Chris Riemenschneider

First Avenue music festival is postponed for 2013

Today another major Twin Cities summer festival decided to take 2013 off. The long-gestating First Avenue music festival, which was set to be held at Parade Stadium near the Walker Art Center on July 20, is postponed this year. Earlier this year, Live Nation announced that the River's Edge Music Fes ... More >>

SXSW: The lows and highs of putting on a showcase

By Conrad Schoenleber During SXSW, Austin has a specific kind of gravity. Each year, huge masses of people are drawn to the Texas capital to seek out the best of what new music has to offer. I was pulled down south once again in 2013 as an event planner. With my production team at Hydrive Shows, I ... More >>

Are You Local? at Mill City Nights, 3/1/2013

Are You Local? With Solid Gold, Sims, Wiping Out Thousands, L'Assassins, Carroll, Bad Bad Hats, Audio PermMill City Nights, MinneapolisFriday, March 1, 2013The Twin Cities takes a lot of pride in their local music scene -- and much of that pride is warranted. Sifted from a group of 223 entries, Bad ... More >>

"Hot Cheetos & Takis" rappers haven't seen a cent, recording with ex-Aftermath producer

Mixed news from the "Hot Cheetos & Takis" camp explodes out today. The KIDS, formerly known as YN Rich Kids, are on the verge of something big, according to a huge Star Tribune scoop coming out this Sunday.Recently, Strib music scribe Chris Riemenschneider spoke to the parents and members of the ... More >>

Local critics, Gimme Noise included, converged on the Local Show

It's most opinionated time of the year. Thus, 89.3 the Current's studios opened up for a few gatekeepers from the Twin Cities music media to air out the wares they've been pushing all year long once again before moving onto the 2013 models. This is the Critics Pick edition.In an episode that aired S ... More >>

Yasiin Bey (AKA Mos Def) at Guthrie Theater, 10/1/12

Yasiin Bey (AKA Mos Def)with Toki Wright and This Debris Guthrie Theater, MinneapolisMonday, October 10, 2012Yasiin Bey returned to the Guthrie for his second headlining gig since playing in 2010, this time with Toki Wright and his full band as the sole opener. It was an odd but strangely fitti ... More >>

Let It Be Records' history isn't Target property, former owner says

See Also:Let It Be Records Is ClosingThe triumphant return (almost) of Let It Be RecordsTarget won't stock gay R&B star Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, cites "guest demand"Target is stiff-arming Let it Be Records' former owner for the "It" from the store's old marquee. After 16 years in the locati ... More >>

Summit Backyard Bash with Doomtree, 9/8/12

Summit Backyard BashWith Doomtree, Now, Now, Halloween, Alaska, Heartbeats, and Caroline Smith and the Goodnight SleepsSummit Brewery, St. PaulSaturday, September 8, 2012See Also:Slideshow: Summit Backyard Bash"Would you mind clapping, or are you all too drunk for that?" This was an actual request m ... More >>

Semisonic reuniting Saturday night in Mound

The boys are back in Mound again, at least for a night. Star Tribune's Chris Riemenschneider is reporting that the celebrated local trio Semisonic are playing a rare reunion gig on Saturday, May 19 as part of the Blast Block Party in Mound. Bassist John Munson is the only member of the group who has ... More >>

Slug: The Twin Cities' hip-hop scene is still over-saturated

Related:Is Wiz Khalifa as "raunchy" as a Star Tribune writer says?Slug of Atmosphere: 'Prince was a shitty version of Rick James and Parliament'Top 20 best Minnesota musicians: The complete listJudging by the number of racist comments this blog weathers, some locals believe any amount of Twin Cities ... More >>

Is Wiz Khalifa as "raunchy" as a Star Tribune writer says?

