Three Excellent Shows Tonight In Minneapolis

Download: The Hives - "Tick Tick Boom"
Download: The Donnas - "Don't Wait Up For Me"

Two of the definitive definite article bands - The Hives and The Donnas - are in town to Rawk First Avenue tonight. Tickets are $20 and the show is all-ages. The show is not sold out yet, so if you've got an inclination for going, give in, for those about to rock will be undoubtedly saluted at a night like this.

The Hives MySpace Page
The Donnas MySpace Page



Download: The Black Lips - "Stranger"
Download: The Black Lips - "O Katrina"

Garage rock was essentially born out of young, adolescent men in the 1960s trying to emulate the old R&B records from decades previous. The Black Lips, a highly energetic quartet from Atlanta, Georgia, harkens back to that time with simple, but immensely addictive, rock squalor. Last year, the Lips released two records, Los Valientes Del Mundo and Good Bad Not Evil. The band, known for its chaotic, comedic and wholly unpredictable live shows, play at the 7th Street Entry. Tickets are $14 for a 21+ show. Doors open at 8 p.m.

The Black Lips MySpace Page



Download: Crystal Castles - "Air War"
Download: HEALTH - "Crimewave"

HEALTH and Crystal Castles play at the T-Rock tonight. Crystal Castles will be issuing their debut album in a couple of weeks, so check them out tonight if you want to get an advanced taste. Tickets are $14 and doors are at 9 p.m. for a 21+ show.

HEALTH MySpace Page
Crystal Castles MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

The Hives Rock First Ave In Late February, Announce More US Tour Dates

Download: The Hives - "Tick Tick Boom"
Download: The Donnas - "Don't Wait Up For Me"

If The Hives are law, and you are crime, then you'll have multiple opportunities to get arrested, should the band be in law enforcement mood during their live shows. Still touring behind last fall's The Black And White Album, the band has announced several dates, including one in Minneapolis at First Avenue on February 28th.

Opening will be The Donnas, who are still going strong behind their last release, Bitchin', which was also released last fall.

Besides definite articles, both The Hives and The Donnas have larger-than-life-bordering-on-tongue-in-cheek rock sounds which are gloriously indebted to great bands of the past. Similarly, both bands have their backs against the record industry wall, with The Hives putting out their first record since the commercially underwhelming Tyrannosaurus Hives, and The Donnas showcasing Bitchin' as the first release on their own label. Hopefully, these groups will combine their efforts and produce a glorious evening of fist-pumping anthems and unabashed enthusiasm.

A.K.A Tour Dates:

Feb 14 2008 8:00P
UMA Night Club Monterrey, Nuevo León
Feb 16 2008 8:00P
MX Beat Guadalajara, Jalisco
Feb 17 2008 8:00P
Salon Vive Cuevo Mexico DF, México
Feb 19 2008 8:00P
The Wiltern Los Angeles, California
Feb 20 2008 8:00P
The Filmore San Francisco, California
Feb 21 2008 8:00P
Roseland Theater Portland, Oregon
Feb 22 2008 8:00P
Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, British Columbia
Feb 23 2008 8:00P
Showbox SODO Seattle, Washington
Feb 26 2008 8:00P
Ogden Theatre Denver, Colorado
Feb 28 2008 8:00P
First Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota
Feb 29 2008 8:00P
Riviera Theater Chicago, Illinois
Mar 1 2008 8:00P
Newport Music Hall Columbus, Ohio
Mar 2 2008 8:00P
Agora Theater Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 3 2008 8:00P
Kool Haus Toronto, Ontario
Mar 4 2008 8:00P
Club Soda Montreal, Quebec
Mar 7 2008 8:00P
Terminal 5 New York, New York
Mar 8 2008 8:00P
930 Club Washington DC, Washington DC

The Hives MySpace Page
The Donnas MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

The Donnas - Bitchin'

The Donnas
Bitchin' (Purple Feather, 2007)
Grade: A

Download: The Donnas - "Don't Wait Up For Me"

"So, what happened?" was the first question I asked Donnas lead-singer Brett Anderson over the phone as she was trying to get into a taxi. Caught off guard, she asked me to repeat myself, I think she was expecting an insult. I clarified: "This album kicks so much ass, what happened to make you guys wanna make a record like this?"

She laughed, asked me to repeat what I just said and handed the phone to drummer Torry Castellano. I did what I was told.

"Well," Anderson said. "We just had time to follow through on all of our ideas on this record ... We started with the angle that we were going straight to pop, but we are a rock band and wanted to make a rock record. We wanted to make a huge arena rock album."

And holy crap they did. All of the previous Donnas releases have been great rock records, but "Bitchin'" is different. Granted, if you are an Animal Collective or Pavement disciple, this record won't do it for you. But it's not supposed to. This record is for the elite few who actually own KISS on vinyl and wear Van Halen shirts without irony.

"The rock thing just makes sense to us, and we wanted to polish that," Anderson said. "We can still evolve and change and grow, but the genre doesn't change ... This isn't the same record we put out before, none of them are."

Furthermore, the Donnas put out this record on their own Purple Feather Records, which is unquestionably cool -- they even clocked in at #89 on Billboard on their own fuel. "We can't help but wonder what it would be like with a big label," Anderson said. "But we're also proud that we did it on your own ... It was easier to make a straightforward album on our own."

In short, the guitars a big, the hooks are great and there is always cowbell somewhere. "We are a rock band," Anderson said. "And rock bands should make rock records."

***The Donnas are playing an all ages show tonight at the Varsity Theater, doors at 6pm. Tell your friends.

Buy the record here from Amazon.com
The Donnas on MySpace
(Ian Anderson)