Life is Music™

Apparently there are many out there looking for information on the great music venues of Minneapolis-St. Paul.  Below is a somewhat comprehensive list of the major music venues in the Twin Cities (excluding sports arenas and corner bars).  I included their contact information, capacity and seating charts when applicable.  Minnesota rocks!!

The Cabooze
917 Cedar Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: 612.338.2027
Capacity: 904

Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Phone: 612.338.2674
Capacity: 465

Fine Line Music Café
318 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612.338.8100
Capacity: 769

First Avenue
701 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612.338.8388
Capacity: 1200

Northrop Auditorium
84 Church Street
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612.625.6600
Capacity: 4800
Seating Chart

O’ Shaughnessy Theater
2004 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Phone: 651.690.6700
Capacity: 1740
Seating Chart

Orpheum Theatre
910 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612.373.5600
Capacity: 2579
Seating Chart

Pantages Theatre
710 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612.373.5600
Capacity: 1014
Seating Chart

Roy Wilkins Auditorium
175 West Kellogg Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: 651.265.4800
Capacity: 5850
Seating Chart

State Theatre
805 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612.373.5600
Capacity: 2181
Seating Chart

Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Phone: 612.333.7399
Capacity: 400

Turf Club
1601 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: 651.647.0486
Capacity: 400

Varsity Theater
1308 4th Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612.604.0222
Capacity: 500

Weesner Amphitheatre at the MN Zoo
13000 Zoo Blvd
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: 952.431.9200
Capacity: 1450
Seating Chart

400 Bar
400 Cedar Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612.332.2903
Capacity: 570

7th Street Entry
29 North 7th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612.338.8388
Capacity: 250

Blossoming out of the mid-80’s Los Angeles, CA alternative music scene, Jane’s Addiction quickly paved their own road to rock-n-roll glory only to have it crumble just as fast.  With only two studio albums and one live recording under their belt the band was finished, but what they did in those short four or so years was unbelievable.  Still today, over twenty years after their first album was released, their recordings easily hold their own.  There is no sound equal to Jane’s Addiction and there is no lead man equal to Perry Farrell.  Here I am going to dissect their original albums as well as the 2003 album, Strays, which featured three out of the four original members.

1. Nothing’s Shocking – Nothing’s Shocking was Jane’s Addiction’s first studio album.  During the recording sessions, the band almost broke up due to singer Perry Farrell’s demands at 50% percent of the publishing royalties for writing the lyrics, as well as his cut of the music writing.  This effectively left the remaining members with 12.5% each.  This incident had a profound impact on the band and created a rift that would ultimately lead to their demise.  Nothing’s Shocking, was released August 23rd, 1988 and it did not sell well initially.  The cover artwork created by Perry Farrell was nude Siamese twins sitting on a rocking chair with their heads on fire.  Almost all retailers refused to carry the album due to the nudity, so ultimately the album was wrapped in brown paper.  The album itself is raw and energetic, showcasing the band’s unique, funk driven alternative-metal sound.  Nothing’s Shocking rocks throughout with the powerful “Ocean Size“, “Summertime Rolls” and “Mountain Song” being my favorites.  It also features the studio version of “Jane Says”; easily the band’s most popular song ever.
2. Ritual de lo Habitual - Ritual de lo Habitual was the fantastic follow up to Nothing’s Shocking.  It was released August 21st, 1990 and unfortunately ended up being the final album with the original four members.  Once again the album featured artwork by singer Perry Farrell, and once again there was controversy over the nudity it contained.  An alternate censored cover was created which featured the band’s name, album name, and the text of the first amendment in black over a simple white background.  The back of the censored cover stated, “Hitler’s syphilis-ridden dreams almost came true. How could it happen? By taking control of the media. An entire country was led by a lunatic… We must protect our First Amendment, before sick dreams become law. Nobody made fun of Hitler??!”  Nice touch.  The music of Ritual de lo Habitual starts off very heavy with tracks 1-5, and the second half of the album calms down in a memoriam to Farrell’s friend Xiola Blue who died of a heroin overdose in 1987 at the age of 19.  With some airplay and help of the video for “Been Caught Stealing”, the album was the band’s most successful to date topping at 19 on the Billboard 200 chart.  “Stop” is a legendary song by the band as is “Ain’t No Right”.  Perhaps my favorite song ever by the band is track six entitled ”Three Days“.  That song is huge and beautiful and displays not only the soft sensitivity the band had, but the thunderous drums of Stephen Perkins and one of the best guitar solos in the history of rock as played by guitarist Dave Navarro.  With the band just entering their prime, it is extremely unfortunate that Ritual de lo Habitual was the band’s finale.
3. Jane’s Addiction - Jane’s Addiction was released in 1987 on the indie label Triple X Records.  The album was recorded live over various dates at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, CA in 1987, then polished in the studio with overdubs.  I wouldn’t go as far as calling this a live album though as it has the feel of a studio demo until the crowd roars at the end of the tracks (crowd noise was from a Los Lobos concert).  The tracks “Jane Says” and “Pigs in Zen” were later recorded for the band’s first album Nothing’s Shocking.  The album also features covers of “Rock-n-Roll” by The Velvet Underground and The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” simply titled “Sympathy” on the album.  Those two tracks are definite standouts, as is “I Would for You” and the wonderful “My Time”.  The album showcases the gritty club sound the band had way back in 1987.  Jane’s Addiction always did it big onstage, and this is a nice reminder of how they did it early on.
4. Strays - I don’t care what anyone says, this album kicks ass.  Released on July 22nd, 2003, Strays featured Chris Chaney on bass instead of Eric Avery who up to this point continued to refuse any participation with the band.  Strays had legendary 70’s rock producer Bob Ezrin on the boards and according to Perry Farrell, “He raised the bar for all of us. It’s like training for the Olympics – something you are aspiring towards in creating art. You’re trying to make the most beautiful music, you try to break new ground creating sound that no one’s ever heard before. When working with Bob; doing that becomes a very real possibility.”  The album has a far more modern sound than their previous groundbreaking albums of the time but taken for what it is, Strays is a solid record.  The singles “Just Because” and “True Nature” are great and helped push the album all the way to #4 on the Billboard 200 in 2003.  I had a chance to see them tour behind this album and that show still ranks up there as a top 5 concert ever.  Following their 2001 Jubilee tour which told fans to expect a “Sexual Psycho Circus”, the Strays tour was incredibly theatrical with half-naked dancers filling the stage and a gyrating and howling Perry Farrell leading as only he could do it.  After the Strays tour the band broke up once again.

