// LIFTED w/Big Cats, DJ Snuggles, Rapper Hooks @ First Avenue //

THIS SATURDAY

Whether or not you’re celebrating 4/20, this is just about the cheapest mainroom show you’ll get at First Ave with some of the best local rappers and DJs.

Big guns: Big Cats, DJ Snuggles

New kids: Psymun, Damacha 

+ Rapper Hooks, The Sundance Kid

$5 / 18+ / 10PM

- Alex

// The Best Moments in Minneapolis of 2012//

2012 was a great year to be in Minneapolis. A ton of music was played, a bunch of festivals, block parties, and movie screenings happened, and in general, great fun was had. It’s hard to pick “the best” moments of such an amazing year, but we tried, and each picked three of our favorite Minneapolis moments.

Beth’s Best Moments 

- The Wake’s 10th Anniversary Show (March 5th)

This was my first time at the Triple Rock and my first time seeing both Hot Freaks and Nice Purse (or any local band, for that matter). It was also the most exciting and energetic local show of 2012, in my opinion. Before that show I didn’t really feel like I knew anything about what was happening in Minneapolis. After, I realized that it was pretty easy to find awesome stuff to do all the time!  

- The Lovemelt Wedding Celebration (April 20th)

In late April, Hal and Kara Lovemelt (a last name they made up and adopted together) threw a party at The Varsity to celebrate their marriage. It was open to everyone, so naturally, we went. It was one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever experienced. They put on a play that expressed their personalities, their journey, and their love for one another. Then they opened the floor for everyone to dance and play with Playatta’s interactive video. Plus, they handed out free posters to commemorate the event. So romantic, so weird, so awesome. 

- Tour de Fat (July 28th)

We found out about this almost literally the day before it happened, I think. I don’t know why we decided to go because we knew almost nothing about it. But the costumed bike parade sounded intriguing - and it turned into one of the best, most spontaneous days of the summer. We spent all day looking at crazy people, crazy bikes, and having crazy fun. 

Honorable Mentions:
- Going dancing with Alex to a dance night that I knew nothing about - it turned out to be Transmission’s 11th Anniversary Dance Night. Best surprise ever.
- Marathoning fun on a crummy day, starting with the U’s Holi Festival followed by Zoo Animal, followed by my first trip to the Electric Fetus, followed by delicious Pizza Luce (all this with Holi powder all over us).
- Seeing Spring Awakening for the first time at Rarig. SO GOOD.
- Biking all over the city for Northern Spark.
- Dancing and going bananas at the Nice Purse/France Camp show before Alex’s birthday.
- Dressing up for Rocky Horror at the Uptown Theater and Alex almost winning the costume contest with his “Rasta Riff Raff” costume (LOL).
- The most intense show of the year: Crystal Castles at First Ave. 
- Going onstage at First Ave at the “End of the World” party (with a toilet paper gun, no less).

Alex’s Best Moments

- The Lovemelt Wedding Celebration — April 20th
I remember walking into the Varsity Theater to a packed house (of people dressed in everything from jeans and tshirts to costumes to tuxedos), performers dancing in the audience, and a video projection of the Lovemelt love story onstage. Despite only having talked with Hal (Kara and him are “The Lovemelts”) a handful of times before, Beth and I decided to go since it was open to the public. What we thought would be a fun night of dancing became the most honest, beautiful, and imaginative expressions of love I have ever seen. I just want to thank Hal and Kara for letting us share in that experience.

- Holi Celebration / Augsburg SpringFest / Record Store Day (at the Electric Fetus) — April 21st 
Despite being one of the dreariest days of the year (cloudy, rainy, cold), Beth and I biked all around town. First we went to the Holi Celebration at the U of M and threw colored powder at a bunch of strangers. Then we biked in the rain to Augsburg’s SpringFest to see Zoo Animal. There weren’t very many people, but we got free coffee and sandwiches and ZA was incredible. After, we went to Record Store Day at the Electric Fetus to catch Howler but missed them by a few minutes. It was worth it though because we got to see Eric Hutchinson (who had a sold out show at First Ave that night) ask the audience, “Any requests? I’ll play whatever you want!” which was followed by silence and then some guy yelling, “FREEBIRD!” Lastly, we got some much needed hot food at Pizza Luce downtown. Boom.

- Crystal Castles — November 1st
I grew up going to hardcore/screamo/pop punk shows at Station 4 and any other venue that would dare have them. So I really miss mosh pits and the super high energy you would find not only from the bands but from everyone who attended. Crystal Castles induces that high energy, but without the flailing fists. One of my least favorite things about Minneapolis is that most people are too afraid/lame to dance, jump, and run into each other during concerts. That was not the case this night. The crowd on the floor was jumping around during every song and Alice spit whiskey into Beth’s face—what more could you want?

