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Politico
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
NYC mayoral primary: 4 weeks to go
Presented by New Yorkers for Local Businesses With help from Cris Seda Chabrier NEW YORK MINUTE: Former Rep. Charles Rangel — the trailblazing 'lion of Lenox Avenue,' one of Harlem's iconic Gang of Four and a Congressional Black Caucus founding member — died Sunday at age 94. Tributes poured in for the Korean War veteran on Memorial Day. Rangel had spent nearly five decades in Congress. His successor, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, told Playbook that they went from rivals to best friends and said Rangel loved to get updates on Washington politics even in his final days. 'He was the voice of urban America,' Espaillat said. 'The Empowerment Zone, the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit, all these pieces of legislation that he championed were all about one thing: opportunity.' — Emily Ngo CLOCK'S TICKING: Voters will head to the polls in four weeks — sooner for those voting early — to pick the Democratic nominee to challenge Mayor Eric Adams in November, and the race remains stagnant. Andrew Cuomo continues to get bad headlines and lead every public and private poll anyway. Zohran Mamdani retains his second-place position (more on that below), and everyone else keeps looking for new ways to dent Cuomo's lead and grab voters' attention in what precedent dictates will be a low-turnout race. Over the holiday weekend, the slate of Working Families Party-based candidates gathered in Brooklyn to rally with a mariachi band. The third party has yet to assign rankings to its slate of four endorsees. Its preferred candidates — Adrienne Adams, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani and Zellnor Myrie — have yet to cross-endorse each other. But they campaigned together to send a simple enough message: Rank us, not Cuomo. Adrienne Adams described the need for a safer, more affordable city. 'I know what that feels like, and I know that Andrew Cuomo cannot relate to my everyday situation,' the City Council speaker said. 'That is why you need to rank this slate.' Through ranked-choice voting, New Yorkers will be able to choose up to five candidates on their ballots. On Sunday, Cuomo appeared at a predominantly Black church in the Bronx where he spoke about the wealth disparity in the city and said the borough 'has the greatest need' of the five. 'I am running for mayor because I believe we can fix this city. I believe we need to fix this city,' the former governor said, the phrase evoking the name of a pro-Cuomo super PAC. 'I believe the time is now.' Today, POLITICO's Joe Anuta takes a deep dive into Mamdani's plans to drastically expand city services at little or no cost to those who would benefit. The democratic socialist is proposing free buses, city-owned grocery stores and far more affordable housing built through a unionized workforce. (For comparison, even the administration of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a self-avowed lefty, blanched at the cost of some union rates.) Mamdani's plans rely largely on raising taxes on rich New Yorkers — something Gov. Kathy Hochul would have to approve and, so far, has shown no appetite for. This week we should find out whether Adrienne Adams — who has risen in the polls despite her late entry, low name ID and financial disadvantage — qualifies for public matching funds from the city's newly emboldened Campaign Finance Board. The board is denying Eric Adams matching funds, owed to his federal corruption case that a judge dropped in April at President Donald Trump's behest. And it's withheld over $620,000 from Cuomo as it probes whether he coordinated with the super PAC backing him. When it meets Friday, it's expected to render its decision on Adrienne Adams, who has raised $521,000, moved $219,000 from an old account and spent $446,000, including outstanding liabilities, per public records. That leaves her with $294,000 in the bank — not nearly enough to compete in the city's expensive ad market. Read more here on the candidate's filings — which your trusted Playbook writers pored over late Friday night. One of the biggest surprises? It turns out the embattled mayor does have a semblance of a campaign operation. — Sally Goldenberg and Emily Ngo HAPPY TUESDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE'S KATHY? In New York City, with no publicly scheduled events. WHERE'S ERIC? No public schedule available as of 10 p.m. Monday. