Townes Van Zandt

Justin Townes Earle at Varsity Theater, 5/7/12

Justin Townes EarleVarsity Theater, MinneapolisMonday, May 7, 2012There were a few times last night when all fell silent inside the Varsity Theater, save for Justin Townes Earle. He paced around the stage, wearing a pair of round eyeglasses and a gray suit with a kerchief tucked in the breast pocket ... More >>

Ten songs on "Cowboy" Jack Clement's birthday

Born in Whitehaven, Tennessee on this day in 1931, "Cowboy" Jack Clement's accolades as a prolific singer and songwriter, record and film producer, and television and radio host have been well-earned, with a career that spans over half a century and touches every nook and cranny of country music.

Luke Redfield spills Willie Nelson and Ke$ha run-ins, explains Tusen Takk

​There is an element of exaggeration in all good storytelling -- and not to say that Luke Redfield is lying -- but his new album tells a sweeping tale of a man who has lived 100 lives in the ten songs off of Tusen Takk, the culmination of years of hard work and traveling.  The album emanates ... More >>

Rogue Valley tour diary, vol. 7: From saguaros to snowfall

​Rogue Valley's tour diaries are written by frontman Chris Koza and edited by bandmate Peter Sieve. You can read their first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth installments. Atalesca: 72 degrees.  Pismo Beach: 62 degrees. Ventura: 65 degrees. It was as perfect a day as one could expect ... More >>

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

​Rogue Valley's tour diaries are written by frontman Chris Koza and edited by bandmate Peter Sieve. You can read their first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth installments. Atalesca: 72 degrees.  Pismo Beach: 62 degrees. Ventura: 65 degrees. It was as perfect a day as one could expect ... More >>

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

​Rogue Valley's tour diaries are written by frontman Chris Koza and edited by bandmate Peter Sieve. You can read their first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth installments. Atalesca: 72 degrees.  Pismo Beach: 62 degrees. Ventura: 65 degrees. It was as perfect a day as one could expect ... More >>

David Hanners, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, brings folk music to Ginkgo Coffeehouse Saturday

David HannersDavid Hanners sings for the doomed and the thoughtful​"It's kind of a joke amongst my songwriter friends that I kill off a lot of characters in my songs," says David Hanners, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and folk singer. He produces his latest CD, "The Traveler's Burden," to ... More >>

Jolie Holland at the Cedar Cultural Center 7/14/11

Photos by Tony Nelson​Jolie Holland July 14, 2011 Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis Jolie Holland's fifth record, the recently released Pint of Blood, stands out in many ways, especially for its diverse range of subject matter (from bittersweet loss and despair to covering Townes Van Zandt's ... More >>

Kurt Vile crosses touring with Thurston Moore off his bucket list

Philly rocker lives the dream

Kurt Vile: The extended interview

Photo by Shawn Brackbill ​BY IAN POWERIn the print edition of this week's City Pages, we have an interview with Matador signee and Philadelphia indie rocker Kurt Vile, who is coming to the Varsity Theater next Monday with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. What follows is the extended transcript of Ia ... More >>

Critics' Picks: Robert Plant, Cut Copy, My Chemical Romance, and more

Photo by Shawn Brackbill ​BY IAN POWERIn the print edition of this week's City Pages, we have an interview with Matador signee and Philadelphia indie rocker Kurt Vile, who is coming to the Varsity Theater next Monday with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. What follows is the extended transcript of Ia ... More >>

Robert Plant & the Band of Joy

Photo by Shawn Brackbill ​BY IAN POWERIn the print edition of this week's City Pages, we have an interview with Matador signee and Philadelphia indie rocker Kurt Vile, who is coming to the Varsity Theater next Monday with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. What follows is the extended transcript of Ia ... More >>

Critics' Picks: Yelawolf, DeVotchKa, Bright Eyes, and more

Photo by Shawn Brackbill ​BY IAN POWERIn the print edition of this week's City Pages, we have an interview with Matador signee and Philadelphia indie rocker Kurt Vile, who is coming to the Varsity Theater next Monday with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. What follows is the extended transcript of Ia ... More >>

Hayes Carll

Photo by Shawn Brackbill ​BY IAN POWERIn the print edition of this week's City Pages, we have an interview with Matador signee and Philadelphia indie rocker Kurt Vile, who is coming to the Varsity Theater next Monday with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. What follows is the extended transcript of Ia ... More >>

Dwight Yoakam, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Justin Townes Earle and more this four-day weekend

​Four day weekend? Totally! Just call into work on Monday and Tuesday! Why? Because Justin Townes Earle is playing First Avenue on Monday! And you know you wanna get ass-drunk for that show. After all, he'll probably be, right?

