Stuff to do: Ol’ Yeller at the Uptown Bar
First, any band that rehearses in freezing unfinished attics is all right with me. (See the video below.) Ol’ Yeller [Myspace] headlines a bill at the Uptown Bar that also features the Nightinghales, Poosa, and Deep Pool. It’s a 21+ show, music starts at 9, and admission is $5. Uptown Bar details.
Below: Ol’ Yeller, the attic tapes–shot in Nordeast in the past couple of months
Reveille: Bon Iver in-store concert at Electric Fetus announced
From the Daily Mole’s local music partner site Reveille, Andrea Myers has the lowdown on another local Bon Iver appearance, coming on February 13:
Before heading out on a full US tour with Black Mountain, Justin Vernon will play a private in-store at the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis on Wednesday, February 13 at 8 p.m. The store will be closed early to give fans an exclusive chance to see Bon Iver play. Tickets for the show are available for free with the first 300 pre-orders of the much anticipated national release of For Emma, Forever Ago on Jagjaguwar Records; you can pre-order the Bon Iver CD or vinyl record in person at the Minneapolis Fetus or online at electricfetus.com.
In-store attendees will also receive a free large color poster and will have the chance to have their poster signed by Justin after the show.
Bon Iver will return to the Twin Cities again in April for another proper concert. Details of the show(s) will be announced soon.
Bon Iver in-store performance
Wednesday, February 13th, 8 p.m.
Electric Fetus
2000 4th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
FREE with pre-order of For Emma, Forever Ago
Below: Bon Iver plays “Lump Sum” live in the studio at The Current
Stuff to do: Tentacle Boy at 400 Bar
According to their Myspace page, Tentacle Boy’s gig at the 400 Bar tonight (sharing the bill are New Ocean, Nobot, and Combat Astronomy) is “OUR FIRST SHOW.” Here’s wishing them the best…
It’s an 18+ show, the music starts at 8, and tickets are $5. Address/tix here.
Below: Tentacle Boy’s music vid for “Nobody”
Stuff to do: STS9 at First Ave
Electronic jam band Sound Tribe Sector 9 [Myspace] is a cult thing; chances are if you aren’t already a fan, you’re not going to be. But hey, decide for yourself–the clip below was shot at The Fillmore in Denver last Saturday night.
They’re playing First Avenue tonight in an 18+ show; $20/advance; $25/door. Details/directions/tix.
Twin Cities Eats: Red Pepper wants YOU
… to be a Taste of the Nation volunteer. Plus local restaurant news, all from the Mole’s local food and dining partner site, Twin Cities Eats:
Interested in combining your love of food with doing good for the Twin Cities community? We are looking for a few more good men and women to join the Taste of the Nation Twin Cities planning committee to help us plan two Twin Cities events this coming summer. Last year we raised over $50,000 for Second Harvest Heartland and the Legal Services Advocacy Project. To learn more about Taste of the Nation, click here, and if you are interested in either joining the planning team or, if you are a chef or restaurant owner and want to participate this year, please email me at twincitieseats@gmail.com.
In other news, Brix has closed to now be replaced with a Tex-Mex concept by the same owners. This isn’t shocking at all considering that McCoy’s next door is always packed and Brix was not. The McCoy’s crowd will probably enjoy shaking things up with some margaritas. The owners should just give in to their local market and have good food but not even attempt to be authentic. Kind of like Lauriol Plaza in Washington, DC. This is the businessperson talking and not the foodie, obviously.
It’s that time again – Twin Cities Restaurant Week. From February 24-29, many of the best restaurants in town will have prix fix menus for $15 at lunch and $30 for dinner (prices may vary slightly). Participating restaurants and menus are listed here so start making your plans and reservations. Some restaurants may not allow reservations until February 1 (if you have an American Express cards) or February 10 (those without Amex), although I am not sure if the restaurants are really following this or not. This year’s hot reservations will be at La Belle Vie, D’Amico Cucina and Saffron.
