Minneapolis Music | Hot music, concerts, and bands from the Minneapolis area

Too Much Love with DJ SOVIETPANDA

It's time for another week of Too Much Love with DJ SOVIETPANDA.

When I walked into First Ave’s mainvroom for my first experience of DJ SovietPanda, I was sceptical at first. After seeing major DJ sets like Paul Van Dyke, Benny Benassi, and Mix Master Mike I questioned why I was wasting my time with this kid's attempt to connect with his audience.

Ultimately proven wrong. I purchased my ticket and maneuvered through the group of young adults wearing vibrant colors and dressed to impress. I moved toward the bar observing my surroundings. As I walked, I noticed that the establishment was far more busy than I had anticipated. I was surprised but couldn’t keep myself from moving to the pulsing bass in his electro set. The crowd participation was impressive to say the least. Everyone seemed to be in their own world as the light show casted shadows on a sea of partiers. For what I would consider a house DJ, SovietPanda proved to be a perfect fit for First-Ave’s main room on Saturday nights. The mix of music is enough to keep things interesting, but not enough to overwhelm the audience. Girls and guys of all different ages make up the wide variety of people attending.
Three dollars for a Saturday night of entertainment doesn’t seem possible. I assure you it is very possible and it seems that Minneapolis has just that. Saturday nights aren’t what they used to be. They are better. I don’t know what you’re doing this weekend but I suggest you check out DJ SovietPanda at First Ave’s main room. While there, grab yourself a drink and find me on the dance floor. I’ll be the person oblivious to their surroundings dancing like a madman to techno for as long as there’s music to do so.

Doomtree - 'Knives On Fire'

This Minneapolis DIY hip hop collective produces some ferocious beats.

&amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;quot;<a href="http://doomtree.bandcamp.com/track/knives-on-fire&amp;amp;quot;">http://doomtree.bandcamp.com/track/knives-on-fire&amp;amp;quot;</a> href=&amp;amp;quot;<a href="http://doomtree.bandcamp.com/track/knives-on-fire&amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;Knives">http://doomtree.bandcamp.com/track/knives-on-fire&amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;...</a> On Fire by Doomtree&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

The Soviettes - 'Bottom's Up, Bottomed Out'

This could be pop-punk perfected. I dare you to find a song that dethrones it. One minute and thirty-eight seconds of pure melodic sugar.

Soundset 2012

Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Lupe Fiasco, P.O.S. I Self Divine, and many more.

Get ready Twin Cities cause it’s time for another Soundset at Canterbury park. Soundset 2012 in Shakopee Minnesota will be Sunday May 27Th. The Line-up is out With the Usual performers like, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, and P.O.S. But has a few very exciting first time Soundset artists including Lupe Fiasco, DJ Premiere, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon. With these additions this day of music is sure to attract thousands of people

from not just the Midwest, but the all over the map.

Soundset started Memorial Day weekend in 2008 as a one day Hip Hop festival presented by the local recording label Rhymsayers Entertainment. A average of 12,000 people attend each year from all over the country and Canada. It seems to get bigger as the years move on gaining more National attention, and has been said to be the biggest Indie Hip Hop show of 2012. Which I believe has been the case every year since it began, but that's just me.

After experiencing the past four Soundset festivals I can truly say it is something every Hip Hop head should set aside money and their Memorial Day weekend for. For a first time Soundset attendee it can get overwhelming with the amount there is to do in the giant fielded area the festival is held in. There is not only two stages of Hip Hop acts, there is also a B-Boy/B-girl tent, skating demo, and painting exhibit, This day of too much to do in too little time is also home to the fifth annual car show going on in the back area of the field with over 200 cars. There is a production showcase and vendors from different labels ready to talk music and new releases.

This weekend is guaranteed to be a cant miss for the whole family. tickets go on sale March 7th at Rhymesayers.com.

Photo Above: Method Man and Redman on the mainstage at Soundset

Observer Drift - 'Backwards'

A moodier cut from Colin Ward aka Observer Drift's Corridors LP. Warm, sad shoegazey goodness.

&amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;quot;<a href="http://observerdrift.bandcamp.com/track/backwards&amp;amp;quot;">http://observerdrift.bandcamp.com/track/backwards&amp;amp;quot;</a> href=&amp;amp;quot;<a href="http://observerdrift.bandcamp.com/track/backwards&amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;Backwards">http://observerdrift.bandcamp.com/track/backwards&amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;...</a> by Observer Drift&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Joseph Stallion - 'Dimepiece'

Ethereal and peculiarly vulnerable electronic tuneage from local duo Joseph Stallion.

Brother Ali - The Bite Marked Heart

Free Download Link Inside

Brother Ali Just dropped a FREE 7 track EP from Rhymesayers Entertainment with production from both Jake One, and Ant from Rhymesayers. The EP is titled The Bite Marked Heart, and features five different artists.

