by admin
Fashion and theater colliding seems to be the theme of the weekend, with Ballet of the Dolls’ Fashion Ball and France’s Ballet Preljocaj coming to town, donning costumes by legendary designer Jean Paul Gaultier. After you get a heady dose of fashion, art and culture, get into the Friday the 13th spirit with haunting album release shows from Night Moves, Is/Is and Magic Castles. Or if the mood suits you, ring in spring with the Grown & Sexy Spring Fling burlesque-and-DJ soiree.
xo-l’étoile
THURSDAY, APRIL 12TH
Alcohol By Volume + Lady Parts DJs
@ Clubhouse Jäger
923 Washington Avenue N
Minneapolis
10pm–1am / FREE
The clever and classy folks of Alcohol By Volume are bringing their inspired mash-up of bartending competition and rock show to Club Jäger, and this time they’re upping the ante with twice the competition. This highly unique format supported by MPLS.TV brings together some of the best local bartenders with equally fine local music for an intoxicating good time. Bartender Adam Gorski of East Street Social takes on Lindsay Brost of Loring Pasta Bar in round one, while round two features Jourdán Gomez from Bradstreet going shaker to shaker with Adam Harness of Cafe Maude. The amazing feats of mixology sure to ensue will be set to luscious tunes by all-girl DJ trio Lady Parts, who’ll start spinning records prior to the competition. AbV is the only event of it’s kind, and is always an exciting display of local talent; the intimate venue of Jäger should only improve the fun. Come out see the AbV bartenders kick some ass and turn the cocktail volume up to 11! -Anthony Enright
Click HERE for the Facebook invite
THURSDAY, APRIL 12TH
Clustercuss vs. Carl Sagan: Cosmos
@ Red Stag Supperclub
501 1st Avenue NE
Minneapolis
10pm / All Ages / FREE
Kick off the weekend with a live set from improvisational instrumental collective Clustercuss as they kick off their April residency at the Red Stag. Featuring Brian Nanoff, Matthew Sandstedt, Alan Church, Evan Fox, and Charlie B. Ward the group plays behind or in front of projected films. This time around, they’ll be joined by JT Bates, James Buckley and Jacob Hanson, and perform in front of “Cosmos,” a series about deep space by noted astronomer Carl Sagan. The group layers bass, electric guitar, percussion and effects to create innovative, interactive performances.
Click HERE for the Red Stag site
THURSDAY, APRIL 12TH
CLAPS + Sleeping in the Aviary + Enola Gay + The Miami Dolphins
@ Turf Club
1601 University Avenue
St Paul
9pm / 21+ / $6
Are you maudlin like Morrissey? Do you spend nights listening to Clan of Xymox, smoking cloves and staring smittenly at your keyboard? When you have the urge to dance, is it the Party Monster soundtrack you reach for? Gotta craving in your bones for horror surf rock you just can’t satiate? If you answered yes to one or more of the above, then tonight’s tetra-header is definitely for you. Check live sets from Minneapolis’ slow-synth, melodic dark rockers CLAPS; jangly indie-rock from Wisconsin trio Sleeping in the Aviary; bass-tastic beats from electro-clash kindreds Enola Gay, which features ex-members of Chelsea Boys; and hard, fast ‘n loud garage rock from the Miami Dolphins – not to be confused with the sports team as we’re pretty sure they don’t produce punk jams on the side. Get geared up by checking out CLAP’s brand-new video for “Book of Love,” the second single off their latest, Wreck, below. -Juleana Enright
Click HERE for the Turf Club site
Jordan Wolfson
@ Midway Contemporary Art
527 SE 2nd Avenue
Minneapolis
Opening reception 7-9pm / FREE
Art world darling Jordan’s Wolfson’s work is often marked by overt whimsy and a playful edge, but that seemingly friendly exterior belies complex narrative content and a remarkably precise level of construction. His justly celebrated recent video “Animation, masks” (which will be shown at Midway Contemporary Art starting this weekend) is a master class in contrasting styles, embedded signifiers and diverse pop culture and art wold references that somehow manages to be shocking, precocious and genuinely resonant all at the same time (think David Foster Wallace meets Pixar). There’s a strange fascination in Wolfson’s work with the subversive, but not in the usual sense. Rather than aiming to shock, he seems intent on subverting his audience’s expectations by creating contrasts and disparities between visual and auditory stimuli and between the intellectual and emotional implications of each image, word and sound. There’s a frisson of darkness and alienation in many of the artist’s works that ensures they stick with you long after the glossy images and surprising ideas have burned away. The exhibit will feature a number of Wolfson’s recent works in addition to the ”Animation, masks” video, so it should be a very exciting introduction to this internationally buzzworthy artist! Don’t miss it. -Anthony Enright
Click HERE for the Midway Contemporary Art site
FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH
A Think and a Drink: ”Frank Gaard: Poison & Candy”
@ Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis
7pm / FREE for Walker members & a guest