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'Five years later, I'm like, 'Come on, we should have been moving faster than this. I don't see the change that we want,'' George Floyd's brother, New Yorker Terrence Floyd, via Gothamist, on the anniversary of his older sibling's killing by a Minneapolis police officer. ABOVE THE FOLD SUSTAINED SECOND PLACE: Mamdani, who has consistently polled second to Cuomo, is closing the gap, according to a recent survey his campaign shared in full with Playbook. The campaign's internal poll found the ex-governor beating the state lawmaker 41 to 28 in the first round of a simulated ranked-choice faceoff. Cuomo eventually won the race in round seven, 56 to 44, once third-place Lander was eliminated. As other polls have shown, Lander's support was fairly evenly split between the top two contenders. Cuomo had a 53-47 favorability rating, a slight improvement from the Mamdani camp's January poll that put him at 50-50. Polling has consistently shown him with relatively high negatives for such a durable frontrunner. Mamdani's favorability rating was 48-19; Lander's was 51-17. A plurality of respondents, 24 percent, ranked affordable housing as their top issue and another 16 percent named affordability, inflation and cost of living. When combined, those answers doubled the number of people who cited crime as a leading concern. The multi-modal survey of 500 likely Democratic primary voters was conducted between May 14 and 18 by the relatively new firm Workbench Strategy and had a 4.4 percent margin of error. Jane Rayburn, previously a partner at EMC Research, co-launched Workbench Strategy in February. Internal polls generally skew toward the candidate for whom they're conducted, and Mamdani fares better than he usually does in this survey. But the lineup and eventual outcome in this poll mirror public opinion surveys and private ones reviewed by Playbook. Four in 10 respondents were white, 27 percent Black, 18 percent Hispanic or Latino and 6 percent Asian or Pacific Islander. Thirty-eight percent were over 65 years old and about three-quarters described the city as 'on the wrong track.' The split among Democratic ideologies was fairly even, with 32 percent describing themselves as progressive or 'very liberal,' 18 percent as 'somewhat liberal' and the remainder varying degrees of moderate. Just six percent identified as a socialist, like Mamdani. Cuomo and Mamdani each benefit from portraying this as a two-person race. For Cuomo, it justifies his practiced messaging: An experienced executive who eschews far-left ideology, versus a young socialist. For Mamdani, it stands to help him persuade the few relevant people who have yet to endorse — namely Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — that he stands a better chance than Lander of defeating Cuomo. 'With still a third lower name recognition than Cuomo and millions in cash on hand, Zohran is nowhere near his ceiling,' campaign spokesperson Andrew Epstein said, promising a big final push to close the gap. Cuomo benefits from a super PAC that has raised some $9 million on his behalf and could easily attack Mamdani if it begins to see him as a serious threat. — Sally Goldenberg CITY HALL: THE LATEST FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso will launch a TV and digital ad today, a six-figure buy that focuses on the pressure campaign to reverse the planned closures of child care centers. Reynoso, a Democrat running for reelection, cites both Trump and Eric Adams as threats in the spot called 'Nuestros Niños,' or 'Our Children.' The title is also a nod to a daycare center in Williamsburg that was marked for closure. 'We took him on and won,' the borough president says in the ad of his predecessor, Adams. The Adams administration in February walked back its decision against renewing the leases for a handful of centers. Reynoso faces a rematch next month against Khari Edwards, the chief of corporate responsibility at a cannabis dispensary company. Edwards has qualified for matching funds. But the incumbent had several times more campaign cash on hand than his challenger as of the last filing. — Emily Ngo ALSO FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: A Manhattan City Council candidate now has two former congressional rivals in her corner. Former House candidate Suraj Patel has joined ex-Rep. Carolyn Maloney to endorse nonprofit leader Sarah Batchu for the lower Manhattan seat being vacated by term-limited Carlina Rivera. Patel and Maloney competed in the heated post-redistricting 2022 primary that Rep. Jerry Nadler ultimately won. The crowded primary for District 2 is one of the council's marquee races next month. Batchu is up against state Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and former Rep. Anthony Weiner as well as Andrea Gordillo and Allison Ryan. — Emily Ngo More from the city: — Cuomo is making hard-left policy shifts in his bid to be mayor. (New York Post) — Former New York City Transit head Andy Byford has been chosen by Trump to head up the effort to rebuild Penn Station. (Daily