Minneapolis Music History

Gig roundup: 30 years on, Boy Dirt Car is still on the frontiers of rock

A piece from 2011 about Boy Dirt Car.
“While Boy Dirt Car wasn't the only local band exploring the outer reaches of rock and roll, where noise meets beats…it was by far the most active and most internationally renowned Milwaukee example.”

In Memory of Paul K, “The Greatest Unknown Songwriter of his Generation” Videos by American Songwriter The Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist died March 16 in Kentucky. “I walked into JR’s in Cincinnati one night back in 1986,” wrote Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs, “and watched a...

Very interesting piece about Paul K. RIP. “The Greatest Unknown Songwriter of His Generation.”
“A former junkie turned alcoholic who admired the likes of Johnny Thunders and Townes Van Zandt just a little too much…”

Don't Say Please : The Oral History of Die Kreuzen Jul 22, 2020 • Die Kreuzen live at the 7th St Entry on 8/8/87. All photos by Scott A Dolan, used by permission.

FB post with images from the 7th Street Entry.

Flyer: Die Kreuzen FROM MILWAULKEE PAUL K & THE WEATHERMEN & boy dirt car SAT.AUGUST 8 ALL AGE : 4 PM ID'S 9PM 7th ST ENTRY Downtown. Mpls.

On this date: August 8, 1987. Die Kreuzen, Paul K & The Weathermen, and Boy Dirt Car. 7th Street Entry. Flyer from my archives.

JFA released some material last year!

Cover of Outcry 12” EP.

Music calendar from August 1984 at First Avenue & 7th Street Entry.

August 1984 at First Avenue & 7th Street Entry.

I’m the curator who acquired that handbill from Greg Norton about 25 years ago. Grant Hart, of course, designed it. The power drill as its subject is a dig, or perhaps a joke, aimed at Hartley Frank, who succeeded Jay as the Longhorn’s owner. The former said the trio sounded like a power drill…

It’s an excellent documentary!

MN90. Minnesota History in 90 Seconds. Jay’s Longhorn.

YouTube video by CHARboy78 The Wallets - Totally Nude

The Wallets - “Totally Nude” music video

7th ST. ENTRY WED, AUG. 7 COMEDICUS SPASTICUS Stand-Up Comedy In The 7th St. Entryt THIS WEEK FEATURING: TOM ARNOLD, MIKE GANDOLPHI, BRUCE MURRAY, JOE LYON & ALEX COLE THURS., AUG 8 GANGRENE from Boston MOTORHOME AB Ages Show 4. PM D Show 9 PM FRL, AUG. 9 SONIC YOUTH Mom Hem Yond NO LREND foen Mah sey PROCESS BLUE SAT., AUG 10) BLACK FLAG SWA & OM TROCCOL'S DOC Ace Show in Main Room 2 PM 30 adv 5.00 door SOL TUES., AUG, 13 NATIONAL

And the final part of the ad. Sonic Youth! Black Flag!

MON., AUG 12 ARROW and the DOMINICAN SWINGING STARS CALYPSO ISLAND SOUNDS $6.50 adv. $7.50 door UPCOMING WED, AUG. 14 B-MOVIE CRUSH ON YOU FINAL DATE WED AUG. 21 BLACK UHURU SUN.. AUG, 25 READY FOR THE WORLD MON.. AUG. 26 JOHNATHAN RICHMAN & JOHN CALE CONSTAVENUES NOMEN * AVENUE, NORTHERN LIGHTS MUSIC THE ELECTRIC OAR FOLKJOKEOPUS. PLATTERS AT TATTERS

More from the August 1985 ad. Jonathan Richman! I wonder when the show happened when he asked someone to stop playing pinball during his set. I seem to recall Mary Lucia telling this story.

FIRST AVENUE WED, AUG 7 THE WALLETS with pecial ques THE TOASTERS concent & "TOTALLY NUDE" VIDEO PELEASE PARTY $2.00 adv. $4.00 at the door THURS, AUGUST 8 EVERYBODY IS A STAR Series 2 CATEGORIES LIP SYNC MIME DANCE O 19 PLACE PAL COMEDY NTA VARIETY 1300 Door FRI., AUG. 9 "RETURN OF THE DEAD" 8-10 PM NO COVER 8-9 PM SUN. AUG. 11 MITCH RYDER with special CURUISSPA 8 6800 JOE $3.50 adv. $5.00 door

Forty years ago today, there was a show at First Avenue by The Wallets that included a party for the release of their “Totally Nude” video. From the Twin Cities Reader published on Aug. 7, 1985.