Stuff to do: Natives of the New Dawn at Mayslack’s
Retro-friendly Detroit hiphoppers Natives of the New Dawn [Myspace] are playing Mayslack’s Music Lounge tonight at 8. And since Mayslacks’ webpage is “under construction,” here are the vitals: 1428 4th St NE, Minneapolis; (612) 789-9862.
Below: Natives of the New Dawn play “Ain’t No Sunshine” at Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit, 11/23/05
Stuff to do: Toumani Diabate and the Symmetric Orchestra at the Dakota
Diabate, a Malian musician hailed as the world’s premier player of the 21-string kora, and his ensemble continue their two-night stand at the Dakota with shows at 7:00 and 9:30; tickets ($40/$32) and details here.
Below: Toumani Diabate–sans orchestra–plays the kora at Metrotech in Brooklyn, 7/19/07
Stuff to do: Little Man at the Turf Club
Nice bill: Little Man [Myspace], the Nightinghales [Myspace], and Nazca Lights.
The music starts at 9; Turf Club details/directions.
And let’s do a two-fer on the videos today, because I liked the Nightinghales clip.
Little Man, “Soulful Automatic” live at Hexagon Bar, 4/6/07
The Nightinghales, “Sick of the City” live at Triple Rock, 5/19/07
Twin Cities Eats: Big fun at Little Szechuan
From the Mole’s food-and-dining partner site, Twin Cities Eats, Red Pepper enjoys a rendezvous at St. Paul’s much-talked-about Little Szechuan:
It was a cold slippery evening in the great state of Minnesota yet I decided that the smart thing to do was to drive to dinner in St. Paul. Ba humbug to the 180 accidents that had littered the freeway that afternoon. My only cave-in to the weather gods was that I chose to not drink any alcohol with dinner. Better safe than sorry. But, then again, I was on a date and I probably could have used a glass of wine.
The location of choice was Little Szechuan, the darling of the Chowhound boards and arguably considered (along with Teahouse) to be the most authentic Chinese food in town. The strip on University where Little Szechuan is located is a mecca of dining. On the same block alone is Mai Village and Krua Thailand, two additional places I still need to try. Why did I choose this location for my date? Two reasons. First, in consideration of my date, it is halfway between Minneapolis and Stillwater. And second, in consideration of myself on a blind date, it was likely to be a fast dinner (not fine dining).
The Little Szechuan dining room was bright and quite full for a Monday night. The room was also a great mix of ethnicities, both Chinese and others. Very reassuring from a cuisine point of view and seriously the opposite of places like Chiang Mai Thai. There wasn’t much in the way of frills at Little Szechuan but you understand why this is when you look at the prices on the menu and realize you are paying really decent prices for the quality of food on offer. Both menus were offered to us as well as a nice hot pot of green tea to sip throughout the meal. I liked that this tea was brought because I then didn’t feel awkward not ordering a drink.
We both ordered tofu dishes. Continuing my trend of ordering every version of this dish across the Twin Cities, I ordered the Kung Pao Tofu. When the dish arrived I did a gulp of fear when I saw the number of dried pieces of red pepper clinging to the sides of the tofu. But I was scared for no reason. While the peppers added some heat, they did not add an intense burn. Rather than overwhelming the dish, they melded in with the peanut and spring onion flavour nicely. The quantity was generous and I do think a few more peanuts would have been nice but that is all I can complain about. Oh, and I didn’t end the meal with the best breathe but it was the best variation of this dish I have had.
The other dish we tried was the Homestyle Tofu. The tofu was in larger pieces and in a mild sauce with vegetables. While good, the Kung Pao Tofu was much better.
At the end of the night, my date and I split the check and the big damage is… $11.00, with lots of yummy leftovers for the next day.
Thumbs Up: The food, fast service, diverse atmosphere
Thumbs Down: Too bright
Little Szechuan 422 University Ave W St. Paul
Stuff to do: Beatrix Jar at the Entry
Can someone explain how it is that I don’t like experimental electronica, yet I like Beatrix Jar [Myspace]? Also, I understand that Jacob Aaron Roske is manipulating a turntable in this video from last year’s Bent Fest, but can someone explain what Bianca Pettis (left) is doing? My guess is fixing a toaster, but that’s probably wrong.