News) — A punk rock past comes with unwanted baggage for city comptroller candidate Justin Brannan. (New York Times) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY HOCHUL GETS DEM GUV LUV: Hochul may face formidable challengers in the primary and general elections next year, but the Democratic Governors Association has her back. First in Playbook, the national committee is out today with a state-of-the-race memo that knocks the 'cadre of Trump loyalists and largely unknown Democratic opponents' who may go against the governor. Its leaders cite her record, campaign infrastructure and fundraising as reasons they believe she's on the path to reelection. Hochul's job approval ratings have been middling at best. A Siena College poll earlier this month found her unfavorability to be just two points higher than her favorability. And she's frequently targeted for criticism from Republicans and within her party. But she's in a relatively strong position. Her potential primary opponents include Rep. Ritchie Torres and her deputy, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. The Republicans weighing a campaign for the statehouse in 2026 include Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. The Democratic Governors Association has endorsed the incumbent in both the primary and general elections, saying in its three-page memo, 'Put simply, no one should underestimate Kathy Hochul.' — Emily Ngo WINE SOME MORE: Republican state Sen. George Borrello wants only New York vino stocked on grocery store shelves. The western New York lawmaker recently proposed the new twist in the wine-in-grocery stores debate in the post-budget legislative session. 'If you allow any wines into grocery stores, it's going to be the big boys made outside of New York,' Borrello told Playbook. 'It's the two buck chuck made out on the West Coast or foreign countries.' The proposal is a form of protectionism injected into the long-running debate over allowing supermarkets to carry wine. The move, in part, is aimed at boosting Hudson Valley and Finger Lake wineries. But Borrello also wants the bill to signal support for local liquor stores that oppose wine in grocery stores that are more likely to carry a wide variety of alcoholic products. 'It's going to help our wineries and grape growers, but also mitigate the harm to liquor stores,' Borrello said. Wine in grocery stores continues to be a heavy lift in Albany; grocery stores have pressed for years without any luck. — Nick Reisman YOU CAN CALL ME AI: State lawmakers want to regulate artificial intelligence — and have new polling to bolster their approach. A survey this month by Beacon Research found a majority of voters — 84 percent — support a bill that would require AI firms to safeguard against 'catastrophic risk' and implement whistleblower protections for employees who flag safety concerns. The poll also found support across racial and party lines, while 60 percent of voters expect it would make people safer. The bill, known as the RAISE Act, is backed by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Alex Bores. 'People want AI to make life easier and better, not threaten it. My RAISE Act helps get us there by creating simple, reasonable regulations to protect us from existential risks while allowing beneficial uses of AI to flourish,' Gounardes said. 'This is about creating the future we all want and deserve.' The bill also has the back of state Attorney General Letitia James — boosting its chances of passing in the Democratic-led Legislature. 'New Yorkers are rightfully looking to their state legislators to ensure that critical safeguards on AI become law this year. We must ensure New York is a welcoming state for innovation while protecting the public's best interests against AI's worst consequences. — Nick Reisman THAT'S THE TICKET: Resale ticket companies are pushing back against proposed regulations that would place restrictions on secondary sales. State Sen. James Skoufis and Assemblymember Ron Kim have proposed a measure meant to crackdown on purchase fees and secondary market prices — including a ban on the resale of tickets to events like concerts and Broadway shows above face value. They also want to ban the sale of speculative tickets that resellers don't yet control and expand refund requirements. 'The current, abusive system which governs how New Yorkers access live entertainment tickets affects the relationship between fans and the artists, athletes, and performers they admire,' Skoufis said. The industry pushed back Monday and in a statement to Playbook warned the regulations would force businesses to close. 'On the surface, that might seem like a win for fans,' said Dana McLean, executive director of the Coalition for Ticket Fairness, an industry group. 