Welcome to January: What’s happening this month in the Twin Cities
Mark your calendars (in pen)
January is all about starting over, and there’s no better way to kung fu 2010 out of your life than with Wu-Tang Clan’s (Jan. 9, Epic) Rebirth Tour. Getting all eight members together for a full-scale tour is no small feat, so it’s not surprising that they’re already a man down: RZA is forgoing the trek to focus on his film career. The Current’s birthday party (Jan. 21, First Avenue) is another can’t-miss show, though anyone who doesn’t already have tickets will have to. The station has announced that Free Energy, Cloud Cult, and Jeremy Messersmith will perform, and if Pollstar is to be believed, Roma Di Luna and Atmosphere will also be taking the stage. [According to a spokesperson for The Current, Pollstar is not to be believed.] And of course, this weekend features our own anniversary party (Jan. 7, First Avenue and the 7th Street Entry), which we’ll be sure to remind you about at least 10 or 12 more times this week.
Mark your calendars (in pencil)
We’re thrilled about the return of Lauryn Hill (Jan. 18, First Avenue), but her recent gigs have received mixed critiques, whether she was keeping Brooklynites waiting for hours, or baffling a Rock The Bells crowd with sped-up versions of her songs. Still, we’ll be there, possibly with a deck of cards to keep us busy. The acts playing the Best New Bands Of 2010 (Jan. 26, First Avenue) appear around town at least once a month, but catching them all in the same place at the same time is really handy, particularly if your 2011 resolutions involve efficiency and becoming more familiar with the local scene. Last year’s TC Hip-Hop Awards (Jan. 28, First Avenue) were cut short when a fight between emcee Boima Freeman and a stage crasher turned into an all-out brawl. Here’s hoping the awards show makes it to the end of the evening this time.
Mark your calendars (maybe)
January’s not hurting for artists we have mixed feelings about. Ben Folds (Jan. 23, First Avenue) crossed the line from geek chic to plain old geek when he went a cappella. Snoop Dogg (Jan. 25, The Cabooze) will seemingly appear on anyone’s track and spit a forgettable verse if there’s money involved. And Liz Phair (Jan. 20, Fine Line Music Cafe) gained a lot of haters after releasing 2010’s goofy Funstyle. But hey, what about the good times?
