Volante
@ The Triple Rock Social Club

Continuing the respectable yet totally perplexing trend of Twin Cities bands calling it a day at their peak, Volante have decided to break up less than a year after releasing their strongest work yet, the gritty-as-fuck Static Until Sunrise. Volante’s potent combination of guitar attack brothers Jon and Jeff Mitchell, complemented by the bruising rhythm section of drummer Josh Madson and bassist/vocalist Gabriel Shapiro rocked the Cities scene harder than most for the entirety of their six year run together. A melodic post-hardcore outfit who weren’t afraid to jar you with bone-crunching power chords or seduce you with sexy time changes, Volante were one-of-a-kind originals and will be sorely missed. Fans can take some small consolation in the fact that the band’s final record, a four-song EP entitled Diode, will be made available free of charge for download on their own website (Volante.net) shortly. With White Dynamite, Ricky Fitts, Kelpie. 9 p.m. $6. 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. Nathan Dean

Atmosphere
@ The 7th St. Entry

Atmosphere hasn’t played a home-town gig at a venue this tiny in years, so it makes sense that Minneapolis Hip-Hop “it” boy Slug is stretching his appearance at the cozy confines of the Entry out over seven nights to accommodate the throngs of local Hip-Hop devotees sure to cram through the doors. This slew of gigs is ostensibly to celebrate the CD re-issue of Volume Seven of Rhymesayers 4-Track “Headshot” series of cassettes (originally recorded back in 1997), although seven gigs does seem a bit overboard to herald any album release (let alone a re-release!). Rumors in the local Hip-Hop community are that Slug has been assembling a live band (although it’s unclear at press time whether these gigs will feature the group’s unveiling). One fact seems likely, with Atmosphere’s national profile continuing to blowup (Slug’s Warped Tour Diary ate up three pages of a recent issue of Spin), the group will probably never be able to squeeze into the 7th St. Entry again (no matter how many nights they book the joint). With Masta I, Carnage, Eyedea, Passions and Dee Jay Bird. Hopefully,you’ve got a forward-thinking friend, because these shows are sold out. 5 p.m. $7 adv/ $10 door. All Ages. 701 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388. Also appearing at the 7th St. Entry on Thu.-Sat. and Mon-Tue., check with club for lineup details. DJ Fat Beats

Aneuretical
@ The Triple Rock Social Club

In search of youthful angst and musical mayhem? You’ve come to the right place then, people. Aneueretical has been riding high off serious local press props and touring the Midwest when their collegiate schedules allow since the October release of their sophomore album, When You Were A Kid (which I think may have been just last week for this group of young pups). Like early Built to Spill after a double-hit of pixie sticks and helium, Aneueretical have energy to burn. Come on down to the Triple Rock and help fan the flames of rockdom. Also on the bill are fellow Afternoon Records labelmates A False Notion, who recently unveiled their debut EP, Somewhere Between Sleep and Awake, at the end of November. Rounding out the bill are Kansas City’s Brunette, whom I haven’t heard, but I’ve got an inkling from the other acts on the bill they might just be loud, young and a little angry (call it a wild guess …). 5 p.m. $6. All Ages. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. Dean


Protest Election Fraud
@ Federal Courthouse

Congress reconvened this week and on Thursday they will vote to certify—or not certify—the 2004 election. As in 2000, the Black Congressional Caucus, led by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), is challenging this election. Election monitors observed and gathered much information from voters in Ohio about fraud, malfunctioning electronic machines, voter intimidation and denial of the right to vote, from thousands of (mostly African-American and student) voters. With news footage of Ukrainians dancing in our heads, people around the country will be holding rallies to urge at least one U.S. Senator to stand with Conyers and refuse to certify the 2004 election, paving the way for a Congressional investigation. Thomas Jefferson said, “For democracy to survive and thrive, there must be an informed and vigilant citizenry.” Join your fellow vigilant citizens and take a stand for “one person, one vote.” Noon. Federal Courthouse, 4th St. @ 4th Ave., Mpls. Lydia Howell

