Bon Iver supersized at the Orpheum

So much for that whole lonely-guy-in-the-woods thing.

Wisconsin indie star Justin Vernon, aka Bon Iver, returned to the big city Tuesday to perform at the Orpheum Theatre for the first of two sold-out nights. And the anticipation for it was hyper and palpable.

Male audience members in Vernon-like beards weepily sang along to his ambient, falsetto-delivered folk-rock ballads (one guy yelled out, "Thank you for writing this song!" at the start of the haunting number "Re: Stacks"). Young women swooned for the 30-year-old singer, who offstage could probably pass for one of their hick, outstate cousins (one gal yelled, "You're really cute"; apparently she didn't know that the warmly received opening act, Kathleen Edwards, is Vernon's girlfriend).

Anybody not up on Bon Iver's two albums might have mistaken this concert for some kind of religious revival. It certainly had a sense of rebirth. On Tuesday, fans witnessed a full-blown transformation from solitary songwriter to busybody bandleader.

To help thicken the sonic cushion on his follow-up album, "Bon Iver," the former high school football player had a marching-band-like group behind him this time around. His nine-man line included two drummers, three horn men and other utility players who changed instruments after just about every song, or sometimes even during one song. Almost all of them got in on the singing, too.

The band's presence was felt right away in the slow-building opening song, "Perth," which included a violin, bass saxophone, synthesizers, chimes, you name it. Dexterous Minneapolis musician Mike Lewis (Happy Apple, Gayngs) made himself known by the third number, "Holocene," a drop-dead gorgeous song in which he offered a pretty soprano sax solo.

The added parts and altered arrangements worked time and time again. The two biggest payoffs were a horn-laced blast through "Creature Fear" and an electrifying take on "Blood Bank," where three horns and three guitars spilled over the song in a truly bloody fashion. Horns also added nicely to the pre-encore finale "For Emma" and the encore kickoff "Flume."

Vernon still had one genuine moment of solitude: He played "Re: Stacks" all by his lonesome self. It was nice for nostalgic reasons, but the new band couldn't return to the stage soon enough.

• Chris Riemenschneider

'Contagion' vs. reality

In the new movie "Contagion", we see Hollywood's version of Minnesota -- and the world -- gripped by a deadly outbreak. But how realistic is it? We asked two leading experts to preview the film and share their reactions: Dr. Ruth Lynfield, the Minnesota state epidemiologist since 2007, and her predecessor, Dr. Michael Osterholm. Both have spent their careers battling dangerous outbreaks, including the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, and they're paid to worry about worst-case scenarios.

• Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Both gave it a thumbs up.

• On a scale of 1-10, how realistic was it?

"I think the [outbreak] scenario is probably an 8 or 9," Osterholm said. "The response, I think, is maybe a 5."

Osterholm said the film does a relatively good job showing how medical experts go about trying to stop a dangerous epidemic. But a real outbreak would involve far more than the few heroic doctors in the movie.

• What parts don't ring true?

The fictional disease detectives made some rookie mistakes, Lynfield said. In one scene, an investigator played by Kate Winslet calls a victim who's riding on a bus, and almost certainly infectious, and tells him to get off at the next stop. In real life, said Lynfield, "she should have quarantined everybody else on the bus."

One of the most cringe-worthy moments to the two Minnesotans was when Winslet's character, an investigator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is met with open hostility by state health officials when she comes to the Twin Cities. "Clearly, that would not have been the response from the Minnesota Department of Health," said Osterholm, who worked there for 24 years.

In fact, the state and CDC have worked closely on numerous disease investigations as well as preparations for future outbreaks, and Minnesota has a stellar national reputation in the field. But in the film, the Minnesotans act like they've barely even heard of an infectious disease.

"I think the response really was way off," said Lynfield, but she chalked it up to artistic license.

• Maura Lerner

Hard times for Hard Rock

Sept. 30 will be the day the music died at the Hard Rock Cafe. A PR person representing Hard Rock International offered a prepared statement: "We have run a successful business in Minneapolis, but the current site has created challenges that prevent us from continuing to operate at this location." No word if that bit of vagueness refers to the luxury casino proposed by Block E's owners.

The 9,000-square-foot Hard Rock opened in 2002, just as Block E was getting off the ground. Almost a decade later, it's one of the last anchor tenants left, with Borders and GameWorks long gone. Alatus LLC bought Block E in 2010 and hopes to transform the site into a $200 million-plus Bellagio-style casino.

• Tom Horgen

Crooked Pint opening in old 501

The Minnesota-based Green Mill pizza chain's next offshoot is scheduled to open Saturday. The Crooked Pint Ale House (501 Washington Av. S., Mpls., 612-877-6900) has remodeled the old 501 Club in downtown Minneapolis right in time for the Vikings season.

Green Mill CEO Paul Dzubnar said his reworking of the 501 space makes it feel cozier. A new central bar anchors the upper level, and they've warmed up the place with oak floors and more booths. The Crooked Pint will offer live music, but they've made some tweaks, such as moving the stage.

The tap-beer list looks promising. The 20 lines include selections from Summit, Alaskan, Odell, Brooklyn, Deschutes and other big craft breweries. Twisted Fork chef Keven Kvalsten designed the food menu, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Expect chorizo corn dogs, Washington Avenue Pot Roast and something they're calling the Hangover Ju-Lucy (two burgers wrapped around ham and cheese, topped with a fried egg).

• Tom Horgen