It’s certainly an uneasy, scary time in Minnesota thanks to the illegal invasion of our state and execution of Renee Nicole Good.
One of my favorite moments of this past weekend was when Saltydog’s Jacob Mahon told the sold out Turf Club crowd Friday, “In a world of Darth Vaders, be a Luke Skywalker.”
There is still a lot of live music planned in Minnesota this week, including the three-day Hotel Minnesnowta festival in Plymouth, as well as shows from Chicago’s Terrapin Flyer, Wisconsin’s Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Charlie Parr’s Sunday residency and Punch Brothers’ Chris Tile.
As much as our music scene can be an escape from the absolute madness of this world, it must be noted that despite venues trying to foster a safe place for all, it may not be safe for all — I know of at least some events in Uptown that were canceled because of the demographic of the fanbase and another, Northeast’s Pilllar Forum whose patrons were targeted and abducted.
There was a shrine for both Bob Weir and Good at Shotgun Ragtime Band’s weekly Sunday show at the Driftwood in South Minneapolis last night.
Monday, Jan. 12
Only Every Monday, the showcase curated by Geoffrey Fischbein, returns after taking a couple of weeks off. It will be at Pimento Jamaican Kitchen on Eat Street. Today is a special Hotel Minnesnowta edition, with a special guest that has not been announced and will be going last.
Fischbein performs first at 7 p.m., followed by Jon Miller at 8 p.m., Izzy Cruz at 9 p.m. and that special guest (my guess is Ryan Balthrop but that is truly a guess) at 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13
The International Reggae All Stars have their weekly residency at Bunkers starting at 9:30 p.m.
Graydon Peterson’s Old Town Tuesday Night Jam is a jazz-forward open jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon in Northeast. There’s no cover and it starts at 10 p.m. and the music tends to go to at least 1 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 14
TWINE’s weekly Bunkers show keeps getting better each Wednesday. It runs from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
TWINE takes the jams deep in three sets at Bunkers every Wednesday from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 15
Hotel Minnesnowta, the hotel takeover festival at Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West in Plymouth kicks off with its pre-party.
The opening night is in the Creekside Lounge and includes Cold Sweat of Hiahli with a DJ set, Izzy Cruz, The Here Afters and The Easy Riders and Ryan Balthrop as Artist At-Large.
Friday, Jan. 16
Hotel Minnesnowta’s Friday lineup includes Shoeless Revolution, Useful Jenkins, The Easy Riders, Push & Turn, Hiahli, Dr. Turner Berg, The Cropdusters, WE Collective’s Beach Party Super Jam, Splash, Geoffrey Fischbein’s Only Every Monday Showcase, Debbie Center performing classic rock on the piano, ShottytheBeam, Ryan Balthrop, Fat C as host, Spin The-Artist and TWINE saxman Brian “Snowman” Powers as Artist At-Large.
The event’s Scandalous Ballroom focuses more on electronic artists including Cruvell, Guacaromie, Spac3dust, Mustang Sally, Savage Mogul, Sweet Keith, Ocean of Pages, Blackburns, Edison, and Saint DK. The music doesn’t end until 4 a.m. Saturday morning.
Brian “Snowman” Powers of TWINE and Chase & Ovation is the Artist At-Large at Hotel Minnesnowta Friday.
Over in Saint Paul, Wisconsin’s Horseshoes & Hand Grenades plays the Turf Club. The 21+ show starts at 8 p.m.
Up in Aitken, Charlie Parr has a gig with Water Cat at The Ripple Center. The show starts at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 17
The final day of Hotel Minnesnowta in Plymouth is a big one. The Saturday lineup includes IFDAKAR, Confucisaurus, The Histrionic, Danny Frank and the Smoky Gold, HOSNOW 11th Anniversary Ball with Mark Joseph & The Universal Soul featuring the Northside Horns, Sophia Eris, Belgium’s 22 Weeks, The Cellar Kings, Devine Collection, Sawtooth Witch, Smoking’ Joe, Kayla Elsewhere, Camp Comfort, Obey & Da Muffin Mayng, Big Zach, Fat C + Professor Fresh, MAKR an ERIS, Kool Handz, Moonshie Sax and Optimistic LMZ, Morning Yoga with Smokin’ Joe, Mario Kart Tournament with Heatbox, Mark Joseph & Nicholas David’s late morning Bloody Mary Party, Kanser, and Heatbox and Johnny Hastings as Artsists At-Large.
Confucisaurus returns to HoSnow on Saturday.
Back at Turf Club, Chicago’s Terrapin Flyer returns with a 8 p.m. show.
Sunday, Jan. 18
Afrodisia Residency includes Obi Original and The Black Atlantics at Icehouse with a 9 p.m. show time.
Chris Thile of Punch Brothers plays Pantages Theatre at 7 p.m.
Charlie Parr’s Sundays in January residency continues at Turf Club with Kelley Smith and music starting at 7:30 p.m.
Shotgun Ragtime Band’s longtime residency kicks off with Phine and Friends at Driftwood in South Minneapolis at 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Mambo’s Combo plays its long-standing Bunkers residency starting at 9:30 p.m.