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With Evidence, Toki Wright and BK One
First Avenue Mainroom
7th St. and 1st Av. N.
Minneapolis, MN
612-338-8388
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A cool music-driven church in St. Paul that became a record label, the House of Mercy team didn’t have to change its tune much to come up with a terrific kids CD, “The Youngster Parade.” Its 18 Americana/folk-flavored tracks range from sure-fire classics such as “Oh Susanna” and “Crawdad Song” to a bevy of fun and often touching originals, delivered by local busybodies such as Dan (Daddy Squeeze) Newton, Bunny Clogs (the Honeydogs’ Adam Levy), Dan Israel, Donna Simpson (the Waifs), Jon Rodine and CP Larson, many of whom will be on hand for a family CD-release party. Chris Riemenschneider
Ginkgo Coffeehouse
721 N. Snelling Av.
St. Paul, MN
651-645-2647
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Sounding like Minnesota's answer to Madeline Peyroux, Nancy Harms has uncorked a terrific debut CD with, "In The Indigo." It deftly mixes gripping, truly fresh takes on Great American Songbook classics with just enough ambitious original material, and one "ringer" tune that you wouldn't expect to find in the jazz bin -- John Mayer's, "Great Indoors," on which Tanner Taylor plays some enthralling organ. Harms' voice is lovely, husky and lived-in, while her delivery is intimate, personal, sounding almost conspiratorial at times. The band is sensitive and superb, with Taylor on piano, TC emigre Kelly Rossum adding tasty trumpet to four tracks, Jay Epstein perfectly simpatico as usual on drums, and bassist Graydon Peterson confirming that he belongs on such an A-Team. Hats off also to guitarist Robert Bell, who did a swell job as producer, co-wrote the title track plus several arrangements, and added a few hip licks. The CD's a triumph, celebrated with two official "Release Parties." Tom Surowicz
Jungle Theater
2951 Lyndale Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-822-7063
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Along with John Fahey and Leo Kottke, Peter Lang was one of Takoma Records' "Big 3" triumvirate of "American primitive" guitar masters. Lang remains a great if underexposed picker, a natural storyteller, a pretty good blues singer, and a definite booking "coup" for the intimate coffeehouse/wine bar he visits this week. Tom Surowicz
Riverview Cafe
3753 42nd Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-722-7234
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Ingo Bethke is a young jazz sextet with an unusual front line (tuba, saxophone, trumpet), a weird name, and a kitchen sink repertoire. Their self-titled debut CD, officially released this weekend with a late-night downtown party, confidently covers acres of interesting ground -- post-bop, free jazz/improv, funk grooves, an Israeli folk song, mini-big band passages, a bit of wacked poetry, and a 12-minute opening track that starts off with what sounds like happy, hip circus music. Is there such a thing as restless brain syndrome? If so, these guys seem to have it, along with lots of fun. Tom Surowicz
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
1010 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN
612-332-1010
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with Los Nativos and Wahwahtay Benais
7th Street Entry
7th St. and 1st Av. N.
Minneapolis, MN
612-338-8388
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Chicago soul singer extraordinaire Otis Clay's latest CD is a funky 2008 gospel affair, "Walk a Mile In My Shoes," featuring top musicians from the Windy City and Memphis, a medley of Soul Stirrers classics, the Joe South oldie title track, and a live duet with Carla Thomas on the always inspirational, "If I Could Reach Out and Help Somebody." Still in terrific voice at age 67, Clay will treat you right and do a slew of his Hi Records gems, as well. Tom Surowicz
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
1010 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN
612-332-1010
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The University Opera Theatre performs short operas by Stravinsky.
Ted Mann Concert Hall
University of Minnesota, 2128 S. 4th St.
Minneapolis, MN
612-626-8742
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Most know “Grease” by the 1978 movie musical and its ’50s-tinged soundtrack. The pop trifle actually hit the stage in 1971 in a grittier incarnation, but it still manages to tackle such heavy-hitting topics as teen pregnancy and gang violence. And although Minnesota’s Laura Osnes will not be playing Sandy, as she recently did on Broadway, onetime “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks will play the Teen Angel in three of the five shows (Nov. 18-20) with this touring production. (7:30 p.m. Wed. $28-$78. Ends Nov. 22. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 1-800-982-2787.) Jahna Peloquin
Win tickets to the Nov. 18 opening night performance of "Grease."
