Recent content from Chris Riemenschneider
Semisonic cancels Minnesota Yacht Club and other summer gigs with bassist still on the mend
The trio also called off tour dates with Toad the Wet Sprocket, but John Munson won't be totally absent from the stage this summer.
![Matt Berninger sang with the National at Rock the Garden in 2019 outside Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
] NICOLE NERI • nicole.neri@star](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/6JNUJYOSLFBNVB6XI2FAIMCOTE.JPG?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
The National's Matt Berninger won't have to 'climb the rafters' in Minneapolis on solo tour
The frontman for Taylor Swift's favorite band is on his first solo trek and happy to be in smaller venues again, touting his second album, "Get Sunk."
Many Minnesota rock musicians knew 'Cheers' star George Wendt's name
The Chicago-rooted actor best known as the TV character Norm often hung out in other bars where Soul Asylum and the Replacements played.
The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for May 22-28 include George Clinton, Vince Gill, Yola, Wiz Khalifa and the Caterwaul festival.
Homegrown punk-rock legend gets honorary doctorate and tells Macalester graduates: 'Go to the chorus'
Bob Mould gave Saturday's commencement speech at the St. Paul college, 43 years after dropping out of Mac to tour with Hüsker Dü.
And the winner of the Current's '893 Essential Songs' list from the past 20 years is...
The weeklong countdown for the Minnesota Public Radio outlet's 20th anniversary ended Friday night with a surprise U.K. entry at the top.
St. Peter brewery takes gold at World Beer Cup for old Scandinavian beer
Paddlefish Brewing is throwing a party after its World Beer Cup award for an ale made with a local Swedish gift shop. Four other Minnesota breweries are winners, too.
Soon-to-be renamed Minnesota State Fair's 2025 free stages will feature Los Lobos, Rachel Platten, '90s rap vets
Arrested Development, Ber and a Selena tribute show are among the bandshell headliners recently announced alongside 100-plus more free acts.
The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for May 15-21 include Megan Moroney, Art-A-Whirl, Benmont Tench, Larkin Poe, Slim Dunlap tribute and Post Malone with Jelly Roll.
Review: Katy Perry's Lifetimes Tour isn't as awful as the internet makes it out to be
The "Roar" hitmaker's much-maligned tour had a delayed start but stayed relatively on course at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Katy Perry's troubled tour leaves fans waiting two hours in line in Minneapolis
Delays in the production setup were reported, meaning doors that were due to open at 6 p.m. were still closed at 8.
'A Twin Cities musical family reunion:' Our critic's Art-A-Whirl 2025 live music picks
White Boy Summer leads the wide array of local bands performing all over northeast Minneapolis this weekend. Here are hour-by-hour recommendations.
Grand Old Day will feature a sprawling all-local music lineup in 2025
The Cactus Blossoms, Ashley DuBose, Them Coulee Boys and dozens more will perform along Grand Avenue on June 1.
Two Harbors bandleaders help other Twin Cities musicians who 'can't shake this dream'
Chris Pavlich and Kris Johnson have become key players behind the scene in the 11 years since their band's last album.
Twin Cities music venues change their tune as fewer drinkers mean more financial challenges
Alcohol sales are down as much as 20% at some popular music hubs that depend on them for revenue, and alternative options such as THC drinks are fizzling.
The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for May 8-14 include Lambrini Girls, Katy Perry, Gang of Four, Lucius, Allison Russell and Sharon Van Etten.
Review: After a marathon fall show, Sturgill Simpson settles in for an even longer run
The Kentucky country rocker stretched out into jammy territory to kick off a two-night stand at the Armory in Minneapolis.
High-flying 'Beautiful Things' singer will kick off first U.S. arena tour in St. Paul in August
Benson Boone's American Heart Tour will open at Xcel Energy Center on Aug. 22, just two years after he played in town at the Fine Line.
Review: Nick Cave goes wild again with his old band in riveting Minneapolis show
The Aussie rocker added choral touches and a little humor to sweeten his long and heavy set with the Bad Seeds at the Armory.
Review: The Hold Steady kicks off 4 massive Minneapolis nights at tiny 7th St. Entry
"The story started here," frontman Craig Finn told fans who came from all over to celebrate his band's second album.
From 2005: The Hold Steady breaks out with 'Separation Sunday'
Our report from the Minnesota-rooted band's New York release party for its second album in 2005. This weekend in Minneapolis, the band celebrates the 20th anniversary of that album.
Nick Cave's bandmate and scoring partner cites 'deeper intensity' before Minneapolis gig
Warren Ellis of the Bad Seeds discusses what has and hasn't changed over the past decade amid family tragedy.
The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights from May 1-6 include Sturgill Simpson, Hold Steady, Lucy Dacus, Cornbread Harris and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
Country music's most famous son playing Minnesota State Fair with all-star opener
Hank Williams Jr. will be joined by Marty Stuart at the grandstand on Aug. 27, Bocephus' first show there since 1993.
Review: Charli XCX treats her Minneapolis 'Brat' pack to a hyper dance party
The British electro-pop hitmaker put on a short and very un-sweet show Saturday at a packed Target Center.
One of Minnesota's early-favorite craft beers is being put out to pasture
Lift Bridge Brewing is sidelining its original flagship beer, Farm Girl saison, for the more accessible Farm Day golden ale.
Minneapolis' Surly Brewing announces taproom and pizzeria in Grand Forks
The new Surly site will adjoin a second location of Rogers-based eatery Short or Tall on the UND campus.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for April 24-30 include Charli XCX, Justin Hayward, Room 3, Tyshawn Sorey, Deep Sea Diver and Djo.
Meghan Trainor to play Minnesota State Fair in 2025, a decade after canceling
The "All About That Bass" hitmaker is due at the grandstand on Aug. 22 after being sidelined by a vocal cord injury in 2015.
Bob 'Slim' Dunlap memorial May 19 at First Ave to be 'true celebration of life'
A cast of musical friends will help the former Replacements guitarist's family memorialize him. But they won't just be playing music.
'Wicked' star nails 'Purple Rain' at Coachella before Monday's anniversary of Prince's death
Cynthia Erivo delivered the Prince classic with the L.A. Philharmonic ahead of the sad anniversary, which is also being marked for free at Paisley Park.
Review: Kendrick Lamar reigns supreme in Minneapolis tour kickoff with SZA
The "All the Stars" hitmakers pulled out all the stops on opening night of their ambitious Grand National Tour.
These are the state's best beers, according to the 2025 Minnesota Brewers Cup
Boom Island, Luce Line, Lupulin and Spilled Grain were among the small craft brewers to win in the annual taste-test contest.
Still going, still free: St. Paul's Lowertown Sounds concert series announces 2025 lineup
The New Standards, Yam Haus, Dr. Mambo's Combo and Tina Schlieske are among the homegrown acts booked to play the nine-week series.
Pink Floyd and Neil Young concert films set Twin Cities screening times
Young's new tour doc "Coastal" is showing around town Thursday, while "Pink Floyd at Pompeii" has times set April 24 and 27.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for April 17-23 include Kendrick Lamar with SZA, Paul Simon, Lady Blackbird, My Morning Jacket and Bob Mould.
Stevie Nicks to hit St. Paul again in August following Fleetwood Mac's end
The Aug. 19 date at Xcel Energy Center is part of a nine-show run of solo dates by the two-time Rock Hall inductee.
Bluegrassy hitmakers Avett Brothers added to Minnesota State Fair's 2025 grandstand lineup
The North Carolina pickers will be joined by Milk Carton Kids for the Aug. 29 concert, their second time as fair headliners.
5 things to know about Record Store Day 2025 in the Twin Cities
There's a new store, new owners of another store and new versions of old Minnesota albums lined up for Saturday's big day out.
Review: Kentucky twanger Tyler Childers sells out and soars in his first Minnesota arena show
The "In Your Love" hitmaker played to a wider variety of fans at Target Center but stuck to his same old good-ol'-boy sound.
Minneapolis' AC/DC Dive Bar is now open to salute those about to rock Thursday's concert
Booze and merch are for sale at the pop-up space erected ahead of the band's U.S. Bank Stadium show. Tattoos are free, though.
Hometown fans have three to-dos to celebrate Hüsker Dü in concert this spring
Thursday's Grant Hart tribute in Minneapolis precedes upcoming shows by his old bandmates Bob Mould and Greg Norton.
Grading 53 essential Twin Cities music venues — big and small, best and worst
What we love and don't love about the places Minnesota music lovers frequent, from the puny 7th St. Entry to (gulp!) gargantuan U.S. Bank Stadium.
Review: Different songs, same exhilarating results from Jack White on Night 2 in St. Paul
The White Stripes frontman's second Palace Theatre show was more jammy and featured more tunes by his old band.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for April 10-16 include AC/DC, the Linda Lindas, Nubya Gargia, Alan Sparhawk and Bill Murray's band.
Hometown hip-hop vets to finally headline Minnesota State Fair grandstand in 2025
Former Soundset festival hosts Atmosphere will return to the fairgrounds on Aug. 23 with "friends" including Cypress Hill and Lupe Fiasco.
Minnesota indie-rock hero Alan Sparhawk is still finding his path after Low
The renowned Duluth singer has re-emerged from the loss of his wife and bandmate with two very different solo albums.
Review: Jack White blows 'em away once again in first of two St. Paul 'No Name' shows
The White Stripes frontman hit the Palace Theatre with the same band and no-nonsense approach as last year's First Ave concert.
Falling Knife Brewing founder Tom Berg has died unexpectedly at 46
The award-winning beermaker was also a noisemaker in the bands Self-Evident and Zebulon Pike.
Two beloved Minnesota music scene figures will be honored with upcoming festivals
Big gigs at the Fitzgerald and Palmer's have been booked for Semisonic bassist John Munson and superfan Paul Engebretson.
