Growing up just north of Saint Paul, Mike Munson says music found him. “A guitar eventually made its way into my life, and it became a major outlet for me and a few friends of mine,” Munson said in an interview with Southern Minnesota Scene a few years back, adding that as a group, he…Read More
2018 produced a slew of new music from local artists. The birthplace of one Prince Rogers Nelson is fortunate not only to have hoards of talent running through it, but talent across many genres. From rap and hip hop to country to folk, bluegrass and everything in between, Minnesota has something for everyone. In no…Read More
When Motion City Soundtrack effectively ended their nine year, six album run in 2016, lead singer Justin Courtney Pierre wasn’t sure what the future would hold. He took some time off, savoring quality time with his wife and daughter. In pondering his next chapter, Pierre briefly considered trading in his microphone for a CPA license…Read More
Why do we go to concerts? The simple response is for the music. A more comprehensive explanation, in my opinion, anyway, is to have the best time alongside other concertgoers, listening to the music we all love in a sort of conglomerate. Easy enough, right? Seems pretty straightforward, but it’s not always that easy to…Read More
On her debut album, songwriter Bebe Rexha rises to the challenge in a catchy skillfully assembled Pop Music release. Album Grade: B+ Professional songwriters who found success writing for other artists have a dubious track record when it comes to recording their own albums. Largely unknown to the public, these skilled artisans are the backbone…Read More
If you’re looking to hit up an outdoor concert this summer, you’re in luck. Whether you live in northern, southern or central Minnesota, the state has you covered when it comes to live music in outdoor venues. Check out our list of some options below, which has every type of music from country and rock…Read More
On this surprising release, both artists bring out the best of each other as a result of their differences. Album Grade: B- On the surface, the idea of a collaboration album between a Jamaican dancehall singer and the brooding, former leader of The Police seems to be a fundamentally questionable notion at best. Best known…Read More
“Often faced with prejudice, hostility, physical abuse and even occasional death threats, Venus [de Mars] came back from the brink of suicide to front artistic dark glam band All The Pretty Horses.” –Power Play Magazine U.K. After hearing about Venus de Mars only just recently, I was shocked to find I’d never heard about her…Read More
Cimarron Corpé quickly caught the attention of coffee-enthusiasts and Houston County residents during his weeklong visit to the southeastern Minnesota community in September. He generally sat at a table with giant fuzzy headphones on, often sparking interest. “It’s always exciting to travel to a new region and see everything as exotic, but when you travel…Read More
If there’s one thing Bob Knutson knows for sure, it’s that a higher power has had a hand in his work. I’ve got so many God stories, it’s unbelievable,” he said. There was the time when one of the two dozen or so albums he brought to a senior center from his 21,000-piece collection had…Read More