Related:Up in the air: How Minneapolis became a flyover city for major rap artistsKiss, Motley Crue lead Minnesota State Fair 2012 offeringsStar Tribune published two stories Tuesday detailing the Minnesota State Fair's latest Grandstand additions, but one would've been plenty. A couple hours after ... More >>

Lee's Liquor Lounge up for sale... to the right buyer

​Sit a spell and imagine some of the Twin Cities' now-defunct music hotspots, from mid-century staples like University Avenue's Prom Ballroom and Nicollet's Marigold and Flame, to Mr. Nibbs, Duffy's and Norma Jean's in South Minneapolis' "Hub of Hell." It's hard not to feel nostalgic for what cou ... More >>

Nirvana's In Utero studio site in Cannon Falls overhauled

​Pachyderm Studio was once an ever-expanding source of rural Minnesota trivia. The complex, tucked away behind some trees on a quiet country road near Cannon Falls, hosted many legendary recording sessions. Lore surrounding Nirvana's In Utero, PJ Harvey's Rid of Me, and albums by local heroes incl ... More >>

Bon Iver ninth-best in Pazz & Jop 2011 Poll

​Bon Iver's Bon Iver was obviously a bit of a local success story, and we rightfully felt the need to put his bearded, thoughtful mug on our cover last fall. (Read Andrea Swensson's cover story here.) Our beloved sibling paper the Village Voice showed some serious (but not ultimate) dedication to ... More >>

Andrea Swensson departs City Pages for the Current

Gimme Noise founder says farewell after four great years

Hold Steady and P.O.S. at Epic, 11/18/11

​Vita.mn's Vth Anniversary Party with Hold Steady, P.O.S., Night Moves, and No Bird SingNovember 18, 2011Epic, Minneapolis"Congrats on throwing such an 'epic' party!" an acquaintance gushed to me shortly after arriving at Vita.mn's "Vth" anniversary bash on Friday night. I found her flub more ende ... More >>

The Hold Steady announce show at Epic

​The Hold Steady will make it back to the Twin Cities to play a show before the year is up, though the venue is a bit of a head-scratcher: America's best bar-rock band will come through town on November 18 to play slick downtown dance club Epic. The band will be performing as the headliners a ... More >>

Stone Arch Festival of the Arts dissolves: An open letter from music booker Stacy Schwartz

​Sad news to hit the local arts world today: The long-running Stone Arch Festival of the Arts, which annually showcased over 200 artists and four free stages of music along St. Anthony Main, will be no more. The festival's founder, longtime local music advocate Ira Heilicher (son of legendary Soma ... More >>

Minnesota Twins music director Dan Edwards works some Auto-Tuned Minnesotans into the mix

Photo by Andrea Swensson​With the criticism of the new Minnesota Twins music director Dan Edwards reaching a deafening roar on social media networks, it sounds like Edwards finally took note of some of the feedback that's been flung his way.Last night, as hail pelted down on the attendees at Targe ... More >>

Minnesota Twins phase out local music programming, amp up Top 40 hits

Photo by Andrea Swensson​With the first month of the Twins season completed, Minnesota baseball fans may have noticed something a little different about this year's home games: The music. That's because longtime music director Kevin Dutcher, who was with the team from 2000 up until last year's ina ... More >>

Kevin Foley, Bash & Pop bassist, passes away at 52

Via YouTubeKevin Foley, left, with Steve Brantseg at the John Lennon tribute in 2008​Funeral services are being held today for Hopkins native Kevin Foley, who passed away in his sleep last Thursday for unknown reasons. Foley was the bass player in local bands Swingset, Routine 11, and Bash & P ... More >>

Gimme Noise and First Avenue day party fills up Skinny's Ballroom

Photos by Erik Hess​We had an insanely fun time yesterday afternoon throwing the first ever Gimme Noise day party in Austin in partnership with First Avenue. The party was hopping from the get-go, thanks in part to the free beer offered up by Tiger, and we were thrilled to see a huge contingent of ... More >>

The Black Keys announce July 3 date at Roy Wilkins

​Grammy-winning rock duo the Black Keys, who took home trophies this year for Best Alternative Music Album, Best Recording Package, Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals, are returning to the Twin Cities on July 3 to play the Roy Wilkins Auditorium with openers Cage the Elephant.

