Ross Raihala (Alpha Male) 🌈
@rossraihala.bsky.social
Pop music critic at the St. Paul Pioneer Press. All shade very necessary. Former dancer at the Grind. World weary, cynical arbiter of taste. Proud Union member, Gen X.
Pinned
Texts from two longtime friends
February 18, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Texts from two longtime friends
Birthday gift from my friends
February 18, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Birthday gift from my friends
Thanks Jason! I love you!
Happy birthday to my favorite alpha male, @rossraihala.bsky.social !
February 17, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Thanks Jason! I love you!
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will kick off a new tour March 31 at Target Center. After playing Minneapolis, he'll move on to Portland and Los Angeles, two other cities that have endured ICE occupations.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to play Target Center in March
Tickets for the March 31 show go on sale at noon Friday via Axs.
www.twincities.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will kick off a new tour March 31 at Target Center. After playing Minneapolis, he'll move on to Portland and Los Angeles, two other cities that have endured ICE occupations.
Cybertruck spotted at Morelli's
February 14, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Cybertruck spotted at Morelli's
I was reminded of this text today
February 14, 2026 at 9:03 PM
I was reminded of this text today
Reposted by Ross Raihala (Alpha Male) 🌈
"If you started out today on a trip around the world, you would find friends of Minneapolis, everywhere."
Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co. advertisement, May 1928.
Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co. advertisement, May 1928.
February 14, 2026 at 7:24 PM
"If you started out today on a trip around the world, you would find friends of Minneapolis, everywhere."
Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co. advertisement, May 1928.
Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co. advertisement, May 1928.
Feeling optimistic
Terrific weather today
Just confirmed a play date with @normcharlatan.bsky.social
I am eating this peanut butter sandwich for lunch
Listening to French disco
Having a heart-shaped pizza from Carbone's for dinner
Happy Valentine's Day everybody!
Terrific weather today
Just confirmed a play date with @normcharlatan.bsky.social
I am eating this peanut butter sandwich for lunch
Listening to French disco
Having a heart-shaped pizza from Carbone's for dinner
Happy Valentine's Day everybody!
February 14, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Feeling optimistic
Terrific weather today
Just confirmed a play date with @normcharlatan.bsky.social
I am eating this peanut butter sandwich for lunch
Listening to French disco
Having a heart-shaped pizza from Carbone's for dinner
Happy Valentine's Day everybody!
Terrific weather today
Just confirmed a play date with @normcharlatan.bsky.social
I am eating this peanut butter sandwich for lunch
Listening to French disco
Having a heart-shaped pizza from Carbone's for dinner
Happy Valentine's Day everybody!
Circa 1997
February 14, 2026 at 2:46 AM
Circa 1997
Reposted by Ross Raihala (Alpha Male) 🌈
This is #Minnesota folks! We love it here despite #TheOccupation.
February 11, 2026 at 6:51 PM
This is #Minnesota folks! We love it here despite #TheOccupation.
My pal Stu just started a newsletter and I suggested he write one in the style of Larry King. He did and it's great.
"Not to get political, but Al Haig could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch"
"Not to get political, but Al Haig could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch"
The Once and Future King
Subscribe!
The late Larry King wrote an occasional column in the USA Today newspaper. Actually, “column” is generous–it was just a string of musings that had no real through line. “They say you can’t...
midwest-excellence.ghost.io
February 11, 2026 at 5:50 PM
My pal Stu just started a newsletter and I suggested he write one in the style of Larry King. He did and it's great.
"Not to get political, but Al Haig could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch"
"Not to get political, but Al Haig could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch"
Total banger. That whole album is excellent
Some great key changes in here plus some bangin’ Jethro Tull flute.
How She Threw It All Away
open.spotify.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Total banger. That whole album is excellent
Every day we stray further from god's light
February 8, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Every day we stray further from god's light
Happy Super Bowl day.
I'm not a fan, but one of my proudest moments of my 30 year(!) career is that I wrote not once, but twice, about how I'm horny for Jason Kelce in the pages of the oldest newspaper in Minnesota.
Gift link:
I'm not a fan, but one of my proudest moments of my 30 year(!) career is that I wrote not once, but twice, about how I'm horny for Jason Kelce in the pages of the oldest newspaper in Minnesota.
Gift link:
Ross Raihala: I am so ready to watch Taylor Swift cheer on Travis Kelce at Sunday’s Vikings game
The budding, possibly manufactured, romance is a joy to behold.
www.twincities.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Happy Super Bowl day.
I'm not a fan, but one of my proudest moments of my 30 year(!) career is that I wrote not once, but twice, about how I'm horny for Jason Kelce in the pages of the oldest newspaper in Minnesota.
Gift link:
I'm not a fan, but one of my proudest moments of my 30 year(!) career is that I wrote not once, but twice, about how I'm horny for Jason Kelce in the pages of the oldest newspaper in Minnesota.
Gift link:
Reposted by Ross Raihala (Alpha Male) 🌈
For context, which I didn't have: this comedian called Renee Good a "dumb, retarded lesbian" and made a crack about her wife looking like a dog.
Days after the murder.
Days after the murder.
Update from St. Paul's Camp Bar, which made national headlines after canceling six sold-out Ben Bankas shows:
The comedy club is hosting a benefit show Tuesday to raise funds for staff who lost wages.
Ben's response to it all: "Fuck them, obviously."
Gift link to my story:
The comedy club is hosting a benefit show Tuesday to raise funds for staff who lost wages.
Ben's response to it all: "Fuck them, obviously."
