Judas Priest, the metal gods, performed for a sold-out crowd at the Armory, playing their classic British-style heavy metal. The band delivered a blistering set spanning their 54-year career, cheered on by their eclectic and dedicated fan base, all defenders of the metal faith. Photo Credit: Richard Dollarhide The Armory was filled to the max as the Black Sabbath classic “War Pigs” played through the speakers. The lights dimmed and Priest’s Invincible Shield played as the curtain fell, then lifted with the band standing together to launch right into their new song, “Panic Attack.”   ..read more

Mark your calendars, folks: Cansei de Ser Sexy, also known as “CSS,” are heading to Minneapolis next week as part of the “It’s Been a Number of Years Tour,” their first in the States in 11 years. If you haven’t heard of CSS before, they are a four piece band out of Brazil that are basically an ear worm factory. You remember “Music is My Hot, Hot Sex,” don’t you? Of course you do. It got stuck in your head for months. CSS came onto the scene at a real high point of indie music, and their poppy, synth-heavy sound – along with a lot of tongue in cheek lyrics – made them favorites of radio DJ’s an ..read more

On Saturday, April 27, Music in Minnesota had the pleasure to witness the Nicki Minaj tour stop at the Target Center in Minneapolis. James Perovich shared his real time notes below. -Ed. 8:05 – Entering the stadium awash in pink. Skirts. Shirts. Boots. Jackets. Underwear. I also saw several American flags which I found peculiar until I realized Nicki Minaj’s face was on them. 9:00 – DJ Boof hits the stage with no intro and immediately turns the stadium into a club by playing Minaj tracks. Other artists are mixed into the DJ set, like Fetty Wap, Drake, as well as the iconic air horn. 9:06 – Obl ..read more

The Mountain Goats returned to the Twin Cities for a delightful night of music and storytelling. Rather than packing First Avenue’s mainroom, John Darnielle and company performed on the other side of the river in Saint Paul’s Palace Theater, which truly elevated the show’s overall atmosphere.  The Mountain Goats – Photography by Dylan Novacek Known for narrative-driven indie folk songs, the group’s latest album is a direct follow-up to their 2002 album, “All Hail West Texas”. The 2023 album “Jenny from Thebes” was prominently featured throughout the 24-song set to a lot of enjoyment from ..read more

Rising alternative act I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (IDKHow) returned to the Twin Cities for their Gloom Division Tour. Supporting their sophomore album of the same name, frontman Dallon Weekes and company filled the Fine Line Music Cafe to capacity.  Following up their excellent 2020 debut, Razzmatazz, and transitioning the project to a solo act, Weekes put in the work to take IDKHow to a whole new level.  Wearing his influences proudly on Gloom Division, listeners are treated to a blend of 70’s meets modern alternative. Partnering with producer Dave Fridmann, known for his w ..read more

Recently, numerous celebrities have shied away from the extravagant partying that comes with life in the spotlight and chosen another path: sobriety. As these individuals shared their own experiences and stories with sobriety from alcohol addiction, drug use, and more, this shift created a positive movement that inspired fans and other celebrities to do the same.  Here are 25 sober celebrities who don’t drink anymore.  1. Adele Image from Shutterstock. In 2021, Adele admitted that she had quit drinking to protect her voice for her comeback album, 30. The death of the English sin ..read more

Mental illness doesn’t discriminate, whether it’s anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, or schizophrenia. Even those in the spotlight who live seemingly charmed lives are not immune to emotional struggles. It’s a good reminder that celebrities, like us, are also human beings beneath the glitz and glamour who have hard times.  Here are 26 celebrities who have mental illness.  1. Bella Hadid Image from Shutterstock Renowned as one of the most iconic supermodels of our era, Bella Hadid claims the first spot on our list of celebrities who have mental illness.  ..read more

Some are lesbians, and some are gay. Some are bisexual, and even more are transgender or queer. Many individuals from the LGBTQ+ community have paved the way in different industries by challenging the social norm and fighting against prejudices around same-sex couples, gay marriage, transgender people, and more. They’ve touched our lives with their music, acting skills, and all-around talent. Let’s explore these courageous people who have made their mark in this list of the 24 most famous gay people of all time.  1. Elton John Image from Shutterstock. Sir Elton John remains a prominent fi ..read more

Without the storms that plagued their Wisconsin performance last summer, Fall Out Boy reigned over a sold-out Target Center on the final stop of their So Much For (2our) Dust Tour, playing a dynamic two-hour set to borderline perfection. Photo by James Perovich After a recording of “The Pink Seashell” played, the lights dropped, and the stardust flew, along with a lot of sparks and fire. The fireworks were especially fitting for the second song, “The Phoenix”, with Pete Wentz’s flamethrowing bass guitar on full display. Photo by James Perovich It did not take long for them to play some iconic ..read more

In preparation for seeing Nur-D playing with the grandeur of the Minnesota Orchestra, memory brought me back to many of his prior shows. I was lucky to witness the intimate SolSta Records performance in 2019, his enthusiastic and special one-on-one pandemic show for Music in Minnesota inside Electric Fetus, and his first appearance at First Avenue. From the tiniest stage to literally the biggest stage at Orchestra Hall, Matt Allen has proven that hard work, positivity, and musical expression can take you places.  Photo by Smouse Nur-D’s progression as an artist was on full display Friday ..read more