Ward Sutton
Magers & Quinn Booksellers

Growing up in a rival first-ring suburb of Minneapolis, we used to joke that “Edina” was really an acronym for “Every day I need attention.” Perhaps in cartoonist Ward Sutton’s case, who lived there as a young man, the phrase should actually be “Every day I get attention.” A lifelong master doodler, Sutton has gained notoriety for his work as an alternative cartoonist, illustrator, poster artist, animator and marketer. Back in the ‘90s he penned “Ward’s Cleaver” for the now defunct Twin Cities Reader, and today he draws and self-syndicates “Sutton Impact”—a weekly strip that appears nationally in several papers, including the Village Voice. He’s also done cover illustrations for Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly magazines, among others. Filled with edgy and irreverent social commentary, his strips have been compiled for the first time in a full color collection entitled “Sutton Impact: The Political Cartoons and Art of Ward Sutton.” If the vibrant, tight and politically charged ‘toons don’t make you grin, check out his renderings of Amy Sedaris as Jerri Blank from the “Strangers with Candy” show for a wicked laugh. Hear what the former cake-eating lad has to say for himself at Magers & Quinn Booksellers. 7 p.m. 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. 612-822-4611. Nancy Sartor

Punk Rock Reading Night
Arise! Bookstore

The idea of a “punk rock reading night” conjures images of a Mohawked and tattooed reader gutterally shouting words into the crowd, or a Johnny Rotten type “gobbing” on the bespectacled observers seated quietly. Happily, for the small outdoor garden in which this event is to be held, though, this punk rock reading night won’t actually be any of the above. The event is part of a punk rock reading tour featuring Sean Carswell, Mickey Hess and Joe Meno. What makes the tour punk rock is less its performance style than how it’s created. Instead of doing a typical Borders/Barnes and Noble book tour, these punks-turned-authors are booking their tours much like DIY punk bands, reading to basements, shows and independent bookstore collectives rather than corporate conglomerates. However, their literary merit is nothing to be sneezed at. As author of “Drink for the Little Guy” and the soon-to-be-published “Barney’s Crew,” as well as running Gorsky Press, Carswell is an accomplished fiction writer and editor of Razorcake. Meno authored “Hairstyles of the Damned,” and Hess wrote three books and will also be included in the new “McSweeney’s Humor Anthology.” Pull up a garden chair, gather ‘round the rhubarb plants, and listen to them spin their yarns of punks, construction workers and the harder edges of life. 7 p.m. Free. 2441 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. 612-871-7110. Michelle Lee

Walt Mink
Triple Rock Social Club

Named after their Macalester College psychology professor, New-York-City-by-way-of-St. Paul-rock-quartet Walt Mink stirred up a joyous racket on their four records before eventually calling it a day in 1997. Still beloved by many, Walt Mink apparently have a strong enough cult following to warrant a posthumous documentary film, as this pair of reunion shows is being filmed for the ambitious “Walt Mink: The Movie” project. There’s more than just nostalgia to report on here though—former Mink front man John Kimbrough recently released the debut album from his new band, Valley Lodge, and you can check out some of the tuneage at http://www.myspace.com/valleylodge—it’s as lively and kickin’ as anything the Mink ever cranked out. Walt Mink is dead—long live Walt Mink! 5 p.m. $12 adv / $14 door. All Ages. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. Later 21+ show that night is already sold out. Rob van Alstyne

Vicious Vicious
The 7th St. Entry

By now I’m sure many loyal Pulse music section readers are sick of me going on and on about Vicious Vicious’ sophomore album, Don’t Look So Surprised, particularly since it isn’t hitting the streets until this CD release show. Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself from singing the praises of what is undoubtedly one of the strongest local releases of the year. Laid to tape last summer by one-man band Erik Appelwick in his spare moments not playing the role of jumpsuited musical mad man in the Olympic Hopefuls, Don’t Look So Surprised is a soulful and smooth listen, equally suited for getting the party started (“Here come tha Police”) and the late night comedown (“Castaways”). A hearty hybrid of danceable indie-rock, silly R&B and heartfelt melancholy, the album feels immediately accessible (meaning you’ll like it instantly), yet subtly intricate (meaning you’ll go back to it for months to come and keep discovering more). Appelwick’s made a record that should rightfully go down in the annals of great Minnesota albums. Go get yours tonight. With Valet, Askeleton. 9 p.m. $6. 21+. 701 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388. van Alstyne