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan at the Cedar, 10/23/10

​Isobel Campbell and Mark LaneganOctober 23, 2010The Cedar Cultural CenterOn one of the busiest nights for music in the Twin Cities in recent memory, the choice of which of the numerous high-profile shows I was going to attend on Saturday night was always going to be a difficult one. In the end, t ... More >>

Jerry Jeff Walker ('Mr. Bojangles') to play Zoo Saturday

​In 1965, an Upstate New Yorker turned National Guardsman gone AWOL turned traveling busker turned Greenwich Village folk scenester was thrown in a New Orleans jail for public intoxication, where it came that he... knewaman - Bojangles - and - he'ddance - for... oh, it's only one of the most-playe ... More >>

Luke Redfield, Aria Souder

​In 1965, an Upstate New Yorker turned National Guardsman gone AWOL turned traveling busker turned Greenwich Village folk scenester was thrown in a New Orleans jail for public intoxication, where it came that he... knewaman - Bojangles - and - he'ddance - for... oh, it's only one of the most-playe ... More >>

Justin Townes Earle

​In 1965, an Upstate New Yorker turned National Guardsman gone AWOL turned traveling busker turned Greenwich Village folk scenester was thrown in a New Orleans jail for public intoxication, where it came that he... knewaman - Bojangles - and - he'ddance - for... oh, it's only one of the most-playe ... More >>

Electric Fetus Reborn, Song of Zarathustra, and more

​In 1965, an Upstate New Yorker turned National Guardsman gone AWOL turned traveling busker turned Greenwich Village folk scenester was thrown in a New Orleans jail for public intoxication, where it came that he... knewaman - Bojangles - and - he'ddance - for... oh, it's only one of the most-playe ... More >>

Five for February: Country acts comin' our way

Nepotism and lady beer guts: three acts to see if you've got nothin' better goin', and two not to miss.

William Elliott Whitmore shows 7th St Entry skinny white boys can sing

I dunno ladies, he ain't that skinny. But he sho' can sing.

Gimme News Weekly Wrap-Up: July 24-30

News on Brother Ali's forthcoming release, Tapes 'n Tapes announce intimate dates, Daniel Johnston to return to Minneapolis & next week's best new releases.

Steve Earle pays homage to Townes Van Zandt at Pantages

True to form, this night wasn't dedicated entirely to Van Zandt.

Steve Earle

True to form, this night wasn't dedicated entirely to Van Zandt.

Lyle Lovett, Future of the Left, and more

True to form, this night wasn't dedicated entirely to Van Zandt.

Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses

True to form, this night wasn't dedicated entirely to Van Zandt.

Nanci Griffith

True to form, this night wasn't dedicated entirely to Van Zandt.

Franz Ferdinand, Voltage: Fashion Amplified, and more

True to form, this night wasn't dedicated entirely to Van Zandt.

Q&A: Jason Shannon, emerging local songwriter

Victory Strikes Again part 1

Rough North

Ben Weaver tries to shake his backwoods-gothic image

The Sound Unseen Festival, Oct. 7-16

Ben Weaver tries to shake his backwoods-gothic image

Wild Men Blues

The tortured artist abuses his privilege in Sound Unseen's painful docs

Fall Film Events

The tortured artist abuses his privilege in Sound Unseen's painful docs

Real Life Rock Top 10

Electrelane get their guns, David Denby misfires, and Two Poets should be shot

Real Life Rock Top 10

Neko Case kills you softly with her song; The Be Good Tanyas wait around to die; Patricia Tallman confronts the living dead

Melancholy Baby

The Good Life and Azure Ray give love a wistful refrain

The Year in Music

The Sound of Music, 2001: Our Favorite Things

Blues, Rags, and Hollers

Paul Dandy and Ben Weaver revive a folk music of finger-clackers, empty whiskey bottles, and discarded mule jawbones

Not Fade Away

Iconic singer-songwriter Eric Andersen leads his own folk revival with You Can't Relive the Past

The Second Coming

With three great albums in three years, Steve Earle is riding his country-rock renaissance into bluegrass territory

Marah: Let's Cut the Crap and Hook Up Later On Tonight

With three great albums in three years, Steve Earle is riding his country-rock renaissance into bluegrass territory

House of the Rising Sun

Next week Red House Records issues a momentous tribute album of Pete Seeger's songs. But after 15 years at the margins of American music, this St. Paul label proudly aims to stay there.

Eight Miles High

A Pilgrimage to Pleasant: Sean O'Hagen (center) channels Brian Wilson's California dream on the High Llamas'

Listening in Tongues

A Pilgrimage to Pleasant: Sean O'Hagen (center) channels Brian Wilson's California dream on the High Llamas'

RADIO A-OK, ETC.

A Pilgrimage to Pleasant: Sean O'Hagen (center) channels Brian Wilson's California dream on the High Llamas'

Home Alive in MN

A Pilgrimage to Pleasant: Sean O'Hagen (center) channels Brian Wilson's California dream on the High Llamas'