Mpls Music History
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mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Mpls Music History
@mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
1K followers 12 following 960 posts
The people, places, and sounds of music in Minneapolis, generally prior to 2000.
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mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
That’s awesome!
November 11, 2025 at 1:45 AM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Certainly. Here’s a live look at me checking multiple sources for this account:
a pixel art of a person sitting in front of a computer screen
Alt: pixel art of a person sitting in front of multiple computer screens
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 AM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Image pasted together from 1970 photos as posted on Old Defunct Record Stores page on FB.
7th & Hennepin photo pasted together from multiple photos, with Music City store at center.
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
In the “Miracle Year” booklet, there are a few paragraphs from Bob Mehr about Nicollet Studios in Minneapolis. Hüsker Dü’s last four studio albums were recorded there.
In July of 1984, just as Zen Arcade was reaching stores, Spot flew out to Minneapolis to begin work on Hüsker Dus follow-up, New Day Rising, at Nicollet Studios. Located in South Minneapolis, Nicollet had a rich history. Originally built as a vaudeville theater in 1914, it lingered as a movie house until 1955 when it was transformed into one of Minnesotas first commercial studios by legendary engineer Bruce Swedien (Nat King Cole, B.B. King, Michael Jackson). A couple years later it was purchased by a group that included Amos Heilicher, head of Minneapolis's SOMA Records. In the 1960s, the renamed Kay-Bank studios turned out several major hits including Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road," the Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird," and the Castaways "Liar Liar." The studio continued under various owners and names until 1984, when Paul Stark, co-owner of Minneapolis indie Twin/Tone Records, took over operations. Longtime Twin/Tone engineer Steve Fielstad-who'd worked on the earliest Hüsker Dü recording sessions at Blackberry Way studios in 1980-came on board to run the studio. Nicollet was an expansive two-story complex, with three tracking rooms downstairs, and offices upstairs. Hüsker Dü would eventually rent space in the studios annex, making it the band's de facto headquarters. "Studio B, where New Day Rising was recorded, was kind of a dump," Fjelstad admitted. "It was a recording studio, but I don't think they used it as much as the big room, Studio A, in the back of the building." For the sessions, Hüsker Dü would be cutting in the B Room on a newly installed Soundcraft console. "I'd just picked up that board in Texas," recalled Fjelstad. "New Day Rising was one of the first, if not the first, project we recorded on that."
November 9, 2025 at 11:41 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Nice-looking blue and white vinyl!
Blue and white record from Hüsker Dü’s box set “1985: The Miracle Year”
November 9, 2025 at 10:51 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Sean Blackburn opened the shows at The Whole. Here is a story from the Star Tribune on Oct. 6, 2005, noting Blackburn’s death. Van Zandt and Blackburn both died when they were in their 50s.
Sean Blackburn, western singer The Anoka native performed western swing music in coffee houses in the Twin Cities and around much of the United States. By Ben Cohen Star Tribune Staff Writer Sean Blackburn, who sang western-swing tunes in West Bank coffeehouses and on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" radio show in the 1970s and '80s, died of a heart attack in Golden, Colo., on Sept. 29. The guitar player, singer and comedian was 56. "He was a marvelous singer. Some would call him a crooner," said his former musical partner, Dakota Dave Hull, who recalled their duo gigs together on Keillor's show, at folk festivals and at West Bank and college stages such as the Coftee House Extempore from 1975 to 1984. Blackburn and Hull sang regularly on "A Prairie Home Companion" in its early years, said Keillor, who sang a song about Blackburn on last week's show after learning of his death. Keillor recalled Blackburn wearing his "big white hat and an enormous moustache, and was the heartthrob of hundreds of women. Attendance was always high on the Saturdays when Sean sang," he said. After the duo broke up and Blackburn left the Twin Cities, he and Hull contin- Sean Blackburn ued to play together, here or in Denver, every year or so. Blackburn's musical partner since 1988. Liz Masterson, said that he had kept growing musically and personally over the years. "He was at the top of his game, and he was in a happy, happy place," Masterson said. The Liz Masterson-Sean Blackburn duo had staged their harmonic act in 38 states and in Canada, even playing at such venues as Lincoln Center in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington, she said. *He was a soulful guitarist. The musical notes he put together were like no one else's,* Masterson said. Blackburn also performed a comedy routine, drawing rope tricks, guitar playing and storytelling from his Minnesota roots and large family. He also worked as a Web page designer. Masterson said that one of Blackburn's best friends …
November 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
From the Minneapolis Tribune on November 4, 1973. In addition to this ad, I also found one that references a performance at the student union at Macalester College on 11-7-73.
Townes Van Zandt and Sean Blackburn, 8:30 p.m., Whole Coffeehouse. Coffman Union, University of Minnesota.
November 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
This is definitely worth a listen. It seems that some sources refer to September, which I assume is incorrect and that he didn’t play there two consecutive months. I haven’t found more info about the apparent FM radio broadcast of the show.
youtu.be
November 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
*Jon not Job
November 8, 2025 at 4:50 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Photo of Curtis A
November 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Review continued…
His flair as a songwriter is apparent on the potent second side as "Dark Shades On, " a sassy blues swing, and "Jelly B. Bop," a rocka-Billy shuffle, kick off the fun. Curt and various sidemen keep on rockin' all the way to the finale, "Humans As Art; Art as Humor," a theme song in which he sings "ar. tistically I'm classless and free." Indeed, some of Curt's songs are classless and free. In fact, selections such as the 70-minute rockabilly romp "Kickin'" and the brief instrumental "Creeps" sound more like takes or jams than full songs. Sometimes, Curt's work begs for a producer or manager who is not a personal friend and who can keep a critical distance. Perhaps that's why none of the tracks here pack the punch of Curt's recent singles, "Land of the Free" and "I Don't Wanna Be President." Admittedly, though, local producer Paul Stark has improved; this album does not sound as tinny as his other efforts. Yet, the sound at times could be fuller. ***.
November 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
TIL that at least one couple, two members of Wilma and the Wilbers, held their wedding at Zoogies (former Jay’s Longhorn). From the Minneapolis Star, Nov. 14, 1980.
A note of musical matrimony: Cathy Mason and Rob Van Vrankin of Wilma & the Wilburs (she's Wilma and he's not) will tie the knot at 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Zoogies, 14 S. Fifth St. Admission is free and so is the cham-pagne. The music starts at 8 p.m. with Safety Last. - Jon Bream
November 8, 2025 at 4:33 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Reminder about this event tonight:
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social Mpls Music History @mplsmusichistory.bsky.social · 13d
Hüsker Dü “1985: The Miracle Year” Release Party. November 6th at Grumpy’s in Northeast Minneapolis.
Down In The Valley & Grumpy's Presents Hüsker Dü 1985: The Miracle Year Release Party DJ Sets from Greg Norton and Lori Barbero Box set available early on colored and black vinyl! GRUMPYS NORTHEAST NOVEMBER 6 7-10 PM Down in the Valley
November 6, 2025 at 3:36 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Here’s something:
fivebands.com/2016/05/07/r...
November 5, 2025 at 11:46 PM
mplsmusichistory.bsky.social
Where they referred to themselves on the cassette as Proud Crass Fools!
November 5, 2025 at 10:18 PM