Soundset 2016 kicks off this weekend, and it’s been a long time since I was this excited for a festival. Typically, I start off festivals with a few favorite artists on the lineup, and I discover lots of new music just by catching bits of sets. At Eaux Claires, I found Elliot Moss; at TFBSE,…

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater stopped by to wish happy seventh birthday to Obadiah Gamble after the local youngster made a music video inviting Bridgewater to his party, and the video went viral. (City Pages) Fatal violence erupts at T.I. show Three were shot, one fatally, at a Wednesday night T.I. concert in New York. Just before the Atlanta…

There has always been something very comforting to me about listening to the Jayhawks, even when their songs speak to sadness and loneliness. And there has always been something about Gary Louris’s voice that hints at something deeper and lonelier than we could ever imagine. His voice has a vulnerability at its core that makes…

Gord Downie, frontman of The Tragically Hip, has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. In a statement, the band say Downie, 52, has “endured a lot of difficult times, and has been fighting hard.” Nonetheless, a tour is being planned for this summer, and the Kingston, Ontario band say it will be their best yet. (Billboard) Update:…

Bringing It All Back To Duluth Does Dylan Tonight at the Rex Bar, a big tribute concert will celebrate the man born Robert Zimmerman in the Zenith City 75 years ago today. It’s also the release party for the fourth installment in the Duluth Does Dylan series: a crowdfunded album featuring covers of Bob’s classics by artists including…

Minneapolis artists Erin Sayer and Louisa Greenstock have announced an art show that will build on the overwhelming success of a Prince tribute exhibit that was on display this past weekend for Art-a-Whirl. (Update: A #57Princes closing reception has been announced for June 4.) Their new exhibit will be on display from June 30 to July 2 at Gamut Gallery,…

Wow. That’s what I kept saying again and again, bearing witness to Beyonce as she “murdered errybody” at TCF Bank Stadium on Monday night. Wow. Wow. It was my third time seeing the Queen, but never had I seen her so emotionally raw, triumphant, and downright giddy, like when she let out the most adorable…

Neon Indian has paid tribute to Prince with a cover of “Pop Life” that features contributions from Holy Ghost!, Kristin Kontrol, and several more guest artists. (Pitchfork) Questlove defends Madonna After the BET Awards criticized Madonna’s Billboard Music Awards tribute to Prince, Questlove responded by defending her performance. “Every Prince rendition will not be a life-changing orgasmic xperience,” tweeted the Roots leader. “Just…

On Friday, Bob Dylan released his 37th studio album. Fallen Angels is a collection of American standards, recorded by Dylan with his touring band — from the same sessions that produced his 36th album, last year’s Sinatra covers collection Shadows in the Night. That album was sent free to 50,000 members of AARP, in a publicity play…

If you’re walking down Payne Avenue this summer and you hear “London Calling” streaming out of a window, you might have just stumbled upon St. Paul’s newest record store/coffee shop. Caydence Records & Coffee (900 Payne Avenue), which will sell new and used vinyl and CDs, is being worked on for a couple more months; the Clash are…