Chin Up Chin Up
@ The Triple Rock Social Club

Chicago’s Chin Up Chin Up comes across like the shit-kickin’ child of the Sea & Cake on speed throughout the band’s debut full-length, We Should Never Have Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers. The album’s 10 cuts are a little less raucous than their debut EP, but still groove to a pulsating beat and whispered lyrical abstractions (“Your treadmill gaze forms wallpaper trifectas”).

Tragically, original bassist Chris Saathof was killed by a drunk driver in the midst of the album’s creation and the band was forced to complete songs by pulling his old bass lines from four-track recordings of their band practices. It’s impossible to tell listening to the finished product, and knowing both the high quality of thoughtful indie-pop grooves on the album and its heartbreaking back story, one can only hope Chin Up Chin Up’s album gets the wide audience it deserves. 10 p.m. TBA. 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. Rob van Alstyne

Loretta Lynn
@ Mystic Lake Casino

Hot on the (high) heels of Dolly Parton comes the Coal Miner’s Daughter herself, Ms. Loretta Lynn. Born into abject poverty in Kentucky, Loretta married Doolittle Lynn at age 14 and had four kids by the time she was 17. It’s said that the ever-loving couple discovered Loretta’s talented pipes as she’d “sing the babies to sleep.” Covering more than 80,000 miles across country, they self-promoted Loretta’s recordings, including her first Billboard hit, “Honky Tonk Girl.” Four decades and more than 70 albums later, she’s still got it. Last spring Loretta released Van Lear Rose, an album in which she penned all 13 songs—a first for her. Produced by White Stripes leader Jack White, the CD debuted at #24 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, and #2 on Billboard’s Country chart—a personal best for Ms. Lynn. Most recently she also released her new cookbook, “You’re Cookin’ it Country.” Pull up a seat and see what this legend’s servin’ up. 7:30 p.m. Thu. Nov. 18. Mystic Lake Casino, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., Prior Lake. 952-445-9000. Nancy Sartor

Act Before Midnight
Minneapolis Theater Garage

In the venerable tradition of activist guerrilla theatre comes zAmya Theater Project. The idea is to bring awareness about homelessness to actors and audience members through theater productions created by both homeless people and those who have a roof over their heads. “Act before Midnight! (or A Random Selection of Everyday Americans)” was written by Joe Evans. It’s a comedic, vaudeville-style revue, featuring stories, song-and-dance and vignettes around the theme of homelessness. The action begins as a random group of people—homeless and housed—are thrown into a theater audition and forced to sing, dance and express their opinions. Directed by Maren Ward, the play runs three nights at three different venues during National Hunger and Homelessness Week. A dialogue with homeless advocate Monica Nilsson of The Bridge for Youth follows each performance. Donations will be taken at the door. Thu. Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. at Minneapolis Theater Garage, corner of Franklin and Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.; Sat. Nov. 20, 3 p.m. at Colonial Church of Edina, 6200 Colonial Way, Edina; Mon. Nov. 22, 7 p.m. at St. Stephens School, 2211 Clinton Ave. S., Mpls. For reservations, please go to:
info@zAmyatheater.org and for more information, please go to:
ZamyaTheater.org. Dwight Hobbes

Curt Jones
@ JAZZMINE’S

Ladies and gentlemen ... this is serious! Start surviving the next “four years” in style this Thursday night ... slide on your sexiest threads, grab your #1 hottie and hustle, hustle, hustle down to Jazzmine’s, ‘cuz the one and only Curt Jones (the voice of ’80s/’90s R&B sensations Deja, Slave as well as Aurra) is comin’ to town! Backed by key members of Alexander O’Neal’s live outfit (vocalist Marcia Day, Todd Burrel [keys] and bassist Charles Hayes), this Lindon, NJ native will be running through a slick, absolutely rocking repertoire of Funk-meets-Soul. Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power and more are on the menu! Who knows ... if we’re really lucky, Mr. Jones may even pull out a few originals. Along with his oh-so-outta-sight band, Curt Jones promises to supply an electrifying evening of raw, emotive R&B power! 9 pm. $5. 21+. 23 N 3rd St., Mpls. 612-630-5299. Brooke Aldridge

Fitzgerald, Jeff Hanson
@ The Whole Music Club

Fitzgerald were one of the first signings to local label stalwart 2024 Records (back in the days before the Olympic Hopefuls and Plastic Constellations raised its profile significantly) and stand as proof that the label was gobbling up solid talent right out of the gate. Based around the duo of Nathan and Mandy, 2003’s Light a Match and Burn It Slowly was a quiet record of tremulous beauty, sure to appeal to Low fans while artfully claiming its own artistic turf. Their forthcoming album is currently in the mixing stages and was engineered by local music man about town Erik Appelwick (Vicious Vicious, Olympic Hopefuls) who also laid some bass down on the proceedings. Additional local music all-stars, among them Martin Dosh (Fog) and Darren Jackson (Kid Dakota), also helped flesh out the proceedings. Should be interesting to hear how all the auxiliary players beef up Fitzgerald’s previously austere tuneage. In the meantime, check them out live and stripped-down, and see why they were good enough to coax such lustrous contributors to record with them in the first place. With the always-impressive Jeff Hanson and special guests Norouis and Victory Café. 8:30 p.m. $5 with U of M ID/$7 Without. 18+. Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. SE., Mpls. 612-624-4636. van Alstyne

