To be honest, it’s been tough to concentrate on much this week outside of the big news that two grand juries have failed to indict the police officers who killed unarmed men in Ferguson, Miss., and Staten Island, New York, not to mention the ensuing outrage, grief, and protests that these two events have caused. How are we supposed…

After 10 years of presenting bigger and bigger shows under the banner of the Doomtree Blowout, the longrunning Minneapolis hip-hop crew have declared that this year’s festivities will be their last of this kind. And they’re going out with a bang(arang… ugh I had to): Starting tomorrow night at the Turf Club, Doomtree will cram 10…

The nearly-complete list of nominations for the 57th annual Grammy Awards has been revealed, and Minnesota artists are among the honorees. Local children’s group the Okee Dokee Brothers, who won a Grammy two years ago for Can You Canoe?, are again nominated for Best Children’s Album with their new release Through the Woods. Stephen Paulus, a Minnesota…

For much of America, the holiday season is one of the most music-centric times of year. Ironically, that makes it a torturous desert for hard-core music fans: recorded Christmas music becomes inescapable from Halloween to New Year’s, and it’s a playlist that’s largely frozen in time. Even when new holiday music is released, it struggles…

The roots of Doomtree took seed sometime around 2001, when P.O.S. and MK Larrata decided to launch a record label/production crew. While the roster has changed between now and then, the most well-known Doomtree lineup has been in place for several years. It’s a seven-member musical arsenal of DJs, beat-builders, rappers, and producers: P.O.S., Cecil…

If you thought U2‘s Songs of Innocence album cover was awkward, wait until you see their new tour publicity photo (above). At least they’re wearing more clothes than Fleetwood Mac did when they got under the covers for a 1977 Rolling Stone shoot. The Grammys have announced nominations in a few categories; the rest of the 83 categories will be announced…

1. The Trashmen are a garage and surf rock group from Minneapolis that formed in 1962. 2. Their 1963 hit “Surfin’ Bird” reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 later that year. It has since been recorded by artists like the Ramones, the Cramps, Silverchair and Pee-Wee Herman. The song was used in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket and on…

Yesterday in New York, a grand jury voted not to bring criminal charges against Daniel Pantaleo, a police officer whose chokehold grip on Eric Garner led to Garner’s death. Musicians were among those who rapidly shared responses, many expressing outrage. (Billboard) “Can anyone explain to us why it’s acceptable that there’s no indictment in the murder of…

The Austin Chronicle reports that British music legend Ian McLagan died this afternoon at the age of 69. McLagan earlier suffered a stroke and was hospitalized in Austin, where he lived. McLagan was scheduled to appear tonight at First Avenue with Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets. That show is still scheduled to proceed. Venue staff…

Bedlam Theatre, celebrating its first holiday season with its new location fully open, will welcome a new entertainment and arts production company called the Avant Garde. On Saturday, Dec. 13 at 10 p.m., the Avant Garde will be hosting a launch party in the spirit of the holidays at Bedlam’s Lowertown venue. Chadwick “Niles” Phillips…