Economic Reasons Were the Reason for ULI JON ROTH’s Guitar Gods Tour Cancellation

Uli Jon Roth performing February 16, 2013 at Neisen's in Savage, Minnesota. Click on the picture to see more photos of Uli and his band (63).

Contrary to the official line that "work visas" getting "mysteriously delayed" as being the reason guitarist Uli Jon Roth canceled his appearance on the North American Guitar Gods Tour with Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Gary Hoey, and Bumblefoot, it can be revealed that his cancelation was solely due to economic reasons. My source, someone involved with the tour since it began earlier this month, was definitive with this statement. If Monday’s attendance for the Minneapolis stop of the tour, about 150, is indicative of the tour’s draw, this would corroborate this explanation.

Official statements are often cloaked in vague half-truths, and this is probably one of those instances. Very likely someone in the Uli’s camp was experiencing visa delays (notice that the statement doesn’t say the Uli himself was), but it could easily be used for cover so as to not embarrass other acts on the tour or not spook the promoters.

Uli Jon Roth is supposed to return to North American in the Spring of 2015.

In Concert This Week - June 23, 2014

There are two big show tonight, Monday, June 23 in Minneapolis, the first being the long overdue return of guitar sensation Yngwie J. Malmsteen with Gary Hoey and Bumblefoot at the Skyway Theatre (remember, Uli Jon Roth was forced to cancel!). This is an all ages show that starts early (5:30), and both floor seating and balcony standing seats are still available for $40.50 and $65 (gold seating is sold out). There’s any excellent new interview with Yngwie done by Jim Fusilli titled “A Guitar God Among Men” at the Wall Street Journal (behind their paywall). Speaking with his usual candor, Yngwie slams his time with Steeler:

“He arrived in Los Angeles in 1983, recruited by a producer who placed him in a group that was beneath his talents. ‘It was the most banal band I could be with, but I wanted to be on a piece of vinyl,’ Mr. Malmsteen said.”

San Franciscan black metal band Deafheaven plays a SOLD OUT show tonight at the Triple Rock Social Club with Pallbearer and Wreck And Reference. Doors are at 8:00.

This rest of the week is relatively quiet. On Friday, June 27, Portland’s Raw Nerves, Much Worse, P.A.W.N., and Marrow play a free show at the Hexagon Bar in Minneapolis (21+, 10:00 show), and Oblivion, Bongonya, and Drug Budget also have a free show at the Red Carpet Keller Bar in St. Cloud (21+, 9:00 doors).

Mick in the hospital wearing a Y&T shirt! (Photo from Mick’s YouCaring page – click to donate!)

The Benefit For Mickster event for Metal Witch, Maiden Mpls., and Eternal Voyager guitarist Mick Dougherty takes place Saturday, June 28 at Pov’s 65 in Spring Lake Park. Mick is recovering from renal cancer that necessitated removal of a kidney, and he needs help with massive medical bills. The benefit show is only a $10 donation, and you can also make donations online through YouCaring. All ages are free to attend from 3–6 for a silent auction, games for kids, and the chance at door prizes, while an 18 and over crowd can stick around for the bands starting at 9:00, including Hollowstone, Jokers N Thieves, Electric Eye, Cold Colours, Maiden Mpls., and The Goodbars.

Mick playing with Eternal Voyager on September 29, 2011 at Station 4 in St. Paul opening for Cage. Click on the picture to see more photos of Eternal Voyager (17).

Hollowstone performing April 27, 2013 at Station 4 in St. Paul opening for Sanctuary. Click on the picture to see more photos of Hollowstone (32).

A little bit south of the metro area, the What’s Up Lounge in Mankato has a brutal night of death metal and grind with Ambassador Gun, Glutton For Punishment, Human Bashing, Cantharone, Exmordium, and The Rising Plague. It’s $10 at the door, and is a 21+ show that starts at 10:00.

Concert Review: WAYNE STATIC, AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE, SMILE EMPTY SOUL, and THIRA in Minneapolis

Wayne Static, American Head Charge, Smile Empty Soul, Thira

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Skyway Theatre, Minneapolis, MN

Click on any of the photos to see more live pictures of the respective band on my Flickr site.

About 20 bands had been playing since early afternoon in the main theater and the smaller Studio B room at the Skyway, and I arrived just as Blue Felix left the stage. The time between sets was very short, so I reluctantly stayed in the theater and missed all of the performances in Studio B. This was my first time seeing local industrial metal band Thira, and the horrendous sound made it a disappointing experience. The band was tearing it up on stage, but unfortunately the muddy sound left Thira’s music an indecipherable mess.

Surprisingly, the crowd was slow to warm up to rock radio favorites Smile Empty Soul. Leading off their 30 minute set with “Black And Blue” from their new album Chemicals, the band mixed up some album cuts with a few of their many singles. After playing “Don’t Ever Leave” and “Faker”, the audience finally came to life midway through the show for “Silhouettes”. “False Alarm” and “Bottom Of A Bottle” were well-received before “Hard Biter” closed the set. Original bassist Ryan Martin is staying off the road due to the expected arrival of he and his wife’s first child this summer, so Phil Lipscomb from Taproot filled in and seemed like a natural fit for the band. Guitarist/vocalist Sean Danielsen was stuck by the mic stand for most of the show, but he managed to step back at times while ripping out some solos. Despite the slow start, Smile Empty Soul managed to put on a great show that was far too short.

