Paul Westerberg

If you haven’t seen much of Paul Westerberg the past few years, it was on purpose. Our favorite native son took advantage of newfound fatherhood and his separation from his label after the underperformance of 1999’s Suicaine Gratification to immerse himself in the role of hermit. “I want to be mysterious,” he’s said. From all indications, it was the right thing to do. His new album, Stereo/Mono (a double disc half under his own name and half as his pseudonym Grandpaboy), shakes free of the adult-contemporary blahs that have plagued Westerberg’s work since 1989’s Don’t Tell a Soul. Recorded at home by himself late at night when the tyke was asleep, it’s raw and passionate like nothing he’s done since the early days of the ’Mats. Not coincidentally, it’s generating better reviews than he’s had in years. This two-night stand at the Guthrie will probably be heavy on the acoustic guitar—cross your fingers that Tommy Stinson will one day be allowed to take a vacation from Axl Rose, and then we’ll see some rocking—but Westerberg still ought to send the old nightclub jitters down the spines of the faithful. Guthrie Theater, (612) 377-2224

“Down From the Mountain”
with Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, et al.
Xcel Energy Center, July 23
Even a man of constant sorrow ought to grin at the surprise success of the roots-music revival spawned by O Brother, Where Art Thou : five Grammys, five million records sold, a string of well-attended concerts, just about everything but the Soggy Bottom Boys on a box of Wheaties. Cynics might say it’s just a fad on its inevitable way back to the same oblivion occupied by swing and Esquivel, and they may be right. But any way you slice it, it’s no bad thing to cast a spotlight on the rich blend of bluegrass, gospel, country, and blues that makes up the bedrock of almost all American music. If you’re not familiar with the old styles, “Down From the Mountain” is a smooth and easy introduction. If you’re an aficionado already, it’s a no-brainer. Led by country queens Alison Krauss and Emmylou Harris, the DFTM troupe is a who’s who of bluegrass including Norman & Nancy Blake, Ricky Skaggs, and the Del McCoury Band. Six-decade veteran banjo picker Ralph Stanley, who sang “O Death” in the film, provides a living link to the real old-time stuff. And he won’t be retiring anytime soon, apparently, since he’s just signed a six-album deal with Columbia Records. If you need one more irresistible hook, know that this tour also features the return of Dan Tyminski, George Clooney’s O Brother singing voice. Xcel Energy Center, (651) 726-8240, xcelenergycenter.com