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Local Gig List: April 22-28

by Andrea Swensson

April 23, 2013

Monday, April 22

Reina del Cid

Amsterdam Bar and Hall, St. Paul

9 p.m., free, 21+

Fresh off a well-received appearance at Winona's Mid West Music Fest, Reina del Cid and the Cidizens bring their guitar-driven folk back to the Amsterdam for their weekly residency. Singer-songwriter Martin Devaney will open the show.

Tuesday, April 23

Nick Drake's Musical Legacy with Mason Jennings, Haley Bonar

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $10, all ages

Record producer Joe Boyd offers up an in-depth look at the life and music of Nick Drake, and will preside over an evening that will include Nick Drake songs performed by Mason Jennings, Haley Bonar, and Steve Tibbets with Wendy Lewis, plus a screening of the Nick Drake tribute concert "Way to Blue" that took place last year. The evening will end with an audience Q&A with Boyd, who oversaw the recording of all three of Drake's albums.

The Magnolias

Cause Spirits & Soundbar, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $5, 21+

One of Minneapolis's longest-running punk bands will blast the walls off of Cause with a little help from the Modern Era (formerly Machine 22) and Big Bad.

Wednesday, April 24

Poliça

First Avenue, Minneapolis

7:30 p.m., sold out, 18+

Still riding high off their performances at Coachella, Poliça steers their West Coast tour back home with openers Night Moves in tow. Wednesday night's show will also mark the live debut of electro duo RONIA, a collaboration between Mark McGee (Father You See Queen, Basuketto) and Nona Marie Invie (Dark Dark Dark).

XTC Tribute: Senses Working Overtime

Icehouse, Minneapolis

10 p.m., $10 adv/$12 door, 21+

Minneapolis musicians gather to cover XTC songs and raise money for the Pay It Forward Cancer Funds at North Memorial Hospital and Essentia Health. Performers include Adam Levy, Wendy Lewis, Chris Lynch, John Munson, Jenny Russ, Joel Sayles, Tom Scott, Faith Boblett and more.

Thursday, April 25

Free Energy

Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $10, 18+

St. Paul-bred, Philly-based party rockers Free Energy return home with a new album, Love Sign, which just dropped in January. They'll be joined by openers Hollow Boys and Old Moon.

Gingko

Turf Club, St. Paul

9 p.m., $6, 21+

Josh Grier of Tapes 'n Tapes brings his new band to the Turf this week after releasing his first pair of singles under the Gingko name. With openers Votel.

Tickle Torture

Kitty Cat Klub, Minneapolis

9 p.m., free, 21+

Elliott Kozel (formerly of Sleeping in the Aviary) brings his one-man dance party freakout to the Kitty Cat with support from openers Fire in the Northern Firs, Driftwood Pyre, and DJ Dig Dug. Check out my recent profile of Elliott here.

Bora York and Southwire (opening for William Tyler)

7th St. Entry, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $8 adv/$10 door, 18+

Nashville guitarist and songwriter William Tyler will be supported by a pair of very different, equally compelling Minnesotan acts: Duluth gospel-folk quartet Southwire and dreamy pop duo Bora York.

Caroline Smith and Jesse Schuster

Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $15, all ages

Caroline Smith and her Good Night Sleeps bassist Jesse Schuster will play a stripped-down dinnertime set.

Friday, April 26

Aby Wolf

Icehouse, Minneapolis

10:30 p.m., $8, 21+

Aby Wolf and Grant Cutler will take the stage together for the first time since their stellar Wolf Lords release show, with support from opening act Father You See Queen.

The Lioness Mixtape-Release Show

Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $8 adv/$10 door, 18+

Commanding MC the Lioness celebrates the release of her third mixtape with support from R&B singer Ashley DuBose (who I profiled here), Mac Irv, and I Self Devine.

Fathom Lane and Actual Wolf

Aster Cafe, Minneapolis

8:30 p.m., $10, all ages

Two talented songwriters bring their bands to the Aster for an intimate show.

Birthday Suits

Turf Club, St. Paul

9 p.m., $TBA, 21+

There are quite a few reasons to head to the Turf for this show: Not only will it be headlined by the always fiery and fun punk duo Birthday Suits, but it will feature performances by Leisure Birds and new band Painted Ponys, a collaboration between Charles Gehr (Seawhores, Pink Mink) and Jonny Kelson (Calvin Krime).

On an On

7th St. Entry, Minneapolis

9:30 p.m., $10, 18+

With two of its three members now residing in Minneapolis, Friday will be On an On's first show in town as a "local" band. They'll be joined by indie rockers the Farewell Circuit and dream-pop duo Aaron and the Sea.

Saturday, April 27

Cloud Cult

First Avenue, Minneapolis

6 p.m., sold out, 18+

Cloud Cult return to Minneapolis for their first headlining gig since releasing their new studio album, Love. With openers JBM.

Lucy Michelle Album-Release Show

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $10 adv/$12 door, all ages

Recent Local Show guest Lucy Michelle will be joined by new bandmates Chan Poling and John Munson for this album-release show, which will celebrate her first solo album Attack of the Heart. Southside Desire opens.

L'Assassins CD-Release Show

Turf Club, St. Paul

9 p.m., $7, 21+

Everyone on the bill will have a new release out at this show: L'Assassins will drop their new EP, Lovin' on the Run, while Pink Mink, the Sex Rays, and the Pinsch will have fresh vinyl. To top it off, DJs Lady Heat will spin soul songs between sets.

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