“Music is an informing energy” in his work, said artist Jim Hodges at a Thursday morning media tour of his new retrospective Give More Than You Take. Knowing that, the Walker Art Center invited Hodges to curate a musical series in association with the exhibit, which opens on Saturday and runs through May 11. Hodges welcomed…

When bloggers describe Andre Cymone’s new album as long-awaited, we really mean it—his fans have literally been waiting 29 years for a follow-up to Cymone’s last album, A.C. As the first bass player in Prince’s touring band and one of the many artists to emerge out of the Minneapolis Sound explosion, Cymone rose to notoriety with…

Piñata Records: Hit Parade Sampler The latest compilation by Piñata Records proves that this local label is aptly named, since Hit Parade Sampler is a mixed bag of sweet treats, so full of energy that you’d think it’s about to burst. Out February 15 and streaming now on Bandcamp, Hit Parade features nine tracks by…

I’m a little older now than I was the last time Neutral Milk Hotel came to town. Unlike most other concerts I’ve been to at First Avenue, on Monday night I did not push my way to front-center. I was not offered any drugs. I did not drink a beer, nor did I drink too…

Steve Marsh is one of Minnesota’s most well-travelled writers, as likely to be found on a private jet profiling an international celebrity as catching a local gig in an Icehouse booth. He has a million stories to tell, and he hinted at a few of them in an e-mail he wrote to give us a…

In an age of infinite connectivity, the realms of art, music, and technology grow more indistinguishable with every new and interesting project. Musicians have become more innovative in their use of visual and technological media: think of Beyoncé with her recent “visual album,” and Arcade Fire’s interactive online videos. Olga Bell—who has worked under her…

Born only two days before me 97 years ago was a great woman, vocalist and icon. Ella Fitgerald sang her way into the hearts of the jazz world after her legendary performance at the Apollo theater in Harlem. She’s known as a great collaborator because of the vast array of artists she’d create with, and…

This week’s Friday Five grab bag features a rapper who’s gotten his fair share of hype this year, a pair of melodic pop acts with edge, a noise-rock band, and a booty-shaking R&B singer who played our birthday party last month. Just another week here in Minneapolis… Hope you’re staying warm and sane amid the…

This week, music fans have been buzzing about Philly Weekly‘s decision to devote a cover story to Jordan White, a singer-songwriter with a modest live following but a seemingly massive Twitter following. Did he earn the followers? Game them? Buy them? Throughout the debate, White’s fellow Philadelphians Dr. Dog have been held up as the gold…

Thursday, February 6 Commanders Handsome Loring Pasta Bar, Minneapolis 9:30 p.m., $5, 21+ Solid Gold frontman Zach Coulter and Doomtree MC and producer Cecil Otter team up for new collaboration that they describe as “beat heavy casual landscapes.” See how casual those landscapes can get tonight at the Loring Pasta Bar when they help to…