Grant Hart of Husker Du recovering from house fire

​First, the good news: Grant Hart, formerly of Husker Du and now a renowned solo artist, is in good health after only a brief stint in the hospital yesterday afternoon. But the bad news is that Hart's South St. Paul house, which originally belonged to his parents, suffered a two-room fire that tor ... More >>

Mr. Chan Presents dissolves

​After five years of promoting shows around the Twin Cities, the one-man show booking agency Mr. Chan Presents, an offshoot of Live Nation (and formerly Clear Channel), has folded for financial reasons and agency head James DeCoursey has quietly moved his efforts to booking shows at the Cabooze.

The Current hosts 'Critics' Picks' show recapping year in local music

​With year-end retrospectives gushing out of every local publication in town, the Current's Local Show decided to invite a crew of local music writers to gather with host Dave Campbell and discuss the best records and trends to sweep the Twin Cities this year. I had the pleasure of joining Chris R ... More >>

Janelle Monae and Of Montreal at First Avenue, 9/23/10

Photos by Stacy Schwartz​Of Montreal and Janelle MonaeSeptember 23, 2010First Avenue, MinneapolisMuch like Janelle Monae's performance earlier this year at the Varsity Theater, it took the funk-fusion diva a few songs to fully engage with the audience, but once she was halfway into her set she had ... More >>

Gayngs, Robyne Robinson, and Wisconsin's Serial Killer Problem

Nikki & Andrew doing research​   In this first installment of Rational Dialectic, Andrew Flanagan and Nikki Miller meet up at GAYNGS HQ - Nick & Eddie -  with laptops in tow, to discuss the local phenomenon (and soon to be worldwide sensation) GAYNGS. Andrew and Nikki do not wi ... More >>

Ike Reilly plans another four-night stand with the Twin Cities

Here's a look back at his first four-night run, in the summer of 2001.

Electric Fetus benefit lineup announced

An eclectic lineup of local talent will play First Ave on February 26.

Cam Waters found dead

A recent transplant to Minneapolis, the singer-songwriter was found dead in his home.

Tragically Hip cancels Minneapolis show

Let's hope swine flu hasn't infested the Canadian rockers.

Lucinda Williams will tie the knot at First Ave

Yes, really. The alt-country queen will be married on September 18.

Uptown Bar moves closer to demolition

The bar's last chance for salvation seems to rest on the city's Heritage Preservation Committee.

Haley Bonar moves to Portland, Oregon

After a farewell show over the weekend at the Walker, the songsmith packs a steamer trunk for the Pacific Northwest.

Trocaderos nightclub closed suddenly

A sign on the door simply says "Done."

Jay Bennett tribute at the 400 Bar tonight

Check out a sampling of old Wilco videos that feature Bennett.

The smartest writer at the Star Tribune

Fleet Foxes at the Cedar: The anti-rock stars

Minnesota Republicans out Franken on lesbian jokes

The Current shrinks its playlist

Slogan aside, 89.3 limits its list of songs

Clear Channel Entertainment quitting Twin Cities?

Ce-le-brate hip hop, come on!

Watch Where You're Going with that Stereotype

Picked to Click

To those who have recently begun to rock, we salute you

The Passion of the Mallman

Old School

Sweatin' to the local oldies with our favorite reissues

Picked to Click XII

Hail the Conquering Heroes: Polls and Praise for This Year's Best New Artists

24

We sent a team of trained researchers and documentarians into the wilds of the Twin Cities in search of music in its native habitat. Here are the field notes from Friday, February 15--the day that would not end.

The Year in Music

The Sound of Music, 2001: Our Favorite Things