Marv Davidov: Revolutionary Comedy
Bryant Lake Bowl

Veteran justice and peace revolutionary (and wild man about town) Marv Davidov opened to a sold-out show last week at the Bryant Lake Bowl, premiering his one-man comedic act as the Jewish Mohammed Ali--wearing boxing gloves, terry cloth robe and showing off some fancy footsteps to the “Rocky” soundtrack. The name of the show, “One son sits in the streets; the other cleans them,” was inspired by the words of his mother, and Davidov partly draws upon her wit for his show’s material. For those new to town, Marv represents the son sitting in the streets. The show will also offer oral history of the 1961 Freedom Rides which took him and other Minnesotans to the Mississippi State Prison—riders Zev Aelony, Claire O’Connor, and Bob Baum will be on hand. After each performance, Davidov interacts with the audience and will join people at a party afterward. Poet Louis Alemayhu opens. Advance reservations are suggested; Davidov’s third scheduled show will happen on July 27. 7 p.m. $12. 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. 612-825-3737.SID PRANKE

Low
Turf Club

What would July in Minnesota be without yet another sponsored music festival? This week it’s the Macy’s Day of Music, held at Orchestra Hall. From noon on Friday until noon on Saturday, the space will host a virtually nonstop string of live music, and the venue’s acoustic architecture and highbrow associations mean it’s the classiest all-nighter you’ll ever see. This year, Low is the act to catch. If you’re unfamiliar with the trio (which is highly unlikely), they hail from that nice little lakeside town up north and play beautiful, dreamy, slow and sometimes slightly disturbing pop (though they did grow a little too fond of the distortion pedal on their last album). Regardless, they play at midnight and it promises to be a really swell time. Get there a couple of hours ahead of time and hit up The Melismatics at 10 p.m. and The New Standards at 11 p.m. Go to www.minnesotaorchestra.org for a complete schedule of events. 12 a.m. Free. Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. 612-371-5656.MEREDETH BARZEN

The Get Up Johns
Varsity Theater

The Get Up Johns, whose sound is described as “aggressive old-time country” (however oxymoronic that may seem), courageously fill a void present in the Minnesota scene: the need for easy summertime music. We know how to do easy in the wintertime, when everything has frozen to a standstill (i.e. Low, who’s playing Orchestra Hall this week, seemingly out of season). Built for fairer climes, The Get Up Johns’ bluegrass mentality and delicate, plucked strings inevitably stir an impulse to get up from one’s desk and take a walk in the corn. The band’s close harmonies take the spotlight, however, shooting from the sweet spot between harsh and glossy. The Varsity Theater will host a release party for the band’s first full-length CD, “Trouble In Mind”: a perfectly easy summertime album if ever there was one. It’s simply too bad it wasn’t released earlier to fully take advantage of the warm, weary weather. With “Spider" John Koerner, Darren Jackson, and Mike Gunther & His Restless Souls. 9 p.m. $6. Varsity Theater, 1308 4th St. SE, Mpls. 612-604-0222..MEREDETH BARZEN

Benefit Show
Turf Club

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen your compadres in the “old guard” of the Turfinistas, tonight would be a good night—and benefits a really good cause. Musicians that made the club into what it is today will showcase the learned songwriting and high-energy antics that helped build what was a suffering little music town in the early 90s into a much-better place to nurture local musicians. “Caveman” Johnny Knowles and “Ladies man” John Ewing were there when it all started, and on this night they’ll both be playing with all their boys. Proceeds from the door will benefit their buddy Mark Henderschot, who suffers from cancer and has no medical insurance. Larry Ravenswood and Bill Patten open. 9:30 p.m. $5. Snelling & University Aves., St. Paul. 651-647-0486. ADA SCHOCK

Wobfest 2006

Fans of radical politics can rejoice this weekend as the IWW – one of the United States most august activist organization -- holds its annual celebration. The events, which will take place throughout the weekend at numerous locations, will include music by IWW members Friendly and Shannon Murray, as well as discussions and keynote addresses by Farheen Hakeem, Dave Riehle, and Staughton Lynd, among others. July 14-16. Casll 612-339-4418 or email twincities@iww.orgh for the complete schedule. MAX SPARBER

Green Man Festival
Bayfront Park

With summer’s dog days fast approaching, a road trip to Duluth and its Great Big Lake should require little persuasion. This weekend Green Man settles on the shores of Lake Superior at Bayfront Park. This eco-friendly music fest, named after a 2,000-year-old mythological plant-man, features dozens of musicians and DJs, including Low, The Honey Dogs, Trampled by Turtles, Charlie Parr, Ol’ Yeller, Painted Saints and Cloud Cult, as well as naughty bits by Lili’s Burlesque Revue and a specially erected Green Town that offers grub, grog and art. Advanced passes are sold out, but you can buy tickets at the gate. Camping is on a first-come, first-served basis, so head up early, pitch your tent and ask Gaia for an encore presentation of the Northern Lights. Through July 16. $15 daily. S. 5th Ave. W. 9 (at I-35), Duluth. Greenmanfestival.com.ADA SCHOCK

