Varsity Theater New Year's Eve Party

There is so much to do on New Year’s Eve that I don’t think I will make it over to the Varsity Theater for this party, but I wanted to post it on my blog anyway. Don’t have plans for New Year’s? Head over to the Varsity Theater at 8pm and ring in the New Year with Mark Mallman, E.L.nO and Lucy Michelle.

Radio Station 89.3 The Current is sponsoring the show and it should be a great time. Tickets are around $15 with fees - if you go, let me know how it turns out!

Varsity Theater Blogger MIA

OK, I know I have not been doing a great job at keeping my Varsity Theater blog updated! I have been working like crazy (which is good, right?) and haven’t had much time to blog about my favorite hang out – in fact, I haven’t even been to my favorite hang out in awhile. My blogging friend Cortney over at Style and Sports went to Glitter Ball and said it was a great time. She said the people watching rocked and it usually does at the Varsity!

I don’t want to give up this blog, but I have to find time to fit it into my schedule these days. Don’t give up on me Varsity fans – I will try to get it together.

Varsity Theater Parking

have you ever wondered where to park when you go the varsity? Varsity Theater parking can be difficult especially if you are still trying to locate Varsity Theater tickets the night of the show and because it is located in Dinkeytown. Parking in the Dinkeytown area is extremely difficult simply because the amount of spaces far exceeds the amount of people that need to park their car.
When I go to the Varsity, I always park in the flat lot behind Burrito Loco. It's a short walk (about a 1 1/2 blocks) and it's reasonably cheap at $4 if you go after 5 pm.

Other than that you are confined to the 4th Street ramp, which is owned by the University and you have to pay by the hour. The other downfall of that ramp is that it's about 4 blocks away - not a problem in the summer, but now that cold weather is approaching you may want to just park at the flat lot. And good luck trying to find a parking meter! Those are always full!

Shiny Toy Guns this Friday! ! !

There are a still Varsity Theater tickets left for the Shiny Toy Guns show this Friday, October 22nd. I am really surprised because I thought it would be sold out by now for sure, but still, if you were going to wait until the night of the show you may want to reconsider!

Shiny Toy Guns are on tour to promote the re-re-release of their We Are Pilots album. Considering its original release was in 2005, they are certainly lucky to still be touring in support of it. The Oklahoma quartet was in town last year around this time opening for the Rapture at the Fine Line.

Varsity theater tickets for the Shiny Toy Guys show are on sale now!

Varsity Theater Blog

I can’t believe it has been so long since I have written in my Varsity Theater blog! What have I been doing?!? Don’t worry Varsity Theater loyalists, I haven’t forgotten you. I promise to write more soon and update the Varsity Theater calendar. In the meantime, leave me COMMENTS on this Varsity Theater Blog and if you have a site you want me to link to, let me know!

Stay Tuned….

Ben Kweller show announced!!!!!

My favorite Texan, Ben Kweller has announced a show at the Varsity Theater on October 13th!
I love it when my favorite bands announce shows at the Varsity because it's such a great place to see a show!
Varsity Theater tickets for this show will sell fast, Ben Kweller has a very dedicated fan base. He was here at the beginning of the summer with Aimee Mann for a Minnesota Zoo show and he definitely drew as many fans to the concert as Aimee Mann did.

Ben Kweller is touring in support of his new album, most of which he played at the Minnesota Zoo show.



See you there!

Flobots at the Varsity!

My brother listens to all the music on MTV that I don't have time to keep up with anymore. Although it makes me feel old, I like having music in common with him. Long ago are the days where I would ask myself "Where did I go wrong?" when Ryan would ask me for the new Eminem or 50 Cent cd. Now we have a lot more in common; he now shares my love for the Foo Fighters and Death Cab and he even laughs at Journey with me. Give it a little more time and he will be jamming to Spindrift and the Brian Jonestown Massacre with me and begging me to go to Warlocks shows.

Anywho, he keeps me on my toes and introduces me to a lot of stuff that even I don't know. One of my new favorites is the Flobots. They're a hipster rap band getting airplay on Fuse, a channel that has since changed it's target audience since I was 13.

