Hard to believe that 2014 is almost history! It's been a busy year for me as usual. It's also been one of the most musical years of my life, having seen 32 bands play at 11 concerts across three states this year.
My concert year began in March with a show featuring MN natives American Head Charge at Bubba's Bar in Sauk Rapids, MN on a surprisingly cold day. I arrived in time to get a ticket to the show and chat a bit with AHC guitarist Ted Hallows before their soundcheck. I also got to meet fellow AHC fans from the Twin Cities and sit through about six hours of music from eight bands that night. I picked up discs from opening acts Reaping Asomodea and Righteous Vendetta at the show, just the start of this year's collection.
The next show was actually the first one I'd planned for - a roadtrip to meet friends at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Madison, WI for an acoustic Sevendust performance. I was able to gather my friends for dinner at the Tipsy Cow restaurant before the show. About two dozen of us traveled from five states to join in good food and conversation before the show. The show itself was incredible - the guys really translated the new and newly reworked songs from their new album Time Travelers and Bonfires into acoustic masterpieces! Although the evening was filled with memorable moments, my favorite has to be at the end of my conversation with frontman Lajon Witherspoon, who looked at me, put his hand on my shoulder and said "You're family, bro!" That was one of the highest compliments I've ever received! I walked away from that show with one of Clint Lowery's guitar picks and deepened friendships with some amazing people.
Show #3 was at a tiny venue called Pov's in Spring Lake Park, MN. I'd gotten to be friends with members of the Wichita, Kansas-based rock group KingShifter. I promised I'd catch their show whenever they made it to Minnesota, and sure enough they made it here in May! I got to the venue in time to help the guys in KingShifter load some of their gear into the building, so I kinda felt like a roadie for a day, which is pretty cool! The band was sandwiched between local groups Smiling Politely and Matrekis, which made for a fun show despite the low turnout on a Wednesday evening. I left for home that night with a couple of guitar picks, a KingShifter info card, sticker and album download card, ready for more live music!
The next show was back at Pov's for Sevendust's only Minnesota date on their acoustic tour. I got to the venue early again, in time to be interviewed by the band's videographer and chat with guitarist/singer John Connolly, bassist Vince "The Boss" Hornsby, former Sevendust manager "Big Red" and touring keyboardist/Architekt Studios co-founder Kurt Wubbenhorst before the show. The show was another great experience with friends. I walked away with a couple more guitar picks, one of the drumsticks used during the show that drummer Morgan Rose personally handed to me after the show (one of my friends I met at the show got the other drumstick), and of course lots of great photos and memories!
I didn't get to another show until August, when I was offered free tickets for the Buckcherry concert at Mill City Nights in downtown Minneapolis. I got to the show on a warm Thursday evening in time to catch the pair of opening acts and plenty of new and classic Buckcherry tracks. I didn't stick around long after the show, knowing I was going back to Pov's the next night to see 10 Years headline what was another great show! I got to chat with guitarist "Tater" Johnson and lead singer Jesse Hasek before the show. It was another impressive evening of five bands for not a lot of money. I was able to chat with openers Crobot after the show, get a photo with Hasek and have him sign one of their older discs before heading home to relax and recuperate before my next concert.
The following Monday, I made the drive to The Venue in Fargo, ND for an electric Sevendust show. I'd gotten an email saying the VIP experience was going to be in the afternoon before the show, so I made it there in time to chat with the guys and have pizza with them, have them sign a few items and even get a Sevendust sharpie from Vinny and take a selfie with John. I went back to my hotel room to unwind and then returned to The Venue in time to hear of Robin Williams' passing. Lajon mentioned the band had met Robin when entertaining the troops overseas several years back and dedicated the song "Karma" to him. I walked away from that show with more of John and Vinny's guitar picks, another one of Morgan's drumsticks, an autographed ticket from Gemini Syndrome's bassist AP Paveri, a Gemini Syndrome stamp on my arm from their drummer Brian Steele Medina and of course some good memories of a night spent rocking with friends.
My first September show was at the Myth in Maplewood, MN. Right off the freeway near St. Paul, it's a venue I've been to shows at every first weekend in September for the last three years. I splurged on the VIP experience and got to meet and get autographs from openers Black Stone Cherry and headliners Theory of a Deadman. I also received a Theory can koozie, vinyl copy of their new album Savages and got to connect with a friend who was photographing the show.
The next weekend, I left during the Vikings game in time to make it to the Fine Line Music Cafe in downtown Minneapolis for the Nonpoint concert. Another small venue, I stood in front of their bassist Adam Woloszyn the entire night and had a great time enjoying the music and meeting friends and fellow Nonpoint fans. I grabbed a drumstick during Righteous Vendetta's set that rolled right to me and Adam put one of his guitar picks in my hand at the end of their set. Although their new album The Return wasn't out yet, I did buy an older album in time to turn around and have drummer Robb Rivera and lead singer Elias Soriano sign it for me. I also bought an EP from openers Letters From the Fire, and got a couple of signatures on it too before calling it a night.
I didn't get to another show until the annual Floydian Slip show at the Paramount Theatre in downtown St. Cloud. Local cover band The Fabulous Armadillos put on a theatrical concert in two acts: the first half is Dark Side of the Moon played from beginning to end, and the second half features selections from The Wall and other Floyd classics. I was able to grab a few Armadillos' play dollar bills during the song "Money" and congratulated guitarist Paul "Stretch" Diethelm, a local axe legend, on another great show on my way out.
Winter and work kept me busy until last night, when I was able to get back to the Red Carpet Nightclub after several years for the Melismatics and Soul Asylum. This was my first time in the front row of a Soul Asylum show, and I was glad to see frontman Dave Pirner still has the same energy and humor that I've seen at their shows since 2002. I grabbed a setlist that was right in front of me and bought a Melismatics CD (with a bumper sticker) thrown in before saying hello to friends on my way home.
I haven't been to this many shows in a year in a long time - it's pretty amazing that I was able to see 32 bands this year and talk to members of at least half of them at the shows. Looking forward to at least three more shows on the calendar in 2015. Hope to see some of you enjoying live music with me next year!
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