ART
The Throw Up Vol. 4 Release Party
Elusive Minneapolis art duo, Pop Vomit,
celebrates a number of things tonight! Not only can you get a last
glimpse of a very cool exhibit at the closing reception for the Altered
Esthetics Resident Artists show,
Kephart, Kate Iverson (yes, that’s me!), Justin James Sehorn, Katrin Snider, Jeff Evrard,
Scott Johnson, Jesse Draxler and Coy Douglas Larson. What started as
a self-released "scrapbook" has turned into a medium for unknown
artists to gain exposure, a visual candy store for those looking for
something unique, and an ongoing collector’s series.
Friday, 7pm-11pm, Altered Esthetics, Q.arma Building, 1224 Quincy Street NE, Northeast Minneapolis, Free
BENEFIT EVENT
Jazz for Peace
You can’t argue with peace. Especially when it’s backed up by world class jazz music. Hit the cool, cool spot that is the Artists’ Quarter 
program, touring the world to raise money and awareness for causes that
promote a better world – including providing musical instruments for
under underprivileged youth. Considered by those-in-the-know to be one
of the top jazz pianists and songwriters of today, Rick DellaRatta will
thrill the audience with his unique sound and Chet Baker-esque vocal
stylings. Not to mention, if you haven’t been, the Artists’ Quarter is
an absolute must-go for anyone who considers ambiance to be an art
form.
Bonus: Want a later night? Debbie Duncan takes over the AQ at 9pm on both Friday and Saturday!
Friday, 6pm-8:30pm, The Artists Quarter, 408 St. Peter Street, Downtown St. Paul, $25
FAMILY
Wild West Frontier Fest
Attention buckaroos, cowboys, wranglers, varmints, gunslingers, and cowpokes! This weekend at Harriet Island indulge your inner villian/hero at Wild West Frontier Fest, where your mustache twirling and Clint
won’t creep anyone out. A perfect family day or a fun adventure for any
history buff, this outdoor fest will feature paddleboat rides, a Tom
Sawyer Fence Paintin’ Contest, old-fashioned photos, costumed
characters, exhibits, demonstrations, plus live music and performance
on four stages! Have dinner with Mark Twain or watch a silent movie, then
learn about the Wild West and the culture and history surrounding it.
Just leave your pistol at home.
Saturday-Sunday, Noon-10pm, Harriet Island, Minneapolis, Tickets $12 per day, $20 for both days
COMEDY
Bill Maher
Maybe the best thing about Maher is his refusal to be pigeonholed, his
keen negotiation of the difference between unorthodoxy and hypocrisy.
Nader for President (after supporting Bob Dole in 1996), aligned
himself with PETA and NORML, and was the first to bring Ann Coulter
into the limelight via his Politically Incorrect show-which became a
victim of our post 9/11 hysteria when Maher was vilified and PI
cancelled when he said lobbing cruise missiles from 2000 miles away was
more cowardly than flying airplanes into the World Trade Center. That’s
Maher, for better and (occasionally) for worse a fearless slayer of
shibboleths of all persuasions, at once a notorious skirt-chaser who
was a regular at the Playboy Mansion, a staunch supporter of gay
marriage and an unremitting critic of the Catholic Church for looking
the other way while pedophilia was taking place within the clergy.
Along with Jon Stewart and a few others, he’s in the vanguard of a
current wave of social commentary that is simultaneously hilarious and
astute, as anyone who checks out Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO
already knows. He’s also extremely topical, so expect a few zingers on
the stories in this week’s newspapers-and perhaps a few words about his
friend and mentor, the late George Carlin. – Britt Robson
Saturday, 8pm, Orpheum Theater, 910 Hennepin Avenue, Downtown Minneapolis, $81-$112
FESTIVALS
Bearded Lady Motorcycle Rally
For the third year in a row, the Bearded Lady Motorcycle Rally
takes over Northeast Minneapolis! This years’ festivities will be the
biggest and freakiest yet, with the addition of a block party. Catch up
on your
weirdos, and carnival folk show off their brawn, bikes, and
bizarreness. Register your own bike at 3pm, or simply watch the
ever-popular bike judging event, where tricked out motorcycles will compete against each other for cool points. Then, chow down on food from Pizza Luce
while listening to live music from the likes of The Corpse Show Creeps,
The Rockford Mules, The Evening Rig, Tim Rally Gold, The Brass Kings,
and Al’s Rock-a-Billy Quartet, as well as enjoying performances by Le
Cirque Rouge Cabaret & Burlesque, Miss Honey Combs and Ballet of
the Dolls. The block party rocks from Noon to 6pm, at which point the
party will travel indoors to the 331 Club and the Ritz Theater. Bonus
points for bearded ladies!
Saturday, Noon-6pm Block Party, 6pm-2am Indoor Music, 331 Club, 331 13th Avenue NE, Northeast Minneapolis, Free
MUSIC
Muja Messiah CD Release Party
Muja Messiah’s new album, Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy, cycles through a medley of styles. The production ranges from the jazzy slow 
the rhymes from egotistical to introspective. And Muja effortlessly
navigates from track to track, rapping convincingly over the varied
beats – it’s not just like he wrote a rhyme and a producer made a beat
and they synced them up and smashed them together; rather his flows
seem actually to be linked with the rhythms. Overall, his style has a bit more of an edge than most Minnesotan
rappers’. Just when I thought the local scene was as saturated as it
could possibly be – this is a small city to have as many big names as we do – Muja is able to inject it with something that, if not completely new, is at least new to us. – Max Ross
Read the full review of Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy by Max Ross HERE.
Sunday, 8pm, First Avenue Mainroom, 701 1st Avenue N, Downtown Minneapolis, $10
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