Stray Cat finally rocks this town

Former Stray Cat Brian Setzer's new album, "Songs From Lonely Avenue," grew out of an impromptu session in an Uptown basement.

Accepting an invitation from Monte Carlo bartender-turned-producer Mark Stockert to visit his Underwood Studios, Setzer wound up jamming with Twin Cities drummer Noah Levy and bassist Tommy Vee.

"It sounded very organic right away," said Levy, who had never met Setzer but saw the Stray Cats in his first-ever concert as a kid. "The energy going around the room was amazing. Who would have thought you could sound like that in somebody's basement? I knew Brian was a great guitar player, but he's a great all-around musician. He has very keen ears."

What those ears heard that night was the soundtrack to an old crime movie. Inspired by those sessions, Setzer penned a bunch of pulp-fiction-y songs such as "Kiss Me Deadly," "Love Partners in Crime" and "Dead Man Incorporated," then recorded the rest of the album here before heading to Hollywood to overdub strings and horns with legendary arranger Frank Comstock, who worked on such vintage TV series as "Dragnet" and "Rocky and Bullwinkle."

Setzer, who moved to Minneapolis nearly six years ago after marrying local singer Julie Reiten, raves about the city and especially the local music community.

"The best thing about Minneapolis: These guys are just as good as any players anywhere in the world. The difference is they'd be in the middle of dinner and they'd be over in 20 minutes. You would never get that in New York or L.A. You'd get his answering machine and a call back in a couple of days and 'I'm available in a week or two.'

"I've never been so plugged in with local guys. You don't get that kind of camaraderie in big cities."

Jon Bream

Get your turkey on

For clubgoers, there are three let's-go-nuts nights: New Year's Eve, Halloween and the night before Thanksgiving. Three pre-Turkey Day events worth your attention:

• The Society is a nightlife crew known for top-secret parties, but it's inviting everyone to the View for Miami's DJ Bulletproof. (10 p.m. Wed. 2730 W. Lake St., Mpls. $15. 21-plus. www.thesocietyevents.net)

• Scenester Zach Sussman is throwing his eighth annual T-giving Eve party at Crave in St. Louis Park, with the New Congress. (10 p.m. Wed. 1603 West End Blvd. 952-933-6500.)

• Aqua treats this day like another Halloween with its annual "Miami Vice"-themed party -- '80s fashion and beach attire encouraged (10 p.m. Wed.).

Tom Horgen

Honey do

Remember Jitters, the basement lounge under the Times Bar & Café on East Hennepin in Minneapolis? It was always good for a night of cool cocktails. Then in February, the Times closed and Jitters with it. Ginger Hop has since taken over the Times space, giving the area a good dose of pan-Asian fare and a fun bar (how about those ceiling fans?). Last weekend the owners reopened the downstairs lounge as Honey.

Co-owner Jake Polt said his team has made some "pretty massive changes," including a new bar and furniture. Expect DJs -- last Saturday it was Woody McBride -- and live music. The food will be mostly small plates and desserts, including chocolate flights (!) as well as classic cocktails, wine and beer. Eight taps feature regional and craft brews.

Tom Horgen

Happy 'Death Day'

Minneapolis comic-book artist Sam Hiti got on the national radar in 2004 with his monster-mayhem graphic novel "Tiempos Finales" ("End Times"). Since then he's flirted with a Hollywood adaptation and worked tirelessly on a followup. Now he's ready to unveil "Death Day," which follows a group of soldiers marooned on an alien planet, where they battle grotesque monsters. It will hit stores as a four-part series starting early next year, but he's giving fans a free sneak peek via episodes posted at SamHiti.com. Ever the perfectionist, Hiti said he scrapped three versions of the book before settling on this one. "I have a huge 4-foot-high stack of pages that probably won't ever see the light of day," he said.

Tom Horgen

Gold goes Green

"When they told us it was sold out tonight, we said, 'Well, who's playing then?'" So quipped Solid Gold frontman Zachary Coulter, a few songs into his band's capacity-testing, "Danger Zone"-covering show last Friday at First Avenue. It made a pretty fitting climax to the band's wild ride of a year, and it looks like the momentum will carry over into 2010. The band has entered into a new "partnership" -- calling it a record deal is so 1998 -- with Green Label Sounds, a new music company started by none other than Mountain Dew. Amazing Baby, the Cool Kids and Matt and Kim are also, um, dewing the GLS thing, so it sounds promising. Solid Gold's year isn't done, though: It's headlining the New Year's Eve party at Marriott City Center ($25, vegaproductions.com).

Chris Riemenschneider

Don't mess with Seinfeld

Observational humor is egalitarian -- it welcomes all audience members into your set, because everyone can relate. Sometimes, however, it's too relatable, as Jerry Seinfeld (the observational king) found out last Friday during a sold-out show at the Orpheum. Twice he was interrupted by audience members who wanted to comment on his funny observations. The first time, Seinfeld wasn't even telling a joke -- he was simply commenting on the fact that he had tiny carrot bits stuck in his teeth from earlier in the night. One guy yelled out, "Tell us more about the carrots!" The second time, he had just finished a hilarious bit about iPhones when someone yelled out, "I wanna see your phone!" To which Seinfeld replied: "I didn't bring the phone ... because I thought I'd be a little busy." Zing! Let the man tell his jokes, people.