 The
Softrocks
The Uptown Bar
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my two years on the job
here at Pulse it’s that just when you think you’ve run out
of local music to cover another exciting band pops up around the corner.
A case in point: newcomers the Softrocks. With a front man (Mike Sapiro)
whose got the ragged indie-rock battle cry down perfectly—not to
mention an awesome hair cut—and a perfectly sympathetic Pavement-esque
backing band, the Softrocks have all the key ingredients in place to become
yet another local band you’ll love. The band’s self-titled
debut album, which is getting its CD release celebration tonight, features
lengthy and angular songs that never lose their way and occasionally boast
a prickly energy (“Bedroom Lights” is a flat-out gem). Not
content to get too cozy in the college rock fold, however, the quartet’s
also willing to spruce things up a bit when deemed necessary (yes, that
really is an accordian at the center of “Last Cult of Dionysus”).
With Fitzgerald, Ennui. 9 p.m. Free. 21+. 3018 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.
612-823-4719. Rob van Alstyne
Civil Liberties Forum
May Day Books
 One
of the more difficult responsibilities people face in a free society is
to insist that all people, even possible terrorists, be given a fair trial—especially
after September 11. That is what civil rights attorney Lynne Stewart wanted
to do for Sheik Abdel-Rahman, a Muslim cleric who was held in New York.
Several years after the former children’s librarian defended Abdel-Rahman
in 1995, FBI agents arrested her and searched her home, alleging that
she was a threat to national security. The proof? Stewart had allegedly
discussed the case with her client and others, and the FBI had tapped
her phone. The Antiwar Committee will host a forum, “Forum on Civil
Liberties in a Time of ‘War on Terrorism,’” to discuss
Stewart’s case and what it means for our own freedoms. The forum
will also discuss the case of Colombian rebel Ricardo Palmera, arrested
on drug charges last year. Human-rights groups say they believe the charges
to be false, and that the Colombian government is targeting Palmera as
a political dissident. 7 p.m. 301 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-4719.
AntiWarCommittee.org.
Gyros Popodopolous
 David
Kirby on Autism and Vaccines
Bound to be Read Bookstore
One of the nation’s lesser-known controversies involves a possible
link between infant vaccines and childhood autism. The number of autism
cases is increasing, for unknown reasons, and a growing number of parents
of autistic children believe that infant vaccines may be the culprit.
On the other side of the debate stand medical professionals, whose studies
deny such a link, and who say that parents are spreading an urban legend
that will only result in children becoming more susceptible to disease.
New York Times writer David Kirby has written “Evidence of Harm:
Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic, a Medical Controversy,”
a book that examines the impassioned debate with as much detachment as
possible. 7:30 p.m. Free. 870 Grand Ave, St. Paul. 651-646-2665.
Brian Kaller
|
Mojados: Through the Night
U Film Society
We’re all immigrants. We’re all strangers in a strange land.
My people came in coffin ships from County Cork in Ireland and in steerage
next to a barrel of lutefisk from Smaland in Sweden. Some came unwillingly
in slave ships from Africa. Some came in cramped freighters from China.
Not all the migrant workers survived the passage. And now the first are
last. Mexicans, probably descended from the first immigrants and probably
the only ones who walked here across the land bridge from Asia, are coming
north for jobs. It all seems so familiar, so painful, so authentically
American. “Mojados: Through the Night” is the story of three
young men who make the journey. They face freezing nights, no food and
water and the continuing presence of death and disaster—all for
the chance to mix your cement, roof your house, paint your garage or bus
your dishes so they can send money back to their families. It shouldn’t
have to be that hard. Through June 2. Bell Auditorium, 17th & University
Ave. SE, Mpls. 612-331-3134. Ed Felien
Mideast in the Midwest
The Loft
 Think
of a “Middle Eastern woman” and you probably picture an oppressed
woman in a burka. You probably don’t think of New York’s Lebanese
lesbian cartoonist Jen Camper, author of such socially and politically
radical works as “Subgirlz.” This Friday, the Loft in Minneapolis
will feature works and talks by and about Middle Eastern women, including
Camper, Chicago writer Sahar Kayyal, and local writers William Nour, Samir
M. Nasser and more in a forum designed to develop and facilitate artistic
expression in the Arab, Muslim, and West Asian/North African community.
7:30 p.m. $5. 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. 612-215-2575 or Loft.org
and Mizna.org. Kaller
Sexy Spring II
Various locations
 If
mowing the lawn, schlepping the kids to soccer or tackling that heap of
laundry seems like the same banal weekend routine, perhaps crafting your
own sex toy or gleaning tips on writing erotica might be more inspirational.