They’re performing tonight at 7th Street Entry. 8:00, $5, 18+, details/directions.
Stuff to do: We Are Wolves at the Entry
The French-Canadian art rockers [Myspace] share a bill with opening act Sovietpanda (aka DJ Peter Lansky) [Myspace] at the 7th Street Entry. Music starts at 8; $6; 18+. Details/directions.
Below: We Are Wolves play “Coconut Night” at the Knitting Factory, NYC, 12/13/07
Reveille: Chuck D, Slug, and Brother Ali will appear together at Fitzgerald Theater
From the Mole’s local music partner site, Reveille, Kyle Matteson delivers the details on a hiphop confab and concert announced this week; it’s in April but the tickets certainly won’t last that long:
Rap pioneer (Public Enemy), music industry maverick, and political commentator (Air America Radio) Chuck D comes to the Current Fakebook to talk politics, music and whatever else host Mary Lucia might pursue.
Joining them will be Slug from Atmosphere for conversation and a special cameo appearance by Brother Ali of the Rhymesayers Collective.
Saturday, April 19
The Current Fakebook with Chuck D
with special guest Slug and cameo guest Brother Ali
The Fitzgerald Theater
8 p.m.
Tickets: $22; Minnesota Public Radio members receive a discount.
Call the Fitzgerald Theater box office: 651-290-1221
Tickets ON SALE NOW
Stuff to do: Todd Rundgren at the Pantages
The show is at 7:30; tickets are $33. (Details/directions/tix.) With Rundgren, as with other pop stars who bore easily (Elvis Costello, say, or Neil Young), it’s always wise to see which musical face he’s wearing on tour before you buy the ticket. Below, Rundgren plays Utopia’s “Trapped” at Toad’s Place in New Haven, Connecticut, last month.
Twin Cities Eats: jP American Bistro
From the Mole’s food-and-dining partner site, Twin Cities Eats, Red Pepper treks to jP American Bistro en route to a social engagement:
I would be curious to know what percentage of fine diners in the Twin Cities actually buy bottled water for their table rather than tap water. Especially now because there is so much environmental pushback against bottled water. I think of this because the first question that we were asked upon being seated at jP American Bistro on Saturday night was whether we wanted bottled or tap water. I was “environmentally” shocked that they asked in the first place. Second, I really hate this question, because I also feel the sense of a waiter saying to me, “Are you really going to be cheap tonight?” Maybe I am reading into this but it still manages to bother me, especially when I am on a date.
But I wasn’t on a “real” date on Saturday night. J.P. and I were dressed to the nines in dresses and heels, stopping in to fill our stomachs before heading to the open bar at the LEAD benefit for Free Arts Minnesota at the Minneapolis Club. We chose jP because of its location and also as somewhere we wouldn’t look too out of place all dressed up. Although we did get a couple of strange glances.
As we were in a time crunch (and the waiter took over 20 minutes to take our order), we both just had entrees. The menu description for my dish was “Roasted butternut squash agnolotti tossed in a preserved lemon beurre monte with toasted walnuts and pecorino.” Apparently, preserved lemon with butternut squash is quite the trend. Didn’t I Read more
Stuff to do: Roe Family Singers at the 331 Club
Straight out of that hotbed of local creativity, Robbinsdale, the folk/trad Roe Family Singers [Myspace] have first-rate picking and harmonies and a standing Monday night gig at the 331 Club, where there’s never a cover at the door and the music starts at 9. Details/directions.
Below: The Roe Family Singers perform “Afternoon Song” live in studio at The Current 89.3
Stuff to do: First Ave’s best new bands of 2007
It’s tonight in the mainroom starting at 7; 18+; $7 in advance or at the door. On the bill: A Night in the Box, Black Audience, Gay Witch Abortion, Gospel Gossip, M.anifest, Mouthful of Bees, and To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie. Details/directions here.
M.anifest, “Silence is Golden”
Below the jump: Night in the Box and Mouthful of Bees clips
Twin Cities Eats: News from the tundra
From the Mole’s food-and-dining partner site, Twin Cities Eats, Red Pepper checks out the week in local foodie news:
Punch Pizza is holding a pretty fun-looking and easy photo contest, and wouldn’t we all want to win $500 worth of Punch Pizza? I am going to start carrying my camera with me to Punch and hope that no one in the crowds gets mad at me for snapping pictures. Click here for more information. On another Punch note, do pay the $2.95 extra and have your pizza made D.O.C. with real buffalo mozzarella and extra oil and tomatoes. It is incredibly delicious and well worth it.
This has been a great week for quotes in the Twin Cities food circle. Rick Nelson at the Star Tribune describes the atmosphere at Wayzata Eatery as “Ripped from the pages of “The Official Preppy Handbook”". I laughed out loud. Then Ann Bauer over at the Rake writes quite a piece on her blog about her new book that wanders from Persian food to fat men having sex. She derides “socialites who attend every haute cuisine gala in town” versus the “lusty gourmets of the Ruth Reichl type.” I wonder where I fit in here?
In for some more foodie reading, check out Mpls St Paul Magazine’s Best of the Twin Cities 2007 Food and Drink winners. Not enough for you, they are having a “Best of the Best” party at the Walker on Monday, February 18 at the Walker Art Center. There are a good thirty restaurants participating. Think of it as kick off to Food and Wine week in Minneapolis with the Food and Wine Experience kicking off a couple of days later.
I am heading again to 112 Eatery this weekend. I still haven’t had anything particularly nice to say about 112 despite its cult status here in Minneapolis. What am I doing wrong? What can I order without meat (other than dessert) and have a wonderful full meal and not feel like I am only eating side dishes?
Stuff to do: Rope Trick and Gated Community at Lee’s
All the cool kids will be at the sold-out Bon Iver show, so you may as well go a different way entirely. At Lee’s Liquor Lounge, the bill features country-swingers Rope Trick (”the Twin Cities’ premier cowboy yodeling band”) [Myspace] and bluegrass-y combo Gated Community [Myspace]. Music starts at 9:30; directions/details.
Below: The Gated Community plays “Evangeline” in somebody’s living room.
Reveille Scene Showcase: Bella Koshka
From the Daily Mole’s local music partner site Reveille, the skinny on a local band that will be holding a CD release party this weekend (details below):
By Rob Van Alstyne
Looking for a little violin-led gothic pop to get you through winter in archly dramatic style? Well, look no further, Bella Koshka is here, and they’ve cooked up a bewitchingly baroque musical experience on their debut album, Slow Dancing On the Ocean Floor. Bella Koshka’s core duo of vocalist Laura Boland and violinist Hilary Davis recorded with local music guru Darren Jackson behind the board (Jackson also contributed guitar, bass and various keyboard parts to the record), and perhaps unsurprisingly given that pedigree Slow Dancing On the Ocean Floor’s dark melodies and occasionally menacing guitar textures echo Kid Dakota’s, but overall the sound Bella Koshka opts for is far more lush. If I’m hard pressed to make a comparison I’ll guess I’ll go ahead and say it sounds a bit like a skewed blend of Kristin Hersh and Andrew Bird (in other words, its strikingly original). In particular I find the moments when Bella Koshka allow a little light to poke through their musical darkness most affecting, such as on the sumptuous piano ballad “Stitches.” With new players Matte Franklin [drums] and Matt Vannelli [guitar] recently added to the mix for live performance expect to be hearing plenty more from this intriguing new group in the months to come.
Listen to “Stitches” from Slow Dancing on the Ocean Floor
COMING UP: Bella Koshka plays the CD release show for Slow Dancing On the Ocean Floor on Saturday, Jan 19, at the Bryant Lake Bowl with opening act Ghost in the Water. 9:30 p.m. $8 adv/$10 door. All Ages.
Stuff to do: The Limns at Bunker’s
Haven’t heard a lot by St. Paul’s The Limns [Myspace page], but I like the arrangements, the harmonies, and the sense of humor. They’re playing tonight at Bunker’s, 9:30, $5. Details.
Below: The Limns perform “One True Love” live at the Blue Nile
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