I hadn’t seen local favorites American Head Charge since their release show for The War Of Art at First Avenue in 2001, and tonight left me with a far more favorable impression of the band. They came out like they had something to prove to the 2,000+ strong crowd, and one couldn’t help but be impressed. Yes, this was a hometown crowd, but the audience went nuts throughout the entire nine-song, hour-long show from the moment the band took the stage and launched into “A Violent Reaction”. Nearly the entire set was drawn from The War Of Art and last year’s Shoot EP; “Pledge Allegiance” from The Feeding was the only exception. Guitarist Ted Hallows was having what appeared to be major technical problems and the band forged on without him until he finally emerged from behind the backline to play late in the show. A frustratingly long time was taken between songs, often to do silly things like handing the remaining sandwiches from catering out into the crowd. Despite the problems, American Head Charge was the highlight of the night. Former guitarist Benji Helbert even came out to play “Seamless”, while guitarist Karma Cheema took a dive into the crowd and got into a scuffle with security (I previously wrote out this here in some detail, and I now have some video footage of the incident that I’ll be posting). American Head Charge is sounding better than they ever have, and they proved to be a difficult act to follow.

Former Static-X frontman Wayne Static closed the show, and playing after American Head Charge’s home crowd proved to be difficult. Wayne’s band is effectively an all-new version of Static-X in all but name only, and the band’s signature flaming X logo was even used on stage props and banners (and notice the larger, more prominent color Static-X logo on the flyer). This tour was to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the ground-breaking and much-beloved Wisconsin Death Trip album, but the performance of the album seemed flat and uninspired. Having seen the original band play most of these songs many times, going back to tours before the album was even released, tonight’s show just couldn’t match those early tours. The crowd didn’t seem to notice, however, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. A few songs were played after running through Wisconsin Death Trip in its entirety, the best being “Assassins Of Youth” from Wayne’s Pighammer solo album. I hate being so negative because this really wasn’t a bad show, but it’s difficult to shed past memories of how great Static-X used to be and this just didn’t live up to that standard.

Concert Announcements - June 20, 2014

A benefit show for Metal Witch, Maiden Mpls, and Eternal Voyager guitarist Mickster (Mick Dougherty) has been arranged for Saturday, June 28 at Pov’s 65 in Spring Lake Park. Following removal of a kidney after a renal cancer diagnosis in April, Mickster needs help with large medical bills. Visit the YouCaring fundraising site established for Mickster to make a donation towards the $100,000 goal. The benefit show has a $10 donation, and bands playing include Hollowstone, Jokers N Thieves, Maiden Mpls, Electric Eye, Cold Colours, and The Goodbars. There will also be a silent auction, games for kids, and door prizes earlier in the afternoon.

Twin Cities progressive metalcore masters After The Burial have announced a one-off headlining show sandwiched between some dates supporting Killswitch Engage on Thursday, July 31 at the Cabooze in Minneapolis. This is an all ages show, and tickets go on sale through Ticketfly today, Friday, June 20 at 10:00 am. Get your tickets now before this sells out!

The Cult is back in town on Tuesday, August 5 with a show in Minneapolis at Mill City Nights. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, June 20 at 10:00 am through AXS.

A ton of local metal bands are playing at Sword Metal Fest III on Saturday, August 9 in Otsego, Minnesota. There will be two stages of music that starts at noon, and will include Malice (MN), Crusader, Dawn Of Valor, Thorhammer, 4without, Overstrike, Unity, I Am Vengeance, 32headshots, Hailfire, Outlaw Saint, Frozen By Fire, Helmonds, Ithomiid, Eternal Voyager, and A Sound Theory.

Straight Line Stitch will play the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis on Monday, August 18 with special guests Ded Volt, Cage 9, and Dead Horse Trauma. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, June 20. Visit the Fine Line site for ticket information.

On Thursday, August 21, San Diego’s The Dread Crew of Oddwood return to The Nether Bar in Minneapolis with The Langers Ball. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, June 20 at 10:00 am through AXS.

(hed)p.e. performing back in 2000.

Dope and (Hed)p.e. team up together for a show on Wednesday, September 3 in Spring Lake Park at Pov’s 65 with local support from Gabriel And The Apocalypse and Echo Effect.

Witch Mountain performing October 19, 2012 at the Turf Club in St. Paul.

Nik Turner’s Hawkwind return to the Turf Club In St. Paul on Sunday, September 21 with Witch Mountain and Hedersleben. Tickets go on sale today, Friday, June 20 at 12:00 noon through etix.

If, like me, you missed surf-punk band Agent Orange last month at the VFW Hall in Minneapolis, they return to town on Thursday, October 2 with Piñata Protest for a show at the 7th Street Entry.

Black Veil Brides and special guest to be announced will play Myth in St. Paul on Friday, October 24. Tickets are on sale now through AXS.