Semisonic celebrated the Current’s 18th Anniversary with a second sold-out show at First Avenue and support from Chastity Brown.

There’s a ton of talent in our lovely (yes, even during the sanity-testing winter) state across all genres. So I wanted to curate a playlist that highlighted 20 songs from 20 different Minnesota artists each month, and establish the list as one the general public can turn to for homegrown talent. And maybe the artists themselves will discover someone they want to collaborate with.

Singer-songwriter journeyman Dan Israel has been honing his craft for years. He’s got the physical catalog to show for it. And while he could have gone to Nashville or Los Angeles to pursue having his name in bright lights at the Ryman Auditorium or the Hollywood Bowl, he stayed in the land of First Avenue and the Turf Club.