Javier Trejo
Cabooze

Javier Trejo, in a nutshell, can play and sing his asterisk off. All by himself, with an acoustic guitar, as he recently did on “Spectator” (Minneapolis Television Network channel 17). Heading a band, as he did with venerated San Francisco-style rockers The Beads. Even supporting on guitar and second vocals, which he does as a member of New Primitives. So, it’s just taking in one more side of Trejo’s versatility to catch him backed by bass and traps. Look for that to be, respectively, Rich Casey and Chris Gray, who helped Trejo give his self-titled CD an intimate vibe—laid back and rich with an exotic nuance. If they do “Skip To My Luke” off the album, you’re in for an hypnotic treat. If they don’t, buy the CD, go home and put it on the box. With God Johnson. 9:45 p.m. $5. 18+. 917 Cedar Ave., Mpls. 612-338-6425..DWIGHT HOBBES

HOT PICK OF THE WEEK

Bicycle Film Fest
Bell Auditorium

The 6th annual Bicycle Film Fest rolls into town this week, bigger and better than ever, and spread out amongst three Twin Cities venues: the Riverview Theater, Bell Museum and Soap Factory. Minneapolis is one of just 10 lucky cities hosting the festival this year, which includes a cy-clectic assortment of films, from 35mm full-length movies to digital video shorts. Most entries are from the USA, but there are also submissions from Canada, Denmark and Germany. In “A Sunday from Hell,” Danish director Jorgen Leth captures the annual Paris-Roubaix road race, revealing the savage strength of its participants and claiming to leave viewers “limp from pain and pure excitement.” For more of a “Dogtown and Z-Boys”-like experience, check out the documentary “Joe Kid on a Stingray—the History of BMX,” which features legend Scott Breithaupt, the first guy to organize BMX races in Long Beach, California, in 1970. The film is narrated by West Coast Choppers dude, Jesse James, and includes rare archival footage and interviews. The festival closes with a screening of “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” and there are after-movie shindigs Friday and Saturday as well as an all-day bike block party on Sunday. Check the website for details. July 6 – 8. Riverview, 3800 42nd Ave. S., Mpls. Bell Museum, 10 Church St. SE, Mpls. Soap Factory, 518 2nd St. SE, Mpls. bicyclefilmfest.com.NANCY SARTOR

The Artist’s Bookshelf
Walker Art Center

After Jesus, the most famous figure to go by one name has to be Dracula (Prince fans might give you a hard time about that guy Jesus). The ghoul has been so popular throughout history that the vampire-movie genre, from Bela Lugosi’s iconic portrayal to today’s Underworld franchise, shows absolutely no sign of ever running out of gas. The Walker Art Center gets in on things (and gives your wallet a welcome break) with The Artist's Bookshelf: “Dracula” by Bram Stoker. It’s a chance to discuss Stoker’s enduring creation and, before hand, go on a tour of Diane Arbus’ Revelations exhibit—appropriate, since it’s from the celebrated photographer’s bookshelf that this month’s selection is made. Presented in partnership with the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library. 7 p.m. Free, but reservations required. 1750 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. 612-375-760

Kubla Khan CD Release
400 Bar

Horns? In a rock band? Hell yeah! Kubla Khan’s seven cut (one for each member of the band) album, Lowertown, is a pop gem that evokes the clean, manicured sound of ‘70s AOR masters like Chicago and Steely Dan, and combines it with wink-and-a-smile lyrics like the hook from “Nels”: “My friend Nels is a cellular biologist/ A cellular biologist by trade.” The band features former members of Big Wu, Bobby Llama and 3 Minute Hero and the album was produced by Alex Oana, so you know the chops and sound are going to be impeccable. What’s surprising, then, is that they manage to pull the heartstrings just as effectively as they drop the funk when they slow it down, as on “Catch the Show,” which should appeal to fans of Ben Folds’ solo work. “Couch” shows that they can mellow it out while retaining the funny—the protagonist wonders at his slowing metabolism, his hatred of pop music and when getting old actually happened. A lot of shiny pop albums punch you in the face with their hooks, but then just walk away. Credit Kubla Khan for giving you a wicked bloody nose and then being good enough to put some ice in a bag and hold it there while you clot up. With headliners Spymob and openers the Alarmists. 8 p.m. $7. 21+. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903.MCPHERSON

The Umbrella Sequence
Triple Rock Social Club

Arguably the most consistently intriguing gadget-pop band in the area, the icy tones of the Umbrella Sequence have been in short supply since the 2004 release of their live DVD. After weathering some lineup changes, the Radiohead-lovin’, backpack-sportin’ bros in ‘the Sequence’ are back and up to their usual tricks on the six-track EP, Crossing the Wires, which is getting the CD release party treatment, with not one but two gigs at the T-Rock--a real-deal full length should be dropping later this fall. A nice extension of the Umbrella Sequence’s always intriguing mechanical methods, the title track is particularly groovy and features a bleep blip combo I swear came as the default ring tone on my new cell phone – watch out boys, Sprint may come calling for royalties! With Laser Forever, Battle at Sea, Buildings. 5 p.m. All Ages. $6. Also playing a 21+ gig with Laser Forever, Battle at Sea, The Nina! The Pinta! 10 p.m. $6. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. VAN ALSTYNE

