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FKA Twigs Is Local Music Now

Is Pitbull local music? Are Red Wing, Eau Claire, and Winona "local"? So many questions!

Courtesy of BT PR|

Another great Minnesotan.

In this week's local music column, we listen locally but think globally. Or something like that. Just read on, it'll make sense.

Psymun’s Tracks Highlight FKA Twigs’ Caprisongs

Has FKA Twigs ever set foot in Minnesota except to perform? I don’t know and I don’t care. What I am aware of is that Twin Cities producer Psymun has two production credits on her new “mixtape” Caprisongs (named apparently for everyone’s favorite pouched childhood beverage), thereby making that album (and indeed Twigs’ full oeuvre) local music by proxy. The dominant sound on “Careless,” besides Twigs’ own layered vocals, is what sounds like a synthesizer learning to speak; “Darjeeling” cuts a gentle harp-like backing with drum skitters out of a late ’90s Timbaland track. Locally, Psymun may be best known as a founding member of thestand4rd and for his collaborations with Dua Saleh, but this is hardly Psymun’s first brush with high-profile artists—in the past he’s worked with The Weeknd, Juice Wrld, Young Thug, Gunna, and more. You can listen to his full writing/production playlist here—I guess everyone here is now, by my twisted logic, also a local musician? This is a dangerous game I’m playing here.

Is Pitbull Also Local Music?

This is a tricky question, because, as Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull is local music wherever he goes. His skull is literally a globe. But his saxophonist/guitarist, Lucia Sarmiento, is a (Peruvian-born) Minneapolis jazz musician, which sure tips the scales in our favor. This week she spoke about her Pitbull experiences and much more with percussionist Paul Jennings. (Thanks to Racket contributor/pal Jay Gabler over at the Current for the rip-offable Sarmiento write-up.) 

Bundle Up, Dummies, It’s Festival Season

OK, not quite yet. But it’s festival announcement season, which is more fun in some ways. (Don’t ask me which.) Big Turn will take place in Red Wing once again on February 18-19, though in a slightly curtailed fashion—rather than sprawling across the city, there will be two nights of music in one venue. Night one is Heiruspecs (who’ve released a new song), Annie Mack, and Brothers Burn Mountain. Night two is Cloud Cult (who’ve also released a new song), Low, and Bad Bad Hats. Pert Near Sandstone’s Blue Ox Festival is also getting into promotional gear. This year’s version, June 23-25, again in Eau Claire, features Bela Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart and Old Crow Medicine Show, as well as numerous other practitioners of the rootsy musical arts. But maybe the wildest announcement this week is for the Mid West Music Fest in Winona on April 29-30. It’s headlined by Poliça and Haley, but just about every Minnesota musician you’ve ever heard of is listed here as well. I’d double check to make sure your own band isn’t on the bill. Hell, I’m double checking to make sure I’m not listed here.

Time for Sounds of Blackness

The NAACP Image Awards nominations were announced this week, and local gospel institution Sounds of Blackness received a nod for “Time for Reparations.” The fiery demand for racial equity is up for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song, and it’s great to hear a troupe that’s been at it half a century and has gotten no less militant. In the past, the outfit has received five NAACP Image Award nominations and won in 2012. 

This Week's Music Listings

Remember to check and make sure the show hasn't canceled. I try to prune fully but last-minute changes do occur.

Friday, Jan 21

DaBaby @ Armory

Nick Hensley & The Love Songs For Angry Men @ Aster Cafe

High & Mighty @ Bunkers

Bob James Quartet @ Dakota

TVÆR, BURNING, PAIN APPARATUS, SÜCHTIG, SHADOW ON GLASS and STOMACHACHE @ Eagles 34

The Kings of Cole @ Icehouse

Airlands: An Intimate Winter Evening With @ Icehouse

Keys N Krates @ The Loft

With A Gun For A Face, Dirty Junk, Rat Chasm, Sad Boy Dave @ Mortimers

Tommy Goodroad, Pit Stop, and Luke Callen @ Palmer’s

Kane Brown @ Target Center

Poolboy, Willow Creek Brothers, Is this Thing On? @ 331 Club

Rich Mattson and the Northstars, St Dominic's Trio, and Doug Collins and the Receptionists @ Turf Club

