Anna Graves, Porcupine light up MPR's Forum on Minnesota Music Day
April 11, 2024
On Wednesday, The Current hosted its second Minnesota Music Month event — a live taping of The Local Show featuring performances by singer-songwriter Anna Graves and rock band Porcupine.
A carefully curated playlist of local artists made by host of The Local Show, Diane welcomed the audience as they began to trickle in. The afternoon officially started with a warm introduction by David Safar, managing director of the Current, and a gentle reminder that the audience was sitting in on a live broadcast session. Duchesne Drew, president of Minnesota Public Radio further welcomed the crowd by expressing his excitement for The Current and speaking to its strength and importance as a media that supports a healthy mix of emergent and established artists.
An introduction of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ushered a flurry of phones recording as he took to the mic. Acknowledging the importance of art and music as a method of fostering understanding and the critical role it plays in the culture of the Twin Cities and Minnesota as a whole, Walz issued a proclamation for April 10 to henceforth be commemorated as Minnesota Music Day.
Here’s the text of the proclamation:
Whereas: Having produced a variety of artists from Bob Dylan, Prince, the Replacements, Dessa, Atmosphere, Soul Asylum, Semisonic, The Suburbs, The Jayhawks, Hüsker Dü, Hippo Campus, Chastity Brown, Morris Day and the Time, Andrews Sisters, the Minnesota music scene is a vibrant pillar of our diverse cultural landscape; and
Whereas: Culturally rich music events take place every day across Minnesota with many occurring annually each April; and
Whereas: Artistic expression illuminates the human experience and is central to fostering greater understanding and respect; and
Whereas: We are fortunate to have vibrant musical and artistic communities that enhance the quality of life enjoyed by people who live in, and visit, Minnesota; and
Whereas: It is important to recognize the impact of Minnesota's artists on our entire state, and we are grateful for their contributions that have advanced our understanding of one another.
Now Therefore, I Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, April 10, 2024 as Music Day in the state of Minnesota.
Next, Diane introduced the first live in-studio artist of the afternoon, Anna Graves. Graves grew up in rural Webster, Minnesota, about 45 minutes out of the Twin Cities on a small horse farm. When Graves and her sibling were left to their own devices for entertainment growing up, she turned to music and hasn’t looked back ever since.
Taking to the stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar, Graves eased into the set after a kind hello to the gathered audience. Her melodic voice was accompanied by a slight twang and drifted through the room, perhaps indicative of the time spent wandering from her childhood home to Nashville, to LA, back to Nashville, and back home again. Singing of the heartbreak of losing oneself and the hard learning curves of love, Graves tossed her voice around with ease.
A short interview with Diane post-set had the two laughing together and sharing their love of The Current and living somewhere that cherishes music. Graves mentioned her deep appreciation of the station, specifically afternoon host Jessica Paxton, who was one of her first supporters.
A big reveal featuring the top 11 new artists voted upon by members of Minnesota’s music industry, the Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report. After many different drum rolls the top artist was finally revealed as she’s green -a young indie shoegaze band out of Minneapolis. They were also notably included in First Avenue’s Best New Bands lineup of 2023.
A panel discussion about the importance of music in Minnesota followed. Facilitated by Diane, state representative and rap artist Maria Isa and local musician Jeremy Messersmith — who will also be headlining The Current’s Minnesota Music Month event at the Fitzgerald on April 25. The three engaged in a conversation highlighting how deeply engrained music is in our society and way of life. It shows up interpersonally, in our relationships, in our schools, work and homes.
Maria Isa spoke to how music has been a guiding force through life, secondary only to breathing. With her daughter on her lap, she spoke to the importance it played in her own life growing up and the ways in which it has served as a connecting force to the people and places she loves. Messersmith candidly echoed her sentiments while adding testimony of his own to the importance of music in the everyday and the joy it has brought him over the years.
Both artists were very adamant about the need to recognize how vital music is to Minnesota culture and how important it is to protect the forces at play that make that possible. Maria Isa championed music as being part of educational curriculums and after-school programs, while Messersmith highlighted that artists need the same thing as everybody else to be able to sustainably create their art -living wages, healthcare and affordable housing.
After an illuminating conversation, the show continued with the last act of the evening, an indie rock band by the name of Porcupine. Veterans of multiple music scenes the band consists of guitarist and lead vocalist Casey Virock, drummer Keith Larson, guitarist and vocalist Nick Roesler and bassist Chad Haugejorden.
Despite the warm wood accents, carpeted ground and bottom-lit Current banners backing the band, something about their set was transportive to somewhere a little darker and a little grittier. In-your-face and enjoyably abrasive, the music invited the listeners to move. Virock switching between microphones creating an immediate echoed effect. A call and response team of one backed by a powerful band.
In their interview, Virock and Roesler gave Diane the rundown of their early days in La Crosse, Wisconsin, bands of their past lives, and how special it is to now be participating in a local music scene as vibrant as Minnesota’s. Their most recent album was released in February of this year, an exciting and explosive continuation of their expansive career.
The afternoon wrapped up with a hearty thank you from Diane, and the audience left with much to think about and be appreciative regarding the multitudes of what’s happening in the Minnesota Music scene.
