Scene On The Street "Things I Wasn't Aware Of" Edition: 08/13/11 Graffiti = Killing Puppies Sticker Art, South Minneapolis

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Scene On The Street: 08/13/11 - Spray Painted & Sid Vicious Stickered Stop Sign, South Minneapolis

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One From The Archives: 08/14/97 Aerosmith/ Johnny Lang @ Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

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Earlier Tonight: Down An Alley In Someone's Back Yard In South Minneapolis...Grind Core Live!

After spending most of the afternoon walking from uptown Minneapolis to downtown Minneapolis, grabbing some concert tickets for an upcoming show at First Avenue, then walking much of the way back uptown again, we were just about back to our car when we heard some pretty intense musical noises coming from down an alley near Bryant Avenue and 32nd Street in South Minneapolis. We decided it would be wise to investigate.



We turned down the alley and found the yard from where the music was coming from. We had a peek through the bushes encircling the yard, affording it a bit of privacy, to find a group of people gathered, having a great time by the looks of things, enjoying a rather noisy "Grind Core" kind of band who were playing at pretty loud volume on a crudely constructed platform in this otherwise non-descript back yard. We were motioned into the yard by someone who spotted us by the gate, we made our way into the yard and joined the situation, already in progress...we stayed for just long enough to enjoy ourselves a bit and bring you some exclusive footage right here at ThisAintTheSummerOfLove to rock your Saturday night into the history books...

One From The Archives: 08/10/98 Beastie Boys @ Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

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*I found this on the sidewalk in front of the Target Center the day after the show, which, unfortunately, I was unable to attend.

One From The Archives: 08/10/03 Type O Negative/ Lacuna Coil @ The Quest, Minneapolis, MN

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One From The Archives: 08/08/94 Motley Crue/ Type O Negative @ Mirage, Minneapolis, MN

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Tonight! 08/05/11 Obsession/ 3 Below/ Attica @ The Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN

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One From The Archives: 08/01/06 Impaler/ Blitzkid/ Ripsnorter/ Invasion Earth @ 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN

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Scene On The Street: A Southwest Minneapolis Garage Door Mural And The Rel Life Scene That Inspired It

Spotted this cool painting on a garage door in an alley on the 3700 block of Nicollet Avenue South over the weekend. The painting depicts a well known downtown Minneapolis view, that of the Hennepin Avenue Mississippi River bridge and the infamous old Grain Belt Beer sign that sits just north of the bridge on the east bank of the river...



...and here's a shot of the real-life scene that inspired the painting. This was taken on a fall evening in 2007.


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One From The Archives: 07/23/05 Static X/ American Head Charge/ Bloodsimple/ 10 Years @ First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN

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One From The Archives: 07/22/06 The Sword/ Saviors/ Those Peabodys @ Ascot Room at the Quest, Minneapolis, MN

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Tonight! 07/18/11 Thurston Moore & Kurt Vile and the Violators @ Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN

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One From The Archives: 07/17/09 Bison/ Lazarus A.D./ Barnburner @ Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN

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One From The Archives: 07/07/05 Sounds of the Underground Tour @ Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

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One From The Archives: 07/06/05 Stevie Nicks/ Special Guest @ Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

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After a few weeks spent contemplating seeing W.A.S.P., L.A. Guns, Stephen Pearcy and Metal Church in Andover, MN on this date in 2005, then finding out at the last minute that W.A.S.P. had cancelled their appearance that evening (which was no big shock to me as they are known for last minute cancellations), I decided to skip the drive all the way to Andover for the remaining bands on the bill and instead decided I'd go to Minneapolis and see Stevie Nicks, who was playing at the Target Center that same evening. A few minutes later I was on my way.

I arrived at the Target Center and just as I was abouout to step into the line at the box office to purchase a ticket to the show, this reasonably good looking lady in her mid 20's or early 30's comes up to me and says, "Hey! Don't buy a ticket! I've got an extra and you can HAVE it - no cash." She had my attention with this. She explained further: A co-worker of hers had been planning on going to the show and had to change his plans at the last minute, so he had just given her his pair of tickets to the show. She didn't have anyone to go with her, so she went solo, figuring she could sell or give the ticket away when she arrived. Not quite sure why she didn't try to get at least a few bucks out of me for the ticket, but I was grateful for her generosity. We introduced each other and made our way inside the Target Center and soon found our seats. A few minutes later, the opening act, a young woman playing a piano came out and played her songs. I don't remember her name, and I don't really remember much of her material, but I do remember she introduced one song as a Lesbian love ballad, with the statement that her "mother hates this song."

Stevie and her band came out a bit later in the evening and as I had expected, she was absolutely amazing. Stevie has, for a few decades now, been up near the very top of my favorite female vocalists. There's just something about her voice that gets to me deep down inside. Even when I listen to her CD's at just the right volume (read: loud), some of the songs very nearly give me chills. Many of her songs (not the radio stuff) are just haunting and sad...tales of horribly emotional relationships that have gone bad. Need proof? Listen to the songs "Fire Burning," "Ooh My Love," and "Doing the Best I Can (Escape from Berlin)" from her 1989 album "The Other Side of the Mirror." There are so many great songs in her repetoire and over the course of nearly two hours, she belted them out, one after the other, with great emotion and stage presence. Of course, her long-time guitar slinger Waddy Watchel was there, and he impressed the hell out of me too.

