​There was absolutely zero chance that Madonna wasn't going to capitalize on her Super Bowl appearance this past weekend. Although it's unlikely that Madge will be able to pack M.I.A. (and her itchy middle finger), Nicki Minaj, and Cee Lo Green in her suitcase for this May-November excursion around the U.S. and around the globe, you never know. And the St. Paul is playing host for the first time in 25 years.
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A killer light show is the unsung hero of Umphrey's peerless live experience.

​Umphrey's McGee
First Avenue, Minneapolis
Friday, February 3, 2012

In the midst of the house crashing down around us during Umphrey's bone-crunching performance of "It's About That Time" early last Friday night at First Avenue, I turned to my friend and tried to give the band the highest praise my beer- and adrenaline-fueled brain could muster. 'Man! These guys are as brutal as Slayer!' I said. My friend, taking in all the smiling faces, headbanging heads and basking in the good vibes that are part-and-parcel of the Umphrey's experience, clarified my remark. 'They're brutiful!' he exclaimed, and it instantly hit me that there's no better way to describe one of the best live bands working.
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Photos by Aaron Rupar

​Dark Star Orchestra
First Avenue, Minneapolis
Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Although First Avenue can't quite stack up with an outdoor festival setting, last night's Dark Star Orchestra show in the mainroom was still plenty good. The band has made a name for itself by traveling the world and playing entire Grateful Dead concert sets just as the Dead played them decades ago. Last night, DSO recreated a Dead set from April 19, 1984 at the Civic Center in Philadelphia. By the mid-'80s, this output consisted of an American roots-style blend of blues, country, reggae, and, of course, good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll.
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​I Self Divine's LA State of Mind EP Release Party
With Brother Ali, Muja Messiah, and Alicia Steele & the Endevours
7th Street Entry, Minneapolis
Sunday, January 22, 2012

Better than: The sounds of high-class America.

Three of arguably the top five local rappers were on the bill at 7th Street Entry last night, and the packed and lively crowd suggested the lineup appealed to a number of people. The tight venue proved a powerful locale for each Doomtree member in December, and it seems I Self Devine took to heart the power of such an intimate venue to display his latest material. The night marked the premiere of the live portion of his four-part Culture Series, a monthly set of shows and mixtapes which precede the release of his sophomore solo effort The Sounds of Low Class America.More >>

​​Audio Perm is ostensibly a three-person rap producer crew, but as tomorrow's Audio Perm Showcase will prove, the movement is much larger than that. The night will feature the beatmakers providing the backbone to a number of the younger hip-hop generation's notable figures, including Chantz Erolin, Fresh Squeeze, Mundo Libre, Bobby Raps, 80H20, Persona Non Grata, and Manny Phesto, all of whom work closely with Audio Perm and have become associated acts. Gimme Noise caught up with Taylor Madrigal, Julian Fairbanks and Cory Grindberg, as well as MCs Bobby Raps and Big Dylan, for an interview about tomorrow's Permed Out Showcase.

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​The Twin Cities is a great place for music. Twin Citizens know that well enough--we are home, after all, to a host of influential music venues, and our beloved indie radio station 89.3 the Current. You'd be hard-pressed to find a night when there wasn't something great happening, either within the infamous walls of First Avenue or in the dingy corner of some dive bar with a step-up stage; we wouldn't have it any other way. But for all that, there's always more happening; this fiercely creative town continually sprouts up new ideas and projects, some which fly far under the radar of their potential audience.

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Photos by Ben Clark

​Eels
August 6, 2011
First Avenue, Minneapolis

Mark Oliver Everett (or just plain E to his fans), the one constant member of Eels, is the very definition of enigma. Over the course of 15 years Eels has taken on many genres, various tones, and dealt with things both great and small with equal intensity and insight. The current incarnation is filled with mostly blues-tinged rock, features a stellar horn section and deals lyrically in the ups and downs of relationships. The concept album trilogy, as it's known (2009's Hombre Lobo and last year's End Times and Tomorrow Morning), figured heavily into Saturday night's set, though the setlist was culled from the entire discography. And there were a couple of fun surprises along the way, as well.

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SONICFLOOd: Probably not Pawlenty's first choice for Ames.

​Tim Pawlenty has booked two musical acts for the Republican Straw Poll in Ames next weekend: The Nadas and SONICFLOOd.

As you might guess, his choices aren't exactly about the music. Otherwise he'd have probably booked Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen.

The Nadas are a folk rock group from Des Moines once feted by Playboy as "The Best College Band You've Never Heard of." SONICFLOOd is a Christian band playing salvation songs. They're fronted by Rick Heil, a right-winger whose "mama grizzlie" wife is considering a Tea Party run for the United States Senate in Tennessee.

We've got a hunch he's voting for Bachmann.

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The Who? for a conservative generation

​Michelle Bachmann announced the names of three musicians who will play for Team Bachmann at the Iowa Straw Poll August 13.

Country music singers Richie McDonald and Tim Rushlow, who's recorded with Jeff Foxworthy and describes himself as a "bro in the know" on Twitter, will join Christian rock musician Charles Billingsley in Aimes.

All three musicians have made names for themselves on the country and Christian music scenes -- but they all come with serious conservative credentials for Republican primary voters to latch onto.

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Rarig Center, home of Radio K

​Those whippersnappers at Radio K have a lovely habit of inviting some pretty great artists to their studio (among other things). Their output is constant, and since it has been a spell since we gave them a look-see, we're doing just that.

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