'But the truth is, it would destroy competition and put all the power into the hands of primary ticketing giants like Ticketmaster — the very companies already frustrating fans.' — Nick Reisman COMPTROLLER WATCH: Democratic comptroller candidate Drew Warshaw is launching a website today highlighting the state's unclaimed funds — a $20 billion pot of money that incumbent Tom DiNapoli's office controls. Warshaw, who signaled this month he plans a long-shot bid to primary DiNapoli, wants to call attention to the sizable chunk of New Yorkers' change. Warshaw is positioning himself as someone who will get the cash back to people faster — even as DiNapoli touts the $274.6 million returned so far this year. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Funding the MTA has become a political rorschach test. (Gothamist) — The use of a controversial voting machine in New York elections is gaining ground. (Times Union) — Hochul wants a discount for Amtrak riders traveling between Albany and New York City. (LoHud) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION SALT (AND MORE) IN THE SENATE: Moderate and battleground New York House Republicans are watching the Senate for potential changes to the deals they negotiated in their chamber's hard-fought megabill. They have reason to worry. It could be in for a buzzsaw of a rewrite. The state and local tax deduction, or SALT, and clean energy tax credits are two areas Senate Republicans will scrutinize, POLITICO reports. 'Nothing is final until it's final, right?' Rep. Mike Lawler of the Hudson Valley told Playbook. 'There's still a number of areas to focus on, including obviously wanting A.) to protect SALT, B.) any prospective changes on the Medicaid front and C.) the IRA tax credits.' Rep. Nick LaLota — who with Lawler, Rep. Andrew Garbarino and others struck a last-minute deal with House Speaker Mike Johnson to quadruple the SALT cap — said he's keeping his foot down on the tax deduction. LaLota, a Long Island Republican, told Playbook that unlike SALT Democrats 'who four years ago said, 'No SALT, no deal,' we say, 'No SALT, no deal, but we're for real.' If the reconciliation bill that comes back from the Senate doesn't have our SALT fix, we will vote no.' Lawler and LaLota regard the SALT agreement in the House as a victory for their highly taxed districts. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) previewed senators' stance on SALT, referencing Garbarino missing the House vote because he did not wake up in time from a nap during the overnight procedures. 'The number that we care most about is 218, depending on how many we can get to fall asleep,' Cramer said, referring to the number of House seats held by Republicans. Garbarino of Long Island, who was endorsed for reelection Sunday by Trump, has said he plans to be at the vote when the president's 'big, beautiful' bill comes back from the Senate. — Emily Ngo More from Congress: — How the megabill undercuts Republicans' promises of growth. (POLITICO) — Johnson did not take umbrage at Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries' remark that the megabill will cost them in the midterms. (Punchbowl News) — The House speaker argued states will better administer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits if they have to shoulder more of the costs. (The Hill) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Inside United's command center at Newark Airport, beset with air traffic control technology outages and staffing shortages. (New York Times) — There are still no arrests one month after a Crown Heights, Brooklyn, mob attack was caught on video. (Hellgate) — The Playland amusement park is only partially open after a $1.7 million emergency contract. (New York Post) SOCIAL DATA HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Assemblymember Michaelle Solages … former Assemblymember Adam Clayton Powell IV … Ethan Stark-Miller of amNewYork … Arthur 'Jerry' Kremer of Empire Government Strategies.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Charles Rangel, Former New York Congressman, Dead at 94
Charles Rangel, one of the longest-continually-serving congressmen in American history and a Purple Heart Veteran, died on Memorial Day, May 26, at age 94. 'A towering figure in American politics and a champion for justice, equity, and opportunity, Congressman Rangel dedicated over four decades of his life to public service,' his family said in a statement Monday. 'Throughout his career, Congressman Rangel fought tirelessly for affordable housing, urban revitalization, fair tax policies, and equal opportunities for all Americans.' As a representative of New York's 13th district, which included Rangel's birthplace of Harlem, Rangel, or 'the Lion of Lenox Avenue,' as he was sometimes called, served as a congressman for close to a half-century. He began his career in Congress in 1970 and retired 47 years later, in 2017. Although his tenure was marred by 11 counts of ethics violations, of which he was found guilty by a congressional ethics committee in 2010, Rangel, a liberal Democrat, was a singularly influential force in New York politics and one of the most important Black members of Congress for decades. 