As is common ‘round these parts, there are many options for fans of psychedelic music this week around Minnesota.
We have Johnny Blues Skies (aka psych country artist Sturgill Simpson) in town for two nights at the Armory starting tonight.
TWINE is having a pair of unofficial after-party shows both nights. Tonight, they’ll start playing at Gluek’s at around 10 p.m.
Then, tomorrow, they have their normal weekly residency show at Bunkers. That should be a special one as the band will be celebrating the birthday of Brian “Snowman” Powers, the experienced saxophonist and gem of a human. The Bunkers show tends to run up until about 1 a.m., for those wondering how late, and I would expect the Gluek’s show to run late as well.
WEDNESDAY
There are other options.
Australia’s Amyl and the Sniffers play the Palace Theatre in Saint Paul. That show is sure to rock heavy.
Also, there’s two different events going on at the White Squirrel Bar, also in Saint Paul.
First, Lars-Erik Larson’s The Second Stringers play from 6 to 8 p.m., and then, starting at 9 p.m., local jazz fusion band Hunny Bear continues their residency, with Fascination Trio and J-Mo On The Beat And Rhe J-Lighters. Hunny Bear is the latest local band to blow me away.
They played Dream of the Wild’s final Psychedelic Sunday residency, which was held at Zhora Darling a few days ago and stole my heart with a rendition of Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay.” They did that song justice, which is no small feat considering the original personnel on that 1970 recording included greats Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter.
THURSDAY
More jazz greatness is being served up at the Dakota when Ghost-Note plays a pair of shows starting at 6:30 p.m. (the late show starts at 9 p.m.)
The Granada Theater in Uptown has the Listeso String Quartet serving up a mash of hip-hop songs in an event titled “Candlelight: Best of Hip-Hop on Strings.” There are two shows starting at 6:30 p.m. The second show starts at 8:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
Arkansauce brings their brand of jamgrass to Cedar Cultural Center with Steam Machine. Show starts at 8 p.m.
The Hook and Ladder Theater is hosting “Cornell ’77 Turns 48,” celebrating what is considered by many to be the greatest Grateful Dead show of all time. The Cornell All-Stars include The Big Wu’s Terry VanDeWalker, Annie Frazier, and Chad Whittaker, among others. The Cellar Kings play an after-party at the venue.
SIDENOTE: I’ve long been aware that I was a year and three days old when that show was played. This week, thanks to this Relix article, I finally learned that the Grateful Dead, playing as The Warlocks, made their debut on my birthday (11 years before I was born) at Magoo’s Pizza Parlor in Menlo Park, Calif. That was the best birthday present I could have ever gotten.
SATURDAY
Speaking of Snowman, he’s a member of Chase & Ovation, the only Prince cover band to have the blessing of Prince. They play Bunkers Saturday starting at 9:30 p.m. and running until 1 a.m.
TWINE frontman Will Effertz is part of a Peter Gabriel tribute at Day Block Brewing starting at 7 p.m.
SUNDAY
Icehouse’s monthly Sunday Grateful Dead Brunch is this Sunday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. This edition’s lineup includes JT Bates, Kevin Dorsey and Martin Dosh, among others.
As always, for more information, including ticket links, for these and other shows in Minnesota, head over to my calendar, which is updated weekly.