Pacific Northwest

Shapeshifter's Tim Ritter: I love the indie scene here like my own kids

While grunge broke out of the Pacific Northwest in the early '90s, there was something different happening in the Twin Cities. Bands here were far more influenced by what was happening in the U.K., and a vital and volatile shoegaze/Krautrock/dreampop scene materialized. Sadly, many of those bands we ... More >>

The Lower 48's Ben Braden: We've changed from a folk band to a rock band

Back in 2009, a band on the cusp of adulthood packed up their belongings and left their home in Minneapolis to strike out for the fabled greener pastures of the Pacific Northwest, whistling a traveling tune as they waved goodbye. The Lower 48 of that era had charmed hearts in the Twin Cities with fo ... More >>

Soundgarden at the Orpheum Theatre, 2/2/13

An Evening With Soundgarden Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis February 2, 2013 In their first Twin Cities appearance in 19 years, Soundgarden aggressively turned back the clock on Saturday night at a sold-out Orpheum Theatre. The grunge veterans treated the boisterous, well-lubricated crowd to the restl ... More >>

Red Dawn doesn't shine

North Korea (and audiences) go home unhappy in U.S. invasion story

Amanda Coplin

Amanda Coplin

Archers Of Loaf's Matt Gentling on cult status, the reunion, and witnessing a stabbing on the road

Archers of Loaf are the very definition of the '90s stalwart alt-rock band. They toiled in relative obscurity while many of their contemporaries made it big and ruled the airwaves for a good decade or so. Those who knew them loved them like a small child loves a puppy: with a bursting-at-the-seams e ... More >>

Top 10 best grunge songs

With Saint Kurt gone for 18 years now, it's important to remember grunge wasn't just Nirvana. It was a movement, and though each year it seems a little bit sillier than it did the last, it was important. Most of the bands (and sadly many of the people themselves) didn't stand the test of time, some ... More >>

Tyler Boeh

Sherwin Shayegan, Piggyback Bandit, is in Minnesota

Shayegan is one frickin' bizarre individual.​Sherwin Shayegan is a serial piggybacker known as the Piggyback Bandit. And he has been spotted in Minnesota.Shayegan, 28, likes to show up at high school sporting events and jump on the players' backs. He is not shy about this -- his Facebook page asks ... More >>

Critics' Picks: Jeff Magnum, Lenny Kravitz, and more

An Acoustic Café Evening: Carrie Rodriguez, Kelly Joe Phelps, Pieta Brown

Dawes and Blitzen Trapper to co-headline First Ave on November 4

​Roots rock fans, get ready: Dawes and Blitzen Trapper just announced a co-headlining bill that hits First Avenue on November 4th. Dawes will be continuing a seemingly never-ending tour behind their sophomore release, Nothing Is Wrong, which came out earlier this summer. They're also still rid ... More >>

Fleet Foxes at the State Theatre, 07/17/2011

Photos by Stacy Schwartz​Fleet FoxesJuly 17, 2011State TheatreSeattle's Fleet Foxes sold out the State Theatre on Sunday night, but instead of a tranquil and transfixing sit-down show by the highly-acclaimed sextet, some of the audience behaved as if the concert was instead being held at the ro ... More >>

Parma 8200 revives Bloomington's staid dining scene

D'Amico-owned Italian makes strides with modern dishes

Tablehopping

Soul on Nice

Authenticity is high on my list nowadays, since it seems to be fast becoming one of the rarest of commodities in restaurants. Anyone for spring rolls at Erin Go Burritos? Cheese steaks at Juan de Chang's?

Club Med