MUSIC REVIEW | An evening with Jesse Cook at the Pantages Theatre

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When flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook appeared on stage at the historic Pantages Theatre Saturday, May 3rd, he acted surprised at the sizable crowd as he jokingly commented, “Are you all sure you came to the right show?” Although his culturally rich blend of instrumental music is not main-stream, it is plenty well known to fans of Smooth Jazz, Nuevo Flamenco and World music. It can be challenging for a band with no singer to keep an audience interested, however Cook has cleverly crafted an entertaining live show to combat that. One of the key components is his cast of versatile players who switch off between multiple instruments interacting with each other at different parts of the stage, clearly having fun as they feed of each other’s creativity. It’s infectious! The performance began with percussion driven melodies that inspired the listeners to clap along creating a mood that would in Cook’s master plan ultimately build into what he refers to as a Rumba Party. Switching things up early, the band sat in chairs at the edge of the stage and performed in a more acoustic style that enabled them to connect with the people in the front rows. Continue Reading

MUSIC REVIEW | Rick Springfield’s “Stripped Down Tour” at the Pantages Theatre

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The first thing most people associate the name Rick Springfield with is his seemingly timeless 1981 chart topping hit “Jessie’s Girl.” On the other hand, many of his adoring female fans were first drawn to his character Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital. Together, these two accomplishments enabled Springfield to springboard into a substantial entertainment career lasting more than 30 years including 11 studio albums, various acting roles and a best-selling autobiography.Still relevant in 2014, Springfield made a March 23rd appearance at the Pantages Theatre in downtown Minneapolis as part of his “Stripped Down Tour,” his first attempt at a solo acoustic set in the Storytellers format. Of the Hennepin Avenue theatres, the Pantages certainly has the most intimate feel—making it a perfect fit for this show. Although the stage setup was minimal, it still had a classy look with a mix of fancy guitars creating a colorful backdrop for a bar stool, microphone and laptop. You could feel anticipation in the air as the crowd of mostly women was busy talking about their obsession with the artist while also busy grabbing cocktails and taking selfies by the marquee and in front of the stage.Fans expressed their excitement as Rick Springfield appeared on stage in a stylish suit truly looking half his age and fittingly launched into “I Get Excited.” Although it was clear the motivation for some in attendance was Springfield’s good looks, most where longtime fans as was evident while they not only sang along, but knew all the words. Continue Reading

MUSIC PHOTOS | Imagine Dragons still rising at the Xcel Energy Center

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It’s been quite a ride for Las Vegas band Imagine Dragons who returned to the Twin Cities March 12th as headliners at the Xcel Energy Center. Just one short year ago they were playing the Varsity Theater as their breakthrough debut album was just starting to blowup across the nation. Although it’s been non-stop for them ever since, they still performed with the same great intensity that has been the backbone of their dramatic assent to the top. The one album wonder brought along worthy supporting acts The Naked and Famous and Nico Vega to help round out a solid night of entertainment.Coverage of issues and events that affect Central Corridor neighborhoods and communities is funded in part by a grant from Central Corridor Funders Collaborative. Continue Reading

PHOTOS | The 41st Annual Twin Cities Auto Show

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This year more than ever, we are desperate for any positive signs of spring. Groundhog Day was a step in the wrong direction, daylight savings time just took back and hour of valuable sleep, but you can keep dreaming while you’re awake at the 2014 Auto Show.Whether you’re a car enthusiast or actually shopping for that new ride, your eyes will light up like a kid in a candy store as you walk through the convention center doors. It’s so much more fun than trudging through snow covered lots, and all makes plus the newest models are right there for you under one roof. You’ll love not having to ask for keys so you can sit in the driver’s seat and take a look under the hood.Never been to a car show and wonder if it’s worth checking out?  With an estimated $15 million in new vehicles, this is the largest consumer show in Minnesota with approximately 450 new models spread out over 400,000 square feet of showroom. There’s literally something to satisfy every preference whether you like sports cars, big trucks, sporty crossovers, luxury SUV’s or just prefer to browse a classic car display. Continue Reading

MUSIC PHOTOS | Lady Antebellum make a triumphant return to the Target Center

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It’s always exciting when you score some great seats to see one of your favorite bands, but it can easily slip from your mind when it’s scheduled months out. When that day does finally come, there seems to be an extra degree of gratification as that original feeling of excitement returns. Lady Antebellum’s return to the Target Center Friday, February 7th seemed to have that extra bit of anticipation considering it was originally scheduled for early last December. It came as no surprise to the bands eager fans that the wait was worthwhile. Lady A managed to up their entertainment value as they’ve continued to blow up the Country Music charts. Continue Reading

