Alt-country songwriter and rock everywhereman Martin Devaney can do more than most musicians: play guitar and sax (the latter with Heiruspecs and Roma di Luna); write wonderfully miserable or wearily blissful tunes; and be a likable enough guy to round up an all-star cast to play on his records. For his lightly paced, rollicking, down-on-the-corner-sounding fourth disc, "The West End," backers include Dave Boquist (Son Volt), Steve Murray (Molly Maher's Disbelievers) and Mick Wirtz (Bellwether). The St. Paul native's one rough spot -- his flat voice -- is firmly smoothed over here by new partner Jake Hyer of the Get Up Johns, whose harmony vocals help sell the Buddy Holly sweetness in "All About the 9th" and the Jayhawks warmth of "Don't Wait." His group celebrates the new disc Saturday night in St. Paul, on a bill with Kid Dakota and Molly Maher. (10 p.m. Sat., Turf Club. 21 & older. $7.)
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
Snowblowout Doomtree went all out to make its two-night Blowout VI at First Avenue something special -- and that was even before last weekend's snowstorm prompted an extra-special, impromptu third night by the Twin Cities hip-hop crew (Sunday's so-called Snowout). Friday night, a 4-foot ice sculpture with Doomtree's winged logo greeted fans at the entrance, like something out of a wedding buffet line. A runway ran from the stage through the dancefloor, like something out of a Bon Jovi concert. There was also a holiday side to the event: A giant Christmas tree stood onstage, presents were tossed into the crowd, and Sims repeatedly talked up his February-due album as if he were an Angel of the Lord harking and heralding the birth of the Christ Child. (The hyper first single, "Burn It Down," indeed sounded divine.) Like the white stuff outside, the dark anthems inside kept coming, clocking in well past the three-hour mark. Top that, Blowout VII.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
Lost in transit The new film "How Do You Know" isn't the first time Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon have hooked up on screen. That honor belongs to "Overnight Delivery," the most expensive movie shot in Minnesota that you've never heard of. The 1998 comedy never got a theatrical release and wound up in video bins two years later. Those curious (and brave) enough to scrounge up a copy may enjoy spotting local sights, including the Crown Sterling/Embassy Suites (which doubles for a Tennessee college), the old Loring Cafe (doubling for a student lounge) and Ground Zero (doubling as strip joint). For a full account of how this road comedy went off-track, visit startribune.com/artcetera.
NEAL JUSTIN
Vetoed in D.C., voted in here
Even 18 years after his AIDS-related death, David Wojnarowicz raises hackles. Passionately and poignantly outspoken, Wojnarowicz fearlessly used collages, paintings and diaristic writings to castigate bigots, homophobes and hypocrites. He's back in the news because the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., removed a 4-minute film by him from "Hide/Seek," a show about evolving attitudes toward sexual identity. Reacting to the controversy, Walker Art Center is offering free showings of the video -- criticized for a brief segment showing ants crawling over a crucifix -- daily at 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. through Dec. 31. Coincidentally, the museum also has included a Wojnarowicz lithograph (shown here) in "50/50," a new show drawn from its collection. With more than 5,000 works on paper to choose from, why that print? The public picked it in on-line voting.
