After making a name for himself with the fun-loving bluegrass band the Boys and the Barrels and the more solemn-sounding boy/girl folk duo the Lowest Pair, Minneapolis singer/songwriter Palmer T. Lee is going solo.
His first album under his own name, "Winebringer," arrived last week and is a real heart-tugger. It's all acoustic like his other efforts, but discernibly different, with only a smattering of banjo and fiddle accompaniment and more of a stark, folky tone.
There's also more of a personal, "Blood on the Tracks"-style vibe both musically and lyrically, right down to the inclusion of breakup songs such as "Aw Jeez" and "Uneasy."
Lee's hometown release party is Wednesday at the Hook & Ladder with Humbird opening (7:30 p.m., $9-$12). …
As reliable as snowfall around his church-turned-studio in rural northern Minnesota, Rich Mattson has a new LP with his Northstars that they're touting Friday at the Turf Club. Titled "Totem," the album is loaded with the classic Petty/CCR-style rock and wry, earthy songwriting charm that Mattson brought to prior bands Ol' Yeller and the Glenrustles, and it features Ol' Yeller's Keely Lane on drums.
Mattson's wife, Germaine Gemberling, (also from the band Smut) turns in a mighty fun, rootsier track, "Meant to Be," but the album highlight is "Used to It," a rowdy, grass-is-never-greener rocker that should go down as Mattson's personal anthem. Mike Nicolai will open Friday's show with backing from the Rank Strangers (8 p.m., $10-$12). …
In the vein of its great "Duluth Does Dylan" tributes, Sacred Heart Music Center is hosting "Duluth Does Joni Mitchell" in honor of the songwriting legend's 75th birthday Saturday (7:30 p.m., $10). …
A Minneapolis newcomer who sounds more than a little Joni-like, Anna Stine hits Icehouse on Sunday to tout her debut album, "Company of Now," featuring Twin Cities Hot Club's Rob Bell on guitar and a nice range of piano ballads and light, jazzy rockers. Sarah Krueger opens the show (6 p.m., $6-$8). …
