Lasalle at First Avenue

Lasalle at New Band Night — First Avenue

Lasalle brought a completely different energy to New Band Night at First Avenue, and the shift was immediate. Where some sets invite you to lean in, this one made it hard to stand still. Upbeat and groove-driven, their sound blended R&B, rock, and soul into something that felt polished but still very much alive in the moment.

I wasn’t around for the rise of a certain homegrown hero in the Minneapolis scene, but there were flashes of that same spirit here—confidence, style, and an understanding of how to work a stage without overplaying it. Lasalle performed with ease and intention, clearly comfortable out front and fully in control of the room.

The backing band was solid across the board: two guitars, keys, bass, drums, and sax all working together without stepping on each other. The arrangements stayed tight while leaving space for feel, which kept the energy flowing from song to song.

The crowd responded in kind. Heads nodding, bodies moving, and that unmistakable hum in the room when a band locks into a groove and doesn’t let go. It was a set built on momentum, and Lasalle delivered.