Fall arts: Former Minnesotan Lizzo heads up a busy season for arena concerts

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
·9 min read
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This fall music calendar includes two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts (Ringo Starr, the Doobie Brothers), country stars (Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban), Gen-X nostalgia (Smashing Pumpkins, Dave Matthews Band), millennial favorites (Panic at the Disco, My Chemical Romance) and a lady we once called our own, Lizzo.

Listed ticket prices are subject to change and do not include VIP or other premium packages.

Here’s a look at the highlights of the biggest Twin Cities concerts.

Panic at the Disco

Sept. 14: Initially discovered by Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, Panic at the Disco enjoyed a burst of early success in the late ’00s with a half dozen hits, including “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and “Nine in the Afternoon.” But as the group’s lineup started to change, fans began losing interest. Lead singer Brendon Urie ended up the sole remaining member and kicked off a new era with 2013’s platinum-selling “Miss Jackson,” the first of nine more big hits, including 2018’s “High Hopes,” which went platinum five times in the States and hit the Top 10 across Europe and Australia. The current tour supports the band’s seventh album “Viva Las Vengeance,” which Urie has said is “a look back at who I was 17 years ago and who I am now with the fondness I didn’t have before.” Beach Bunny and Jake Wesley Rogers open. 7 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $96.50-$26.50; xcelenergycenter.com.

My Chemical Romance

Sept. 15: Lead singer Gerard Way and drummer Matt Pelissier formed My Chemical Romance in New Jersey shortly after the September 11 attacks. Way said seeing the World Trade Center towers fall made him realize “music was this thing I secretly wanted to do.” After releasing their 2002 debut album “I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love” on an independent label, My Chemical Romance signed to Reprise Records. Thanks in large part to heavy touring, the band’s 2004 effort “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” went triple platinum, as did its follow-up “The Black Parade.” After an arena tour in support of 2010’s “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys,” the band broke up without citing any specific reasons. The group’s reunion tour is a hit, as it sold out in less than six hours when it was first announced in January 2020. Thursday and the Homeless Gospel Choir open. 7 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $306.50-$226.50 (single seats only); xcelenergycenter.com.

Check out more things to do in our fall arts guide.

The Doobie Brothers

Sept. 16: Classic rockers the Doobie Brothers first announced their 50th anniversary tour with Michael McDonald back in the band way back in November 2019. They finally hit the road two years later, but just hours before they were set to headline the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand that August, McDonald pulled out of the performance after testing positive for COVID-19. Now they’re back for an outdoor casino show with a set list that includes “Listen to the Music,” “Jesus Is Just Alright,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “China Grove,” “Black Water,” “Minute by Minute,” “It Keeps You Runnin’” and “What a Fool Believes.” 8 p.m.; Treasure Island Casino Amphitheater, 5734 Sturgeon Lake Road, Welch; $129-$39; 800-222-7077 or ticasino.com.

The Killers

Sept. 20: When they emerged from Las Vegas in 2004 with their debut album “Hot Fuss,” the Killers sounded like Duran Duran fronted by Morrissey, which earned them instant success in England and, soon after, here in the States. But thanks to bandleader Brandon Flowers, the Killers haven’t been afraid to explore other sonic options, with subsequent albums borrowing sounds from Bruce Springsteen, U2, disco and electropop. The current tour focuses on the two most recent Killers records, “Imploding the Mirage” (which they released in August 2020) and last year’s “Pressure Machine,” a concept album album about Flowers’ childhood in rural Utah. The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr opens and don’t be surprised if he shows up for a song or two with the headliners. 7:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $95.50-$45.50; xcelenergycenter.com.

Ben Platt

Sept. 22: If an arena show featuring Broadway star Ben Platt seems like a stretch, consider this. The tour was announced a month before the release of the feature film version of the smash 2016 Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” which was expected to be commercial and critical success. It was not, thanks in part to Platt, then 26, being too old to play a teen as well as some questions about the storyline itself. Still, Platt has a fervent following who also know his other stage work (“Parade,” “The Book of Mormon,” “The Sound of Music”) and film and television appearances (the “Pitch Perfect” films, “The Politician”). His live show includes tracks from his two studio albums and some well-chosen covers. Aly and AJ open. 8 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $121-$45.50; 888-929-7849 or targetcenter.com.

Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band

Oct. 2: Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ringo Starr is back with the latest version of his All-Starr Band. Now 82, the Beatles drummer and solo star has been touring with a rotating group of musicians since 1989 with the idea that “everybody on stage is a star in their own right.” In the years since, he has played with 15 lineups of the group, which has featured a long line of musicians ranging from Joe Walsh to Billy Preston to Sheila E. During shows, Starr performs selections from his own back catalog as well as tracks from his various bandmates. The current All-Star Band lineup features Colin Hay (Men at Work), Steve Lukather (Toto), Edgar Winter (“Frankenstein,” “Free Ride”), Hamish Stuart (Average White Band, Paul McCartney), Warren Ham (Bloodrock) and Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth). 8 p.m.; Mystic Lake Casino, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., Prior Lake; sold out; 952-496-6563 or mysticlake.com.

