I saw Obituary play at the Rock in Maplewood, Minnesota last night. Pretty killer show. The band was tight as hell and sounded really good. I got up nice and close, just to the right of the pit. I'm too old to mosh...

They looked sweet. Hair down to their ass, beards like mountain men. They looked like a death metal band...and better yet sounded like one. 

It said Hemlock and Full Blown Chaos were supposed to be there. But they never played. Not too many people showed up, it was pretty small crowd.

They only played a few classic songs, such as Slowly We Rot and Chopped in Half. I was hoping to hear more from Cause of Death, which is my favorite Obituary disc.

Anyway, great evening of in your face death metal. Now I'm all jazzed up to go see some more metal shows!! 

Last night I saw Alabama Thunder Pussy open up for Obituary at the Rock in Maplewood, Minnesota. I thought they were pretty decent for an opening band. Had the drop D southern metal kinda thing going on. The guitar player looked like Rob Zombie meets Jim Martin. Sweet flying V tho, just like mine!

The singer had some killer pipes. He was pretty impressive. He could do cool screams as well. They did a cover of Judas Priest's Saints in Hell. He nailed it. Pretty tough song to sing. They also finished up their setlist with Whitesnake Still of the Night. Not sure if that was meant as a joke?

Either way, pretty entertaining setlist. Pretty cool opening band. I'll probably check out some of their stuff now on disc. Check em out if you get the chance. 

RedGorilla Music Fest is held in Austin, Texas, on March 12-15, 2008. Last year, RedGorilla was an overwhelming success and made a name for itself as the cool, rebel showcase that caters to its artists and promotes up-and-coming independent music in all genres to help independent artists further their careers.

Over 250 bands and solo artists will participate in shows in venues on 6th Street in Austin. RedGorilla showcases will take place from Wednesday, March 12 to Saturday, March 15 in clubs that are right in the heart of all the action. The event continues to be a "No Badge Required" event. It is free to attend and is open to the general public.

RedGorilla Music Fest takes place during one of the most important music weeks in the year. This is the music industry's premier destination for the year, where thousands of fans and music industry professionals descend upon Austin to network and check out new talent at the various music festivals around town.

RedGorilla Music Fest offers showcase slots to bands and solo artists so that they can take advantage of this excellent opportunity. RedGorilla Music Fest is all about showcasing and making it the best experience possible for the artist and the audience.

RedGorilla Music Fest is not affiliated in any way with SXSW or South By Southwest, Inc.

I had the pleasure of seeing Rush at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul Minnesota on Sunday. It was a pretty great show. As usual my only complaint, whenever I see Rush, is their setlist. I know they can't just play classics, but they can trim some of the fat.

They did the usual two set thing, with no opening band. The sound was great, you could hear every instrument perfectly. Geddy's voice sounded great and soared above the music. They are all looking like they could be friends with my parents. Gettin up there!

I love the crowd at Rush shows as well. Over the hill, overweight geeky men. A few women sprinkled here and there, most of them geeky as well. At least I don't feel old or too geeky for Rush shows. I fit right in.

The great thing about seeing Rush is, you realize that they are all extremely professional and best in their leagure for their instruments. Finally crafted, skilled musicians. Everything is perfect, timing, tone, everything.

They did play a few surprisers like Entre Nois, Circumstances, Passage to Bangkok. Left out quite a few of their hits. Played a lot of new songs, and quite a few from some of the less desirable albums.

They also had a geat video setup. Three screens as well as a pretty cool laser show. The would have each screen showing one guy, close ups, overhead shots, etc. Plus they would show some cool images and videos throughout. Rush should get props for the great visual performance as well. 

Overall, I love seeing Rush play live and would see them again in a second. If you get the chance, go see a Rush show.

Van Halen tickets are apparently selling out everywhere. Get em while you can. I personally am stoked for this concert. I'll do whatever I have to. Here are the tour dates for Van Halen.

• Thu 09.27 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena
• Sat 09.29 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
• Mon 10.01 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
• Wed 10.03 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
• Fri 10.05 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
• Sun 10.07 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
• Fri 10.12 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
• Wed 10.10 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
• Sun 10.14 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Field House
• Tue 10.16 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
• Thu 10.18 Chicago, IL United Center
• Sat 10.20 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
• Mon 10.22 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
• Wed 10.24 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
• Fri 10.26 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
• Sun 10.28 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
• Tue 10.30 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
• Thu 11.01 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center
• Sat 11.03 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena
• Thu 11.08 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum
• Sat 11.10 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
• Tue 11.13 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
• Tue 11.20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
• Fri 11.23 Glendale, AZ Jobing.Com Arena
• Sun 11.25 San Diego, CA Cox Arena
• Tue 11.27 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena
• Sat 12.01 Portland, OR Rose Garden
• Mon 12.03 Seattle, WA Key Arena
• Wed 12.05 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
• Fri 12.07 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome
• Sun 12.09 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
• Sun 12.16 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
  

After their incredible album Alaska from almost exactly a year ago, they bust out Colors. This band just continues to blow me away. If you're going to buy only one band this year, make it Betweent the Buried and Me. The new one rocks hard, with tons of styles thrown in. Taking you on an incredible musical journey.

