“I had a couple things. Right here –” A bass line sounds. “Exaggerate. Draw it out. And when we get to the bridge…” Mike Elizondo is standing behind Live From Here host Chris Thile and singer/songwriter Madison Cunningham on the Palace Theatre stage, an electric bass strapped around his torso and black T-shirt. He’s living […]
These days, Lizzo is all photo shoots and peach emoji, a triumphant star embarking on national tours with Haim and Florence + the Machine. Fans thirst for her next album; outlets such as the New York Times and Teen Vogue afford her coverage. But no matter how high their “Good As Hell” play counts, many could stand to try her debut album, Lizzobangers: a […]
If your parents or teachers are your role models, well, good for you. I haven’t been so lucky. As a young adult, I grew attached to a musician/writer named Dessa, looping her lyrics through my brain; processing a not-break-up through her music. For the last two years, I’ve been watching those bonds fray. It’s not […]
“How the hell can a person go to work in the morning and come home in the evening and have nothing to say?” That’s singer/songwriter John Prine. Well, that’s Mike Lewis quoting Prine’s song “Angel From Montgomery” while sitting next to me at a countertop. We’re nearing the end of an hour-long conversation, and I’ve […]
As the result of a distribution deal with Sony, 23 Prince albums originally released from 1995 to 2010 are now available on major streaming services. Some were previously available on Tidal, but the widespread availability of these albums — some of which were originally released only to members of Prince’s NPG Music Club — will […]
Bananas Foster French Toast These ska sensations will have you skankin’ through the Midway all night long. UpNorth Puff Pasty This Ely rapper will have you nodding your head with his bold lyrics and bouncing beats built on polka samples. Shrimp Ceviche This jazz guitar quartet will wow you with their fleet-fingered renditions of Ritchie […]
Like any other Minnesotan, I enjoy hopping a plane to somewhere warmer for a week or so in the winter, but summer is the perfect time to enjoy local offerings out on the open road. Some vacation for leisure; others for adventure. I always find myself drawn to the nightlife of my various destinations — […]
People from all around the world visit Minnesota every spring for Soundset, the largest hip-hop festival in the United States. But how many venture beyond the State Fairgrounds to discover where our local heroes grew up? Where they shop or eat? Here are a few hometown spots you can go to soak up the culture. Of […]
Whether you’re lost in a foreign country or waiting for test results, being with someone you love can slow your heartbeat. As I saw when P.O.S and his mom visited The Current, this also applies to interviews. I walk into the lobby and find Grace first, sitting with her hands folded. Her shoulders loosen as soon […]
“Before you even ask a question,” said Curtiss A, leaning forward to address my iPhone, “I’ll just make a statement that I have not prepared.” The singer-songwriter born Curt Almsted thought I had come to his St. Paul home to ask him about aliens, which was a reasonable assumption. He has a UFO story he’s […]