The T. Griffin Coraline
@ The Acadia Café

New York City duo T. Griffin Coraline is songwriter/ vocalist/guitarist T. Griffin and violinist/vocalist Catherine McRae. Far more than your typical folk two-piece, however, the T. Griffin Coraline augment their sweet mellow voices and gently strummed instruments with a slew of exotic electronic touches throughout their record. Their debut, The Sea Won’t Take Long, provides an inventive bleep-blipping take on Americana, thanks to the help of some ace satellite members, including Dennis Cronin (ex-Lambchop) and Bruce Cawdron (god speed you! Black emperor). The band’s press release does my job for me quite adequately, dubbing the sound “porch techno.” An alluring hybrid of sampled beats, found sound collisions and traditional songwriting, seeing how The T. Griffin Coraline’s dense and layered record translates to the stage should be interesting. With Ben Connelly. 8 p.m. $6. All Ages. 1931 Nicollett Avenue South, Mpls. 612-0874-8702. Rob van Alstyne

Plaster the Town II: Gigposter Exhibition
@ Back Alley Gallery

About a dozen local artists are participating in Plaster the Town II: Gigposter Exhibition at Back Alley Gallery this month. Schmooze ‘em at the opening this Friday as you trip down the Twin Cities musical memory lane. Unlike past gigposter shows, extra copies (screen, digital and Xerox prints) of the rock art will be for sale—many under $20. And some of the artists in this exhibit—Aesthetic Apparatus, Amy Jo, DWITT and Lonny Unitus—are also featured in “The Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion,” a hefty tome by Paul Grushkin and Dennis King. This eight-pound coffee table book highlights rock art from the past 15 years, and includes artists from the United States, Europe, Asia and South Africa. Jan. 7 – 30. Reception Sat. 7 – 11 p.m. Back Alley Gallery, 262 4th St. #LL2, St. Paul (Lowertown). 651-269-1674. Liberty Finch

Dosh, The Belles of Skin City, Lit 6 Project
@ The Hexagon Bar

An eclectic night of music and literature assembled by local outfit Third Coast Presents (headed by longtime local music scenester Robert “Tumbleweed” Czernik), this three act genre mish-mash concert bill makes an excellent match with the equally haphazard setting of the Hexagon Bar—a place that’s part local watering hole and, since the music booking of Beatifics leader Christopher Dorn began, music hipster haven. The Lit 6 project, a loose collective of Minneapolis-based writers, bring a rock ’n’ roll attitude to live literature reading, with their performance at the Hex slated to cover “the terrible question of Ownership, in story, philosophy, etc.” Also on the bill are recent picked-to-clicksters The Belles of Skin City, who provide a fiery moog-inflected take on classic punk rock stylings. Headlining the night is Dosh, back home after prestigious coastal and overseas CD release parties for his magnum opus Rhodes/drums/sampled sounds galore album Pure Trash. Watching Dosh at work—feet busy with multiple kick drums, hands splayed across various samplers and vintage keyboards—is a sight sure to delight those in search of new musical frontiers. 9 p.m. Free. 21+. 2600 27th Ave., Mpls. 612-722-3454. Dean


Murzik
@ The 400 Bar

Local quartet Murzik would be the perfect house-band for a pirate-themed party at your crib. Long on mournful accordion, minor keys and weepy acoustic instrumentation, Murzik’s new self-titled EP features five songs fixated on the darker side of life—hence 40 percent of the cuts featuring the word “death” in their title (“Deathbed Lover,” “Death and Roses.”). Those fond of the equally sea-maurauder styled tunes of the Decemberists will find plenty to love with Murzik. Darkly literate musicoes who like to dim the lights and drink blood while spinning old Nick Cave records should also expect to be readily swept away (or, more aptly, dragged down) by Murzik’s enveloping melodic gloom. With Dollar Store. 9 p.m. $5 adv/ $7 door. 21+. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903. van Alstyne

“In Here” Series
@ Shoebox Gallery

The Shoebox Gallery is collaborating with Obsidian Arts and Speedboat Gallery to present the weekly “In Here” series (in contrast to the Walker’s “Out There” series). Every Saturday in January, beginning at 8 p.m., “In Here” will feature local artists who cross borders, create sited works and affect their surroundings. The series kicks off Jan. 8 with “What’s in Here?”—a presentation on how neighborhoods are transformed by artwork. Richard Amos (Obsidian Arts), Brian Kelly and Sean Smuda (Shoebox Gallery) will discuss their experiences in the Phillips/Powderhorn area. In addition, films by Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg project and his Shoe House in St. Paul will be screened, along with highlights from the Shoebox Biennial. Future presentations include “Dance in Here,” “Music in Here” and “Poetry in Here.” Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. 8 p.m. Shoebox Gallery, 2948 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls. 612-825-3833. Finch