National Public Radio

Justin Vernon unveils the Shouting Matches debut, Grownass Man

Justin Vernon's Grammy-winning run with Bon Iver has pushed his other side projects and random guest appearances to the forefront. Whether he's recording with Kanye, the Flaming Lips, or P.O.S., Vernon's involvement always seems to add an ethereal indie cache. Now comes word that Vernon's long-simm ... More >>

Minneapolis labels adapt to postage hikes

Twin Cities-based imprints reflect on how higher prices will change business

Total Trash tape release at 7th Street Entry, 3/14/13

Total Trash Tape Release/Tour Kickoff with Brain Tumors, The Miami Dolphins and Ugly Motors 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis Thursday, March 14, 2013A sign was created somewhere in the midst of the promotional blitz for Total Trash's tape release. It included the slogan "TAKE BACK THE ENTRY FOR THE PUN ... More >>

In defense of the container: A response to Emily White

Today marks the return of Emily White -- the 21-year-old NPR intern who got everyone riled up last June because she's too young to appreciate music ownership. She and I are actually very similar on paper. Both of us love music and the artists who create it deeply enough to delve into the murky water ... More >>

Kishi Bashi: I make music to inspire or provoke

The easiest way to explain the music of Kishi Bashi to someone who is unfamiliar with him is to say that he kind of does the Andrew Bird live-looping with a violin thing. Except the Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist -- whose full name is K (short for Kaori) Ishibashi -- does it like his brain ... More >>

Maya Rudolph is in a Prince cover band called Princess

Anyone who found themselves plopped down in front of the radio this past weekend could've happened upon a NPR story about Princess, a new female-fronted covers act that plays the hits of Prince. This new purple project is fronted by former Saturday Night Live not-for-prime-time player Maya Rudolph a ... More >>

No Bird Sing

Local Frames: New videos from Brother Ali, Howler, Communist Daughter, Cloud Cult, and more

See Also: Local Frames: New videos from Bob Mould, the Chalice, Beat Detectives, and more Local Frames: New videos from Bon Iver, P.O.S., Craig Finn, the Blind Shake, and more As the Twin Cities music scene grows, more and more artists are creating music that demands our attention. Combine the musi ... More >>

Peter Himmelman and David Hollander to debut new music project, Minnesota, in Grand Marais

See Also: The Spirit of St. Louis Trampled By Turtles lighten up on Stars and Satellites When St. Louis Park singer/songwriter Peter Himmelman and distinguished screenwriter/filmmaker David Hollander decided to name their new collaborative musical project Minnesota, they must have known that the l ... More >>

David Byrne and St. Vincent turn back clock in "Who" video

See Also: David Byrne and St. Vincent to launch U.S. tour in MinneapolisDavid Byrne to hold How Music Works discussion at McNally Smith in SeptemberAs David Byrne and St. Vincent's joint tour -- starting in Minneapolis on September 15 -- is nearly upon us, it's time for the promotional roll-out. It ... More >>

Bob Dylan releases "Duquesne Whistle" video, plans unique promotion for Tempest

See Also: Bob Dylan discusses Tempest; is it his last album? Bob Dylan announces release date and tracklisting for Tempest, his 35th studio album As the anticipation continues to grow for Bob Dylan's forthcoming new record, Tempest, the first full track from that record, "Duquesne Whistle," had it ... More >>

Local Frames: New videos from Now, Now, Howler, Bloodnstuff, Astronautalis, and more

See Also: A Minnesota music golden age might be going on right now!Now, Now leave Minneapolis to record and the trio comes home with Threads As the Twin Cities music scene grows, more and more artists are creating music that demands our attention. Combine the music with talented filmmakers locally a ... More >>

Chastity Brown on the Red Stag Block Party, her residency in Germany, and the local music scene

See Also: Chastity Brown releases Back-Road Highways Local-by-way-of-Tennessee musician Chastity Brown is at her most Southern when she is chatting over drinks. She's effusive, laid back, and is thoroughly determined to just kick it, no pressure. This has been a big year for Miss Brown: her fourth ... More >>

Cargill recalls 30,000 pounds of ground beef

Thank goodness it's National Hot Dog Day, because the mere thought of a hamburger is churning our stomachs.Minnesota-headquartered Cargill, Inc., which processes beef under Cargill Beef in Wichita, Kansas, announced yesterday a recall of nearly 30,000 pounds of ground beef from a Pennsylvania plant ... More >>

Bon Iver's "Beth/Rest" and sentimentality under The Believer's scope

See Also:Bon Iver book Radio City Music Hall residency, unveil Bjork coverBon Iver's Justin Vernon designs shoe for KeepThe yearly tradition of The Believer putting out a music issue is upon us once again. As in years past, the McSweeney's flagship magazine of profound thought has pulled together an ... More >>

