The Crazies

​Two surprises this week: Films that might seem like tired retreads of a cop movie (Cop Out) and horror flick (The Crazies) but that bring something new and creative to the genres.

OPENING

SEE: Cop Out
Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis play two mismatched cops in a clever riff on every cop movie you've seen before. (area theaters)
City Pages: "A sly subversion of the cop genre. Cop Out only works as well as it does--and it works exponentially better than it should--because the movie-trivia game is played smirk-free. A loving homage, with palpable joy from everyone involved."
Star Tribune: 3.5 stars Pioneer Press: 2.5 stars RottenTomatoes.com: 17% positive

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​Here's an updated schedule for tonight's Electric Fetus benefit, which is taking place in both the Mainroom of First Avenue (in bold) and the 7th St. Entry. And yep -- that's me joining in with Solid Gold DJ Set at 11:30. Guaranteed mayhem.

7:00 - (DJ) Jake Rudh
7:30 - Peter Wolf Crier
8:00 - Cloud Cult
8:45 - (DJ) Jake Rudh
9:00 - Roma Di Luna
9:30 - Total Babe
9:30 - (DJ) Chris Riemenschneider from the Star Trib
10:00 - Jeremy Messersmith
10:30 - Caroline Smith & the Goodnight Sleeps
10:30 - (DJ) Ross Raihala from the Pioneer Press
11:00 - Trailer Trash
11:30 - Ruby Isle
11:30 - (DJ) Andrea from City Pages & Solid Gold
12:00 - Unknown Prophets
12:30 - Mike Michel & Carnage
12:30 - (DJ) Roy Freedom

Photo by Jake Gardner

Not since Cowboy Curtis have we seen both Nate and Neal Perbix on the same stage. Their new project Wishbook combines smart pop hooks with big rock beats, and will receive top billing this Saturday at the Entry.

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Photo by Nikki Miller

​ Justin Townes Earle, who on Thursday night turned out one of the best performances I've seen in a real long time at the Turf Club or in any other damned club, is a man after mine own heart. Why? Is it because he's a country music singer, and I like country music singers? Uh uh. In his circa-1950s math teacher suit and glasses that look like they belong in the coffin with James Manning, my long-deceased grandfather, he looked more the part of only boy to play clarinet in 6th grade band than belt buckle-wearing Waylon lookalike. Is it because he's a bad boy? Oof, he was a drug addict by his early teens. Is it because he's well-known to be the son of Steve Earle? Naw.

"This one goes out to my favorite things: fried chicken... and the ladies."

Never since I first heard First Edition's rendition of "Tulsa Turnaround" -- If a man's gonna eat fried chicken he's-a gonna get grea-say -- have I swooned so hard.

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​(Image by Photos8.com) 

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Photo by Katie Cannon

​Gastro Non Grata's Craig Drehmel and Jeff Mitchell know food, booze, and rock and roll, not always in that order. They aren't rookies, either: Craig has been a lifelong music fan and spent close to the last ten years working as a wine representative and in other alcohol-sales capacities; Jeff, the former guitarist for Volante, has been a server and bartender almost as long as he's been playing guitar. Heck, the two even met at Bulldog NE. Suffice to say, they think about these things a little more than the average person, so when the idea for Gastro Non Grata sprang from their heads, it was almost inevitiable that they had to make it happen.

In the over three years since their first food + drink + local rock and roll event, they've paired bands like The Evening Rig, Birthday Suits, and Hunting Club with chefs like Tor Westgaard (Town Talk), Dawn Drouillard (Fabulous Catering), and Pat Starr (The Wienery) at venues like Triple Rock Social Club, the 331, and even The Furthermore Beer Barn in Spring Green, WI.

Still going strong, this Sunday they return to the Triple Rock for "Leftover Love," featuring chef Doug Flicker of Piccolo, Left Hand Brewing of Colorado, dessert by Sheela Namakkal (Miel Y Leche Catering/Cake Eater Bakery), and bands Bitch And Brown, Bella Kosha, Unknown Prophets, and Montana's Noise Noise Noise. We pulled Craig and Jeff out of the kitchen to answer a few questions.More >>

​As you've undoubtedly heard, earlier this week 89.3 the Current got their hands on an unreleased track by Prince, "Cause and Effect," and was given permission to debut it on their station. Understandably, the station was ecstatic about the opportunity, and have been hyping it up all week on air and on their site -- and guys, we're happy for you too, but after listening to the song this morning as it debuted on the station and then again on their website, we started to scratch our heads.

When the Current announced that they would air Prince's new track, the release was steeped in hyperbole, saying that the new song featured "a musically re-energized Prince," who was playing with "a vengeance unheard by the majority of his fans in years, or at least since that Super Bowl performance in 2007."

To our ears, this track is on par with the songs off one of his most recent albums, Lotusflow3r; in other words, there are some promising moments and a killer guitar solo, but there are also laughable, flat-out cheesy spots that kept us cringing throughout the song.


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​Last night, Dinkytown's Varsity Theater was about 10 guests away from being sold out, filled to capacity by the Twin Cities' indie faithful who had been lured out of their warm apartments with the promise of catching a live set from Alaska-by-way-of-Oregon rockers Portugal. The Man (the period's not a typo, just intentionally funky punctuation).  Youthful, restless, and clothed in acres of plaid, the crowd was eager just to catch sight of keyboardist Ryan Neighbors, hooting and shouting as he played some shimmering synth pads while the rest of the band got settled in the dark. 

Though the stage was brightly lit for openers the Dig and Port O'Brien (who played a particularly well-received set), P.TM favored a dimmer, smokey setting, making sure that the few lights they had set up produced the maximum effect on the kids that rushed out to their car to get stoned in between bands (and it worked--more than a couple got a little geeked out when the lasers came on).

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Let's get patriotic for a second, shall we?

This past weekend, some of our country's finest young men laid it all on the line, competing in an athletic event that combines speed, coordination and finesse all in one. An event that some men spend their whole lives dreaming about winning, but only a select few will accomplish. That's right; I'm talking about the Amateur Shower Contest at Saloon in downtown Minneapolis.

Held each and every Sunday, the contest features men from all over our fine city battling it out in an erotic, aquatic clash unlike any other (go ahead, tell me that description didn't just blow your mind. Thought so). As the resident Erotic Specialist of the Universe, I felt compelled this week to do some digging and find out exactly what it takes to conquer the competition and earn the title, "Amateur Shower Contest Champion." So of course I turned to Facebook.

After a little bit of stalking research, I tracked down last Sunday's winner, Oliver Sharp, who agreed to talk with me about the competition, his experience with amateur showering and tips for other competitors looking to follow in his footsteps.

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