First off, just scanned my recent posts. No, I’m not on Aussie time. I’ve just been in such a fog I didn’t even know what day it was (those errors have been corrected, sorry for any confusion). Even if I had been privy to that information, I wouldn’t have known about the off-the-radar instore performance by Low… that took place at Treehouse Records last Friday afternoon. If it had been publicized at all the turnout would have been insane. As it was I guess it was comfortably crowded with the lucky 30-40 folks who happened upon it. Sigh. I did discover my consolation prize, though. Low will be playing at an interesting venue, in town, on November 23rd.
‘Built and operated as the Pantages Theatre in 1916, it housed vaudeville performances during the 1910s and 1920s. It operated as the RKO Pan in 1946, when it started featuring movies. In 1961, it became the Mann Theatre where it continued to show movies, including the sneak preview screenings of THE SOUND OF MUSIC (which played for nearly two years) and WEST SIDE STORY. Plans are underway to restore the Pantages as a live performance space.’
Wacky. My memories of that location, which seem from a lifetime ago, are of a long-defunct punk record store called Northern Lights. I can’t say I’m in favor of much of the recent “redevelopment” of downtown Minneapolis, and Block E in particular (especially the garish gargantuan structure that looks like it belongs in Vegas). But it will be a good thing if we get another mid-sized venue for shows. Hopefully with decent sound.