Walker Art Center’s “A Think and a Drink” series brings together art-loving Walker members to gain greater insight into a specific exhibit and then “talk amongst themselves” about the art they’ve just seen in an informal reception setting. April’s iteration highlights the ongoing (and very fine) Frank Gaard exhibit Poison & Candy. Local artist Gaard’s bright, idiosyncratic works are filled with controversial images and feature a a highly unique visual language. It’s provocative both visually and in subject matter, which should make for a lively discussion. After the interactive tour of the Burnet Gallery, patrons can mingle with some light snacks and grab a drink at the cash bar as they debate the meaning of Gaard’s paintings. Space for these events is always limited, so an RSVP at 612-375-7655 or membership@walkerart.org is required. -Anthony Enright
Click HERE for the Walker Art Center site
FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH-SUNDAY, APRIL 15TH
The Sports Show: “Rocky” & “Raging Bull”
@ Trylon Microcinema
Rocky: 7:30pm Friday, 9pm Saturday & 7pm Sunday
Raging Bull: 9:30pm Friday, 7pm Saturday & 4:30pm Sunday / $8
It may just look like a double feature of Hollywood boxing classics, but the Trylon’s “Sports Show” series selections for the weekend could also be experienced as a symbolic transfer of power, as Hollywood moved from the seventies to the eighties, from the ambiguity of Watergate to the care-free glory of Ronald Reagan and Hulk Hogan. Set side by side, Rocky and Raging Bull form an extraordinary two-sided image of the body, in ascendancy and decline. John G. Avildsen’s Rocky (1976) is a chiming clock for an oncoming era of populist blockbusters. The grit is there in every frame, and Rocky Balboa is a fascinating and idiosyncratic character. His determination to rise above his squalor, wearing the red/white/blue shorts, is a sincere endurance test for a man who parallels a strained nation. The flip side is Jake LaMotta (Robert DeNiro) in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull. Instead of a shining star with whom we project ourselves and find victory or release, LaMotta is a detestable sacrificial ram, a sinner among sinners, who fights like he doesn’t deserve to live. A masterpiece of great ambivalence, Raging Bull is, like Rocky, about resurrection, but the picture itself is the Holy Ritual, filmmaking being for Scorsese a Catholic rite where an audience is given vision and even the most heinous of individuals granted forgiveness. -Niles Schwartz
Click HERE for the Take-Up Productions site
FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH & SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
Fashion Ball 2012: A Fashion Fairytale
@ Ritz Theater
345 13th Avenue NE
Minneapolis
Friday: 7pm doors, 8pm show / $35
Saturday: 6:30pm silent auction, 8pm show / $75
In a luxurious evening at the Ritz, Ballet of the Dolls will give two days of performances where a trio of fashion, dance and theater decorate the stage. They will perform in couture designed by Dolls artistic director Myron Johnson and stylist Grant Whittaker, who will also be performing. See the Dolls Friday and stick around for the after party following the performance. Or, pick the VIP night Saturday and catch a silent auction and cocktails before the show, participate in a live auction happening midway through the show, and end the evening with drinks, dessert, and dancing. -Meg Junkermeier
Click HERE for the Fashion Ball site
FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH & SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
Ballet Proljocaj: “Blanche Neige”
@ State Theatre
805 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis
8pm / $32-59.50
Rodarte sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy grabbed headlines when the pair designed costumes for Black Swan; earlier this year, they designed opera costumes for the L.A. Philharmonic. Hot on their tales is fashion legend Jean Paul Gaultier, who designed the wardrobe for the touring production of leading French contemporary ballet company Ballet Preljocaj. Do we sense a trend? The latter comes to town for a two-night engagement in their retelling of Snow White (Blanche Neige), which also features massive sets by Thierry Leproust, the symphonies of Gustav Mahler, 26 dancers, and an all-star roster of French artists and designers, and of course, Gaultier’s custom costumes, which feature the designer’s signature darkly romantic, gothic edge. -Jahna Peloquin
Click HERE for the Hennepin Theatre Trust site
FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH
Night Moves 7″ Release Show
@ Varsity Theater
1308 4th Street SE
Minneapolis
8pm doors / 18+ / $8
After their debut full-length Colored Emotions was released online – and quickly rescinded – last year, fans of the Minneapolis band have had to settle for seeing the band live unless they were lucky enough to have snagged a copy. Fortunately, this weekend they can settle for a 7″ until Domino Records re-releases a remastered version of the album later this year. Night Moves may truly be carving out their own genre, as their sound has been described as “outer space country R&B” and “electro country soul.” For the release party, they’ve rounded out the stellar lineup with other local up-and-comers, and it is sure to be an all-out space jam. It includes electro-psych experimental band Food Pyramid; the outer-space Latin gypsy vibe of Buffalo Moon; and the return of Moonstone, which will bring their Church of Weird to the stage for the first time in a year. Their prog rock jams are like having a religious experience on planet Neptune. -Danielle Morris
