Ela
@ Big V’s

No longer the Twin Cities’ best-kept rock secret—thanks to some serious lovin’ from Radio K in recent months—Ela is playing its first local show in weeks. It is also their last (for now) with the current rhythm section of bassist Sean McPherson and drummer Peter Leggett, who will be busy this fall keeping the beat locked down on the road with Heiruspecs. Remaining members Bill Caperton (vocals/guitar) and Knol Tate (guitars/keyboards) are currently reconfiguring the lineup for their own spate of fall touring —including a high profile gig at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City this October—and hopefully they’ll be able to find a duo with at least half the chops of their soon-to-be-on-hiatus bandmates. A stunning blend of lithe rhythms, jagged guitars and throat-searing angst, Ela’s post-punk racket is just what the doctor ordered for local music fans in search of something startlingly original. With Adeline and TBA. 9 p.m. TBA. 21+. 1567 University Ave., St. Paul. 651-645-8472. Also Fri., 9/3, at the Uptown Bar, 9 p.m. $5. 21+. 3018 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. 612-823-4719. Rob van Alstyne

Cathedral
@ WALKER COMMUNITY LIBRARY

If you missed this season’s Artist’s Bookshelf book club (Walker Art Center/Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library), it’s not too late to catch the tail end with Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral.” Folk who’ve read the book will, of course, have a field day batting viewpoints back and forth about it. Folk who haven’t might consider this a heads-up and get a copy, especially those who enjoy the venerable, vanishing art of short fiction. Carver is lauded as a major force in 1980’s revitalization of the genre, and “Cathedral” comes recommended by The Boston Globe as “[an] astonishing achievement.” For good measure, Robert Altman’s successful 1993 film “Short Cuts” was based on several stories by Carver. The discussion is led by artist Frank Gaard. 6:30 p.m. Free. 2880 Hennepin Ave. S. Mpls. 612-375-7622. DWIGHT HOBBES

Audiophiles’ Guide to the Twin Cities CD Release Party
@ The Turf Club

The Audiophiles Guide to the Twin Cities, a new local music compilation overseen by longtime Twin Town High coordinator Leo Keulbs as part of a class on CD production he taught at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, is as good and comprehensive as its name suggests. With the songs solicited and selected by the MCAD students in Keulbs’ course, these hip kids have come through big time—collecting predominantly unreleased material from a slew of big local names (my personal favorite being the Olympic Hopefuls sassy “Cavalier”). The Audiophiles Guide is probably the SECOND best compilation you’re going to hear this year (we all know who No. 1 still is …). This CD release concert features a sweet lineup, all of whom are on the CD, and cheap drink specials. As if that weren’t enough incentive to get your ass to the Turf, the first 100 through the door get a copy of the disc to take home with them and relentlessly lord over their less cool friends. Featuring Friends Like These, Mike Gunther, Thunder in the Valley and Bridge Club. 9 p.m. $4. 21+. The Corner of University and Snelling Avenues, St. Paul. 651-647-0486. van Alstyne

HanZsolo
@ The Cabooze

HanZsolo is a sweet walkin’, jive talkin’, one-man soul music machine —sort of. A quirky crossbreed of Jamiroquai and XTC, Hanz’s debut LP, the aptly titled Closet Pop, is guaranteed to have lovelorn listeners shaking their asses and wiping their tears simultaneously. Right off the bat with the intricately layered “Trying Not To Fall,” it’s established that the trio of Hanz Erickson (vocals, guitars, keyboards galore), Corina Malbuarn (bass) and Ollie Bauer (drums) is composed of some damned inventive and precocious music makers. At times the sheer number of vocal melodies and keyboard parts gets a little overwhelming (to call Erickson an emotive singer would be a serious understatement)—but it’s hard to fault a young band for being too ambitious on their debut. More sedate moments are also present, the solo acoustic “Matchbook” is particularly effective, and on the whole it looks as though the Twin Cities music scene has found the new soulful peripatetic pop combo it’s been desperately in need of. With The Vestals and The Repeats. 8:30 p.m. $5. 21+. 917 Cedar Ave., Mpls. 612-338-6425. van Alstyne

Haunted House
@ The Triple Rock Social Club

After listening closely to Haunted House’s debut I have pretty good reason to believe that Mike Watton, the man behind the band, is completely insane. His record, La Vida Es Dificil Pero Bonita Cuando Hace Sol y El Cielo Es Una Mierda (which loosely translated means “Life is difficult but pretty when the sun shines and the sky is shit”) is an intriguing blend of powerhouse pianos, propulsive percussion, crazy distorted keyboards and damn near indecipherable vocals (they sound as if they’re being sung though a megaphone—but it’s hard to tell). Spaced-out elevator music on some serious methamphetamine— Watton has penned the perfect soundtrack to accompany any future alien invasion (it’s my belief he may already be speaking their language). With V9R9D, Self-Evident, No Doctors. 9 p.m. $6. 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. van Alstyne

