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The Chart Show: Don't "Doubt", Local Acts Reign

J.S. Ondara performs in The Current studio.
J.S. Ondara performs in The Current studio.Nate Ryan | MPR

by Mark Wheat

February 21, 2019

For the first time ever our top 3 are all local artists and they all made big leaps! Hippo Campus grabbed the #1 spot, their second of the year. They just started the European leg of their world tour, selling out a Dublin show last night.

Cloud Cult surged back to #2 after their sold out show up at Lutsen last week. Fathom Lane are there tonight and 4onthefloor and Dessa will be in March.

Meanwhile J.S. Ondara's album dropped last week to rave reviews from the Star Tribune, Rolling Stone and NPR.

After the Sharon Van Etten show at First Ave last Staurday she stopped by The Warming House a small venue in South Minneapolis to record the latest MicroShow, stayed tuned for details of its broadcast. But she slipped to #5 after two weeks at the top with a song that she apparently, "screamed, while looking untouchable." As our intrepid reporter Cecilia Johnson at First Avenue tells it in a live review.

If the vitriol and angst of Gary Clark's Number Six hit is a little too much for you, David Safar assures us that the new album is NOT full of it, in the Album of the week review.

Phoebe Bridgers was in the news as one of Ryan Adams accusers last week and so she's hopefully buoyed by Better Oblivion Community Center, her new project with Conor Oberst getting into the chart for the first time at #17. They're touring in March starting in Tucson on the 8th and coming on the 22nd to The Fine Line.

Toro Y Moi released an official album 'Outer Peace' last month and starting with the M3F in Phoenix March 1, will be hitting a ton of festivals this summer across the planet. You might even find a newer mixtape on the internet from the man behind the project Chaz Bear, who never stops working according to Relix.

Andrew Bird is king of the slow burn! "Bloodless" has been out since the end of last year but only comes in at #19 this week. He just dropped a video of another track "Sisyphus" from the album My Finest Work Yet coming March 22.

Catfish and the Bottlemen are brand new in the basement space this week, from The Balance which is out April 26. They are already starting to set up a big year named as headliners at one of Scotland's big festivals.

Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to win The Current's Robyn giveaway at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul, MN on March 5, 2019!