'Charlie was a true activist: We've marched together, been arrested together and painted crack houses together,' the reverend Al Sharpton said in a statement. 'My heart is broken by the passing of a lion of Harlem today.' Rangel was the last surviving member of the Gang of Four, a coalition of Black politicians from Harlem which included former New York City mayor David Dinkins, state senator Basil Paterson, and local politician Percy Sutton. As a native and long-serving representative of Harlem, Rangel also became a cultural ambassador for the neighborhood, recalling stories in his later years of crossing paths with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. In 2019, he spoke with Rolling Stone about the importance of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, the concert series that took place just before his election to Congress and was documented, more than 50 years later, in 2021's Summer of Soul. 'White folks might have a county fair, but we didn't have cows, things like that,' Rangel told Rolling Stone. 'We had the greatest jazz musicians in the world.' Charles B. Rangel was born in 1930 in Harlem and had a turbulent upbringing. 'I came up from nothing,' he said in 2018. 'I was a fatherless high school dropout with a gift of living by my wits and hiding my inadequacies behind bravado.' In 1948, he enlisted in the Army, and soon found himself on the front lines of the Korean War, where he received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. After becoming a fixture in local politics, Rangel was elected to Congress in 1970 and co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus the very next year. During his tenure in Congress, Rangel fought for his working- and middle-class constituents: He was a key proponent of the Affordable Care Act, helped expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, created 'empowerment zones' for low-income areas in his district, and helped improve relationships with countries like Haiti and Cuba. In 2007, he became the first Black politician to steer the House Ways and Means Committee. In 2010, the House Committee on Ethics found him guilty of 11 separate charges pertaining to his personal finances and financial disclosures. Still, he was re-elected in 2012 and served several more terms before retiring in 2017 at age 86. After announcing his retirement, Rangel reflected upon his long career. 'Since November 30, 1950,' he said, referring to the day he was wounded in Korea, 'no matter what crises we have gone through individually or collectively, Charlie Rangel has been blessed never, never, never to have a bad day.' But speaking a decade earlier, Rangel reflected on the country he'd spent most of his adult life working for in an interview with Mother Jones. 'The hopes and dreams of so many who have come to this country and those who have strived to get into the middle class and now, because of food prices and oil and an inequitable tax system, people are losing their home, their hope, their jobs, their kids' tuition,' he said. 'When a country loses that… it loses its heart.' More from Rolling Stone Quavo Is Still Grieving Takeoff. He Went to Capitol Hill To Talk About It New Harlem Festival Inspired by 'Summer of Soul' Canceled Because of Extreme Heat Establishment Democrats Defeat Left-Wing Challenger in High-Profile House Primary Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Boston Globe
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Former US Representative Charles Rangel of New York dies
He stepped down from that committee amid an ethics cloud, and the House censured him in 2010. But he continued to serve in Congress until his retirement in 2017. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Rangel was the last surviving member of the Gang of Four — African American political figures who wielded great power in New York City and state politics. The others were David Dinkins, New York City's first Black mayor; Percy Sutton, who was Manhattan Borough president; and Basil Paterson, a deputy mayor and New York secretary of state. Advertisement Few could forget Rangel after hearing him talk. His distinctive gravel-toned voice and wry sense of humor were a memorable mix. That voice — one of the most liberal in the House — was loudest in opposition to the Iraq War, which he branded a 'death tax' on poor people and minorities. In 2004, he tried to end the war by offering a bill to restart the military service draft. Republicans called his bluff and brought the bill to a vote. Even Rangel voted against it. Advertisement A year later, Rangel's fight over the war became bitterly personal with then-Vice President Dick Cheney. Rangel said Cheney, who has a history of heart trouble, might be too sick to perform his job. 