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Local Gig List: December 3-9

by Andrea Swensson

December 04, 2012

Tis the season for holiday-themed extravaganzas and benefit shows. There's a little of both in this week's Local Gig List, along with a healthy supply of CD-release shows that should keep us swimming in new music until the year's end.

Have an event you'd like to have considered for the Local Gig List? Email aswensson@mpr.org. And as always, find even more events on the Current's concert calendar.


 

Tuesday, December 4

Heavy Deeds
Turf Club, St. Paul
8 p.m., $5, 21+
With Polica's tour schedule tapering off a bit in the winter months, bassist Chris Bierden finally has time to focus on his two Picked to Click projects. All this month, Heavy Deeds -- a collaboration between Bierden and his Vampire Hands cohorts Alex and Chris Rose, plus Molly Harrington and Sara Bischoff -- will hold down a Tuesday night residency at the Turf. The first installment will feature supporting acts Villa and Crimes.

Minnesota Beatle Project Release Party
Electric Fetus, Minneapolis
7 p.m., free, all ages
Chastity Brown will perform at this party celebrating the latest Minnesota Beatle Project compilation, which coincides with the release of MBP Vol. 4 on vinyl and CD.
 

Wednesday, December 5

Rap for Life
Honey, Minneapolis
7:30 p.m., $5, 18+
A lineup of the Cities' most underrated hip-hop stars rally to raise awareness of mental health issues, with proceeds benefitting Stillwater's Suicide Prevention Collaborative. With Kristoff Krane, Ecid, Bodi, Christopher Michael Jensen, Lifted Mindz, Zac HB, Bobby Phisher, Tyler Nelson, and more.
 

Thursday, December 6

Doomtree's Team the Best Team Screening
St. Anthony Main Theatre, Minneapolis
9:15 p.m., $7, all ages
Doomtree will premiere their first full-length documentary, which takes fans behind-the-scenes of their tour and personal lives. The documentary will also be released on DVD. 

I AM MPLS!
Varsity Theater, Minneapolis
7 p.m., $15, 18+
Heatbox and A. Wolf and Her Claws will perform at this mixed-media event, which will also feature a fashion show, comedy, art, and more. 

Brute Heart
Kitty Cat Klub, Minneapolis
9 p.m., free, 21+
Brute Heart headlines Modern Radio's monthly night at the Kitty Cat, which will also feature David Gerald Sutton and DJing from Poliça's/Totally Gross National Product's Drew Christopherson.
 

Friday, December 7

Solid Gold Album-Release Show
First Avenue, Minneapolis
8 p.m., $14, 18+
Solid Gold celebrate the release of their long-awaited Eat Your Young. With breakout touring duo Wild Belle and local freak-prog collective Moonstone Continuum.

Ol' Yeller CD-Release Show
Lee's Liquor Lounge, Minneapolis
9 p.m., $8, 21+
Ol' Yeller returns! After a five-year hiatus, Rich Mattson's "Northern rock" band is back and gnarlier than ever. They'll celebrate the release of their new LEVELS with openers Brothers Burn Mountain and Germaine Gemberling.

War Poets CD-Release
Bunker's, Minneapolis
7 p.m., $8, 21+
A new collaboration between Rex Haberman and Jenny Case, War Poets have already made a name for themselves on YouTube with their marriage amendment-themed music video, "Close Enough." Now, they'll celebrate the release of their first full-length album, Dulce et Decorum Est! With Red Daughters and Missing Peace.

The New Standards Holiday Show and CD-Release
Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul
8 p.m., $35, all ages
The New Standards bring their annual holiday shows back to the Fitz, this time with a new album, Sunday Morning Coming Down, in tow. Expect plenty of lush covers of familiar classics and a few special guests—as their press release says, "you never know who might turn up!" Also Saturday (8 p.m., $35) and Sunday (2 p.m., $22).
 

Saturday, December 8

Crankshaft's Canned Food Drive
Lee's Liquor Lounge, Minneapolis
2 p.m., $10 ($8 with canned food donation)
Alex "Crankshaft" Larson and his Gear Grinders will host an afternoon soiree to raise money for the Second Harvest Heartland food bank, with support from Davina and the Vagabonds, Poverty Hash, and the Jack Brass Band. 

Prissy Clerks CD-Release Show
7th St. Entry, Minneapolis
8 p.m., $6 adv/$8 door, 18+ 
Clara Salyer's noise-pop project celebrates the release of its first full-length after a year of accolades, including winning Vita.mn's best-new-band contest Are You Local? With Alpha Consumer, the Jim Ruiz Set, and Nallo.

Curtiss A's Annual John Lennon Tribute
First Avenue, Minneapolis
7 p.m., $15, 18+
A must-attend event for Beatles fans, this shindig seems to grow bigger every year. Now in its 33rd installment, Curtiss A is promising a performance of 100 different Beatles covers. He'll have help during intermission from artists on the latest Minnesota Beatle Project compilation, including John Mark Nelson, Big Trouble, and Molly Maher and Her Disbelievers.

William Within and Bomba de Luz
Amsterdam Bar & Hall, St. Paul
7 p.m., $6, 18+
Two groups who mix folk with jazz and other influences converge for a night of live music in downtown St. Paul. 


Sunday, December 9

Mousey McGlynn Video-Release
Republic (7 Corners), Minneapolis
7 p.m., free, all ages
Ireland-born, North Dakota-based electro artist Margaret "Mousey" McGlynn has been gravitating toward the Twin Cities in recent months to find a larger audience for her work. On Sunday night she'll debut her new video, "Faith+1 (Sunday)," and screen another video for the song "Walked to the Water." 

MN Music: Now and Then
Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis
6:30 p.m., $5 adv/$8 door, 18+
Americana band the Farewell Circuit, punky pop group the Pinsch, and singer-songwriters Martin Devaney and Savannah Smith highlight a lineup of local artists covering other local artists at this unique event, which will benefit music-in-schools nonprofit Vega Productions.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.