Peter Wolf Crier reignited the modern surge of Minnesota bands signing to indie labels. Back in 2010, their debut "Inter-Be" took the community by surprise, and Peter Pisano and Brian Moen were promptly scooped up by Jagjaguwar Records for a re-release.
The yearning harmonies and darkly allusive lyrics of singles like "Harper Lee" suggest that Little Green Cars possess a precocious wisdom that will serve them well as the attention and hype around their debut continues to build.
San Francisco's Thao & the Get Down Stay Down is the vehicle for the thoughtful indie folk-rock lyricism of singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen. Over the course of five albums and multiple singles (plus celebrated collaborations like her 2011 LP with indie-pop artist Mirah), she's developed a stripped-down, cerebral but deeply relatable voice that's earned her a sizable and devoted following.
It takes a long time for any band to leave a substantial mark on the music world, and for Minnesota, there's only a handful of artists for each decade that we can say measure up. It's safe to assume we can now add Low to that list as the band celebrates 20 years together, as well as the release of their most acclaimed album yet "The Invisible Way."
Frightened Rabbit's fourth full-length (and first to be released on a major label, Atlantic Records), Pedestrian Verse, has earned both critical accolades and chart success in the UK (and in the band's native country, where it debuted atop the charts).
The two women behind the band Boy have only released one full album to date, 2011's Mutual Friends, but it's made a pretty big splash. In town for sold-out gigs at Bryant Lake Bowl and the Cedar Cultural Center, the band stopped by The Current studios to chat with Mark Wheat and play a few of their songs.
In just a few short years, Los Angeles folk-rock act Dawes have become one of the most sought-after indie/alternative acts in the country, with their trademark emotive alt-country sound gaining them thousands of fans.
It's been three years since Gospel Gossip released their "Drift EP," but now the trio is back with a self-titled album that truly is a labor of love. A brief hiatus and a long recording process has given the Northfield-born band time to refocus and finesse their sound.
British rockers Django Django have forged a stunningly inventive sound in their short existence, splitting the difference between vintage rock riffs 'n' rhythms and a contemporary, arty strain of electronic psychedelia.
The Local Show 
The Local Show 