2013 is already shaping up to be a big year for José James. The distinctive, silky-voiced singer has just released his Blue Note debut, No Beginning No End, to glowing reviews, with Ben Ratliff of The New York Times noting that the record “sounds like the result of the black-pop continuum, jazz and soul and…

Valentine’s Day is coming up this Thursday, and there are quite a few musical ways to celebrate with your sweetheart. Of course, V-Day isn’t for everyone—so if you’re avoiding pink hearts and boxes of chocolate like the plague this week, I’ve also included a few eardrum-blowing punk and hardcore options. Take your pick. And most…

Hours before the 55th annual Grammy Awards were telecast, several albums with Minnesota ties picked up Grammys in a pre-show ceremony—most notably the Okee Dokee Brothers, who won in the Best Children’s Album category for their 2012 album Can You Canoe? The Brothers, known off stage as Denver-born, Minneapolis-based friends and musicians Joe Mailander and…

The end of the week is upon is, which can only mean one thing: Time to reward yourself with a few minutes away from the grind by sampling a few procrastination-worthy music videos. Actually, this week’s offerings are so substantial that there’s about an hour’s worth of entertainment below—we have Retribution Gospel Choir to thank…

  Local Radar highlights bands that the local team at The Current is spinning heavily at their desks. You’ll be able to preview a track from each as well as hear them on The Local Show and Local Current. Gramma’s Boyfriend Many of you may already know Gramma’s Boyfriend, a band that has played regularly in the Twin…

It’s been a wild ride for Nicholas David. In just six short months David—who we know locally as performer Nick “The Feelin” Mrozinski—has gone from holding down a regular Sunday-night gig at the Nomad Pub to becoming the underdog favorite on NBC’s prime-time talent show The Voice, working with icons like Bill Withers and Smokey…

Another week, another mysterious new online offering from Prince. On the heels of his six-show run at the Dakota and the release of his new single, “Screwdriver,” comes another website from the Purple camp, this time under the 3rd Eye Girl banner. The site is selling downloads of four tracks: the previously released “Screwdriver,” remixes…

  When 17-year-old Zach Sobiech found out he was dying of a rare form of bone cancer, he wanted to say goodbye to his family and friends through song. Though he never could have imagined it, that song, “Clouds,” has now spread a message of love and hope across the nation. He’s been featured on CNN,…

  Did you know that supporting local music not only helps to build a strong community, but it’s also a significantly less expensive form of entertainment? Take this week’s Local Gig List, for example—an enterprising showgoer could attend every single show on this list and spend less than $50. And many of this week’s events are…

This year, we’ll be spotlighting a prominent Minnesota musician or band each month with our new Artist of the Month feature. You’ll be able to hear a variety of songs from throughout the artists’ career on both the Local Current stream and the Local Show, and you can read more about the artists’ history and their role in…