Matthew Ryan
@ The Fine Line Music Café

Coming through town for the second time in support of this fall’s Regret Over the Wires (easily one of my top ten albums of the year), Nashville’s Matthew Ryan should be ready to deliver his heavy-hearted, lyrically-rich rock goods yet again. With a voice akin to Springsteen and a similar lyrical gravitas, it’s not surprising that Ryan’s been a longtime critical favorite (not many young songwriters can claim the likes of Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams as prominent members in their fan club). With the politically charged Regret Over the Wires Ryan finally manages to synch up his punchy folk tunes to slick pop arrangements and, surprisingly, rather than obscuring the grit of his tunes, the extreme makeover seems to have amplified it. With headlining act Gary Jules. 8 p.m. $10. 21+. 318 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8100.
(Rob van Alstyne)

3 Minutes of Pork and Shoving
@ Bryant Lake Bowl

Couldn’t we use a little more dance in our lives? Local choreographic collaboration Hijack (Kristin Van Loon and Arwen Wilder) perform “Three Minutes of Pork and Shoving,” a late-night show at the Bryant Lake Bowl, which will introduce Minneapolis to the fabulously charismatic Scotty Heron. Hijack, who’re known for having carrots thrown at them in front of the film “Breakin’” as it was screened at Stevens Square Park, and getting 35 people to run in Lake Street traffic to scale Lee’s Shoe Repair, met Heron at a Colorado College alumni concert and “loved the way he humped the curtain.” Dance Insider calls him a queer vaudeville ludic Dada. His is the kind of “adrenaline melee that made the East Village famous.” The magazine said that “the joining of Hijack with Heron resulted in a wonderfully madcap exploration.” Hijack and Heron have performed together in Russia, New Orleans and now at the BLB, whose red curtain Hijack loves. The show will include Hijack’s “finally-finished” “Fetish” about the 2002 World Taxidermy Championships. May 27 -29. 10 p.m. $12. Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. 612-825-8949. (Troy Pieper)

Cowboy Curtis
@ The 7th St. Entry

This homecoming gig for Cowboy Curtis should be exciting. Fresh off taking the West Coast by storm in what is repudiated to be an incredibly reliable used van despite its bargain basement price tag, Cowboy Curtis are now set to rock the hometown folks in the same manner in which they wowed those wusses up in Washington State. Expect plenty of material from their increasingly high-profile debut, the recently self-released Observations/Assumptions, which is a collection of awesomely robotic and nervey pop-rock that recalls the heyday of 12Rods (not too surprising considering the album was produced and recorded under the close supervision of the Rods’ own Ev Olcott at his Integral Studios). Grafting sweetly melodic and geeky semi-adolescent yearning on to politely ass shaking rhythms, its no wonder the young Cowboy Curtis boys (most are just old enough to drink) have been getting some nice props (influential Seattle college radio station KEXP has been playing the crap out of them, which should hopefully get other campuses around the nation to start following suit). With opening act Duplomacy (see pg. 17 for feature). 9 p.m. $6. 21+. 701 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388. (van Alstyne)

May Music Fest
@ Mayslack’s Music Lounge

If you’ve been searching high and low for musical variety in one convenient location this Memorial Day weekend I have some good news—your tireless quest has finally come to an end. Mayslacks Music Lounge has come to the rescue and will be featuring three consecutive days of tasty musical mixes from all over the spectrum (Friday-Minnesota Music Showcase, Saturday-KFAI Blue Saturday, Sunday-Rockabilly Sunday). With that many different options you’ll be certain to find your favorite sound to do a little bop to. Performers include everyone from Corey Stevens (Friday) to Lamont Cranston (Saturday) to Trailer Trash (Sunday). Even better news, the entire weekend is part of a good cause and will benefit savetheguthrie.org, a group dedicated to the preservation of the Guthrie building. $10. 21+. Also Sat. and Sun. $5. 21+. Call for further information. 1428 4th St. NE, Mpls. 612-789-9862. (Louis Lenzmeier)

Apollo Sunshine
@ The 400 Bar

Quirky pop music doesn’t come much better than Boston’s The Apollo Sunshine, who are so damn weird that they converted a barn into a makeshift studio by hand for their 2003 debut album, Katonah, released on longtime NYC indie label SpinArt Records. A scattershot collection that veers all over the place (the sound sometimes got so busy and layered as to make my head spin), the songs are held together by pleasant harmonies and straight ahead lead vocals (think Ben Folds Five on acid) and an abundance of hooks (be they percussive loops, sly keyboard runs or staccato guitar solos). Admittedly sometimes too ambitious for its own good, it’s still damn fun to listen to a band with this much creative spark. Apollo Sunshine are true originals, an increasingly difficult accomplishment in the crowded indie-rock field. With Leaves, The Show, Barfly and Jistoray. 9 p.m. $5 adv/ $7 door. 21+. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903. (Nathan Dean)

