Burlesque Design
OX-OP Gallery

A local art collective whose work has recently been visible at the Walker Art Center, the Back Alley Gallery and the Minnesota Museum of American Art, as well as on record covers, advertising and T-shirts, Burlesque Design of North America now brings its eccentric art to OX-OP Gallery in Minneapolis. The collective’s six members are Todd Bratrud, of Consolidated Skateboards fame; Mike Davis, aka Mike the 2600 King; Aaron Horkey, illustrator for RVCA Clothing, Iota and Consolidated Skateboards; George R. Thompson IV of RVCA and Fobia Skateboards; Wes Winship of Auxiliary Printing; and Skye Rossi of Rhymesayers Entertainment camp. Its latest show of surreal art, whimsically named First Blood: Part III, can be seen at OX-OP Tue. - Fri. from 4 to 8 p.m.; Sat. from 1 to 5 p.m.; or by appointment. 1111 Washington Ave S. (behind Grumpy’s Bar), Mpls. 612-259-0085. Gyros Papadopoulus

The Minus Story
The Triple Rock Social Club

There must be some serious acid-laced drinking water in the homes of Booneville, Mo., residents, how else to explain the drug-addled psych-pop of The Minus Story? Proud residents of Booneville and clearly Wayne Coyne disciples, The Minus Story’s ramshackle sophomore album, The Captain is Dead, Let the Drum Corpse Dance, came off like a lo-fi version of The Soft Bulletin. Front man Jordan Geiger’s helium-fueled multi-tracked vocals collided with every manner of cacophonous sonic melodrama on The Captain’s eight epic-leaning tracks, and the formula on the group’s new EP, Heaven and Hell, remains much the same. Those in the market for demento-pop may just discover their new favorite band. With Kingdom of Ghosts, The Amber Estate. 9 p.m. $6. 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. Rob van Alstyne

James Apollo
The Bryant Lake Bowl

Low-key folk-rocker James Apollo calls Minneapolis home, although local music fans can be forgiven for being unaware of the fact considering how much time he spends living out on the road. Apollo and his band will be in town just long enough to celebrate the release of his third album, Good Grief, a chilled-out collection of rustic semi-pop that gives fellow Minnesota road warrior Ben Weaver a run for his money in the “most world-weary songwriter” department. Fans of Weaver, M. Ward and others with a penchant for channeling gothic Americana in song will feel right at home in the creepy grip of a macabre ditty like “Mercenary Tango.” 8 p.m. $6. All Ages. 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. 612-825-8949. van Alstyne

The Story
Pillsbury Theater

Inspired by the fiasco of Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke, who forfeited her Pulitzer Prize after it was revealed that some of her stories were fiction, “The Story” is set in the offices of a big time newspaper. A young, ambitious African-American newspaper reporter investigates the brutal murder of a white man in a black neighborhood. She cracks the murder case with a sensational scoop—but is her story the truth? Tracey Scott Wilson’s fast-paced and insightful new play explores the elusive nature of truth, the expectations of racial politics and the integrity of the media. The cast includes Faye M. Price and Sonja Parks, both of whom recently appeared in the Pillsbury Theater’s previous production, “Bel Canto.” Director Sharon Walton returns to Pillsbury House after directing “The Gimmick” there in 2001. The play opens Friday, March 18 and will play through April 16. Wed. - Sat. 7:30 p.m. $18 Thu. - Sat. Wed. pay-what-you-can.3501 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls. 612-825-0459 Papadopoulus

Mind, Body, Life Expo
Minneapolis Convention Center Ballroom

This Friday and Saturday, the Mind, Body, Life Expo will host more than 120 exhibitors on subjects ranging from holistic medicine to nutrition to energy conservation. On Saturday at 1 p.m., arctic explorer Will Steger will speak about what we do to the environment here in Minnesota and how it affects the entire global community, especially the Arctic. At 3 p.m. Saturday, sustainable energy entrepreneur Ralph Jacobson will talk about the advantages of installing solar energy in your home. These and about 20 other speakers can be seen at the Minneapolis Convention Center Ballroom. Fri. Mar. 18, noon - 7 p.m. & Sat. Mar. 19, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 1301 2nd Ave. S., Mpls. 612-798-7256. Papadopoulus

