
Though we don't get this fantastic show on Iowa Public Radio, Acoustic Cafe is an independently-produced 2-hour radio show hosted by Rob Reinhart focusing on a wide variety of music, but tending to center on the "unplugged" side of things. Acoustic Cafe also sponsors a tour, and for some of the dates on their evening tour Pieta Brown is joining the 2nd half of the run replacing Erin McKeown in the lineup with also includes Carrie Rodriguez (who Pieta toured with in 2011) and Kelly Joe Phelps . This is the [...]
Paraskavedekatriaphobia - the fear of Friday the 13th, but don't let that stop you from going out and seeing good shows this weekend!
Getting ready to head out to the Dessa show tonight, thought I would put these up quick. I was able to record the Maria Isa show Friday night, and I'll be editing that sometime this week and be posting it here, so be on the look out for that. Who Killed Davey Moore?- Bob Dylan Stand By Me- Cassius Clay Barely Out Of Tuesday- Counting Crows Breath Away- Duffy [...]

It's been a while since I updated the blog, and quite a few things musically have been happening. First off, the Picks Of The Week feature will return shortly. My computer died and I brought it to get repaired and it was gone for over a week, so I haven't added anything to my computer for a while, so I once I am able to do that again I will continue the feature. Secondly, the state fair was here the last week and a half, and there were plenty of free concerts I was able to attend there. I have [...]

Last night (Friday) I went to the Aquatennial Festival in Minneapolis to see the band Romantica. I've been a big fan for quite a while now, and even though they play locally all the time, scheduling has just not worked out for me to see them. Finally, I was able to see them Friday and it was worth the wait. They are one amazing band live, bringing all their songs to life and keeping the attention of the audience at all times. Although they didn't sing my favorite song of theirs, " Drink The Night [...]
A while ago I challenged myself to listen to every CD in my collection from beginning to end. This is a challenge that will most likely take a few years, but I've already found music I didn't even know I had that I love, and I'm re-discovering music I hadn't thought about for a while. So I decided to start a new feature here called "Picks Of The Week" where I take some cool tracks I've heard the past week and post them every Sunday. Hopefully my challenge to myself will help you discover some great music as well. Here [...]

I forgot to post this last month, so here you go...from our friends at AltCountryTab.ca , the monthly Feel Bad For You comp. Download the zipped file here for one week only . 1. Carolina Chocolate Drops - Hit 'Em Up Style.mp3 Buy : Genuine Negro Jig (2010) Comment: Rootsy 3 piece band out of Durham, NC 2. Jeffrey Foucault and Mark Erelli - "Tom Merritt" [...]
Seein' the Scene is a (typically) weekly photographic presentation featuring images from some of the best local rock concerts Minnesota has to offer. These images are captured through the lens of Minneapolis rock photographer Mike Minehart. We welcome comments. More images from these shows can often be viewed at www.mikeminehart.com. Skyler Stonestreet % The Fineline in [...]
Smith will perform a stripped-down set, followed by Romantica.
I had almost decided not to do a decade in review list, but for some reason I felt the urge to tonight. This is not a very researched list, just done in less than half an hour based on my Rate Your Music.com account and what was rated highest for each year. Coldplay - Parachutes (2000) Howie Day - Australia (2000) Eva Cassidy - Time After Time (2000) Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (2000) Elliott Smith - Figure 8 (2000) Pete Yorn - Musicforthemorningafter (2001) Matthew Jay - Draw (2001) Bob Dylan [...]

Okay, so today is that famous christian holiday that seems to shut down the whole world.... but it's also Friday, and I've not succumed to the pressure to take the day off and skip this week's mix. However, as time was short this week (it's been hellaciously busy around here), and pickin' were rather slim, I have fallen in with just about every other music blog in the world, and ptu together a few holiday-themed tunes. I've also put in some completely non-holiday songs that I just thought were great, and you should hear. One of [...]
Romantica just dropped their new album last Sunday night at the Cedar Cultural Center, entitled Control Alt Country Delete. The following live performance is that of "These Things Are Too Beautiful," filmed at the 89.3 The Current studios. That the album was recorded in a single day is impressive in and of itself, yet more [...]
Minnesota Music - Romantica - "How To Feel" from the new album, "Control Alt Country Delete."
On the heels of their latest EP comes news of a follow-up full-length release.

The sweet nature of Bella Ruse is the bare simplicity of their folk-jazz style and the whimsical lyrics of lead songwriter, Kay Gillette. There also seems to be a heavy influence of Swedish pop music mixed with modern American folk pop. The Minneapolis duo are careful with their smile inducing tunes, it's kind of humbling how minimal they get and still create affective jazzy pop. Bella Ruse's Christmas album is currently available here as well as their breezy self titled EP . [...]

Curtiss A and friends with Lucy Michelle and The Velvet Lapelles, Romantica, and many more played last night in the main room at First Avenue. I tend to avoid tribute shows, but this was fantastic.
So far, five local bands have been selected to play official showcases.
Curtiss A, Romantica, and friends tip their caps and their bottles to the Beatles' fallen visionary.