Martin Devaney, Olympic Hopefuls
@ The 400 Bar

A prime example of local rock done right, Martin Devaney and his crack band will be playing a headlining slot at the 400 Bar in what should be a nice chance to preview material from Devaney’s forthcoming fourth full-length due sometime early this fall on his own Eclectone Records imprint (also home to likeminded rural-tinged rockers Big Ditch Road, Mark Thomas Stockert and the First Prize Killers). A local man about town who can be spotted lurking in the shadows of nearly every noteworthy Turf Club gig when he’s not busy with higher profile exploits (such as opening for nationally known folk-pop notables from Damien Jurado to Evan Dando and playing a Dylan stand-in during the historic “Blood on The Tracks” concert this winter at the Pantages). Devaney’s well polished tunes continue to evolve and it should be great getting to hear them in the comfy confines of the 400. Not to be forgotten on the bill are the Twin Cities newest pop sensations, the fun-tastic Olympic Hopefuls! How fun, you ask? How about performing wearing matching orange jumpsuits and prancing around with fake gold medals fun! Led by Darren “Kid Dakota” Jackson and Erik “Vicious Vicious” Appelwick, the band’s debut, The Fuses Refuse to Burn, is arguably the best album the Cars never got around to making. Their headlining spot earlier this month at the 2024 Records showcase was the kind of coming out party befitting local legends in the making, as Jackson peeled off a number of stunning solos while nonchalantly head-bobbing and grinning like a Cheshire cat. Just what I needed indeed! With the Glad Version. 9 p.m. $7. 21+. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903. (van Alstyne)

Petracovich
@ The Kitty Cat Klub

Jessica Peters (with a little help from her friends) is Petracovich. The Southern California native had spent a few years as a coffeehouse styled folkie before reinventing herself (through some studious four-track recording exercises and keyboard tinkering) as a sleek Americanized purveyor of spy-noir trip-hop (the same kind of sexy/sinister sound that made cult heroes out of Portishead a decade ago). With her new path solidified Peters hooked up with Tad Wagner (guitarist/engineer for the incomparable albeit overlooked band Buellton) and sculpted her debut album, Blue Cotton Skin. Sounding like a less weathered Aimee Mann lost in effects-woozy outer space, the album is perfect for relaxed late-evening listening, a 30-minute lullaby with incomparable soothing powers. It should be interesting to see how Peters recreates the studio-intensive material in the live setting. With Romantica and Jar. 9 p.m. $5. 21+. 315 14th Ave. SE, Mpls. 612-331-9800.
(van Alstyne)

Passage
@ The 400 Bar

You know when you’re riding in your car and get hit with the sudden urge to either listen to Gary Numan’s Greatest Hits or DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s He’s the DJ I’m the Rapper? That familiar feeling comes over you yet again, “Why can’t they mix this shit together?” Passage, rap artist for the renowned indie Hip-Hop label Anticon, has finally managed the trick. The Forcefield Kids, Passage’s first solo record, blends heavy ‘80s synths, distorted vocal melodies, punchy drum samples, and speedy white boy lyricism. The material is similar to Passage’s main project the Restiform Bodies, and fans of R.B. should know that Passage will be touring with beat gurus the Bomarr Monk and Telephone Jim Jesus in support of his new LP. With local percussive master and Anticon label mate Dosh and Joshua Peterson of the Faint’s electronic rock sideproject Broken Spindles. 9 p.m. $8. 21+. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903. (doc pop)

World Memorial Day
@ AlliantTech

Expanding the circle of remembrance, Twin Cities peace activists participate in a World Memorial Day with the theme, “Remember. Vision. Act.” Remember all victims of war: soldiers on all sides, civilians, and those maimed or sickened by American WMDs depleted uranium weapons. Vision the power of non-violence as alternative to war. Act. As violence continues in the U.S. occupation of Iraq and escalates in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, here’s a chance to renew Memorial Day’s sober meaning, rather than used it as a military recruiting tool. Minnesota’s biggest military contractor, Alliant, is the perfect site, since they make cluster bombs and depleted uranium weapons that continue to kill long after wars end. Bring food for picnic afterwards at adjacent park. 11 a.m. Free. AlliantTech Systems, 5050 Lincoln Drive, Edina. 612-827-5364. CircleVision.org (Lydia Howell)

Israel/Palestine film
@ Mad Hatter

Last week, a nonviolent Palestinian protest was bombed by the Israeli Defense Force from an Apache helicopter, provided by the U.S. Usually the only victims we see are Israelis after a suicide bombing. Israeli officials deny the bloodied Palestinians broadcast globally, saying they bombed “an empty area.” See a film contemplating these contradictions in “Media and the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict.” Mad Hatter hosts “Conversational Salons” every Tuesday evening and has focused on everything from universal healthcare, new voting machines, local poets and more. (Get on their e-mail list at: pattypax@earthlink.net). 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Free. Mad Hatter, 943 W. 7th St., St. Paul. 651-227-3228. (Howell)