Essays

Image: Walker Art Center Nostalgia for the vibrant sounds featured at Rock the Garden, where indie melodies intertwined with family bonds in the heart of Minneapolis My parents were there for My Morning Jacket, and I was there for my parents. The alternative/indie band from Louisiana had my parents’ iPod in a chokehold. “Outta my … Read moreRock the Garden: A Love Letter to Family, Music, and Minneapolis

Cringe-worthy contemplations on the pop-country radio station that raised me.  Every coming of age needs its soundtrack, and growing up in Fargo, N.D., I had few options on the radio. All the while, I craved precious moments behind the wheel of my sister’s Honda. I felt the profound rush of personal freedom at each speeding … Read moreBeer Bottles and Big Trucks

How do you keep a small Midwest music festival special when it blows up on TikTok? While some may lament traveling to the desolate fields of our neighbor to the south, I have always been excited when the car’s GPS heads to Iowa. In my childhood, it was the place to visit my cousins. Then … Read moreYou Can’t Gatekeep the State of Iowa