Lineup for Grand RockTember 2 Festival at Grand Casino Hinckley Unveiled

Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley is reprising last year’s 80s-focused Grand RockTember Festival with (what else?) the Grand RockTember 2 Festival to be held this year over two days, Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13.

Blue Öyster Cult performing August 25, 2013 at the Minnesota State Fair. Check out the review of this show here, and click the pictures to see more photos (20).

The Friday show is a 70s classic rock bill with Sweet, April Wine, Foghat, and Blue Öyster Cult. Saturday’s show features Dee Snider, Jack Russell’s Great White, Lita Ford, Winger, Firehouse, Warrant, and Scrap Metal, which boasts an all-star lineup of singers Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent), Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), Mark Slaughter (Slaughter, Vinnie Vincent Invasion), and Gunnar Nelson and Matthew Nelson (Nelson). Single-day and two-day tickets will be available when tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster on Wednesday, June 4 at 10:00 am. You can get the latest information at the Grand Casino Hinckley site.

Weekly Concert Update - June 2, 2014

Now that the Twin Cities area Concert Calendar (bottom of the page) has been extensively updated, I'll be doing regular, weekly updates on Fridays as I have in the past. Here's all the latest good stuff!

Local punk heroes Dillinger Four have revealed the details on their annual Fourth of July shows at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. The first show on Friday, July 4 will feature support from Masked Intruder, The Brokedowns, Canadian Rifle, Direct Hit!, The Priceduifkes, and Lutheran Heat. The second show on Saturday, July 5 is a heavier bill with Night Birds, Neighborhood Brats, Vulgaari, War/Plague, and Architects Death Spiral. These are usually the only shows Dillinger Four plays all year, and they always sell out in advance. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketfly (July 4, July 5), and both shows are 18+ and are $15 in advance.

Slough Feg, out on the road support their new Metal Blade album Digital Resistance, storms into the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on Friday, July 11 with Bible Of The Devil, United Teachers of Music, and Nightosaur. This 18+ show is only $10 in advance, and tickets are available through Ticketfly.

80s hair metal act Faster Pussycat returns to the area on Friday, August 1 for a show in Fridley at G.B. Leighton’s Pickle Park with support from Metal Witch and Harsh Reality.

Another 80s band returns for a show at G.B. Leighton’s Pickle Park in Fridley when Bulletboys roll into town with Wayward Boyz Klub and The Goodbars.

Japanese metal experimentalists Boris, play with The Atlas Moth, and Subrosa on Tuesday, August 12 at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. Tickets for this 18+ are $15 in advance and available now through etix.

Blues-based rock band Black Stone Cherry is back again, this time for a concert in Minneapolis at Mill City Nights with support from Kyng. Get tickets now for only $9.37 through AXS; this is an 18+ show.

Everyone’s favorite alternative funk rock band, Primus, will make an appearance at Myth in St. Paul on Friday, September 12. This is an all ages event; tickets are $42 through AXS.

If you don’t mind a little drive, ZZ Top plays the Grand Casino Hinckley Events & Convention Center on Friday, October 10. No ticket information is currently available other than they go on sale on Sunday, August 10.

ELUVEITIE Announce North American Campaign with TYR and METSATOLL, Minneapolis Concert October 14

Swiss folk metal troupe Eluveitie have recently announced a Fall headlining tour of North America in support of their new album, Origins, which is scheduled for release on August 5. Joining as support on this month-long trek are fellow folk metal acts Tyr and Metsatöll. Included on the itinerary is a stop at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 14. Tickets for the Minneapolis show are on sale now through AXS; it’s an 18+ show that costs $18 in advance and $22 at the door.

