RED DRAGON CARTEL Cancels Fridley Concert

Sad new indeed, for those of us looking forward to seeing guitarist Jake E. Lee playing live once more. Yes, Red Dragon Cartel has canceled their appearance at G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park in Fridley on Saturday, March 22, but the show goes on with Hessler, The Regenerators, and Impaler still playing.

I'm not certain exactly when this was announced, but the Vital Culture page for advance tickets sales now simply states: "Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel has canceled." Various online postings as recently as March 15 still indicated Red Dragon Cartel was playing, and the band's Facebook page still has the Fridley date listed, but it is not to be.

Assuming ticket sales were okay, I'll go out on a limb and guess that the band canceled the Fridley show once the reality of their crappy tour routing hit them. Red Dragon Cartel plays Friday in Janesville, Wisconsin, then would need to backtrack to the Twin Cities on Saturday before a 10+ hour haul to East-Central Indiana for a show in Richmond on Sunday.

BRET MICHAELS Myth Concert Moved to December 20

Myth issued a statement on their website last night that the Bret Michaels concert scheduled in St. Paul tonight, Saturday, September 21 has been postponed until Friday, December 20. All tickets will be honored for the new date, and refunds are also available at the point of purchase. Accompanying the news is a statement from Poison frontman Mr. Michaels:

"To all of our great Minnesota fans, Mike and all at Myth - we thank you for cooperating with us and understanding. Due to a filming conflict, we find it necessary to reschedule tomorrow's show at the Myth to Friday the 20th of December. This will be the rock and roll Christmas party of the season."

Station 4 Concert Updates—Shows Moved Or Canceled

Since Station 4 in St. Paul closed abruptly for the summer on Friday, June 7, the status of the concerts already booked there is in doubt.

To quickly recap, the building's owner had been fighting an order from the city of St. Paul to upgrade the building's ventilation system. The building had remained open during two exemptions given by the city, and a third was denied. An updated article from Chris Riemenschneider at the Minneapolis Star Tribune provides some details:

"Steve Ledin, co-owner of Station 4, said the building's owner had been in negotiations with the city for more than a year — and up until last week — hoping to keep the club open while the new ventilation was built. The upgrades proved more costly than expected, given the structure's century-old construction — about $100,000, which required Alan Peterson, owner of the building and co-owner of the club, to refinance the property."

Ledin also confirmed that the light rail train construction that's been taking place right in front of the club for the last 2–3 years has hurt business (like most businesses in the path of the light rail line):

"Over the past two years, Ledin said, the club saw about a $1 million decrease in revenue that he attributes mostly to light-rail construction. On the upside, Ledin said the refinancing will permit other refurbishments to be made."

Here is a complete update on the current state of metal and hard rock shows that were scheduled. Refunds for canceled shows should be available at the point of purchase. I have left shows for which no information is yet available on the concert calendar for now, and they will be updated when appropriate.

The Abandon Kansas show tonight, June 13 has been moved to the Evangelical Free Church in Mankato. It’s only $5 at the door and starts at 7:00. Support now comes from Marah In The Mainsail and Dead Level Best.

Moved to the Evangelical Free Church in Mankato.

The album release show for Cold Colours with Avernus, Plague Of Stars, and Nuklear Frost on Saturday, June 15 has been cancelled.

Canceled.

There is no updated information about the Melechesh, Vreid, Lightning Swords Of Death, Reign Of Lies, and Pestifere concert on Monday, June 24.

No information available at this time.

Polkadot Cadaver, One-Eyed Doll, and Exotic Animal Petting Zoo has been moved to Pov’s 65 in Spring Lake Park.

Moved to POV's 65 in Spring Lake Park.

Florida’s Hot Graves cancelled their entire summer tour a couple days ago, which was supposed to hit Station 4 on Friday, June 28. Virginia thrashers Humungus are continuing on with the tour, but it’s unknown if the Station 4 show with Plagued Insanity, Failure Meets Fame, and Splimit will be moved to a different venue.

The Green Jellÿ show on Friday, July 19 has been moved to the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. Still supporting are Impaler, Screaming Mechanical Brain, Iguana, and Rock And Roll Whores.

No information is available about what will happen to the Kommandant, Atrum Inritus, Burning Bethlehem, and Nuklear Frost show on Saturday, July 27.

No information available at this time.

The Summer Slaughter tour featuring Dillinger Escape Plan, Animals As Leaders, Periphery, Norma Jean, Cattle Decapitation, The Ocean, Revocation, Rings Of Saturn, Thy Art Is Murder, and Aeon will now take place at the Cabooze in Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 14.

Moved to the Cabooze in Minneapolis.

There’s also no information about the fate of Sikfuk, Ghosthook, Gorgatron, Frosthelm, and Sadistic Passage on Saturday, August 31.

PAIN OF SALVATION Ends North American Tour Early, Tonight's St. Paul Concert Canceled

This crushing news was posted within the last hour on the Facebook page of SwordLord Productions, promoter for tonight's concert at Station 4 in St. Paul with Pain Of Salvation, Kingcrow, Imminent Sonic Destruction, Violent Fade, and Redshift. If you saw my review of the new album from Kingcrow, In Crescendo (10/10), you'll understand how deeply disappointing this news is. The SwordLord (Nathan Block) writes on his Facebook page:

"I found out early this morning that Daniel Gildenlöw, lead singer for Pain of Salvation, has developed pneumonia and will be flying home to recover. Obviously the band could no longer perform under such circumstances.

I then tried to negotiate a free show with KINGCROW, IMMINENT SONIC DESTRUCTION and my outstanding local acts in order to salvage the evening. Unfortunately, due to a breakdown in communication, the other bands on the tour package had already started heading home and were now not in a position to make the show on time.

This is the first time in my entire 10 year career of producing Minnesota concerts that I have completely lost a show. I am extremely sorry for the gross inconvenience. Unfortunately these circumstances were far beyond my control.

Advance ticket holders, please return your tickets to your place of purchase for a full refund."

This is the second show cancelled on this brief tour (Quebec City was the other) that only had about eight shows scheduled. In the case of Kingcrow it's curious that they would be "now not in a position to make the show on time." St. Paul was the last stop on the tour, and one would think their returning flight to Italy wouldn't be until at least tomorrow and would depart from Minneapolis. You'd think they would be spending tonight in the Twin Cities regardless of the status of the show, but I'm sure it must be more complicated than this. In any event, we can only hope that Pain Of Salvation and Kingcrow can make it back to the Twin Cities later this year.