Paul opening for Cage. Click on the picture to see more photos of Eternal Voyager (17).

Hollowstone performing April 27, 2013 at Station 4 in St. Paul opening for Sanctuary. Click on the picture to see more photos of Hollowstone (32).

A little bit south of the metro area, the What’s Up Lounge in Mankato has a brutal night of death metal and grind with Ambassador Gun, Glutton For Punishment, Human Bashing, Cantharone, Exmordium, and The Rising Plague. It’s $10 at the door, and is a 21+ show that starts at 10:00.

Tonight - KVELERTAK in Minneapolis, SANCTUARY in St. Paul

Hopefully you’re already aware of the three great shows taking place tonight. First, reactivated melodic thrash band Sanctuary will be playing Station 4 in St. Paul. Sanctuary was reformed by vocalist Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard following the demise of Nevermore. This is show is to celebrate The SwordLord’s 10th year promoting metal shows. Everyone in the Twin Cities area should be grateful for all of the great bands The SwordLord (Nathan Block) has brought to town over the years. Thanks, Nathan! Support for Sanctuary will come from Hollowstone, Avian, and Redshift. This is a 16+ show that starts around 6:00, and tickets are $25 at the door.

Nevermore performing December 11, 2000 in San Diego.

Watch the official video for "Future Tense" from the Sanctuary's 1990 album Into The Mirror Black.

RELATED CONTENT: You can download the audio of Nevermore on October 28, 1997 in North Kansas City here, and I’ve posted some old live pictures and promotional materials of both Sanctuary and Nevermore here.

Yes, visa problems forced Japan’s Loudness to CANCEL their show at the Hi 5 Bar in Burnsville tonight as reported in more detail last night. Local hard rock band Downtread will now do the show themselves with Arena. This is show is now free and the bar will have cheap beer specials. Downtread hits the stage at 10:00.

RELATED CONTENT: Check out the review (with pictures) of Loudness on May 19, 2011 at Ground Zero in Minneapolis, and you can also download the complete audio of the show.

Check out this great live video of Kvelertak performing "Spring Fra Livet" on Norwegian TV.

Another late show takes place tonight at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis where you can catch Norway’s confounding Kvelertak with Cancer Bats and Black Tusk. Showtime is 10:00 – it’s 18+ and tickets are $15 at the door.

RELATED CONTENT: Read the review of the new Kvelertak album, Meir, here (5/10).

In Concert This Week - July 23, 2012

Well I completely neglected getting this update posted before the weekend, so here’s an abbreviated rundown of what’s going on the remainder of this week.

Tonight, Monday, July 23 has two shows in the area. First, former Stabbing Westward singer Christopher Hall brings The Dreaming back to Station 4 in St. Paul with Whither The Tide, Sargent Avenue, and Uzza. Check out my previously posted review of The Dreaming’s latest album, Puppet, here. Hard rockers 12 Stones also play tonight in Mounds View at the North Star Room with Blameshift, Digital Summer, Throwing Gravity, and Sinful Angel.

Off the wall band I Set My Friends On Fire play Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, July 24 with support from The Color Morale, Our Last Night, My Ticket Home, Fact, To Release, and From Concept To Chronicle.

It’s a night of hardcore punk at the Triple Rock Social Club on Wednesday, July 25 with Media Blitz, In Defence, Triple Crossed, Rivit, and Total Trash. There’s also a couple locals show on Wednesday with progressive metal band Hollowstone playing with Urn and Cold Colours at Station 4 in St. Paul, while industrial/electronic band As|Of teams up with Christopher J. Wray, Phenetick, and KPT at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis.

Thursday, July 26 has Within The Ruins, Molotov Solution, and Adestria playing Station 4 in St. Paul. Halfway Jam in Royalton begins on Thursday with an evening show featuring Jackyl, Trixter, and Bang Tango.

Echoterra Announces First Headlining Show

New symphonic metal sensations from Minneapolis, Echoterra, have announced their first headlining show to take place Friday, May 21 at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. The band will debut some new songs that have already been written for their second album slated for release early next year. Support will come from female-fronted Minneapolis bands Alation and Hollowstone. Echoterra keyboardist Jonah Weingarten will also be performing a solo set featuring music of his piano-based instrumental project Dance Of The Mourning Child.

Since the addition of classically trained vocalist Melissa Ferlaack, Echoterra released the In Your Eyes EP with re-recorded versions of songs from The Law Of One debut album. The EP and album were reviewed here and here, respectively. Echoterra's first live performance took place in support of Epica in St. Paul on February 6, and the concert review with pictures and video are available here. The band also recently announced that they have teamed up with 2Wild4 Productions for European management and booking.

Echoterra will also be performing Saturday, May 22 at the 2nd Earl Root Memorial Concert, with all proceeds benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.