Well the day started well. We got to the Minneapolis Gateway Hotel last night and it’s actually quite a nice place. Thanks to Hotwire we are paying awesome prices. Slept great in the King Size bed and then hit Ikea, the Maul of America in the morning followed by Target.

 

I am pleased to anounce I bought new underwear and undershirts (yay me). More exciting was finding the fantastic anime series Samurai 7. I bought the complete seven DVD box set and we watched episode one of 26. It’ll be good I think (I think Matt will like it too). The series is based upon legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1956 film Seven Samurai (it was also the inspiration for the western The Magnificent Seven).

 

I also managed to find the complete Watchmen graphic novel at Target. I have already started reading it and of course it is riveting as well.

 

The evening came quick and we were off to the Varsity Theater for a fantastic concert. The place really is cool, an old converted cinema with two stage risers along the walls that have leather chairs and small round tables interspersed and a big open space in the front. The floor is completely carpeted and the walls are draped in deep velvety red curtains from ceiling to floor. The sound and lighting is really amazing and the ceiling is randomly draped with low wat strings of white christmas lights looping all over the place.

 

We managed to get some chairs in a riser close to the stage and let the festivities begin. The opening act was a girl trio fronted band called Hot Tub. They were a trainwreck. Completely forgettable. It was kind of like driving past a horrific traffic accident…you know you shouldn’t look but you can’t help yourself and then you immediately regret it. Thankfully they weren’t on very long and the main attraction started.

 

The Ting Tings are a British techno pop/rock duo consisting of Jules De Martino and Katie White. They really are a fantastic group the sold out the Varsity. Super high energy pounding drums and racing guitar rhythms as well as some fantastic keyboard/synth action. On the opening song Jules played guitar and drums at the same time (don’t ask me how – you’d have to see it). Katie wailed on guitar and played keyboards as well. They both sang although Katie is the lead. I bought their cd for a reasonable $10.

 

After the concert we found this great latin restaurant called The Conga and pigged out. All in all a fantastic evening.

 

Tomorrow is Glasvegas and they have a decidedly better opening act called Von Iva…should be a great evening again. Pics to come. Ciao for now!