CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story had the wrong day for Ani DiFranco’s Tuesday show at First Ave. Jam in the Stream apologizes for the error.
It’s another one of those crazy weeks of live music in Minnesota, with solid options every night of the week.
Below you’ll find shows regarding Dream of the Wild, Majoon Travelers, Funk N’ Spuds, Egotruck, Jack White, Ani DiFranco, Emmy Woods, Jackie Greene, Ruby Blu, Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas, The Lil Smokies, Marijuana Deathsquads, LazyLightning420, Nubya Garcia, Dylan Salter, Hiahli, Jacuzzi Puma, BZ3 Organ Trio, China Rider, Finick, Icehouse’s monthly Sunday Grateful Dead brunch, and Cornbread Harris.
That’s an impressive list of musicians both local and national touring acts, and sure, I’ll go ahead and mention Jack White’s two sold-out shows at Saint Paul’s Palace Theatre Monday and Tuesday.
But really, I want to lead with Dream of the Wild’s Psychedelic Sundays residency, which launched yesterday at The Cabooze.
This week, they will be joined by Majoon Travelers, Funk N’ Spuds and Egotruck.
As I mentioned last week, I plan on highlighting this residency which runs through May 4 (with one Sunday off) as it brings together a lot of different styles of psychedelic music to one stage.
As Dream of the Wild’s Jay McKinney put it to me in an interview for this residence, all of the bands are “all coming from different circles.”
Majoon Travellers bill themselves as “the most psychedelic experience Minneapolis has to offer (legally).”
Funk N’ Spuds name kinds of speaks for itself, but they serve up their funk with elements of jazz, jamrock and pop this band.
EGOTRUCK notes, “We are a goddamn band.”
A band with some heavy guitar play, horns and raspy vocals — check out the band’s self-titled EP on the streaming platforms, released last year.
And, of course, don’t miss the host band, Dream of the Wild.
“I am a huge fan of taking songs that sound at their core to be really like pretty and nuanced and light,” McKinney said. “I think about what Bob Weir does with the Wolf Bros a lot. … II play an acoustic guitar. It starts with this soft pretty music and moves out. We have been pushing songs to 30, 40 minutes on the regular, trying to find different grooves.”
The band normally plays a pair of sets, but is playing only one set for this residency because of the packed bill.
They improvised beautifully on several of their songs on the first of the shows last Sunday, including on their set-closing “Morning Mountain Air,” a song that is set to be released on their forthcoming LP.
MONDAY
Only Every Monday, which had been held at Green Room, takes the week off, and will be returning to The Cabooze soon. Stay tuned for details.
TUESDAY
Jackie Greene, a man I first saw as part of Phil & Friends back in 2008, will be at the Turf Club in Saint Paul. That show kicks off at 8 p.m.
Folk musician Ani DiFranco plays a sold-out First Avenue starting at 7:30 p.m. DiFranco, 54, has had an impressive career.
If you are looking for something free but still amazing, head to Palmer’s Bar for Ruby Blu of Red Eyed Ruby along with Casey Factorial and Bryce Tuitt of Confucisaurus. The music plays from 8 to 11 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Jazz is Dead, not to be confused with the high-powered Grateful Dead tribute, presents Ego Taylor and Pat Thomas at the Fine Line. It’s the second show in Taylor’s “Americas Farewell” tour. The show starts at 8 p.m.
Taylor, 89, is a legendary Ghanaian known for shaping Afrobeat.
If you are curious about Jazz is Dead, it’s a Los Angeles-based record label founded by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest.
They put on tours featuring the jazz, funk and soul pioneers that both inspired hip-hop DJs and much of the psychedelic music of today.
The Lil Smokies, Montana’s progressive bluegrass outfit, play the Turf Club at 8 p.m.
Minneapolis’ Marijuana Deathsquads continue to their Wednesday night residency at Icehouse on Eat Street, with a gig that starts at 10 p.m.
TWINE’s Bunker’s residency starts at 9:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
Up in Duluth, LazyLightning420, plays Bent Paddle’s Cosmic Stage. The free show is from 6 to 9 p.m.
FRIDAY
British jazz composer, bandleader and saxophonist Nubya Garcia plays the Dakota with a 7 p.m. start.
Blues guitarist Dylan Salter returns to Bunkers in North Loop, the site of his long-time Wednesday residency that concluded last fall. The show kicks off at 9:30 p.m.
Jacuzzi Puma plays a free show at the Drinx Stage at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Up in Duluth, Fargo/Minneapolis band Hiahli hits Bent Paddle’s Cosmic Stage for a free show from 7 to 9 p.m.
Down near the Iowa border, LazyLightning420 plays at Lost Saint Brewing in Blue Earth at 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
BZ3 Organ Trio brings the funk to North Loop’s Berlin with a 7:30 p.m. start.
China Rider plays one more Saturday night at Day Block in downtown Minneapolis, also a 7:30 p.m. start.
Folk artist Finick releases her new LP with Emmy Woods and Eldest Daughter at Icehouse starting at 8 p.m. It’s an 18-plus show.
SUNDAY
Icehouse’s monthly Sunday Grateful Dead brunch features Jon Herchert, Javier Trejo, Chad Whittaker, Kevin Dorsey, Martin Dosh and JT Bates. The music is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Legend Cornbread Harris, 97, plays Palmer’s Bar at 5 p.m.
Shotgun Ragtime Band also makes sure the music never stops at the Driftwood Char Bar every Sunday, with music starting at 6:30 p.m.
