Concert Announcements And Updates - June 14, 2013, Part 1 of 2

The summer concert season continues to explode, so this week's announcements are divided into two posts. Here's the latest on all of the metal and hard rock concerts happening yet in June.

Relapse recording artist Windhand brings their doom metal to the area for a show at the Turf Club in St. Paul on Saturday, June 15 with support from Vulgaari, Syoboda, and DJ Heavy Ritual.

Also on Saturday, June 15, Big V’s Saloon in St. Paul has a night of thrash/crossover metal with Axe Ripper, Manic Outburst (both from Detroit), Compassion Dies, Plagued Insanity, and Lockgnar.

Staind singer Aaron Lewis has embarked on another solo outing as part of the Jägermeister Country Tour with special guests Brian Davis and Rick Monroe, which comes to the Vetter Stone Amphitheater in Mankato on Wednesday, June 19.

Local Prosthetic Records recording artist and grind kings Ambassador Gun play a FREE show at the Hexagon Bar in Minneapolis with Before The Eyewall and Witchden on Sunday, June 23.

There’s more grindcore at the Hexagon Bar in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 29 with Blue Ox, The Matador, Trailboss, and I Am Vengeance.

Local band Nuisance has organized a benefit show Cicely Novy, sister of Nuisance singer Vince on Saturday, June 29 at the Columbia Grill & Tavern in Columbia Heights. The Facebook event page details Cicely’s plight:

“On May 5th 2013, Cicely Novy suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. She was rush to the hospital where she has undergone multiple surgeries and has been in the ICU ever since. Cicely is a 26 year old Navy veteran who proudly served her country for 5 years. She is the most selfless person, always willing to help. Now she needs ours. Please join us in raising money to help her on her long road to recovery, as she will be unable to return to work in the foreseeable future.”

A beer bust ($5 for all you can drink beer) and a silent auction will go from 4–7 pm, followed by live music from Nuisance, Emergent, Standing Alliance, and more TBA at 9 pm for $10. Those willing to make donations for the silent auction should contact Missey Metz at misseymetz777@outlook.com.

St. Paul metal band Cantharone plays the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 30.

Tonight - Great Local Shows - AMBASSADOR GUN, NUISANCE, SCREAMING MECHANICAL BRAIN

Minneapolis' own Prosthetic Records recording artist Ambassador Gun unleash their grindcore mayhem tonight at Neisen's in Savage, together with The Murder, Climactic, Ghosthook, and Mastiff. The show should start around 7:00, and cover is $6 for 21+ and $7 for 18–20 year olds.

I can't find any information regarding the previously scheduled Bloodline Severed show set for tonight at the North Star Room in Mounds View, but apparently it's not happening.

Another local metal show takes place at Pov's 65 in Spring Lake Park with Nuisance, Pinwheel, Food For Thought, and A Prefabricated Lie. This is a 21+ show that will cost a $6 cover charge. The doors open at 7:00.

If you're in the south metro, you can catch local industrial metal terrorists Screaming Mechanical Brain with Revilwen, Dead Horse Trauma, Beautiful Corpse, and Heir Afire at the What's Up Lounge in Mankato. This is an all ages 7:00 show that's only $5 at the door.

In Concert This Week - March 1, 2013

Didn't find out about this one until recently - Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison is playing a solo show with The Dean Weisser Band tonight, Friday, March 1 at the Minnesota Music Cafe in St. Paul to promote his November 2012 solo album Never Too Late. Jimi was the frontman for Chicago rock band Survivor during its arguably most successful period in the mid-80s, singing smash US hits such as "Burning Heart" (#2), "The Search Is Over" (#4), "High On You" (#8), "Is This Love" (#9), "I Can't Hold Back" (#13), "First Night" (#53), and "The Moment Of Truth" (#63). Prior to joining Survivor, Jimi sang for the heavier bands Target and Cobra. Survivor's Vital Signs album is revered by AOR/hard rock fans, with Jimi's voice being a major reason. Jimi was even supposed to replace Ian Gillan in Deep Purple instead of Joe Lynn Turner in 1989, but it was not to be. There's a great account of this in Martin Popoff's excellent book A Castle Full Of Rascals: Deep Purple: '83–'09 (2009):

"In fact, Jamison, of Survivor fame, had done more than auditioned. He had recorded with the band in September of 1989 and as far as Purple was concerned, he had the job. But Jamison had just recorded his first solo album, and, as Jon Lord tells the story, the record label had strong Italo-American family connections, and they strongly advised Jamison not to join Deep Purple.

