Good vibrations for Pohlad's biopic

Minneapolis filmmaker Bill Pohlad and pop visionary Brian Wilson got a standing ovation Monday at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of "Love & Mercy," the Wilson biopic that put Pohlad back in the director's chair for the first time in decades. Early reviews suggest a smash. Variety called it a "finely crafted split portrait" — Paul Dano plays Wilson in his hitmaking prime with the Beach Boys, while John Cusack represents his older, embattled self — that is "miles removed from the cookie-cutter approach taken by so many other rock bios." "An unusual, moving portrait stuffed with the thrill of music-making," summed up the Hollywood Reporter, adding that Cusack "gives one of the best performances of his career." After the disappointing reception of his feature debut, 1990's "Old Explorers," Pohlad kept close wraps on "Love & Mercy," showing it to virtually no one until its premiere, as he told the New York Times last weekend. He also — cannily, it appears now — held off on striking a distri­bution deal for the film. Do we smell a bidding war?

Tim Campbell

GK goes off script

As host of "A Prairie Home Companion," Garrison Keillor tinkers with his script up to the Saturday performance deadline. As a first-time playwright, Keillor knows that will not work in the theater — although he's pushing things as far as he can with "Radio Man," opening Sept. 27 at the History Theatre in St. Paul. An aide delivered a significant rewrite Wednesday to director Ron Peluso, who leafed through a few pages and muttered something about "having a heart attack." But he put on his best smiling face when the playwright arrived at rehearsal that evening. "You've been busy," Peluso joked. Keillor said he felt he owed it to the actors to be finished with the script by Saturday – which coincidentally is the opening show of the 40th anniversary season of "PHC," with a free street dance at 7 p.m. outside the Fitzgerald Theater. "Saturday? I was thinking maybe tomorrow," Peluso told Keillor as they walked into the rehearsal hall after a break. They agreed on Friday and got back to work.

Graydon Royce

Here come the irregulars

They didn't get to jam with Keith Richards, but at least they got to raise the ghost of Alex Chilton on national TV. The Replacements hit "The Tonight Show" Tuesday for their first TV gig since reforming with a new lineup 13 months ago. While the 'Mats did hang backstage with the book-plugging Stones guitarist — whose birthday bash they played in 1988 — it was their time on camera that really mattered. Introduced by Jimmy Fallon as a "massively beloved and influential rock band," the Minneapolis legends tore through their 1987 tribute to the late rocker "Alex Chilton." Bassist Tommy Stinson and frontman Paul Westerberg exchanged several devilish smiles throughout the performance that suggested they were either having a blast or couldn't wait to be done (50-50 odds).

Chris Riemenschneider

Renée Fleming was the star of “Starry, Starry Night.”

Honoring the orchestra

Super Bowl-singing soprano Renée Fleming made her first concert appearance last Friday with Minnesota Orchestra music director Osmo Vänskä. And while the maestro remained mum throughout the "Starry, Starry Night" gala at Orchestra Hall, Fleming grabbed the mic a couple of times. After singing "Somewhere" and "I Feel Pretty," Fleming said, "I want to honor you for taking care of this brilliant orchestra." Fittingly, her encore was "Take Care of This House," from the musical "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." Post-show, crowds filled the lobby as the Twin Town mayors, the governor, interim orchestra prexy Kevin Smith, Vänskä and others gathered around a shrouded museum case. MPR's Brian Newhouse led the "three cheers," and the notables revealed the orchestra's recent Grammy for best orchestral performance. The glad-rags crowd toasted with free champagne and Starburst candies.

CLAUDE PECK

She's about a mover

Indefatigable Molly Maher, singer/songwriter/producer/guitar tech/guitar store clerk, e-mailed I.W. to announce that the fourth season of the "Real-Phonic Radio Hour" kicks off Thursday at the James J. Hill Library in downtown St. Paul with Texas organ grinder extraordinaire Augie Meyers. Maher, producer of the radio hour, reports that Meyers, who has worked with Sir Douglas Quintet, the Texas Tornados, Bob Dylan and others, doesn't do e-mail but he gives great phone. "He is as sharp and funny as ever," Maher told I.W. And he phones often. So Maher has "personalized his incoming ringtone so when he calls me the opening unmistakable Vox organ intro to 'Mendocino' comes on."

Jon Bream

A guest no longer

Julie Albers has been named principal cellist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. She officially takes the position next season (2015-16) but will play eight weeks of the season that starts Saturday at the Ordway, including the opening program, which includes Beethoven's Seventh and Eighth Symphonies. She has performed as guest principal many times recently. She is the sister of Rebecca Albers, a violist with the Minnesota Orchestra. With their sister Laura, a violinist for the San Francisco Opera, they perform as the Albers Trio.

Graydon Royce

Off Target?

Even though I.W. shops practically daily at Target, we never get the invite to its annual managers meeting at Target Center. Wednesday's gathering of 14,000 Big Red bosses in the Bull's Eye Arena featured cameo performances by two of pop's biggest acts: Taylor Swift and Coldplay. We heard that Swiftie fell onstage and that Coldplay's Chris Martin dropped an F-bomb. Maybe I.W. won't be the only one not to get invited next time.

Jon Bream