Song of the Day: “The Christmas Song” by Alia Lene

Posted on 12/25/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Alia Lene, Christmas, Minneapolis, Song of the Day, soul.

Alia Lene sings on YouTube. (Still courtesy Erika Tooker)

Alia Lene released a special version of “The Christmas Song” recently on YouTube. The track is taken from her Christmas Miracle EP released Dec. 11 on Contra Worldwide Recordings.

Snapshots: Heart Bones @ Metro Gallery — 3/10/20

Posted on 03/16/2020 by ambienteye in Live Review and tagged A Giant Dog, dance, Har Mar Superstar, Heart Bones, Metro Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota, synthpop.

Heart Bones perform at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Katherine Gaines)

Heart Bones might be the least pretentious band in existence. They hop on stage looking like somebody’s embarrassing parents in their matching khaki shorts, and walk away sweating through their own faces on their T-shirts.

On a recent night at the Metro Gallery, Heart Bones danced to their hearts’ content.

Snapshots: Lizzo @ 9:30 Club — 5/20/19

Posted on 05/24/2019 by ambienteye in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, hip hop, Lizzo, Minneapolis, Minnesota, R&B.

(photo by Katherine Gaines / AmbientEye.com) Lizzo rules the stage at 9:30 Club on May 20, 2019. (Photo by Katherine Gaines/ AmbientEye.com)

A booty-shaking self-help seminar: The Lizzo Experience.

Snapshots: The Bad Plus @ Blues Alley — 3/11/18

Posted on 03/12/2018 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged avant-garde, Blues Alley, jazz, Minneapolis, The Bad Plus.

The Bad Plus perform at Blues Alley on March 11, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Since its outset, iconic trio The Bad Plus has dared to be different, challenging all preconceived notions of jazz. The band put that challenge to the test during the course of six shows at Blues Alley over the weekend, and Ari Strauss caught the early show on Sunday for some pictures.

Don’t Miss: The Bad Plus @ Blues Alley, 3/9, 3/10, 3/11/18

Posted on 03/06/2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged avant-garde, Blues Alley, jazz, Minneapolis, The Bad Plus.

The Bad Plus (Photo courtesy Blues Alley)

Bassist Reid Anderson and drummer David King formed jazz trio The Bad Plus in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with pianist Ethan Iverson in 2000. Ethan departed the trio after their 12th studio album, leading Reid and Dave to recruit pianist Orrin Evans. The revitalized group published a new album, Never Stop II, on Jan. 18. Now, the trio will perform at Blues Alley over three days — on Friday, March 9, Saturday, March 10, and Sunday, March 11 for two shows each day!

Snapshots: Now, Now @ 9:30 Club — 2/19/18

Posted on 02/21/2018 by paivi in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, dreampop, Minneapolis, Now Now, X Ambassadors.

KC Dalager fronts Now Now at 9:30 Club on Feb. 19, 2018. (Photo by Paivi)

Minneapolis-based dreampoppers Now, Now opened X Ambassadors at 9:30 Club on Monday, and Paivi got some pix of the band in action.

Music Park: The Purple Xperience @ Maryland Live! Center Stage — 12/7/17

Posted on 12/11/2017 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged casino, Center Stage, Maryland Live!, Minneapolis, new wave, Prince, R&B, The Purple Xperience.

The Purple Xperience performs at Maryland Live! Center Stage on Dec. 7, 2017.

Purple rain, purple rain
I only wanted to see you
Bathing in the purple rain

Well, The Purple Xperience brought the purple rain as they bathed casino-goers in their purple sound in an impressive tribute to Prince at Maryland Live! Center Stage at the casino in Hanover, Maryland, on Thursday.

Don’t Miss: The Purple Xperience @ Maryland Live! Center Stage, 12/7/17

Posted on 12/04/2017 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged casino, Center Stage, Dr. Fink, Marshall Charloff, Maryland Live!, Minneapolis, new wave, Prince, R&B, The Purple Xperience, The Revolution.

The Purple Xperience is a tribute to Prince, hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The five-man band will visit Maryland Live! Center Stage to perform the songs of Prince on Thursday, Dec. 7.

Music Park: The Revolution @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 4/27/17

Posted on 05/01/2017 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged funk, Minneapolis, neo-psychedelia, Prince, The Fillmore Silver Spring, The Revolution, Wendy & Lisa.

Wendy & Lisa perform with The Revolution at The Fillmore Silver Spring on April 27, 2017.

More than three-quarters of the way through a very full show at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Thursday, Wendy Melvoin took to the microphone to share some feelings about her former mentor and collaborator Prince.

Don’t Miss: The Revolution @ The Fillmore Silver Spring, 4/27/17

Posted on 02/23/2017 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged funk, Minneapolis, neo-psychedelia, Prince, The Fillmore Silver Spring, The Revolution.

The Revolution (Photo courtesy Live Nation)

Prince and The Revolution recorded four famous albums as a band — 1999, Around the World in a Day, Purple Rain, and Parade. The members of The Revolution eventually left the outfit in turns, and Prince of course continued to forge his path with different backing bandmates.