Counting Crows: Hangin' Around the Midway Stadium

Written by Emily Kessel

It was night just like any other, full of diehard fans awaiting the evening’s entertainment. Blankets sprawled across the field, sun beating on their faces, but no homerun. On Saturday, September 1st music fans spent the night hangin’ around the Midway Stadium, but instead of cheering on the Saint Paul Saints, they were calling for Collective Soul and the Counting Crows.

Following their opening act, the Counting Crows took the stage. The performance began with “When I Dream of Michaelangelo,” a song from their new album, Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings, which will be released on November 6th. Swirling lights overlapped the mellow illumination on the stage. Adam Duritz had a calm stage presence, which was complimented by the setting of the sun. His expressions and overall charisma were emotional as he sang about missing the little things like saying goodnight to his girlfriend, home, and other topics that any fan could relate to.

Many songs were introduced to me for the first time. The lyrics and melody of “Hanging Tree” stayed with me throughout the night. Only a few songs from the Greatest Hits album were played, which allowed fans to learn about new or less frequently played songs. Even the familiar songs had an unfamiliar twist. For instance, a long instrumental introduction led up to the well-known song “Long December,” which became recognizable only when the memorable chorus reached the audience’s ears.Various requests were shouted from the crowd as the band continued its unpredictable performance. Their calls were answered when lyrics from the popular song “Hangin’ Around” began to vibrate from the stage.

Adam ended the evening with a heartfelt, but political speech about doing our best to help those around us and supporting our country. The initial message was to support local groups such as Open Arms of Minnesota and utilize our right to vote. The Counting Crows then finished the evening with “Holiday In Spain” and left the crowd with passion and their closing message.Although only a short distance away from the craziness of the State Fair, the Counting Crows created an atmosphere that was all of their own.

On the Patio with Coach Said Not To

Written by Emily Kessel

On Thursday, June 28th Coach Said Not To filled the Minnesota Museum of American Art’s Patio Nights event with an evening of music and relaxation. The outdoor concert was held on the patio overlooking the Mississippi River. Coach Said Not To, a local indie band, followed up the opener, Small Cities. They performed for a patio full of guests eager to join the girls for yet another gig. Since coming together in 2002, the female group has attracted a growing Minneapolis/Saint Paul fanbase and the crowded patio was living proof.

Before the show, I had the privilege to interview the members of Coach Said Not To and learn about their journey on and off-stage. Playing music is a side job for the band, but a passion they all enjoy. They consider themselves to be a “pretty tight foursome” and an “undead band.” During the interview, their love of writing and performing music was definitely apparent. One member said her favorite song to write or record “is always the one that we just wrote.”

During the performance, Eva and Linnea serenaded the audience with their vocals. Taking turns as lead singer and performing some songs together kept the night interesting and full of variety. They played everything from “Bust Out Birthday” to “Shadow Puppets.” One song that stood out was performed by Linnea who sang a mellow, emotional tune involving a powerful performance on the keyboards.

Later, Eva roused the audience with the livid lyrics of the popular song “Words that I Employ.” Throughout the evening, Annika played her heart out on the drums and Lee provided an excellent performance on the keyboards.This Thursday night’s performance is sure to keep Coach Said Not To’s fans coming back for more. The gorgeous night view of the Mississippi was a perfect accompaniment to the music.

Who I Am: A Night wIth Alice Peacock

Written by Emily Kessel

In the heart of Minneapolis, Alice Peacock mesmerized an audience with her emotional lyrics and angelic voice. On July 15th, a serene music experience filled the Fine Line Music Café as people began to fill the dimly lit tables, and the pink and green lighting ignited the stage. Alice had a casual, calm presence onstage, which complimented her riveting performance. During our interview before the show, Alice described her music as “very personal” and discussed how she had “always been writing music as a child.” Her songs are about relationships, not just romantic relationships, but relationships with friends, family, and herself. The new album “Who I Am” is about her journey to discover who she is, and this is something we can all relate to. “People connect to music” and during the Fine Line show, Alice’s music was truly reaching out to her listeners.

Alice performed a variety of songs from her new and previous albums. This included “Taught Me Well,” “Time,” and “Finding My Way Back.” With each song, she not only filled the stage with her powerful, slightly country-sounding vocals but with the soft sound of her guitar and her smooth keyboarding skills. A friend, Peter Bradley Adams also accompanied Alice on a few songs, as well as performing a couple of his own. During the evening, she awed the audience with “Sunflower,” which written for the movie “Because of Winn-Dixie.”

The relaxing evening received great responses from the crowd. A young girl dancing under the exit sign and tables erupting with applause were only the beginning. It was obvious that she truly did love touring and playing in front of an audience. She finished the evening with “Don’t Need No Ticket,” a Curtis Nathan song. Earlier, Alice had said that people connect to music, and that’s exactly what her music had done.

