Pick Six is a half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view.
Dave Ness of Minneapolis:
1 Reina del Cid, "Rocky Raccoon." The ex-Twin Cities band offers a fun arrangement, effectively presented from a motel room in Austin, Texas. Bass player Toni Lindgren's big smile during the final "doo-doo-doo" section suggests a splendid time was had by all.
2 Playing For Change, "The Weight." Musicians from all over the world were brilliantly assembled into a wonderful video celebrating the 50th anniversary of this song. Ringo Starr supplies the groove.
3 Andy Williams with Simon & Garfunkel, "Scarborough Fair/Canticle." An amazing performance from "The Andy Williams Show" in 1968 — just the trio around one mic. Apparently Williams had more class than I gave him credit for.
Jon Bream of the Star Tribune:
1 Curtiss A, "I Don't Wanna Be President," St. Paul yard concert. Getting on his soapbox, the local rocker explained he wrote this still-relevant tune in 1979 when Ronald Reagan was running for President. Then, accompanied by guitarist Terry Isaacson, he delivered a howling and haunting reading of the song — the night before Halloween and five days before the presidential election.
2 CL, "HWA" video. After catching her on James Corden's show, I checked out the K-pop queen's new video, with its brilliantly fashionable visuals, infectious beats and bilingual lyrics: "Haters gon' hate, I never change my attitude ... Envy and jealousy are the shadow of success/C to the L, the mother of Korean culture." BTS won't be the only K-pop act to make big noise in the States.