A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:
Hope for Haiti telethon. It's hard to argue with the spirit of the George Clooney-helmed event, but this evening of stripped-down performances also showed who can truly sing. Stand-outs included Beyoncé on a reworked "Halo" and Justin Timberlake with protégé Matt Morris on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."
"Free Bird," "The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien." With Will Ferrell (in Ronnie Van Zant-like outfit) on lead vocals and, of course, cowbell, an all-star cast did a five-guitar sendup of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic for Conan's sendoff. On guitars were ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Beck, Ben Harper, Jimmy Vivino of the Max Weinberg 7 and Conan himself. He laughed, he smiled and he soared on this fitting swan song.
Janis Joplin 67th birthday celebration, Cabooze. A parade of blonde-ish Twin Cities singers in hippie garb performed songs associated with Janis. Without a doubt, the best was Jill Mikelson, who'd portrayed the rock icon in the Ordway's production of "Love, Janis." Not only did she have the best outfit (complete with oodles of silver bracelets), she had the right vocals for the bluesy ballad "Little Girl Blue" and a twangy "Me and Bobby McGee."
JON BREAM, Star Tribune
Toro Y Moi, "Causers of This." It's a highly anticipated album from a one-man lo-fi band that defines the term "chillwave." These washed-out electronic beats and smooth melodies will make even the most Minnesota of winters feel like a lazy summer day.
Ben Russell, Walker Art Center. A showing of his very musical "Trypps" film series was followed by an improvisational performance for light-activated synthesizers, two film projectors and a human skull. I'm not sure what else to write about this because I'm pretty sure my brain is still in a puddle on the floor of the theater.
Miriam Makeba's "Pata Pata" in a new Honda ad. Sometimes you can forgive a commercial for taking over your memories of a favorite song because, after all, you're still hearing the song in your head the rest of the day and smiling.
