“This is a really bad idea,” said Stephen King, “especially considering that the band that first had a hit with this song came from Minnesota. Anyone remember the Trashmen?” Some of us remembered the Trashmen playing “Surfin’ Bird” on that very stage in First Avenue’s Mainroom. King dropped his guitar and stepped forward for that…

This Sunday is Mother's Day, and in honor of the occasion I talked with maybe the most famous rock star mom out there: Virginia Hanlon Grohl, mother of Dave Grohl. She's the author of the fascinating book 'From Cradle to Stage,' in which she profiles other moms of famous musicians. We talked about what she's learned over the course of the project.

Julia Jacklin doesn’t ease her listeners into the emotional turbulence of her songwriting. Instead, she jolts them out of their seats with startling opening lines. “It might make for good TV/ the grieving process for all to see/ but I don’t want my father’s ashes/ scattered over strangers’ couches,” Jacklin sings on the beginning of…

Friday Five is a little later than expected today, due to a project I jumped on this morning with fellow blogger Jay Gabler. He interviewed Stephen King, Amy Tan, and a half-dozen other members of Rock Bottom Remainders, the author-comprised cover band who sold out their show tonight at First Avenue. We’ll get you that…

Shel Silverstein passed away; Pet Shop Boys were No.1; Bono was born; The Turtles visited the White House; and Weezer released 'The Blue Album', Today in Music History.

A new study finds four-fifths of young musicians report mental health challenges, and the vast majority say the industry isn't doing enough to support artists in that respect. Also in the news today: Common describes childhood abuse, Rolling Stone rolls out charts to challenge Billboard, and Tinder is targeting festival-goers seeking connections. Plus, music history highlights involving Prince, Buffalo Springfield, and Tom Waits; new music from Jamila Woods, Charly Bliss, Mac DeMarco, and Mavis Staples; and Lizzo goes viral by wearing her Met Gala look to the airport. Bonus: In honor of Mother's Day, Virginia Grohl talks about being a rock star mom!

Lady Lark is debuting her latest album, Permission, at the Fine Line, backed by Purple Funk Metropolis. Ahead of the show, Lady Lark stopped into The Current Studio to perform songs from Permission and talk with Local Show host Andrea Swensson.

For the past two years, The Current has enjoyed sharing the experience of the Iceland Airwaves music festival. From May 2 to 5, The Current and Iceland Naturally collaborated to bring a the culture of Iceland to the Twin Cities. See photos and video from this first-of-its-kind cultural exchange.

My Brightest Diamond has released five albums and played hundreds of shows, but each one is a novel experience. Two of their only constants: Shara Nova’s classically trained voice and her bent toward artsy surprise. In Nov. 2018, she released the My Brightest Diamond album A Million and One, a more electronic, dancey project than…

The video is a true tear-jerker, driving home the song's rawest emotions by depicting motherhood's joys and drudgery with equal affection and care.