Pick six: A half-dozen cool things in music

A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:

The Current (89.3 FM), 8:41- 8:52 p.m., July 4. I heard Dr. Dog's fantastic new "The Ark" followed by Elliot Smith's "Baby Britain" and then the title track from Neutral Milk Hotel's 1998 mystical classic "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." This is exactly why I listen to the Current.

Dr. Mambo's Combo, Bunkers. They're some of the Twin Cities area's finest musicians playing the heck out of funk songs. The rhythm section forces your body to move gleefully.

Neil Young's solo rendition of "Hey Hey, My My" at Farm Aid 1985. Cloud Cult covered this song at Rock the Garden, which inspired me to find Young's original on YouTube. The Farm Aid crowd goes wild during the chorus while Young flashes a wicked smile.

JOSH HAUSER, MAPLE GROVE

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Muja Messiah and Black Blondie, Day of Music. The rapper lit up Orchestra Hall's acoustically challenging lobby when he sat in with the R&B quartet. This late-night collaboration between two strong local musical forces was riveting.

Neil Young and the Hold Steady, "Late Show With David Letterman." Young talked about his electric car, his CSNY documentary and a new song, "Just Singing a Song Won't Change the World." The Hold Steady rocked on "Sequestered in Memphis," and they were interviewed by a silly, nebbish comic who looked like a middle-aged Craig Finn.