The lady who gave me the ticket and I made small conversation throughout the show and she seemed to be equally impressed with Stevie and her band. At the end of the show I thanked her once again for the ticket. She said, "No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed the show." I didn't try to pick her up or get her phone number or anything and I think she enjoyed that I wasn't pressuring her or anything. It was nothing but a few hours spent in the company of a complete stranger, enjoying some fine music.

And as I'm writing this, I'm thinking it's about time for Ms. Nicks to return to the Twin Cities for another show...would love to see her one more time.

Scene On The Street: 07/02/11 Trash Bin Graffiti, Minneapolis, MN

We spotted this lovely tag on the rim of a trash bin in front of Cheapo Records in Minneapolis during our travels yesterday...

One From The Archives: 06/27/08 Uptown Pride Block Party 2008 @ Bryant Ave. & Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN

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06/24/11 Motley Crue/ Poison/ New York Dolls @ Target Center, Minneapolis, MN (Part I - New York Dolls)

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After waiting excitedly for a few months for the day of this show to arrive, it was kind of a drag to come home from work yesterday only to find the Gorgeous One not feeling very well. By the time it was time to leave for Minneapolis, her headache was still pounding away and she was really not feeeling much better. So, after some discussion and with more than some regret, she decided to skip the show and sent me on my way to rock and roll solo. I tenderly kisssed her soft pouty lips goodbye and was soon on my way for a date with the Dolls and the Crue! Oh, and Poison, too.

After doing battle with the always horrid Friday-at-5:00pm Twin Cities rush hour traffic conditions for the better part of an hour, I arrived in downtown Minneapolis, parked the car and walked several blocks out of my way to grab a quick and as-always tasty bite to eat at Chipotle. Meal almost inatantaneously devoured and a ravenous hunger satiated, it was time to walk over to the Target Center and enjoy one of the finer things in life...a good old fashioned Friday evening rock and roll show.

A few blocks from the arena I spied a guy on the street looking for a ticket. I said I had one (since the Gorgeous One was forced to sit this one out) and I'd give it up for $15.00. He said $10.00. Or no deal. So I said OK...figuring $10 back out of the $25 original price was better than nothing. It would buy me a soda and nachos at the show or something I figured. I handed him the ticket, took my money, thanked the guy and continued on my way.

I arrived a at the Target Center a few minutes later. The doors were already open and people were making their way inside the arena. I fished my ticket out of my wallet and joined the line and was quickly inside and on my way up to the upper deck. I stopped by the concession booth and grabbed a large soda and M&M's. Then I checked out the t-shirt booth - nothing really jumped out at me except the $60.oo Motley Crue "Pentagram" hoodie - but I wasn't spending that kind of cash, so I passed - and went in and found my seat, ate my M&M's and slurped at my soda and waited for the show to begin. The people continued to trickle in slowly but it was soon obvious that the Dolls would be playing to a nearly empty hall as it seemed people were taking their sweet old time to arrive late to catch the headliners. Their loss. Just after 7:30pm, the house lights went out and the Dolls sauntered out on stage to a smattering of applause from the scant crowd that had assembeled thusfar. I was on the edge of my seat...ready and waiting for it. I don't think most of those in attendance knew what to expect...I did.

Looking For A Kiss



Dance Like A Monkey



And around this point it the set, the band locked into their groove and really began to lay it down...

Cause I Sez So



Who Are The Mystery Girls?



And then they took it down a notch...

Talk To Me Baby



Kids Like You



...and then it was BAM! Right back to kickin' some serious ass!

Pills



Trash



Personality Crisis



I was thinking to myself, "They almost sound like a metal band!" They were kicking serious serious ass at this point and those who arrived late really missed out. Before the show I was afraid the Dolls would be swallowed up by the "bigness" of the stage production and the size of the Target Center - they're mostly a "club" band after all...but I needn't have worried. Their set was brilliant, they came across with HUGE personality - rocking as if the hall was filled to capacity, which, by the time they finished up, was still not the reality of the situation unfortunately. But after each song they got a nice applause from the people who were there, which was nice to hear. I'm hoping they won over some new fans here because they worked hard for it. Bravo Dolls...thanks for bringing a bit of that beloved NYC 70's R&R sound to Minneapolis.

And they still had one more blast from the past left up their sleeve before their all-too brief set was over...

Jet Boy



...and then they were gone. The house lights came up and I got up from my seat to stretch a bit and to go outside and have a smoke. I didn't really feel the need to sit and watch the set change for Poison...or to actually even see Poison at all for that matter. So I got up and made my way outside to smoke...and to call The Gorgeous One and see how she was feeling and report to her the smashing brilliance of the Dolls' set.

CONTINUED in "06/24/11 - Part II - Motley Crue"

One From The Archives: 06/24/03 Faster Pussycat/ Enuff Z'Nuff/ Pretty Boy Floyd @ The Quest, Minneapolis, MN

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