Progressive preacher Jim Wallis
Westminster Presbyterian Church

An evangelical preacher and author of seven books, Wallis has been bringing faith and political activism together for more than three decades, from the Vietnam era through the anti-nuclear movement to the current anti-war movement. Thirty years ago he founded a religious community in inner-city Washington D.C.—where he and his wife still live—called Sojourners, whose publication has become the largest progressive Christian magazine in America. In the 1980s, while death squads were killing thousands in Central America, he helped create Witness for Peace, a group of Americans who volunteered to travel there and act as human shields. Wallis’s latest book, “God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It,” sits at #5 on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list, and Wallis is using his book tour as an opportunity to bring together Americans from across the political map. Wallis will speak at noon at the church’s Town Hall Forum, an event the church has offered over the last 20 years to feature speakers on ethical issues. Free. Noon. 1200 Marquette Ave., Mpls. 612-332-3421 or smckenna@wpc-mpls.org. Brian Kaller

Great Big Dreams
Big V’s

Local outfit Great Big Dreams are celebrating the release of their debut longplayer after a much-needed name change (their former moniker of Sunny Wicked sounds far too mall-rat-skate-punk to accurately capture the slick and dreamy sound these lads conjure up). I use the term “debut” loosely, as in their SW-named days the group released a few EP’s, and these guys have actually all been playing together since forming at the University of Minnesota in 2000. Clearly part of the inspired by/indebted to/likely-have-a-shrine-to-Thom Yorke-in-their-bedrooms camp, Great Big Dreams pine for grand Bends-styled terrain, and are certainly aiming high. The ace production (this album sounds like it cost a million dollars) and dense atmospherics occasionally feel like they’re there to cover up deficiencies in craft, but when the songs are solid (which is fairly frequently for a local debut) the result makes for inviting headphone listening. With the Holics (playing first) and Fort Wilson Riot (playing last). 9 p.m. $3. 21+. 1567 University Ave., St. Paul. 651-645-8472. Rob van Alstyne

Dolorean, Jeff Hanson, Big Ditch Road
Nomad World Pub

Ethereal Portland, Ore., folkies Dolorean are essentially front man Al James and whoever feels like coming along for his creepy foggy trip through the dark back woods of the human soul. Although the latest Dolorean outing, Violence in the Snowy Fields, is sonically lush compared to its forebears, when held up a little closer to the light for examination the record turns out to be every bit as fighting lean and grizzled as your darkest Tom Waits album. Also on the bill are local standouts Jeff Hanson (former Pulse cover boy and slowly getting the recognition around town he deserves for his angelic folk-pop) and alt. Country outfit Big Ditch Road (who have weathered a sea change in their line-up and are putting the finishing touches on their sophomore album for Martin Devaney’s Eclectone Records). This solid triple-threat bill should provide those of you who have been too lazy to make it out to the Twin Cities newest music venue—the Nomad World Pub opened up at the location of the old Five Corners Saloon just a month ago—with the perfect excuse to celebrate the arrival of yet another exciting spot on the local music scene. 9 p.m. TBA. 21+. 501 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-338-6424. van Alstyne

Dr. Dog
The Triple Rock Social Club

Philadelphians Dr. Dog released their proper debut, Easy Beat, not even a month ago, but they’ve already got the stink of serious hype all over them (thanks to raves from the New York Times and mad love in the press from the likes of former touring mates such as M. Ward and My Morning Jacket). Fortunately, the group proves themselves more than worthy of the mini-media-shit-storm. From the opening “The World May Never Know,” which comes on like a warped Paul McCartney outtake to the closing cacophonic bounce of “Wake Up,” Dr. Dog’s effortless way with a melody proves consistently grin inducing. The collision of classy barbershop quartet-styled doo wop harmonies with spastic front man Toby Leaman’s gentlemanly-croon-into-ragged-wail vocal style should have you toe-tapping in no time. Opening up for Autolux, Amublance Ltd. 9 p.m. $10. 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. van Alstyne

The Flies
Bedlam Theatre

Ah, springtime in Minnesota, when a young thespian’s fancy turns to…tragedy. If you like your murder and mayhem Greek-style with an existential twist, exercise your free will and check out Bedlam Theatre’s adaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre’s “The Flies.” Directed by John Bueche, the play opens with the town mourning the death of Agamemnon—a war hero whose homecoming proves more disastrous than the battlefield. To avenge the killing of their father, siblings Orestes and Elektra orchestrate a series of politically resonant but calamitous shenanigans. And there’s cockroaches. Apr. 8 – 24, 8 p.m. $15. 514 ½ Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-341-1038. Liberty Finch

