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James Blake w/ Nosaj Thing – First Avenue, Minneapolis (11/15/13) concert review

For UK electronic artist James Blake, less is always more. The 25-year old, in promotion for his second and latest full-length, Overgrown (Republic Records) has never felt the need to over-embellish his works or fill in un-necessary notes in the spaces in-between; and in a very sold-out 100 min. performance at Minneapolis’ First Avenue, we saw why he was this year’s recent winner of the coveted Mercury Music Prize.

Aokify America Tour at Epic, Minneapolis (11/09/13)

Steve Aoki is currently partying across America with his Aokify America Tour, recently selling out his appearance at Epic in Minneapolis last Saturday, November 9th. The concert was basically a giant rave dance party with a ton of electronic dance music fans (thanks to Aoki and Israel’s Borgore and Canada’s Felix Cartal), but with a weird crossover of rap fans (mostly thanks to the hardcore rap styling of Waka Flocka Flame, who had his own dedicated set of fans).

Sinead O’Connor at City Winery, Chicago (11/05/13)

Over the topsy-turvy course of the last two decades Sinéad O’Connor has been known more for her erratic behavior and a myriad of controversies (most recently her online feud with Miley Cyrus) than for her musical contributions. At times it’s easy to forget that there’s a genuine talent behind the troubled persona. Her most recent album How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?, although not on par with her classic first two albums, contains enough emotionally resonant songs to remind us that Sinéad O’Connor is still a vital artist in 2013. And if you needed additional reminding, her powerful show Tuesday night at City Winery would have convinced you.