News rack with: FREE CITY PAGES The News and Arts Weekly of the Twin Cities

City Pages rack in the wild in a downtown Mpls skyway, approximately five years after it ceased publication.

This historic designation relies heavily on research by Kristen Zschomler, who might know more about the geography of Prince’s life than any other living human. I’ve collaborated with Kristen on music history things in the past and have more collaboration planned in the future. She is driven!

IMO, it’s great to see this music-related historic designation move forward. Hopefully there will be more to come.

Prince was 6-12 years old when he lived in this house. It’s where he “developed his songwriting, performing, and singing abilities” including learning to play the piano.

On Aug. 12, the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the potential historic landmark designation of 2620 8th Ave N. The significance of this property: Prince’s childhood home from 1965-1970. Agenda below, with link to report.

I was able to catch a screening of “Something Better Change” and briefly chat with Joey at Sound Unseen last fall. Cool film and and quality person.

Jimmy Page is in Minneapolis. On this day in 1966, I played Dayton's Auditorium with The Yardbirds. This was the first date of any American tour for me, and on this day I played with The Yardbirds on bass. In fact, although having had two visits to the States prior to this, this was the first time I ever played a show there. The first date here in Minneapolis, Minnesota on the 5th of August was at Dayton's Department Store, 8th Floor Auditorium and the surroundings felt quite surreal.

Music Just Happens for Yardbird Quintet”. Minneapolis Star review.

On this date. August 5, 1966. Jimmy Page plays his first ever show in America at a Minneapolis performance by the Yardbirds.
Posted on FB by Alan Freed.

UNSEEN STOOGES PHOTOS BY MIKE BARICH In celebration of today's release of Gimme Danger we are happy to be able to publish these unseen photos of the Stooges by photographer Mike Barich.

Photos from the show.

1STN POP FESTIVAL FRIDAY• MARCH 20 4 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT MET SPORTS CENTER GRAND FUNK RAILROAD CANNED HEAT 8 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS MUSIC FEATURING 12 NATIONALLY FAMOUS GROUPS BUDDY MILES EXPRESS • SRC AMBOY DUKES • LITTER • TRUTH CONQUEROR WORM • STOOGES • ROTARY CONNECTION • BROWNSVILLE STATION • BRIAN AUGER & the TRINITY • SOUND BY TOMORROW INCORPORATED (Creates an undistorted sound!) Tickets: General Admission - $5.00 ON SALE AT: MET SPORTS CENTER Ist NATIONAL BANK CONCOURSES Mpis. & St. Paul) ALL DAYTON TICKET OFFICES (Charge 'em" Magoo's, Electric Fetus, and The Discount Record Shop

Ad for the 1st Met Pop Festival.

This made me wonder about the first Stooges performance in the Twin Cities.
March 20, 1970. The 1st Met Pop Festival at the Met Center. Seven months after the release of the debut LP.

The cover of the first issue of the Twin Cities version of Sweet Potato, featuring the band The Cars. August 1979.

In August of 1979, Sweet Potato became a monthly publication in Minneapolis. The Cars were featured on the first cover. The publication included a ton of music coverage. It went to bi-weekly in Oct. 1980. On Dec. 3, 1981, it went weekly and was called City Pages.

I made it back in time for the video shoot and was one of the raffle winners at the end! In addition to being a badass, Cindy is a very kind and generous soul and I’d highly recommend checking out the vital music she’s making in 2025 in addition to looking back at the Clams releases from the ‘80s.

The Current Rewind: Aug. 3, 1983 Most casual Prince fans know 'Purple Rain' was partially filmed at First Avenue. But did you know the title song is a live recording, taped at First Ave a few months before filming started? In this ep...

An excellent oral history of Prince and Friends' August 3, 1983 benefit concert at First Avenue can be heard (or read!) at The Current Rewind podcast webpage. The show is also the centerpiece for an exploration of Prince in Minneapolis at @placesjournal.bsky.social
placesjournal.org/article/prin...

CinayLawson Video Shoot August 3 Eagles 34 7-830₽ Must be 21 THE RECKONING COMING FALL 2025 ON HYGH TENSION (TLG) / VIRGIN RECORDS

Am I hoping to be back in Minneapolis in time for tonight’s @cindysongs.bsky.social video shoot? You bet I am!

Prince in purple seen from above with a few rows of fans from the Aug. 3, 1983 concert at First Avenue.

First Avenue had never asked $25/ticket before. Estimates of the crowd range from 1,100–1,500 (probably the difference of paid vs. total attendance w/guest lists). I was there, with an exchange student who'd arrived days before from Oslo—I got her an ID from a pal whose Swedish looks were close enuf