Band of Skulls at First Avenue
Band of Skulls bring Himalayan to Minneapolis
First Avenue was made for bands like Band of Skulls. The English power trio pounded the rock club with one of the best sounding sets I’ve heard in quite some time. This was a straight up solid rock show, that hit hard from beginning to end, and the good-sized crowd took it in stride rocking along all the while.
The set was heavy with songs from their terrific 2009 debut Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, including the blues-infused “Blood” that bassist Emma Richardson sang. “Patterns” also sounded fantastic, as did the thumping “I Know What I Am”. “Sweet Sour”, the title track from the band’s 2012 sophomore release of the same name, was another big standout of the night.
Songs from the recently released Himalayan sounded nice as well, especially the upbeat shuffle of “Asleep at the Wheel” that started the night off. “Hoochie Coochie” was fun, but didn’t pack quite the punch that it does on the album.
In the middle of the encore, guitarist Russell Marsden took his time teasing the crunchy chords that start “Light of the Morning” from Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, before the band finally broke into hell-bent rock led by drummer Matt Hayward’s beastly playing. “Death by Diamonds and Pearls” was a fantastic, fist-pounding finale.
Band of Skulls at First Avenue will surely make my year end list of favorite shows of 2014. This band is doing their part to keep long hair and rock-n-roll alive. The garage-rocking female duo Deap Vally, opened the show with a somewhat sloppy, yet all together entertaining 35 minute set.
Photos taken for Twin Cities Daily Planet.
Band of Skulls
Deap Vally
Band of Skulls – First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 06.04.14 Setlist
Asleep at the Wheel
Himalayan
I Know What I Am
I Guess I Know You Fairly Well
Patterns
Brothers and Sisters
Bomb
Toreador
Bruises
Cold Fame
Blood
Hoochie Coochie
I Feel Like Ten Men, Nine Dead and One Dying
The Devil Takes Care of His Own
Hollywood Bowl
Encore:
Sweet Sour
Light of the Morning
Death by Diamonds and Pearls