Briefcase with Goodbye Mordecai, Alley Mattress @ White Squirrel

Saturday, Jan. 22

The Johnny Sincerely Quartet with Lonesome Dan Kase and SOLIDSTATE @ Amsterdam

The High 48’s Bluegrass Brunch @ Aster Cafe

Chase & Ovation: The Music of Prince @ Bunkers

Eivør with Emily Jane White @ Cedar Cultural Center

Bob James Quartet @ Dakota

The Piss Mints, the Side Effects, Velahsa, and Small Town Sindrome @ Eagles 34

The Floozies with Sunsquabi @ Fillmore

The Current’s 17th Anniversary Party @ First Avenue

69 Dodge @ Icehouse 

The Sapsuckers @ Icehouse

Courtney Barnett with Julia Jacklin @ Palace Theatre

Jung Yeller, the Key Kids, and Loser Magnet @ Palmer’s

NEIL! Martin Zellar’s Tribute to Neil Diamond @ Parkway Theater

CARM with Chris Bierden @ 7th St Entry

Liquid Stranger @ Skyway Theatre

The Vibro Champs 30th Anniversary Show with guest Jake La Botz @ Uptown VFW

Repeat Bias with Trash Catties @ White Squirrel

Sunday, Jan. 23

Dr. Mambo’s Combo @ Bunkers 

Kaki King: Modern Yesterdays @ Dakota

Red Hot Django Peppers @ Icehouse

Charanga Tropical @ Icehouse

Power Rager Sundays @ Icehouse

Cornbread Harris: Church of Cornbread @ Palmer’s

The Sapsuckers @ Palmer’s

The Kernal @ 7th St Entry

word no words, Paul Bar Lament @ 331 Club

Charlie Parr (Sunday Residency) with Superior Siren @ Turf Club

Luke Callen with Anima @ White Squirrel

Monday, Jan. 24

Ana Popovic @ Dakota

LA Buckner and Big Homie @ Icehouse

Mother Banjo & Friends @ 331 Club

Matt Arthur & Friends @ 331 Club

The Cactus Blossoms (Monday Residency) with Geoffrey Lamar Wilson @ Turf Club

Trench Size Trio @ White Squirrel

Tuesday, Jan. 25

International Reggae Allstars @ Bunkers

Ana Popovic @ Dakota

Houndmouth with Ona @ Fine Line

Punch Brothers with Madison Cunningham @ Palace Theatre

Patty Griffin with Parker Millsap @ Pantages Theatre

The Brook & The Bluff with Izzy Heltai @ 7th St Entry

January Conspiracy Series featuring Gabe Barnett & them Rounders (electric) with Serious Machine @ 331 Club

Trevor McSpadden & Mary Cutrufello @ White Squirrel

Kinda Fonda Wanda (Tuesday Night Residency) with the Infernos @ White Squirrel

Wednesday, Jan. 26

Dylan Saifer @ Bunkers

Nunnabove @ Dakota

Falling in Reverse @ Fillmore

Smith and Thell @ 7th St Entry

KFAI House Party Presents Katey Bellville and her S.O.B.’s @ 331 Club

Lenz and Frenz @ 331 Club

Matthew Logan Vasquez with Maya Lucia @ Turf Club

Brian Fallon and the Howling Weather with the Dirty Nil and Worriers @ Varsity Theater

Nights With Tim @ White Squirrel

Thursday, Jan. 27

Jay Bee & the Routine @ Bunkers

Masters of Hawaiian Music @ Dakota

Zacc Harris Trio @ Icehouse

Yellow Ostrich with Tabah + Val Son @ Mortimer’s

Wet Denim, KENMUJO, Catcher Foulee, and Shrimp Olympics @ Palmer’s

Reptaliens and Yot Club with Renata Zeiguer @ 7th St Entry

Minneapolis Songwriter Rounds @ 331 Club

Prints @ White Squirrel

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