'I would like to believe he's sick rather than just mean and evil,' Rangel said. After several such verbal jabs, Cheney hit back, saying Rangel was 'losing it.' The charismatic Harlem lawmaker rarely backed down from a fight after he first entered the House in 1971 as a dragon slayer of sorts, having unseated Powell in the Democratic congressional primary in 1970. The flamboyant elder Powell, a city political icon first elected to the House in 1944, was ill and haunted by scandal at the time. Rangel became leader of the main tax-writing committee of the House, which has jurisdiction over programs including Social Security and Medicare, after the 2006 midterm elections when Democrats ended 12 years of Republican control of the chamber. But in 2010, a House ethics committee conducted a hearing on 13 counts of alleged financial and fundraising misconduct over issues surrounding financial disclosures and use of congressional resources. He was convicted of 11 ethics violations. The House found he had failed to pay taxes on a vacation villa, filed misleading financial disclosure forms and improperly solicited donations for a college center from corporations with business before his committee. The House followed the ethics committee's recommendation that he be censured, the most serious punishment short of expulsion. Advertisement Rangel looked after his constituents, sponsoring empowerment zones with tax credits for businesses moving into economically depressed areas and developers of low income housing. 'I have always been committed to fighting for the little guy,' Rangel said in 2012. Rangel was born June 11, 1930. During the Korean War, he earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He would always say that he measured his days, even the troubled ones around the ethics scandal, against the time in 1950 when he survived being wounded as other soldiers didn't make it. It became the title of his autobiography: 'And I Haven't Had A Bad Day Since.' A high school dropout, he went to college on the G.I. Bill, getting degrees from New York University and St. John's University Law School.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lexie Hull Reveals Caitlin Clark's Heated Moment With Her Boyfriend
WNBA fans have quickly become familiar with Caitlin Clark's fiery, competitive personality. In her rookie season with the Indiana Fever, she averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game, while constantly playing with passion. Whether she advocated for foul calls or confidently directed her teammates on the floor, Clark's intensity was always on full display. Advertisement Off the court, she's grown close with teammate Lexie Hull and Hull's now-fiancé, Will Matthiessen. In a recent story by ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Hull opened up about their friendship and how often the two couples—Clark and her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery—hang out for game nights and dinner parties. Whether it's Monopoly Deal, Settlers of Catan, Gang of Four, or card games, Hull says Clark's competitive attitude is also present. Hull went into detail and revealed that she's seen Clark go "at it" with both McCaffery and her when they play. "You see her and her boyfriend going at it, her and I going at it," Hull said. "I don't know if she and her boyfriend talk on the ride home because it gets so competitive, but it's fun." Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark (22) and Lexie Hull (10).© Kevin Jairaj–USA TODAY Sports Hull is entering her fourth WNBA season since being drafted sixth overall by the Fever in 2022. It also marks her second season as Clark's teammate. Advertisement Expectations are much higher for Indiana this year compared to 2024, when the Fever went 20-20 and lost in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. According to ESPN Bet, the Fever are tied for the second-best odds to win the 2025 WNBA title at +350. The New York Liberty lead the pack at +230, while the Las Vegas Aces also sit at +350. The Fever will open up the regular season on Saturday against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. Related: Fever Coach Breaks Silence on Star Player's Concerning Fracture Related: Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Doubles Down on Her Relationship Status
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Concerts to see this week: Sturgill Simpson, Magnetic Fields, Amyl & the Sniffers