Their new album Colors isn't due out until September 18, 2007, but I was lucky enough to hear an advanced copy. They sound like they've grown musically. I even heard some organ this time around! Crunchy parts as well as some very melodic, mellow, jazzy and uplifting stuff thrown in. I will definately be buying Between The Buried and Me's new one when it comes out on the 18th.

Here's the tracklist:

• Foam Born A) The Backtrack
• Foam Born B) The Decade of Statues
• Informal Gluttony
• Sun of Nothing
• Ants of the Sky
• Prequel to the Sequel
• Viridian
• White Walls

David Lee Roth is back in Van Halen! Thank the lord, maybe finally we can get past all of this Sammy, Extreme Guy, and any other "ham and egger" they've had as a singer lately.

David Lee Roth and Van Halen will begin a national tour in October. They are schedule for 50 concerts in the US. Hopefully the setlist will only include the old VH classics.

Look for Van Halen, with the original lineup, coming to your town. 

Here are the tour dates for the Queens of the Stone age. They play a couple of shows with Rage Against the Machine as well as Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Tue 07/31/07 Fargo, ND Playmaker's Entertainment Complex  
Wed 08/01/07 Duluth, MN Duluth Ent. Conv. Ctr. Auditorium 
Fri 08/03/07 Cedar Rapids, IA Hawkeye Downs Fair 
Sat 08/04/07 Indianapolis, IN Murat Egyptian Room 
Sun 08/05/07 Louisville, KY Coyote's Music & Dance Hall 
Tue 08/07/07 Memphis, TN New Daisy Theatre 
Wed 08/08/07 Little Rock, AR The Village 
Fri 08/10/07 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom 
Sat 08/11/07 Oklahoma City, OK Diamond Ballroom 
Wed 08/22/07 London, ON Centennial Hall 
Fri 08/24/07 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre 
Sat 08/25/07 Maplewood, MN Myth 
Sun 08/26/07 Winnipeg, MB Winnipeg Conv. Ctr. 
Mon 08/27/07 Saskatoon, SK Prairieland Park 
Wed 08/29/07 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Centre 
Thu 08/30/07 Calgary, AB Stampede Corral 
Sat 09/01/07 Vancouver, BC Orpheum 
Fri 09/14/07 Austin, TX Zilker Park 
Fri 09/21/07 Jacksonville, FL Plush 
Tue 09/25/07 Norfolk, VA The NorVa 
Wed 09/26/07 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!

Check out Queens of the Stone Age when they come to your town. 

Here are Bjork's 2007 Tour dates. Lots of festivals. She is playing the Austin City Limits Music Festival this year. Wow.

Fri    07/13/07 Bilbao, SPA Guggenheim Museum  
Sun    07/15/07 Segovia, SPA Palacio Real De La Granja 
Wed    07/18/07 Madrid, SPA Plaza De Toros Las Ventas 
Sat    07/21/07 Tarvisio, ITA Piazza Del Unita 
Wed    07/25/07 Nyon, SWI Paleo Festival 
Tue    08/21/07 Nimes, FRA Arenes 
Thu    08/23/07 Nimes, FRA Arenes 
Sun    08/26/07 Paris, FRA Rock En Seine Festival 
Fri    08/31/07 Stradbally, IRE Electric Picnic 
Sun    09/02/07 Inveraray, UK Inveraray Castle 
Sat    09/08/07 Toronto, ON Island Park 
Fri    09/14/07 Austin, TX Zilker Park 

I'd love to see Bjork live at least once before I die. Maybe someday? 

Here are the Beastie Boys 2007 tour dates. Man they are a hard working bunch of young boys.

