THE SPECIFICS: SOUL ASYLUM PERFORMS "GRAVE DANCERS UNION" IN ITS ENTIRETY. 9 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.), Fri., Dec. 28, 2012, First Ave., corner of N. 7th St. and 1st Ave. N., downtown Mpls., $20, www.firstave.com, www.soulasylum.com.
One of Minneapolis's oldest and best bands is performing their (arguably) best album in its entirety tomorrow night at First Ave. These guys gave alt rock a name in the Twin Cities although they had to refine their sound to fit into any mold. They were once described as "an unholy mix of Kiss and Hank Williams thrown under a runaway train."
Their first five albums floundered in relative obscurity for a while. "Grave Dancers Union" was their breakthrough album which changed things measurably. Released in 1992, its sales started off fairly slowly but took off with the release of the single "Runaway Train". Following that very wise decision, the album went triple platinum.
The band had already been touring extensively but their career took off on a more national level from that point on. The band at that time was Dave Pirner, Dan Murphy, Karl Mueller (now deceased) and Grant Young. Young was replaced during the sessions by Sterling Campbell. Booker T. Jones (Booker T & the MG's) contributed some soulful riffs on organ.
The band has changed now but the sound is the same. It's still a great album and this will be a great opportunity to relive those days of the early nineties. The band now includes Dave Pirner, Michael Bland, Winston Roye and Justin Sharbono.
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