Item World: Local news and views 3/9

'SNL' shows Love for Shakopee

What do Mitt Romney, Snooki and Shakopee have in common? All were made fun of last weekend on "Saturday Night Live." In a sketch, guest host Lindsay Lohan played the part of a radio intern at B108 FM, a Shakopee hip-hop station that's on too early in the morning to have any listeners. Jokes about low temperatures and 14 inches of newfallen snow didn't quite click in this mild winter, but Kevin Love probably didn't mind the skit. His No. 42 Timberwolves jersey was displayed on the radio's wall and was worn by one of the inept DJs. Of course, "SNL"'s main target wasn't Shakopee, or Minnesota hip-hop or real-life station B96 (which switched from the hip-hop format two years ago) but rather the inanity of morning radio DJs. -NEAL JUSTIN

Minn-dianapolis

Early during their joint concert at the State Theater, Lyle Lovett mentioned that John Hiatt was from Indianapolis. Said Hiatt: "A lot of people ask me 'Are you from Minneapolis?' So I just say 'Yes.' Minneapolis is a cool town." Said the magnanimous Lovett: "Which does not diminish in any way how cool Indianapolis is." By the end of the night, Hiatt was ready to swap hometowns. "You have been terrific," he told the enthusiastic crowd. "I'm just going to tell people I'm from Minneapolis from now on." -JON BREAM

Dancing on the ceiling

OK, this is just getting weird. It's not entirely surprising to see Howler listed on bills with Built to Spill, Fun and Blitzen-Trapper during next week's South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas. Nor is it all that odd that Trampled by Turtles would be following James Mercer of the Shins on a live radio broadcast from Austin's NPR affiliate. But Poliça clearly takes the prize for the Minnesota band with the strangest bedfellow in Texas: They're on Billboard magazine's official showcase, headlined by none other than Lionel Richie. I.W. seriously thinks Poliça could pull off a mean version of "Hello" or "Say You (Say Me)" for the show, possibly with their pal Har Mar Superstar helping out. Richie is going to SXSW to promote a new country duets album. See what we mean about things getting weird. -CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

Coco's kin

Two bites of the Apple

The last time Twin Cities guitarist Billy McLaughlin performed in New York City was opening for Traffic in the 1990s. He's back in the Big Apple for a concert. But he's not exactly playing Carnegie Hall. He's appearing at the first Musicians' Dystonia Summit at a Manhattan hotel. Dystonia is a neurological disorder that afflicts McLaughlin and such musicians as keyboardist Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and famed concert pianist Leon Fleisher. Part of McLaughlin's fascinating story, which he will share at a 0panel discussion, is how he retrained himself to play guitar with his opposite hand. So Friday's concert will be his New York debut as a left-handed guitarist. -JON BREAM

Any doubts?

Of course it will be different from the stage play. The film was different, too. John Patrick Shanley chewed the fat with I.W. about how writing the libretto for "Doubt," the opera, was a departure from the work that won a Tony and a Pulitzer prize. He and composer Douglas Cuomo were in Minneapolis last weekend for a two-day workshop at Minnesota Opera. Shanley, who has projects going right now for film and theater, is a rookie librettist. The opera will have its world premiere in January, by the Minnesota Opera. Artistic director Dale Johnson said he was happy with the first workshop. Shanley and Cuomo will be back June 4-6 for a private look at the second act. -GRAYDON ROYCE

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