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Friday Coffee Break: First Avenue, Going Strong

Posted at 8:46 AM on November 19, 2010 by Steve Seel (19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

Today is the sixth anniversary of the reopening of First Avenue, after a scary week or so back in 2004 when the club suddenly locked its doors and seemed like it might be finished. After some financial and organizational matters were squared away, the club reopened to a huge, collective sigh of relief - and has been going strong ever since.

There's no arguing that First Avenue has been at the center of the Twin Cities' musical life since its beginning in 1970. In fact, touring bands to this day continue to remark how its one of the most awesome clubs in the country. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're going to put together a set containing music from some of the bands who have been significant along the 40-year timeline of the club's history. (Cool feature: City Pages has put together a nice little graphic containing some of those highlights here).

Songs played:
Joe Cocker "With a Little Help From My Friends"
The Replacements "I Hate Music"
Husker Du "Celebrated Summer"
Prince "Let's Go Crazy"
Lucinda Williams "Real Love"

Comments (19)

In honor of the Doomtree Blowouts, I request anything from the Doomtree gang.

Some suggestions:
"Game Over"
"Drumsticks"

Posted by Nick | November 19, 2010 9:07 AM

"Let's Get Crazy" - Prince

"Fresh Air" - Brother Ali

Posted by andy | November 19, 2010 9:10 AM

The Replacements, of course. Any song. Play them all f'ing day!

Posted by Angie | November 19, 2010 9:12 AM

Morris Day and the Time - The Bird

Posted by Chris | November 19, 2010 9:13 AM

There is a really fun version of "love is all around" (the mary tyler moore theme) by Husker Du

Posted by mark b | November 19, 2010 9:13 AM

Lucinda Williams, since she got married there.

Posted by Amy | November 19, 2010 9:16 AM

John Lee Hooker - Boogie Chillen

Nirvana - Lithium

Posted by Oj | November 19, 2010 9:16 AM

Prince, of course! Something from Purple Rain.

Posted by Cat | November 19, 2010 9:19 AM

Lucinda Williams - Righteously

After all, she did get married on stage at First Ave.

Posted by Cat | November 19, 2010 9:20 AM

Lucinda Williams

She got married there in Sept. 2009.

One of the best shows I've *ever* seen was Lucinda's show at First Avenue in July 2001. It was the same night that Janet Jackson was at Target Center, and Eric Clapton was at the Xcel, but Jim Walsh perfectly captured the scene at First Ave that night - http://www.fctvplus.net/~cdzingg/lucinda/news8-30-01.html

Posted by IndyR | November 19, 2010 9:20 AM

I second Brother Ali - Fresh Air

Uh, I get a lot of love in my hometown,
twin cities, y’all know how it go down.
Same club where Prince shot “Purple Rain”,
advertise my name and it’s sold out.

Posted by Cat | November 19, 2010 9:21 AM

Just to ride the wave, why not some Cloud Cult? As someone who was lucky enough to have won the prize package and had tickets to Wed's show (it was quite the 3 days), I know I wouldn't mind hearing from a great local band!

Posted by Kari | November 19, 2010 9:22 AM

First show I ever saw there was Spacehog in 1995. Super snowy night my freshman year at UW-River Falls. It was amazing we made it through the blizzard.

"In the Meantime" would be great to hear this morning

The best show I saw there was Wilco a couple years later so it wouldn't suck to hear "Casino Queen" either

Posted by matt | November 19, 2010 9:23 AM

Mumford and Sons. Possibly the best concert I've ever seen. What an experience!

Posted by Jess | November 19, 2010 9:25 AM

Somewhere in Minnesota there is a guy who can say that he sang with U2 when they appeared at First Avenue in 1980.

Bono was talking to the crowd and asked if anyone knew the words to a song the band had just heard on the radio - a guy raised his hand and said he did and they invited him up on the stage to sing it - U2 followed his lead - it was a great rendition!

The artist was Neil Young - the song was Southern Man. I remember Bill DeVille saying once that he was at this concert - he can confirm it -if he remembers it.

The ticket to the U2 concert was 8.00 - I still have my stub.

Could you play the Trash Can Sinatras? I also saw them in the 7th St. Entry

Thanks,
Wayne B - St. Paul MN

Posted by Wayne B | November 19, 2010 9:26 AM

THE REPLACEMENTS

Posted by ken | November 19, 2010 9:27 AM

Beer for Breakfast - The Replacements

Sounds like a great idea...

Posted by Angie | November 19, 2010 9:28 AM

Prince- of course (something from "Purple Rain")

The Replacements- right now "Treatment Bound" comes to mind, anything by them. Also Husker Du, Soul Asylum (the Mpls holy rock trinity)

I've seen so many great shows and acts there it's sick: Ween, Violent Femmes, Iggy Pop, George Clinton & P-Funk, Beck, Hank III, Sinead O'Connor, R.L. Burnside, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Alex Chilton, Liz Phair, Gear Daddies, The Cramps, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, Soul Coughing... hell I remember playing in band at the 7th Street on night and Donovon was in the main room. My 1st show there was Ace Frehley's Comet in '87 (GnR was supposed to open but Faster Pussycat did instead, damn).

So many shows, so little time.

Posted by Seamus | November 19, 2010 9:31 AM

Parliament Funkadelic - one of the most fun shows I've ever been to.

Posted by Molly | November 19, 2010 9:48 AM

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