The weather here in Minneapolis is getting colder. If this keeps up, I may have to go into winter hibernation mid-November or earlier. In the meantime, October (aka “Rocktober”) has been pretty bad for concerts. I’m seeing a lot of shows this month; I guess I have to get as many in before the winter. I will be coming out of hibernation in April 2013.

HUNTER VALENTINE
huntervalentine.com

Just a reminder that Hunter Valentine will be hitting the 400 Bar in Minneapolis this week: October 11th. We covered them a few times when they were in Minneapolis, and we’ll be there for them on Thursday.

Hunter Valentine is from Toronto, Canada, and having been featured as the regular cast on season three of Showtime’s “The Real L Word” series, Hunter Valentine’s fame meter has skyrocketed and their shows have been selling out across the country.

If you want to see the band before they blowup, now would be the perfect time as Hunter Valentine continues to tour throughout North America. While you’re out to check out the band live, be sure to look for the band’s latest release called Collide & Conquer. The album officially will be coming out October 23rd, 2012, but I’m almost certain that you can pick up a copy at their show.

10/10 – Urbana, IL @ Courtyard Cafe
10/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar
10/12 – Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
10/13 – Kansas City, MO @ Czar
10/14 – Lincoln, NE @ Lincoln Calling
10/16 – Denver, CO @ The Walnut Room
10/17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt’s Tiki
10/18 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder
10/20 – Seattle, WA @ The Mix
10/24 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
10/25 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place
10/26 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones
10/27 – West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy
10/28 – Fresno, CA @ Audie’s Olympic

10/29 – San Diego, CA @ The Griffin
11/01 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Bunkhouse
11/02 – Tucson, AZ @ The Hut
11/03 – Mesa, AZ @ Hollywood Alley
11/06 – Houston, TX @ Dan Electro’s
11/07 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s BBQ
11/08 – San Antonio, TX @ Jack’s Bar
11/09 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory
11/10 – Dallas, TX @ Sue Ellen’s
11/12 – St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird
11/15 – New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine
11/16 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Saint
11/17 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
11/18 – North Reading, MA @ Great American

THE XX
thexx.info

Undoubtedly one of the hottest bands is London’s The xx. With their sophomore album, Coexist, just released last month, the band proved that they’re not some sort of one-hit/one-trick pony.

I will be checking them out at their sold-out show in Minneapolis. I’m mostly there because I actually want to see the opening band 2:54. As you recall, we covered the band when they first toured here.

If you didn’t know 2:54 consists of real life sisters Hannah and Colette Thurlow and the band was named at the time in a Melvin’s song where “it gets good.”

The xx are currently on tour in North America in support of Coexist. Be sure to get there early to check out 2:54. Dates with (*) indicates appearance with 2:54.

10/10/12 Las Vegas, NV Pool At The Cosmopolitan
10/11/12 San Diego, CA SOMA San Diego
10/12/12 Hollywood, CA Hollywood Palladium*
10/13/12 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Forever*
10/14/12 San Francisco, CA Treasure Island
10/16/12 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex*
10/17/12 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater*
10/19/12 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue*
10/20/12 Chicago, IL Congress Theater*

10/21/12 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater*
10/23/12 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
10/24/12 Quebec City, QC Imperial Du Quebec
10/25/12 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston
10/26/12 Bronx, NY Paradise Theatre
10/28/12 Bronx, NY Paradise Theatre
10/29/12 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
10/30/12 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
11/13/12 Madrid, Spain La Riviera

BRANDY
4everbrandy.com

Remember Brandy? That R&B pop singer? I haven’t actually heard from her in a long time, but I guess she’s still around and making music.

Her sixth studio album is called Two Eleven and will be out October 16th. The title has special meaning to Brandy, as it is the date of her birthday and Whitney Houston’s death.

You may be hearing more about Brandy this month in support of the new album, including her appearance on “The F Word.” The show is available for free at musicchoice.com. The 15-minute show focuses on being famous.

10/15/12 New York, NY Best Buy Theater
10/26/12 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
11/10/12 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
11/11/12 Washington, DC The Howard Theatre

SIMON SPIRE
simonspire.com

Four-Letter Words is the forthcoming album by New Zealand’s Simon Spire. The album arrives in the US on October 23rd and features his new single “Uncomfortable” (single was available last month, September 10th.)

You can listen to the song at Soundcloud.

Although I mentioned he is from New Zealand, Spire thinks of himself as a “New Yorklander” because he loves spending time in New York (having lived there for the past three years).

Spire adds, “I’m always interested in where humanity is going, and for that reason I love being in New York—I’ve often thought of it as being at the forefront of our continuing cultural evolution. In that sense, I want to be part of a new vision, taking part in where we’re going next.”