If 2022 can use more of anything, it’s unexpected good music news. The good (mostly) Minnesota boys of Golden Smog are doing their share, announcing April 2 and April 3 shows at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Since it’s been a minute, as the kids say, Golden Smog are:

Dan Murphy (guitar, Soul Asylym)
Marc Perlman (bass, The Jayhawks)
Kraig Johnson (guitar, Run Westy Run)
Gary Louris (guitar, The Jayhawks)
Jody Stephens (drums, Big Star)
Jeff Tweedy (guitar, Wilco)

The Saturday is a makeup for a canceled 2020 show, although a few tickets are reportedly available at this moment. The Sunday show is new, with tickets on sale this Friday. Tickets for either night are $50.

Gathering intermittently since the 1990s, Golden Smog has released four albums with the help of various friends. Stephens has appeared on two, while Tweedy did not appear on the most recent (2007’s svelte, 25-minute Blood On The Slacks).

More prominent were the 1995 debut, Down By The Old Mainstream, and 1998’s Weird Tales.

Anyway, considering the level of collective talent and the 14 years since their last recorded output, the shows should be neither over-rehearsed or underfun.

Your Minneapolis friends probably already know, but mention it just in case since tickets will go fast.