Plan-It-X Fest
Powderhorn Park & Walker Church

When it comes to reclaiming the spirit of what punk rock is all about, nobody does it better than Plan-It-X Records. The label, based out of Bloomington, Ind., lives by the slogan “if it ain’t cheap, it ain’t punk.” Widespread love of the label’s bands—This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Defiance Ohio and others—is spread through basement shows, word of mouth and hand-drawn flyers rather than advertisements and glossy photos. With its DIY ethic and positive attitude Plan-It-X manages to wrest a bit of spirit back from the Blink 182-ization of punk rock, and what’s more, the label and its bands have a great time doing it. Hence, it’s no surprise that Plan-It-X’s summer tour involves nine bands, and one book distro, traveling together on a school bus for one month. The Plan-It-X festivities in Minneapolis will go all day, starting at noon in Powderhorn Park with a vegan potluck, DIY demos (such as stenciling) and games. At 5 p.m. the Fest will move to Walker Church, where 11 bands will rock the altar. With Defiance Ohio, The Door-Keys, Ghost Mice, Madeline, One Reason, Rosa, The Max Levine Ensemble, Erin Tobey and This Bike is a Pipe Bomb. Noon skill share/5 p.m. show. $10 for show. All Ages. 3104 16th Ave. S., Mpls. Plan-It-X.com. MICHELLE LEE

The Vestals
The Triple Rock Social Club

The dynamic brotherly duo of Jeremy and Ben Gordon have been turning plenty of heads since relocating to the Twin Cities from their native Wisconsin a few years back. Their anglophile-pop-lovers-dream-come-true debut as the Vestals saw the boys and their bandmates touring the globe and getting some serious press props (the latest from British rock mag royalty Mojo). Not content to simply bask in the glory of their press clippings, the Vestals are currently working on a follow-up album with noted producer Jim Wirt (who’s manned the boards for the likes of No Doubt and Incubus), so expect plenty of new tunes, dueling vocals and buttery guitar hooks at tonight’s gig. With The Telescopes, Ghost in the Radio, Back Seat Goodbye. 5p.m. $6. All Ages. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. Rob van Alstyne

Alec Soth and Andrei Codrescu
Walker Art Center

This Thursday the Walker’s Contemporary Art in Conversation features the interaction of renowned photographer Alec Soth and National Public Radio’s Andrei Codrescu. Photographer Alec Soth’s “Sleeping by the Mississippi” (Steidl, 2004) is a surreal documentation of life along the river, which shows just how little time has affected those in the sleepy towns dotting the river’s path. With a Lynch-esque style of creepiness, Soth finds captivating moments in decrepit buildings and isolated lives. Soth will be engaged in conversation with NPR’s Codrescu, whose work for the station has included lamentations on travel. Both will offer views from the opposite ends of the river as Codrescu is a Minneapolis native while Soth hails from Louisiana. Codrescu has also authored numerous novels, short stories and essays and is a professor of English at Louisiana State University. He is also the editor of “Exquisite Corpse,” a monthly book review site. 7 p.m. Free. 1750 Hennepin Ave. ADRIENNE URBANSKI

Rondo Days
St. Peter Claver Church

Once a close-knit, historically black neighborhood of St. Paul, the Rondo Avenue community was split apart by the construction of Interstate 94 in the early 1960s. In 1982, a small group of residents created Rondo Days in hopes of reclaiming this lost sense of community. Today Rondo Days has the largest African-American parade and festival in the state of Minnesota. Attracting a culturally diverse crowd, the festival’s musical offerings also include not only gospel and Hip-Hop, but also traditional Mexican and Asian music. Rondo Days begin this Thursday and last through Sunday, with a parade on Saturday. Free. Parade starts 10 a.m. Sat. at 375 N. Oxford St. and goes to the festival site at Dunning Field. RondoDays.org URBANSKI

Scott Russell Sanders
Open Book

Scott Russell Sanders has written children’s books, science fiction, fantas and historical fiction, but is perhaps best known for his gently radical, deeply spiritual and passionately conservationist essays about the natural world. 7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. 1011 Washington Ave., Mpls. 612-215-2650. BRIAN KALLER