MUSIC REVIEW | Panic! at the Disco at the Skyway Theatre return to Minneapolis at their best

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Pop / Rock band “Panic! at the Disco” (PATD) has been away from the music scene since 2010 while they were focusing on creating their latest masterpiece Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! Naturally, this has left their loyal following in a “panic” with great anticipation for their January 21st return to Minneapolis – a completely sold-out show at the Skyway Theatre, presented by KDWB.It didn’t seem to matter that temperatures outside were below zero as some lucky ticketholders were lined up outside for hours to ensure they’d get a front spot. The crowd thawed out as the supporting acts X Ambassadors and The Colourist cranked out solid sets and were a good fit for this show. Those in attendance were mostly on the young side, but were full of enthusiasm, which helped elevate the energy of the overall performance. Continue Reading

MUSIC PHOTOS | KDWB’s Jingle Ball ignites holiday spirit at the Xcel Energy Center

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Every year people count on KDWB’s Jingle Ball to be that fun party to ignite their holiday spirit. They pulled it off again bigger and better December 10th at Xcel Energy Center where there was a little something for all ages and music preferences. You’ve got to respect and appreciate the radio giant’s ability to take a nice sampling of styles from their mammoth playlist and come up with a solid lineup that caters to their diverse listener base.For starters, it doesn’t hurt to be able to anchor the event with a name unfamiliar to none as of late, Miley Cyrus. Even better to have Robin Thicke on board since he was front and center for some of her media controversy this year. The most entertaining set was served up by Flo Rida, but no one could equal the screams that accompanied breakout artist Austin Mahone’s offering. Continue Reading

MUSIC REVIEW | Michael Bolton shows his range at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center

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If you’re big enough to admit to enjoying soft rock ballads, than you probably have a least a couple Michael Bolton songs in your iTunes library. Surely best known for his recognizable singing voice, Bolton’s songwriting is actually what put him on the map in the early 80s and he has managed to stay very busy and relevant for more than three decades. The product of this significant career was on display Tuesday, December 3rd as longtime fans of the artist filled the Burnsville Performing Arts Center for nearly two hours of music rich entertainment. This newer suburban theater was an excellent fit for the show, having an intimate feel for its size with nice stadium seating and exceptional acoustics.The audience was enthusiastic as Bolton opened the show with the title track from his 1989 career changing album Soul Provider. The song proved to be a good introduction to his touring band’s exceptional skill with particular focus on a hometown sax player and some big sustained notes mixed in enabling Bolton to warm up his pipes. Continue Reading

MUSIC PHOTOS | John Mayer reinvented at the Target Center

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Fans celebrated the long overdue return of John Mayer to the Twin Cities as the “Born and Raised World Tour 2013” made a stop at the Target Center on Saturday, November 23rd. Obviously Mayer is not content with sticking to any one specific style as this performance again had a different look and feel from what we’ve seen from him in the past. After disappearing from the scene for a while to recover from throat surgery, the now Montana resident had a new sense of calm about him. The stage set reflected his proclaimed new appreciation of the outdoors with a giant video backdrop creating the illusion of the band performing in various scenic settings. Mayer’s vocal sounded good as ever and he has no problem serving up some wow factor on a Stratocaster.The eclectic set flowed nicely between the different styles Mayer has explored starting with the newer “Queen of California.” He sprinkled in some of his best known tunes including “Belief,” “Neon,” “Waiting for the World to Change,” but shied away from some of his biggest Pop hits. Continue Reading

MUSIC PHOTOS | Elton John plays a legendary show at the Xcel Energy Center

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Legendary musician Elton John showed a capacity crowd at the Xcel Energy Center Friday, November 22nd how some things really do improve with age. The iconic performer was full of life and really appeared to be enjoying the night. He looked sharp in a long blue suit coat bedazzled with the title of his fourth studio album from 1971 “Madman across the Water.” Elton John has that not-so-bad problem of simply having too much good material to pick from and got right down to business for what would be more than 2 ½ straight hours of timeless hits. With the first couple selections being epic songs like “Bennie and the Jets,” “Candle in the Wind” and “Levon,” the audience knew right away they were in for a memorable night. Elton only took out time to talk before a couple songs, the most touching being a fan dedication before “Don’t Let the Sun go Down on Me.” Occasionally, he got out from behind the piano to acknowledge the crowds appreciation walking the whole stage connecting with individuals by pointing to them. Continue Reading