As much as I’d enjoyed their music to date, I couldn’t have predicted how happy I’d be at GRRRL PRTY’s First Avenue concert last summer. I danced; I watched from the front row; I caught (and still have) one of the Jeremy Nutzman masks-on-a-popsicle-stick that GRRRL PRTY wore. Andrea Swensson described the show like this: “To call the evening…

I’ve always enjoyed the Lumineers’ music, but I wondered whether their pleasant songs could captivate thousands of people in a live setting. I am happy to report, after Tuesday night’s show at Roy Wilkins Auditorium, that indeed they can. As a black curtain dropped to reveal a kaleidoscope of colored lights and silver organ pipes, the…

Prince was inducted to the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame on Monday in Harlem. The New Power Generation and Maceo Parker were among the music luminaries on hand for the induction, which preceded the historic theater’s annual fundraising gala. During the induction, theater president Jonelle Procope said, “Prince was one of a kind. Bold. Prolific. A musical genius, rule breaker,…

Mary Lucia looks at the phenomenon by which Minneapolis-St. Paul music fans embrace certain artists and bands as their own. 'Back in the day,' Mary writes, 'I remember everyone thinking Mike Doughty actually lived here, given his popularity and warm welcome from Minnesoter.' Which bands do you consider honorary Minnesotans?

Daniel Nass reviews the new memoir from Dave Stewart of Eurythmics -- filled with tales of rock and roll excess (and a gross story of young love).

Brian Oake had the time of his life seeing Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Orpheum last night. In honor of Neil's performance, let's listen to songs that mention planets for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.

Thom Yorke grabbed a guitar on Sunday and strolled over to a garden party his neighbor was throwing on the day that Queen Elizabeth II was being honored in England for turning 90. Yorke played a 30-minute solo acoustic set that a Reddit user posted about after getting a text from his dad: “in Oxford at garden party with Suzie’s…

Following the mass shootings in Orlando this weekend, we'd like to hear from artists with pride for today's Coffee Break - whether that's artists who are members of the GLBTQ community or supporters and friends.

Jackie Perman is a recent graduate of Macalester College, where this report was originally written as a class paper. It’s republished here with the permission of the writer and her sources. In 2015, rapper Kanye West released the song “All Day,” which was nominated in two categories at the 58th Grammy Awards. The song has…

It is a truth universally acknowledged that music has the power to open hearts, and as many in the singer/songwriter scene know, few artists wield that power like folk-rocker Brandi Carlile. She’s humble, gracious, and kind, and her music reflects those traits. Genre-benders the Avett Brothers touch crowds, too, especially through their poignant lyrics. They’re…