Holly Newsom

The best concerts in the Twin Cities this week: 5/8 - 5/14

It's finally starting to feel like May again, and this week is packed with shows. Friday Daughter visits the Fine Line with label-mate and local opener, Jeremy Messersmith. The Amsterdam hosts their second annual Girls Got Rhythm Fest featuring Cherie Currie, The Avengers and many more stretching ov ... More >>

Damien Jurado

Grant Cutler at Cedar Cultural Center, 12/21/12

Grant Cutler Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis Friday, December 21, 2012 Grant Cutler is smart, talented, and industrious. He has good taste. His projects don't miss. He's an artist with little left to prove. He's among the best we have. Recently, he won an arts grant to produce an original compo ... More >>

Twin Cities musicians on Christmas music at its best and worst

Each December, you can bet your bough of holly that if a retail space has a PA system, it will pause its cheaply licensed Muzak in favor of Christmas' more expensive, but consumer-enabling, catalogue. Radio stations will cease regular programming for weeks, often witnessing an increase in listenersh ... More >>

Zoo Animal on Joan of Arc: It's so intense

When Duluth-based Zeitgeist Arts asked local indie-rock trio Zoo Animal to create a live soundtrack for a public screening of Danish director Carl Dreyer's classic silent film The Passion Of Joan Of Arc, lead singer Holly Newsom was a little unsettled. "This movie was the most intimidating thing I ... More >>

Art-A-Whirl Day 1 in Northeast Minneapolis, 5/18/2012

Art-A-Whirl Day 1The 331 Club, Northeast MinneapolisFriday, May 18, 2012Related: Slideshow: Art-A-Whirl 2012: Friday's Music Art-A-Whirl Day 2 in Northeast Minneapolis, 5/19/12The oldest section of Minneapolis came alive this weekend with art, culture, love, and best of all, music. Although it may o ... More >>

Mid West Music Fest, Day One: Tapes 'n Tapes, Cory Chisel, and Zoo Animal

Mid West Music Festival Day OneFeaturing Tapes 'n Tapes, Cory Chisel, and Zoo Animal Winona, MNThursday, April 19, 2012Rain and plummeting temperatures greeted music fans in Winona who were gathering for the third annual Mid West Music Fest on Thursday evening. And while the lousy weather conditio ... More >>

Low and Zoo Animal set to play the Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery this summer

​After serving as the inspiration for Jeremy Messersmith's most recent album, The Reluctant Graveyard, and playing host to a truly unique benefit concert by Messersmith and Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles last October, The Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery has announced plans for another ... More >>

Zoo Animal's Holly Newsom: I thought Departure was going to be a dud; release show Saturday

Janell Marie​It's all change these days for Holly Newsom and the band she calls Zoo Animal. A few months ago, her longtime bandmates, bassist Tim Abramson and drummer Thom Burton, both left the group. The tireless songwriter has responded with an excellent new EP, Departure, a record she claims sh ... More >>

Amsterdam Bar & Hall: A chat with co-owner Jarret Oulman

​There was a wave of excitement in St. Paul when Amsterdam Bar and Hall first opened its doors in September. The new 450-capactiy venue, along with neighbors Eclipse Records and Big Table Studio, marked a new venture to increase the cultural footprint of the city. With established scene figures ... More >>

Zoo Animal's "Laying and Lying" video is carefully choreographed

​Is there anything that Holly Newsom can't do? Sure, we know the Zoo Animal singer can write a song, DJ a show, or even run her own record label; hell, we christened her an Artist of the Year just last December for those very reasons. But what really gets us is finding out, say, that she can sing ... More >>

Zoo Animal's 'Departure' EP streaming in advance of Nick and Eddie performance

​Holly Newsom apparently didn't let the recent dissolution of the original Zoo Animal line-up affect her much creatively. She has just put the finishing touches on a brand new EP, Departure, an appropriately titled batch of stellar but subdued new songs. The EP has just been made available for ... More >>

Artists of the Year 2011

Alan Moore, Louis C.K., Bethany Larson, and more

Artists of the Year, Northeast's Pearl Studio featured in this week's City Pages

Photo by Emily UtnePearl Studio owners Zach and Noah Hollander​With the year-end review season in full swing, this week marks the publication of our annual Artists of the Year issue, which pays tribute to 15 local and national artists whose voices rose above the din in 2011. 

Celebrate Women in Music comes together at the Amsterdam

​Where would we be without women in music?  Specifically, where would we be without the women in the Twin Cities music scene?  On Wednesday, the Amsterdam Bar and Hall will be hosting Celebrate Women in Music, an event that aims to shed light on the hard work and talent of some of the mo ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Andrew Bird, Doomtree Blowout, Foster the People, Jingle Ball

​ So much good music happening this weekend; here's an overview of the best bets.

Matt Latterell releases Life on Land at the Cedar tomorrow

​To ask Matt Latterell himself, you wouldn't expect there to be anything too remarkable about his new album, Life on Land. But then it isn't exactly in Latterell's character to go around singing his own praises.

We Are the Willows tour diary, Vol. 17

​I almost got hit by water balloons on the streets of Boise.  I guess that's what I get for being that asshole with a guitar playing for money on the sidewalk.