But, the Flobots are a fun band that I think will put on fun show. Varsity Theater tickets for this show will be hard to find due to the band's popularity on TV.



Flobots, August 21st , all ages

Dear Ryan Cabrera, What Happened?

Remember when Ashlee Simpson had a show on MTV and she was dating that clean cut, looks like he could be in a boy band, guy named Ryan Cabrera? His music career was also managed by Joe Simpson, so not only was Ryan dating his daughter, but he also bought the right to keep a very close eye on the two of them.
Well, times have changed.
Ryan Cabrera circa the Ashlee Simpson Show:



Ryan Cabrera circa 2008






OK, that is enough pictures, but I really cannot believe my eyes.
Did aliens abduct him and replace his body? This is kind of like trying to pass Carlos Mencia off as Jerry Seinfeld - it's just not gonna happen!

One of my co-workers pointed out to me that he looks like the love child of Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp. Baffling! No more blond hair! Oh, and did I mention he is dating Elvis Presley's granddaughter, Rilo Keough.

I'm not sure if Varsity Theater Tickets for this show will sell fast or not, I find it hard to believe that Ryan will belt out his old top 40 jams with a new outlook on his image. However, he's gotta pack the fans in the Varsity somehow.



Ryan Cabrera
Monday June 23rd, 2008
All Ages, Doors at 6:00, Music at 6:30
Tickets on sale now!

Warlocks Tickets

I would like to just reiterate that I am so excited for The Warlocks show! I was at Lambeau Field for a Vikings Packers game last time they were in town, so am I a little excited to see one of my favorite bands? Yeah! Just a little.
I've seen Shy at the Turf Club a few times and there has been plenty of room for their fans, but I don't know how everyone is going to fit at the Turf Club. The Warlocks are usually a 400 Bar staple so I'm a little confused as to why they chose the Turf Club.

One more time:
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE WARLOCKS!!!!!!!!!

....and did I mention the Black Angels are opening?



See you there!

Annuals show Announced at the Varsity Theater

North Carolina indie rockers The Annuals have announced a show at the Varsity Theater later this summer. The Annuals are know for their acclaim with Pitchfork media.
The founding member, Alan Baker, started this band as a side project to his other band Sunfold.
The Annuals released the critically acclaimed "Be He Me" in 2006 and are now touring in support of their "Wet Zoo" EP.

If you like the Arcade Fire and Animal Collective, you are sure to enjoy the Annuals live show as well.



The Annuals, Friday, June 13th 5:30 pm - All Ages

VON BONDIES JUST ANNOUNCED!!!!

Detroit's own Von Bondies have just announced a show at the Varsity Theater in June. The first week of June is really shaping up to be a huge week for concerts.

You may remember the Von Bondies radio hit a couple summers ago, "C'Mon, C'Mon."
They kind of got the one hit wonder label slapped on them, but the best song on the album was never even released as a single - "Poison Ivy" is a great song!
Varsity Theater tickets for this show are on sale now. Because there is another show after the Von Bondies this will be an early show, the doors open and 5:30 pm.



Von Bondies at the Varsity Theater, June 7th, 2008.

And stay late for Dance Band with BFF and Solid Gold!

The Warlocks Are Coming to Town!

I know the Turf Club isn't anywhere remotely close to the Varsity Theater nor will you need a Varsity Theater ticket for the show, but there are a couple awesome bands coming to the metro area that I think you should know about.
The Warlocks and The Black Angels are playing at the Turf Club in St. Paul (it's on Snelling and University).
The last time The Warlocks were in town I had to be out of town (I was at the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings game at Lambeau Field!)
The Warlocks are the kind of band whose line up constantly changes. They are also plagued with money troubles, their record label dropped them, their trailer with all their equipment was stolen a couple years ago. But none of this changes that they make some great music.

AND Austin, Texas's Black Angels will be opening the show. The Black Angels are touring in support of their new album and like the Warlocks, their live show is not one that you want to miss!




