The Struts – Fillmore – Minneapolis MN – August 8th 2025

By Kyle Hansen 24 hours ago

Live Nation and the Fillmore Minneapolis present The Struts with special guests Dirty Honey

Review and photos by Kyle Hansen

On a sticky August night in Minneapolis, Dirty Honey roared through the Fillmore with the kind of raw, riff-driven swagger that reminds you rock and roll isn’t dead — it’s just been waiting for a band like this.

Opening for The Struts, Dirty Honey hit the stage around 8 PM, greeted by a sea of black t-shirts, long hair, and raised beers. From the first notes of their AC/DC cover, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation,” it was clear the L.A. quartet came to tear the roof off.

A Tight, No-Nonsense Set

The band wasted no time getting to the goods. “Gypsy” and “California Dreamin’” (their bluesy, swaggering original—not the Mamas & Papas song) brought the crowd into full head-nod mode. Frontman Marc LaBelle’s vocals were as gritty as ever, soaring and sneering in equal measure, while guitarist John Notto was simply on fire — laying down solos that flirted with chaos but never lost control.

Mid-set, “Heartbreaker” and “Another Last Time” gave fans a taste of the band’s emotional range, but it was “Won’t Take Me Alive” that really had the floor shaking. Dirty Honey has this uncanny ability to channel the energy of classic rock without sounding like a cover band — and that’s exactly what they did all night.

Highlights & Crowd Reaction

One of the standout moments came during Notto’s extended guitar solo, a blistering, Hendrix-touched showcase that had even the bartenders craning their necks. LaBelle stalked the stage like a younger Chris Robinson, while bassist Justin Smolian and drummer Jaydon Bean held down a rhythm section tight enough to trap lightning.

The band closed with their signature “Rolling 7s,” and the crowd sang nearly every word, hands in the air, phones out, living in that perfectly electrified moment where it feels like rock might actually matter again.

Final Thoughts

While technically the “opener,” Dirty Honey played like headliners — confident, loud, and unfiltered. For those who showed up early, they got a dose of pure, unapologetic rock that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s streaming-driven scene.

If there was any complaint? The set felt too short. But maybe that’s the best kind of problem.

Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
Best Song of the Night: “Rolling 7s”
Vibe: Leather jackets, Marshall stacks, and a whole lotta groove.

With a glimmer of glam, a stomp of swagger, and the charm of a thousand disco balls, The Struts took over the Fillmore in Minneapolis on August 8th for a night that felt less like a concert and more like a rock ‘n’ roll revival.

The British quartet, known for their flamboyant theatrics and irresistible hooks, hit the stage around 9:30 PM after a scorching opening set from Dirty Honey. The energy in the room was already high — but once frontman Luke Spiller emerged in a sequined jacket and a Mick Jagger-meets-Freddie Mercury strut, the entire venue erupted.

A Masterclass in Showmanship

From the moment Spiller shouted, “Minneapolis — are you ready to have the best night of your life?” it was clear the audience was in for a show. The band launched into “Put Your Hands Up”, immediately transforming the crowd into a mass of dancing, shouting, glam-loving devotees.

Spiller commanded the room like a man born on stage — every flick of the wrist, every note he belted, every joke or command between songs was met with cheers. At one point, he had the entire venue split down the middle, leading a call-and-response battle that shook the chandeliers.

Behind him, the band was tight and tuned to perfection:

  • Adam Slack’s guitar snarled and shimmered through hits like “Kiss This” and “She Makes Me Feel”

  • Jed Elliott laid down groove after groove on bass

  • Gethin Davies hammered out thunderous fills that gave even mid-tempo tracks a stadium-worthy punch

 The Setlist: 10th Anniversary of Everybody Wants

The setlist was the whole album and a few favorites, including:

  • “Roll Up”

  • “Could Have Been Me”

  • A surprise cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, complete with a raucous crowd singalong

  • Closing anthem: “One Night Only”, which nearly blew the roof off the Fillmore

They even slipped in a few deep cuts for the die-hards — “Body Talks” brought out a choreographed clap-along, and “Pretty Vicious” turned the floor into a jumping frenzy.

More Than Music

What sets The Struts apart is that they don’t just perform — they entertain. From costume changes to crowd games, every moment felt designed for maximum joy. There’s an almost theatrical element to their show, but it never feels artificial. It feels earned — passionate, sweaty, and gloriously over-the-top in the best way possible.

 Final Verdict

For anyone who misses the golden age of showy rock frontmen and melodic, feel-good anthems, The Struts are the answer — and they proved it again in Minneapolis. They didn’t just give a concert. They gave an experience. And if you weren’t there? Well, darling — you missed something special.

Rating: 5/5 – Glitter, groove, and greatness.
Best Moment: Spiller leading the crowd in a cappella harmony, mid-set, lit only by phone flashlights.
Vibe: Freddie Mercury at a dive bar with 1,500 of his closest friends.