Cloud Cult

Written By Alissa Thielman

Not the typical Friday night at First Avenue, a surprising amount of dreadlocks, tie dye and color fill the main room. Two men are onstage, one on guitar and another on the washboard. Charlie Parr’s music is so lively that it’s hard to find anyone not dancing or tapping their toes along to the beat.

We are brought to the green room, a small space filled with memories on the walls from past performances and some much loved couches. Waiting inside is Cloud Cult, along with some friends and family. We chat with bassist Matthew Freed about his previous night’s stay at a Pizza Hut. He jokes about sleeping on the floor. Craig and Connie Minowa join us and we begin the interview.

Almost immediately they explain that their van had broken down in Chicago, leaving them stranded, but they were all able to laugh about it. This was more than just a transportation problem; this also meant that the band had to now travel in a van without biodiesel fuel. Which lead to a conversation about their eco-friendly record label Earthology Records.

During the interview it was very hard for all of us to keep still, feeling the urge to dance to Charlie Parr’s upbeat music.

Cloud Cult took the stage and front man Craig Minowa had the crowd singing along to every word. Scott West and Connie Minowa began their painting onstage and there was also a local painter on the balcony. The full stage, seven band members altogether, fill the room with irresistible sounds and sights. Sarah Young and Shannon Freed bring a very peaceful and soothing undertone with their voices and string component of the music. The music, though familiar, was very surreal. Surreal is a word one could describe the entire performance. Along with the painters on stage, the band also plays videos on a large screen behind the drummer. The entire performance looks and sounds like a dream.

The now packed First Avenue is singing and dancing. One of the liveliest reactions came when Craig broke into an upbeat rendition of “You are my Sunshine.” It was hard to keep a smile off your face.

The Fray, Ok Go and Mae: Start the Tour With a Bang!

Written By Emily Kessel



I have been warned. Once you start, you can’t stop. The powerful vocals, lyrics, lighting, stage, and crowd excites me. Concerts are enjoyable and let me tell you, I am hooked. I have emptied my pockets for several genres in various venues. Each concert brings about a new experience, but never before have I seen such a diversity of bands playing on one stage.

On Monday, June 11th an enthusiastic crowd filled the Target Center. Minneapolis was the first stop of the Fray, Ok Go, and Mae 2007 tour. KS95, KDWB and individuals handed out flyers surrounded the building. Young ticket holders were sprawled on the ground waiting for the doors to open, permitting them to claim their spots in front of the stage.

When the lights went out, I could feel the excitement building up throughout the crowd. Mae, the rising band from Virginia Beach, opened the night with hits from their upcoming release, The Everglow, which will be released in August. The band’s music can be identified as emo/indie with a unique twist. Mae’s multipurpose music can be considered calming and lively. With the combination of layered guitars, piano, lively drumbeats, and vocals, Mae made a great first impression on the crowd. It was apparent that the band was eager and ready to make their music known. Their solid performance was just what the crowd needed to begin a night full of music.



Ok Go’s lead singer, Damian Kulash brought a different feel to the stage. The enthusiastic band doubled the crowd’s energy level with its unique, quirky style. From the minute they stepped onto the stage, I could sense that the band was out to have a good time. Their performance mainly featured songs from their newly released album, Oh No. The band filled the Target Center with its lively, high amped vocals, keyboards, and crazy stage props. Ok Go went out with a bang as they released some colorful figures from the stage. There was definitely never a dull moment when they were on stage. Everything from a room full glowing cell phones, a request to start “the wave,” and a crowd short crowd-surf episode was part of the agenda.



Following the two brillant openers, the Fray immediately lit up the stage. An uproar of applause filled the venue as thousands of screaming fans welcomed the band onto the stage. Vocalist and pianist, Isaac Slade took center stage and began the night with style. He and Joe King took turns singing throughout the performance. Each vocalist had a distinct but powerful sound to their voice. The night was full of wondrous lighting, melodic vocals, and an overall crowd pleasing acts.

I admire the Fray for writing such heartfelt, emotional lyrics from the album How To Save A Life based on their real life experiences. It is easy to understand why so many people identify with their music.

Several of the songs were accompanied by a moving background with digital images. Although their music has a soft sound, the graphics and band’s enthusiasm brought a new kind of feeling to the Fray’s music. I normally listen to their music when I am out for a relaxing carride or trying to quiet myself to sleep, but on June 11th the music gave me a whole different experience. The Fray even added an extra twist to the night. They sang happy birthday to one of the band members.

By the end of the night, I was left speechless. I had been exposed to a unique emo/indie sound, energetic performance, and heartfelt stage presence. I’d say that June 11th was one successful night.