Thursday
Atlas Genius with Family of the Year and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
If you like well-dressed men and dance-worthy indie pop, you’ll love Atlas Genius. Australian brothers Keith, Steven and Michael Jeffery started the band in their family’s garage in 2009. Two years later, they released their debut single “Trojans” and hit it big. They’ve since added a keyboardist, dropped a brother, performed on an array of late night talk shows and sold 45,000 copies of their “Trojans” on iTunes. Catch them in Minneapolis toward the start of their two-month tour spanning the states and the UK.
Where: Varsity Theater, 1308 SE 4th St., Minneapolis
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $22.50-$30
Friday
Ghosts of Anoka Tours
Historical ghost tours are the perfect combination of scary and scholarly. The Anoka County Historical Society has crafted a walking tour that covers Anoka’s most haunted homes and businesses. Your costumed tour guides will share real life ghost stories brought to the Historical Society by Anoka’s residents. According to the Society, the ghost stories are mostly history with a healthy dose of folk lore. Tours generally last an hour and a half and will go on in spite of rain. Make sure to reserve spots in advance.
Where: Anoka County Historical Society, 2135 3rd Ave N., Anoka
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5 for children and members, $7 for adults
Saturday
Nine Inch Nails and Explosions in the Sky
Nine Inch Nails, everyone’s favorite industrial band, has teamed up with Explosions in the Sky for a two-month tour that hits St. Paul this weekend. Those unfamiliar with the latter have probably heard them in what feels like every major motion picture to come out over the last year. They somehow concocted the perfect background sound for the departing of lovers, the loss of a friend and anything played in slow motion. As for Nine Inch Nails, well, who can forget the chorus to “Closer”?
Where: Xcel Energy Center
199 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul
When: 8 p.m.
Cost: $37.50 – $101.50
CULTURE TO CONSUME
Watch this: “Prisoners”
Director Denis Villeneuve made his 153-minute masterpiece pass by in what felt like seconds. Maybe it was Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as a detective with sexy slicked back hair and an endearing eye twitch, or perhaps it was Hugh Jackman’s warrior-dad mentality — whatever the case, the tension starts high and keeps growing throughout the film. “Prisoners” follows the kidnapping of two young girls and the ensuing efforts made by Gyllenhaal and Jackman to track them down. Though it sometimes tries to accomplish too much, “Prisoners” is one of the most captivating movies in recent months. The film is particularly devastating for anyone with children. You’ve been warned.
Listen to this: “The Bones of What You Believe” by Chvrches
The long-awaited album of the most hyped band on the Internet is finally here and it does not disappoint. Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Chvrches have blown up the blogosphere over the past year with songs like “Lies” and “The Mother We Share.” Lead singer Lauren Mayberry’s voice doesn’t dominate, but is instead situated perfectly against the stellar synth pop beats of her band mates, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. You may want to seriously consider jumping on board if you haven’t already.
Eat this: Pumpkins
Pumpkin pie, pumpkin butter, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin milkshakes and plain old pumpkins are popping up all over the place — bloggers have been going nuts about the triumphant return of pumpkin spice lattes. Pumpkins are out to overtake apples and the public doesn’t seem to mind. Indulge in your artificially flavored pumpkin drinks if you must, but don’t forget to pick a carving contestant from your local pumpkin path. Nothing beats fistfuls of stringy orange goop.
