Wednesday news and reviews

Art

'Sweat Stains, Beer, and Cigarettes' closes soon

On the right night, the dive bar band scene can be an exciting one. The current exhibition at Steven's Square Center for the Arts is a tribute to just that: "bar culture, tobacco-stained walls, and sweaty, dirty, rock 'n' roll."

- Coco Mault, City Pages

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Erin Currie: 100 Creatives

Toymaker, artist, and clothing designer Erin Currie is perhaps best known for her Curster series, a line of vinyl gnomes, beasties, and bunnies with wide eyes and mischievous facial expressions.

- Jessica Armbruster

Books

A conversation with Peg Meier, author of Through No Fault of My Own

Once again, Peg Meier (author of Bring Warm Clothes and other treats) has taken the simplest every-day item - a young girl's diary - and presented it to her readers in a way that makes everyone appreciate it.

- Linda White, Examiner.com

Dance

An uneasy meeting of West and East

James Sewell Ballet and the Schubert Club attempt a "Fusion" of classical traditions.

- CAROLINE PALMER , Star Tribune

General

'Hanna' and the rise of the new auteur

- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com

Movies

Film-fest website crash causes some headaches

Two days before festival begins, MSPIFF schedule pages are back up, but online ticketing is problematic.

- COLIN COVERT, Star Tribune

Minneapolis/St. Paul FILM FESTIVAL Here are some of the highlights in the first week.

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Film Festival is getting started with a bang. Over the course of three weeks, the fest features about 170 films, one of the best of which is being shown on the very first night.

- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

MSPIFF 2011: Bigger and better than ever

Now in its fourth year at the St. Anthony Main Theaters, MSPIFF has really exploded this year and holds much promise.

- Jim Brunzell III, TC Daily Planet

MSPIFF 2011: What to see

With around 230 films there are definitely some to avoid like the stench of sour milk, and people are bound to be confused with certain titles.

- Jim Brunzell III, TC Daily Planet

Music

Plant delivers rootsy Americana

REVIEW: The rock icon showed himself an adventurous performer, whether recasting hits or delving into the soul.

- JON BREAM , Star Tribune

The young and the relentless

Tweens are driven to be pop stars, but challenges, dangers exist.

- JON BREAM , Star Tribune

Cut Copy at First Avenue: 2011's show to beat

The Australian synthpop outfit have played in a bigger venue each time they've visited the Twin Cities, and they were recently named as one of the top acts at this summer's Pitchfork Music Festival.

- Bobby Kahn, TC Daily Planet

Trying to fit her 'Red High Heels'

Kellie Pickler is more than a corny country cutup. She just hasn't been able to capture it on record yet.

- JON BREAM , Star Tribune

Dessa and Lazerbeak talk about the non-music side of Doomtree

Not only are they one of the metro's indie-rap heavyweights, they are also a record label, book publisher, and producers of various multi-media. The collective has grown from Hopkins high school alumni trading beats to an ambitious, critically lauded crew with seven distinct voices and one unifying cause.

- Loren Green, City Pages

Record Store Day 2011: Vinyl lovers' paradise

Twin Cities prepares for busiest RSD yet

- Andrea Swensson, City Pages

Stage

Frank revisits 'Cabaret' for a benefit concert, with updated location

Sometimes, as much as everyone involved would like it to be different, the show can't go on.

- Ed Huyck, City Pages

Next Fall at Jungle Theater

An exploration of a gay couple's thorny differences

- Ed Huyck, City Pages