More interesting than the chance to hear the new Jane's Addiction songs in concert, today's announcement of the band's spring tour includes a March 19 date in Minneapolis at a venue few people have ever heard of. It's called the Brick, and it matches up with rumors we've been hearing about concert and theater promotions giant AEG Live opening up a new club in the surprisingly spacious, three-tiered space that used to be Christian rock haven Club 3 Degrees.

Located across the street from Epic nightclub, at 111 5th St N. in the Warehouse District, the venue has been under construction in recent months. A contact at 3 Degrees – still producing ministry events at Epic and other places –said the work has altered the layout of the venue, likely to increase capacity. Its previous capacity was up to 1,700. That puts it squarely between First Avenue (1,500-person) and Epic (2,400).

A spokeswoman for AEG Live in St. Louis (our regional office) declined to comment on the venue but said an announcement will be coming soon. The Jane's Addiction tour is an AEG-promoted event, so a big in-house tour would make for a great symbiotic kick-off at the new club. Adding to the local synergy, AEG also operates the city-owned Target Center around the corner from the Brick. Some of the other music-heavy venues in the AEG chain similar in size to the Brick include Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre, Bluebird Theater in Denver and The Joint at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas.

One reason for AEG to keep mum: The Brick is still going through the licensing approval process. A public licensing hearing on it is scheduled Jan. 19 at city hall. The city's notice on the hearing says that the Brick will offer "a performing arts center, live entertainment including vocals and instrumentals of all genres, concerts, comedy shows, art exhibitions and corporate and private parties will be provided."

Ticket info for the Jane's Addiction concert has not yet been released. The band's tour, titled "The Theatre of the Escapist" after the band's new "The Great Escape" album, is being billed as an "immersive theatrical experience."