Donnie Darko
Triple Rock Social Club

God bless the Oak for giving us the chance to check out great movies in a real movie setting. I have fond memories of the film series at Wesleyan; it was there that I saw “Casablanca” and “Citizen Kane” for the first time. These are movies that beg to be seen at larger-than-life dimensions, and while Robert Kelly’s 2001 cult-classic “Donnie Darko” might not be up there with Wells’ magnum opus, it certainly benefits from the theater setting. It’s as hard as ever to find truly frightening movies out there (and I don’t mean “scary”—I mean disturbing), and “Donnie Darko” sits comfortably next to “Lost Highway” and “The Shining” as a sterling example of deeply creepy cinema. Jake Gyllenhaal’s turn in “Brokeback Mountain” garnered him an Oscar nomination, but playing the title character here was his breakthrough role. The movie’s story and underlying theories may be confusing and a bit muddled, but its stunning imagery—from liquid worms extending from people’s chests that show their future paths to rabbit-masked prophet Frank—linger in the mind long after the movie’s somewhat frayed ending. In fact, its convoluted plot and ideas about space and time are a large part of its cult appeal, so couple the need for multiple viewings with the opportunity to be overwhelmed by its eeriness in a large, dark space and you’d be crazy to miss the chance to catch it at the Oak. Through Thu., July 13 @ 7 and 10 p.m. with Sat. and Sun. matinees @ 4 p.m. 309 Oak St. SE, Mpls. 612-331-3134. VAN ALSTYNE

Born in Iraq
MIXED BLOOD THEATER

“Born in Iraq” is the story of an Iraqi village told by a young boy written by Jacoub Aljaffery and Nestor Amarilla. Aljaffery’s
father was a revolutionary, who was killed by Sadam. The dramaturge Gayle Smith Weber won the Kennedy Center’s playwriting award with a story about an aging ’60s woman, who came of age on Minneapolis’ West Bank. Through July 15. Wed. - Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sat. 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. 1501 S. 4th St., Mpls. 612-338-6131. MATT MAYER

Craftstravaganza: Rogue Art & Craft Fair
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR GROUNDS

It’s a month or so yet before the Minnesota State Fair, with its attendant crop of exhibitions, so it will be a little while
before we can see portraits of Augie Garcia or Hubert Humphrey made out of seeds. Thank goodness for St. Paul’s Crafstravaganza, which brings all sorts of oddball craft projects to the fairgrounds in July. Co-sponsored by Bust Magazine, which sometimes reads like a group of punk rockers had gotten hold of a Victorian quilting book, this festival of uncommon hobbies features altered clothing, felted wool dolls and lollipop-colored wooden box purses. Also on hand will be music by Chokecherry (chokecherry wine is delicious, by the way, and brewing it is a typical Northern Minnesota hobby), the Mill
City Mongrels and the Roe Family Singers. And, in the best punk DIY tradition, the fair will offer workshops on the art of knitting, Ukrainian eggmaking, bookmaking, and spinning, so, by the end of the day, you’re likely to be making your own rogue arts and crafts. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Merchandise Mart Building, 1265 Snelling Ave., St. Paul. MAX SPARBER

World Party
First Avenue

t’s been awhile since anyone’s heard from one-man band Karl Wallinger – as in a decade back when “She’s the One” off of the otherwise disappointing Egyptology album became a minor hit, but the man’s had significant reasons to step back from the late ’80s/early ‘90s spotlight when adult-pop hits like “Put the Message in the Box” had critics rapturously proclaiming Wallinger the most promising Beatles acolyte of his era. Shortly after the independent 2000 release Dumbing Up, Wallinger suffered an aneurysm so severe that it rendered him speechless for an extended period of time. He’s valiantly fought back and is said to now be in the process of putting the finishing touches on the sixth World Party album proper. At 49, it will be interesting to see how much creative fuel Wallinger’s got left in the tank--this live performance should be a good indicator. If his new tunes even approach the heights of 1993’s Bang! – a lush and magnificent pop album unfortunately birthed smack dab in the middle of the grunge era – then fans have plenty to look forward to. With TBA. 7:30 p.m. 18+. $20 adv/ $25 door. 701 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388.VAN ALSTYNE

Old Four Eyes: A Mississippi Panorama
OPEN EYE FIGURE THEATRE

Longtime followers of Minneapolis theater are already aware of the names Kevin Kling and Michael Sommers. Kling, a storyteller, playwright and actor, and Sommers, a playwright, performer and puppeteer, have long been friends and co-schemers. Their collective body of work is among Minnesota’s most distinctive, and their work together (including such popular local favorites as “Lloyd’s Prayer” and “The Ice Fishing Play”) is famous for their imagination and infectious good humor. “Old Four Eyes” debuted at the Children’s Theatre a few years ago and tells, in fable form, of the making of a three-mile-long painted panorama of the Mississippi—an actual thing, made by a fellow named John Banvard, who had traveled up and down the river for inspiration in the mid-18th century. Appropriately enough, the Minnesota Centennial Showboat is the venue for this show, stationed right at the start of the Mississippi, which seems the perfect start for a theatrical journey down America’s largest river. Through Aug. 23. 1 p.m. Harriet Island Regional Park, St. Paul. 651- 227-1100.MAX SPARBER

Green Technologies
Neighborhood House
Curious about what other cities are doing to implement green technologies in housing, energy, transportation and more? Concerned about environmental justice and economic equity when development decisions are made? Here’s a chance to hear Dr. John Byrne and Dr. Jong Dal Kin, founding members of Solar Cities. They’ve assisted with urban initiatives to create “green economics” and communities that sustain biodiversity and social equity among diverse populations. Their recent survey of 12 American cities looks at where these green technologies are being integrated and what a sustainable future looks like. Find out how the Twin Cities compares and what’s next for us. 2 p.m. Free. Room 212, 179 E. Robie St., St. Paul. Martinnezceci@comcast.net. LYDIA HOWELL