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Like it or not, Lipps Inc's disco-fueled jam "Funkytown" is an indelible '80s anthem that will forever be linked with the Twin Cities sound. Now there is a new European TV series named after the song called Funkytown, which highlights and examines the musical culture of six American cities -- and, appropriately enough, the first episode focuses on the Twin Cities.

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City Pages in the '80s: A look back at some of our most iconic music covers
Top 20 best Minnesota songs: #10-1

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Photo by Erik Hess

After launching the series earlier this year with Trampled by Turtles, MN Original and TPT have gotten the go-ahead for another episode of their live concert series The Lowertown Line. This time around, rapper/activist/Nardwuar fan Brother Ali will be the featured performer.

In March, Ali stirred up discussion at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, and our ears are still ringing from his collaboration with Atmosphere, Carnage, and Haphduzn to mark the Welcome to Minnesota tour. In May, just a few days before he performs at Soundset 2013, Ali will hit the Lowertown stage over in St. Paul.

See Also:
MN Original leaps forward New Lowertown Line series takes a closer look at live local music
Watch Trampled by Turtles on MN Original's first The Lowertown Line episode [VIDEO]
Soundset 2013 lineup

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After a wild ride, Nicholas David's journey on The Voice came to a close last night. The Minnesota-native came in third place on NBC's reality singing show behind Scottish rocker Terry McDermott and winner Cassadee Pope.

See also:
Nicholas David from St. Paul makes The Voice's top 12
Howard Stern says Nicholas David should win, looks like "eccentric, old-school watchmaker"
Nicholas David makes the top four of The Voice
Nicholas David makes it into The Voice finals
Nicholas David's final performances on The Voice (VIDEO)
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Monday night, the first part of The Voice finale kicked off with a truly incendiary number from Minnesota's own Nicholas David.

After weeks of competition, making his way through the blind auditions with coach Cee Lo Green and winning over voters' hearts, it's clear that David has grown comfortable with the national stage even in this last week of competition. Last night, contestants sang three different songs for viewers to choose which of the final three contestants will become The Voice.

See also:
Nicholas David from St. Paul makes The Voice's top 12
Howard Stern says Nicholas David should win, looks like "eccentric, old-school watchmaker"
Nicholas David makes the top four of The Voice
Nicholas David makes it into The Voice finals

More »

This week was a little bit of a homecoming for The Voice hopeful Nicholas David, as he took some time away from the stage to visit the Land of 10,000 Lakes again.

The Voice flew out to each of the four semi-finalists' hometowns and let viewers see a little bit of where Cassadee Pope, Trevin Hunte, Terry McDermott, and Minnesota's own David have come from.

See also:
Howard Stern says Nicholas David should win, looks like "eccentric, old-school watchmaker"
Nicholas David from St. Paul makes The Voice's top 12
Nicholas David makes the top four of The Voice

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@thefeelin

The Voice viewers last night held their collective breath as the last top four semi-finalist of the evening was disclosed. Tension built as the camera bounced around the studio onto the judges and contestants for the final decision between Minnesota's own soulful singer Nicholas David and the vivacious Amanda Brown of New York. With a bead of sweat rolling down his bowed head, and a hand on his chest, David awaited his fate on the show.

See also:
Nicholas David from St. Paul makes The Voice's top 12
Howard Stern says Nicholas David should win, looks like "eccentric, old-school watchmaker"

More »

Screengrab from The Voice

If there's a show made for Nicholas "The Feelin'" David Mrozinski, it's The Voice. David isn't what you'd call a typical contestant on a singing show. He's got long, unruly hair and a shaggy beard to match. Rectangular glasses frame his 32-year-old face, and a slew of rings engulf his fingers holding the mic during performances. Often clad in tweed or velvet blazers and slacks, David just doesn't fit into the usual pop-star mold. It seems that above all else, David is a family man.

Hailing from St. Paul, he plays regular gigs around the Twin Cities after a battle with alcohol and weight which cut a potential music career short in his youth. Now he's got two kids and another on the way with his longtime girlfriend, all while chasing his dream of performing in the big leagues. And that dream has led him to the show's top 12.

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Cover Story: The Mad-ness in Vincent Kartheiser
Slideshow: Mad Men's Pete Campbell: Vincent Kartheiser
Vincent Kartheiser of 'Mad Men' loves The Current, hates your blog

Any Mad Men fans who did not know that Vincent "Pete Campbell" Kartheiser was a local product, you're forgiven. Gimme Noise was initially thrown off too -- because his on-screen character displays so little of our "Minnesota Nice."

This week's cover story, penned by Andy Mannix, features an intimate conversation with Kartheiser, a self-proclaimed Minnesota boy and 89.3 FM the Current listener. And its contents attempt to separate how much of his TV persona trickles into his true self.

Love him, or hate him -- or really hate him -- the Pete Campbell figure is an essential part of the show. Even if a good portion of the time we might like to see him topple off a ledge after saying something like "Are you Amish or something?" As a result, the tireless YouTube montage creators have done a number on Kartheiser, and set his acting and visage to any number of songs -- cloying  Hanson, Avril Lavigne, and Incubus material, and then some stuff that we actually like. Here are five of the best Pete Campbell videos set to music.
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Photo by Tony Nelson

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SXSW: Polica as the road team
Polica at First Avenue (with cover shoot outtakes)
River's Edge Music Festival 2012 at Harriet Island lineup

Although MInneapolis electro-percussive soul collective Polica aren't quite at the level of an Ellen DeGeneres shout-out yet, they're about to get a huge amount of exposure on Wednesday with a performance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. According to the band's publicist, this is their very first TV appearance. As is well-known by regular viewers, this means that house band the Roots will technically be the opening act for singer Channy Leanagh and the fellas.
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Photo by Erik Hess

​Local indie superhero Mark Mallman tweeted on Monday that his song "Light the Dynamite and Run" (from 2009's Invincible Criminal) would be featured on Thursday night's season finale of Jersey Shore. The song's ultra-intense title (perfect for a patented Jersey Shore slow-motion drama staredown) and anthemic chorus made sense for a season finale that was likely to be filled with meatball cookas, unprotected drunken sex, fighting and... fighting. 
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