Chris Stapleton

Oct. 7: Initially known as the songwriter and frontman of the SteelDrivers, Chris Stapleton established himself as a solo star with the release of his debut, “Traveller,” in 2015. Not only did it go quadruple platinum, it helped Stapleton fill a few shelves with awards. The 44-year-old Kentucky native has won eight Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards. His best-known include “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Broken Halos,” “Nobody to Blame,” “Millionaire,” “Starting Over” and “You Should Probably Leave.” Elle King and Morgan Wade open. 7 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $115.75-$85.75 (single seats only); xcelenergycenter.com.

Lizzo

Oct. 11: Grammy-winning R&B star and former Minnesotan Lizzo returns to town for her biggest local concert to date. Born Melissa Viviane Jefferson in Detroit, Lizzo had already adopted her stage name when she spent the early half of the ’10s living in Minneapolis and trying to launch her career. After her 2016 breakthrough single “Good as Hell” went quadruple platinum, Lizzo moved to Los Angeles to start work on her major-label debut, “Cuz I Love You.” It went platinum and earned Lizzo eight Grammy nominations and three wins at the ceremony in January 2020. Her latest album “Special” hit No. 2 on the charts and produced the worldwide hit “About Damn Time.” Lizzo’s reality series “Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. 8 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $135.50-$65.50 (single seats only); xcelenergycenter.com.

Carrie Underwood

Oct. 25: In the 17 years since she won the fourth season of “American Idol,” Carrie Underwood has found remarkable success, winning eight Grammy Awards and hitting No. 1 on the Billboard country singles charts a record 15 times. Her tour follows her well-received Las Vegas residency and supports her ninth album “Denim and Rhinestones,” which features her current single “Ghost Story.” Other recent hits from Underwood include “If I Didn’t Love You” (with Jason Aldean), “Southbound,” “Love Wins,” “Cry Pretty,” “Dirty Laundry,” “Church Bells” and “Heartbeat.” Jimmie Allen (“Freedom Was a Highway,” “Make Me Want To,” “Best Shot”) opens. 7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $95.50-$35.50; 888-929-7849 or targetcenter.com.

Smashing Pumpkins

Nov. 4: Back in 2018, three-quarters of the original lineup of the Smashing Pumpkins hit the road for a tour to mark the band’s 30th anniversary. Vocalist/guitarist Billy Corgan was joined by guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, while original bassist D’arcy Wretzky opted out of the reunion. That lineup, augmented by guitarist/keyboardist Jeff Schroeder, went on to record “Cyr,” a 20-track electronic rock/synthpop album they had planned to tour in 2020. Instead, they’re hitting the road with alt-rock legends Jane’s Addiction. The band originally split up in 1991 after releasing a pair of now-classic records. Jane’s Addiction has since reunited, but for the first time since a brief stint from 2008-2010, this show will feature the full original lineup, including bassist Eric Avery, who has long been seen as crucial to the band’s early success. 6:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $146-$45 (single seats only); xcelenergycenter.com.

Keith Urban

Nov. 5: Keith Urban has been a consistent presence on the country charts since his first hit, 1999’s “It’s a Love Thing.” He has landed at No. 1 with more than a 20 singles, including “Somebody Like You,” “Days Go By,” “Better Life,” “You Look Good in My Shirt,” “Without You,” “Long Hot Summer” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” In 2020, Urban released his 11th album, “The Speed of Now Part 1,” which spun off the hits “We Were,” “God Whispered Your Name” and the Pink duet “One Too Many,” which also landed on the charts in Canada, Australia, England and the Netherlands. Newcomer Ingrid Andress (“Wishful Drinking,” “Lady Like”) opens alongside Tyler Hubbard, who played what he says is his final show with Florida Georgia Line last month at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand. 7 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $85.50-$45.50; xcelenergycenter.com.

Dave Matthews Band

Nov. 13: Singer/guitarist/South Africa native Dave Matthews formed his band in Virginia in 1991 and hand-picked players from the local jazz scene. The group went on to sign with RCA Records and release a series of hit singles, including “What Would You Say,” “Crash into Me,” “Crush” and “The Space Between.” But the group’s biggest success has come on the road, where their improv-heavy shows are now a coming-of-age tradition. The Dave Matthews Band stands as the biggest-selling concert act of the ’00s and has sold more than 25 million tickets over the group’s history.

7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $135-$49.50 (on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 23); 888-929-7849 or targetcenter.com.

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