Zoo Animal, the Goondas cover Bob Dylan

Photo by Emily Utne​As part of an overwhelming display of love for Bob Dylan on his 70th birthday this past Tuesday, Radio K invited four different local bands into their studios to play three-song sets of Bob Dylan covers. All four bands offered up interesting takes on some of the Minnesota-born ... More >>

Hoolie Fest 2011 prize pack: Win a t-shirt, Shuga Records gift certificate and free admission

​Hoolie Fest, the local music blowout that takes over Shuga Records during Art-A-Whirl weekend, is now in its second year and bigger than ever. Over 75 local bands will perform on two stages starting Friday (see below for the full schedule), and the eclectic lineup is designed to keep people wande ... More >>

Minor Kingdom release 'Don't Worry Baby,' bid farewell to the Twin Cities

Photo by Erik HessKristiam Melom performing at the Southern Songbook in February 2011​The music of Kristian Melom, who performs as Minor Kingdom with various members of a rotating backing band, is unexpectedly soft; the sonic equivalent of a drizzly summer evening at dusk, all fuzzy candleligh ... More >>

Record Store Day 2011: Complete Twin Cities listings

​Record Store Day, the annual celebration of good ol' fashioned mom-and-pop music shops, seems to balloon into a bigger event each year. Now in its fourth go-'round, RSD will overtake 18 different businesses in the Twin Cities tomorrow--and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has even gone so far as ... More >>

Hildur Victoria emerge with a new musical voice

Self-titled album both robust and dramatic

Hell's Kitchen ramps up 'Late-Nite' series

​Minneapolis has no shortage of venues. However, the city also has no shortage of quality bands in search of a stage either. Popular downtown restaurant Hell's Kitchen recently threw their hat into the venue ring, seeking to better utilize their stage and sound system. The restaurant prides ... More >>

Southern Songbook at the Southern Theater, 2/14/11

Photos by Erik HessAby Wolf​Southern Songbook: Desire and DeathFebruary 14, 2011Southern Theater, MinneapolisAs I walked up to the theater last night, I squeezed my date's hand. "This should be nice, huh?" I said as he held the door open for me. And then my eyes focused on the description of the e ... More >>

Southern Songbook returns this Valentine's Day

​Screw Hallmark cards. This February 14, I can't think of a better way to kill an evening than with a night filled with "Valentine-ish subject matter sung by some of the best purveyors of melancholia around." That's how Adam Levy is describing his next installment of the Southern Songbook, his new ... More >>

Zoo Animal, Gospel Gossip, and Red Pens prep for Loring Theater gig

Photos by Erik Hess​While Picked to Click alums Red Pens, Zoo Animal, and Gospel Gossip are frequently spotted around town headlining their own gigs, Thursday night's show at the Loring Theater (formerly the Music Box) will be a rare chance to catch all three stellar live acts on one bill. To get ... More >>

Halloween 2010 concert guide

​Got your Star Trek costume all laid out, belly full of candy, pumpkin carved, and still don't know what to do with yourself this Halloween weekend? Don't fret, we've got a host of musical options at your disposal. Here's a rundown of some of the best Halloween-themed concerts happening this weeke ... More >>

Cedar Cultural Center knocking out 22 shows in 20 days

The Sweet Colleens perform amidst a flurry of shows​Rocktober is in full swing, and the Cedar Cultural Center doesn't intend to slow its pace as we head into November. The all-ages venue is hosting an impressive run of shows over the next 20 days, squeezing in 22 separate events by an eclectic arr ... More >>

Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords at the Turf Club, 10/20/10

​Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords EP releaseOctober 20, 2010The Turf ClubIf Grant Cutler was at all nervous about how his new EP would fly with fans, he didn't let on at last night's EP-release show at the Turf Club's Clown Lounge. And with support from the talented Holly Newsom, Marvin Devane ... More >>

Grant Cutler on making music and moving on

​If Grant Cutler had it his way, he would probably tell you that there's not really much to know about his music. It's not like he's a big deal, after all, and as I ask him about his project Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords, the conversation flows in and out of what he's working on and what he' ... More >>

Video premiere: Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords

​As we mentioned last month, Grant Cutler of Lookbook is quickly making a name for himself as a solo artist with his new project Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords. He will release his grandiose four-song EP next week with a show next Wednesday, October 20 in the Turf Club Clown Lounge (with gues ... More >>

City of Music screening party tomorrow night at Red Stag

​Dig our weekly music video series, City of Music? Here's your chance to watch a whole slew of local music videos in one sitting. Our partners at MPLS.TV are hosting a City of Music screening party tomorrow night at the Red Stag Supperclub in Northeast, with videos featuring Lookbook, Communist Da ... More >>

The Southern Theater announces its 2010-11 season

​(Coming soon: Ananya Dance Theatre. Photo by V. Paul Virtucio)Now in its second century as an entertainment and performance space, the Southern Theater has released its full schedule for 2010 and 2011. According to the press release, this season will feature work by 27 choreographers and over ... More >>

Lookbook leads a strong contingent of local bands into First Avenue

Lookbook at First Ave. w/ Zoo Animal, BIGHT CLUB, & Slapping Purses from MPLS.TV on Vimeo.A diverse array of local bands descended upon First Avenue on Friday night, with Lookbook leading the way during their first headlining show in the Mainroom. It was a wide-ranging evening featuring performa ... More >>

Zoo Animal's new self-titled album

It's a seriously auspicious sophomore effort

Picked to Click 2009: Red Pens voted Twin Cities' best new band

Celebrating the 10 winners of this year's best-new-bands poll

Zoo Animal break all Christian-rock clichés on their way up

Band members say they're not preaching, just offering alternate perspective