drew.kerr's blog

Soundset serves as a rare opportunity for Minnesotans to see some nationally acclaimed hip-hop artists who normally overlook this part of the country (this year's fest features Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco and Ghostface Killah). But beyond the big names, the fest also serves as a showcase for some of the more interesting, but unknown hip-hop projects percolating beneath the surface—music listeners may not know about unless they happen to be the rapper’s roommate. Read more »

Eric Church opened his Thursday night concert at the Target Center with an appropriately titled hymn – “Country Music Jesus.” But this show, part of Church’s Blood, Sweat and Beers tour, was no sanctimonious affair.

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In fact, Church’s Minneapolis show was a rather festive affair, complete with a beer keg strewn stage, flashes of red, white, and blue, and a host of working-class tunes delivered with visible passion. Read more »

When night falls, the Twin Cities unsavory characters begin to surface. Artists Bill Rebholz and Llew Mejia have taken inspiration from these characters, and committed them to canvas.

On Friday, the results will go on display at the Light Grey Art Lab in their art show, “Street Fortune.” Read more »

Fashion and politics may not be obvious relatives, but RetroRama, an annual celebration of all things retro, will focus on those fun moments in history where the two genres collided.

The May 24 event, timed to coincide with the presidential election and Minnesota History Center’s exhibit on constitutions, will feature a runway show with vintage and vintage-inspired clothing from American political movements such as prohibition and suffrage. Their will also be live music, drinks, and a station to make your own political souvenir accessories. Read more »

Like most every element of David Zambrano's Soul Project, even the viewing experience was turned on its head.

During its recent two-night stay at the Walker Art Center, there were no stadium seating or spotlights present; instead, a softly-colored club scene was inhabited by the audience, who were led from the traditional vantage point through the backstage door to crowd around the performers on stage behind the curtain, creating an unpredictably amorphous sightline.

And what did those in attendance see exactly? Read more »

There was a common greeting among audience members in the sizeable crowd at The Brick on Monday night: “I haven’t seen you since the last time Slash was in town.” It’s little surprise fans make a point to get out and see the rock hero. He never disappoints. The same was true for Monday’s performance.

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Decked out in his trademark top hat, a sleeveless black T-shirt, leather pants, and Converse sneakers, Slash showed yet again why he has become such a sought after master guitarist. Read more »

The Black Keys have graduated from the garage to the arena – and with good reason.

The Akron, Ohio band has a sound larger than their two-piece ensemble appear capable of producing on paper, and more than enough catchy tunes in their catalog to fill the Target Center, as they did on Tuesday night.

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Chris Daughtry isn’t just a singer -- he’s an entertainer. That much he showed on Monday night at The Brick, where he was met with an enthusiastic audience that filled the floor and balcony.

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Last week, German metal band Rammstein came through Minneapolis for the first time in more than a decade. An arena-filling sensation in Europe, Rammstein has gained a modest following in the United States, no small feat for a band that rarely sings a lick of English. Their show at the Target Center was a spectacle in every sense—as well as an interesting counterpoint to the type of rock music that garners mainstream success in America.

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A laser light fanned out across the room and a roar from the crowd grew as guitar hero Joe Satriani, drummer extraordinaire Kenny Aronoff and  Van Halen ex-pats Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar appeared on stage as the supergroup Chickenfoot Friday night at The Brick. 

It proved to be a frenetic performance, and a showcase of why these performers have each built such solid, storied reputations in the rock world.

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