Gift link to my story:
Camp Bar to host benefit show to cover lost wages after canceling controversial comic
Dubbed “Bounce Back: A Comedy Revue,” the Feb. 10 show will feature eight local comedians.
www.twincities.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:52 PM
For context, which I didn't have: this comedian called Renee Good a "dumb, retarded lesbian" and made a crack about her wife looking like a dog.
Days after the murder.
Days after the murder.
Update from St. Paul's Camp Bar, which made national headlines after canceling six sold-out Ben Bankas shows:
The comedy club is hosting a benefit show Tuesday to raise funds for staff who lost wages.
Ben's response to it all: "Fuck them, obviously."
Gift link to my story:
The comedy club is hosting a benefit show Tuesday to raise funds for staff who lost wages.
Ben's response to it all: "Fuck them, obviously."
Gift link to my story:
Camp Bar to host benefit show to cover lost wages after canceling controversial comic
Dubbed “Bounce Back: A Comedy Revue,” the Feb. 10 show will feature eight local comedians.
www.twincities.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Update from St. Paul's Camp Bar, which made national headlines after canceling six sold-out Ben Bankas shows:
The comedy club is hosting a benefit show Tuesday to raise funds for staff who lost wages.
Ben's response to it all: "Fuck them, obviously."
Gift link to my story:
The comedy club is hosting a benefit show Tuesday to raise funds for staff who lost wages.
Ben's response to it all: "Fuck them, obviously."
Gift link to my story:
Last night's Eric Church concert in St. Paul was amazing. He's been great every time I've seen him in the past, but this was next level.
Here's my review (gift link):
Here's my review (gift link):
Concert review: Eric Church stuns Grand Casino Arena with wall of sound
With strings, horns and backup singers, Church had two dozen people on stage for the thrilling show.
www.twincities.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Last night's Eric Church concert in St. Paul was amazing. He's been great every time I've seen him in the past, but this was next level.
Here's my review (gift link):
Here's my review (gift link):
Reposted by Ross Raihala (Alpha Male) 🌈
Besides, he added, Minnesotans are stubborn as hell.
“This is like a very black-and-white issue to me. This is either justice and righteousness, or this is the opposite. You are on one side or the other,” said Nate. “We aren’t going away.”
“This is like a very black-and-white issue to me. This is either justice and righteousness, or this is the opposite. You are on one side or the other,” said Nate. “We aren’t going away.”
NEW: The Trump admin certainly put on a show last week about changing tactics in Minnesota after ICE agents killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse.
Trump even suggested it's time for "a softer touch."
Except residents say nothing has changed. At all. www.huffpost.com/entry/ice-mi...
Trump even suggested it's time for "a softer touch."
Except residents say nothing has changed. At all. www.huffpost.com/entry/ice-mi...
Trump Using A ‘Softer Touch’ With ICE In Minnesota? Residents Say Don’t Be Fooled.
Two weeks after Alex Pretti’s killing, federal agents have shown no signs of backing down. The resistance definitely hasn't.
www.huffpost.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Besides, he added, Minnesotans are stubborn as hell.
“This is like a very black-and-white issue to me. This is either justice and righteousness, or this is the opposite. You are on one side or the other,” said Nate. “We aren’t going away.”
“This is like a very black-and-white issue to me. This is either justice and righteousness, or this is the opposite. You are on one side or the other,” said Nate. “We aren’t going away.”
I'm at the Eric Church concert at the former X. His most recent album is kinda experimental and he's apparently playing it in full before he gets to his old hits.
He's got a string section, horns and eight backup singers. There are almost two dozen people on stage!
He's got a string section, horns and eight backup singers. There are almost two dozen people on stage!
February 8, 2026 at 3:31 AM
I'm at the Eric Church concert at the former X. His most recent album is kinda experimental and he's apparently playing it in full before he gets to his old hits.
He's got a string section, horns and eight backup singers. There are almost two dozen people on stage!
He's got a string section, horns and eight backup singers. There are almost two dozen people on stage!
I know a gay couple who both drove Teslas. One recently traded his for a Rivian. The other, who had an extremely mild anti-elon sticker taped inside the driver's side rear window, just upgraded to ... a new Tesla. In 2026.
February 7, 2026 at 7:56 PM
I know a gay couple who both drove Teslas. One recently traded his for a Rivian. The other, who had an extremely mild anti-elon sticker taped inside the driver's side rear window, just upgraded to ... a new Tesla. In 2026.
Super Bowl Sunday afternoon is a great time to go to Costco, right?
February 7, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Super Bowl Sunday afternoon is a great time to go to Costco, right?
Reposted by Ross Raihala (Alpha Male) 🌈
Katie Chin wrote a one-woman show about her mom, Leeann Chin. It's a true delight. Here's my review:
Review: Katie Chin celebrates her mom Leeann Chin in sweet, savory and delightful show
If nothing else, locals who see “Holy Shiitake!” have probably heard of Chin’s mom, Leeann Chin. She built a restaurant empire, sold it for millions, took it back over and eventually retired …
www.twincities.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Katie Chin wrote a one-woman show about her mom, Leeann Chin. It's a true delight. Here's my review:
Katie Chin wrote a one-woman show about her mom, Leeann Chin. It's a true delight. Here's my review:
Review: Katie Chin celebrates her mom Leeann Chin in sweet, savory and delightful show
If nothing else, locals who see “Holy Shiitake!” have probably heard of Chin’s mom, Leeann Chin. She built a restaurant empire, sold it for millions, took it back over and eventually retired …
www.twincities.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Katie Chin wrote a one-woman show about her mom, Leeann Chin. It's a true delight. Here's my review: