For Minneapolis standards, it is a quieter week in the Twin Cities for lovers of psychedelic and improvisational music.
But there’s always options.
I’ll start with two local musicians who have stayed true to Minnesota despite their careers having an impact that has extended well beyond our fair state.
Charlie Parr is truly a gem. He invokes emotions through inflection.
His pipes are the best-sounding of any folk singer that ever came out of Duluth (no disrespect to 2016’s Nobel Laureate).
Parr kicks off his annual January Turf Club residency in Saint Paul Sunday.
He continues to write and publish great music.
His most recent LP, 2024’s Little Sun, tapped producer Tucker Martine, who has worked with the likes of My Morning Jacket, Sufjan Stevens and The Decemberists.
Parr also had artist/sculptor Steve Bateman do the print for this residency. Bateman, based in Eau Claire, Wis., is a long-time friend of mine. We attended high school in suburban Chicago together. Bateman, whose work includes the giant banjo sculpture at Blue Ox Music Festival, did the artwork for this website’s banner.
Minneapolis multi-instrumentalist Martin Dosh has already had a pretty interesting career.
He has a Sunday gig at the Dakota Jazz Club, Martin Dosh Presents The Larry Schaefer Memorial Orchestra, which is some wild, experimental Improvisational music, which “incorporates free jazz, soul jazz, and Afrobeat.”
“Further, they are inspired by electric period Miles Davis, early Weather Report, Can, James Brown and Fela Kuti, among others.”
The all-star cast of musicians include Brian Nichols and John Keston on electric piano and synth, Jeremy Ylvisaker and Dee Keller on guitars, Erik Fratzke on bass, Bryan Murray, Peter Goggin and Chris Thomson on saxophones, Jake Baldwin on trumpet, and Joey van Phillips, Umar Malik and Dosh on drums and percussion.
Dosh recently opened up for Thievery Corporation at First Avenue, a well-received set that I wished was longer. I also caught him play a gig with Billy Martin (of Medeski, Martin and Wood) at Icehouse a few years ago. He also toured with Andrew Bird from 2005 to 2014.
Geoffrey Fischbein’s Only Every Monday kicks off its 2025 campaign at The Green Room in Uptown Minneapolis. Monday’s gig will be the 700th in the series.