Grease at Orpheum Theatre on 12/30/08

By: Nicholas Leeman
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Grease - Photo by Joan Marcus There are many reasons to both love and hate Grease. It's a microcosm of everything great about the 1950s: Fast cars, faster girls, rock music and a social euphoria still lingering from the end of World War II. It's also a completely ridiculous story, centering around two high school seniors: Danny Zuko (Eric Schneider) and Sandy Dumbrowski (Emily Padgett)....

Dark Dark Dark and Dosh at Cedar Cultural Center on 12/27/08

By: David de Young
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Dark Dark Dark - Photo by Jenn Barnett Dark Dark Dark    “It’s been a really great year,” Dark Dark Dark banjoist Marshall LaCount announced towards the beginning of their set at the Cedar Cultural Center Saturday night.  LaCount went on to say that it was also great to be home, an understandable sentiment considering the band had been on tour in Eur...

Todd Menton CD Release with Lehto & Wright at Cedar Cultural Center on 12/18/08

By: David de Young
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Todd Menton w/ Savage Aural Hotbed at the Cedar - Photo by David de Young Music fans from Minnesota and parts beyond are familiar with Todd Menton from his time spent as Boiled in Lead’s lead singer as well as from his prolific solo career and participation in the folk duo Martz & Menton.  A Boiled in Lead show in the late ‘80s may well have been my first show at First Avenue aft...

Christine Rosholt CD Release show at Dakota Jazz Club on 12/17/08

By: Kristine Lambert
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Christine Rosholt - photo by Ann Marsden Wednesday evening, the Dakota Jazz Club was warm and inviting.  It provided a much-needed shelter during Christine Rosholt's release show for her new CD Lipstick-Live at the Dakota Jazz Club.  Having already begun the first set when we arrived, the venue was completely full and there was hardly a table to be found.  Finding our way...

Podcast: Nikki Schultz Interview and Performance on 12/17/08

By: David de Young
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   Nikki Schultz (at left) and members of her band in the "HowWasTheShow studios" HowWasTheShow's David de Young talks to West Bank musician Nikki Schultz and the members of her band in the Artists Series Podcast for December, 2008. In addition to discussion, this 41 minute program includes exclusive live performances of "Ruins," "Float To Sea" and a debut of...

Trailer Trash's Trashy Little Xmas Family Show at The Guthrie Theater on 12/14/08

By: David de Young
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 Trailer Trash at the Guthrie - Photo by Jenn Barnett (click photo for full set)  When I announced I’d be attending the Trailer Trash Trashy Little Xmas Family Show at the Guthrie, some people told me they thought “Trailer Trash” and “Family Show” were a contradiction in terms. I’m here to tell you emphatically it’s just not true!    T...

Heiruspecs CD Release Show at First Avenue on 12/13/08

By: Donette Ambrosy
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Heiruspecs - Photo by Alexa Jones It's difficult to say who deserves more credit for the warmth generated on an otherwise cold Minnesota night at the Heiruspecs CD release party at First Avenue on Saturday night; Heiruspecs, or their enthusiastic fans.  Heiruspecs, for their part, naturally heated things up with their killer grooves, smart lyrics, and string of crowd-pleasing guest...

Podcast: HowWasTheShow/Minneapoliscast CD Reviews for December 2008 on 12/12/08

By: Bob Longmore, Tony Thomas, Jen Paulson, Pat O'Brien, David de Young, Stacy Schwartz
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HowWasTheShow's David de Young talks to Pat O'Brien, Tony Thomas, Bob Longmore, Jen Paulson and Stacy Schwartz about recent and upcoming Minnesota Music releases for December, 2008. Heiruspecs – “Lenses” (http://www.myspace.com/heiruspecs) – Selected by Jen Paulson The Tisdales – “Box of Wine” – (http://www.myspace.com/wearethetisdales) – Selected by Tony Thom...

Mercury Rev and The Duke Spirit at Fine Line Music Café on 12/12/08

By: David de Young
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Liela Moss of The Duke Spirit - Photo by Jenn Barnett (Click photo for full set) The Duke Spirit     London England’s The Duke Spirit was glad to be back in Minneapolis Friday night opening for Mercury Rev and they said so right out of the gate as they burst into their first song “Lion Rip” from their 2005 album Cuts Across The Land. It was no doubt true they had not b...

The Little Match Girl at The Ritz Theater on 12/11/08

By: Janet Preus
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Ballet of the Dolls is offering up a very interesting piece for the holidays: a colorful, often amusing, engaging and quite beautiful Little Match Girl. One of the darker tales we associate with the season, this version, conceived and choreographed by artistic director, Myron Johnson, plays primarily on the happier fantasies that cradle the Match Girl, gently weaving them back and forth with the reality of her impending death.   Blessed ...