Minnesota Twins 2014 Season in Review

Well, another Minnesota Twins season is in the books, and for those of us diehard fans, it was largely one to forget. I was a little surprised with today's news that the entire coaching staff was dismissed today, but not that manager Ron Gardenhire himself was let go. After four consecutive 90-loss seasons, enough was enough.

This year's team actually won 70 games for the first time since Target Field's inaugural campaign in 2010, but they still have a lot of holes to patch up. Here's my view of the positives and negatives from this season:

Positives:
1. The Twins had a pair of 20 home run hitters in 2B Brian Dozier (.245 AVG, 23 HR, 71 RBI, 21 SB in 156 games) and OF Oswaldo Arcia (.231, 20 HR, 57 RBI in 103 games) for the first time in several seasons.

2. I was impressed by the play of rookies Kennys Vargas (.274, 9 HR, 38 RBI in 53 games at first base & designated hitter) and centerfielder/shortstop Danny Santana (.319, 7 HR, 40 RBI, 20 SB in 101 games). I went to a pair of games this year, and Santana tripled in each of those games! He has good range in the infield and outfield as well.

3. Shaky as it was, the Twins' starting rotation was led by former Yankee Phil Hughes (16-10, 3.52 ERA in 32 starts) and Kyle Gibson in his first full season in the majors (13-12, 4.47 ERA in 31 starts).

Negatives:
1. The rest of the pitching staff was atrocious at times, highlighted by Kevin Correia (5-13, 4.94 ERA in 23 starts before being traded to the Dodgers), free agent newcomer Ricky Nolasco (6-12, 5.38 ERA in 27 starts), former Oakland Athletic Tommy Milone (0-1, 7.06 ERA in 6 games) and highly touted rookie Trevor May (3-6, 7.88 ERA in 10 games). The Twins pitchers had the 2nd worst staff only to the Houston Astros in the American League this year, not something to be proud of!

2. Joe Mauer's first full season in the infield was OK (.277 AVG, 4 HR, 55 RBI and 96 strikeouts in 120 games), but not up to the caliber we're used to seeing, especially for a corner infield position we've traditionally seen players like Justin Morneau and Kent Hrbek among others man with more power in their bats. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe had a decent year (.258,14 HR, 80 RBI and 40 doubles in 136 games with 14 errors in the field), but again not the kind of year we Twins fans are used to seeing, especially with memories of veterans like power hitting third basemen Harmon Killebrew, Gary Gaetti and Corey Koskie floating in our heads.

3. The Twins brought in former teammates Jason Bartlett (infield), Jason Kubel (outfield) and relief pitcher Matt Guerrier to try and generate more fan interest while also mentoring the younger players on the team. Sadly, none of these players lasted with the team into August, nor were any of them on a major league roster at the end of the year. Other veterans like DH/1B Kendry Morales (.234, 1 HR, 18 RBI in 39 games before being traded to Seattle) and fan favorite OF/DH Josh Willingham (.210, 12 HR, 34 RBI in 68 games before being traded to Kansas City) clearly showed diminished skills for the Twins this year.

Gardenhire and his pitching coach Rick Anderson caught a lot of flack the last few years. Gardenhire was a Tom Kelly disciple, but in the last few seasons the "pitch to contact" philosophy and Gardy's loyalty to scrappy utility infielders like Nick Punto and Alexi Casilla were just some of the many reasons why attendance at the beautiful Target Field has lagged recently.

Hosting the All-Star Game this year was a big draw of course, but I'm hoping the coaching shakeup will wake up the players, young and old. Otherwise, if things continue on this pace, the Twins' marketing department will have to come up with some very clever and effective campaigns to keep the fan base interested. I've been a Twins fan since 1986, but even the most loyal, diehard fans get tired of losing constantly.

Well, that's all for now, folks. My next post will be after the Fabulous Armadillos' Pink Floyd tribute show this weekend, my 10th rock concert of 2014! Until then, have a great week, everyone!

Nonpoint Live at the Fine Line

Feeling a little tired but happy today after another great rock show last night! My ninth rock show of 2014 featured Nonpoint and 4 opening bands at the tiny venue the Fine Line Music Cafe in downtown Minneapolis on a serene Sunday night. This was my first time seeing Nonpoint as a headliner, and they're quickly becoming a band I'm really enjoying getting to know more and more about lately.

