Email Author Erik Thompson

2010 Stories by Erik Thompson

• Midlake

  published May 19, 2010

  Midlake have never been a band in a big hurry to get where they're going, with their hushed, leisurely songs often taking a while to fully sink in... More >>

• Frightened Rabbit run wild at the Varsity

  published May 11, 2010

  Glaswegian quintet Frightened Rabbit felt quite at home at the sold-out Varsity Theater on Monday night, not only due to the blustery Scottish weather blowing through Minneapolis that day, but also th... More >>

• Frightened Rabbit

  published May 5, 2010

  Glasgow's Frightened Rabbit made music fans everywhere swoon over their stellar debut, Sing the Greys, and the equally impressive... More >>

• Shout Out Louds

  published May 5, 2010

  Stockholm's Shout Out Louds made every effort to be huge in Minneapolis, stopping here four times in 2005 while on tour for their excellent debut,... More >>

• The Besnard Lakes lay waste to the Entry

  published Apr 28, 2010

  Midway through the Besnard Lakes' thrilling set in the Entry last night, the band joked that "you're all just here because Yeasayer sold out" -- which might have been true for some people in the audie... More >>

• The Antlers and Phantogram transfix the Varsity

  published Apr 21, 2010

  Two New York bands with wildly contrasting but no less affecting sounds came through the Varsity Theater last evening, as both the Antlers and Phantogram delivered stirring sets packed with passion an... More >>

• Plants & Animals

  published April 21, 2010

  There clearly is something in the water in Montreal that keeps producing such inventive, inspired bands. You can add the expressive three-piece... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Japandroids redeem themselves with incendiary Entry set

  published Apr 12, 2010

  Japandroids stormed the sold-out 7th St. Entry Saturday night as if they had a point to prove, or more specifically, something to atone for. The Vancouver duo played an infamous show at the Turf Club ... More >>

• Shearwater set sail at the 400 Bar

  published Apr 07, 2010

  Austin, Texas five-piece (and then some) Shearwater took all of us lucky enough to be in attendance last night at the 400 Bar on a journey into the heart of music and the uplifting, invigorating power... More >>

• Vampire Weekend play crowd-pleasing set to a packed First Avenue

  published Mar 23, 2010

  You know a band has to be quite confident in their material when the drummer is sporting a jersey of the worst team in pro basketball. And, if you're Vampire Weekend, why not be self-assured; your rec... More >>

• Tapes 'n Tapes slay songs both new and old at the 7th St. Entry

  published Mar 22, 2010

  Tapes 'n Tapes had one last party to throw before heading into the Terrarium on Monday to begin working on their third LP. In a sociable but sold-out Seventh St. Entry, Tapes tore through a 17-song se... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Big Pink experiment with sound and style at First Avenue

  published Mar 19, 2010

  On their second full U.S. tour, London's The Big Pink filled yet another room at First Avenue on Thursday after selling out the 7th Street Entry back in November. This time the quartet was able to exp... More >>

• We Were Promised Jetpacks soar at the Varsity

  published Mar 10, 2010

  Glasgow's We Were Promised Jetpacks delivered a taut, combustible set at the Varsity Theater on Tuesday night, mixing in plenty of good-natured interaction with the crowd amidst their highly charged S... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Avett Brothers connect with adoring First Avenue crowd

  published Mar 08, 2010

  It didn't take very long for the Avett Brothers to thoroughly connect with the sold-out First Avenue crowd on Friday night. "Shame," the second song of their set, turned into a rousing, responsive sin... More >>

• The Avett Brothers

  published March 3, 2010

  It's been a slow but steady climb for North Carolina's the Avett Brothers, who rose from relative obscurity in recent years to attract quite a... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Retribution Gospel Choir get intense at the Triple Rock

  published Feb 22, 2010

  A sharply dressed and intensely focused Retribution Gospel Choir stormed into the Triple Rock Social Club and delivered a blistering 75-minute set that astounded the large Saturday night crowd. Playin... More >>

• Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles are in Big Trouble

  published February 10, 2010

  No matter what your thoughts are about Valentine's Day, it's pretty hard to argue that affairs of the heart have spawned some great songs over the... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Gimme Shelter unites local talent to raise money for Haiti

  published Feb 08, 2010

  There was more than just music on people's minds Saturday night at First Avenue, as they filled the club for Gimme Shelter: A Benefit for Haiti. Not only were there plenty of great local bands and int... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Current rings in five years of public radio with the help of local royalty

  published Feb 01, 2010

  It was a birthday party fit for a king, as a sold-out First Avenue was jam packed with a lively crowd gathered to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of local radio station the Current. But with an all Minn... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Bowerbirds give heartfelt performance at the Varsity

  published Jan 20, 2010

  Raleigh, North Carolina's Bowerbirds certainly couldn't have been any more pleased with their surroundings at the Varsity Theater on Tuesday night, with a large contingent of friends and family of the... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Rural Alberta Advantage draw in admirers at the Cedar

  published Jan 18, 2010

  There was a generous amount of mutual admiration on display Friday night at the sold out Cedar Cultural Center. A large, supportive crowd turned out for the Rural Alberta Advantage, and the band seeme... More >>

• The Rural Alberta Advantage

  published January 13, 2010

  Toronto (by way of—you guessed it!—rural Alberta) three-piece the Rural Alberta Advantage generated enough hype with their... More >>