In August of 2009, Lakeland, Minn. teenager Zach Sobiech went for a run and came home with a pain in his left hip. A physical therapist initially told him it might be a problem with his hip flexor, but when the pain didn’t let up Zach went in for more tests. Within a few…

Local music notes from the week of December 3-9

With 2012 nearing its end, a few artists in the Twin Cities are throwing a wrench in the year-end list-making by issuing finely crafted albums in the final weeks of the year. Two of those standout late releases don’t appear to have a lot in common at first glance—Rich Mattson’s Ol’ Yeller has reformed and…

A closer look at the latest Beatles reissues and the ongoing Minnesota Beatle Project

As the dust settles on the big announcement of Grammy nominee that took place last night, it’s always interesting to sift through all 81 Grammy award categories. The past few years, these categories have included a high number of locally bred artists and songwriters; this year, I count at least four Grammy nominees with Minnesota…

Mark McGee’s name might not be instantly recognizable to some Twin Cities music fans, but the many different projects he’s involved in certainly are. McGee, who typically performs as Makr, is the creative force behind both To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie and Father You See Queen, as well as being a dynamic contributor to the…

Artist and musician Chris Mars, known to Minnesota music fans as a founding member and drummer for the Replacement, has spent much of his time since leaving the music industry crafting striking, surrealist imagery in both paintings and animated films. His most recent film, In Hanford, was completed last year and explores the real-life events…

With the holiday season now in full swing, the staff of the Current have been on high alert in search of new seasonal tracks to spin on air. So when a burned copy of Paul Westerberg covering “Away in a Manger” was slipped to us this week from a trustworthy source, it seemed too good…

Tis the season for holiday-themed extravaganzas and benefit shows. There’s a little of both in this week’s Local Gig List, along with a healthy supply of CD-release shows that should keep us swimming in new music until the year’s end. Have an event you’d like to have considered for the Local Gig List? Email aswensson@mpr.org.…

The third season of NBC’s prime-time talent show the Voice has been especially exciting for Minnesota music fans, with Nicholas David — known locally as Eagan’s Nick “The Feelin” Mrozinski — continuing to advance forward each week. Nicholas is now among the top six finalists on the show, and the producers are clearly putting some…