The Warlocks with special guests The Black Angels
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008, 8pm 21+

SNOWDEN AT THE VARSITY THEATER

Indie rockers, Snowden have just announced a show at the Varsity Theater next month.
Varsity Theater tickets for this show will probably go fast will all the airplay the band has been getting on local radio station89.3 Current.

Snowden is from Atlanta, Georgia.
This is one of the band's first large scale headlining tours. In the past Snowden has toured with the Arcade Fire and Kings of Leon. Fun trivia fact: hey get their name from Howard Snowden, a fictional character from the novel Catch 22 by Joseph Heller.


You can catch Snowden at the Varsity Theater on May 24th @ doors at 8pm, music starts at 9pm 18+

JESSE MALIN AT THE VARSITY!!!!!

My love for Ryan Adams is no secret to those who know me well - so it comes as no shock that I support his friend and collaborative musician, Jesse Malin. You may have seen him before, he has played at First Avenue in his own headlining tour and has also opened and played with Ryan Adams on his various tour stops here.

Jesse Malin at The Varsity Theater
Thursday, April 10th, 2008 @ 8pm 18+

Jesse Malin tickets are sure to sell out fast for this Varsity Theater event!

89.3 The Current Volunteer Party

Now worries if you are not an 89.3 the Current volunteer or employee of MPR! The show is open to the public, and with good reason!
Wednesday, April 3rd 89.3 the Current is hosting its volunteer appreciation party at the Varsity Theater. Doors open at 6:30 and only people who work for the Current or MPR are allowed in at this time, doors for the general public open at 8:30.

There are great local acts lined up to play this event, which comes at no surprise considering the support they give to local artists.

The Alarmists, Solid Gold, and Kid Dakota are all scheduled to play that night. It's a great value at a great price!

Varsity Theater tickets for this show are sure to sell out!
89.3 the Current is necessary to local artists and if you listen to the station supporting them is something you should definitely consider - especially when they have great events like this to show their appreciation of their fan base!

Mars Volta Return to Minnesota

So this may not be an event that takes place at the Varsity Theater, but it is still one worth writing about!
Hopefully we won't be subject to a 6 hour tirade of sounds that their New Years Eve audience was subject to, but none the less you can expect this one to clock in at two hours or more. I really don't know how these tiny, little men have it in them to perform that long 4-5 nights a week, but they do. Cedar-Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez have been the two constant members of the band over the years. They have had their share of line-up changes and deaths within the band, but they still have it in them!

The Mars Volta are touring in support

Mars Volta tickets go on sale this Saturday, February 16th, 2008.



See you at the show!

Louis XIV Playing in March

Still on tour supporting Hot Hot Heat and The Editors, Louis XIV will be extending their stay on the road and stopping back in Minneapolis in March. Their new album, Slick Dogs and Ponies was released this week. I think that the Varsity Theater is a perfect place for a band this size to play and the setting seems to fit them well. No opening act has been announced yet.

As I was walking out the door at the Fine Line Music Cafe I was handed a flier for the upcoming show - a good marketing scheme on part of the band, just as Tom Petty will be doing with his summer tour. All Target Center tickets for Tom Petty's Highway Companion tour go on sale the day after his Super Bowl performance. Both tactics are a good idea, especially since Louis XIV put on a good show and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are sure to do the same on Sunday!




No date has been scheduled for Varsity Theater tickets to go on sale for the Louis XIV show, but I will let you know when they do!

Louis XIV with special guest TBA, Sunday, March 23rd, 2008
Doors at 7pm, Show time at 8 pm, 18+

See you there!

Vast with White Light Riot

Jon Crosby brings his current Vast ensemble to the Varsity Theater February 8th. With a variety of musicians filling out his band over the years, Jon Crosby is the only frontman and constant member.

Vast is not a new band to touring, having been around since the late 90's. When I was reading the article on Wikipedia about them I read comparisons to Nine Inch Nails, which makes sense not only because of their industrial sound and one man operation.

Tickets for this Varsity Theater show are sure to sell out fast due to the opening local buzz band, White Light Riot. White Light Riot Varsity Theater Tickets went fast last time they were in town, which was only a month ago. Now touring nationally and their releases featured on iTunes, they are sure to bring a good crowd to the Vast show at the Varsity Theater.



