When Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile are onstage together, their musical conversation parallels their friendship and working relationship. Much of last night at the Palace Theatre was about letting things evolve and finding the natural groove rather than forcing it. Perhaps that’s why Barnett and Vile fit so well together; they allow each other to…

The Xcel Energy Center audience were firmly asked not to use phones — at all — so it was a darkened mass of fans who surrounded the simply lit stage at one end of the arena. There were also no video screens, so all faces were turned directly towards the man at the piano, testing…

Today marks 15 years since the plane crash that killed Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila, his daughter Marcia, and three members of his campaign staff. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that feature giving the power to the people?

In 'Why Bob Dylan Matters,' Harvard professor Richard F. Thomas dives deep into the Bard of Duluth's capacious songbook.

It's not every day that you get to come into work and telephone a member of the Sex Pistols for a chat. But that's exactly what Mary Lucia and Production Manager Derrick Stevens did on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The results were, on one hand, totally punk rock; and on the other, an important lesson in perseverance. Fortunately, we captured the whole thing on video.

It’s not every day you get a program walking into a concert. But at last night’s Guthrie Theater affair, a grand triple bill showcasing Irma Thomas, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet, no extra step felt out of bounds. A magnificent pink chiffon flower atop Ms. Thomas’s shoulder? Oh so…

There is a wind advisory in effect for much of central and southern Minnesota until 6 pm today, so for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what windy songs do you want to hear?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and with it, the biggest commercial holiday in the U.S. While Black Friday may be known for discount electronics and mall stampedes, it’s also a great day to stop by your nearest record store. On Nov. 24, a number of limited edition records will hit the markets as part…

Halloween weekend in the Twin Cities is a great time for catching some great performances and going to parties. Even though the holiday of tricks and treats falls on a Tuesday this year, there’s no shortage of Halloween-themed parties around town over the days leading up to All Hallow’s Eve. Here are some standouts from…

Today in 1982, The Damned released their album 'Strawberries', packaged with a strawberry-smelling lyric sheet. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear from bands who released their album with some sort of gimmick?