What a week ahead. The concert calendar around the Twin Cities is absolutely packed. You could hit a concert every day and still miss some shows that are going to be great. Here's what is happening around the Twin Cities with an effort to hone in on some of the best concerts happening. (What about Sharon van Etten? Gang of Four? Julien Baker & TORRES? Ben Folds? Lucius? Allison Russell? There's only so much space available.) Tuesday, May 6–Wednesday, May 7, at The Armory After a stretch of not performing in the Twin Cities, Sturgill Simpson came through last year with fans shouting from the rooftops about it being one of the best concerts of the year. He's already coming back for a pair of shows at The Armory on his 'Who the F**k is Johnny Blue Skies' tour. He'll perform without an opener, playing music from his catalog as well as his recent release as Johnny Blue Skies, Passage Du Desir. Wednesday, May 7, at Palace Theatre The Australian group rides the line between bar rock and punk with joyful, no-holds-barred songs. Their third album, Cartoon Darkness, has them both more melodic and more chaotic, which suits their energetic live vibes pretty nicely. Friday, May 9–Saturday, May 10, at The Fitzgerald Theater Stephin Merritt and co. are on the road celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band's seminal record, 69 Love Songs. They'll play through the entirety of the roughly three-hour album across two nights. Playing classic albums in their entirety has become a mainstay of touring, but rarely is it an album that is as iconic as 69 Love Songs. Friday, May 9–Saturday, May 10, in Winona Head to Winona for the sprawling annual festival that puts local groups on stages across the city. This year's fest features Charlie Parr, Gully Boys, Humbird, Nur-D (who is about to release a new album), People Brothers Band, Mae Simpson, Kiss the Tiger, LAAMAR, The Nunnery, Westerlund/Hagen Duo, and plenty more. Saturday, May 10, at First Avenue The British punk group was in town last year, prior to the release of their debut LP. Though, they'd already made plenty of noise with their You're Welcome EP and the 'God's Country' single. Clearly, their truth-to-power brand of punk rock has struck a chord after the release of Who Let the Dogs Out. (Yes, that's the name of their new record, which is excellent and has a great title.) The show, originally scheduled to take place at 7th St. Entry, has been moved to the First Avenue main room. Punk fans will have to make a choice on Saturday, though. Gang of Four's farewell tour is happening on the same night, just down the street at Fine Line. Saturday, May 10 (Brother Ali), and Sunday, May 11 (Dessa), at Icehouse Over the course of two days, Icehouse will bring in a few Rhymesayers veterans for shows at the intimate venue. Brother Ali, a former Twin Cities resident now based in Istanbul, released Satisfied Soul earlier this year. He'll bring the new music to Icehouse on Saturday, where he'll appear with DJ Abilities. The following night, Dessa will take the stage, joined by Lazerbeak and an opening set from Zach on Monday, May 5: Lucy Dacus at Palace Theatre Bruce Cockburn at The Parkway Theater Citizen Soldier at First Avenue Fame on Fire with Halocene and Archetypes Collide at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Edwin McCain at The Dakota Obituary, Nails, Terror, SpiritWorld, and Pest Control at Varsity Theater Shayfer James with Sparkbird at 7th St. Entry Magic Sword with Starbenders, Mega Ran, and North Innsbruck (DJ set) at Turf Club Concerts on Tuesday, May 6: Sturgill Simpson at The Armory Lucy Dacus at Palace Theatre Bruce Cockburn at The Parkway Theater New Band Night w/ Megasound, Ringlet, Greentop, and Keston Wright at Green Room The Toxhards with Lakeside Effects at Turf Club Paul Thorn at The Dakota FLO at The Fillmore Arm's Length, Prince Daddy & the Hyena, Riley!, and Bike Routes at Varsity Theater Trousdale at Fine Line Luke Callen and Clare Doyle: Stripped Down Song Swap at Icehouse Concerts on Wednesday, May 7: Sturgill Simpson at The Armory Amyl and the Sniffers with Sheer Mag at Palace Theater Ben Folds & A Piano Tour with Lindsey Kraft at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester Enter the Void: Lilac Fortress, Second Lavender, and Terry Goodbat at Can Can Wonderland Teen Mortgage with UPCHUCK at 7th St. Entry Visual Learner, Black Dots, City Mouse, and Couch Potato Massacre at Cloudland Theater Eem Riplin and DC the Don at Varsity Theater Magnolia Park with Hot Milk, Savage Hands, and South Arcade at Fine Line Guy Branum at Turf Club Peter White at The DakotaConcerts on Thursday, May 8: Minnesota Tango Music Festival at The Parkway Theater Giacomo Turra at The Dakota Dosh w/ Anthony Cox and Chris Thomson at Berlin Kevin Kaarl at The Fillmore Manias, The Customers, and Rodents at Cloudland Theater Ghost-Note at