I got down to the Cities in time to walk around outside an empty Target Field (the Minnesota Twins were on the road in Chicago) and snap a few photos of statues around the stadium before stopping in the nearby Hubert's Sports Bar and Grill for a burger and fries. I saw several people in the bar sporting Vikings and Packers jerseys as I settled down for my supper in front of a large flatscreen TV showing the Packers-Jets football game. I knew the Vikings had lost earlier, so I tuned into the Green Bay game, also watching the play of Jets receiver Eric Decker, a kid from my hometown.

Not long after the Jets lost the lead and Decker was sidelined by a hamstring injury, I decided to head over the concert venue, which was just three blocks down. Shortly after 7 p.m. the doors opened, and I made my way to the front of the stage, where I met a few fellow metalheads and my buddy Jeff, who I'd hung out with at a couple of Sevendust acoustic shows earlier this year.

At 7:30 p.m. locals Cold Kingdom took the stage to begin the show. I thought they did a good job of entertaining the crowd, playing well for what was only their third gig ever. The lead singer, a sly blue-haired gal, kept the crowd with her antics during the night as well.

The next act, MN natives Smiling Politely was one I'd seen before in May at Pov's in Spring Lake Park. They had a shorter set than Cold Kingdom, but they kept the energy going. Third opener, California based Letters From the Fire, brought the energy level up, despite having a few technical problems early in their set. By the time they finished their set with a metal cover of the Beatles' hit "Eleanor Rigby," the growing crowd was eagerly anticipating more rock!

The final opening act, Cody, Wyoming natives Righteous Vendetta was another band I was familiar with, having seen them open for American Head Charge in March. I'd also bought their full-length album and had the guys in the band sign it at the show, so I knew to expect some good energy on stage. I got to interact with the lead singer a bit during their songs, and caught a drumstick that rolled my way.

At about 10:30 p.m., Nonpoint hit the stage, launching into their new single "Breaking Skin" from their upcoming studio album The Return. Being at the front of the stage, I saw a copy of their set list before they entered, so I knew we were in for over a dozen great heavy songs!

I didn't know a lot about Nonpoint before seeing them live for the first time with Megadeth and Fear Factory at the Myth in Maplewood last November, but thanks to social media and recommendations from friends, I've been learning and getting to enjoy their music as time has gone on. It was great hearing classics like "What a Day," "Left for You" and their great cover of Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight." Drummer Robb "El Martillo" Rivera, vocalist Elias Soriano and guitarists Rasheed Thomas and BC Kochmit kept the momentum going all night, never stopping for a rest, except to switch out guitars briefly. I was standing in front of their bass guitarist Adam Woloszyn the entire time Nonpoint was onstage, and he put one of his guitar picks in my hand after they ended their blistering set with the fan favorite "Bullet With a Name."

After the show, I caught up with my friends, and wandered over to the merch tables. I bought an EP by Letters From the Fire, and turned to the next table to buy a Nonpoint CD when I found Elias standing right next to me! I chatted with him a bit and got him to sign my CD. After talking to Elias, I soon found Robb behind me as well! I talked with him about his playful gestures while drumming and got to thank him for a great show as he also signed my CD.

I got home in the wee hours of the morning today, tired of course but feeling energetic after another terrific show. I posted my photo of the setlist in a Nonpoint group on Facebook, and it ended up being posted on Nonpoint's Facebook page, where over 2,100 people have liked it so far! That made me feel very happy and humbled simultaneously. Nonpoint reminds me a lot of Sevendust: they're great bands that make great music and are very accessible and generous to their fans. This was just the 2nd date of their tour, so if they're going to be in your area, I'd definitely recommend checking them out. I'd also recommend picking up a copy of their new album The Return when it hits stores on September 30th.

Well, that's all for now. Think it's time for me to take a rest and think about what my 10th concert this year might be. Until next time, have a great week, everyone!

September Songs at the Myth

Well, it's the first weekend in September, which lately has meant that I've been to the Myth in Maplewood, MN for another great rock concert! Yesterday's show featured Black Stone Cherry and Theory of a Deadman for rock station 93X's X-Girls promotion kickoff.