Vast with White Light Riot
Friday, February 8th at the Varsity Theater
Doors at 8, show time at 9 pm - 18+

Bell X1 at the Varsity Theater

Varsity Theater Tickets are now on sale for the Irish band, Bell X1. They are touring in support of their album Flock, which will be released February 19th on Yep Roc Records, the same label that is home to Marah! The same album released in Ireland months ago went platinum 4 times over.

It's been rumored that Bell X1 is the hottest band and live act out of Ireland at the moment (2nd to only U2 of course). They're tour to North America has been highly anticipated and with their multi million selling success, they are sure to make a splash over seas.




Bell X1 - February 19th, 2008 @ The Varsity Theater
Doors at 7pm. Show time is at 8 pm!

Matt Costa at the Varsity

Musician turned skateboarder turned musician again Matt Costa will be at the Varsity Theater on February 18th. Matt Costa tickets should be a hot ticket, seeing as he is
Always the guitar player, Matt Costa was originally a musician by trade. In his late teens he put down the guitar and picked up a skateboard. Skateboarding wasn't a little hobby on the side, Costa almost went pro, but then shattered his leg in a boarding accident. During his 18 month recovery time was when he picked up his guitar again and began writing and recording songs.

Matt Costa just released a new album on the 22nd of January and is touring extensively in support of the new album.



Matt Costa at the Varsity Theater, Monday, February 18th, 2008. Doors open at 7 pm, showtime is at 8 pm.
Delta Spirit opens.

Marah is Falling Apart! Tickets Can Be Refunded Though!

After waiting 4 years to see Marah (I'm finally old enough to go to the 400 Bar!) I am left disappointed once again because the concert has been canceled. I even had my tickets and everything ... and 400 Bar tickets are always so cheap, too. So you really get a bargain when you want to see a great band!
Marah was supposed to play at the 400 Bar on the 26th of this month (it was even a Saturday night) but the entire concert (and tour) was canceled due to the band not being able to 'get along.' Lets look on the bright side, at least they are not broken up yet! Dave Bielko left a long blog entry on the band's Myspace Blog explaining some of the situation. Basically, they're just not getting along. I would rather have them take the time off than break up all together!

It's still so disappointing! After seeing their performance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien a couple weeks ago it really just made me want to see them more.
If you haven't seen it, you must!



Tickets will be refunded and all that jazz via your method of payment!

In the Neighborhood @ the Loring Pasta Bar

I was walking through Dinkeytown the other day to go out for breakfast at the Dinkeytowner, and I decided to stop in the Loring Pasta Bar to get my Cobra Starship ticket. Little did I know of all the great offers the Loring Pasta Bar has! You get 10% off your entire tab if you have a student ID, and if you show your ticket from the Varsity Theater on the day of the show you will also get a percentage off on your order as well!

The sad thing is though is that Cobra Starship tickets sold out :(
It's weird, I haven't seen Varsity Theater tickets sell out like this since Black Rebel Motorcycle Club played there a couple years ago!

Also, the Loring Pasta Bar has the coolest bathrooms in the city. The interior designer of the Loring Pasta bar definitely has to design my house!



The Loring Pasta Bar
327 14th Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414

MTV Posterboys Cobra Starship @ the Varsity Theater

Some of MTV's familiar faces will be at the Varsity Theater this month.
Cobra Starship, the band you may recognize from all those catchy, short MTV ads - the ones that play between the show and the actual advertisements. It seems that was has started as a side project for frontman Gabe Saporta is now a little bit more than that.
Of course the Varsity is one of my favorite places to see the show, but I wonder why they chose a venue so small when they could have easily played at the Myth Nightclub or First Avenue and had no problem selling tickets? In the past Cobra Starship has toured with Quietdrive, so I am thinking that they may have put the birdie in their ear as to how awesome the Varsity is to play at.



Cobra Starship @ the Varsity Theater - January 31st, 2008 - All Ages Show
Doors at 5 pm, show time is 5:30
Metro Station * We The Kings * The Cab open the show!