Tonight (Addition) - MELVINS in Minneapolis

As if there aren’t enough shows happening tonight, here’s a late addition worthy of mention. Prior to their set tomorrow at the Amphetamine Reptile Bash 13 at Grumpy’s in downtown Minneapolis, long-running rockers Melvins are headlining a show tonight at Grumpy’s with Honky and Hepa/titus. Tonight’s show is a record release show where Melvins will celebrate the issuing of four new singles: Gaylord 7”, Tribute To Scientists 7”, Tribute To Venom 7” (with covers of “Warhead” and “In League With Satan”), and a split 12” single with Napalm Death, Sugar Daddy. It starts around 8:00, and all singles will be available for purchase at the show. For additional details about the show head on over to City Pages’ Gimme Noise blog.

Amphetamine Reptile Bash '13: DIE KREUZEN, MUDHONEY, MELVINS, NEGATIVE APPROACH July 20 in Minneapolis

This show should be huge and go in the annals of legendary hardcore/alternative rock shows! Groundbreaking Minneapolis record label Amphetamine Reptile has announced their Bash '13 event taking place at Grumpy's in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday, July 20, and it's a dream bill of influential, cult bands that blazed new trails in heavy alternative rock in the 80s: Die Kreuzen, Mudhoney, Melvins, and Negative Approach.

Especially notable is the appearance of Milwaukee's Die Kreuzen. Listen to their classic 1986 album October File and you'll hear why Voivod touts Die Kreuzen as influences - this album is basically the template for all post-Killing Technology Voivod albums. Die Kreuzen played their first show since their 1992 breakup last year to a sold-out crowd at the Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee, and a small handful of dates have been announced for 2013.

If you've even heard of any of these bands you'll want to be there - it promises to be epic. Advance tickets should be available soon, if not already.

Concert Announcements and Updates

This summer's lineup of shows continues to heat up! Here's the latest events that have been added to the Concert Calendar (right sidebar).


Local punk legends Dillinger Four reunite again this year for a show at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 4 with Frozen Teens, Brain Tumors, Turkish Techno, and Victory. Their last show earlier this year sold out in advance, so get your tickets now.


Experimental hardcore masters from St. Paul The Crinn are back with Mortality Crisis, A Boy And His Dog, and Nerves for a Minneapolis show at the Triple Rock Social Club on Saturday, July 7. The Crinn's last album, Dreaming Saturn, was released by Nuclear Blast; hopefully some new material will be showcased.


Pop rockers Hoobastank return on Thursday, July 12 at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. Tickets for this 18+ show go on sale today, Friday, June 8 at 10:00 am.


According to the Mystic Lake website, the July 15 Kid Rock show is now sold out.


Punk-hardcore band The Dopamines arrive at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Sunday, July 15 with Lipstick Homicide, The Slow Death, and The Manix.


God Forbid just announced a tour with Battlecross that brings them to Station 4 in St. Paul with Devilsex, Climactic, Reaping Asmodia, Deretia, and Purified on Wednesday, July 18.


The revamped lineup of In This Moment is already out on the road in advance of the new album Blood that will be released in August, and Saturday, July 21 brings them to St. Paul at Station 4.


Another sold out show - tickets are gone for Steel Panther on Friday, July 27 at The Brick in Minneapolis. Let's hope this gets moved to a larger room such as Myth.


Punk-ska pioneers The Mighty Mighty Bosstones invade the First Avenue Mainroom on Saturday, August 11. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, June 8 at 12:00 noon.

Classic rock legends The Guess Who play Minneapolis at Epic (of all places) on Saturday, August 18. No ticket information is yet available.


Eyes Set To Kill rolls into Station 4 in St. Paul with My Ticket Home, and Awaken The Empire on Sunday, August 19.

The next night, Monday, August 20, is one of brutal underground death metal at Station 4 in St. Paul with Abolishment Of Flesh, Skinned, Sadistic Passage, What Lies Within, and Fetus Heist.

Canadian technical/power metal band Into Eternity returns to Station 4 in St. Paul with local openers Cold Colours, Climactic, and Northsky on Friday, August 24.

70's rockers/80's balladeers REO Speedwagon bring their show to the Mystic Lake Showroom in Prior Lake on Friday, August 31. Tickets go on sale Saturday, June 16 at 10:00 am.


Former Hüsker Dü frontman Bob Mould plays at First Avenue on Saturday, September 15. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sugar's debut album Copper Blue, Bob's band will play this album in its entirety, along with another set of new solo material and Hüsker Dü classics. From what I can gather, Bob has always been reluctant to play his previous bands' material, so this should be a special night. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, June 8 at 12:00 noon.


Surely this will sell out - Katatonia and the Devin Townsend Project co-headline a tour with special guests Paradise Lost and Stolen Babies that arrives in St. Paul at Station 4 on Sunday, September 16.

Leave it to the Melvins to book a tour that hits all 50 states plus the District of Columbia in 51 days! The road warriors hit Grumpy's in Minneapolis on Wednesday, September 19. It's not clear which Grumpy's location will host this show, so more information will be forthcoming.


Reactivated industrial/noise icons the Swans play the Fine Line in Minneapolis with Xiu Xiu on Friday, September 21.


Great news for classic and progressive rock fans - Kansas brings their upcoming tour with none other than King's X to Myth in St. Paul on Saturday, September 22.


Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai comes to The Brick in Minneapolis on Wednesday, September 26. No ticket information is available at this time.


Lagwagon, pop-punk heavyweights who never got their mainstream due, hit the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Thursday, October 4 with Dead To Me. This should sell out!


It doesn't get much heavier than this bill - Morbid Angel, Dark Funeral, and Grave bring their dark arts to Station 4 in St. Paul on Friday, October 5.


Lastly (whew!), Dutch symphonic metal maestros Epica return to Station 4 in St. Paul on Monday, November 5 with Alestorm, Insomnium, System Divide, and Destiny Potato.

Pick your shows and start making plans!

Amphetamine Reptile Records 25th Anniversary Events This Weekend

Veterans of the Twin Cities music scene will remember Amphetamine Reptile Records, the ground-breaking label that was the one-time home to all styles of metal/alternative/noise bands such as Melvins, Helmet, Today Is The Day, Unsane, The Cows, and many, many others. Several label alumni went on to greater success or moved on to other successful bands such as Mudhoney. Amphetamine Reptile is celebrating their 25th anniversary this weekend with a series of cool events and concerts, including one-off shows from label alumni. A lot of Amphetamine Reptile bands used to come through Gabe's in Iowa City when I lived there from 1989-1994, and these were always great shows to attend. City Pages published an insightful interview with label founder Tom Hazelmyer here, and the article includes testimonials from bands describing the impact that Amphetamine Reptile had. Here is an overview of all the insanity happening this weekend to celebrate this innovative label:

Friday, August 28, Grumpy's Downtown, 7:00
- Concert: Unsane, Lollipop
- Guitar art show
- Photography exhibition

Saturday, August 29, Grumpy's Downtown, 1:00 - SOLD OUT
- Indoor art show
- Outdoor concert: Melvins, Boss Hog, Today Is The Day, God Bullies, Hammerhead, The Thrown Ups, Vaz, White Drugs, Gay Witch Abortion
Melvins go on first at 1:00 pm!

Sunday, August 30, Grumpy's NE, 1:00
- Concert: Janitor Joe, Calvin Krime, Freedom Fighters, Jet Lag
- BBQ Party