I got to Maplewood on a perfect Saturday afternoon in time to peruse the local Half Price Books store and have a bite to eat before heading over to the concert venue. Noticing the parking lot was starting to fill up, I parked and found a spot in line where I ended up chatting with a couple of fellow concertgoers who live not far from me. I'd splurged on the VIP package for the show, so when they called for VIP'ers, I walked to the front of the line to collect my Theory can koozie and vinyl album, where I ran into an old friend who was there photographing the show.

Shortly after 7pm, us VIP'ers were led up to the third floor of the Myth Nightclub, where the X-Girls were finishing their questionnaires. Soon the guys in Theory of a Deadman and Black Stone Cherry entered the room from a side door to sign autographs, chat with us a bit and pose for group photos taken by a 93X photographer. I had fun chatting with the guys, and was even surprised that Theory guitarist Dave Brenner correctly knew how to spell my last name and how thankful BSC drummer John Fred Young was for everyone coming out to the show. 

By the time we got back downstairs, the concert floor was pretty full. I wandered over to the right-hand side of the stage. I was able to get a clear view of the first opening acts, MN natives Sin City Escape and local favorites 3 Pill Morning. Both bands did a good job of warming up the festive audience who were ready and raring to rock!

The only disappointment of the evening was the suddenly obstructed view of the stage as 93X staff and X-Girls started filling up the area in front of the right-hand rail. I took as many photos as I could for the rest of the evening, and had to lean over a bit the rest of the night to see the bands, but the music was great! Black Stone Cherry took the stage launching into the title cut from their new album Magic Mountain. This was my third time seeing these southern rockers live, and they put on another awe-inspiring perfgormance! By the time they closed with their first hit single "Lonely Train," everyone in the arena was thoroughly pumped up!

After the obligatory X-Girl introductions, Theory of a Deadman soon took the stage, starting their set with the hit song "So Happy." It was good to see these guys again for the second time, as well as hearing deeper cuts like "Nothing Could Come Between Us" and "Hurricane" live for the first time.

Midway through the set, frontman Tyler Connolly, Brenner and bassist Dean Back took out stools and acoustic guitars for a short unplugged set. Kicking off with a snippet of "Sweet Home Alabama" (which Connolly turned into "Sweet Home Minnesota," after remembering the band's first MN appearance at the old Quest Nightclub in Minneapolis in 2002), they launched into a cool cover of Stone Temple Pilots' "Interstate Love Song," (a song my brother and I heard STP play live on that same stage two years earlier), "Angel" from the new album Savages, and "No Surprise."

Theory ended their regular set with the fan favorite "Hate My Life," soon ending the night with the encore song "Bad Girlfriend." It had been three years since I last saw Theory and Black Stone Cherry at the MN State Fair, so it was good to hear familiar classics along with songs from their new CDs. Another great night of great music with friends, what more could I ask for? Well that's all until next week when I blog about the Nonpoint concert at the Fine Line in Minneapolis. Have a great week, everyone!

The Loss of a Legend

Last Monday night while I was waiting inline outside of the Venue in Fargo before the Sevendust concert, I heard the news that comedian Robin Williams had passed away. At first, it seemed like just a rumor but as the minutes went by, more and more sources were confirming that he had taken his own life.

I was saddened, because I remembered enjoying his off-the-wall antics on the sitcom "Mork and Mindy," not knowing at the time that Williams was in the throes of drug addiction. I also remembered begging my mom to take me to see Wiliams in the live-action Popeye movie in 1980.

As the years went on, I grew to enjoy Robin's comedic and dramatic movie roles. He seemed like such a jovial, happy person that it was devastating to learn that he was going through depression in his final days.

If anything, Robin's tragic loss brought depression to the forefront of America's media. It's just as real an illness as cancer, heart disease, or any addiction. We all go through periods of depression or unhappiness, but how we deal with it and the help we get from others always varies.

If you know someone's who's been going through a hard time or you think may be suffering from depression, don't hesitate to help them or get them referred to a qualified professional. You never know when you might be saving a life!

Well, that's all for now, my friends - until next time, have a great week, everyone!

Lucky Sevendust Concert #13

Hey everyone,
I just got back home from my trek to Fargo, North Dakota for last night's Sevendust concert at the Venue. This was my third Sevendust concert in three different states so far this year. This was also my third concert in the last five days, and as far I'm concerned, the shows kept getting better and better!