TC Electropunk Showcase
The Varsity Theatre

Just what exactly defines Electropunk as a musical style? Is it the awesome outfits? The retrofitting of ’80s dance pop by the home recording laptop generation? A certain ass-shaking beats per minute quotient? I’ll have to pass on supplying a concrete answer, but those who want to figure it out for themselves need only head over to the Varsity and witness a whole slew of Duran Duran loving TC kids with an eye for the glamorous and a way with robotics to get closer to the answer. This show, which features performances on multiple stages so as to ensure nonstop electropunking between sets, also doubles as the release party for the Twin Cities Electropunk Volume 2 CD. The new compilation disc features – you guessed it – most of the electro-leaning bands playing this here shindig. All concertgoers will come home with a copy of the disc so be sure to feather your bangs, put on the glitter and head to Dinkytown. Featuring: Telephone!, Avenpitch, Trashed Actor, Mach Fox, Food Team, UCKF, Heliosphere, Stellar Vector, The Eighth Day, OBCT and Thosquanta. 7 p.m. $5. 18+. 1308 4th Street SE, Mpls. 612-604-0222. Nathan Dean

Silkworm
The Triple Rock Social Club

As dependable as your favorite pair of faded blue jeans, Silkworm’s tried-and-true indie-rock soldiers on as they near their 20 year anniversary as a band. The band members may have grown up some, most have “serious” dayjobs and children to tend to, but they still like to make the touring rounds and bring the rock whenever schedules allow. This gig is in support of last fall’s It’ll Be Cool, which sounds pretty much exactly like the preceding album, 2002’s Italian Platinum. Which is to say lots of overlapping semi-tuned electric guitars and Neil Young-ish guitar soloing mated with the alternately lazy-eyed or snarling drawls of vocalists/songwriters Tim Midgett and Andy Cohen. Silkworm are arguably the most durable act on the indie-rock circuit and have yet to turn in a subpar effort—nine albums into the music-making game, there are few other acts with similar output of which I could say the same. With Malachi Constant, Maps of Norway. 9 p.m. $10. 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. van Alstyne

Peace songs, performances
Patrick’s Cabaret

On Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19, Patrick’s Cabaret presents several local artists reading, singing or otherwise entertaining. Local singer Ben Kreilkamp will perform antiwar songs. Amy Salloway, a 30-something actor and writer whose first solo show, “Does This Monologue Make Me Look Fat?” premiered in the 2003 Minneapolis Fringe Festival, will read her story about a relationship that meets its end at the World¹s Largest Ball of Twine. Brian Bieber will read from his latest project, a series of short stories set during the End Times prophesied in the New Testament books of Revelation and Daniel. Farheen Hakeem performs “Stand-up Comedy: Just an average American Hijabi that won’t shut up.” Other performers include Gomez Dance Group and Off-Leash Area. 8 p.m. $6. 3010 Minnehaha Ave., Mpls. 612-724-6273 or
sarah_harris@patrickscabaret.org. Brian Kaller

Afternoon Records 2 Year Anniversary Party
The Triple Rock Social Club

Started when most of its roster were still in their teens, Afternoon Records has grown to occupy an important niche in the local music scene—consistently producing quality rock for the under-21 set with a strong commitment to playing all ages shows and an ear for what the young kids crave. Afternoon Records has moved far beyond the stage of,“kids making music for kids,” however, as many of their acts have worked their way onto prime spots opening up for national acts touring through the cities (The Good Life, The Hold Steady, The Thermals), thanks to tireless networking and—more importantly—talent. This group of fresh-faced bands is already committed to taking things beyond the Cities, and numerous summer touring jaunts across the Midwest are currently in the works (since it’s the only time their school schedules will allow it). With a roster ranging from straight up hardcore (A False Notion) to classic collegiate pop (Superdanger), with some bands falling smack dab in the middle (Aneuretical), Afternoon Records is quietly proving that area youngsters crave more than Dashboard Crapfessional’s emotional histrionics in their music listening diets. Featuring: Aneuretical, A False Notion, Look Down, Hello Blue, Superdanger. 5 p.m. $6. All Ages. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. van Alstyne

Marc Ian Barasch
Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church

Reporter Marc Ian Barasch was 35 when he was diagnosed with cancer, an experience that he wanted to turn into something that would be helpful to other people. He has since spent his life seeking ways to live as fully and kindly as possible, a path he chronicles in books like “The Healing Path,” “Remarkable Recovery” and “Healing Dreams.” The former editor of the New Age Journal, Barasch’s coverage of environmental and political issues garnered him a National Magazine Award and a Washington Monthly award for investigative reporting. He is also a 30-year practitioner of Buddhism and has worked on a series of television interviews with the Dalai Lama. Barasch will discuss his newest book, “Field Notes on the Compassionate Life,” at 6:30 p.m. Free. 2020 W. Lake of the Isles Pkwy., Mpls. Kaller