Sexy Spring II is a collective-sponsored three-day educational conference
that explores sex, sexuality, gender and relationships through classes
and entertainment. The concept was born during collaboration between the
Bat Annex Free School and Resource Center, a knowledge and skill-sharing
group dedicated to strengthening communities and the Toolshed, a radical
sex-positive artists collective. Class offerings at this year’s
conference are as diverse as a high school boy’s fantasies, covering
everything from self-help and health to fetish and erotica. Samples include
“How to Ask for What You Want (for Shy People”); “Natural
Strategies for Reproductive Health and Awareness,” “Kinky
Play: Techniques of the Trade” and more, more, more. A kick-off
and orientation session begins at Spokes Pizza on Thursday night. In addition
to classes, there’s also a dinner party, cabaret and an ice cream
social. This is not your mother’s Memorial weekend agenda. Events
run Thu. - Sat. For more information and a complete list of events, go
to BatAnnex.org.
Liberty Finch
Moonshine Flush
The Terminal Bar
 Comprised
of players from a number of prior local outfits (Oliver and the ID, Heavenzone,
Kung Fu Grip), new local quartet Moonshine Flush boast a truly unique
sound and vision. Based around acoustic guitar, viola and upright bass,
one might expect Moonshine Flush’s music to be strait-laced old
school folk. But as their name hints at, there’s a ribald wit and
mischievous muse at work in the mind of singer/songwriter/guitarist Oliver
Thayer. You’re not going to hear songs about working out in the
fields or the joys of a walk in the country, but you are likely to hear
love songs centered around congenital defects (“Three Balls”)
and songs poking fun at bad-music-loving ex-girlfriends (“Clear
Channel Whore”). Moonshine Flush are sure to beguile those who like
a little humor in their pop song diet. With LEVEL. 9:30 p.m. $5. 21+.
409 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls. 612-623-4545. Nathan Dean
Cowboy Curtis, Vicious Vicious
The Hexagon Bar
 Two
of the best bands in the Twin Cities brought together for one special
occasion. The bands? Cowboy Curtis and Vicious Vicious, the former a young
peripatetic pop combo on the rise and the latter the TC area’s hottest
purveyors of caucasion-funked-popitude. The occasion? My birthday. Yeah,
I know it’s lame to throw yourself a party but I just couldn’t
resist the urge to pull a few strings and put together my dream concert
bill. So arrive early to catch the solo stylings of local newcomer Pat
Leo and kick back for a rare stripped down solo set from Ela front man
Bill Caperton (who’s in the process of finishing up his band’s
highly anticipated sophomore album with Askeleton’s Knol Tate).
Then get ready to get up out of your seat for Cowboy Curtis (who’ll
be showcasing tasty new-wave inflected pop craft from their recently recorded
but still unreleased new album helmed with Halloween, Alaska’s Ev
Olcott behind the boards) and headlining act Vicious Vicious. Anyone yet
to rediscover Erik Appelwick’s groove-led pop group since he brought
Vicious Vicious back from hiatus a few months back in between his near-constant
Olympic Hopefuls gigging is truly missing out. With the release of VV
album No. 2 finally on the horizon (Don’t Look So Surprised
drops in mid-June), what better time than now to get yourself reacquainted?
9 p.m. Free. 21+. 2600 27th Ave. S., Mpls. 612-722-3454. van
Alstyne
The Ramayana Project
Hamline University
Globalization has its perks, and the Ramayana project, presented by the
Katha Dance Theatre, is one of them.  This
weekend over 40 artists from India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,
and, of course, Minnesota will gather to tell the tale of the thousands-year-old
classic Hindu epic. The Ramayana depicts prince Rama’s Odyssey after
he is banished to the forest to prevent him from becoming king. Rama and
his wife Sita, both the epitome of heroic righteousness, struggle against
a host of obstacles, including the demon king Ravana. Eventually, they
triumph—Rama slays Ravana and he is returned to his kingdom. The
saga has spread from India across the varied cultures of Southeast Asia
adopting colorful local influences. The Ramayana Project is a celebration
of these shared roots and traditions. Combining dance, drama and music
this cross-cultural collaboration of the Ramayana demonstrates the power
of perseverance and the victory of good over evil. Something we could
all use a little bit more of these days. 10 a.m. & 8 p.m., May
27; 8 p.m. May 28; 2 p.m. May 29. $5 - $15. Anne Simley Theatre, 1536
Hewitt Ave., St. Paul. KathaDance.org.
John Tribbett
|
Allen
Epley led Kansas City outfit Shiner through a decade of mind-bending-genre-blurring
noise rock before that group called it a day in 2002, and he’s wasted
no time regrouping with a new crew in The Life and Times. Continuing in
Shiner’s cathartic high-decibel vein, the J. Robbins produced debut
full-length from the Life and Times, Suburban Hymns, won’t
be available until August—but the lucky few who have heard it (aka
me), can’t help but marvel at the blend of sleek anthemic hookery
(is it weird that I’m catching shades of U2 all over the place?)
and dense sound atmospherics. It’s hard to picture just three dudes
pulling this business off in the live setting (Epley’s guitar and
vocals are rounded out by moog player/bassist Eric Abert and drumkit ace
Chris Metcalf) and it should be interesting to see how the Life and Times
handle the challenge. With Middlepicker, Story of the Sea. 9 p.m. $6
adv/$8 door. 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. van Alstyne
Immigrant
Workers Speak Out
