Hello friends and Happy New Year.
Saint Paul is getting 2010 started with a bang by re-opening a legendary Blues Bar, throwing Art Crawls every month, bringing back an old favorite band from the 90s and rolling out a couple of new projects that will be huge in the teens!
Lowertown First Fridays – Friday
The artists of Lowertown Saint Paul have organized an exciting new addition to the Twin Cities art scene–Lowertown First Fridays (January event to be held on 1/8 due to the New Year holiday) from 6-9 pm, this new monthly event will feature open studios with some of the best artists in the area, in one of the most exciting and vibrant neighborhoods – Lowertown. Studios will be open in the artists’ buildings, both working and living/work spaces. Several Lowertown bars and restaurants will be featuring food specials, along with entertainment, during Lowertown First Friday.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Paul-MN/Rhea-Pappas/107693903121#/event.php?eid=165961463526&ref=mf
Arcwelder at the Turf Club – Friday
It was like a stroll down memory lane to see Arcwelder appear on the Turf Club calendar for Friday night. This quintessential 90s band is back in action much to the delight of many fans in their 30s. This won’t be just a good show for those with nostalgia; it’s a really good group of musicians playing a terrific Friday night gig.
http://turfclub.net/
Fantastic Merlins and Fat Kid Wednesday at the Black Dog Café
The Black Dog is hosting a really cool show on Friday – The Fantastic Merlins with Kid Dakota performing the music of Leonard Cohen. This will be a sneak preview of their upcoming release, “How the Light Gets In.” The early reports are that this is a very fruitful collaboration and the music on the disc is incredible.
http://blackdogstpaul.com/events/news-180.shtml
Robozoology with Idle Hands at Nicademus Art and Framing – Saturday
Chuck U has been doing his thing as an illustrator designer and all around town promoter. I believe it was his hip hop posters that we fell for first. His posters feel hand done and fresh while also been painstakingly complex. Worms, monkeys and mustaches interweave with the stationary backgrounds creating a playful romp on an M.C. Escher illustration. If you haven’t heard of Chuck U, and are a poster collector, get to Nicademus art with the quickness because Chuck has been working hard at his craft and there is a great amount to check out. The Idle Hands will be putting down a set in support of Chuck U as well, so get to Nicademus Art and start the new year right. The show will open at 6pm and go until 12am.
http://nicademusart.com/gallery-space/
Raw Stages at History Theatre – through Sunday
With more than 100 world premieres commissioned, the History Theatre continues to be a leader in the development of new works for the stage. Raw Stages is an opportunity for audiences to experience a first view of four original plays-in-progress from some of the most talented local and national writers working today. With scripts so fresh you’ll be able to smell the ink as a cadre of talented actors and directors bring these stories from the page to the stage for the first time. A highlight will be a piece by Kevin Kling as he presents a comic history of the Twin Cities with a menagerie of hysterical characters that made Pig’s Eye and St. Anthony Falls the towns they are today. Featuring the musical stylings of Simone Perrin
http://historytheatre.com/shows/2009-2010/raw_stages.asp
Stravinsky Festival – Opens this weekend
Last year the SPCO presented an International Chamber Orchestra festival that included the concert and collaborations from best of the best from all over the world playing pieces that ranged from traditional to the crunchiest. This year, they treat audiences to a Stravinsky festival featuring concerts and collaborations with the Minnesota Orchestra. The ambitiousness of this project is not to be overlooked as two of the finest music ensembles in the world come together to celebrate the works of Stravinsky. There is also a huge story in the Friday edition of the Strib.
http://www.thespco.org/show.asp?shCode=663&shName=Stravinsky+Festival+Kickoff¶m3=¶m4=¶m5=¶m6=¶m7=¶m8=¶m9=¶m10=
Return of Wilebski’s Blues Saloon
It seems that the storied Wilebski’s Blues Saloon was a bit before my time, but when I ask oldsters about the place, I’m met with guttural sounds that denote the glory days. Known best to me as the location of Lucy’s, the once successful lesbian bar at Western and Thomas, this place was the center of the scene. A quick Google search reveals that Etta James, Dr. John and John Lee Hooker among others played this cozy Frogtown venue. They re-opened this past New Year’s Eve with a show by Willie Murphy and his Angel-headed Hipsters. Studebaker John is on for this weekend. They don’t seem to have a web-presence yet, but you get more info at 651-331-0929.
That’s all for the week –
Cheers,
Joe