A big day indeed. It’s the official release of our album That’s What They Say. We’re stoked. Be sure to be at this one. It’s not to miss.
When: Thursday, October 23, 2025
6:30 Doors open
7pm Ryan Smith Solo
8pm PaviElle French
9pm Stone Arch Rivals
Cost:
$16 at the box office
$18.87 online
$21 at the door
Where: The Zen Arcade inside the Hook & Ladder, 3010 Minnehaha Ave STE 420, Minneapolis, MN 55406
PaviElle French
PaviElle French (PaviElle) is a professional vocalist and interdisciplinary artist from the historically Black Rondo neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Known for performing with an accompanying 5-piece soul band, PaviElle has a dynamic, distinctive, musical voice rooted in jazz, soul and hip hop.
PaviElle began performing in 1989 at the age of 5. She received vocal and piano lessons at Walker West Music Academy and did choral work with Robert Robinson’s “City Songs” before attending Mississippi Creative Arts School, where she received training in dance, acting, and musical theater. As a teen, PaviElle also received formal acting and theater element training from one of the country’s premiere Black Theaters, Penumbra Theatre.
In 2009, PaviElle went solo, and in September 2014 she released her first album, Fear Not. An homage to her late mother and father, Fear Not received positive reviews and helped launch her career.
As a singer, dancer, and actor, PaviElle has performed at theaters such as the Fitzgerald Theater, Penumbra Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Ordway Theater, and Guthrie Theater. In 2016, PaviElle won a Sage Cowles Award for Dance and Choreography and, in 2019, an Emmy Award for a documentary about her life and career.
Photo by Sharolyn B. Hagen Photography
Ryan Smith Solo
Ryan Smith might be best known as the frontman of The Melismatics and Ryan And Pony, as well as the lead guitarist of Soul Asylum. But before all of that, Ryan was making solo recordings in which he played all instruments as a teenager and releasing albums on his own Hygh Tensions Records.
In 2019, Soul Asylum was on the “Dead Letter Tour” setting up the 2020 release of their album “Hurry Up And Wait” — that is, until the pandemic hit. Ryan suddenly found himself back home with a small window of unexpected free time. He started feverishly recording brand-new song ideas with no specific plan of where these songs would end up, playing all instruments and singing all vocal parts. It became clear that the tracks Ryan was building were turning into a new album with a direction all its own. His latest hit, “I’m Slipping,” is an excellent introduction to Ryan Smith’s diverse discography. Covering observational and autobiographical themes, the artist spins lyrics that dig deeper into human existence and purpose.
Traverse through psychedelic visuals and dream pop in Ryan Smith’s “I’m Slipping” music video. Fully embracing an experimental approach to his solo act, Ryan Smith has cascading vocals, introspective lyrics, and a far-out soundscape that brings the guitar distortion and the obscurity of shoegaze music to life.
“I’m Slipping” allows room for interpretation, making it a song anyone can resonate with. Whether you perceive it as slipping into madness or losing touch with reality, the ominous lyrics ask listeners to look deep into how they choose to perceive the world. The stellar visuals are a hypnotizing watch, flooded with vibrant colors and trippy editing. “I’m Slipping” highlights Ryan Smith’s unique artistry and ability to elevate music genres.
–Written by Molly Hudelson