The Dakota Raynes with Eldest Daughter at Turf Club The Front Porch Swingin' Liquor Pigs at Palmer's Bar Annie Fitzgerald and Mother Banjo at Aster Cafe Sonic Sea Turtles, Odd Prospect, Lana Leone, and berzica at 7th St. Entry Late Night Radio with DMVU and rsrch_chmcls at Fine Line PaviElle French, composer and vocalist at The Landmark Center (free) Early Evening Jazz: The Willie August Project at Berlin (no cover) Concerts on Friday, May 9: Magnetic Fields play 69 Love Songs at The Fitzgerald Theater Midwest Music Fest at various venues around Winona Lucius with Victoria Canal at Palace Theatre Alison Moyet at Fine Line Allison Russell with Kara Jackson at First Avenue Dan Rodriguez at The Parkway Theater Brantley Gilbert at The Ledge Amphitheater Brett Newski & the Bad Inventions with The Cold Casuals and The Makeout at Zhora Darling The Belfast Cowboys at The Dakota My Kid Banana, Bad Idea, Couch Potato Massacre, Cut Rate Clones, and Murder Curious at Palmer's Bar Ana Everling Quartet at Berlin Annie and the Bang Bang, Mary Bue, and Sawtooth Witch at Aster Cafe Arkansauce with Steam Machine at The Cedar Cultural Center Squid at Turf Club Under Violet, Val Son, and Shady Cove at Cloudland Theater Fish Narc and GAG with Giallo at 7th St. Entry The Melismatics with Benjamin Cartel and Stone Arch Rivals at Icehouse Sugarcoat and Mishi Mega at 331 Club (free) Early Evening Jazz: Carpel / Goodroad / Hurtado at Berlin (no cover) Concerts on Saturday, May 10: Magnetic Fields play 69 Love Songs at The Fitzgerald Theater Lambrini Girls with Party Dozen at First Avenue Brother Ali with DJ Abilities at Icehouse Midwest Music Fest at various venues around Winona Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory w/ Love Spells at Palace Theatre Gang of Four at the Fine Line Corbin with LUCY at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Impossible Prom Kings, Fragged Out, Gradience, Delilah Daybreaks, Courier, Kalopsya, and Exphasis at Palmer's Bar Doinks n' Dubstep feat. Champagne Drip with p0gman and Cut Rugs at Hook and Ladder Joe Kay at Varsity Theater The Hillcats at Aster Cafe Jamecia Bennett: A Mother's Day Tribute to Women in Music at The Dakota Eleganza! with Taylor Hollingsworth and Boot Cut at Cloudland Theater Youth Lagoon with Kaleah Lee at Turf Club Order & Chaos Club at Zhora Darling Richard Shindell with Robert Thomas and The Sessionmen at The Cedar Cultural Center Michael Sarian's ESQUINA at Berlin Two Harbors album release show at Turf Club Turtle Island Quartet at The Parkway Theater Early Evening Jazz: Paul Harper / Phil Aaron at Berlin (no cover) Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band at 331 Club (free) Concerts on Sunday, May 11: Dessa at Icehouse Julien Baker & TORRES with Ali Macofsky at First Avenue Tommyinnit at The Fitzgerald Theater iann dior at Fine Line George Clanton and Slater at Varsity Theater Asleep at the Wheel at The Dakota Anthony Shore & His All-Star Band's Tribute to Elvis at The Parkway Theater Imagined by Nelson Devereaux: J. Hoard + Nelson Devereaux / Asher Kurtz at Berlin Emmy Woods and Mark Joseph at 331 Club (free)Just announced concerts: May 29: Go Your Own Way: a Fleetwood Mac Sing-Along at Turf Club June 15: Father's Day Badfinger Night, a tribute to Joey Molland at The Parkway Theater July 10: Langhorne Slim at Turf Club July 11: Buñuel with Today is the Day and Spiritual Poison at Turf Club July 16: Yeison Landero at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza July 18 and 19: Steely Dane: The Ultimate Steely Dan Tribute Band at The Parkway Theater July 20: Coleen Raye: The Music of Adele at The Parkway Theater July 23: Abinnet Berhanu's Ahndenet አንድነት with Genet Abate at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza July 23: Quintron and Miss Pussycat at Turf Club July 28: Mustard Service with Strawberry Milk Cult at 7th St. Entry July 30: The Buddha Prince at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza Aug. 6: Combo Daguerrre at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza Aug. 13: The Burroughs at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza Aug. 17: Ken Carson: The Lords of Chaos Tour at The Armory Aug. 20: Ukrainian Village Band at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza Aug. 27: Hank Williams Jr. at The Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Sept. 5: Marc Ribot at The Cedar Cultural Center Sept. 7: Peter Antonious: Pretty Psychic Tour at The Parkway Theater Sept. 13: Nature TV at 7th St. Entry Sept. 14: Haim with Dora Jar at The Armory Sept. 23: Polo & Pan at Palace Theatre Sept. 24: F. Scott Fitzgerald Birthday Party feat. Southside Aces and the Riffin' Trio at Turf Club Oct. 8: Far Caspian at 7th St. Entry Oct. 21: Jack and Jack at Fine Line Nov. 22: The Beths with Phoebe Rings at Palace Theatre
