Even with a few tickets left to sell, the Varsity Theater was full last night for Atlas Genius’s return to Minneapolis. On their fourth visit in about a year, they were last here in June at the Fine Line supporting the February release of their first full album When it Was Now. They followed much of the same formula for the set list (if it works, why fix it?) particularly in the last half of the set when “Don’t Make a Scene,” “Through the Glass,” and “Trojans,” rounded out the set before encore.

Encore was “Centered on You,” and “Electric.” This time, the crowd was waiting for the encore, whereas the Fine Line back in June started clearing after “Trojans”, no doubt expecting their biggest hit to be the show-wrapper.

After the show, members of the opening act, Family of the Year (you’ll recognize their radio hit “Hero”), and Atlas Genius lead singer Keith Jeffery, stood by the merchandise tables to greet fans. I asked fans who were queuing what they thought about the set list, and they loved the way the set list played out, particularly the choice of the two encore songs. When I asked a few people how long they’d been fans, all those around me said “since Alt Nation.” There were a good number of people out last night who loved Atlas Genius from the time their only song was “Trojans” and eagerly awaited the coming of the full album, which they equally embraced.

Next for Atlas Genius is a tiring schedule that has them touring through December. Next for the fans is patiently waiting for the second album to drop.

09/27/13 “96.5 The Buzz Beach Ball”
10/01/13 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
10/02/13 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
10/04/13 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall
10/08/13 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston
10/10/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza Powered
10/11/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza Powered
10/12/13 Phila, PA Theatre Of The Living Arts
10/13/13 Silver Spring, MD Fillmore Silver
10/16/13 Charlotte, NC Fillmore Charlotte
10/17/13 Atlanta, GA Center Stage Theater
10/18/13 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues

10/20/13 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
10/22/13 Houston, TX House Of Blues
10/23/13 Austin, TX Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
10/24/13 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
10/30/13 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
10/31/13 Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues
11/01/13 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
11/03/13 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
11/06/13 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern
11/07/13 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
11/09/13 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
11/10/13 Vancouver, BC Venue
11/11/13 Seattle, WA The Neptune