Honorable Mentions: 
-The Wake’s Birthday (with Hot Freaks, Nice Purse, and Crimes) and Homecoming (with Art School Girls, Red Daughters, and Umami) concerts at the Triple Rock.
-Staying up all night at Northern Spark.
-Transmission’s 11th Anniversary dance party.
-Zoo Animal’s “Departure” release show at the Entry.
-Big Cats’ in-store performance at the Electric Fetus because A TON of local rappers showed up and freestyled.
-Sitting five feet away from Mountain Man-backed Feist at the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater.
-Poliça’s in-store performance at the Electric Fetus. Channy said she liked my No Kings pin. nbd.

If you haven’t yet, watch our recap video for more pictures and videos of good times. 

- Beth & Alex

// The End of the World @ First Avenue //

END OF THE WORLD PARTY (Friday, Dec. 21st)

with

The Chalice
The Tribe & Big Cats!
Sean Anonymous w/DJ Name
hosted by Toki Wright

$8 advance / $10 door / 9PM-2AM / 18+

And if the idea of spending your last night on earth at First Ave isn’t enough, there will be a “Countdown ‘til Death” Timer, a balloon drop, confetti cannons, a wall where you can write your last requests, and at least a few drunk people who will actually start freaking out around midnight.

RSVP ON FACEBOOK IF YOU’RE INTO THAT

- Alex

// SoundTown Aftermath - shows this weekend//

I should be at SoundTown right now, but I’m not because the people who put that festival together had no idea what they were doing. A ton of people (including myself) were pumped for what was looking like the best festival in the Minnesota-Wisconsin area this summer and now we’re stuck in Minneapolis this weekend. Bummer city. 

BUT! The upside of a major festival canceling at the last minute is a lot of those acts need to find different places to play that weekend, and a good number have rescheduled at Minneapolis venues. Here are the shows:

Friday, July 27th 

-Dr. Dog @ First Ave Mainroom, 8PM, $15

-The Baseball Project @ 400 Bar, 8PM, $15

Saturday, July 28th

-Best Coast, JEFF the Brotherhood, Those Darlins @ The Cedar, 7PM, $17

-White Denim @ 400 Bar, 8PM, $10/$12

-The Temper Trap @ First Ave Mainroom, 11PM, $20/$25

Besides The Temper Trap, these are all really good deals. 

- Alex

// TTxBC “Space” Release Show - 7th Street Entry//

TONIGHT

The Tribe & Big Cats! (TTxBC) is releasing their third album in less than two years. Their latest record, Space, shows that producer/beatmaker Big Cats is never going to stop innovating while rapper TruthBeTold still brings the heat - kicking it up a few notches while not alienating listeners like a lot of rappers do (he rhymes the seasons and Dragonball). 

Back in December TTxBC released Make Good at the 7th Street Entry and the show sold out right after doors opened, so don’t sleep. Get your tickets at…

-First Ave’s website for will call

-The Depot, comes with $1 coupons for every ticket

-Fifth Element, comes with high-fives and stickers

Download “Space” for free RIGHT HERE so you’re ready.

- Alex

// Girl Walk // All Day @ First Avenue//

No matter how you feel about the rest of the mashup artists out there, you can’t deny that Girl Talk’s music is infectious. Every time I hear it I can’t help but start dancing like an idiot. It’s so infectious that some guy out there named Jacob Krupnick created a music video (Girl Walk // All Day) for all 71-minutes of Girl Talk’s latest album All Day.

“A 71-minute music video? That must get boring.”

WRONG.

This is more of a feature-length film than a music video, but instead of relaxing with pop and popcorn you’ll want to get the fuck up and dance like a crazy person. 

GOOD NEWS. First Ave is having a Girl Walk // All Day screening/dance party THIS FRIDAY in the mainroom! MY LIFE IS COMPLETE. Seriously though, get down to First Ave on Friday. Not only are they screening the film while people dance, but Wak Lyf and Arena Dance will be there to keep the crowd moving before they play it a second time. 

What? Out Of Control Girl Talk Music Video Dance Party

Where? First Avenue

When? THIS FRIDAY (JUNE 15th), be there before 9PM (the first screening)

18+

$8 advance / $10 door

When you go to First Ave tomorrow night and see a group of people dancing like crazy right when the movie starts, that’ll be us and our friends. Come join us and let loose.

-Alex