British Television Advertising Awards (Dec 28th-30th, and Sunday Jan 2nd). Walker Art Center.





A Walker tradition for the past 24 years, the British Television Advertising Awards features the best of the UK’s advertising ingenuity, selected by top ad executives and producers from across the globe. Highlights include a karaoke party for thousands in Trafalgar Square and an unforgettable flash-mob dance medley in the Liverpool Street station. In addition to inventive forms of audience participation, several mind-blowing stunts are also pulled. And then there’s the herd of sheep outfitted with LED lights. . . . Not to be missed!


Louie Anderson, Friday, Dec. 31st, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center. Two shows: 7:30pm and 10pm.

Brother Ali's NYE Party, Friday, Dec. 31st, at the Mariott City Center. With DJ Snuggles and the Hood Internet, and More Than Lights.










Upcoming:

The Hold Steady, (with The Meat Puppets, & Retribution Gospel Choir);
First Ave, tomorrow - WEDNESDAY.
The Gear Daddies, Thursday, Fine Line Music Cafe
The New Standards, Thursday, Dakota Jazz Club
Los Straitjackets, Thursday, Turf Club, St. Paul

New Years Eve:

Average White Band, Dakota Jazz Club, Friday
38 Special, Treasure Island Casino, Friday
GB Leighton, McKrackens in Savage, MN, Friday
Brother Ali, with The Hood Internet, and DJ Snuggles, at Marriott City Center
Tim Mahoney, Mears Park, St. Paul

Ozzy Osborne, Wed Jan 12th, Target Ctr, with Halford.
David Allen Coe, at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar, St. Louis Park
Tesla, Friday January 14th, Treasure Island Casino
Trampled By Turtles, Friday January 14th, First Avenue (and Sat. 15th)
John Gorka, Saturday Jan 15th, Village Hall, Marine on St. Croix
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Sun January 16th, Varsity Theater
Lauryn Hill, Tuesday, January 18th, First Avenue
Liz Phair, Thursday, January 20th, Fine Line Music Cafe
Dale Watson, Friday January 21st, Lee's Liquor Lounge
Roma Di Luna and Cloud Cult, Friday, Jan. 21st, First Avenue
Snoop Dogg, Tuesday, January 25th, The Cabooze
Linkin Park, Friday January 28th, Xcel Center
The Jayhawks, Saturday January 29th, First Avenue
Buckcherry, Sat Feb. 5th, First Avenue
Charlie Parr, Sunday Feb. 6th, Turf Club
The Decemberist, Sunday Feb 6th, State Theater
Lyle Lovett, Monday, Feb. 7th, Guthrie Theater
John Hiatt, Monday, Feb. 7th, Guthrie Theater
Motorhead, Tues Feb 15th, First Avenue, Orchestra Hall
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Thursday, Feb. 17th,
Bill Frisell, Tuesday, Feb. 22, Cedar Cultural Center
Pete Yorn, Tuesday, Feb. 22nd, First Avenue

The Santaland Diaries
Hennepin StagesNovember 26 - December 31




The Santaland Diaries is the stage adaptation of David Sedaris' acerbic and hilarious account of a stint working as a Christmas elf, played by actor Joe Leary, in Macy's "SantaLand."

Sedaris' sharp observations about his odd encounters during the season of forced joy have become a delightful cult classic for those looking for a comic antidote to Christmas treacle. The Santaland Diaries was adapted in 1996 by Joe Mantello, of "Love! Valour! Compassion!" fame, as a one-man, one-act play





JUST EXTENDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND! Now running thru Dec. 26th.

Combining a spy thriller with farcical comedy and ingenious theatrical invention, The 39 Steps is an engaging, fast-paced whodunit that celebrates the magic of theater. Closely following the storyline of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film, the play features more than 150 characters brought to life by a cast of just four actors, including Robert O. Berdahl (Macbeth) as the intrepid hero Richard Hannay; Sarah Agnew (Dollhouse) as all female roles (including a beautiful spy with a deadly secret); and Jim Lichtscheidl (The Two Gentlemen of Verona) and Luverne Seifert (The Government Inspector), two of Minnesota’s greatest comedic actors – all putting their many sidesplitting skills to the test in this wildly entertaining experience.


Also, Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" is at the Guthrie Theater, running through Dec. 30th.




First Avenue's 40th Anniversary Party. Wednesday, Dec. 15th.

Featuring Gary Louris, Har Mar Superstar, Grant Hart, Matt Wilson & John Munson, John Koerner & Tony Glover, The Mighty Mofos, The Hypstrz, plus DJ SovietPanda, Roy Freedom.

7th St. Entry features: Chooglin', Birthday Suits, and Con Queso.








Mike's Favorite First Avenue Memories:

Patti Smith (the Gone Again tour)
Lucinda Williams, with Graham Parker (Sweet Old World)
Lucinda Williams, with Blue Rodeo
Motorhead
Sinead O'Connor
Superchunk
The Suburbs
The Cramps (3x)
Drive-By Truckers
Sonic Youth
The Dead Weather
Nick Cave/Grinderman
Urge Overkill
Mike Doughty
Chris Bailey
Garbage
Acid Mothers Temple (3x, 7th St. Entry)
The Black Keys
The Buzzcocks
The Dandy Warhols
They Might Be Giants
El Vez (The Mexican Elvis)
Reverend Horton Heat
The Cult


Upcoming: The Jayhawks, Saturday, Jan. 29th, and Buckcherry, Sat. Feb 5th.

My Top Ten Favorites of 2010

The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
Purling Hiss – Public Service Announcement LP
Endless Boogie – Full House Head
Bonnie Prince Billy – Funtown Comedown LP
Blue Rodeo – The Things We Left Behind
The Black Keys – Brothers
White Hills – White Hills S/T LP & Stolen Stars Left For No One LP
Widespread Panic – Dirty Side Down
Superchunk – Majestry Shredding
Black Mountain – Wilderness Heart

And more favorites from 2010!

Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks
Tom Petty& The Heartbreakers – Mojo
Tegan & Sara – Sainthood
Robin Hitchcock – Propellor Time
Lightning Dust – Infinite Light
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat the Devil’s Tattoo
Alejandro Escovedo – Street Songs of Love
Airborne – No Guts, No Glory