Rock for Pussy 8 at First Avenue, 6/10/11

Photos by Erik Hess

​Rebel Rebel: Rock for Pussy 8
June 10, 2011
First Avenue, Minneapolis

Now in its eighth go-round, the annual David Bowie tribute-meets-cat shelter fundraiser Rock for Pussy has become one of the most predictably fun nights in local music, as shown by the large turnout and vibrant cast of characters at First Avenue on Friday night.

One of the best parts about a show like Rock for Pussy is that the action never lets up, each special guest a surprise that keeps the momentum ratcheting up and up. Co-hosts and curators Mary Lucia and David Campbell did a great job this year of mixing in some fresh young faces with the more familiar stalwarts of the event, and both Brenden Green of the Goondas and Reed Wilkerson of the Japhies had the crowd buzzing over their performances. Another of the many highlights came at the middle of the show when the house band cleared out to make way for Venus and All the Pretty Horses, who did a goosebump-inducing cover of "Five Years" that set a majestic tone for the remainder of the evening.

This year Jake Rudh was also on hand to spin tunes between sets and afterwards, and he kept the energy flowing so well that a dance party broke out on the floor after the show -- a remarkable feat in a room full of Minnesotan rock fans, to be sure.

Photographer Erik Hess was on hand to document the evening; here are a few of his shots from Friday night. You can also check his slideshow for more photos from the evening.

Venus DeMars

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All the Pretty Horses' LeFreak and Venus

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Janey Winterbauer

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John Munson

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Adam Levy

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Co-hosts Mary Lucia and David Campbell

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Rock for Pussy 8

​Click for more photos by Erik Hess.