John Munson

Lucy Michelle goes solo

The singer-songwriter explores anxiety with the touching album Attack of the Heart

Minnesota gun permit holders: Five justifiable firearm uses, 124 crimes on record since 2003

Since the "shall issue" permit law went on the books a decade ago, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has recorded five instances of permit holders justifiably using a firearm. During that same timeframe, permit holders have committed 124 firearm-related crimes.RELATED COVERAGE:-- More Minnesotans ... More >>

The New Standards on covering Robyn and John Munson's mustache

It's getting to be that time of year again. We can tell, because the New Standards' holiday shows are upon us, and this year, the jazz trio -- Chan Poling, Steve Roehm and John Munson -- has decided to gift us with a double offering: three shows, plus a CD release. Sunday Morning Coming Down is th ... More >>

Lucy Michelle starts Kickstarter for solo album, Attack of the Heart

Lucy Michelle, a name often associated with her bandmates the Velvet Lapelles, has decided to strike out on her own for a solo project. Titled, Attack of the Heart, the project is expected to see the light of day next year.In January, Michelle is heading out to play a bi-weekly residency at Hollywoo ... More >>

Minnesota Public Radio's Wits announces fall lineup

The increasingly popular Minnesota Public Radio show Wits has just announced that they will be putting on their first ever fall season of the highly enjoyable comedy-music-conversation program. The well-liked events pair an eclectic mix of talented comedians, actors and musicians along with host Joh ... More >>

MN Music-on-a-Stick at the Minnesota State Fair, 8/31/2012

MN Music-on-a-Stick With Semisonic, The Jayhawks, Dessa, Jeremy Messersmith, and Lucy Michelle and the Velvet LapellesMN State Fair Grandstand, St. PaulFriday, August 31, 2012After a summer of record temperature highs, August was the perfect month for outdoor shows, ending with MN Music-on-a-Stick a ... More >>

The Ultimate Master of Words

Wits: Paul F. Tompkins

First Avenue's 20 best concerts: The complete list

Related:First Avenue: An archived history via flyers, riders & contractsFirst Avenue's 40 years of rock 'n' rollTop 20 best Minnesota musicians: The complete listFirst Avenue is undoubtedly among the premier rock clubs in the country -- possibly the world. Since 1970, the building at the interse ... More >>

First Avenue's 20 best concerts: #20-11

Related:First Avenue's 40 years of rock 'n' rollTop 20 best Minnesota musicians: The complete list50 cool facts about the Minnesota music sceneMinneapolis music scene named second-best in the U.S.First Avenue is undoubtedly among the premier rock clubs in the country -- possibly the world. Since 197 ... More >>

Wits: Andy Richter

Wits: Tim Meadows

John Munson covers Nick Drake's "Way to Blue"

​The memorial service for Daniel Levy, son of Honeydogs' frontman Adam Levy, was an extremely emotional affair last month. It brought together a couple hundred family, friends, musicians, and others to remember the 21-year-old young man who took his life after years of dealing with a mind that he ... More >>

The Banner Pilots

The Twilight Hours, Rogue Valley

The New Standards issue holiday album to coincide with annual Fitzgerald shows

​If you've tuned into the Current at all this week, there's a good chance you've heard about this weekend's back-to-back New Standards Holiday Shows at the Fitzgerald Theater, the group's annual star-studded performances of jazz-inspired covers and holiday sing-alongs. This year, in honor of their ... More >>

Wits: Special Edition

Watch: Neil Gaiman with Josh Ritter at MPR's Wits

Photo via MPR​Friday night was the season finale of John Moe and John Munson's interview and performance series Wits at the Fitzgerald Theater, and they went out with a bang. In addition to bringing together highly imaginative and fascinating author Neil Gaiman and call-in guests Wil Wheaton (from ... More >>

Gayngs at Coachella, Nikki Sixx phones it in at the Fitz, and more notes from the weekend

Photos by Denis Jeong Plaster​April is continuing to roar by us at a steady clip, and this past weekend our local scene was so bustling that we had to export some of our musicians out to Indio, California before the whole town overflowed.

