The Chart Show: Monae Makes Us Feel April 18, 2018 Shaking up the chart this week were debuts from Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, The Decemberists, and Tune-Yards, while Janelle Monae held the top spot for another week. Read More ›
Music News: Kanye West writing philosophy book on Twitter April 18, 2018 Today's top music news stories include Kanye West writing a philosophy book on Twitter, new revelations about the Cher musical, and Marilyn Manson being formerly banned from Coachella. Read More ›
The Revolution’s Matt ‘Dr.’ Fink deconstructs Prince’s pioneering use of synthesizers April 18, 2018 The story of Prince on keyboards is also the story of how technology routed his music — and all pop music — in the ’80s. Manning a bank of synths in his trademark surgical scrubs, “Dr.” Matt Fink wasn’t Prince’s longest-running keyboardist (Morris Hayes played with the NPG for 20 years), but Fink’s dozen years,… Read More ›
The Chart Show Ballot April 18, 2018 Vote every week for your top five tracks (and enter our weekly ticket giveaway while you're at it), then tune in Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. CT to see if your favorites make the Chart Show, hosted by Mark Wheat! Read More ›
BrownMark explains how he and Prince reinvented bass in the ’80s April 18, 2018 When you think about the Minneapolis Sound, synths and drum machines probably jump to mind before you think of bass. Possibly the best-known thing Prince ever did regarding bass guitar was to leave it out of one of his most iconic hits: “When Doves Cry.” As BrownMark explains, though, there was a reason that song… Read More ›
Oak Center General Store: a landmark music venue at the crossroads April 18, 2018 'It's a truly unique venue,' says Barbara Jean of Dusty Heart, describing Oak Center General Store. 'The room itself feels like a cross between an old saloon and a barn loft -- everything from the ceiling to the creaking floor boards is wooden, with an old potbelly stove crackling and cranking out heat from the back of the room.' How much longer the venue will continue to operate is the big question. Read More ›
Talking Prince and drums with the NPG’s Michael Bland April 18, 2018 Though Prince’s use of drum machines—in particular, the LM-1, designed by Roger Linn—was a major part of his singular sound, he could also play serious grooves in a wide array behind a real-deal drum kit. Prince began drumming at age 12. “I learned on a big box of newspapers,” he told Modern Drummer in 2001.… Read More ›
Rock and Roll Book Club: Two Prince associates share their memories April 18, 2018 Owen Husney and Marylou Badeaux both had special places in Prince's history. Their new memoirs give poignant, informative, and amusing glimpses into the life of a legend. Read More ›
Music News: NYC unveils David Bowie MetroCards April 17, 2018 Today's top music news stories are all about unusual merch - from David Bowie MetroCards to a Kurt Cobain handwriting font to a Nick Cave skateboard. Read More ›
‘Prince shaped Minneapolis’: Symposium panel explores Prince’s pivotal impact April 17, 2018 Any good writer will tell you that sometimes the best way to touch on universal truths is to get specific and nail the details. That fact was in evidence this morning at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, as the symposium Prince from Minneapolis convened what The Current’s Andrea Swensson called “a… Read More ›
Record Store Day Giveaway: Record player and Flaming Lips vinyl April 17, 2018 Get primed for Record Store Day with our ultimate prize pack! Enter to win a turntable from Dogfish Head and some sweet vinyl, including the exclusive Music To Drink Beer and Make Love To compilation from Dogfish Head. Read More ›
Drunken chaos, pointless destruction, great music: The Replacements roadie talks April 16, 2018 "On the road," says Bill Sullivan, "somebody was always looking at your stuff and wanted to steal it." Read More ›
Durand Jones and the Indications bring their soulful sound to The Current studio April 12, 2018 Although the singing career of Durand Jones began somewhat reluctantly, soul-music outfit Durand Jones and the Indications are now in it for the long haul. 'It's been a pretty fun ride so far,' Jones says, 'and we've got a lot more work to do.' Durand Jones and the Indications recently visited The Current for a session hosted by Jade. Read More ›
Margaret Glaspy performs in The Current studio April 06, 2018 'Born Yesterday,' the new EP from Margaret Glaspy, was largely written while Glaspy was on tour. 'That's why it's only three songs!' Glaspy laughs. In town for a show at First Avenue, Glaspy, along with guitarist Julian Lage, stopped in The Current studio for a session hosted by Mary Lucia. Read More ›
The Decemberists in concert at the Palace Theatre April 04, 2018 On Saturday, April 7, The Current streamed live video of The Decemberists in concert at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul. Read More ›
Gang of Youths spread hope and joy in The Current studio April 02, 2018 'I think the whole point of our career was to bring a sense of hope and joy to the circumstances that are devoid of it,' says Gang of Youths frontman David Le'aupepe. 'I think every artist has their purpose, and I think in Gang of Youths, we've sort of found ours.' The Sydney-based band recently visited The Current, where they played their uplifting and empowering songs. Read More ›
L.A. Salami performs in The Current studio March 29, 2018 Is the artist L.A. Salami (whose full name is Lookman Adekunle Salami) a storyteller, a philosopher, a poet, or just a dude in a band? 'When arrogance possesses me, I would like to think of myself as one of those,' he says. 'It's whatever people make of it.' L.A. Salami visited The Current today to play three songs that showcase this music-making wordsmith. Read More ›
Coffee Break: Drummer singers April 19, 2018 Levon Helm, the drummer and one of the vocalists for The Band, passed away today in 2012. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what drummer singers do you want to hear? Read More ›
Today in Music History: Patti Smith released "Because The Night" April 19, 2018 Simon and Garfunkel reunited; Madison Square Garden didn't know Young from Dylan; Patti Smith put out her biggest hit; and Bernie Worrell was born, Today in Music History. Read More ›
Coffee Break Suggestions and Archive November 08, 2016 Got an idea for a Coffee Break? Want to see what we did a while back? Read More ›