Click HERE Varsity Theater site
FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH
Is/Is Album Release Show
@ Turf Club
1601 University Avenue
Minneapolis
9pm / 21+ / $6
Local “witch-gaze” trio Is/Is celebrate the release of their debut full length III at the Turf Club Friday night – and they are bringing all their friends along for the ride. The album celebrates the fuzzed-out sound of the early ’90s, and a pounding bass riff, grooved-out drums and disaffected vocals add to the frenzied, beautiful mess. Fire and the Northern Firs – which features members of Is/Is frontwoman Sarah Rose’s former band, First Communion Afterparty – opens with their post-rock, shoegaze, ‘80s vibe. Acid Baby Jesus, coming all the way from Anthens, Greece (!), bring a surprisingly sunny California surf-garage sound. Also playing a special set the Turf Club basement Clown Lounge is Zoo Animal. Lead by dynamo Holly Newsom, whose songs weather just as well solo or with a full band, always touch on the raw nerve of rock and roll. Also playing is Heavy Deeds, which sounds like a more psychedelic Fleetwood Mac. -Danielle Morris
Click HERE for the Turf Club site
WAK LYF Presents A Cool Dad Party: A Hannah Silk Champagne Going Away Party
@ Kitty Cat Klub
315 14th Avenue SE
Minneapolis
10pm / 21+ / FREE
Party professionals WAK LYF are giving their monthly dance party an extra-special, bittersweet twist – it doubles as the going-way party for MPLS.TV contributor, cake decorator extraordinaire and impeccably-named gal-about-town Hannah Silk Champagne before she heads to New York. The DJ collective is known for throwing a mean party, so be prepared to party hard, and buy miss Champagne a drink while you’re at it.
Click HERE for the Facebook invite
FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH
Extra Large
@ First Avenue Record Room
701 1st Avenue N
Minneapolis
10pm / 18+ / $3 presale, $5 day-of
“Rumor has it, if you go low enough, Ludacris will appear in the mirror,” reads the invite to this month’s Friday the 13th edition of Extra Large. And that’s no idle threat. This big and bold dance party hosted by DJ power duo Jonathan Ackerman and Get Cryphy’s Plain Ole Bill will be sure to SLAY the crowd with their monstrous beats, sharp rhythms and eerily smooth change-overs. Get there early to load up on 2-4-1s before midnight. And don’t leave home without your Jason Voorhies mask – spring’s hottest fashion accessory, to be sure. -Jahna Peloquin
Click HERE for the Facebook invite
SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
Twin Cities Maker Minne-Faire
@ Hack Factory
3119 E 26th Street
Minneapolis
Noon-10pm, music at 7pm / FREE ($2 suggested donation)
The nationally-occurring Maker Faire is public gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkers, hobbyists, students, authors and commercial exhibitors that seeks to be an entertaining and enlightening place for techy tinkerers to come together. Hosted by Twin Cities Maker, the local edition of the Faire will include music, food, exhibits and demonstrations of projects ranging from open source electronics to hand made siege engines. After a long day of showing off all the cool projects the Faire will give itself over to music with performances from three highly appropriate acts. Maker/hacker troubadour Tim Kaiser uses acousto-electric contraptions to build haunting sonic sculptures that are sure to amaze. Human/cyborg percussion ensemble Jazari explore explorations of what is possible in the idiom of machine, software, and human collaboration producing a strange beat-driven music that creator Patrick Flanagan calls “Steamfunk.” Famed found object ensemble Savage Aural Hotbed uses conventional instruments, electronically modified horns, human vocals, and even power tools to create a compelling sound. They’ll provide both aural and visual excitement with a high energy performance that is sure to have the sparks flying (via an electric saw)! Whether you’re looking for tips on hacking your favorite electronic device or just want to see the next generation in music the Maker Minne Faire will have something or you. -Anthony Enright
Click HERE for the Twin Cities Maker site
SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
@ Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Avenue S
Minneapolis
8pm / $30 advance, $35 at door ($25 or $30 for Walker members)
It’s not often that a global music mega-star plays the Twin Cities for the first time, so Seun Kuti’s performance at the Cedar Cultural Center this weekend marks a significant milestone. If you don’t immediately recognize the name, you may be more familiar with Seun’s legendary father Fela Kuti, the king of the global sensation musical genre Afrobeat. Suen has found a unique voice beyond his father’s shadow by building on the funk/jazz sound of Afrobeat and infusing it with elements of R & B and a refreshingly unvarnished lyrical realism. This global star’s latest album is Brian Eno-produced, and is sure to up his profile in the US. Fela Kuti’s 16 piece Egypt 80 band joined Seun for what’s sure to be a performance that combines the reverent and the enigmatic. Seun has developed a reputation for respecting his father’s legacy while updating it for a new generation, and it’s likely to be one of the more passionate shows you’ll see this year. -Anthony Enright
