Two things were clear from the amount of denim jackets, bandannas, and trucker caps at First Avenue last night: Fall has arrived, and so has MJ Lenderman. Performing his biggest headlining show to date in the iconic Mainroom, Lenderman brought in a crowd as eclectic and twangy as his music, so much so that fans […]

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Been Stellar took the stage at the Fillmore Minneapolis last night, riding the wave of anticipation that comes with opening for a band as high-octane as Fontaines DC. With a crowd already primed for intensity, Been Stellar gave a set that was equal parts grit and catharsis. Opening with “Scream From New York, NY,” the […]

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As the synths of “King of Sweden” filled the ornate confines of St. Paul’s Palace Theatre, Future Islands launched into a set that was measured parts of both nostalgic reverie and feverish catharsis. Frontman Samuel T. Herring commanded the stage with raw emotion and theatrical physicality that most other bands should take note of, his […]

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Nestled within the heart of Minneapolis, The Fine Line Music Cafe has a knack for quietly hosting some of the most talented musicians on the road today. My experiences there have consistently unveiled acts that, in their brilliance, seem almost too grand for the intimate confines of the venue. So it’s no wonder that Sarah […]

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Faye Webster wants her listeners to get the joke. Give her music a casual listen, and you might miss the punchline. There’s a type of humor here that can be found deep beneath the surface in the melancholy waltz’s of her music. Yet, she never takes herself too seriously. Like Courtney Barnett, there’s a smirk […]

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On the corner of Hennepin and Lagoon in Minneapolis, an iconic sign and marquee light up the night, casting a much needed glow back over the neighborhood. The Uptown Theatre, once a cherished local movie theater, has reemerged this year as a new concert venue hoping to become just as memorable, proudly reclaiming its position […]

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Article by Casey Carlson. Photography by Darrell Lloyd. ZHU brought his Immersive Live Tour to the Minneapolis Armory last week, and it was a night that fans will remember as pure electronic bliss. The show featured a massive, high resolution LED wall that projected stunning visuals, as well as a number of special effects that […]

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“It’s our fourth time playing First Avenue” revealed Adam Weiner during his show last night. He retained his usual seat on the bench behind his upright piano, affectionally named Nellie (that is, if affectionate means having it’s named carved into the wood on the side.) Nellie, like Adam, both appeared to have been through hell […]

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Photos by Alexander Just. Words by Casey Carlson When you think of eras like the 80’s and 90’s, you’re likely to think of the art and culture of that era more than any economic or societal events. Especially if you never lived in those eras, or, like me, werent there for very long. Thanks to […]

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To know Eric Clapton, you need to know blues music. After all, that’s where slowhand himself got his start with guitar. And while he’s ventured into pop music and acoustic ballads over the last sixty years of his career, Clapton always comes back to his roots in the blues.  The blues have always had it […]

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Photos courtesy of Chris Phelps Summer’s most difficult concert ticket to get may have belonged to Taylor Swift, But The Killers gave her a run for her money with a surprise performance at First Avenue last night. Announced just one week prior and selling out nearly instantly, the tickets to their intimate show became priceless. […]

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MUNA’s music is all about self-expression and empowerment, and their live show is no different. The band members are all incredibly talented musicians in their own right, and their return to the Twin Cities, marking their second show here since August, was a breathtaking display in more ways than one. MUNA’s been on a roll […]

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It’s graduation day at the University of Minnesota, and if you know somebody with a music major, they were likely in the audience of The Varsity Theatre for a very intimate performance from Theo Katzman. Katzman is perhaps best known for his role in Vulfpeck, performing guitar, drums, and vocals throughout the band’s discography. In […]

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Whats a good indie act without a complicated frontman? For some musical acts, when you buy a ticket, you’re essentially buying a level of hope. Hope that the band will play your favorite song, your cherished deep cut, that they’ll spot you in the crowd and share a brief moment of eye contact. Or, lately […]

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You’ve heard an M83 song whether you’ve known it or not. But the band has much more depth than the one-or-two hit songs used for every cinematic moment in the last ten years. Midnight City and Outro are both songs that were the cornerstones of cinematic, euphoric moments in films and commercials since M83 released […]

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Remember last summer when we covered MUNA? And it was a really good show and we wanted them to perform in arenas? Well, we got close. The Palace Theatre is larger than their last show at First Avenue (which you can find our coverage here) And while we are getting a larger venue for them […]

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Not just your heady uncle’s jam band. “Ive heard from five different people tonight that the band isnt going on until closer to 9:00” Said the security guard I spoke with last night in the photo pit. Its rare these days that bands play exactly on time anyways, but a whole 45 minutes late to […]

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“We aren’t kidding when we say the Twin Cities is like a second home to us” Said Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith between songs last night. “I’ll never forget our first tour through here, and for some fucked up reason we sold out First Avenue! You guys keep showing up, and it means a lot to […]

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While it wasn’t built for it in mind, US Bank Stadium is the largest concert venue in Minnesota. It was built for Vikings games and NCAA Championship games to be played in front of over 50,000 people. But even though it’s seven years old, the powers that be haven’t figured out how to make anything […]

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Any fourteen year old who picked up an acoustic guitar to fulfill their singer-songwriter dreams has sat at the end of their bed, staring at the wall of their bedroom imagining it’s an arena full of screaming fans. They’ve imagined creating a riff on guitar that’s instantly recognizable, and leaving the crowd speechless with their […]

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Since their inception in 2018, Bob Weir has brought the Wolf Brothers to the Twin Cities on three occasions, making their return to St. Paul last night a welcome sight for fans who were once concerned that these performances might be rare – or that Weir may not return. Despite concerns about his age, Weir […]

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Ive often spoke about how I grossly underestimated bluegrass in the past. Ever since then, it seems to have continued it’s resurgence tenfold. Even acts like Billy Strings have started to sell out entire arenas tens of thousands in capacity. Resurgance may not even be the right way to put it. Perhaps Bluegrass music is […]

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Photographs by Alexander Just Written by Casey Carlson   Lydia Liza was standing at the back of the audience she had just performed in front of, fans who noticed her stopped, hugged, and thanked her for her music, before wandering back into the crowd as Jake Bugg began his set. “It’s not really that exhausting” […]

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