I buy more music than Emily White, and you should too

There have been heated discussions and analysis springing up throughout all facets of the music community this week in response to NPR intern Emily White's candid but thoroughly controversial piece, 'I Never Owned Any Music To Begin With,' which was published on the All Songs Considered blog on Satu ... More >>

Brad Barr on covering Led Zeppelin and the Barr Brothers' future

By Lily TroiaThe Barr Brothers have been busy since the Montreal foursome's last Minneapolis visit in November. The band toured Europe and the U.K. with fellow Secret City labelmate Patrick Watson, they staged a video in the Grand Canyon, recorded a song for NPR's Radio Lab and even made an appearan ... More >>

The Munchies food awards include several local nominees

The recipe-swap, dinner-inspiration, and food-porn website Tablespoon, recently announced nominees for the Munchies, their first ever People's Choice-style food and restaurant awards. They're  judged by an expert panel that includes hometown star Andrew Zimmern, and the nominees include well-kn ... More >>

SXSW 2012's six worst moments, brought to you by #DEWeezy

​The last few days, Village Voice Media's indefatigable music staff has been regaling you with stories of the best from SXSW 2012. In the midst of these discoveries, we've been culling another list: the worst shit. The acts that ranged from huge bore-fests to downright lame. Below, you'll find our ... More >>

Paul Hooper

James O'Keefe attacks Minnesota voter ID laws [VIDEO]

Right-wing prankster James O'Keefe, known best for hidden-camera takedown of ACORN, is taking on Minnesota's voter ID laws. O'Keefe and Project Veritas released a video earlier this week in which they try to register Tim Tebow and Tom Brady with some not-so-football-savvy Minnesota officials. At o ... More >>

The Bon Iver Grammys commercial is not in Kansas anymore

​Add another annoying item to the list of things Justin Vernon had nothing to do with leading up to the February 12 Grammy Awards. First, there was this treacherous ice sculpture of a poster, and now there's a 30-second ad trumpeting Bon Iver's involvement the We Are Music campaign yet again, feat ... More >>

Confederate Railroad to play Povlitzki's Saturday; Hillbilly Voodoo Dolls bassist passes

​If you've read this here weekly piece over the years, you probably know '90s country is firmly situated in the softest spot of my heart -- for all its good, bad, and ugly. I saw '90s country hit-makers Confederate Railroad at South Dakota's Brown County Fair the summer of 1993; our grandstand but ... More >>

Poliça's Mariah Carey connection revealed

​Polica's in-studio performance featuring an interview with the Current's Mark Wheat recently hit NPR, not MPR, but the national one. With an impressive number of camera angles, we get a look at "Wandering Star" and "The Maker" that's not unlike any number of professionally created music videos in ... More >>

RIP Etta James (1938-2012)

​Etta James, a woman with a delicious, complex voice that pioneered the modern R&B sound, has passed following complications from leukemia. She was 73. James' gorgeous version of Glenn Miller's "At Last" will forever be a wedding staple, but the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was no sentimental p ... More >>

Craig Finn's debut solo album 'Clear Heart Full Eyes' is streaming in advance of its release date

​Thankfully, Clear Heart Full Eyes, the debut solo album from the Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn, doesn't signify a fracture between him and his regular bandmates. It just represents a temporary musical diversion for Finn from the wild, late-night hi-jinks that are prominently featured in his ... More >>

Howler's debut LP, 'America Give Up,' streaming at NPR

​Lost in the flurry of hype and accolades surrounding Howler, it's quite easy to forget that the young Minneapolis quintet has yet to even release a full-length record. That all changes next Tuesday, as the recent City Pages Year In Music cover stars release their debut record, America Give Up. ... More >>

Lizz Winstead discusses dumb politicians, upcoming projects

​Minnesota native Lizz Winstead will be back for the holidays for what has become an annual homecoming show in which she puts her wry spin on the last year in American politics. The writer, comedian, and Daily Show creator spends all year performing topical material in an ever-changing lineup ... More >>

Crumpet is back at Frank Theatre for 'The Santaland Diaries'

​Since David Sedaris first read The Santaland Diaries on National Public Radio in 1992, the piece has become a part of many holiday traditions. With that in mind, it was inevitable that it would show up as a bit of counter-holiday programming in theaters (in an adaptation by Joe Mantello) as well. ... More >>

Will Hermes in Minneapolis to read from 'Love Goes To Buildings On Fire'

Photo By Adam Weiss​Will Hermes is currently a senior critic for Rolling Stone, as well as being a regular contributor to NPR's "All Things Considered," but he has a distinguished history with the Twin Cities music scene as well. Mr. Hermes began writing for the City Pages in the early '90s, and b ... More >>

David Sedaris

Looking for Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls ice cream? Here's where to find it

