Arcade Fire, Wilkins Auditorium. A power-packed show that was passionate, transcendent and full of excellent songs. Big-venue show of the year from a great band poised to only get better! Titus Andronicus and Free Energy, Triple Rock. I haven't been part of an ecstatic mosh pit in a long time, but Titus Andronicus writes songs for the ages and delivers them with passion, joy and intensity. The interaction between the two bands made this the club show of the year so far.
amyandronicus.tumblr.com. In her blog, guitarist Amy Klein of Titus Andronicus writes about the lack of photos of women with guitars (or any other instrument) in Rolling Stone. Highly recommended reading for any girl or woman who wants to pick up any instrument.
BRENDAN NELSON, ST. PAUL
TO CONTRIBUTE: POPMUSIC@STARTRIBUNE.COM
President Obama's musical tastes, Rolling Stone interview. He likes the classic (Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, the Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, John Coltrane) and the contemporary (Jay-Z, Nas, Lil Wayne). And he loved how Dylan comported himself at a recent White House performance: "You don't want him to be all cheesin' and grinnin' with you. You want him to be a little skeptical about the whole enterprise."
Kanye West, "Saturday Night Live." He pushed the envelope again, using an all-white set and a troupe of faceless female dancers swirling around the rapper in a red suit. "Power" was potent, but "Runaway" was undermined by AutoTune.
Esperanza Spalding, Dakota. Everything about this 25-year-old jazz darling's performance was conceptual: from her entrance and removal of her coat to the chamber jazz music to her wordless singing. Blissfully seductive.
JON BREAM, STAR TRIBUNE
