My Favorite Sets of 2019 – Seth Steffenhagen

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January 18, 2019 – Self-Evident – Icehouse:

2019 got off to a great start for my attended concerts. Self-Evident’s new album arrived via Bandcamp a day before their album release show. It was great to be able to digest the new album ahead of the concert. In what has become my favorite album they’ve released, being able to hear the majority of this album live with a few old time favorites thrown in as well was a stellar way to begin the new year.

January 19, 2019 - Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States - Self-Evident live in concert at the Icehouse for their Lost Inside The Machinery album release show. Performing along with the opener Hardcore Crayons.(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
January 18, 2019 – Self-Evident – Icehouse

 

June 15, 2019 – Mastodon – The Armory:

Crack The Skye was an album that left me in awe 10 years ago. When it was announced Mastodon would head out on tour and perform this album in its entirety I knew this was going to be an awesome show. It was a great show to photograph and the giant animation film that accompanied the performance made for a great audio visual experience.

June 15, 2019 - Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States - Mastodon live in concert at The Armory along with Coheed & Cambria and Every Time I Die.(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
June 15, 2019 – Mastodon – The Armory

 

July 26, 2019 – Murder By Death – Codfish Hollow:

Murder By Death have become known for playing at intriguing venues over the last few years. This show at Codfish Hollow down in Iowa was part of a little barn run they did. This venue was  at an old farm about 15 minutes from the nearest small town. Turn down a dirt road and park in a field, then hop on a tractor pulled trailer and ride it down to the barn. Upon arrival one is greeted with a few buildings on the bottom of a hill with art galleries, food trucks, and a bar. Inside the barn, the lights of the bar below shone through between the cracks in the floorboards and fallen out knots in the wooden planks. My favorite part of this venue is how every time a band rolls through here they make a wooden sign that takes on the vibe of the band and it is hung up in the rafters. Very cool to see all the history and unique signs on display. This was a great overall experience and will certainly have to hit up another show there sometime. 

July 26, 2019 – Murder By Death – Codfish Hollow

 

August 31, 2019 – Wovenhand – Turf Club:

David Eugene Edwards is such an enigmatic musician and whenever I’m fortunate to see him perform live it is always a highlight. His whole crew put on such a hypnotic show. Glad to see it will only be a matter of months instead of years before I see Wovenhand in concert again in 2020. 

August 31, 2019 - Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Wovenhand live in concert at the Turf Club along with Wax Lead and Ulkum as the openers.(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
August 31, 2019 – Wovenhand – Turf Club

 

November 15, 2019 – Jesca Hoop – Cedar Cultural Center:

Hearing live renditions of songs is one of the more enjoyable aspects of live music. Some songs get stripped down and others fleshed out more with some added nuances. Another part is watching how riffs are played out on the guitar. For those reasons and along with an intimate laid back show, Jesca Hoop’s performance makes my top 5. Being introduced to the music of her touring bandmate, Chloe Foy, was a bonus.

November 15, 2019 - Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States - Jesca Hoop live in concert at The Cedar Cultural Center along with Chloe Foy as the opener.(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
November 15, 2019 – Jesca Hoop – Cedar Cultural Center

 

Selecting four sets was easy, it was that 5th and final spot that was harder to determine. So here are a couple honorable mentions. The performance that Baroness gave at The Skyway Theatre was memorable. Seeing Anneke van Giersbergen live in concert again after 15 years was great even if it was just as an opener solo set instead of something like a reunion show with The Gathering. The 2020 calendar already has some great ones lined up, I’m looking forward to it and whatever ones come between.

 

 

 

 

 

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