Click HERE for the Walker Art Center site
SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
Envision: Artopia
@ Graves 601 Hotel
601 1st Avenue N
Minneapolis
8pm VIP reception, 9pm GA doors, 10pm show / $25 GA, $50 VIP, $75 VIP front row
Don’t miss the largest local fashion event of the year, Envision: Artopia: an evening of lively spring designs, live painting, and decadent decor fit to a fashionista’s dream. Two runway shows will feature Ignite models dressed in the newest designs by local designers and boutiques like Cliché, martinpatrick3, Local Motion, and more. Also seen at the show will be the sweet and sophisticated pieces of Amanda Christine, dazzling designs by Caroline Hayden and simplistic yet chic looks from Gina Marie Vintage, and avant-garde up-and-comer Sara Lopez. Artwork from the RAW Visual Art Gallery will be on display and a silent auction will have two live paintings as well as a piece picked out by each artist for sale. Best of all, a portion of the evening’s proceeds go to Free Arts Minnesota. -Meg Junkermeier
Click HERE for the Envision site
SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
ARTCRANK + Short Shorts Ride
@ Traffic Zone Gallery
250 3rd Avenue N
Minneapolis
5-11pm opening reception, 5-7:30pm ride / FREE
Bike art heaven is about to commence in hipsterville this Saturday at the annual ARTCRANK opening night party. Start your evening early in the Warehouse District where you can mix and mingle with over 40 local artists. Enjoy craft beers by Widmer Brothers brewing, in exclusive ARTCRANK take-home pint glasses, as you browse hand-made, signed and numbered, bike-inspired posters priced at $40 each. Ride your bike to the show and Cliff Bar and One on One Bikes will provide official valet parking. Come hungry - METRO Magazine has corralled a small posse of famous local food trucks to fit your fancy and fill your belly. As for the tunes, the Current will provide the soundtrack with a special appearance by Mayda, the St. Paul pop, rock and soul singer you won’t want to miss. And expect a three-dimensional biketastic surprise by Neenah Paper and Big Table Studio to make an appearance. Bonus: Before you head to the Warehouse District bust out the shortest pair of short shorts you can possibly get your paws on and pop them on. Meet the Queer Bike Gang in partnership with 30 Days of Biking at Bracket Park, between the baseball diamonds, off the greenway, just west of 38th Avenue for a nice lil’ bike ride that departs at 5:30pm sharp. Then the crew will head to ARTCRANK for some bike art banter. Bonus #2: Get there between 3 and 5pm for the ARTCRANK Family Party, featuring obstacle course races, safety games, demos, and lots of fun and prizes to carry into the evening. -Stefani Arden
Click HERE for the ARTCRANK site
SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
Magic Castles Album Release Show
@ Kitty Cat Klub
315 14th Avenue SE
Minneapolis
8pm / 21+ / $5
It’s not hard to see why local band Magic Castles captured the interest of the legendary Anton Newcombe (Brian Jonestown Massacre) enough to add them on his label quicker than you can say “shroom daze”. Maybe it was their lyrical odes to trolls, hobbits and trip-induced creatures. Maybe it was their epic stretched out musical buildup combining the elements of psych drone, forest folk and dangerously dark garage rock. Whatever the case, we can’t wait to hear the latest release from MC – a double LP doused with tracks from their first three out-of-print records. Tonight, head down to the Kitty Cat to celebrate its presence with live sets from fuzzy minimalist psych rockers, Flavor Crystals, nu-gazers from Chicago’s Lightfoils and atmospheric shoegaze from locals Chatham Rise and tuneage from the Magic Castles themselves before they head out on tour this summer opening for – who else? – Brian Jonestown Massacre. Fairies, mushrooms and tie-dyed shirts not included. -Juleana Enright
Click HERE for the Facebook invite
SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
Grown and Sexy Spring Fling at Hell’s Kitchen
@ Hell’s Kitchen
80 S 9th Street
Minneapolis
9pm / $10
Experience a scrumptious springtime DJ and drag show of epic proportions this Saturday at the Grown & Sexy Spring Fling at Hell’s Kitchen. Bring in the warm spring breeze with extremely talented burlesque dancers and divine drag appearances by Sweetpea, Nadine DuBois, Jeez Loueez, RedBone, Elektra Cute, Mercedes Iman, and Taiyo. Also, dance all night long to the fresh tunes brought to you by DJ Shannon Blowtorch. -Stefani Arden
Click HERE for the Facebook invite
SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH
Slaps!!! A Great Big Fat Dance Party
@ Honey
205 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis
10pm / 21+ / $5
Get slap-happy with the snazzy sounds of DJ King Otto with his monthly SLAPS!!! dance party. Expect flashing lights and the funkiest rap and hip hop hits that will make you bob your head and shake your shit all night long. Come sip, SLAP and dance; booze specials will be available all night.