Here’s the complete list of Eluveitie North American tour dates for 2014 with special guests Tyr and Metsatöll:

September 19 – Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Soundstage

September 20 – Charlotte, NC, Chop Shop

September 21 – Atlanta, GA, Masquerade

September 22 – Tampa, FL, The Orpheum

September 25 – Houston, TX, Warehouse Live

September 26 – San Antonio, TX, Backstage Live

September 27 – Dallas, TX, Granada Theater

September 29 – Phoenix, AZ, Club Red

October 2 – Los Angeles, CA, House of Blues

October 3 – Ramona, CA, Ramona Mainstage

October 4 – Sacramento, CA, Assembly Music Hall

October 5 – Oakland, CA, Oakland Metro Opera House

October 6 – Portland, OR, Hawthorne Theater

October 7 – Seattle, WA, El Corazon

October 8 – Vancouver, BC, Rickshaw

October 10 – Edmonton, AB, Union Hall

October 11 – Calgary, AB, McEwan Ballroom

October 13 – Winnipeg, MB, The Garrick

October 14 – Minneapolis, MN, Mill City Nights

October 15 – Chicago, IL, House of Blues

October 16 – Detroit, MI, St. Andrews

October 17 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Theater

October 18 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre

October 19 – Quebec City, QC, Imperial

October 21 – Boston, MA, Royale

October 22 – New York, NY, Irving Plaza

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN to Headline Guitar Gods Tour, Minneapolis Show June 23

In case you missed the news a couple weeks back, guitar legend Yngwie J. Malmsteen has announced the Guitar Gods Tour that has him teaming up with the powerhouse bill of Uli Jon Roth, Gary Hoey, and Bumblefoot across North America for what should go down as one of the best concerts of the year. Love him or hate him, it cannot be denied that Yngwie influenced metal guitar players in ways not seen since Ritchie Blackmore and Eddie Van Halen. Remember how the saying goes - there's the right way, the wrong way, and there's Yngwie!

Uli Jon Roth performing February 16, 2013 at Neisen's in Savage, Minnesota. Click on any of the pictures to see more photos from this concert (63).

I've seen Yngwie twice, first on the godly Trilogy tour (supporting Triumph) and again in support of The Seventh Sign, and it's impossible walk away from one of his shows slack-jawed. Making this an extra-special night is the inclusion of Uli Jon Roth. Uli's show last year at Neisen's in Savage, Minnesota was hands down the best concert I saw last year (reviewed here), and this tour has him once again playing an all-Scorpions set of classics from the five albums on which he performed. The bottom line is that you don't want to miss this tour.

The tour stops in Minneapolis at the Skyway Theatre on Monday, June 23. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketfly, and the seated floor section is already sold out. Here's the full list of tour dates:

June 12 - Wilkes-Barre, PA, Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
June 13 - Huntington, NY, The Paramount
June 14 - Sayreville, NJ, Starland Ballroom
June 15 - Akron, NY, Braun's Concert Cove
June 17 - Englewood, NJ, Bergen Performing Arts Center
June 18 - Cleveland, OH, The Agora
June 20 - St. Charles, IL, Arcada Theatre
June 21 - Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre
June 22 - Joliet, IL, Mojoes
June 23 - Minneapolis, MN, Skyway Theatre
June 26 - Seattle, WA, Showbox Presents
June 27 - Portland, OR, Roseland Theater
June 28 - Richmond, BC, River Rock Casino
July 2 - Santa Ana, CA, The Observatory
July 3 - Beverly Hills, CA, Saban Theatre
July 5 - Ramona, CA, Ramona MainStage
July 7 - Las Vegas, NV, House of Blues
July 8 - Tucson, AZ, Rialto Theatre
July 10 - Dallas, TX, House of Blues
July 12 - Houston, TX, House of Blues

NEGURA BUNGET Cancel North American Tour

Negura Bunget performing in St. Paul on April 30, 2012 at Station 4. Click on any of the pictures to see more photos from this show (47).

