A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:
Robert Earl Keen, the Dakota. The Texas troubadour's show was a real treat. Mixing in his new album's bluegrass covers with some of his more familiar story songs, he made it a night to remember.
Manhattan Transfer, Hopkins Center for the Arts. The group found a good replacement in Trist Curless for the sad loss of founder Tim Hauser last fall. The veterans' harmonizing is still awesome. And Curless' bass also fits in well. Arguably, they were at their best in this top-notch show when doing vocalese numbers.
Music in the Zoo lineup. Although a lot of familiar faces (Marc Cohn, Lucinda Williams, Dave Koz, Jonny Lang) are back, promoters Sue McLean & Associates are leaning more heavily on country than ever — including Minnesota Zoo debuts by Easton Corbin and Kacey Musgraves.
John Wollum, Maple Grove
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David Hidalgo and Marc Ribot, the Cedar. Good humor, good material and great guitar licks added up to a memorable evening with two guitar stars.
Record Store Day 2015. Twin Cities stores were packed for live performances and vinyl collectibles. The Electric Fetus had its best day ever — and it's been around for 47 years. Treehouse, Eclipse and other stores had big days — and so did stroke-stricken Slim Dunlap, who celebrated his double-LP release.