Its safe to say I will forever be a Brother Ali fan. Ever since the release of his EP Champion in 2004 he has captured my ears and drove me through a different kind of underground passion that just cant be mirrored by most mainstream Hip Hop artists. His albums aren’t half as impressive as his live performances. Touring usually 6 months out of the year he makes his stops all over the United States from small towns to LA, or Austin. Catching a show at First-Avenue, the famous venue that housed influential artists like Craig Finn, Bob Dylan, and Prince, you would leave with a sense of fulfillment and inspiration. It is the locals and die hard fans that travel from all areas who are lucky enough to see him in the comfort of his hometown on First Ave's main room floor. This is where he gives back to the people that support and fiend for his music on a daily basis. The shows feel so personal you would think it was a private performance. Getting tickets on the other hand can prove to be difficult because of how fast Brother Ali seems to sell out his shows.

Ali is growing rapidly as a household name in the Twin Cities. His reign as one of the most talented lyricists is not showing signs of weakness. In this EP he speaks calm with a cool style yet carries over the same conviction from his past albums. It features artists Nikki Jean and Abby Wolf, as well as Stokly Williams and Phonte. Worried at first then ultimately impressed, these additions meshed perfectly with Brother Ali’s style. They attributed to a dark and lonely feeling that The Bite Marked Heart verses seemed to reveal. This EP release has left me excited and anxious for a new Brother Ali album, which works out perfectly because according the Rhymesayers.com "He is Putting the final touches on a new LP called Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color." Check out the links below for a free stream from SoundCloud.com, and a FREE download from Rhymesayers.com While your there check out current tour dates, shop the online store, and listen to new material.

Sherbetty - 'Dracula's Revenge'

A little grandiose and very self-effacingly quirky, Sherbetty's new LP twists its electroacoustic pop into some fun new shapes. And there's a song about Dracula, so, you know, hard to go wrong.

&amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;quot;<a href="http://sherbetty.bandcamp.com/track/draculas-revenge&amp;amp;quot;">http://sherbetty.bandcamp.com/track/draculas-revenge&amp;amp;quot;</a> href=&amp;amp;quot;<a href="http://sherbetty.bandcamp.com/track/draculas-revenge&amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;Dracula&amp;amp;#39;s">http://sherbetty.bandcamp.com/track/draculas-revenge&amp;amp;quot;&amp;a...</a> Revenge by Sherbetty&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Sommerfest will now be held on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota

The Minnesota Orchestra will perform its well-liked Sommerfest program in the Ted Mann Concert Hall on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota in July. Having been there myself on a few occasions and enjoying some orchestras, I can speak for its excellent acoustics. But there will be an issue with the capacity as it can only hold 1126 people whereas the Orchestra Hall – the previous home of Sommerfest – had a capacity of 2450.

The Minnesota Orchestra addresses this problem by repeating a few of the famous programs in the past. The Ted Mann Concert Hall is actually quite popular among local concert-goers and it will also have a better parking facility than the Orchestra Hall’s downtown Minneapolis locale.

But this is actually a temporary move because there is some construction work that is going to take place at the Orchestra Hall. The expansion work at the Orchestra Hall will be finished in a year’s time in the summer of 2013. For now, the Minnesota Orchestra will allow concert-goers to experience the Mississippi river view at the U of M rather than the city view downtown as they enjoy the Beatles, Beethoven and bratwurst.

Sommerfest will be held for three weeks from mid to late July and will showcase a return visit by 1964 the Tribute, a Beatles tribute band, on Thursday, July 26. After the summer program, the Minneapolis Convention Center Theater will then host the regular season performances.

Tickets range from $20 to $70 and go on sale online on March 16 and at the Orchestra Hall box office on March 20.

Downtown Minneapolis is about to get a new nightclub

AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) is an entertainment and concert giant that is going to move Minneapolis nightlife to the next level with its plans to open a nightclub in the Warehouse District. The new venue is going to be called the Brick and will be right next to the other popular nightclub and main competitor First Avenue. The general manager of First Avenue Nate Kranz was concerned about having such a cash-rich rival in Minneapolis, but remained confident since they have a long-time relationship with Live Nation.

It was rock band Jane’s Addiction that told the public about this. AEG already has a big presence in the city as it manages the Target Center. Tim Lieweke, the CEO of AEG, worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the past and the SportsBusiness Journal listed him as one of sports’ most influential people.

The city’s inspector report states that the concert space could hold about 2100 people which would be less than the capacity of nearby Epic of 2400 but much more than First Avenue’s capacity of 1400 people. The new venue was actually occupied by Club 3 Degrees which was then a Christian-focused space.

As of now, AEG has declined to comment about its plans but an announcement is scheduled to be made soon. AEG is based in Los Angeles and has stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings along with investments in venues like the Staples Center and London’s O2 Arena. The Joint at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas is part of the AEG chain and is similar in size to the Brick.

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