Kip Blackshire
Bunkers

Premiere vocalist Kip Blackshire is one of those performers who hits the stage hard and keeps getting stronger all night. Blackshire’s is a versatile repertoire culled from rock, funk and R&B, stamped with his own style. Some of his best material is original, including the driving anthem “Diamond in da Ruff” off his The Eleventh Hour album and the poignant ballad “As it Falls” from his self-titled debut. If good by association is a measuring mark for you, remember that Blackshire is the co-frontman with St. Paul Peterson in The Truth, that new “super group” of former Prince sidemen (he also sang and played keyboards in the New Power Generation). Bottom line: when Kip Blackshire takes the microphone stand, it’s just him and his backup band under the lights, and that is all the man needs for a dynamite show. $7. 21+. 761 N. Washington Ave., Mpls. 612-338-8188.DWIGHT HOBBES

Bastille Day
Barbette and Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar

Are you French in Minnesota? Oui! Are you tired of the Scandinavians getting all of the attention? Oui! Do you find lutefisk and polka insulting to your integrity? Oui! Then vive la Resistance! This Bastille Day, Frenchesotans and Francophiles alike have not one but two places to get their je ne sais quoi on. Saturday, July 15, head down to Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar in St. Paul, always a haven for the French-inclined. There, you’ll find a Bastille Day celebration of magnifique proportions, where 5-piece-band Limousin will provide traditional French dance hall music. Had enough? But of course, no! The next day (Sunday, July 16), skip over the river to Barbette in Uptown, where a quirky little celebratory street festival is taking place, and check out Les Sans Culottes, billed as “everyone’s favorite fake French band.” Listen, shop, eat, think about la vie en rose. Then, if you have time, concoct an elaborate plot to replace all the lefse in the state with crepes. Thousands and thousands of crepes.MEREDETH BARZEN

Get Your Word Out
Cosmics Coffeehouse

Spoken wordsmiths Indigegoddesses Annette Joy and Yvette Iris have gone and got themselves a pretty good idea, co-hosting what they call “Get Your Word Out” poetry night. “Our goal,” says Iris, “is to create a jazzy atmosphere with poetry, spoken word artists and just about anyone with something to say or sing, and anyone with original music. We would love to play their tracks. All are welcome.” Opening night of the series features special guests MC Micah Light, Slim from the Guardians of Balance and more. 7 – 10 p.m. Free. 189 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. 651-558-6826..DWIGHT HOBBES

HOT PICK OF THE WEEK

Daar J & Sullivan’s Travels
Loring Park

The 30th anniversary of Walker Art Center’s Summer Music & Movies kicks off with music by Daar J, from Senegal, West Africa, who blends old school hip-hop, reggae and soul with a Cuban punch. Multi-lingual rapid rhymes reject gangsta rap to confront corporate Mafia spreading exploitive globalization and destroying our environment, countered by universal spirituality. This year’s movies are “Screwball Comedies of the 1930s & ’40s.” Tonight’s film is Preston Stuges’ (1941) “Sullivan's Travel’s,” a hilarious and enlightening journey of a Hollywood director impersonating a hobo, starring Veronica Lake as the tough unemployed actress who is also his guide. Music 7 p.m., movie 8:45 p.m. Free. 1382 Willow St. (across from Walker Art Center), Mpls. 612-375-7600 or walkerartcenter.org. LYDIA HOWELL

Michael Franti Film
Bryant Lake Bowl


From his first band 20 years ago, The Beatnigs, to the one-album Disposable Heroes of Hip-Hop-crisy, to his current band Spearhead, Michael Franti’s stayed true to radical consciousness. In June 2004, he went to Baghdad, Israel and the Occupied Territories with his acoustic guitar and a camera crew. “I Know I’m Not Alone” is an UNembedded peace mission with music, that includes two firsts: Baghdad independent radio station and tattoo parlor, an Iraqi heavy metal band, Palestinian hip-hop, and 'ordinary people' in the Middle East CNN who never shows. Franti interacts with soldiers in the U.S. and Israel acting as occupiers, and peace activists on all sides. Made independently, screenings are a grassroots effort. “I Know I’m Not Alone” re-ignites anti-war resistance, while inspiring hope. This screening is part of Rob Nelson’s Get Real! Film series. 7 p.m. $5. 810 W. Lake St. Mpls. 612-825-3737 or stayhuman.org.LYDIA HOWELL