Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/daily-planet-originals/page/12/)
Augsburg College held its 7th annual traditional powwow on Saturday, March 28 in the Si Melby Gymnasium on campus in Minneapolis. The event was hosted by the Augusburg American Indian Student Association and American Indian Student Services. Continue Reading
The very moment that Stevie Wonder was lead out to the stage by India Arie, he had the crowd in the palm of his hand.The nearly sold-out crowd in the Target Center rose to their feet for an extended standing ovation before even a single song was sung, before even a single word was spoken, a grand tribute to a musical legend who decades-long legacy has left an incredible impact on the industry. This crowd knew who this man was, and from the start were aching to show him both respect and appreciation on a grand (and very audible) scale.For his part, Stevie Wonder did not disappoint. Accompanied by a massive supporting cast of musicians and singers, Wonder displayed an incredible vocal range for his age as he guided the audience through the ups and downs of his Songs in the Key of Life album. The setlist was wonderfully arranged, maneuvering deftly between the slower, more soulful tracks, tracks like “Village Ghetto Land” and “Love’s in Need of Love Today”, and those fast, upbeat, and infinitely danceable tracks that brought the crowd to their feet again and again to dance like no one was watching, tracks like “Sir Duke” and “I Wish.”Wonder was more than just on point with his music; his playful stage-banter was a sight to behold. In engaging with a bit of improvisation with his backup singers, Wonder simultaneously showed off a very warm personality while giving those folks in the background a chance to shine.If there was really any criticism to lob at this performance, it would have to be levied at a rather long and ponderous jam session that seemed to drag a touch. Continue Reading
Dinkytown Short Trailer Al’s Version from Albert Milgrom on Vimeo.Al Milgrom spent 50 years introducing Minnesotans to films they would not otherwise see and now he’s working to show them the history they’ve forgotten.“When I’m talking to kids in Dinkytown,” says Milgrom who has spent most of his 92 years around the University of Minnesota, “they have no idea what went on – right there on the sidewalks they walk on, on their way to the U.”To improve their historical awareness, Milgrom will premiere his own film, “The Dinkytown Uprising,” at 6 p.m. April 12 and 2 p.m. April 20 at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, an event he created 34 years ago.The festival, which opens April 9 will screen more than 200 films this year at the St. Anthony Main Theater in Southeast Minneapolis.Milgrom’s first feature-length documentary tells the story of a month-long protest in 1970 that involved a cast of hundreds, perhaps thousands, to protest the demolition of small businesses and the construction of a fast-food restaurant in Dinkytown, a quaint business district adjacent to the University’s Minneapolis campus.“The whole idea was there was a ‘70s generation of activists, idealists – some went so far as to call themselves revolutionaries – who aren’t here anymore,” Milgrom said. “This was the baby boomer generation that was liberal politically. They ended up out of step with the conservative turn of the United States, even today.”“The Dinkytown Uprising” has literally been 45 years in the making, beginning when Milgrom filmed the takeover of two Dinktytown buildings on April 1, 1970, by protestors who wanted to prevent their demolition to make way for a Red Barn fast-food restaurant. Continue Reading
I spent too much time on the way home from Icehouse explaining that Moon and Pollution was electronica, but nothing like EDM, not as pounding and impersonal. I’ll stand by electronica but electronic pop is probably a more apt description.For an electronic pop duo, Moon and Pollution has a lot of instruments on stage, which I think gives is a richer sound. Core members include Molly Dean and Graham O’Brien but there were others on stage last night, which again adds to the richness of the sound.The drums set a pace that drives the songs forward. It’s a smart use of beat; together with the synthesized beats there’s a layering that again is not like the pounding of EDM but a more mature and subtle sound. (Not that there isn’t a time and place for EDM.)The guitars are a nice addition too but it’s really Dean’s voice that captures the attention. Continue Reading
