'Everything Everywhere All at Once'
"Bonkers" is the official term to describe this Charlie Kaufman-esque comic film, in which the bored operator of a laundromat keeps turning into alternate versions of herself, each with very different versions of her life. Michelle Yeoh is spectacular, shifting from the drab real world to the glamorous life of a movie star to a risk-taking secret agent to an alien creature with hot dogs for fingers. Jamie Lee Curtis costars as a tax auditor the Yeoh character keeps bumping into. And, as Yeoh's shape-shifting grandfather, 93-year-old Minneapolis native James Hong has the best role of his long movie career. (Wide release)
CHRIS HEWITT
Santana
Last year, guitar god Carlos Santana dropped another album with a parade of guests, including Chris Stapleton, Chick Corea and, of course, Rob Thomas. While not as satisfying as 1999's landmark "Supernatural," "Blessings and Miracles" is a diverse, sincere collection, punctuated with expressive and often soaring Santana guitar work. Recent set lists indicate he might play a couple of tunes from that project along with such requisite classics as "Soul Sacrifice" and "Smooth." (8 p.m. Fri., Treasure Island Casino, Red Wing, $89-$159, ticketmaster.com)
JON BREAM
'Passing Strange'
Rock musician Stew won a Tony Award for the book of his autobiographical musical, a comedy/drama about a middle-aged musician looking back on his youth, charting the course that led his career of fusing gospel, rhythm and blues, rock and jazz. (7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Yellow Tree Theatre, 320 5th Av. SE., Osseo, $27-$31, 763-493-8733 or yellowtreetheatre.com.)
CHRIS HEWITT
Hurray for the Riff Raff
New Orleans-based, New York-raised, Puerto Rico-rooted poet/rocker Alynda Segarra has turned into one of the truest and best Americana singer/songwriters around, with a diversely rootsy sound and downtrodden vantage points. Their new album "Life on Earth," produced by Justin Vernon cohort Brad Cook, takes on more of a global view with dramatic and often thrilling results. L.A.'s Anjimile opens. (9 p.m. Fri., Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls., $20-$35, etix.com)
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
The Sphinx Virtuosi
The Detroit-based Sphinx Foundation provides encouragement to Black and Latinx classical musicians, including this chamber orchestra of outstanding young players. The group's "Tracing Visions" concert will feature works by a pair of exciting Black composers, Jessie Montgomery and recent SPCO guest Xavier Foley. They'll be joined by local choir Border CrosSing. (3 p.m. Sun., Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, $13-$31, 612-224-4222 or ordway.org)
ROB HUBBARD
Slipknot
They may not be Machine Gun Kelly's cup of tea, but Iowa's masked thrash-metal vets are probably the visceral release many fans need in 2022. Corey Taylor and the crew returned to the road with their traveling Knotfest last year, putting up strong ticket sales and reportedly quite a wild show. Surprisingly, this will be their first Twin Cities show in 13 years. In the Moment and Jinjer open. (6:30 p.m. Sat., Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls., $45-$198, ticketmaster.com)
C.R.
New Eyes Festival
Theater Mu's annual series of new-work readings has an otherworldly bent, with titles including "Kung Fu Zombies vs. Shaman Warrior." That comedy is joined by a musical, "Again," about two friends linked by cancer, and the fantasy-themed "Exotic Deadly: or the MSG Play." (5 and 7:30 p.m. Sat., 5 p.m. Sun., 755 N. Prior Av., #107, St. Paul, free but reservations required, theatermu.org).
C.H.
Craig Taborn Trio
Jazz has been called "the sound of surprise," but all too often musicians play themselves into a rut. Not Taborn. Blending electronics with piano, the Golden Valley-raised keyboardist is a seeker who enchants listeners while challenging them to hear more deeply. After a knockout show two weeks ago at Tennessee's Big Ears Festival, he comes home for a one-nighter with drummer Dan Weiss and bassist Chris Lightcap. (7 & 9 p.m. Wed., Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $25-$40, dakotacooks.com)
TIM CAMPBELL