Yael GrauerBen & Jerry's popular limited-edition flavor is a best-seller​Finding Schweddy Balls in the Twin Cities ain't easy, as the popular Ben & Jerry's limited-edition flavor has been flying off shelves. If you've been curious to try it, here's where you can pick up a pint in the Twin Ci ... More >>

Twin Cities Book Festival

5 newish local music videos worth a look

​As summer wraps up and we start heading into fall, it's almost like the whole attitude of the city changes: Twin Citizens suck in a deep breath and prepare to hunker down and get to work, like the chilly weather somehow summons productivity. That's certainly true for some of our favorite loca ... More >>

Markéta Irglová of Once and Swell Season readying solo album

​At a mere 23 years old, Czech-born singer and songwriter Markéta Irglová has already enjoyed success in the United States, both as the co-star of the sleeper hit Once (which won an Oscar for Best Original Song) and as her film co-star Glen Hansard's bandmate in their touring project the Sw ... More >>

Buddy Holly tribute album brings together Fiona Apple, Black Keys, Paul McCartney, more

​Well isn't this just precious. A slew of indie darlings have joined Lou Reed, Patti Smith and even a former Beatle to pay homage to influential early rock 'n' roller Buddy Holly on new tribute album Rave on Buddy Holly, which is streaming in its entirety today over at NPR. Holly was only 22 years ... More >>

Bill Kling: The City Pages Q & A

Kling built MPR from a small station in Collegeville, Minnesota.​Bill Kling has come a long way since he started what is now Minnesota Public Radio 45 years ago. He's now the outgoing CEO of one of the most financially sustainable and commercially successful radio empires in the country -- whi ... More >>

Bill Kling conquered Minnesota radio, but can he save NPR?

Republicans suggest government can't afford nonprofit radio

Loretta Lynn: Happy 73rd (75th? 79th?) Birthday!

​She's been secretive about the year, but on April 14th 1932, or '36, or maybe '38, Loretta Webb was born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, and grew up the daughter of a coal miner first in a rustic mountain home with no electricity or water, and later in a four-room house down in the holler.

Weekend Checklist: Is/Is, Brothers Loyalty, All the Way Rider, Ghost Towns of the West

​It's Friday, Friday... gotta get down on Friday. Wait, scratch that. Here's some fun stuff instead to get that song out of your head.

James O'Keefe's fraudulent NPR video: Why is anyone surprised?

O'Keefe's editing technique under fire once again.​Surprise, surprise: It looks like James O'Keefe's big "gotcha" on National Public Radio was exaggerated by some clever video editing. This really shouldn't be too much of a shocker to anyone. After all, this is the same guy who cut scenes of ... More >>

James O'Keefe punks National Public Radio

O'Keefe strikes again.​James O'Keefe and the other merry pranksters at Project Veritas have a found another target: National Public Radio. Two of O'Keefe's cohorts, Shaughn Adeleye and Simon Templar, met with a pair of NPR executives last month under the guise of being members of the Muslim ... More >>

Paula Poundstone

TextMyFood lets diners text their servers

TextMyFoodA TextMyFood servers' instruction screen shows customers' text messages​Ready for the check but can't find your server? Don't fret. Just send a text! A company in Massachusetts is offering a new device called TextMyFood that allows customers to communicate to their servers through text ... More >>

Policy and a Pint: The Line Between News and Opinion

Four Loko vs. Joose in a battle of the banned "blackout in a can"

Which "blackout in a can" tastes better?​The media has been all abuzz this week over the safety of alcoholic energy drinks--particularly one called Four Loko, which contains 12 percent alcohol and as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. Michigan and Oklahoma have banned the beverages, as have sev ... More >>

Cloud Cult extras: Photos and videos

Photo by Tony Nelson​While you were reading today's cover story on Cloud Cult, you hopefully noticed all the great pictures Nick Vlcek snapped of the band during their performance at the Lowertown Music Festival in July. Well, that's not all we have for you. On his visit with the band in Eagan for ... More >>

Cooks Source magazine creates internet firestorm with story on apple pie

A food magazine gets barbecued​Until yesterday, Cooks Source was a sleepy, anonymous little magazine about food that was distributed for free to maybe 20,000 people in western New England. The magazine publishes quaint stories about harvest fairs, recipes, gluten-free diets, and so on. The onl ... More >>

David Sedaris visits the State Theatre tonight

​Author David Sedaris is no stranger to the State Theatre in Minneapolis. After finishing one of his books he usually hits the road for a reading tour that includes Minnesota in his destinations. Sedaris's popular titles include Me Talk Pretty One Day and Naked, both filled with essays highlig ... More >>

Chicago's Owen bringing solo project to Varsity for "Quiet Please"

City Pages-sponsored showcase aims to offer an intimate affair