Email Author Erik Thompson

2011 Stories by Erik Thompson

• Bill Callahan at the Cedar Cultural Center, 07/01/11

  published Jul 05, 2011

  Bill CallahanJuly 1, 2011Cedar Cultural CenterAs storms raged outside the Cedar Cultural Center on Friday night, Bill Callahan settled everyone's nerves inside the venue with a deeply moving, 100-mi... More >>

• The Black Keys

  published June 29, 2011

  The Black Keys have blown up. They have gone from a band that had trouble filling up the Entry back in the day, to consistently packing First... More >>

• Eddie Vedder

  published June 29, 2011

  The year 2011 is shaping up to be quite a memorable one for Pearl Jam. They are celebrating their 20th anniversary in the music biz with a... More >>

• Dan Israel (CD-release)

  published June 29, 2011

  Dan Israel has quietly made quite a music career for himself, one filled with honest, affecting songwriting that equally captures both the... More >>

• Florence + the Machine at the Minnesota Zoo, 06/17/2011

  published Jun 20, 2011

  Florence + the MachineJune 17, 2011Minnesota ZooIt turned out that Florence + the Machine were well worth the wait. Nearly two years after the release of her highly acclaimed debut, Lungs, Florence We... More >>

• Florence & the Machine

  published June 15, 2011

  Florence and the Machine finally make their long-awaited live debut in Minnesota at the comfortable outdoor confines of the Minnesota Zoo. While... More >>

• Les Paul would be 96 today, and his legacy lives on

  published Jun 09, 2011

  True music fans should take a moment today to celebrate the birthday of Les Paul. The pioneering guitar virtuoso would have been 96 years old today, and without his forward thinking and technical expe... More >>

• Gruff Rhys and Y Niwl at the Triple Rock, 6/8/11

  published Jun 09, 2011

  Gruff Rhys and Y NiwlJune 8, 2011Triple Rock Social ClubWith all of the forlorn, self-seriousness pervading much of the modern music landscape these days, it was truly a treat to witness the jocular, ... More >>

• Gruff Rhys

  published June 8, 2011

  Charismatic Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys has made a career out of keeping people guessing. Just when critics and fans alike think that... More >>

• James 'Jimmy Jam' Harris turns 52 today

  published Jun 06, 2011

  Happy 52nd birthday to one of the true luminaries of the Minneapolis music scene, James "Jimmy Jam" Harris. He, along with his high-school friend Terry Lewis, helped shape the sound of the Twin Cities... More >>

• Raphael Saadiq at the Cabooze, 06/04/11

  published Jun 06, 2011

  Raphael SaadiqJune 4, 2011The CaboozeOn an absolutely gorgeous Saturday night in Minneapolis, I'm sure there were quite a few concertgoers disappointed that Raphael Saadiq's show at the Cabooze was mo... More >>

• Glasvegas at the Fine Line, 6/1/2011

  published Jun 02, 2011

  GlasvegasJune 1, 2011Fine Line Music CafeNear the end of Glasvegas' stirring performance at the Fine Line Wednesday night, frontman James Allan somewhat jokingly stated, "Thanks for your patience whil... More >>

• Arctic Monkeys and the Vaccines at First Avenue, 5/28/2011

  published May 31, 2011

  Arctic Monkeys and the VaccinesMay 28, 2011First AvenueTouring for an album that hasn't been released yet is typically quite a challenge for a band. They run the risk of the crowd standing there obliv... More >>

• Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit and Caitlin Rose at the Entry, 05/24/2011

  published May 25, 2011

  Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit and Caitlin RoseMay 24, 20117th St. EntryWhat a difference nearly three years have made on Johnny Flynn's popularity in Minneapolis. After his first local headlining ... More >>

• The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Twin Shadow at the Triple Rock, 4/25/11

  published Apr 26, 2011

  The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart/Twin ShadowApril 25, 2011Triple Rock Social ClubTwo hotly tipped young bands both made their Minneapolis debuts at the sold-out Triple Rock on Monday night, as the Pai... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Duran Duran at Epic, 04/22/11

  published Apr 25, 2011

  Duran DuranApril 22, 2011Epic, MinneapolisDuran Duran turned the sold-out Epic nightclub into a decidedly retro '80s party palace on Friday night, delighting their maturing but still passionate fans w... More >>

• TV on the Radio

  published April 20, 2011

  TV on the Radio have put a positive spin on our dark times on their splendid new record, Nine Types of Light, and their current U.S. tour... More >>

• Low at First Avenue, 4/16/11

  published Apr 18, 2011

  LowApril 16, 2011First Avenue, MinneapolisAfter seeing Retribution Gospel Choir perform a handful of times over the last couple of years, I was quite excited for Alan Sparhawk's return to the First Av... More >>

• Low

  published April 13, 2011

  Even as larger and larger audiences embrace Low, they will always be a beloved Minnesota band—and no matter how far they travel, the... More >>

• String Theory Music Festival

  published April 6, 2011

  Here's where the strings come in, indeed. With eight concerts spread over six different venues, the expansive String Theory Music Festival rolls... More >>

• The Raveonettes at the Fine Line, 04/07/11

  published Apr 08, 2011

  The Raveonettes and TamarynApril 7, 2011Fine Line, MinneapolisGoing into the Raveonettes set at the Fine Line on Thursday night, I was concerned that the show would be overshadowed by the incendiary ... More >>

• Bright Eyes and Titus Andronicus at First Avenue, 4/4/11

  published Apr 05, 2011

  Bright Eyes and Titus AndronicusApril 4, 2010First Avenue, MinneapolisConor Oberst has always seemed quite comfortable on the First Avenue stage. Monday night proved to be no exception, as Oberst, bac... More >>

• Toro Y Moi and Braids at the Entry, 04/03/11

  published Apr 04, 2011

  Toro Y Moi and BraidsApril 3, 20117th Street EntryThe 7th St. Entry was again filled to capacity on Sunday night, as the appeal of a double-bill featuring Toro Y Moi and Braids proved to be too much t... More >>

• J Mascis and Kurt Vile and the Violators at the Entry, 4/2/11

  published Apr 04, 2011

  J Mascis and Kurt Vile and the ViolatorsApril 2, 20117th Street EntryTwo guitar virtuosos descended upon the sold-out 7th Street Entry on Saturday night, as both J Mascis and Kurt Vile delivered stirr... More >>

• Volcano Choir at the Cedar Cultural Center, 3/25/11

  published Mar 28, 2011

  Volcano ChoirMarch 25, 2011Cedar Cultural CenterIn the occasionally hyper-competitive climate of the indie rock world, claiming that you were the first of your friends to discover a band, or that you ... More >>