I woke up yesterday morning and checked my email to find that the VIP meet and greet would be at 3 p.m. CST at the Venue. Good thing I had Monday and Tuesday off, I said to myself. That gave me plenty of time to make the two-plus hour drive to Fargo, have a nice lunch at the local Green Mill and drive around a bit before checking in at my hotel.

Shortly after 3 p.m., the handful of us VIP'ers were led to a side room inside the arena where the members of Sevendust soon arrived to chat, sign some items, take a few photos and have pizza with us. I was happy that I got to chat with all of the guys, and even got a Sevendust Sharpie from bass guitarist Vince Hornsby after I told him I liked the pen. I've talked to the guys enough times to be really comfortable with them, so it made for a good experience. My day was made before the show even began!

I got back to the hotel to relax for a couple of hours, noshing on a few slices of leftover pizza from  the meet and greet before returning to the Venue for the evening's show. Shortly before 7 p.m., the first opening act, Crash Midnight, took the stage to begin the concert. The Boston-based quintet ran through about five original songs and a cover of the Rolling Stones' classic "Jumping Jack Flash." They had a raw sound, and seemed like a group just starting out. One of the guitarists broke a guitar string early in the set, but played on anyway, apparently not having another guitar as a replacement.

About a half-hour later, Gemini Syndrome took the stage, launching into songs from their new album Lux. I enjoyed the energy and enthusiasm they brought to the audience, and loved frontman Aaron Nordstrom's interactions with the crowd. After their set, drummer Brian Steele Medina went through the front row stamping everyone he met with a stamp of a Gemini symbol. I'd heard nothing but good things about this band, so I was glad to finally hear them live.

I'd heard how Sevendust had a run of bad luck on Saturday, with their bus breaking down and later getting pulled over by the authorities and then later getting rained out and having some of guitarist/singer Clint's Lowery equipment damaged during a sudden rainstorm in Sturgis, South Dakota. It didn't seem to faze the band too much, however, as they launched into their electric set with the song "Pieces." Having seen the band play acoustically at their last two concerts, it was good to see them return to form with a powerful opening song.

Surprisingly, the next words I heard were drummer Morgan Rose's opening chorus to the traditional encore song "Face to Face." When these guys wanted an electric, heavy show, they weren't kidding! This song really pumped up the audience!

As I was waiting outside the Venue for the doors to open, a local rock radio station was broadcasting the news about comedian Robin Williams' passing. Frontman Lajon Witherspoon mentioned the news before the song "Karma," saying that the band had the fortune to meet Robin several years ago and commented on the good person that he was. I later found myself saying a silent prayer to Robin during the ballad "Angel's Son."

It was good to finally hear "Karma" performed electrically, and I liked how the band mixed up the set again. I loved the performances of "Strong Arm Broken" and a bruising rendition of "Decay" before they closed with the Cold Day Memory song "Splinter." After the song as the band was saying their farewells for the evening, guitarist/singer John Connolly put a couple of his guitar picks in my hands. I thanked him graciously, flashing back to the great chats I'd just had with him during the meet and greet a few hours earlier.

The only blemish on the evening was what I'd call a bit of miscommunication during the post-show VIP arrangement. Otherwise, it was another great night of great music with great friends. I'm glad I was able to share another enjoyable Sevendust concert with my friend Frank. Even though he didn't get off work in time to join in the pre-show VIP gathering, I know he enjoyed the show and we both got to talk to Lajon before heading out.

Well that's all for now friends, until next time, have a great week!

Sevendust set list:
1. Pieces
2. Face to Face
3. Till Death
4. Denial
5. Praise
6. Karma
7. Enemy
8. Got A Feeling
9. Angel's Son
10. Trust
11. Strong Arm Broken
12. Decay
Encore:
1. Splinter

10 Years and more at Pov's in Spring Lake Park

For blog post #100, I have yet another concert review: this time it's from last night's show at Pov's in Spring Lake Park, MN featuring Crobot and 10 Years.

