Minneapolis music fans will be treated to what could be the most intimate show on the Afghan Whigs' round of 2012 reunion dates. The cult-revered Cincinnati soul-grunge band -- whose guitarist Rick McCollum has called Minneapolis home since their early-'90s heyday – just announced an Oct. 28 gig at the Varsity Theater. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon for $37.50, or $60 for a VIP section (click here). According to the Whigs' site, pre-sale starts Tuesday (password: doubleday). Part of next month's Lollapalooza and other festival lineups this year, the Whigs clearly could have packed First Avenue but instead chose the Varsity, which has been singer Greg Dulli's Minneapolis venue of choice in recent years with his newer band, the Twilight Singers.

Also newly announced for the Varsity -- and similarly popular enough to have booked First Ave instead -- Motion City Soundtrack will play another all-ages hometown show there Nov. 18. Those tickets also go on sale Fri (click here).