I was an "Art Hound" for MPR this week, talking about Ben Connelly

On Thursday, I was on MPR's Morning Edition at 8:45 a.m. talking about Ben Connelly's CD Release Party at the Bryant Lake Bowl on Sunday, March 1st with Aby Wolf. (That's also my voice on part of the intro and outro of the voiceover.)

If you missed it, they've now posted the audio (embedded above). Kudos to Chris Roberts for kind edits of my rambling. Glad he kept the bit about the "streetwise academic" in.

Ben's new album, The Great I Don't Know Why, is going to make my best of list for 2009. (Yes, I know that already.)

V-Day Benefit Concert

V-Day Benefit Concert (Sat, Mar 7, 7pm) at The Varsity Theatre featuring Maria Isa, Tish Jones, Desdamona, Gospel Gossip, Nikki Schultz, Sha Cage, and Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles.

All proceeds from these events will be donated to local shelters fighting domestic violence, The Minneapolis Women's Prison Book Project, and to help build a hospital/refuge for women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Details:

Varsity Theatre:
1308 4th St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
All Ages, $12 advance/$15 door

More information: http://www.myspace.com/vdayminneapolis

V-Day is a coalition of women and men brought together by a common cause: to stop violence against women and girls. We believe that the power of community is one of the strongest tools we have to create a safer future. Accordingly, ours is a grassroots movement that relies on strong partnerships forged form a shared commitment to ending violence. We would like to invite you to be part of this community and take part in the V-Day 2009 celebration in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Playlist Interviews the Critics

Critical interview from Minnesota Playlist on Vimeo.

Minnesota Playlist.com recently interviewed performing arts critics Quinton Skinner (City Pages theater critic), Camille LeFevre (Pioneeer Press dance critic), Dominic Papatola (Pioneer Press theater critic), and Graydon Royce (Star Tribune theater critic) about a variety of subjects including what makes for a good review, the problems that face critics in general and the future of mainstream newspaper criticism in the advent of online media.

The roundable video is 40 minutes long, and Quinton is a bit difficult to hear at times, but this is still a nicely assembled production that anyone who writes about theater in the Twin Cities would benefit from watching to the end (even if the promised "fight" between Graydon and Domnic in the last few minutes is really no more than a pointed difference of opinion, if that.)

Many good points are made here, particularly Domnic's concern about the "tyranny of limitless opinion."

Cheers to Alan Berks and Minnesota Playlist for giving us this insight into what's on the minds of some of the heavy hitters in arts criticism in the Twin Cities today.

Off With Their Heads Release Video For "Falling Down"

Off With Their Heads video for their song "Falling Down" is worth a watch. It's cheesy, funny, twisted, and a bit gross, in all the right combinations.

The song is from their 2008 release From The Bottom on No Idea Records. The video was directed by Mario Framingheddu who directed the "Fuck This I'm Out" video from the same release.



Off With Their Heads - "Falling Down" from Mario Framingheddu on Vimeo

MNStories debuts Eskimo Witch

Chuck Olsen of MnStories visits the art shanties and so much more. It's a fabulous and totally unrelated set of news stories you really must check out.

The Hexagon Bar - Benefit to raise money for new sound equipment

The Hexagon Bar is doing a fundraiser for much needed new sound components on Friday Feb. 13th. 13 bands on 2 stages with 13 minute sets. (If that's still not enough, to get you totally ready for Valentines Day, there's also a secret special 14th guest, and I'm not tellin' because I want to help them keep it a secret, I'm not tellin' because I don't know.)

Here's the line up in reverse order (*indicates stage 2)

1:15(ish) special guests
12;45 speeds the name
12:30 power of two*
12:15 plastic chord
12:00 marvelle*
11:45 economy team
11:30 zyclon b cool*
11:15 the nina the pinta
11:00 nightinghales*
10:45 young brides
10:30 falcon arrow*
10:15 kill to kill
10:00 the hasbeen*
9:45 military special

F*ck You I Love Me for Valentine's Day

Passing along word from our friends at Lamb Lays With Lion and Clapperclaw...

