Wildfires in Canada have affected air quality in Minnesota as plumes of smoke hung over much of the state on Monday. Conditions have improved today, but for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that include the word "smoke" in the title or lyrics? Send us your requests.

Wee Willie Walker: If Nothing Ever Changes The man recorded for legendary label Goldwax Records in the latter ‘60s and is still going strong. Wee Willie Walker, who has been bringing genuine Memphis soul to Minneapolis since 1960, still has his top-notch style and flare on If Nothing Ever Changes. He’ll be at the Minnesota…

It’s a sizable task to explain the pleasantly overwhelming experience of Milwaukee’s Summerfest to an audience who possibly has never been, and—realistically—may not plan to, especially in the midst of such a festival-heavy era in music. How does it stack up to Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Coachella, or the myriad of music festivals dotting your calendar each year?…

On Tuesday, July 7, the Duluth and Minneapolis locations of the Electric Fetus will be celebrating Ringo Starr’s 75th birthday. Though the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee won’t be here in Minnesota (yet), that certainly won’t stop Minnesota from celebrating in his honor. The Fetus is offering 20% off all Ringo and Beatles music and merchandise, rings,…

The Dead Weather—the hard-rocking band featuring Jack White and Alison Mosshart—announced that they will release a third album, Dodge & Burn, in September. A specific date has not yet been revealed. Four tracks from the album have already been released, though not necessarily in the same versions that will appear on the album. (Billboard) After a five-hour set…

Morrissey is coming to the Fitzgerald Theater on July 13. Jim McGuinn shares his fascination with this month's pick for The Current's Rock and Roll Book Club: Morrissey's autobiography.

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's celebrate Carli Lloyd's fastest hat trick in World Cup history by playing your favorite short songs. What songs do you want to hear that are over quickly but are still awesome? Send us your requests.

“Dillinger Four is 21, huh?” Craig Finn was grinning ear to ear, surveying a giddy parking lot of black t-shirts and plastic pint glasses. He’d only made it two songs into his band Lifter Puller’s first performance in 12 years, and he’d stopped to take a few minutes to address the crowd while a stage tech…

Prince and his band 3RDEYEGIRL have surprised fans with a surprise new track, released on Soundcloud. “HARDROCKLOVER” pits rock against R&B, suggesting that what ladies really love—or, at least, the eponymous lady really loves—is the kind of guitar noise that Prince has been making lately on albums like PLECTRUM ELECTRUM. You could also interpret the lyrics as a woman-guitar…

Desaparecidos' first record in 13 years, 'Payola' is an exhilarating, exhausting experience, somehow managing to sustain a remarkable intensity for its full 40 minutes.