The Root of All Evil Memorial Metal Massacre

Benefit names don't get any better than this. Earl Root was the gold standard of individuality, and his memory deserves a hundred nights of music like this. It was an overwhelmingly sad day for the large music community of Minneapolis when the host of KFAI's long-running Root of All Evil show and all around metal-scene godfather, Earl Root, passed away after a lengthy battle with Hodgkin's in May. So, in Root's honor, First Avenue is to be completely overtaken by hordes of metal fans and metal bands from early afternoon to bar close, just like it should be—filling the 7th St. Entry and Mainroom with bands such as Impaler and Roots' own former band Aesma Daeva. The lineup promises a night abounding in devil horns, remembrances, and, most of all, the battle cry for all those who love the genre like Root himself did: "METAAAAAAAAAL!!!" No matter how somber such a fondly remembered man's passing can be, chances are this show will be anything but. With Missing Man Formation, Cold Colours, Demonicon, many more. All ages (18+ after 9:30 p.m.).
Fri., Aug. 29, 4:30 p.m., 2008