Before getting to some new concert announcements and news, I first wanted to bring attention to a couple of things that deserve some attention. Some unfortunate news kicks things off - Negura Bunget, the fantastic black/folk metal band from Romania, was recently forced to cancel their entire North American tour on the eve of the first date in Albany, New York on May 8. Fellow Romanians Grimegod subsequently also canceled their participation as direct support for the tour. This massive tour was to last through most of June, and included a stop here in Minneapolis on June 13 at the Triple Rock Social Club.

Negura Benget's official statement from their Facebook page posted on May 7 states:

"We are deeply sorry to say it, but we are forced to cancel our entire US and Canadian tour as of this moment. Some visa complication completely beyond the band’s control are forcing us to do this in the last moment, despite the fact that we’ve been working on this tour plan for over one year and we already secured our work permits months ago. Needless to say we invested a huge amount time, energy and money into making this tour happen, so we are taking a huge loos now. But we are still here, and we will return! Meanwhile we’ll focus all our frustration energy into completing the last details of the new album TĂU."

The little good news from this is that affected date in Minneapolis will still soldier on with local black metal bands False, Atrum Inritus, and Pestifere.

Pestifere performing May 15, 2014 at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis.

Tonight - SEETHER and BLACK STONE CHERRY in St. Paul, CAPITALIST CASUALTIES in Minneapolis

If you're looking to get out tonight, it's not too late to catch one of a couple shows happening tonight. If modern radio rock is your thing, Seether and Black Stone Cherry are playing together at Myth in St. Paul. This is an all ages show that starts at 7:00 pm, and tickets are $20 at the door.

Black Stone Cherry performing in St. Paul in 2010.

Extreme metal fans would be wise to head over the VFW Post 246 in Minneapolis (2916 Lyndale) where powerviolence/hardcore pioneers Capitalist Casualties will take over. Joining them as support are Agitate, Despise, and F**king. This is also an all ages show that starts are 7:00 pm, and tickets are only $7 at the door.

Tonight - WHITEHORSE, WAR MASTER, VULGAARI, and PESTIFERE in Minneapolis

Holy cow far too much time has gone by since I've been able to keep the site updated here! Life sometimes gets in the way; in my case, increased family responsibilities, a lot of traveling, and the usual crushing amount of work have all conspired to keep me away. Quite unfortunately, all of this has also caused me to miss a few shows I would have liked to attend, most notably Y&T, Skinny Puppy, and Hate Dept. I did manage to catch April Wine and Sweet, and heard excellent things about the recent Dream Theater and Mastodon shows. Fear not, lots of updates and new content will be forthcoming in due course.

There are massive amounts of outstanding shows coming to town during the next two months, and you can yourself warmed up with a night of sludge, doom, and death metal with a crushing bill of Whitehorse from Australia, Houston's War Master, alongside locals Vulgaari and Pestifere. It's only $8 at the door, and this 18+ show starts around 8:00. I'll be there sporting my Radioactive Metal shirt (subscribe to this podcast if you don't already!), so please introduce yourself and say hello if you're there. It's always fun to meet and talk with local readers!

Check out War Master performing "Mass Cremation" and "Sadistic Force" in Austin, Texas on January 10, 2014.

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.

KISS and DEF LEPPARD Pre-Sale Password, North American Tour Announced

Gosh, do I feel like a loser for being away from things for a bit, so thanks for coming back! Obviously, the Concert Calendar needs some updating and I've got the usual backlog of things to post, but look for some cool things to come including some unreleased audio recordings (more on this to come!). For now, among a recently rediscovered stash of live recordings from the late 80s and early 90s are ones from Kiss, Def Leppard, and Badlands.

As you may have heard by now, Kiss and Def Leppard are teaming up for an extensive North American co-headlining tour this summer that runs from late June through the end of August. The itinerary includes a stop at the Target Center in Minneapolis on August 17; this is one of the few indoor shows of the tour if you prefer those to outdoor ones like I do.