Babylon Fundraiser
Black Dog Café

Babylon Art and Cultural Center was created in July 2001 by a group of visual artists, poets, performers and filmmakers committed to creativity and social activism. Politically supercharged in the wake September 11, 2001, Babylon’s artists aimed to strike a balance against all of the pro-war brouhaha championed by the Bush administration. A tragic fire destroyed the group’s Lake Street home in January 2004, but Babylon lives on as The Babylon Collective, focusing their energies on special projects. This August, 10 local Twin Cities artists are embarking on a muralists’ caravan to Mexico for the Art of Resistance conference in Mexico City. From there they’ll travel to southern, marginalized regions of the country, painting murals along the way with local communities. This Friday Babylon is hosting a closing party and silent auction to raise money for the travelers. All the work on display and in the auction was donated by local artists, and there will also be a table of smaller wares for sale. Meet the artists going on the caravan (Shepard Fairey, Amy Rice, Barry Newman, James Denoyer, Max Arouse and Amy Swanson) and learn more about the trip. Live music provided by Robert Evershed’s Latin jazz/funk band. 7 – 10 p.m. 308 Prince St., St. Paul. 651-228-9274 or info@babylonarts.org. NANCY SARTOR

The Ashtray Hearts, Haley Bonar
The Turf Club

Two of the Twin Cities’ finer talents in the field of pastoral pop (and among the more live gig reclusive at that), The Ashtray Hearts and Haley Bonar promise a night of acoustic lamentation guaranteed to get that tear in your beer nice and large. The Ashtray Hearts are playing their second local gig since the release of their sophomore album, Perfect Halves, which adds a bit of rock ’n’ roll fire to the sextet’s previously placid sound This gig actually marks the kickoff date for an extensive two-week trek out East and back, so be sure to attend and give the crew a proper send-off. Also on the bill is former Duluth teen wonder Haley Bonar—she’s still a wonder, just now relocated to the Twin Cities at the ripe old age of 22. Since moving to Minneapolis Bonar’s assembled a new band (featuring Mason Jennings’ bass player Christopher Morrisey and Vicious Vicious drummer Adrian Suarez) and re-started work on her highly anticipated sophomore album (Bonar was unhappy with her first round of recording sessions last year). Does a local concert bill get much better than this? With Carolina. 9 p.m. $5. 21+. The Corner of University and Snelling Avenue, St. Paul. 651-647-0486. van Alstyne

High On Stress
The Terminal Bar

I know what you’re thinking, does the Twin Cities scene really need another melancholy country-tinged rock band? Well, in most cases I would agree with you and say no, but as long as new groups like High On Stress keep popping up out of the woodwork it’s clear that the local well in this particular musical area is far from running dry. With local ace producer Jon Tranberry (Valet, Plastic Constellations), handling bass duties in the group it comes as little surprise that High On Stress’ debut album, Moonlight Girls, sounds perfectly polished, but what makes it all worthwhile is that front man Nicholas Leet’s alternately gritty and pretty songs live up to the production’s high standards. High On Stress mark yet another welcome addition to the already burgeoning local alt. country scene. With Duplomacy, Iron Lung, House of Mercy Band. 9 p.m. $5. 21+. 409 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls. 612-623-4545. van Alstyne

Bishop Allen
The 400 Bar

I first stumbled across Brooklyn four-piece Bishop Allen when witnessing front man Justin Rice’s acting turn in the independent film “Mutual Appreciation” at this year’s Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. Rice played an aloof musician struggling to make it after relocating to New York City, and in a pivotal scene we get to see his character’s gig at Brooklyn venue North Six. The song Rice performed on screen rocked, so much so that I had a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t an actor playing a musician as it was the other way around. Shortly thereafter my suspicions were proven correct and I discovered the joys of Rice’s band Bishop Allen. The group’s already managed to make quite a dent on the national scene since their 2003 debut Charm School was released, all this despite having no proper representation (no publicists, no booking agents—just rock). Their buzzy percolated pop recalls early Elvis Costello and plenty of other new wave nostalgia, while also sounding decidedly modern. As with all quality pop rock delivered with panache, comparisons can’t really do this band justice—you’ll just have to go and see them for yourself. With We Are Scientists, Cowboy Curtis. 9 p.m. $5 adv/ $7 door. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903. van Alstyne

The Oil Factor
St. Joan of Arc Church

WAMM (Women Against Military Madness) is sponsoring a screening of “The Oil Factor.” A joint effort by French journalist Gerard Ungerman and his wife, Audrey Brohy, “The Oil Factor” examines the ties between the oil industry and the military invasions of the Middle East. Much of the film’s footage was a result of the couple’s trips to Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2003. They even ventured into Taliban camps, all for the sake of their film. Narrated by Ed Asner, the film also includes interviews with author Noam Chomsky, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski and Project for the New American Century Director Gary Schmitt. Opting to show the film in smaller venues, Ungerman has been screening it in neighborhoods across the U.S. “The media here does not offer people any large avenues for dissent, but we have a lot of tiny rivers that can do the same thing,” Ungerman said in his June 8 interview with Pulse. 6:30 p.m. Free. 4537 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. URBANSKI