Charlie Lawson, blues musician, St. Paul:
1 Rena Haus Trio, Viking Bar. A great band with virtuosos Ed Petche on guitar and Haus' brother Bob on bass, plus her wonderful voice, funny songwriting ("Chicken Stole the Doobie") and powerful finger-picking guitar.
2 R.J. Mischo and Jeremy Johnson, 331 Club. One of the greatest concerts I've seen in years. Ex-Minnesotan Mischo was super on harp, with Johnson playing stellar guitar and drums simultaneously.
3 Lolly Obeda's KFAI broadcast from the Viking Bar. She has been serving top soul, R&B and blues on her Friday radio show, "The Sugar Shop," for 30 years. On her second to last show, she spun Al Green and Aretha Franklin and danced with Willie Dominguez, former state legislator and radio DJ. An emotional and really fun ending to a great run.
Jon Bream of the Star Tribune:
1 Lisa Fischer, the Dakota. I'm addicted to her singing, the way she gets inside songs and transforms them into artful journeys. She offered two terrific new tunes: Luther Vandross' "A House Is Not a Home" and Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song."
2 Blood Orange, "Freetown Sound." What a deliciously alluring sound of modern R&B meets classic new wave with deep messages and social commentary. He uses guest vocalists (Debbie Harry, Nelly Furtado) to create one of the freshest, most idiosyncratic R&B sounds since Frank Ocean.
3 Larry Long, "Living in a Rich Man's World" video. The good-hearted, liberal-minded Minneapolis singer-songwriter has rearranged his 37-year-old folk song as a Don Henley-like rocker, with Melvin James' guitar punctuating the potent words and poignant visuals.