Jane’s Addiction is one of the most influential and artistic bands to come out of the 80’s.  They were alternative before alternative was mainstream and cool.  Their unique sound and incredible musicianship ranks them very high in my book, it’s just unfortunate that drugs and greed over royalties continued to plague the band.  In 2008, original bassist Eric Avery finally rejoined the group and in the summer of 2009 they toured with Nine Inch Nails playing only songs Avery was involved with.  To accompany the tour, the band re-recorded versions of  “Chip Away” and one of their most defining songs, “Whores”; both which were released on their official website.  I would be one happy camper if they released a new studio album before the inevitable happens once again.

Yonder Mountain String Band are best heard when the sun is shining bright.  I have fond memories of listening to these guys while traveling down the highway with my sunglasses on, the windows down, and the sun beating bright and warm.  But on Saturday, August 15th there was no need for sunglasses.  A rain coat would have been a better accessory as Yonder Mountain String Band were back at the Weesner Amphitheatre at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN playing to a sold-out crowd.

With rain showers threatening, the band got an early start at 7:30PM.  It wasn’t but a few minutes before the first light rain came but it was gone soon enough leaving the sold-out crowd who finally packed the small gem of a venue wet.  The first set was full of new songs from their upcoming album, The Show, which is due for release on September 1st.  Even with new songs being played by one of the best bluegrass bands around, the weather was a distraction and it continued to be all night as evident by the relatively motionless crowd.

The band took a set break and when they returned singing and mandolin playing, Jeff Austin, said they would play as long as they could.  They played a new and currently untitled instrumental track written by banjo-playing, Dave Johnston, then bassist Ben Kaufman got things moving with an awesome “Traffic Jam” medley.  Later Jeff Austin, ripped through another oldie-but-goodie, “Ramblin’ in the Rambler” and the rains returned.  The skies had an ominous darkness as Ben Kaufman played the beautiful slow song, “River”.  That song is incredible!  The band was playing “If You’re Ever in Oklahoma” when lightning flashed in the skies behind the stage and that is where the show stopped.

The band promised to come back if they could, but we knew better and barely made it past the top of the small amphitheatre when the rains really came down.  Sheets of rain poured while thunder shook the zoo.  It was an eventful evening and fun nonetheless, but it could have been much better had the weather cooperated.  Better luck next time I suppose.

Yonder Mountain String Band – Weesner Ampitheater at Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN – August 15th, 2009

(I do not think this is the correct order…taken from phantasy tour)

Set I:
Going Where They Do Not Know My Name
Ain’t Been Myself In Years>
Let Me Fall
Jail Son
I’d Like Off>
Up On The Hill Where They Do The Boogie
You’re No Good
All Your Dreams
Traffic Jam>
I Am The Slime>
Traffic Jam

Set II:
Ramblin’ in the Rambler>
My Gal>
My Sisters and Brothers>
Ramblin’ in the Rambler
New song (no name given)
Long Time
This Lonesome Heart
River
If You’re Ever In Oklahoma 1

1 show ends due to rain