The Decemberists, Okkervil River
The Fine Line Music Café

The Decemberists pirate-inspired-shanty-pop has garnered legions of new fans with each release and with three albums and two EP’s under their belt since 2002, the band should have enough hordes of sword brandishing Decemberists disciples to plunder some serious booty right about now. Their latest effort is Picaresque and it follows firmly in the tradition of their earlier outings of literate laid-back pop touched up with the occasional string section or accordion solo. Front man Colin Meloy is an avowed ’Mats die hard (despite bearing virtually no traces of their sound on his own music)—so much so that he wrote a friggin’ book about how much Let It Be changed his life growing up in the rock ’n’ roll wasteland of Montana. So if we all chant loud enough, perhaps we can hear the Decemberists take on “Sixteen Blue” (just a thought). Also on the bill is Austin, Tex., standouts Okkervil River who unleashed their fourth longplayer, Black Sheep Boy, this week. Frayed-at-the-edges folk rock with a flair for the dramatic, Okkervil River’s blend of string-busting acoustic guitar work, fiercely pounded keyboards and throat searing vocal intensity on stage only hint at the cinematic sweep of their immaculately crafted recordings. A must see act. 9 p.m. $12 adv/ $14 door. 18+. 318 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8100. van Alstyne

Sashion Flow
Soo Visual Arts Center

You might mistake Minneapolis for Milan these days, as the city primps for yet another fashion show featuring local designers. But the Sashion Flow at Soo Visual Arts Center is less of a traditional runway event, and more about fashion as art. Part performance work, part theatre and part narrative, the show explores fashion as drama—both the pieces themselves and how they are presented. Hip thrifters Lula, Tatters and Cliché will contribute togs; Olive Salon will style hair and makeup and designers Janet Groenert, Melanie Ree, Foat Design and others will unveil artistic, and occasionally twisted, couture. 8 p.m. $5. 2540 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.
612-871-2263. Finch

Vicious Vicious
The Hexagon Bar

This outing by Erik Appelwick’s deliciously funky pop combo marks just the second live appearance by Vicious Vicious in the Twin Cities in the last two years. Appelwick’s been kept plenty busy as one half of the singer/songwriter tandem driving local pop supergroup the Olympic Hopefuls for much of that time period. With a record in the can that should see the light of day by June according to its creator, Vicious Vicious are looking to gig out more in earnest, and as anyone who caught their scintillating Turf Club set back in January will tell you, this is a very good thing. Going without keyboardist Martin Dosh for this gig (he’s out on tour with his solo project), Appelwick promises some surprises up his sleeve in this trio format and he’s still got plenty of able-bodied backing heft with the rhythm section of Adrian Suarez (Haley Bonar, The Amber Estate) on drums and Heath Henjum (too many bands to even mention here) on bass. WithTV Sound, The Gilded Age. 9 p.m. Free. 21+. 2600 27th Ave. S., Mpls. van Alstyne

Jimmy Massey
First Unitarian Society

A proud American from a small town in North Carolina, Jimmy Massey was a self-described “gung-ho” Marine for more than a decade when he was sent to Iraq in 2003. But after witnessing and, in some cases, participating in the killing of innocent civilians – as many as 30 in a 48-hour period at highway checkpoints, he said — his view of the war began to change. After he wrote to his superior officers that “we are committing genocide over here,” Massey was honorably discharged. In the six months since then, Massey has co-founded Iraq Veterans Against the War, is writing a book about his experiences and is explaining the reality of the war to audiences across America. The event is being sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Iraq Peace Action Coalition, Peace & Justice Committee and the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. 3 p.m. A $5 donation is requested, but no one turned away for lack of funds. 900 Mount Curve Ave., Mpls. 612-821-9141. Kaller

Haiti: the Betrayal of Democracy
St. Francis cabrini church

Photojournalist Kevin Pina is an editor for the Haiti Information Project (HIP), an alternative news agency in Port-au-Prince, featured on the web site haitiaction.net. He is an Associate Editor for the Black Commentator and Haiti Special Correspondent for Flashpoints Radio. Kevin produced his first documentary, “Haiti: Harvest of Hope,” while living in Port-Au Prince. Risking his life filming in the line of fire, Kevin is compiling his second film, “Haiti, The Betrayal of Democracy,” which he brings to Minnesota as part of his national tour. Pina provided eye-witness accounts for the recent book by Amy Goodman, Paul Farmer and Noam Chomsky, “Getting Haiti Right This Time.” 4:30 p.m. 1500 Franklin Ave. SE, Mpls. and 7 p.m. Mon. Apr. 11 at Macalester College, John B. Davis Auditorium, Grand and Snelling Aves., St. Paul. 612-724-8864. Kaller

Josh Harty
Ginkgo Coffeehouse

If you grew up in rural North Dakota, chances are you figured out that there really isn’t much to do. In the case of North Dakotan Josh Harty, that was a good thing—as the folk and blues singer found music a constructive way to break up the seemingly endless boredom. Harty picked up more than a few instruments in his formative years and learned to master them with the seemingly endless amount of time he had on his hands. What results today is an uncanny acoustic guitar based talent and attractive baritone voice. On Harty’s first album, 2003’s Three Days Notice, he crafted a delicious blend of folk and blues reminiscent of folk pioneer John Gorka. That low baritone voice is what ultimately draws you, but his storytelling skills show promise for a singer-songwriter who is still just at the beginning of his artistic journey. With Liz Harvey. 8 p.m. Free. All Ages. 721 Snelling Ave., St. Paul. 651-645-2647. Louis Lenzmeier