Whether he’s playing a sold-out rap show or setting up his beloved red Nord keyboard in the back of a supper club to perform a set of improvised music, there is something distinctive and incomparable about the ubiquitous pianist deVon Gray. Chances are you’ve seen Gray (who also goes by dVRG) on stage with Heiruspecs,…

From the Ink Spots’ “Java Jive” to Otis Redding’s “Cigarettes and Coffee” to Bob Marley’s “One Cup of Coffee” to Bob Dylan’s “One More Cup of Coffee,” coffee has probably inspired more songs than any other non-alcoholic beverage. Now St. Vincent, riding high on the success of her new eponymous album, is getting even higher with…

The Replacements returned to the stage this past weekend to perform at Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Festival, a three-day gathering that also included performances by Minnesota’s Trampled by Turtles and Mason Jennings and headlining sets by the Alabama Shakes, the National, and Modest Mouse. As with their recent Coachella appearance, the band was joined for the…

Ten years ago, Apple’s famous silhouette iPod ads defined what was cool in the popular music scene. Now, Beats by Dre‘s animated “pill” speakers follow 2014’s most charismatic superstar, Pharrell Williams, around in an ad soundtracked by his smash hit “Happy.” According to a news report in the Financial Times, Apple is in negotiations to purchase Dr. Dre’s über-hip speaker…

Happy Friday! Give yourself a break, slip on the ol’ headphones, and catch up on the latest music videos to emerge from the Minnesota scene: Votel The electro-pop band Votel (which features Maggie Morrison on lead vocals with support from Adam Marx, Ben Clark, Drew Christopherson, and Mark McGee) very casually released their new album…

Bomba de Luz singer Lydia Liza will be defending a film on May 21 at the Trylon Microcinema. Which film? You won’t find out until you’re in your seat and the lights go down. In the Trylon’s “Defenders” series, each month a Minnesota public figure is picked to chose a surprise film to show and…

There are few Minnesota summer traditions as cherished as the Walker Art Center’s annual Music and Movies series, pairing live musical performances with movie screenings—all open to the public and free of charge. The Walker’s just announced this year’s lineup, under the theme Playing With Time. Each of the first three weeks (August 4, 11,…

Thursday, May 8 The Mischke Road Show: American Music Revue O’Gara’s, St. Paul 7 p.m., $10, 21+ With the launch of his new podcast just around the corner (The Mischke Road Show launches this Monday, May 12), longtime radio host, artist, musician and writer T.D. Mischke is throwing a big party and will perform some…

The challenges of being an up-and-coming artist are numerous: arranging gigs and cutting records while trying to support oneself is no easy task. Throw parenting into the mix, and you might find yourself watching an artist’s sanity slip away. Luckily for Amanda Grace, positivity goes a long way, and she’s got plenty to spare. The…

Music and beer have always paired well together, and Julianna Barwick agrees. The ambient singer-songwriter collaborated with a Delaware brewery to design a new craft beer, and now Barwick plans a release of an EP with the same name as the brew, Rosabi, out June 3 via Dead Oceans. The EP features sounds from the…