That'll be the day

We told you that Gary Busey was unpredictable. After jetting to Minneapolis last week to talk and sing at a screening of his 1978 breakout movie "The Buddy Holly Story" at the Parkway Theater, he returned to Hollywood and filed bankruptcy. On Tuesday, he reported personal debt of more than $500,000 and assets of less than $50,000. Busey was paid a modest four-figure sum in cash for his Twin Cities appearance. And quite an appearance it was. Per his image on reality TV, he was mostly wack, often funny, occasionally profound and generally out of control. Since he lacks a filter, his wife, Steffanie, shouted "Cut" a few times from the audience whenever he crossed the line (e.g. fart jokes). After the film, Busey, 67, served up eight Holly classics with a trio of young Minnesota musicians. Despite some sound level issues, it was spirited fun. Busey loved it so much that he invited the three players to join him on Feb. 3, 2013, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa (site of Holly's last gig), to commemorate the 35th anniversary of "The Buddy Holly Story." Wonder if the Surf will have to pay him in cash? --JON BREAM

Empire strikes back

St. Paul sociopolitical rap/rock band Junkyard Empire is about to occupy some pretty lofty territory alongside Willie Nelson, Yoko Ono, Tom Morello, Devo and Thievery Corporation. The quintet has landed its song "Rebellion Politik" on the upcoming "Occupy This Album," a compilation for the Occupy Wall Street movement featuring those all-stars, plus Lucinda Williams, Crosby and Nash, DJ Logic, Immortal Technique, Warren Haynes, Yo La Tengo, Toots & the Maytals and about 30 others. It's slated for a spring release. Led by powerhouse rapper Brihanu and featuring No Bird Sing drummer Graham O'Brien, the Junkyard dudes have a history of musical activism dating back to a truly riotous appearance on the State Capitol grounds during the Republican National Convention in 2008. Brihanu's reaction to the "Occupy" album was as curious as the group's inclusion: "To even be mentioned in the same sentence with Immortal Technique and DJ Logic is surreal." Kids these days. --CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

Oscars with intelligence

A Minneapolis company is going to the Oscars. Aveda founder Horst Rechelbacher's Intelligent Nutrients, which sells organic health and beauty products, will be part of 30 gift baskets handed out to celebrities staying at the Four Seasons Hotel during the Academy Awards weekend. The idea came courtesy of former KARE-TV reporter Asha Blake, who now works for Golden Heart Media in Los Angeles. She thought of Nutrients because the people putting together the baskets are favoring "green" products. Nutrients may make some nominees look extra special on Oscar night, although I.W. doesn't think they'll do much to help Nick Nolte. No one expects the company to work miracles. --NEAL JUSTIN

Architecture & authors

If you've never attended a reading at the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, you should go. It's not just that they often serve wine and delicious snacks, or that the readings are both intimate and well-curated (though that is, of course, the main reason). But the venue! A sweet white frame building, right on the banks of the Mississippi River in Fridley (6666 River Road). It's a former stagecoach stop and tavern, built in 1847, and its little rooms now are decorated with paintings by local artists. Every month except December, the center hosts local writers. Friday at 7:30 p.m., poet Ethna McKiernan will read from her new collection from Salmon Poetry, "Sky Thick With Fireflies," and prolific writer JoAnn Bren Guernsey will read from her latest book (of nearly 20), "Glass Asylum." --LAURIE HERTZEL

Cheers for a beer

For once, Surly Brewing didn't have the longest lines at a Twin Cities beer fest. The sold-out Winterfest was held last Friday inside the Minnesota History Center, where hundreds of beer drinkers tasted the best our state has to offer (thanks, Minnesota Craft Brewer's Guild). Beer groupies still crowded around Surly owner Omar Ansari for photos, but the night's most impassioned line (maybe 60 to 70 people at one point) was for the Herkimer Pub's Triple Bock release. Blake Richardson's LynLake brewpub debuted a killer beer that used Japanese sake yeast, which put its alcohol content at a stunning 23 percent. It was sweet at first and then devastating a few sips later. I.W. thinks that's a good thing. --TOM HORGEN

A knockout memoir

In his powerful but painfully violent memoir, "Townie," Massachusetts author Andre Dubus III documents his difficult, fight-filled childhood. "The truth is I haven't punched anyone in 25 years, and it's a daily practice," said Dubus, who reads Thursday at Micawber's in St. Paul. "Creative writing has really channeled so much of my emotional life in a positive way." How's that for therapy? --LAURIE HERTZEL

Not Neutral

Heralded by the crowd like some sort of deity in town to bless everybody who has a Pitchfork.com bookmark, indie-folker Jeff Mangum proved to be surprisingly down-to-earth and approachable Saturday at his State Theatre concert, part of the reclusive Neutral Milk Hotel frontman's first tour in 12 years. Early on, he talked about how "amazing" it has been performing again. "I don't just want this [music] to be abstract, I want it to connect," he said. When one female fan asked him to "hang out" afterward, he coyly replied, "I'm sure you're nice, but I do kind of keep to myself." Near the end, he invited concertgoers to approach the stage, resulting in a warm, hug-your-neighbor singalong to "Two-Headed Boy." After a particularly rapturous round of applause, he told the worshipful throng, "I like you, contrary to what you've heard." --CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER