Jamie Lidell and Janelle Monae at The Varsity Theater on 10/7/08

By: Jon Behm
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Jamie Lidell - photo by Jon Behm   Jamie Lidell is a man of two faces. On one side you have the Motown inspired soul singer; Al Green reborn as a white Englishman. On the other, you have the experimental dance virtuoso, a microphone distorting soundboard jockey who has computer keys wired to his guitar's body.  I am personally a much bigger fan of the former, and was therefore a bit apprehensive to see ...

archy and mehitabel, life in lower case, an Open Eye Figure Theatre production at Open Eye Figure Theatre on 10/4/08

By: David de Young
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Sarah Agnew and Jim Lichtscheidl as mehitabel and archy - Photo by Lucas Saugen Open Eye Figure Theatre’s production of archy and mehitabel, life in lower case opened Friday in the theater company’s cozy space by the freeway in South Minneapolis. (The theater is located just off Portland Avenue South and 24th Street.)    Newspaperman Don Marquis created the character of archy [sic] the co...

Ani DiFranco at State Theatre on 10/3/08

By: Amber Schadewald
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Ani DiFranco - Photo by Jon Behm I think that every true third-wave feminist needs to see Ani DiFranco at least once. One must see her if not for the music, for the pure symbolism. Row after row of strong and confident women sang along to the endless of stream of DiFranco's powerful acoustic anthems. DiFranco has influenced millions with her musical poetry; a...

Chuck Klosterman w/ E.L.nO. at Triple Rock Social Club on 10/3/08

By: Pat O'Brien
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Chuck Klosterman - Photo by Stacy Schwartz Chuck Klosterman is the only person I’m aware of that isn’t a rock star who is a rock star. Sure, just a few months ago The Other Chuck--Chuck Palahniuk, made a tour stop at this very venue promoting his new book Snuff, at which he, among other things bizarre and Palahniukian, autographed and handed out a multitude of blow up dolls but a band didn’t play...

Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby with Martin Devaney at 7th Street Entry on 10/3/08

By: Jen Paulson
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Jake Hyer (left) and Martin Devaney - Photo by Jenn Barnett There is something incredibly exciting about autumn rock shows in Minneapolis: The crisp in the air just feels special as the relaxation of a laid back summer turns into the complacency of that fall into winter transition. And the temperature change always brings, for some people, a time where there really isn’t anythin...

Jeremy Messersmith CD Release Party w/ The Owls and Rachel Ries at The Varsity Theater on 9/25/08

By: David de Young
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Jeremy Messersmith at the Varsity - Photo by Jenn Barnett Jeremy Messersmith celebrated the release of his new CD The Silver City with a release party Thursday night at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. The Varsity has surely been one of the best places in town for CD Release shows of late. When you combine the relaxed atmosphere, the Varsity’s ability to accommodate large numbers of people, and the g...

An Interview with Jeremy Messersmith on 9/23/08

By: David Rachac
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Jeremy Messersmith - Photo by Darin Back Jeremy Messersmith is a singer/songwriter who is about to release his second CD, The Silver City. In this interview, he talks about his musical background, working with Dan Wilson and his CD release party at the Varsity Theater on Thursday, September 25.   How Was The Show: Tell me about your musical background&...

The Rocket Summer at Station 4 on 9/23/08

By: David Rachac
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The Rocket Summer - photo from myspace.com/therocketsummer The career trajectory for The Rocket Summer multi-instrumentalist Bryce Avary has been pretty stunning—from releasing an EP at the age of 16 to three full-length CDs (and another EP), tours all over the US and Japan, and signing to Island Records, all in the span of eight years. Throw in spots on the Vans Warped Tour and s...

Tenebrism, a Lamb Lays With Lion Production at The Sound Gallery on 9/20/08

By: David de Young
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Jeremy Catteron in Tenebrism - Photo by Stacy Schwartz Jeremy Catterton and Jayne Deis were key players in last year’s successful indie rock opera, Idigaragua. (Catterton directed, and Deis played roles as diverse as a call girl and a cactus.) This year for the newly-formed Lamb Lays with Lion theater company, Catterton and Deis developed Tenebrism, a loosely knit assemblage of skits about Ian Curtis, Joy ...

An Interview with Eric Anderson of Cataldo on 9/14/08

By: David Rachac
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Cataldo Singer/songwriter Eric Anderson left his native Idaho to attend Macalester College before resettling in Seattle. Recording as Cataldo, Anderson talks about his recording process, collaborating with others and his CD release party at the 400 Bar on Saturday, September 20.   How Was The Show: Tell me about your musical background—when you started playing, early inf...