VISTA CHINO, RANCID Tonight in Minneapolis

Vista Chino (formerly Kyuss Lives!), the new version of cult stoner rock legends Kyuss led by vocalist John Garcia, is in town tonight, Wednesday, September 18 for a show at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis with support from Black Pussy and Zebulon Pike. I've seen Kyuss three times, once each on the Blues For The Red Sun, Welcome To Sky Valley, and ...And The Circus Leaves Town tours, as well as John's post-Kyuss bands Slo Burn and Unida and Kyuss guitarist Josh Homme's Queens Of The Stone Age - all great shows, with the Kyuss ones being especially memorable. I heard great things about last year's Kyuss Lives! show, so get out for this one if you can. It's an 18+ show that starts at 8:30, and general admission tickets are $25, while the reserved seats are $30.

The Skyway Theater in Minneapolis seems to be filling the void left by the extended closure of Station 4 in St. Paul with a bunch of metal and punk shows, including one by Rancid tonight, September 18. Support for this one comes from Tim Timebomb And Friends, The Interrupters, and Victory (I'm assuming this isn't the German 80s metal band). It's an early all ages show that starts at 5:30, and tickets are $25 and $40 at the door.

VISTA CHINO (Formerly KYUSS LIVES!) Plot Next North American Campaign, Minneapolis Stop on September 18

Following a legal decision to change their name from Kyuss Lives!, Vista Chino, the band featuring former vocalist John Garcia and drummer Brant Bjork of the ground-breaking stoner rock band Kyuss have announced their first North American tour under the new moniker to take place this September. The tour launches right after the September 3 release date of their debut album Peace. Corrosion Of Conformity bassist Mike Dean will join Vista Chino on this tour, and look for the band to play both new songs alongside Kyuss classics. Portland’s Black Pussy will be the special guest on all dates, including a stop at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis on Wednesday, September 18. Tickets for the Minneapolis date are on sale on through Ticketmaster.

September 6 – Calgary, AB, Flames Central

September 7 – Edmonton, AB, Starlite Room

September 9 – Vancouver, BC, Commodore Ballroom

September 10 – Seattle, WA, El Corazon

September 11 – Portland, OR, Hawthorne Theater

September 12 – San Francisco, CA, Slim’s

September 13 – Los Angeles, CA, Echoplex

September 14 – Anaheim, CA, House of Blues

September 16 – Denver, CO, Summit Music Hall

September 18 – Minneapolis, MN, Fine Line Music Cafe

September 19 – Chicago, IL, Metro

September 20 – Pontiac, MI, Crofoot Ballroom

September 21 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre

September 23 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre

September 24 – Quebec City, QC, Dagobert

September 25 – Ottawa, ON, Ritual Nightclub

September 26 – New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom

September 27 – Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts

September 28 – Columbus, OH, Alrosa Villa

Tonight - STEVEN WILSON, GHOST B.C. in Minneapolis

One my biggest disappointments is now not being able to attend tonight's solo performance from Steven Wilson at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis due to my post-surgical state. Metal fans may be familiar with Steven's exceptional production and performance work on Opeth's groundbreaking (and best) albums, Blackwater Park, Deliverance, and Damnation, as well as serving as producer or engineer for other artists such as Anathema. This eventually led to the Storm Corrosion project with Opeth guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt released in 2012. Steven is also the brains behind progressive rock titans Porcupine Tree, whose Deadwing album would probably land on my desert island list. I've seen both of Porcupine Tree's shows at the Fine Line, once on the In Absentia tour with Opeth in 2003 and again in 2005 on the Deadwing tour, and they were nothing short of stunning. Steven's current tour with his solo band is to promote his excellent third solo album, The Raven That Refused To Sing, that was released earlier this year. His solo albums don't rise to the godliness level of Porcupine Tree, but it should nevertheless be an amazing show. If you are a progressive rock fan, drop whatever you are doing and get down to the Fine Line tonight. This is an 18+ show that starts at 8:30; tickets are $22.50 at the door.

Check out the official video for "The Raven That Refused To Sing" by Steven Wilson.

Just down the street from the Fine Line at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis is the return of the mysterious Ghost B.C. with Ides Of Gemini. I reviewed the latest Ghost B.C. album Infestissumam here (6/10). It should be an interesting show, and I'd bet that songs from the new album will sound much better live. This is a 16+ show that starts at 8:30; tickets are $20 at the door.

Here's a live version of "Year Zero" by Ghost B.C., though all the pre-recorded vocals are pretty lame.