Friday Music âÄì Black Moth Super Rainbow and School of Seven Bells Oh look, another eclectic indie favorite oft described as âÄútrippy.âÄù Yep, thatâÄôs Black Moth Super Rainbow, taking the rock-rock-rock stage this weekend. Their 2009 release, âÄúEating Us,âÄù was produced by the Flaming LipsâÄô fave producer, David Fridmann, and itâÄôs kind of lo-fi, kind of marijuana-appropriate, and a little bit âÄô70s kidâÄôs TV show soundtrack-y. School of Seven Bells, a band of twin sisters plus one of the guys from Secret Machines, is a little dreamier and prettier, like a girl-fronted M83, for whom they opened last year. Get your synth on. Triple Rock Social Club, 629 Cedar Ave. 9 p.m. $11 – 13 Theater âÄì âÄúThe Miss Firecracker ContestâÄù If Tennesee Williams taught us anything, itâÄôs that Southern folks have issues. In this Pulitzer-winning play, written in 1980 by Beth Henley, Carnelle enters a beauty pageant to prove something to herself … that being that sheâÄôs not a slut but rather âÄúsomebodyâÄù in her town. Her ex-pageant queen cousin Elain andElainâÄôs mental hospital-escapee brother help Carnelle realize her dream to be deemed Miss Firecracker. (P.S. Holly Hunter played Carnelle in the Broadway and the film version of the play.) Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Rd. 7:30 p.m. $18 Theater âÄì âÄúTiny KushnerâÄù WeâÄôve been hearing a lot about playwright Tony Kushner (âÄúAngels in America,âÄù Tony/Emmy/Pulitzer winner/âÄùMunichâÄù screenwriter) these days, and for good reason. Not only is the UâÄôs College of Liberal Arts honoring the playwright, but the Guthrie is pulling out all the stops to celebrate his work with a retrospective of sorts, which also includes âÄúCaroline, or ChangeâÄù and âÄúA Bright Room Called Day.âÄù âÄúTiny KushnerâÄù is a collection of five of KushnerâÄôs shorter plays as acted by a four-person cast, including the charismatic J.C. Cutler. Guthrie Theatre, Dowling Studio, 818 Second St. S. 7:30 p.m. $18-34 Theater âÄì âÄúThe Intelligent HomosexualâÄôs Guide to Capitalism âĦ âÄù YouâÄôll have to choose between âÄúTiny KushnerâÄù and âÄúThe Intelligent HomosexualâÄôs Guide âĦ âÄù tonight, because they run concurrently at the Guthrie. This one, however, is KushnerâÄôs new play and itâÄôs garnered him a lot of attention from local papers. R.T. Rybak even declared April 18 âÄúTony Kushner DayâÄù in Minneapolis! âÄúThe Intelligent HomosexualâÄôs Guide âĦ âÄù takes cues from both Mary Baker Eddy (of Christian Science fame) and George Bernard Shaw. ItâÄôs the story of a man whoâÄôs looking at our new century and finding it lacking. What happens next is a family reunion of sorts, sure to be full of dysfunction and humor. Plus, thereâÄôs strong language, smoking, and nudity – what more could you ask for? Guthrie Theatre, McGuire Proscenium, 818 Second St. S. 7:30 p.m. $55 Saturday Music âÄì Big Quarters A&E favorite Big Quarters, who were interviewed by our very own local music fanatic Jay Boller a few weeks ago, release their CD âÄúFrom the Home of Brown Babies & White MothersâÄù tonight at the Rock X3. With the rising interest in the Twin CitiesâÄô hip-hop scene, itâÄôs a must-see show, and for $7 itâÄôs also a steal. Sure, itâÄôs maybe a little too socially-conscious to dance to, but the Triple Rock makes strong drinks. Triple Rock Social Club, 629 Cedar Ave. 9 p.m. $7 Music âÄì Lookbook The Turf is famous for lots of reasons: it looks cool, the drinks are relatively cheap, the hipster kids both young and old love it, and $5 shows are a canâÄôt-beat-it way to discover new local bands. This time the club features guy & girl duo Lookbook, a rising presence in the Twin Cities music scene, along with We are Hex and Kill to Kill (another A&E spotlighted band). LookbookâÄôs one part gloomy melancholy and one part electro-influenced. Their âÄúBelieve the HypeâÄù release has been getting attention from music blogs all over the Hype Machine, which any true indie kid knows is the compiler of all things cool. Turf Club, 1601 University Ave. W. St. Paul 9 p.m. $5 Art âÄì Dave Young and Kate Van Cleve âÄúTheoretical RealitiesâÄù These two artists take on the idea of theoretical realities in two very different directions: Young paints works with topics ranging from fairy tales to the Wild West, and Van Cleve uses installation art as well as paintings to address her memories and experiences in âÄúreality.âÄù ItâÄôs an eye-opening exhibit at the celebrated Rosalux, and a great way to continue the art interest you conjured up by Art-a-Whirl. Rosalux Gallery, 1011 Washington Ave S. 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Music âÄì Happy Apple Yes, Happy Apple is jazz. Yes, there are saxophones (altos, tenors, even a Kenny G soprano). But Happy Apple sounds nothing like Kenny G, and thatâÄôs a good thing. Playing in their unique style, this trio creates what âÄúAll About JazzâÄù calls âÄúrazor sharp soloing and bountiful storylines.âÄù For those of us who played saxophones in the high school band and chafed at always being placed behind the trumpets and clarinets, itâÄôs nice to see our instrument in the spotlight. Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S. 7 p.m. $15 advance, $18 door Theater âÄì âÄúThe Saved by the Bell ShowâÄù A play about âÄúSaved by the Bell?