Welcome back again to our weekly roundup of local music news, the best local music I've recently heard, and as many local listings as we could gather up.
Where in the World Is Brother Ali?
If you ran across the American Songwriter interview with former Minneapolis-based rapper Brother Ali this week, you might have learned… well, that he’s a former Minneapolis-based rapper. At some point, Ali relocated to Istanbul, Turkey. The story is short on specifics about the MC’s current life (Ali’s quotes are in the vein of “We went from really struggling… to having a really nice life here.”) and long on his backstory, which Minneapolis music fans are probably already pretty familiar with. Still, seemed worth a mention, since the news of Ali’s expatriation certainly seems to have flown under the radar, as has his latest release Brother Minutester, Vol. 1.
Papa’s Got a Brand New... Show at the Entry Thursday night
Mang Fi, the debut EP from north Minneapolis artist and singer Papa Mbye, is all over the place. And I mean that in a good way. Mbye describes himself as “a Senegalese artist living in Minneapolis” and Mang Fi translates to “I’m here” in his birth country’s predominant language Wolof, with the location of “here” left ambiguous: It’s wherever Mbye happens to be. In the production, split between Ben Farmer and Zak Khan, I hear touches of the Nigerian-spawned, global dance phenomenon Afrobeats, and sometimes (though I might be straining) guitar or keyboard patterns whose styles I could trace back to the Senegalese pop of Mbye’s childhood. But mostly I hear a close listener to cool contemporary rhythmic pop styles surfing his way to his own sound along Auto-Tuned vocals, rattling 808s, and a percussive bass that blasts through whatever’s up top with two or three note punches. And though his tone is often melancholy, there’s a high energy here that rarely flags. This live video should give you a sense of what you’re in for at Papa’s Thursday night show at the 7th St. Entry.
The Princess and the LP
Frances Priya’s Princess Wiko can seem a bit conceptually daunting. Released today, the musician’s new album as FPA is an exercise in world-building, rooted in the tale of a princess whose child is taken from her and who risks forbidden love. (She tells the full story on this episode of Radio K’s Local Vibes.) But even if you don’t want to plunge fully into Priya’s narrative, you can certainly follow along with the album regardless. There’s a torchy warmth to her singing, a little less ripe than on her previous recordings, with piano and guitar creating moody settings, and a lithe bass carrying the rhythm.
Turf Club, Home of the Tribute Show
There’s something about the coziness of the Turf Club, and maybe the ease with which musicians can get on and off the stage, that makes it a swell venue for an excellent tribute show, and from Shania Twain to John Prine, some fine performers and songwriters have been celebrated there. This Sunday, there’s a dual tribute to the 50th anniversary of two classic, era-defining albums: Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Carole King’s Tapestry will be performed in full by more musicians than it would be appropriate to list here. And to keep you in the ’70s mood, there’s a Neil Young birthday tribute on Thursday, featuring Tired Eyes (Rich and Glen Mattson, Alan Sparhawk, and Kraig Johnson). Oh, and if you’re looking for something a little heavier (and not at the Turf), tonight the Uptown VFW is serving up a tribute to Dimebag Darrell (with two full sets of Pantera), as well as Sabbath/Soundgarden tribute band (what else?) Black Garden, and Misfits trib Gravezig.
Are there other shows this week? You better believe it. For instance:
Friday, Nov. 5
The Midnight Choir Social Club @ Aster Cafe
Patty Peterson Presents: Memories – The Music of Barbra Streisand @ Dakota
Flamin' Oh's with Monica LaPlante @ Hook and Ladder
Annie and the Bang Bang (album release) with Kiss the Tiger @ Icehouse
Black Panther with the Minnesota Orchestra
The Real Chuck Norad and Gabe Barnett & Them Rounders @ Palmer’s
A Tribute to Dimebag Darrell + Black Garden, and Gravezig @ Uptown VFW
Loser Magnet with Jung Yeller @ White Squirrel
Saturday, Nov. 6
Gowns, Coyote Kid, Allergen @ Amsterdam
Kraig Jarret Johnson and Friends @ Aster Cafe
Joan feat. Bryan Murphy @ Driftwood Char Bar
GATL (album release) @ Grenada Theater
Sparks/Epstein/Raynor @ Icehouse
In Lieu, Vivid Dreams, Vin @ Los Campeones
Red Reapers, Obstructionist, Battery Eyes, Lifestyle Shakes @ Mortimers
Dan Israel Re-Record Release with Edie Rae & The Blaze Kings
The High 48s and Back Up & Push @ Parkway Theater
Sunless (album release), Northless, Tulip @ Part Wolf
Uncle Jesse’s Comb, Jeweler, Serious Machine @ 331 Club
Dance Yrself Clean with DJ Manny Duke of Transmission Music + Drunken Monkeee @ Uptown VFW
Sunday, Nov. 7
Swing Brunch with Patty and the Buttons @ Aster Cafe
Lily Rabuse + Jason Roberts @ Aster Cafe
Good Diction, Law to Phx @ Icehouse
Church of Cornbread: Cornbread Harris and His Band @ Palmer’s
Michael Gay's 'Old Country Buffet' @ Palmer’s
A Tribute to the 50th Anniversaries of Joni Mitchell's Blue and Carole King's Tapestry @ Turf Club
Monday, Nov. 8
Poliça with Velvet Negroni @ First Avenue
Cody McKinney Residency, Week 2 @ Icehouse
Keny Grey, Bloodline, Vinny Franco, and Amanda Yang @ 7th St Entry
The Roe Family Singers @ 331 Club
Tuesday, Nov. 9
November Conspiracy Series feat. Francis Emil Johnson, Maria and the Coins, Mild Manner @ 331 Club
Trevor McSpadden & Mary Cutrufello @ White Squirrel
Wednesday, Nov. 10
MN Songwriter Showcase hosted by Nick Hensley @ Aster Cafe
Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band and Darrin Bradbury with Fletcher Coulee @ 7th St Entry
Humbird Residency Week 2, with Mayadda, Brass Messengers @ Icehouse
Cole Diamond Residency @ Mortimers
Pearl Rays: Showcase @ Part Wolf
Nights With Tim @ White Squirrel
Thursday, Nov. 11
Lightnin’ Joe Peterson @ Aster Cafe
Sound Unseen Presents: "I Really Get Into It" Official Film Screening After-Party with Low Rats, Lot Lizard, James Eugene Russell @ Hook and Ladder
The Front Porch Swingin’ Liquor Pigs @ Palmer’s
Gin Mill Hollow with the Stringdingers and Ghostland Radio @ Part Wolf
Papa Mbye with FruitPunchLoverBoy, huhroon and KWEY (DJ set) @ 7th St Entry
Sass, Healthy Competition, Oyster World @ 331 Club
Neil Young's Birthday Celebration feat. Tired Eyes @ Turf Club