I got down to the Cities yesterday on a gorgeous Friday afternoon. I drove by Pov's and seeing the cars already parked outside, decided to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to the show. The ticket I bought said that doors were opening at 7pm with music starting at 8pm. However, when I got in the venue, I was able to walk around a bit and even say hello to Jesse Hasek and guitarist "Tater" Johnson from the headlining band 10 Years before the first opener, Whither the Tide, began the show at a quarter to 7pm.

Mixing in pre-recorded sounds and visual images on a couple of flatscreen monitors, Whither the Tide reminded me of the band Live in their heyday. The local artists ran through a half-dozen songs before another local group, Fifth Hour, took to the small stage at Pov's. I laughed when the lead singer acknowledged that most of the group's formal attire was probably a mistake, especially on a warm August Minnesota night. They did a good job of entertaining the crowd, and I even noticed a few fans sporting their T-shirts in the audience.

The next group, Saint Ridley, was a Detroit-based harder edge metal band. They ran through seven songs before departing. It would have been nice to have chatted with them after the show, but they were heading back to Michigan for the outdoor Dirtfest event the next day.

The next act Crobot reminded me a lot of Monster Truck. Part of a resurgence of "new" classic rock, this quartet enthralled the crowd with their dozen songs of varying, unique subject matter. I was drawn to watching the lead singer seemingly hypnotize his microphone stand  that was adorned with dreamcatchers. I was also able to talk a couple of the guys after the show and congratulate them on a good show.

Shortly before 10:30 pm, 10 Years took the stage, revving up the eager audience. Frontman Jesse Hasek is a firm believer in audience participation, as he jumped into the crowd several times during their set. At one point, he jumped from the stage to the front rail barrier right next to me, sharing his microphone with the crowd, and gave me a hearty pat on the shoulder before jumping back to the stage.

I had seen 10 Years open for Sevendust at the legendary First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis a couple of years ago, and I was glad to hear some of my favorite songs like "Fix Me" and "Shoot It Out" performed last night from their 2010 album Feeding the Wolves. They even launched into a couple of impromptu cover songs during the night, feeding off the vibe from the crowd.

After the show, I got to talk to Jesse again a few times, got a photo with him and bought an older album for him to sign. No wonder these guys toured with Sevendust I thought, they're just as down to earth and humble as they are! I left Pov's last night with another happy face, glad I got to hear five great bands for not a lot of money.

Well that's all for now - next blog will be after the Gemini Syndrome/Sevendust concert in Fargo on Monday. Until then, have a great weekend, everyone!

Buckcherry at Mill City Nights

Hey blog fans, I'm back!

Been busy with work, vacation and enjoying another great Minnesota summer, so I haven't had time or content to blog about until now. Last week while I was having cable TV installed at home, I got an email from the Mill City Nights ticket service offering me free tickets to Thursday's Buckcherry concert. I didn't know about the concert until then, but it turned out to be a great kickoff to what's already been a fun weekend so far.

I got to downtown Minneapolis on Thursday night just in time to walk around a bit before the show. Shortly after 8 p.m. I made my way to the venue, finding a good vantage point on the corner of the railing closest to the stage. At 9 p.m. local rockers VIA hit the stage. They blasted through a half-dozen originals from their latest EP.

I enjoyed the sounds of VIA, but before I could try to remember all the song titles, the next group Pinwheel began their set. This group was kind of a mashup between classic rockers like Tom Petty and Bob Dylan with newer metal sounds harkening back to bands like Tool and early Alice in Chains. It was a good combination, one that left the crowd eagerly awaiting the headliner.

Before long, alternative rockers Buckcherry took the stage, starting off with the song "Lit Up" from their debut album. The group is releasing a new EP titled Fuck later this summer, so they also debuted several songs from that album - if you know the band's attitude, you can guess some of the song titles had to do with the EP's name.

I'd seen Buckcherry perform a few years ago at a casino in Walker, MN so I knew to expect an energetic, crowd-pleasing set and I was not disappointed. Before I knew it, an hour had elapsed and the band played an extended version of one of their biggest hits "Crazy Bitch." They came back for a two-song encore, capped off by the song "Too Drunk..." It was kind of amusing to see lead singer Josh Todd amble around the stage in mock drunkenness, knowing according to online articles that he's been clean and sober for several years now.

I was part of the crowd en masse departing the arena that night, happy I decided  to go to the show. For a free show, I definitely got my money's worth!