For Minnesota Music Month, The Current polled the local music industry for April’s edition of The Scouting Report. A total of 112 people filled out this year’s Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report ballot, and 489 unique artists were chosen overall. The top 10 artists who received the most support include Christy Costello.

“Who the f**k is Christy Costello?” Sitting at a coffee bar in northeast Minneapolis, Costello stares into the distance and lists off her many past and present musical projects: Pink Mink, Monica LaPlante, Butcher’s Union, Ouija Radio, and Christy Hunt. When considering a musical career that spans more than three decades, it’s hard to be concise.

“Every song I have ever written is different, but that’s the way it’s always been. I’m not sure if it’s reinventing myself or just calling it another name,” she says.

Released in January of 2024, her solo debut album, From the Dark, details the complexities of the human experience within a punk aesthetic. Costello masterfully brings a fearless vulnerability from her internal world to the external. The album’s last song, “Can’t Stand Up,” has more of a country music feel and is dedicated to questions and the resolution of the unknown.

Becoming a mother has changed her artistry and made her cognizant that raising a daughter is a chance to bring more empathy into the world. She took some time off from performing to focus on parenting and to get her yoga certification. Now, her artistic expression can be maternal, ephemeral, or political — with sentiments ranging from veneration to rage.

The ride has been ever-changing. “When I first started playing in bands, I always was hanging out with musicians 10 to 15 years older than me,” she says. “It was in the early ’90s, and they were all in bands like Hammerhead and Babes in Toyland. You could go see them at a show or you could hang out with them at a party at a basement show. [Now] my daughter wants to go to the mall today to get some grunge wear, and I wanted to tell her she could just raid my closet, but I still wear that stuff.”

Aside from literally bringing up the next generation at home, Costello feels like booking music at Palmer’s Bar in Minneapolis’ West Bank neighborhood is ushering new, like-minded faces into an existing scene. “I give advice on what to send when booking, things like including their social media and even having a bio on their website,” she says. “It’s small things that create community.”

Creating community takes time and bandwidth. She recently staged a benefit for local music scene booster “Front Row” Paul Engebretson, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She recalls the surreal feeling of sitting in bed and receiving an email from acclaimed music producer Jimmy Jam thanking whoever books the “Church of Cornbread!” evenings at Palmer’s for his father, Cornbread Harris.

The “Who the f**k is Christy Costello?” question has a clearer answer all the time. She is in the midst of writing a new album. Sometimes she’ll often run pieces past her husband, long-time Dillinger Four bassist Paddy Costello. Her future goals include finding a record label that would fit her needs as an artist and focus on regional touring — along with finding an agent, manager, and publicist. Her work in the music community has already brought forth some show invitations, including up in Canada.

“Last year really aged me,” she laughingly admits. “I look old now. I don’t feel old, but one day I woke up and was like, ‘You are f**king old, girl.’ But I’m still doing pretty well. I’ve had my breaks in between booking and music, but I still am striving for what’s next. The difference between me and young Christy is I am going to keep going and see what falls into place. Even if nothing comes of it, I'm still gonna do this. When it comes to being a musician and a songwriter, the drive you have inside your soul has no age gap.”

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