OK Go blasts First Avenue

OK Go at First Avenue

In between explosions of confetti and question and answer sessions, OK Go played an exceptionally fun show of power pop at First Avenue. Kicking off First Avenue’s 45th anniversary weekend, the Los Angeles based band blasted through a twenty song set that had the crowd rocking.

A mesh screen covered the front of the stage as the band opened with “Upside Down & Inside Out”, the opening track to their 2014 release Hungry Ghosts. The screen finally dropped during the third song, “The Writing’s On the Wall“, giving me approximately three minutes in the pit to photograph the band.

Early in the set lead singer Damian Kulash explained his love of First Avenue, “This place is basically rock-n-roll for me.” And again throughout the night he gushed about the venue and Minneapolis, stating that Minneapolis was the best city in the midwest. It was genuine, and the sold out crowd showed up with great energy, dancing hard until the end.

OK Go is well known for their music videos, but another thing that stood out was their DIY attitude. Years ago the band shed their major label, opting instead to create their own label, Paracadute. Their show at First Avenue showed that they are a band who does things their way. Several times throughout the night, the band took time to let the crowd ask questions. Then during “There’s a Fire”, the band asked the crowd to generate different percussive sounds which were recorded and made into the song. Soon after, Kulash strolled into the middle of the crowd with his acoustic guitar and sang “Last Leaf” unplugged.

Before the encore break, the band absolutely rocked a cover of the Led Zeppelin song “Black Dog”. Kulash showed surprising vocal range, while guitarist Andy Ross did a fine job with Jimmy Page’s licks. When the band returned costumed from a short encore break, they did a live rendition of their popular single shot music video for “A Million Ways“. It was theatre and rock-n-roll, and quite entertaining. The band ended the show with their upbeat classic “Here It Goes Again“. OK Go at First Avenue kicked ass.

OK Go

OK Go at First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 04.02.15 Setlist
Upside Down & Inside Out 


You’re So Damn Hot 


The Writing’s On the Wall 


I Want You So Bad I Can’t Breathe 


Obsession 


This Too Shall Pass 


There’s a Fire
Last Leaf 
(unplugged in crowd)
Needing/Getting 


I’m Not Through 


Get Over It 


The One Moment 


Skyscrapers 


Do What You Want 


Black Dog 
(Led Zeppelin cover)
Turn Up the Radio 

Encore:
A Million Ways 


White Knuckles 


I Won’t Let You Down 


Here It Goes Again