'We auditioned Jimi who had been the lead singer in Survivor and he wanted the gig so much,' adds Lord, leaving out the mafia reference. 'He sounded fantastic and we had some wonderful rehearsals but then his management told him that he couldn't as he was going to be big on his own. He really would've been great in the band, I can tell you. You want to hear him sing Highway Star - it was absolutely marvelous. We did things like Sail Away with him and a couple of others like Maybe I'm A Leo that he did brilliantly. I think he would've been just brilliant for us. I didn't want Joe in the band. I thought he was totally wrong and that's not with hindsight. I fought against it.'"

Back to this week's shows, tonight also has Impaler, Black Rainbow, Ripsnorter, and Regenerators playing at Neisen's in Savage.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 2, classic hard/boogie rockers Foghat are paired with Head East at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina. That same night locals Nuisance are doing a video at their show Killwire and Strate-Jak-It at Station 4 in St. Paul.

The only other show on tap this week is Cleveland metalcore band Affiance with support from Glamour Of The Kill and Adestria at Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, March 5.

Concert Announcements - August 17, 2012

Christian metalcore band Mychildren Mybride will be playing at The Garage in Burnsville on Tuesday, August 28 with support from Betrayal, Lions Lions, and Famous Last Words. This is an early, all ages show that ends at 9:00.

I originally posted a few weeks back that a second Lagwagon show (with Dead To Me, The Flatliners, and Useless ID) at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis was being added on Wednesday, October 3. It turns out the October 4 show has now been moved to October 3. All tickets purchased for October 4 will be honored on October 3. There’s no word on whether refunds will be given if you can’t attend the new date, so contact the club or ticket outlet about this. This show now starts early at 4:00 pm to accommodate a late show from Local H and Ambassadors at 9:30.

Local metal band Nuisance has lined up a CD release show at G.B. Leighton’s Pickle Park in Fridley on Saturday, October 6. Joining in the festivities are Dead Horse Trauma and Gabrielle And The Apocalypse.

Bizarre grindcore act Iwrestledabearonce bring their show to Station 4 in St. Paul on Wednesday, October 17 with Oceano, Vanna, Within The Ruins, The Plot In You, Surrounded By Monsters, and The Disaster Radius in tow. This is an early, all ages show that ends at 9:30. Tickets go on sale this Monday, August 20 at 8:00 am.

Off!, the punk band featuring former Circle Jerks and Black Flag singer Keith Morris and ex-members of Redd Kross, Burning Brides, and Rocket From The Crypt, are scheduled at Station 4 in St. Paul on Sunday, October 28 with support from The Spits and Double Negative. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, August 17 at 12:00 noon.

Alternative synthrock band The Birthday Massacre plays Station 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday, November 6. Opening the show will be William Control and Aesthetic Perfection.

Concert Announcements - July 23, 2012

There’s been little in the way of new shows announced, so this update will be brief.

Hard rock band Trapt will play Station 4 in St. Paul on Sunday, August 12 for a 16+ show.

Monday, August 13 sees the return of local black metal band Teratism with a show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis.

The reunited Broken Hope (with new vocalist Damian Leski) lands in St. Paul at Station 4 on Tuesday, September 18 with Decrepit Birth, Jungle Rot, and Encrust. Although this is smack-dab in the middle of a tour with Obituary headlining, Obituary will not be appearing at this show. There’s been no word on why this is, but hopefully all bands will be able to play longer sets.

Further details are now available for the My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult on Thursday, October 11. Support acts will be Canad’s Left Spine Down (with Front Line Assembly keyboardist Jeremy Inkel) and locals Screaming Mechanical Brain. This is an 18+ show, at tickets are on sale now for $20 in advance or at the door.

Locals Blue Felix, Nuisance, and Severah team up for a show on Saturday, October 27 at G.B. Leighton’s Pickle Park in Fridley.

Crypticon Minneapolis 2011

With Halloween just around the corner, it's that time of year again for horror movie fans to gather for the 6th annual Crypticon being held at the Double Tree by Hilton in Bloomington, Minnesota on November 4–6. This event brings together movie stars, paranormal experts, special effects wizards, and music for 3 days of interactive events such as panels, a dealer room, an indie film contest, and a costume contest. The musical lineup is as follows:


Friday, November 4: American Head Charge, Wrecking Day, Impaler, Tepetricy, and Burn Fetish
Saturday, November 5: Michale Graves (ex-Misfits), Screaming Mechanical Brain, Gabriel And The Apocalypse, Pinwheel, Nuisance, and Terror Overising


These events are all ages, and the tickets for the concerts are $13 in advance, $15 at the door, and $20 for an advance two-day pass. Tickets for the festival can be purchased separately or together with the concerts. The impressive list of non-musical guests includes:


Sid Haig
Doug Bradley
Tom Towles
Camden Toy
Barbara Nedeljakova
Troy Holbrook
Alex Vincent
Joe Knetter
Sarah French
Geretta Geretta
J LaRose
Michael Bodine
Annie Wilder
Beverly Washburn