Click HERE for the Facebook invite
SUNDAY, APRIL 15TH
California Dreaming: A Mighty Swell Anniversary Party for the Hive Salon
@ The Hive Salon
400 NE Lowry Avenue
Minneapolis
Noon-6pm / FREE
Organic, eco-friendly-geared salon Hive is celebrating their one-year anniversary with cocktails, raffles and a one-day sale courtesy of Mighty Swell Vintage. During the day-long bash, save 20% off all hair products at the salon and receive complimentary retro hair and makeup touches. To get ready for summery weather, clothing and accessories from Mighty Swell Vintage will be up for grabs, as well as drink ware and bar carts from findfurnish. Eat snacks and sip on cocktails or a drink from the orange juice bar. Capture the beauty of the hour with a photo booth snapshot for $3 or 2-for-$5 and if you donate to the raffle, proceeds go to the Emergency Food Shelf Network. To donate to the raffle, email Jen at info@thehivesalon.com. -Meg Junkermeier
Click HERE for the Facebook invite
SUNDAY, APRIL 15TH
Sequin Sundays: Drag Meets Burlesque
@ The Town House
1415 University Avenue W
St Paul
9:30pm / 21+ / FREE
For one sassy night only, the dames of drag meet the dolls of burlesque. But don’t expect a West Side Story-esque affair in this edition of the Town House’s weekly variety show Sequin Sundays. Instead you’re in for an eclectic treat of jazz numbers, lounge-y tunes, coquettish entertainment and fierceness. Curated by local drag performer Esmé Rodriguez, Sequin Sundays is known for its multifarious drag pageantry performance and tonight the resident show welcomes Chicago-based Jeez Loueez and Twin Cities burlesque darlings Sweetpea and Sweet LillyBee, plus drag performers Martina Marraccino, Sasha Dupree Rodgers, JoJo Mackie, and Anastasia C. Rodgers. Expect comedy routines, live showtunes, magic tricks and a whole lot of the unexpected. -Juleana Enright
Click HERE for the Facebook invite
SUNDAY, APRIL 15TH
Sister Spit
@ Bell Museum
10 Church Street SE
Minneapolis
7:30–10:30pm / FREE
The lady beatnicks of the ’90s, the San Fran-based lesbian-feminist spoken word/performance art collective, Sister Spit was a talented mass of “tattooed, pierced and purple-pigtailed performance artist” whose loquacious flair for trenchancy and unapologetic musings fueled an queer underground literary movement. Tonight, the legendary lit Sister Spit performance tour makes a stop on the UofM campus joined by a coterie of next generation Spit-eers, including queer novelist, Michelle Tea (Valencia, Rent Girl), Dorothy Allison (Bastard Out of Carolina); avant-garde cabaret artist and star of John Cameron Mitchell’s film Shortbus, Mx Justin Vivian Bond; writer and chanteuses, Brontez Purnell (FAG School, Young Lovers, Gravy Train!!!); playwright luminary, Erin Markey; comic artist, Cassie J. Sneider; and nationally-ranking slam poet and Mr. Transma 2010, Kit Yan. Definitely not to be missed! -Juleana Enright
Click HERE for the University of Minnesota site
Editor in Chief: Jahna Peloquin / Contributors: Juleana Enright, Jahna Peloquin, Stefani Arden, Anthony Enright, Danielle Morris, Niles Schwartz, Meg Junkermeier
