As a musician, you ought not name yourself after one of the wonders of the ancient world unless a) you’re damn sure of yourself and b) you’re going to be playing for a long time and assume iconic status. Taj easily meets both criteria: His ego’s as big as the stogies he smokes, and his … Read more
You’d think we’d stay on top of these things: Sigur Ros, the superhip ambient slow-core band from Iceland, has a new record coming out this week, and we never got our secret-handshake-nudge-nudge-wink-wink advance copy, the better to let you know whether you should buy it when it becomes available to the masses. But when it … Read more
It can be hard to find the blues in these parts, unless you’re also looking for joints with a bunch of crazy crap nailed to the walls frequented by tipsy grandmothers. But this event promises to give the blues lover a real feast for the ears, and in a fancy-pants setting to boot. In addition … Read more
The strange phenomenon of classical cheesecake is not limited to nubile females posing naked behind their cellos. Violinist and conductor Joshua Bell only has to toss sweat off the ends of his long hair and the band geeks all swoon. Bell debuted at age thirteen with the Philadelphia Orchestra and has since played with many … Read more
In a herculaean feat involving customs negotiations, visas, and all sorts of other international red tape, the Cedar manages to import a couple dozen Scandinavian musicians each year for its Nordic Roots Festival. The music itself is even more amazing. This year’s lineup includes traditional players like Norway’s Knut Hamre (a master of the lovely … Read more
Could the origins of reality TV be traced back to Depression-era dance marathons? These events played out as grueling contests, in which curious onlookers watched young, desperate couples compete for prize money by bopping, literally, til they dropped. Bankrupt City Ballad recalls those days as Peter Rothstein, the brains behind Theater Latte Da, and Mathew … Read more
In a showdown between Saturday Night Live and Second City TV, SNL comes out the shrill, monotonous loser with the long, embarrassing sketches. SC was born onstage in Chicago in 1959, and expanded to the small screen during the seventies and eighties. Eight seasons of inventive ensemble comedy featured young comics like John Candy, Eugene … Read more
With shows in Las Vegas and Disney World, performances on cruise ships, and six globe-trotting productions, what was once an artsy, small-scale French-Canadian circus has blossomed into a seriously big business entertainment. And, while it’s not exactly the exotic spectacle it once was, the troops enlisted by this troupe still put on one hell of … Read more
What’s hotter than the jazz at the Dakota? The new menu. When longtime chef Ken Goff departed, young hotshot Jack Riebel (formerly of La Belle Vie) stepped up to undertake a gastronomical renovation. His grilled lamb confit tart with goat cheese and tapenade strikes an earthy, rich note, and the ham and sweet pea soup … Read more
Kabobi has arrived in Eden Prairie to save the khaki-clad office teams from yet another giant burrito. This warmly stylish joint offers two main dishes and a bevy of sides. Order the Kabobi sandwich and you’ll get seasoned, fire-roasted chicken, beef, or lamb cradled in flatbread with tomatoes, onions, cucumber, and a creamy herb sauce. … Read more