Lamb Lays with Lion is partnering with the Clapperclaw Music + Art Festival to present F*ck You I Love Me, a Valentine's Day party like no other. It's a kaleidoscopic carnival featuring music from Koo Koo Kanga Roo, Loveless Aphrodite, Battle Royal and others. It includes a kissing booth! Haikus will be written to order (Oh My Valentine!/ You took me to a weird party/Sex Later Maybe?) and Cupid's aim will be true.* Try your luck at fishing for condoms! Heart-o-grams! Romance!** Not to mention bad movies about love and a coat check (for coats.) It's a big crazy party where you're sure to fall into something – be it love of a man, woman, music, a cookie, or simply a full and well-deserved appreciation of yourself.

F*ck You I Love Me is a benefit for Lamb Lays With Lion. LLwL is aggressively pursing non-profit status, and as we do so we remain unwavering in our commitment to present challenging and integral work in live performance. All proceeds from the party will go directly towards funding our 2008-2009 season, including " Lamb Lays with Lion's Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" this March at the Bedlam Theatre. Celebrate with us. Clapperclaw just likes to party. F*ck You I Love Me will be held at the Sound Gallery, 414 North Third Avenue. Doors at 8, entertainment and amusements all night long. Tickets are $5 pre-sale or $12 at the door, cash or check only. This event is 21+, refreshments will be provided.

*Literally. There will be up to five Cupids. **Romance must be in some part provided by the attendee(s). Lamb Lays with Lion makes no guarantee that romantic fulfillment will be achieved through attending F*ck You I Love Me.

Help Rift Magazine in their ongoing quest to print the internet

Now that I have your attention. Rift is having a benefit show on Friday, February 20th, but you should go not only to help Rift, but because the music is awesome.

Supercollider (formerly ZibraZibra), Zoo Animal, Guante and Bill Mike (solo) will all play Friday, February 20, 2009 at 9:00pm at Stasius Place - 2500 University Ave NE - Minneapolis, MN

More info: http://www.riftmagazine.com/?p=510

Get Rift Issue #26 mailed to your doorstep - just email your address to rich@riftmagazine.com

The Von Bondies (featuring local musician Christy Hunt) to perform on Letterman Monday, February 9th.

One of the Twin Cities' favorite badass girl guitar players Christy Hunt (of Ouija Radio) will be playing with the Von Bondies Monday night on the Late Show with David Letterman. The band will perform "Pale Bride" off the Von Bondie's new album Love Hate and Then There's You.

Here's more from the press release:

"This appearance by the Michigan-based band--JASON STOLLSTEIMER (lead vocals, guitars), DON BLUM (drums), LEANN BANKS (bass) and CHRISTY HUNT (guitars)--precedes the February 12 launch of their 2009 tour.

STOLLSTEIMER’s newest batch of songs, as well as BLUM’s co-writes, were penned over the past few years and recorded sporadically during that period. Producers Butch Walker (Hot Hot Heat, The Donnas, All-American Rejects) and Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) fine-tuned the recordings."

There are no Minneapolis dates on the current leg of the tour of the U.S. and Canada w/ special guests Nico Vega that kicks off February 12th in London, Ontario and wraps up March 30th in Chicago at Schuba's. But we'll keep you posted.

Full tour dates below:



DATE CITY VENUE

Thu 2/12 London, ON Call The Office

Fri 2/13 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern

Sun 2/15 Montreal, QUE Les Saints

Mon 2/16 New York, NY Mercury Lounge

Tue 2/17 Vienna, VA Jammin Java

Wed 2/18 Philadelphia, PA The Khyber

Fri 2/20 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop

Sat 2/21 Ann Arbor, MI The Blind Pig

Sun 2/22 Toledo, OH Mickey Finns

Sun 3/8 Seattle, WA Neumos

Mon 3/9 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge

Tue 3/10 Victoria, BC Lucky Bar

Fri 3/13 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill

Sat 3/14 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy

Sun 3/15 Solano Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern

Fri 3/27 Columbus, OH The Basement

Sat 3/28 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall

Mon 3/30 Chicago, IL Schubas