Thursday
Hollow Boys, Nice Purse, the Bombay Sweets, Fire in the Northern Firs
Nomad World Pub
501 S. Cedar Ave. , Minneapolis
10 p.m., 21-plus
Nice Purse has as good a grasp on the word âÄúpopâÄù as any band in Minneapolis. Their dainty sing-alongs make for a fine sweaty summer soundtrack, and the Nomad is the place for all things sweaty and summer.
Friday
Mötley Crüe, Poison, the New York Dolls
Target Center
600 N. First Ave. , Minneapolis
7:30 p.m.
$27-$97
Wewewefffff
Even though it isnâÄôt 1987, this is still a show that is too weird to be uninteresting. With Vince Neil and Bret MichaelsâÄô pretty faces morphed to plastic, the show should be a cool reminder that the hair metal days are fading into sloppy humiliation. Unfortunately, hipsters, the New York Dolls have earnest scene cred that might ruin your night of irony. Ah roses, why must you all have thorns?
Saturday
Bill Maher
Mystic Lake CasinoShowroom
2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. NW., Prior Lake
8 p.m.
This is a perfect storm, here. You can guffaw at Bill MaherâÄôs jokes about how the economy blows and no one has any money, then you can go out and throw what you do have into the receptacle … I mean slot machine. Let it ride!
CULTURE TO CONSUME
Listen to this:
âÄúWeird AlâÄù Yankovic âÄî âÄúAlpocalypseâÄù
In this edition, Al takes on Gaga, the White Stripes, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. YankovicâÄôs polka medleys are often the best markers of the state of pop music. In his goofy way, he shows us who we are and what kind of drivel we listen to through his fleet of accordions and clarinets. This yearâÄôs is called âÄúPolka Face.âÄù
Watch This:
âÄúCedar RapidsâÄù
From the pen of former KARE-TV reporter Phil Johnston, this film, starring Ed Helms, paints the Midwest in rare, not super condescending light. Oh, sure, you betcha thereâÄôs a few jabs at our lifestyle, but itâÄôs overlaid with a blanket of humanity.
Eat This:
Late-night happy hour menu at Liquor LyleâÄôs.
This grease-laden smorgasbord is filled with your standard bar food, except most things are a dollar. I donâÄôt want to say I know from experience, but if you order everything on the menu you have a feast for kings for less than $20. Just schedule your angioplasty ahead of time.
Read This:
Grantland.com
Grantland is ESPNâÄôs The Sports Guy Bill SimmonâÄôs new media super lair. The talent that heâÄôs brought in is surprising and ridiculous: Chuck Klosterman, Dave Eggers, Chris Jones, Dan Klores and more. Why the best writers of our time decided to put their eggs in a Boston sports schlubâÄôs basket is curious. But IâÄôm glad they did.
