Father You See Queen: Father You See Queen Father You See Queen’s new single “Simone” is a wonderful mixture of lo-fi, minimalism, and experimentation. The vocals bring the rhythm before the drum track comes snapping and popping, taking it from there. It’s the stripped-down production style of thestand4rd, but more delicate and whimsical. The duo…

Last year, FX debuted Fargo: a TV series inspired by the Coen Brothers’ 1996 movie. The show was a hit, and a second season has just begun. To help shed light on this fast-moving and fascinating crime series set in Minnesota, MPR News has launched a weekly podcast called “Aw Jeez.” In each episode, Tracy Mumford…

On Sunday night the the Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco, Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES joined The National for a performance of the National song “I Need My Girl.” (Pitchfork) After covering Taylor Swift‘s album 1989 song-for-song, Ryan Adams sat down with Swift for a conversation about the differences between their relative interpretations of the material. (Rolling Stone) Don…

A benefit concert to support local musician Shon Troth, who is fighting cancer, has been announced for Nov. 11 at the LynLake Brewery. The benefit will feature music from Solid Gold, Dream Crusher, Johnny & Molly of Communist Daughter, Sean Anonymous, Phillip Morris, and DJ Name. Troth has been a musician and bartender in the Twin Cities…

Some Minnesotans dread the coming of the fall’s first snow, and others look forward to it with excited anticipation. We’ve chosen the latter route. In fact, the first time it snows, we’re going to have a party: a Prince party. When MPR News weather guru Paul Huttner officially certifies that one inch of snow has…

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the Minnesotan production duo behind Janet Jackson‘s new album Unbreakable, surprised Jackson by joining her onstage Friday night in Inglewood, California. They were on hand to congratulate Jackson (and themselves) on the news that Unbreakable debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, making it Jackson’s seventh chart-topping album. (Billboard) Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead revealed…

When theatrical British rock band The Darkness come to the Varsity Theater tomorrow night, the audience will include the parents of the local baby who stars on the cover of the band’s new album, Last of Our Kind. “My husband, John, is a HUGE fan of The Darkness,” writes Colee Bean, an MPR member who lives with her…

Patti Smith was at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois to talk about her new memoir when a fan named Noreen Bender walked up and handed Smith several items that had been stolen 36 years ago—possibly when a truck containing some of Smith’s touring equipment was stolen in Chicago in 1979. Bender said a friend gave her…

Prof‘s new album Liability will be released tomorrow on Rhymesayers Entertainment, where the indefatigable party-starter is the newest signee. The album title is a theme for the characters who populate the songs: they’re the kind of people it’s dangerous to have around. (In real life, at least—on record, it’s another matter.) Liability includes guest appearances by Tech…

Between his work as a U.S. Ambassador in Sierra Leone and being McNally Smith College of Music’s hip-hop program department chair, local rapper Toki Wright is taking time for community outreach in southeastern Minnesota. Wright will give two days of public workshops, including a free show, this month in Winona area schools. The Mid West Music…