âÄù For anyone in our generation, this is gold, especially if you used to get up at the crack of dawn before school to watch old reruns. The gangâÄôs all here: Kelly, Slater, and Screech (no, washed-up fame-whore Dustin Diamond isnâÄôt playing his dorky creation) and expect adventures in caffeine pills and teenybop romance at the show. Hopefully Mr. Belding shows up in one form or another; he was always my favorite. Bryant Lake Bowl. 810 West Lake St. 6 p.m. $10 Sunday Music âÄì Soundset âÄò09 A huge Rhymesayers festival with headliners Atmosphere and Brother Ali, Soundset also offers tons of other bands making the trek totally worth it. Expect to see P.O.S., Buck 65, Heiruspecs, and others at this celebration of local hip-hop. $75 gets you VIP treatment âĦ maybe youâÄôll get to drink whiskey with Slug and Ant! Canterbury Park, Shakopee 11 a.m. $30-$75 Music – Bob Dylan Soundalike Contest As we all know, Bob Dylan is one of our musical claims to fame, on par with Prince, and the 400 Bar wants Dylan dopplegangers to test their mettle on the stage that once housed another (quasi)famous Minnesotan, Mason Jennings. Got a nasal croon on par with BobbyâÄôs? These folks think they doâÄîyou be the judge. Sarah Pray & Tumbling Dice follow the all-ages contest. 400 Bar, 400 Cedar Ave. S. 6 p.m. $3 Bowling âÄì Memory Lanes Block Party Sunday is day two of this sure-to-please mini-festival hosted by legendarily fun Memory Lanes Bowling Alley. Saturday features Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles, as well as Private Dancer and Dance Band, and Sunday hosts burlesque dancers, a DJ set from Solid Gold, Black Blondie, and Kill the Vultures. Sounds like all the cool kids will be there. Memory Lanes, 2520 26th Ave. S. 1 p.m. – 2 a.m Dining âÄì Blues Brunch ThereâÄôs no better place to stuff yourself full of rib tips and BBQ sauce-soaked pulled pork sandwiches or than award-winning Famous DaveâÄôs, who thoughtfully soundtrack their Sunday brunch buffet to the blues they adore. What better way to spend a hungover Sunday than with saxophones and wailing guitars? Famous DaveâÄôs, 3001 Hennepin Ave. Buffet opens at 10 AM Theater âÄì âÄúBewitched: An Evening of the Cabaret NoirâÄù Bryant Lake Bowl is a hub of fun stuff to do this summer, from dining to bowling to cabaret. Bewitched: An Evening of Cabaret Noir hosts guest Natalie Lovejoy and The BewitchedâÄôs self-described âÄúBelle Epoque punkâÄù sound, coming complete with dulcimers and guitars. Did we mention that one half of The Bewitched paints his face like a mime? Anyway, the BewitchedâÄôs sound is part âÄò80s-goth, part Renaissance, and part Midwest-influenced âÄò20s and âÄò30s ragtime. Bryant-Lake Bowl, 810 Lake St. W. 7 p.m. $10 Culture to Consume Read This: No more Chem textbooks for you! Now that itâÄôs summer, youâÄôre free to dive into the trashiest, beachiest novels you can find, or at least the trashiest magazines around. So ladies, weâÄôre pointing you in the direction of âÄúCosmopolitan,âÄù which yes, is essentially the same issue every month with a different busty covergirl, but whatever, itâÄôs fun, itâÄôs beach-friendly, and if it gets wet at Lake Calhoun, who cares? Plus, your guy friends have more than a little interest in the sex tips inside, as ridiculous as they can sometimes be. Of course, if something more refined is more your taste, then you should try Colson WhiteheadâÄôs âÄúSag Harbor.âÄù ItâÄôs gotten a ton of buzz, but I canâÄôt seem to get into it âÄîit meanders like summer vacation. Try it out and get back to me. Listen to This: Emily WellsâÄô âÄúJuicyâÄù A classically trained musician taking on Notorious B.I.G.? Yeah, itâÄôs been done, but WellsâÄô rendition of BiggieâÄôs âÄúJuicyâÄù is so weird and inexplicably alluring that it deserves a listen. She sounds a little like Feist, a little smoky like Nina Simone, and her cover is eerie and off-putting, resisting parody like other renditions of famous rap songs. Watch This: âÄúDaisy of LoveâÄù VH1 has me hooked on another dumb reality show! How do they do it? Answer: by bringing in one of my favorite ex âÄúRock of LoveâÄù contestants, the pillow-lipped, bleach-blonde Daisy de la Hoya, who failed to score Bret MichaelsâÄô heart but won a TV show in the process. In the episode I caught, Daisy (who looks like Janice the Muppet) had her tattooed bevy of suitors compose rock nâÄô roll versions of nursery rhymes, then they all made out, and some of the guys cried. Classic TV. Eat This: Eat at the Dinkytowner for Chrissake! ItâÄôs about to close. A&E recommends the pancakes, and the two-for-one drinks of course. Drink This: Strip and Go Nakeds combine lemonade (good), vodka (good), Sprite (good), and beer (good) to make a pitcher full of summery deliciousness. Take 1 can of frozen lemonade, combine with 1 can beer, add in vodka, Sprite, water, and stir. Add ice and pour into those shady red plastic cups for maximum effect. Click This:Gorilla Vs. Bear This music blog has been around since before blogs were cool. (You know, like when they used to mean Live Journal.) Full of unique concert polaroids and pre-released singles, it will reward frequent clicking.