McLibel
Bell Auditorium

If you were a business and a couple of activists began to criticize your business practices, what would you do? If you were McDonald’s, the answer is obvious: you would sue them for libel and hire spies to infiltrate their organization. The company had expected simply to punish Greenpeace volunteers Helen Steel and Dave Morris, who had distributed flyers stating that McDonald’s served unhealthy food. But the London postman and gardener fought back in what became the longest-running libel trial in British history. The couple took their case to the European Court of Human Rights, overturning Britain’s harsh libel laws. The couple’s case became even more famous when it was revealed that McDonald’s corporation had sent hired detectives to infiltrate their miniscule Greenpeace chapter—so much so, in fact, that the spies outnumbered the actual members and spent most of their time mistakenly spying on each other. The case became the critically acclaimed book “McLibel,” by John Vidal. Now Minnesota gets an advance preview of Franny Armstrong’s film of the same name, this Friday at the Bell Auditorium. 7:15 p.m. & 9:15 p.m., with a 5:15 p.m. matinee Sat. & Sun. Runs through June 23. 10 Church St., Mpls. 612-331-3134. Brian Kaller

The Soviettes
First Avenue

The Soviettes do everything fast, their songs are short bursts of pixie-stick-snorting pomp, they jump around at warp speed on stage and they release records with the same regularity other people get haircuts. So it should come as little surprise that almost exactly a year to the day after the release of LP II comes—you guessed it—LP III. Expect plenty more of the patented, sassy bubblegum punk that’s been the Soviettes’ stock in trade since their 2000 formation. Don’t expect the Soviettes, three fierce ladies with one bitchin’ dude of a drummer, to slow down anytime soon, but now’s as good a time as ever to get caught up in their whirlwind fun. With Doomtree, The Methadones, Die Electric, Grabass Charlestons and Tim Version. 5 p.m. $7 adv / $9 door. All Ages. 701 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388. Nathan Dean

Pro-Choice Weekend
Snyder’s Drugs & Powderhorn Park

With fundamentalists creeping into positions of influence across the country and using their power to wage war against reproductive freedom, it’s no surprise that formerly-innocuous settings have become hotbeds of debate. Take pharmacies, for instance, where people charged with fulfilling doctor’s orders have instead begun to act on their own “morals” to refuse to fill prescriptions for women’s birth control pills. Some of these incidents have happened here in Minnesota, one in particular at Snyder’s. This is not to point fingers, but the fact that something like this can happen is cause for alarm in itself. Moreover, the National Right To Life Convention is in Minneapolis this weekend. Thus, in the wake of these threats, Northstar and Anti-Racist Action have organized a Pro-Choice weekend. The weekend will include a protest at the aforementioned Snyder’s on Saturday and a family-friendly, pro-choice picnic Sunday. The picnic will feature soccer and a piñata and invites people to bring food to eat or grill. The purpose of these events is to spread awareness of these issues and inspire people to take action for their own health. Protest Sat. 1 p.m., 66th St. & Lyndale Ave. S., Richfield. Picnic Sun. 2 p.m., Powderhorn Park’s SE Corner (between the upper playground and the park building). Lee

The Hang Ups
The Turf Club

This is just the second show from local pop legends the Hang Ups in the last eight months, but it’s not like they’ve been resting on their laurels. Front man Brian Tighe’s been busy putting the finishing touches on the Owls’ eagerly anticipated sophomore release; keyboardist Marcel Galang has shifted to center stage in his own brazenly rocking outfit Heavy Sleeper; and guitarist Jeff Kearns has been leading the charge as front man of his own new band, Deep Pool. With all those irons in the fire I was starting to become concerned I’d never hear the beautifully chiming guitars and buoyant harmonies of the Hang Ups for a year or two, so this gig is a more than welcome return. Be on the lookout for new tunes, as the band is rumored to have been getting the ball rolling on a follow-up to 2003’s self-titled album (a record so strong we slapped the boys on the cover when it came out). With Jeff Hanson, Duplomacy. 9 p.m. $6. 21+. The Corner of University and Snelling Aves. St. Paul. 651-647-0486. van Alstyne

Sami Rasouli
St. Joan of Arc Church

Sami Rasouli, an Iraqi-American who lived for many years in the Twin Cities, will give a firsthand account of the conditions in Iraq under the U.S. occupation. Artwork by Iraqi artists, along with many pieces of children’s art, will be on display at the event, providing a glimpse into Iraqi life today. Rasouli, who often says, “I have two homes, Minnesota and Iraq,” will share his experiences about working for human rights and social justice. During his time in Iraq Rasouli participated in and coordinated delegations to Fallujah, Tarmya, Karbala and other areas to document conditions under the U.S. occupation. He helped form a Muslim Peacekeepers Team that worked in collaboration with the Christian Peacemakers Team to bring people to Fallujah for a symbolic cleanup of that city, which was decimated by U.S. military action. Rasouli will be returning to Iraq in July to continue his work. The program is sponsored by Twin Cities Peace Campaign Focus on Iraq and Women Against Military Madness. 7 p.m. 4537 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. 612-827-5364 Alan Dale