The countdown is on and the crowds are getting bigger and bitterer at Nye's Polonaise Room, still on track to close April 3 to make way for a new development. At least the Nye's Tuesday night pairing with Terry Walsh's St. Dominic's Trio and piano man John Eller will live on in a new location, the Driftwood Char Bar in south Minneapolis. The World's Most Dangerous Polka Band is also lining up weekend gigs at VFW halls and other sites. … A nice contrast to the Nye's story, Lee's Liquor Lounge will be closed for the month of March for some upgrades to the stage and sound system, structural repairs and other sure signs that no condo developer will bulldoze that property anytime soon. It's due to reopen April 1. …
Babes in Toyland's original bassist Michelle Leon will be at the Electric Fetus on Wednesday at 7 p.m., reading and signing copies of her new book, "I Live Inside: Memoirs of a Babe in Toyland." Read our interview with Leon in Sunday's Variety section. … Sister-led indie-folk greats the Ericksons have a two-night stand at the Aster Cafe on Friday and Saturday nights with a noteworthy new opener, Dusty Heart, a country-harmony duo featuring Duluth favorite Barbara Jean and Molly Dean (9 p.m., $15). … Dean, by the way, just issued an elegant and moving Americana-flavored solo album last week, "The Natural Minor," produced by Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles — who just started recording his own new Dead Man Winter album this week. …
Chicago-reared rapper Longshot — whose local roots were firmly planted as a finalist in the 2011 Are You Local? contest — dropped a new Yung Diamond-produced single last week, "Picture Perfect," ahead of his gig Saturday in the Dakota's late-night series (11:30 p.m., $5). …
Mark Mallman turned personal on his first album in four years, "The End Is Not the End," which will arrive March 25 via the Polkadot Mayhem label with release shows booked March 25 and 26 at the Icehouse. …
The mega-festival that Mallman once proclaimed himself the winner of a decade ago, the South by Southwest Music Conference kicks off next Tuesday with a noticeably smaller contingent of Minnesota acts making the trek, including Poliça, the Cactus Blossoms, Night Moves, Har Mar Superstar, Tickle Torture, this year's Are You Local? winner, Holidae, and not many more. Looks like we picked the right year to not go and cover the festival.
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