There is something about the human voice and simple accompaniment in its unadorned form with no electronic enhancements, and it works particularly well on Conor Oberst's solo album, 'Ruminations,' a poetic batch of songs that appear to focus on the darker and more fragile side of the human condition.

Prince fans have been expressing concerns about the fact that some VIP tour attendees at Paisley Park have been taking liberties while posing for photos with a purple piano and guitar played by Prince. In some photos, fans are seen lying on the piano, putting their feet up a la Jerry Lee Lewis, fingering the frets on the…

Whether it was setting a drum set on fire or covering the Plasmatics, Blaze built a reputation for boldness throughout the Midwest. With fierce lead singer Wendy Engler, bassist Ralph Benicke, guitarist Nick Baca, keyboardist Mike Case and Matt Batchelor on drums, the band captivated audiences with a set infused with new wave and dark…

With a bounce in his step and a mandolin under his arm, Chris Thile walked across the Fitzgerald Theater stage as host of A Prairie Home Companion on Saturday, his first show as Garrison Keillor's successor.

On Friday, October 7, about 200 people gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center for Giant Steps, an one-day conference put on for creative entrepreneurs. Creative entrepreneurs? The term’s definition is a little loose, but it covers anyone who makes a living off their art (even in part), whether they may be photographers, graphic designers, chefs or…

And here I thought five hours of music would be enough. Last night’s Prince tribute at the Xcel Energy Center blew me away. Mixed bag or no, any concert where Luke James, Judith Hill, and Stevie Wonder can make me shiver is one for the history books; 3RDEYEGIRL slayed, the hits kept coming, and it…

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre will be starting a new series next Thursday, Oct. 20: Music Animated. These events combine puppeteering and live music to create a truly immersive experience. The inaugural run of shows will feature local multi-instrumentalist Dosh. Dosh is an accomplished solo artist from the Twin Cities, adept at manipulating both…

Music and caffeine enthusiasts alike will be delighted to know of a new record store opening on the East Side of St. Paul tomorrow. Caydence Records & Coffee is located in the up-and-coming restaurant district of Payne Avenue. It aims to become a creative watering hole for its artistic community, serving locally-roasted Bootstrap Coffee as well…

This week, Bob Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature. It goes without saying that it is very unusual in the pop world for a musician to be recognized with such an honor, but Dylan truly changed the nature of the narrative. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what poetic lyricists do you want to hear?

It wouldn’t be a true Prince show if there wasn’t some last-minute drama and uncertainty leading up to the main event. With news that Christina Aguilera and Anita Baker wouldn’t actually appear breaking just as doors opened (joining John Mayer, who canceled on Tuesday), and an elongated soundcheck that kept fans pinned in the hallways…