Orpheum Theatre
910 Hennepin Av.
Minneapolis, MN
1-800-982-2787
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Consider it Walker Art Center's greatest hits. With chest-swelling grandiosity, the museum trots out vast selections of its rich, multidisciplinary holdings in the first major installation of its collection galleries since 2005. You'll get crowd-pleasing gems like Chuck Close's "Big Self-Portrait," Andy Warhol's "Self-Portrait," and Edward Hopper's haunting "Office at Night." But you'll also get some challenging head-scratchers that your parents will hate. Basically, it's all that irks and intrigues about the Walker. -Gregory J. Scott
Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-375-7600
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One of the very few local stars who can (and does) bounce between the State Theatre and the 400 Bar for gigs, Mason Jennings is probably best-suited in the middle-ground territory at First Ave this time in support of his bold new album, “Blood of Man.” More than just Jennings’ “plugged in” disc, the album piles on the distortion without losing any intimacy or evocative lyrics. Actually, songs like “Pittsburgh” and “The Field” are his most harrowing ever. Opener Nathanial Rateliff is a young Denver songwriter newly signed to Rounder Records. Chris Riemenschneider
First Avenue Mainroom
7th St. and 1st Av. N.
Minneapolis, MN
612-338-8388
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The band name the Galactic Cowboys Orchestra should be the first clue of the wonderfully jumbled-up musical styles at work in this new band of Twin Cities vets, led by guitar guru Dan Neale and featuring his bandmate in Martin Zellar’s old group, violinist Lisi Wright, plus bassist John Wright (Lehto & Wright) and drummer Mark O’Day (Willie Murphy). Their all-original, all-instrumental debut disc, “Lookin’ for a Little Strange,” varies wildly from Zappa-esque jazz-rock to Celtic folk to rustic hillbilly jamming but somehow sounds coherent, too. The Pat Donohue Band opens their release party.
O'Gara's Garage
164 N. Snelling Av.
St. Paul, MN
651-644-3333
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Thanksgiving doesn’t roll around till next week but the Brian Setzer Orchestra has already started its Christmas tour. His seventh annual Yule trek with an 18-piece orchestra will feature holiday nuggets (collected on his swingin new “Christmas Rocks,” which is available with or without a live DVD) and a few tunes from his new, noirish “Songs from Lonely Avenue” as well as some Stray Cats favorites. This format really allows Setzer to truly show off his versatile guitar chops. Read an interview with Setzer, who has lived in Minneapolis for five years, in Sunday’s Variety A+E. Jon Bream
Mystic Lake Casino
2400 Mystic Lake Blvd.
Prior Lake, MN
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With music by Falcon Crest, Arctic Universe, School of Rock road crew, Cadillac Kolstad, Cornbread Harris and the Annandale Cardinals
Triple Rock
629 Cedar Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-333-7399
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Nichola Miller established herself as a swingin' young singer of charm and promise playing to the tattooed dancing set at Lee's Liquor Lounge some years back, before graduating to some Dakota and Times Bar gigs, then skedaddling off to New York City. Miller's back from biting the Big Apple, once again gigging around town, and trying out a new venue this week for a "Live CD Recording." Miller's tapes-rolling AQ debut co-stars piano magician Rick Carlson, a perfect accompanist, and his quartet. Tom Surowicz
Artists' Quarter
408 St. Peter St.
St. Paul, MN
651-292-1359
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The University Opera Theatre performs short operas by Stravinsky.
Ted Mann Concert Hall
University of Minnesota, 2128 S. 4th St.