KQRS 92.5 FM relaunches with more '90s alt-rock and familiar new DJs
Ex-staffers from the Current and Cities 97 will join Steve Gorman on air as the classic rock radio station aims for more Gen X listeners.
Fair State Brewing emerges from bankruptcy with buzz — and pizza
Farina Rossa pizzeria has joined the mix as the co-op brewery doubles down on its northeast Minneapolis taproom amid economic challenges.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for April 3-9 include Bob Dylan, the O'Jays, Tyler Childers, the Suburbs, Bright Eyes, Jack White, Shemekia Copeland and the Hard Quartet.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for March 27-April 2 include GloRilla, Kraftwerk, Sona Jobarteh, ZZ Ward, Gary Louris and Snow Patrol.
Classic rock station KQRS-FM goes 'under construction' without DJs ahead of relaunch
Station operator Cumulus Media sidelined KQ's on-air staff Tuesday and says it's "cooking up" something new for April 3.
Billy Strings picks Target Center for his first Minnesota arena concert
The Aug. 9 show will cap off the rootsy Michigan guitar picker's steady rise through local venues since 2017.
Never mind the tariffs, here's Gary Louris of the Jayhawks, newly solo and Canadian
Minnesota's Americana music hero returns with a new album inspired by his "love at first sight" marriage and move to Quebec.
Minnesota hip-hop expat Lizzo to portray a rock legend in new biopic
The singer and rapper plans to star in a movie on gospel-turned-rock-pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Review: Soul Asylum celebrates 7th St. Entry with a little help from a friend
Dave Pirner and his band returned to First Ave's kid-sister club Friday to kick off its 45th anniversary weekend.
![Patrons had beers at in Northeast Minneapolis. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - March 14, 2013, Big Three northeast taprooms in Minneapol](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/75EBXR6IMKR3VFPRFF2BJRBIZU.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Minneapolis craft-brew pioneer Dangerous Man will shut down all operations
The Northeast brewery had moved operations to Maple Lake after shutting down its original taproom in 2023.
Review: Lizzo is full of 'Real Love' in homecoming-like First Avenue underplay gig
The ex-Minneapolitan received a star on the club's wall ahead of Tuesday's concert, which hyped a new record but also found her licking old wounds.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for March 20-26 include the War and Treaty, 7th St. Entry's 45th, Bela Fleck's new trio, Los Lobos and Madeleine Peyroux with Bettye LaVette.
Review: R.E.M. lives on via Hollywood actor and other familiar faces at First Avenue
Michael Shannon revisited 30-plus songs by the defunct Georgia quartet with members of Bob Mould's band and Wilco.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for March 13-19 include Lizzo, Mary J. Blige, Soccer Mommy, Suzanne Vega, Pam Linton and the Scarlet Goodbye.
Minnesota music scene lines up to support John Munson of Semisonic following a stroke
A widely circulated GoFundMe campaign was started to help the veteran bassist, also of the New Standards and Trip Shakespeare.
First Ave's 7th St. Entry announces special 45th anniversary concerts March 21-23
Soul Asylum, P.O.S. and Kiss the Tiger will each headline a night at the old horse they rode in on.
Who's playing Under the Canopy in 2025? Hook & Ladder announces 25 outdoor concerts.
Davina, Chastity Brown and Roots, Rock & Deep Blues Fest round out the summer lineup for the Minneapolis nonprofit venue.
How a much-needed all-ages music venue landed in a northeast Minneapolis skate shop
Pilllar Forum's proprietor didn't plan on live music at his Central Avenue hangout, but now he has it in droves.
Bockfest returns to Schell's as Minnesota's oldest brewery proudly eschews trends
Saturday's party signals the family brewers' commitment to "what we know we do well," amid challenges that recently shuttered Leinenkugel's and other breweries.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for March 6-12 include Johnny Mathis, Morgan Wade, Keri Noble, MC Lyte, Helmet and Bobby Rush with North Mississippi Allstars.
Blues legend Bobby Rush, 91, doubles up on Minnesota gigs with younger stars
Rush hits the Dakota this week with North Mississippi Allstars and returns in August touting a new album with Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
![Nelly performed Saturday, July 29, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Nelly performed S](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/IEAKTUMQOYO6ZL2DJDQ3S4SQZQ.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Minnesota Twins will be 'Hot' at least one night in 2025 when Nelly will perform postgame
The "Hot in Herre" hitmaker is booked for a July 11 concert at Target Field following a night game against the Pirates.
Lizzo will return to First Avenue in March to hype her new album at old stomping grounds
The March 18 underplay gig is one of three to promote "Love in Real Life," whose title track she released as a single Friday.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Feb. 27-March 5 include Finneas, Polica, Houndmouth, Morgan James, Terri Clark and Bobby Commodore.
'SNL' bad boys Lee Ving and Fear lead old-school punk revival in Minneapolis
Taylor Hawkins' son will be on drums when the band bolstered by John Belushi makes it overdue return to Minnesota.
