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.

Upcoming Concert Highlights

The concert calendar below (at the bottom of the page) has undergone complete updating over the last couple of weeks. Here is a list of some of the more notable shows. There's many great shows coming during April and May, so be sure to check out the full calendar for everything.

Lita Ford is doing two shows in the area: Saturday, March 14 at the Wicked Moose in Rochester has her doing an acoustic show. She returns with the full band for a show supporting Cinderella vocalist Tom Keifer at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina on Saturday, May 9.

Norwegian progressive black metal band Enslaved takes over Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Monday,

Don Dokken plays an acoustic duo show with ex-Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist (and current Dokken bassist) Mark Boals on Thursday, March 19 at the St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. Don’s voice isn’t nearly what it used to be, but he really shined at one of these acoustic shows I caught a few years ago.

The reformed Coal Chamber headlines a massive bill with Filter, Combichrist, hometown heroes American Head Charge, and Saint Ridley on Monday, March 23 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Hailing from right here in St. Paul, progressive hardcore heavyweights After The Burial play the Amsterdam on Sunday, March 29 with Invent, Animate and By The Thousands.

Recently reformed Swedish death metal band At The Gates brings their show to Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Sunday, April 5 with support from Pallbearer, Converge, and Vallenfyre.

Long-running punk band Strung Out invades the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis with Red City Radio, La Armada, and Charlie Siren on Wednesday, April 22.

Cavalera Conspiracy is joined by Death Angel, Corrosion Of Conformity – Blind, and Lody Kong for a concert at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Monday, April 27.

Cult punk legends MDC play Minneapolis at the Triple Rock Social Club on Sunday, May 3 with Channel 3, Deathwish, and Brain Tumors.

Tuesday, May 12 has two great shows: Rush returns to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, and Y&T plays G.B. Leighton’s Pickle Park in Fridley wit support from Arena.

It’s a thrasher’s dream on Wednesday, May 20 as Sepultura, the mighty Destruction, Arsis, Boris The Blade, and Micawber all play the Amsterdam in St. Paul.

Ministry is still kicking around, and they come to Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Thursday, May 28. Tickets start at $70??? Ouch!

Porcupine Tree mainman Steven Wilson does a solo show on Sunday, June 7 at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis.

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