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

Gregg Allman Band, Pantages. Allman's new band offered jazzy presentations of some of the blues standards of the old Allman Brothers Band. A nice touch was a large backstage screen showing portraits of early blues artists, even including a picture/painting of a "howling" wolf. A very enjoyable night.

"The Howlin' Wolf Story." All enthusiasts of the blues genre and its early days need to check out this 87-minute documentary. It is easily available for viewing on YouTube. Now we all know where rock music began.

She & Him, "Classics." Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward's fifth album shows how these old classics stand up and can be enjoyed in 2015. Great easy-listening songs include "It's Not for Me to Say," "Teach Me Tonight" and "Unchained Melody."

Gene Gomes, Richfield

To contribute, e-mail popmusic@startribune.com.

Christina Aguilera on "Nashville." The coach from NBC's "The Voice" is playing a country singer-turned-pop star on ABC's nighttime country soap. She threw down on a new song, "The Real Thing," commanding the concert stage. Moreover, her acting here was more convincing than in "Burlesque." She returns to the soap for the next two weeks with new music (and a new hair color) and performs with Rascal Flatts on Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards.

Billy Crystal's musical salute to David Letterman. To the tune of "Sunrise, Sunset," the actor/comedian sang original lyrics about the soon-to-retire Mr. Late Show. "You survived shingles and a bypass / proving you actually had a heart," crooned Crystal with an Oscar-worthy grin. Fun stuff.

Tuxedo, "Do It." Retro soul man Mayer Hawthorne has a new duo with Jake One. And their new single is a fresh breath of finger-snapping lite disco — like Hall & Oates produced by Pharrell Williams.

Jon Bream, Star Tribune