Wits: Chuck Klosterman

Wits: Patton Oswalt

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 >>

"Why We're Here" Twin Cities video is a shot of warmth in the dead of winter

Seven & Sixty ProductionsWhy are you here?​With more snow to shovel this morning, more on the way, and mountains of it piled around town, it's easy to forget that spring will, in fact, come as scheduled. For a reminder, take a look at this video from Seven & Sixty Productions. In the middle ... More >>

Chuck Klosterman, Patton Oswalt, Neil Gaiman, more coming to town for MPR's 'Wits'

Photo by Kamilla Kraczkowski​This morning, MPR revealed the lineup for its new season of "Wits," the charismatic and adventurous radio show presented at the Fitzgerald with host John Moe (the tech reporter for American Public Media's "Marketplace") and resident musician John Munson (the Twilight H ... More >>

The Twilight Hours

The Twilight Hours play the Varsity Theater tomorrow

Photo courtesy of the Twilight Hours​Judging from the overwhelmingly positive response we received from the City of Music video we posted of the New Standards covering Trip Shakespeare's "Snow Days," there are quite a few John Munson and Matt Wilson fans out there looking for a fix this holiday se ... More >>

City of Music: The New Standards perform Trip Shakespeare's 'Snow Days'

​Earlier this month, jazz trio the New Standards (featuring the Suburbs' Chan Poling, Semisonic and the Twilight Hours' John Munson, and vibraphonist Steve Roehm) held down three nights at the Fitzgerald Theater with their annual holiday show. City of Music director Dan Huiting filmed the Fitzgera ... More >>

Twin Cities Year in Music 2010: The highlights

Prince, Gayngs, Gigamesh, and many others dot the calendar

The New Standards Holiday Concert

Mark Mallman's Marathon 3 kicks off this afternoon

Photo by Nick Vlcek​It won't be the first time Mark Mallman has challenged his own endurance abilities, but it will certainly be his longest running show yet: The local piano man will kick off a performance at 4 p.m. this afternoon at the Turf Club that isn't due to wrap up until 10 p.m. on Sunday ... More >>

Top 10 local music nerds to follow on Twitter

​For those about to tweet: We salute you. Twitter has become a phenomenal way to stay in the know on the latest make-ups and break-ups, stage antics, and "secret shows" (yeah right) in the Twin Cities. Here's a list of 10 fascinating local music peeps we enjoy following on Twitter, from musicians ... More >>

Macca: A Tribute to Paul McCartney

Wits: Chickens and Other Dilemmas

Al Kooper honored at the Dakota Jazz Club

All photos by Steve CohenAl Kooper with Ashleigh Still and Alison Scott​A sizable crew of esteemed local musicians gathered at the Dakota Sunday night to pay tribute to rock 'n' roll legend Al Kooper with a set of covers that spanned his entire career. According to photographer Steve Cohen, Al him ... More >>

Wits: Hard Work and for What?

Wits: How to Sacrifice Everything for Your Ungrateful Children

Dan and Matt Wilson announce duo show

The show will be a rare treat for fans of the former Trip Shakespeare bandmates.

The Day of the Dead: the Final Show

Matt Wilson, John Munson shine on new project the Twilight Hours

Matt Wilson, John Munson shine on new project the Twilight Hours

Lavish harmonies and firey fretwork speckle duo's debut, Stereo Night

Glamorama

Finnigans shamROCK 2009 lineup

Yet another summer festival announcement. Woo hoo!

The New Standards trio of pop legends keep it fresh

John Munson of Semisonic and Chan Poling of the Suburbs talk new music

Feeling Strangely Busy

Fickle major labels, lethargic production schedules, desensitized index fingers--nothing can slow John Munson down

'Scene Minneapolis: 1977-1986' tonight

Farewell to the Black Music Awards

A Separate Peace

When Trip Shakespeare broke up, Matt Wilson marched off to war against his muse. Five years later, this exacting songwriter returns from the front with his first solo album.

Newbies, etc.

Makeout Music For The Millennium