Tickets for the Minneapolis date go on sale tomorrow Friday, March 21 at 12:00 noon CDT, but there is a 12-hour presale from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm CDT today, Thursday, March 20. Head on over to AXS and enter the password TONGUE.

Here is the complete list of the Kiss and Def Leppard dates:

June 23 - West Valley City, UT, USANA Amphitheater
June 25 - Denver, CO, Pepsi Center
June 27 - Ridgefield, WA, Sleep Country Amphitheater
June 29 - Auburn, WA, White River Amphitheater
July 2 - Concord, CA, Concord Paviliion
July 3 - Wheatland, CA, Sleep Train Amphitheater
July 5 - Irvine, CA, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
July 6 - Chula Vista, CA, Sleep Train Amphitheater
July 8 - Los Angeles, CA, The Forum
July 9 - Phoenix, AZ, Ak-Chin Pavilion
July 12 - Austin, TX, Austin 360 Amphitheater
July 13 - Dallas, TX, Gexa Energy Pavilion
July 15 - Cincinnati, OH, Riverbend Music Center
July 16 - Nashville, TX, Bridgestone Arena
July 18 - Atlanta, GA, Aaron's Amphitheater at Lakewood
July 19 - Charlotte, NC, PNC Music Pavilion
July 20 - Raleigh, NC, Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
July 22 - West Palm Beach, FL, Cruzan Amphitheatre
July 23 - Tampa, FL, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 25 - Bristow, VA, Jiffy Lube Live
July 26 - Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center
August 1 - Mansfield, MA, Xfinity Center
August 2 - Atlantic City, NJ, Boardwalk Hall
August 3 - Camden, NJ, Susquehanna Bank Center
August 5 - Saratoga Springs, NY, Saratoga Performing Arts Center
August 6 - Wantagh, NY, Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
August 8 - Virginia Beach, VA, Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
August 9 - Scranton, PA, Pavilion at Montage Mountain
August 10 - Hartford, CT, Xfinity Theatre
August 12 - Toronto, ON, Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
August 13 - Darien, NY, Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
August 15 - East Troy, WI, Alpine Valley Music Theatre
August 16 - Tinley Park, IL, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
August 17 - Minneapolis, MN, Target Center
August 20 - Des Moines, IA, Wells Fargo Arena
August 22 - Noblesville, IN, Klipsch Music Center
August 23 - Clarkston, MI, DTE Energy Music Theatre
August 24 - Burgettstown, PA, First Niagara Pavilion
August 26 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Blossom Music Center
August 28 - Maryland Heights, MO, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
August 29 - Tulsa, OK, BOK Center
August 31 - Woodlands, TX, Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion

MEDIA ALERT: Radioactive Metal

Now that the holiday season is past us, I'll have the chance to start posting more regularly here. I'm happy to announce in my first post of the year that I recorded my second episode of the Radioactive Metal podcast with co-hosts Snowy and Roch early tonight. Radioactive Metal is hands down the best podcast for extreme metal, and I'm once again flattered to be a part of it.

This will be episode #299 that will be broadcast on Pure Rock Radio Thursday, January 16 at 9:00 pm CST, right before Twin Cities' powerhouse vocalist Lance King hosts hits show for Nightmare Records, The SHOPP at 11:00 pm CST. It should then be available for download through iTunes sometime Thursday or Friday. Don't miss a thing by simply subscribing to the podcast in iTunes!

The topic of discussion for the episode is the Rammies - Radioactive Metal's version of their best-of-2013. The three of us had a blast talking about our favorite moments in metal from the last year, and we ended up chatting away for over two hours! I'll likely reveal some advance spoilers during the coming week, but here were the categories on which each of us gave our opinions:

Album of the Year
Song of the Year
Band of the Year
Comeback of the Year
Best New Band
Snowy's Angel of the Year
Live Show of the Year
News Story of the Year

More appearances on Radioactive Metal are in the works, and I'll reveal more information about them as plans are finalized.