The Chart Show: Festival touring schedules are tough, am I really in Mongolia tonight?!
by Mark Wheat
June 21, 2018
Childish returns to the top spot this week as the video for his song continues to stoke BOTH controversy and appreciation. To emphasize the global interest in this song, the South China Morning Post ran an interesting piece on the 'new era of political videos'. MTV is mentioned throughout, and we always think of that as the height of videos importance. But it's interesting to note the view counts embedded in this piece: Madonna's "Like A Prayer" has ONLY 57 million views, while Beyonce's "Sorry" has 265 million. Childish is heading to the stratosphere with 284 million!
Lake Street Dive have been inducted for the first time to our Chart Hall of Fame after ten weeks on the chart and Nathaniel Rateliff for the fourth time. The Night Sweats are heading to Europe next month to play a string of shows that include the North Sea Jazz Festival? And then to Japan for two nights at the famous Fuji Rock Festival, it's a strange mixed up world! Speaking of... then in August they return to the USA for a string of SOLD OUT shows which include August 5th at The Palace Theater in St. Paul, which the band's website thinks is in... Mongolia?!
Beck slips to #6 this week but just keeps on touring behind the 'Colors' album of last year. He just announced a gig at the new Armory Sept 13th tickets go on sale this Friday.
Leon Bridges is the highest new entry with "Beyond", he's booked two nights at The Palace Sept 20 & 21st with Khruangbin opening.
Father John Misty dropped four places this week, perhaps because of his 'subdued' performance at Rock The Garden!? His touring schedule couldn't have helped, he had flown in the day before...from Norway!! Thanks to all the wonderful artists we were glad to host at the Walker Art Center, and to you all for coming!
As we were going to introduce Chastity Brown together, Bill DeVille told me a story from another area festival. Margo Price apparently came down with an ear infection and doctors advised her not to fly, so she drove from Tennessee all the way to the Blue Ox Festival at Whispering Pines, outside Eaux Clairs WI. This short video seems to suggest she was, however, in real fine form, dancing with her red tambourine!
Another new entry at #20 MIGHT be playing at this years version of the Eaux Claires Music and Arts Festival. Big Red Machine is a combination of Aaron Dessner of The National and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, who have been Eaux Claires organizing partners since day one of this extraordinarily successful annual event. But nobody...no not even us, knows who will be playing, as the line-up has not been announced, a strategy that hasn't deterred many, it's almost sold out!
Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to The Current's Sylvan Esso at Surly Brewing Festival Field giveaway in Minneapolis, MN on July 20, 2018!