Wed    07/11/07 Locarno, SWI Piazza Grande   
Fri    07/13/07 Novi Sad, SER Exit Festival  
Sat    07/14/07 Saint Polten, AUT Nuke Festival  
Sat    07/28/07 Niigata, JPN Naeba Ski Resort  
Wed    08/01/07 Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier  
Thu    08/02/07 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa  
Sat    08/04/07 Baltimore, MD Pimlico Race Track  
Sun    08/05/07 Boston, MA The Opera House  
Mon    08/06/07 Boston, MA Bank Of America Pavilion  
Wed    08/08/07 New York, NY Central Park SummerStage  
Thu    08/09/07 Brooklyn, NY McCarren Park Pool  
Fri    08/10/07 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom  
Thu    08/16/07 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre  
Fri    08/17/07 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium  
Sun    08/19/07 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre  
Mon    08/20/07 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre  
Thu    08/23/07 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl  
Fri    08/24/07 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre  
Sat    08/25/07 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre  
Fri    08/31/07 Inveraray, UK Inveraray Castle  
Sat    09/01/07 Stradbally, IRE Electric Picnic  
Sun    09/02/07 Stradbally, IRE Electric Picnic  
Tue    09/04/07 London, UK Carling Brixton Academy  
Sat    09/08/07 Isle Of Wight, UK Robin Hill Country Park  
Sun    09/09/07 Isle Of Wight, UK Robin Hill Country Park 

I've seen the Beastie Boys live a few times and they do not dissapoint. 

Here are the Son Volt 2007 tour dates. Check em out when they come to your town:

June 5th, 2007 Hard Rock Cafe San Diego, CA
June 7th, 2007 Thursday at the Square Buffalo, NY
June 9th, 2007 Wakarusa Festival Lawrence, KS
June 10th, 2007    Cain's Ballroom Tulsa, OK
June 12th, 2007    Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH
June 13th, 2007    Sonar Baltimore, MD
June 14th, 2007    Groovin' in the Garden Richmond, VA
June 15th, 2007    Music Farm Charleston, SC
June 16th, 2007    The Handlebar Greenville, SC
June 30th, 2007    Snowmass Aspen, CO
July 4th, 2007     Willie's 4th of July Picnic Quincy, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre
July 7th, 2007     Milwaukee Summerfest Milwaukee, WI
August 10th, 2007 Minneapolis Zoo Minneapolis, MN
August 16th, 2007 NYC Rockin' The River Cruise New York, NY
August 18th, 2007 Philadelphia Folk Fest Philadelphia, PA
August 26th, 2007 Red Butte Garden Salt Lake City, UT
August 28th, 2007 Winery at Eagle Knoll Eagle, ID
August 31st, 2007 Strawberry Music Fest Yosemite, CA
September 2nd, 2007 Red Dirt Roundup Ft. Worth, TX
September 22nd, 2007 Charleston Music & Heritage Fest Charleston, SC
October 4th, 2007 Luminaire London, England
October 5th, 2007 Luminaire London, England
October 6th, 2007 Take Root Festival Groningen, Netherlands

Jay Farrar is a madman live. You won't believe his stage antics. Luckily, for him, the music is beyond great.

"Paul's hand is dead.

That's what many music fans thought when they'd heard that Paul Westerberg had punctured his left hand last fall with a screwdriver while messing around with some candle wax.

"I'm one-third of the way to being possibly 80 percent all better," he said the other day.  read more »

So, I had to look into it and see what Lee Ving has been in. It's quite a lot more than I thought. Plus I found out he was born in Minneapolis. Pretty cool.

According to IMDB, this is Lee Vings appearances:  read more »

Here are the upcoming tour dates for Ryan Adams:

May 15, 2007 Keswick Theatre Glenside, PA
May 16, 2007 Ulster Performing Arts Center Kingston, NY
May 17, 2007 Metropolitan Theatre Morgantown, WV
June 3, 2007 La Maroquinerie Paris, France
June 7, 2007 KOKO London, UK
June 8, 2007 Manchester Academy 2 Manchester, UK
June 18, 2007 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
June 19, 2007 Victory Gardens Biograph Theater Chicago, IL
June 20, 2007 Gem Theater Detroit, MI
June 22, 2007 Enwave Theater Toronto, ONT
June 24, 2007 Higher Ground Burlington, VT
June 28, 2007 The Fillmore at the TLA Philadelphia, PA
June 29, 2007 Somerville Theater Boston, MA
July 10, 2007 Paramount Theater Charlottesville, VA
July 12, 2007 Germantown Performing Arts Center Germantown, TN
July 14, 2007 Paramount Theatre Austin, TX
July 31, 2007 Red Butte Garden Salt Lake City, UT
Aug. 3, 2007 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
Sept. 1, 2007 moe.down Turin, NY

I see he is playing the Cedar Cultural Center next Monday. I'll have to try and get my tickets. I'm probably already too late tho. Anyway, check out Ryan Adams when he comes to your town.

Last night I had the privelege of attending the Black Sabbath Heaven and Hell tour at the Target Center in Minneapolis. All in all it was a great night. Machine Head and Megadeth opened up.

Machine Head is just plain boring to me. I'm not a huge fan of Nu Metal...with the exceptions of a few bands. Unfortunately, Machine Head is not one of those bands. You can skip them when they come to your town.  read more »