The Big Gigs

Spotlights on the Grant Hart benefit, Robert Everst's Carnaval Brasileiro, Middle Brother and more.

By Star Tribune staff, Star Tribune
Last update: March 10, 2011 - 3:07 PM

POP/ROCK

Toronto electro-goth duo Crystal Castles had its local coming-out in 2008 on tour with Nine Inch Nails, and since then it has become one of the most loved/hated bands in indiedom. Frontwoman Alice Glass maintains an uncannily animated/melodramatic persona as she writhes her way across the stage, and she and partner Ethan Kath pile on a hypnotic/numbing amount of whirring synth and mesmerizing/annoying strobe lights. At least they were cool/passe enough to get the Cure's Robert Smith to guest on one single, "Not in Love." There's every reason/no chance they'll live up to the hype. Teengirl Fantasy opens. (9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue. Sold out.) (C.R.)

Two of New York's most in-demand classical-to-rock crossover players, Doveman (aka Thomas Bartlett) and Nadia Sirota are pairing up for two nights in Minneapolis. He has played with David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, Nico Muhly and members of the National while also recording his own airy, piano-led music. She is a stunning violist who has worked with Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Jonsi and Grizzly Bear. They will play new pieces by Muhly and Daniel Felsenfeld in addition to Doveman's stuff. (8 p.m. Fri-Sat., Southern Theater. $20-$24; student rush $12.) (C.R.)

Louisianans aren't the only ones who put on a great Lent party. Guitar maestro Robert Everest's Carnaval Brasileiro 2011, the biggest Brazilian bash in town, takes over this Fine Line Music Cafe this weekend. Besides his large ensemble Beira Mar Brasil, it features a guest singer who's really from Brazil, Dandara, plus the Batucada do Norte Percussion Ensemble and professional samba dancers. (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 21 & older. $15-$20, plus a family friendly show at 2 p.m. Sat., $10-$15.) (C.R.)

One of the Twin Cities music scene's most unsung and resilient heroes, former Hüsker Dü co-frontman Grant Hart was hit hard by a house fire two months ago and he's still climbing out of the ashes. If you know anything of the Hüskers story, you know this guy is not getting rich off royalties. First Ave jumped at organizing a benefit concert, and a cool cross-section of fans and friends lined up to perform on it, including Soul Asylum frontman Dave Pirner, fellow pop/punk vets the Magnolias, charity-gig regulars the Alarmists, young turks Mister Fister and at least one guy with more stories than Hart, Curtiss A. Oh, and Hart is getting his old band back together for the show: Yanomamos. Which old band did you think it was? (6 p.m. Sat., First Avenue. $10.) (C.R.)

On 2009's "Acquired Taste," Texas roadhouse warrior Delbert McClinton got producer Don Was to make sure the recording wasn't bar-room sloppy or studio slick. McClinton's usual impassioned mix of blues, rock, soul and grit are on display on disc and will be in evidence in his favorite exurban Twin Cities haunt. Opening is local blues/rock piano ace Bruce McCabe & the Rich Poor Men. (8:30 p.m. Sat., Medina Entertainment Center, $28-$45.) (J.B.)

It would be enough just to have a double bill with Dawes and Deer Tick, two of the most exciting Americana/twang-rock acts of the past couple years. However, those bands are essentially touring as support for a new supergroup called Middle Brother, featuring their respective frontmen, Taylor Goldsmith and John McCauley, plus a third singer/songwriter of note, Matt Vasquez of the Delta Spirit. What could have been a throwaway, one-off project turned out a serious album, one that should fit right in with Minneapolis fans, since it sounds like an unearthed batch of mid-'90s Jayhawks tunes and includes a cover of the Replacements' rarity "Portland." Highly recommended. (8 p.m. Mon., First Avenue. $18.) (C.R.)

There's no holiday and there's not even a full-fledged band involved in the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour, but fans already know to expect the unexpected from the great Athens, Ga., psychedelic label that gave us Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, Elf Power, the Music Tapes and more. Various members of those bands -- about 15 in all -- are combining to play various songs from the E6 catalog in various musical configurations. Although he has shown up at a few of the shows, Neutral Milk Hotel's reclusive frontman Jeff Mangum is not part of the cast. (8 p.m. Mon., Varsity Theater. 18 & older. $15.) (C.R.)

Former Red House Painters frontman Mark Kozelek continues to record under the name Sun Kil Moon, including last year's album "Admiral Fell Promises" -- which was just him and a nylon-stringed acoustic guitar. That's how he's performing here, too. (8 p.m. Mon., Cedar Cultural Center. All ages. $18-$20.) (C.R.)