The Buttaball
@ The Turf Club

The annual holiday fundraiser for the Emergency Food Shelf Network is back yet again as some of the best bar-rockin’ outfits in the Cities unite for the common cause of feeding the needy and blasting your ears. Past years saw bands covering specific “classic” Twin Cities acts for the entirety of their sets, an enjoyable but apparently far-too-systematic set-up. This year the game plan has been to throw out the window in favor of a “free for all” format. What does this all mean? Well, according to concert organizer and U Joint member Jeff Schuller, those in attendance can expect “a wide variety of tunes to be covered, from the Replacements to Run Westy Run to more obscure chestnuts from bands that never left (or left too soon). Also look for special guests from Rank Stranger Mike Wisti to ex-Gear Daddy Billy Dankert.” There, did that get you anxious for the gig? Me too! Featuring The Centurions, The Rakes, Ol’ Yeller and U Joint. 9 p.m. $8 ($5 with two food donations). 21+. 629 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. van Alstyne

“The Buck Stops Here: A Tribute to Buck Owens”
@ Lee’s Liquor Lounge

The late Hank Williams and Buck Owens have a couple of key things in common—the love of crooning classic country and the love of hitting the bottle hard. It killed Williams Sr. and nearly did in Owens. Luckily, Owens survived, able for years to love the sauce and sing about what he did when he was on it. You could routinely see Owens at awards shows slurring his words sounding like he drank from the same bottle as George “No Show” Jones. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as his liquor-infused recordings the past 30+ years certainly boast that classic country feel that might be just a tad harder to grasp while sober. Owens has had some great old-time hits like “Streets of Bakersfield” which Dwight Yoakam was inspired to cover in the ’80s, with Owens singing background. Some fantastic alt.country sounds will likely emerge from this tribute to Owens with the likes of the recently re-tooled Big Ditch Road and John Evans doffing their 10-gallon hats. Lee’s is, of course, the most appropriate place for the event, with its honky-tonking atmosphere sure to appeal to a bleary-eyed Buck were he to come staggering through its doors. Featuring Big Ditch Road, Lazy Ike, John Evans & Jennifer Holt of the Mercurys. 9:30 p.m. $7. 21+. 101 Glenwood Ave N., Mpls. 612-338-9491. Louis Lenzmeier

Masters of the Midway
@ 2402 University Ave.

Another art extravaganza to note: The Masters of the Midway is an open exhibition and sale of artwork by more than 25 artists who work at 2402 University Avenue in St. Paul. Wander from studio to studio and see an eclectic mix of paintings, ceramics, textiles, prints, photographs, fiber art, metal sculpture and more. Treat this as an art crawl or a shopping spree. My favorites include the whimsical lithographs of Faye Passow and the amazing hand-knit sculptures of Carolyn Halliday. An impressive array of artists—many of whom have exhibited nationally and internationally—all under one roof. Fri. Nov. 18, noon – 10 p.m. & Sat. Nov. 19, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Two blocks east of Highway 280 & University Ave. Chittenden & Eastman Building, 2402 University Ave., St. Paul. 651-644-3223. Sartor

Sufjan Stevens, Nicolai Dunger
@ The 400 Bar

The past year has been exceedingly kind to Sufjan Stevens (an artist I initially profiled in a Pulse cover story heralding the best “under the radar” music of 2003). Since then Stevens has received a much needed spotlight boost (including a recent profile in Spin), released a great album of hushed elegiac beauty (The Seven Swans) and continued to work on his series of albums profiling all the 50 states (his first, 2003’s Michigan, was a dizzying display of musical prowess—run to the record store and buy it, NOW, you won’t be let down). Whether going for the epic and self-layering vocal harmonies, bells galore and brass sections onto his windy tunes, or going the stripped down Iron & Wine route, Stevens is a deft craftsmen. His current tour, with a full band dubbed the Michigan Militia, should be a treat. Also on the bill is Scandinavian professional-soccer-player-turned-Van-Morrison-styled-crooner Nicolai Dunger. Whether one buys his bluesy blue-eyed growl or not, he’s certainly made enough of the right friends, having crafted albums with the aid of both Will Oldham and Mercury Rev (how’s that for diverse influences?). Dunger’s latest lovelorn opus boasts an appropriately combative title, Here’s My Song You Can Have It … I Don’t Want it Anymore/ Yours 4Ever. Am I the only one who also thinks that would make a great Prince album title? 9 p.m. $10 adv/$12 door. 21+. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903. van Alstyne

Eyedea & Abilities
@ The Quest Club

Eyedea & Abilities are the headlining act on this sizzling Hip-Hop bill that’s dubbed their nationwide trek the appropriately militaristic “Leave of Absence Tour.” The hyper-virtuoso skill set displayed on E&A should keep plenty of heads bobbing in the live setting, but this bill is dope enough that there are actually other acts on the bill who could give Eyedea & Abilities a run for their money. Among them is Ohio underground Hip-Hop emcee Illogic, who in addition to pretty much single-handedly putting the Buckeye state on the hipster rap map can boast one of the cleverest album titles in recent memory (Got Lyrics?). Should be a blazing gig. With special guests Illogic w/DJ Prism, Los Nativos and P.O.S. of Doomtree. 5 p.m. $12 adv/$15 door. All Ages. 110 N. 5th St., Mpls. 612-338-3383. Tickets purchased for First Avenue will be honored. DJ Fat Beats