The Umbrella Sequence
@ The Uptown Bar

The Umbrella Sequence, one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking bands in the TC area, are breaking some welcome new ground in the local music field with the self-release of their own live DVD (now if I can only convince all the other bands I dig in town to follow suit!). The disc, which features the Umbrella Sequence’s patented brand of moody Radiohead-ish, backpack totin’, keyboard rock in fine digital video at venues like the Uptown Bar and First Avenue, is a truly slick and perfectly executed project. It should provide more than enough to tide over eager fans while the band heads back into the studio to begin work on their second album starting in October. So get your ass uptown and get your grubby hands on this piece of digital sweetness! With Cloud Cult, Tora! Tora! Torrence! and Ela. 9 p.m. $5. 21+. 3018 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. 612-823-4719. van Alstyne

Shawn Colvin
@ The Minnesota State Fair

When Shawn Colvin struck Grammy gold in the late ‘90s for her work on A Few Small Repairs, it understandably took her by surprise. Already 15 years into her career by that point, putting in long hours on the road, and fighting the debilitating demons of drinking and depression—a Grammy wasn’t exactly what she thought the future held in store. The album came at just the right time, hipping those to Colvin’s pop/rock/folk who had previously been missing out. Unafraid to completely invest her personal emotions into song, Colvin’s more than willing to tell all her listeners about the crap that’s gone down in her life. The fact that you can see Colvin for free with admission to Minnesota’s great get-together is one of the best deals of the summer. Also on Sat., 9/4. 8:30 p.m. All Ages. Leine Lodge Bandshell, 1625 Snelling Ave., St. Paul. 651-642-2262. Louis Lenzmeier

Tommy Stinson & Alien Crime Syndicate
@ The Uptown Bar

Tommy Stinson, still the eternally spiky-haired rock ‘n’ roll kid (even at 37), is back in town to bask in the glow of his well-received first ever solo album, the long time coming Village Gorilla Head. Although it’s a given Stinson’s always going to be defined by Minnesotans for his 12-year stint as bassist in the Replacements, VGH is grabbing enough attention that Tommy might finally be stepping out of St. Paul’s shadow everywhere else in the world. Getting massive spins on both Drive 105 and Radio K (and with a recent network television appearance on “Late Night With Craig Kilborn”), Stinson’s record is worthy of the attention. VGH houses attitude-heavy pop-punk (“Motivation”), poignant balladry (“Light of Day”) and even a faux-reggae classic (“Hey You”) within its grooves. Unlike his earlier solo benefit show at the Fineline a few weeks back, this time around Tommy’s got a solid band to aid him in the act of kickin’ out the jams. Fellow Los Angelino’s Alien Crime Syndicate, themselves fresh off the release of the rollickin’ 10 Songs in the Key of Betrayal, will be backing Tommy in addition to playing their own set. I’ve yet to catch the combo in action, but it only took one listen to the balls-of-steel AC/DC riffage of “Forever is Rock ‘n’ Roll” to have me thinking that Tommy’s found the perfect partners in crime. Each show will begin with a solo Tommy set, followed by an ACS set, followed by Tommy and ACS together, no breaks in between, two solid hours of rock! So get there on time and get your ya-ya’s out. Also on Sun., 9/5. 9 p.m. $7. 21+. 3018 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. 612-823-4719. van Alstyne

Racetrack
@ The Triple Rock Social Club

They must put something in the water out in Washington State, how else can one explain the inordinate number of Pacific northwestern rockers who rise to prominence on the national indie scene? Next in line appears to be Bellingham, WA’s Racetrack, a power trio with a pint-sized front lady who manage to make quite a large noise. Their full-length debut, City Lights, boasts the ideal pedigree of the moment (the album was recorded and mixed by Death Cab for Cutie’s studio maestro Christopher Walla), and feels like the best album Sarge never got around to making back in their heyday. All buzzing guitars, buoyant rhythms and emotional angst, City Lights is guaranteed to delight the discerning Twin Cities rock connoisseur (they even name check Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Anthony Falls on “Fingertips”). With The Mood Swings, Luke’s Angels. 9 p.m. $6. 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. Nathan Dean

Radio Revolt: Build Your Own Station
@ SECOND MOON COFFEE CAFE

Don’t look now, but the Walker Art Center is startin’ some mess. And I mean the kind of rabble-rousing subversion one simply doesn’t associate with such a mainstream outfit. So, enjoy it while it lasts. “Radio Re-volt: One Person. One Watt,” courtesy of artists-in-residence Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla and the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council, is good old-fashioned guerrilla-style activism right on the same order as pirate radio. Their attitude is, “If the broadcasting power of the most powerful radio station in the Twin Cities is 100,000 watts, we propose a network of micro-radio transmitters that can cumulatively match this power.” Toward this end, they’re conducting workshops to teach people how to operate radio mini-transmitters that can turn your bike, apartment, bedroom, work cubicle or car—hell, your hip pocket—into a low-power radio station. Power to the people, right on. Call the Walker to register now. The next workshop is at Second Moon Coffee Cafe, and space is limited to 15 people per workshop. Ongoing through Nov. 2. See projects.walkerart.org/radio for a full schedule. 2 p.m. Free. 225 E. Franklin Ave., Mpls. 612-375-7622. DWIGHT HOBBES