Gregg Allman and his eight piece traveling band, in the midst of a spring tour, played to a sold-out house at Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Pantages Theatre on March 27. The storied bluesy-rock icon still wears his hair long and his tattoos proudly. He looks great and his signature voice still resonates with a tender clarity that welcomes you while his rasp makes you ache. As a founding member of the legendary “The Allman Brothers” band, he’s been writing and performing for 50 years—give or take a few-but his talent, and contribution to music history, is timeless.Allman, on vocals, guitar and Hammond B-3 organ, was playing his customarily stage right position for most of the show. He shared the spotlight (center stage) with guitarist and music director Scott Sharrard. Continue Reading
If you like music and dogs I might have a fun date for you. Musicians from both the Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Opera are performing at a fundraiser for Safe Hands Animal Rescue on April 12 at 3:00 pm at Colonial Church in Edina.This event will include social hour and music by Rossini, Britten, Beethoven, Ravel, Mozart, and Elgar.At least a dozen musicians will perform, including many with a personal investment in Safe Hands Animal Rescue.The benefit concert is the brainchild of violist Jennifer Strom. Jennifer adopted her dog Moxie from Safe Hands and began volunteering with the organization. As word spread other orchestra members followed suit with eight members to date having adopted 10 dogs from Safe Hands. Six musicians performing have adopted dogs and six members have fostered dogs or volunteered.The concert aims to raise awareness and money to support Safe Hands efforts to rescue homeless dogs from rural shelters with high intake and low adoption rates.Safe Hands Animal Rescue is a nonprofit organization led by Lynne Bengtson (pictured above) with the help of a small group of dedicated volunteers. Safe Hands has rescued and placed more than 3,200 dogs since its founding in October 2006. Most of the dogs the organization aids come from high-kill shelters in the southeastern Kentucky/Appalachia area. The dogs are transported from Kentucky to IL, WI and the Twin Cities. Continue Reading
I love the idea of mashing up visual art, music and dance. Just last month I enjoyed a similar show (Stripe Tease) at the Walker. So I was thrilled to get walk-up tickets to the first of the Final Performances of In Which ____ and Others Discover the End Performance. I brought my favorite 10-year old date.There were things we liked about the show, things we didn’t like as much and things that confused us. But we talked about it the whole way home and I think that’s a win for a gallery that “encourages work that challenges the status quo in contemporary art.”We liked the art. Continue Reading
“We want to get into different types of fundraisers, not just pancake feeds and spaghetti dinners,” says Dave Rudolph, manager at the Southern Anoka County Assistance Food Shelf (SACA). With craft beer popular, what beer way than a local festival?On Sat. March 28, SACA will host Hops for Hunger III, a beer tasting event with live music, catering, and a charitable bent. Sixteen Minnesota breweries will be pouring samples to guests, including Dangerous Man, HammerHeart, and Fair State.It’s not just a chance for beer drinkers to sample some goods, though, the $35 tickets raise important funds and awareness for the hunger problems facing the local community. Hops for Hunger II raised $12,500 last year, and festivals 1 and 2 combined have bought about 175,000 pounds of food for the local food shelf.“We’re seeing a lot more people coming to the food shelf even though the economy is getting better,” Rudolph says. Continue Reading
What could bring a parochial St Paulite to Anoka? Wine, Women and Song at the Lyric Arts, a one-night celebration of Minnesota women singers featuring Tina Schlieske, Molly Maher and Katy Vernon.Although wine and beer are served, the Lyric Arts is a theater, not a bar. It seats about 230, creating an intimate atmosphere where the music is the singular focus for the audience. Each of the artists noted that it was a unique opportunity for them hear the music in such a concentrated mode –in front of a warm (but real) audience – say as compared to playing for a toddler and a dog as Vernon noted she had also done.I had not seen Tina Schlieske live since she fronted Tina and the B-Sides. She shared through music and stories her life before, during and after life with the B-Sides. Continue Reading
