Tuesday news and reviews
Music
Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt at the State Theatre: A private conversation
At the State Theatre on Monday night, John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett made fans' dreams come true--not once, not twice, but three times. Surely it was a dream come true for many audience members just to see the two performers on stage together, but more specifically, the two actually took shouted requests--promptly.
Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
The Decemberists at the State Theater, 02/06/11
In the end, there was something for everyone on offer at the State Theater on Sunday evening.
- Erik Thompson, City Pages
Dillinger Four, Paint It Black, and others crush the Triple Rock, 2/4/11
If there's been one ironically consistent thing about Dillinger Four shows over the past 17 years, it's how utterly unpredictable--performance, banter, crowd, the whole package--they can be.
- Tigger Lunney, City Pages
Thomas Kivi CD Release and Communist Daughter at the Fine Line, 02/04/2011
In a music industry plagued with vapid smoke and mirrors gimmicks, rampant pretension, and ludicrously tight pants accompanied by laughably large sunglasses worn indoors -- i.e. the Superbowl Halftime Show -- it is refreshing to see musicians that take pride in honest songcraft.
- Pat Dougherty, City Pages
The Decemberists and Mountain Man at the State Theatre: Return to glory
Their Minneapolis show Sunday night at the State Theatre opened with "California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade" from their debut album. While it was a nice precursor to a setlist culled from all six of their records, opening with a 10-minute slow-building song isn't exactly the best way to get an audience's blood pumping.
- Kyle Matteson, TC Daily Planet
Slug of Atmosphere: 'Prince was a s****y version of Rick James and Parliament'
There's a bit of a kerfuffle happening on the interwebs today surrounding a new interview with Slug of Atmosphere published by Pitchfork.
- Andrea Swensson, City Pages
Stage
The Guthrie's production of the late Shakespeare play seduces with its style and performances.
- ROHAN PRESTON, Star Tribune
In the end, you just have to deal with the troubles of The Winter's Tale and take the pleasures that are provided. The Guthrie has a top-notch cast, a striking design and a piece that moves fairly well, even at three hours in length. And the bear is pretty cool too.
- Ed Huyck, City Pages
Things are not as they seem in suburbia
In "Little Eyes," playwright Cory Hinkle straddles two worlds to explore fear and a big-brother world.
- GRAYDON ROYCE, Star Tribune
A mother's life during wartime
By turns hilarious and heart-wrenching, Barbra Berlovitz is chilling as the famous Brecht antiheroine.
- LISA BROCK, Star Tribune
Shirley Valentine to midlife rut: Let the sunshine in
Actor Cheryl Willis brings a natural winning charm to this character who has the courage to change her life.
- Graydon Royce, Star Tribune
"Shirley Valentine," you can't be serious! I am serious, and I'm at the Jungle Theater
Is Shirley Valentine life-altering? No, but I don't think it means to be. Life-affirming? Certainly. It's good to be reminded every now and again not to let your life slip by you without savoring it.
Matthew A. Everett, TC Daily Planet
McKnight 2010 Screenwriting Fellows present work on Tuesday night
Before the big movie producers and red-carpet stars can even think about winning awards at the Oscars, screenwriters must first put an imaginative vision to paper. In order to help this process along, every year local organization the McKnight Foundation and IFP Media Arts award prestigious fellowships to two talented Minnesotan screenwriters.
- Shelby Myers, City Pages
Television
Super Bowl ads: The softer side of masculinity
Although most only last 30 seconds, they tend to cost about as much as a feature film, they get seen by more than 100 million people, and they get discussed for weeks and sometimes years later. As popular art forms go, they're about as important as anything produced today.
- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com