Minneapolis, MN
612-626-8742
website |
view more details →
Most know “Grease” by the 1978 movie musical and its ’50s-tinged soundtrack. The pop trifle actually hit the stage in 1971 in a grittier incarnation, but it still manages to tackle such heavy-hitting topics as teen pregnancy and gang violence. And although Minnesota’s Laura Osnes will not be playing Sandy, as she recently did on Broadway, onetime “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks will play the Teen Angel in three of the five shows (Nov. 18-20) with this touring production. (7:30 p.m. Wed. $28-$78. Ends Nov. 22. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 1-800-982-2787.) Jahna Peloquin
Win tickets to the Nov. 18 opening night performance of "Grease."
Orpheum Theatre
910 Hennepin Av.
Minneapolis, MN
1-800-982-2787
website |
view more details →
Consider it Walker Art Center's greatest hits. With chest-swelling grandiosity, the museum trots out vast selections of its rich, multidisciplinary holdings in the first major installation of its collection galleries since 2005. You'll get crowd-pleasing gems like Chuck Close's "Big Self-Portrait," Andy Warhol's "Self-Portrait," and Edward Hopper's haunting "Office at Night." But you'll also get some challenging head-scratchers that your parents will hate. Basically, it's all that irks and intrigues about the Walker. -Gregory J. Scott
Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-375-7600
website |
view more details →
With the Gay Blades and Millions of Brazilians
First Avenue Mainroom
7th St. and 1st Av. N.
Minneapolis, MN
612-338-8388
website |
view more details →
Consider it Walker Art Center's greatest hits. With chest-swelling grandiosity, the museum trots out vast selections of its rich, multidisciplinary holdings in the first major installation of its collection galleries since 2005. You'll get crowd-pleasing gems like Chuck Close's "Big Self-Portrait," Andy Warhol's "Self-Portrait," and Edward Hopper's haunting "Office at Night." But you'll also get some challenging head-scratchers that your parents will hate. Basically, it's all that irks and intrigues about the Walker. -Gregory J. Scott
Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-375-7600
website |
view more details →
Consider it Walker Art Center's greatest hits. With chest-swelling grandiosity, the museum trots out vast selections of its rich, multidisciplinary holdings in the first major installation of its collection galleries since 2005. You'll get crowd-pleasing gems like Chuck Close's "Big Self-Portrait," Andy Warhol's "Self-Portrait," and Edward Hopper's haunting "Office at Night." But you'll also get some challenging head-scratchers that your parents will hate. Basically, it's all that irks and intrigues about the Walker. -Gregory J. Scott
Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-375-7600
website |
view more details →
A hip, hazy electronic-rock duo from London, the Big Pink resembles this year’s version of MGMT, in large part because it’s a twosome on record that expands to a full band on tour, but also because of its record’s psychedelic-dance qualities. The band’s 4AD debut, “A Brief History of Love,” also boasts a charming if derivative Britrock sonic pastiche, as heard in the Verve-echoing, Current-spinning single “Dominos.” No surprise the show sold out fast. Read more on the Big Pink in Sunday’s Variety A+E. Chris Riemenschneider
7th Street Entry
7th St. and 1st Av. N.
Minneapolis, MN
612-338-8388
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This year’s seventh annual night-before-Thanksgiving gig by the Ike Reilly Assassination is doubling as an album release party. Reilly has been hyping the new record, “Hard Luck Stories,” with a series of online video clips co-hosted with his burdensome banker. Their faux-show even has a name: “Where’s My Goddamn Medicine?” Looks like the Libertyville, Ill., rocker hasn’t lost his sharp wit and keen eye for characters in these hard times. Pop-punk faves the Magnolias and Martin Devaney’s Crossing Guard open. Chris Riemenschneider
First Avenue Mainroom
7th St. and 1st Av. N.
Minneapolis, MN
612-338-8388
website |
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Consider it Walker Art Center's greatest hits. With chest-swelling grandiosity, the museum trots out vast selections of its rich, multidisciplinary holdings in the first major installation of its collection galleries since 2005. You'll get crowd-pleasing gems like Chuck Close's "Big Self-Portrait," Andy Warhol's "Self-Portrait," and Edward Hopper's haunting "Office at Night." But you'll also get some challenging head-scratchers that your parents will hate. Basically, it's all that irks and intrigues about the Walker. -Gregory J. Scott
Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-375-7600
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