There's no local date in the works yet, but whenever the reunion run by Minneapolis' widely celebrated 1990s roar-rock trio Babes in Toyland does come home, we have a trio of wealthy ex-Google employees out in California to thank for it.

That latter point was revealed in Rolling Stone's interview with the Babes, posted this week following the news that the band — singer/guitarist Kat Bjelland, drummer Lori Barbero and late-era bassist Maureen Herman — will play its first show in 18 years Feb. 12 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, Calif.

Plans for more dates were mentioned in the article, which recounts how Herman used to work with a guy who was Google's 14th employee. He and his partners committed to funding the band's return.

"This wouldn't be happening without them," Barbero said by phone Thursday. Her call came amid a hectic few weeks of moving back to Minneapolis, plus two days of rampant texting and e-mailing over the reunion news. "It's unbelievable how many people are coming out of the woodwork. But it's nice to have the excitement."

Herman and Bjelland reunited as friends last year after struggling through addictions and other calamities since Babes disbanded in 2001. That led to talks with Barbero. Since August, the trio has been rehearsing once a month in L.A., where Herman now resides. (Bjelland still lives in Minneapolis.)

Barbero said the rehearsals have been "hard physically but really great musically," and the personal reconnection has also gone well. "I didn't see Maureen for 16 years and Kat for about 12, and we all changed a lot," she said. "I know I'm personally in a better place."

Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
Grand Marais-based singer/songwriter Barbara Jean will promote her second album "Darker Than Blue" at Icehouse Minneapolis on Saturday.

Choosing the Roxy could be a ploy to play the Coachella Music Festival, since L.A. promoter Goldenvoice is behind both venues. As for future dates, Barbero said the band just hired a booking agent to map out plans — which will probably include a Twin Cities date, but not a full-scale tour.

"Maureen and Kat both have kids, and none of us wants to get in a van for six weeks like we used to," she said. "But we're all really excited, too."

Random mix

Yet another cut in Uptown's live music offerings: Famous Dave's in Calhoun Square has discontinued its three weekly music gigs. Foremost among them was the Sunday blues jam with Moses Oakland, plus the Monday swing dances and Tuesday salsa nights. "After 14½ years of doing it, I'm confident I have enough of a following to continue playing somewhere else," said Oakland. A source with the restaurant said live music will continue on weekends and sporadically through the week. …

There's one song called "Small Town" and another called "The City" on "Darker Than Blue," the second album by Barbara Jean, who channeled her rural roots in the writing and then came to the big city for the recording. The Grand Marais-based, fiddle- and-banjo-playing singer/songwriter — part Kacey Chambers and part Emmylou Harris — made the record at Erik Koskinen's Real-Phonic studio in Minneapolis with Koskinen, Mike Lewis and members of the Pines for instrumental backers and Chastity Brown, Mason Jennings and Frankie Lee for vocal partners. The Minneapolis release party is Saturday at Icehouse (10:30 p.m., $10-$12). …

It's going to feel like 2004 all over again at the Triple Rock on Saturday night, and for good reason. Bush-era punk favorites Dillinger Four, Rivethead, Song of Zarathustra and members of the Crush are all getting together to pay homage to one of their own, guitarist Andy Richardson of the Crush, whose sudden death in September at age 36 still has the local music community reeling. Money raised from the concert will go directly to Richardson's wife and three-year-old son (8:30 p.m., $15). …

A year after her death from cancer, Vixen guitarist Jan Kuehnemund is remembered in an exhibit of personal belongings from her music career, showing through the weekend at the Minnesota History Center in her native St. Paul. … A surprising turn for someone who appeared on "The Voice," Tim Mahoney just issued an all-instrumental EP timed to the holidays. Titled "Piece of Winter: Live at MacPhail," the six-song set features the local club vet's piano musings, played live on a Steinway at MacPhail Center for Music, where he teaches (available via TimMahoney.com). …

Not sure if it could be an annual thing like the 'Mats show next Friday at First Ave, but the Turf Club hosts the Fleetwood Mac tribute "Fleetwood Magic: Night of a Thousand Stevies" on Wednesday with performers including Tiny Deaths, Red Daughters, Brian Just and Poliça's Chris Bierden (9 p.m., $10). …

Arcwelder's annual Christmastime gig has moved from the Turf Club to the Minneapolis Eagles Club on Dec. 20, where it's paired with another Man Sized Action reunion. More home-for-the-holidays reunion gigs are on for the following weekend with Run Westy Run again at First Ave on Dec. 26, plus the Gear Daddies at Medina Entertainment Center and American Head Charge at the Turf, both on Dec. 27.

chrisr@startribune.com • 612-673-4658 • Twitter: @ChrisRstrib