JESS BECK | Go Venue Magazine
This marks my second time to this quaint, albeit well-established part of the First Avenue & 7th Street Entry, but this marks the first time I’ve experienced a sold-out show here.
It’s very reminiscent of your favorite hole in the wall that everyone talks about.
It’s the place to say, “I’ve been there before!” as you drive past in your minivan hauling your new duvet covers.
Legends play here – and yes, the venue itself is very tiny, the lighting isn’t the greatest, but the sound quality is top-notch, which made it THE place to be on Sunday, September 24, 2023 in downtown Minneapolis.
First up was a bit of a shock since there were only two names advertised on the bill, but Saywhen was actually quite pleasant to listen to. He sort of looks like if Sonny from P.O.D. and Post Malone had a baby, but the fella really means what he sings about. During the final song, he became emotional when the song right before that had everyone waiving their hands in the air. Certainly knows how to read a room!
Kingdom Collapse was really special to finally see live. I’ve been following these guys for a while on social media, and they are just the most genuine, kind people that will fucking stab your face off with how tight they play! The floor was vibrating from how incredibly loud their set was, but they really knew how to command the audience. Vocalist Jonathan Norris delivered a spectacle with limited space on stage, but it was impressive to see how forcefully he connected with the audience. If you get the chance to see these guys live – you won’t regret getting a ticket!
After a bit of an extended waiting time between changeovers, Fame on Fire entered the stage to a very warm welcome, and my eternal gratitude for bringing some extra light to the performance! If you’re not familiar with these guys – introduce yourself to some of their covers (Side to Side is by far the best, but you can be wrong) and then dive into their new stuff. This way you get a really well-rounded perspective on where they’ve been and where they are now.
This is the second time I’ve covered these guys, and each performance just keeps getting better. They could easily sell out a venue three times that size. They are arguably one of the hardest working acts out there. I guess this one was special because it really did feel like you could say, “Oh, those guys? Yeah, I saw ’em back when they played here.” Their electrifying performance and reimagined covers of hit songs had the audience singing along as if they were at a massive stadium gig rather than an intimate venue in Minnesota.
As always, a huge thank you to the venue staff for working to keep us all safe during the sold-out show! Remember to wear your deodorant, keep your hands to yourselves, and to tip your bartenders!
We’ll catch ya at the next one!
Fame on Fire
Kingdom Collapse
Saywhen
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