It’s another back-loaded week of live music in Minnesota, but there are always some options early in the week here, thanks to the many residencies around the state.
If I were in Duluth tonight, you know the band, you know the place.
If you don’t know, head over to the residency section of my freshly updated calendar, woof, woof!
The Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis has that long-standing Grateful Dead tribute Not Quite Dead playing free today at 7 p.m.
But I am personally most looking forward to a pair of overlapping shows this Saturday. The first of those is MonoNeon at the Fine Line.
MonoNeon, if you don’t know, is a madly talented bass player who spent a bit of time playing with Prince at the end of the great one’s life.
Check out what he had to say about that experience here.
I had the occasion of catching him at a Phish after-party in April of 2022 in New York City, featuring organ god John Medeski, as well as guitarist Scott Metzger. Man, that was fire.
Saltydog, the funky jam band from Duluth that I hinted at higher up in this column has a show at Icehouse in Minneapolis on Saturday, as well, and I hope to catch as much of their set as possible following MonoNeon’s set.
I’m going to mention Sean Kuti & Egypt80. Kuti is a son of Fela Aníkúlapó Kuti, the late and legendary Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer. Sean Kuti is playing Fine Line Friday.
On Friday, Primus also headlines Ledge Amphitheatre in Waite Park, with prog rockers Coheed and Cambria opening. I love to mention that my very first show, back in the early 90s, involved Primus in support of Anthrax and Public Enemy at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom (Thank you, Uncle Paul!).
I’ll also mention a pair of shows by Alpha Consumer, which includes local drumming savant JT Bates. Alpha Consumer has a pair of shows Friday and Saturday at Berlin, the Minneapolis jazz club that opened recently.
As for recently announced shows, I’ll point to three right now.
First, Lotus is headlining a two-day festival at Pryes Brewing. They play Aug. 17, the second day of the event, which also has locals Mikel Wright & The Wrongs booked. Wristbands are only $12.
The Allman Betts Family Revival, featuring Duane Betts and Devon Allman will be playing the State Theatre on Dec. 1.
Lastly, Delicate Steve, who fans of instrumental music should check out, will be playing 7th Street Entry on Oct. 26.