Best entertainment bets for Oct. 17-21

Pioneer Press
Updated: 10/15/2010 02:07:43 PM CDT

OCT. 17

ROCK / GORILLAZ

Today: Created by British singer/songwriter Damon Albarn and "Tank Girl" cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz is a "virtual" band with animated figures standing in for band members on video and album sleeves. But it has scored enough real-world hits — including "Clint Eastwood," "Feel Good Inc." and "Dare" — to launch a world tour. Clash fans, take note: Bassist Paul Simonon and guitarist Mick Jones are touring as part of the Gorillaz live band. Pharrell Williams' band N.E.R.D opens. 7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $92-$51.50; 800-745-3000.

— Ross Raihala

CLASSICAL / THE ROSE ENSEMBLE

Today: This Twin Cities-based vocal ensemble is known for re-creating the sound of centuries long past. While its reputation as a top American choir was confirmed by a Chorus America award five years ago, its fame now has spread to Europe, thanks to well-received festival appearances in Spain, Italy and France. This month, the group is taking the sound of medieval and Renaissance music all over Minnesota on a tour but is coming home for a free Bethlehem Music Series matinee. The program, "Il Poverello," is filled with music inspired by the life and writings of St. Francis of Assisi. 4 p.m.; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.; free; 612-312-3411 or bethlehemmusicseries.org.

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FAMILY / VICTORIAN GHOST STORIES

Today: Listen to costumed actors read 19th-century ghost stories in the dimly lit parlor of the James J. Hill House. The one-hour program includes works by Edgar Allan Poe, Edith Wharton and the Brothers Grimm, as well as lesser-known authors of the period, plus some "true" tales. The show will be followed by a house tour and cider. 6 and 7:30 p.m. (not recommended for ages younger than 8); James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul; $10; 651-297-2555 or mnhs.org.

— Maja Beckstrom

CLASSICAL / MENAHEM PRESSLER

Today: The Music in the Park Series has been bringing world-class chamber musicians to St. Paul's St. Anthony Park neighborhood for three decades, and this season opens with chamber music royalty. For more than 50 years, Menahem Pressler manned the keys in the world's most famous piano trio, the Beaux Arts Trio, before disbanding the group in 2008. Now, top musicians are queuing up to play with this legend, and he'll bring three of his favorites — violinist Alexander Kerr, violist Kim Kashkashian and cellist Eric Kim — to town to perform music by Mozart, Antonin Dvorak and Maurice Ravel. 4 p.m.; St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ, 2129 Commonwealth Ave., St. Paul; $22; 651-645-5699 or musicintheparkseries.org.

— Rob Hubbard

OCT. 19

ROCK / JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE

Tuesday: After trying his hardest but failing to reunite the surviving members of Led Zeppelin for a tour, Jason Bonham — son of late LZ drummer John Bonham — has hit the road as Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience, a multi-media performance co-produced by a company behind similar tributes to Pink Floyd and the Beatles. The largely unknown band features guitarist Tony Catania (with whom Bonham recorded a 1997 LZ covers album) and Whitesnake bassist Michael Devin, while the show will include archival video, Bonham's memories of his father and plenty of Zeppelin tunes. 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $52-$42; 800-982-2787.

— Ross Raihala

ROCK / THE AP TOUR

Tuesday: Punk/emo magazine Alternative Press celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, which gives folks who used to read it for Cure and Morrissey news another reason to feel old. To its credit, AP has remained focused on new music, mainly new music aimed at teenagers and college kids. Bring Me the Horizon and August Burns Red co-headline this AP-branded outing, with the former set to do big business with a newly released third album, "There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven, Let's Keep It a Secret." Newcomers Emarosa, Polar Bear Club and This Is Hell are also on the bill. 5 p.m.; Cabooze, 917 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.; $17 (all ages); 612-338-6425.

— Ross Raihala

METAL / GODSMACK

Tuesday: Much like Papa Roach and Buckcherry, the continued success of Godsmack proves there's still lots of life in turn-of-the-century metal acts. Indeed, Godsmack's fifth album, "The Oracle," was the first hard-rock album to top the Billboard charts in 2010 and the third consecutive Godsmack disc to hit No. 1. Rock radio has plenty to do with Godsmack's enduring popularity, helping turn the band's heartwarming singles "Cryin' Like a Bitch" and "Whiskey Hangover" into big hits. For this small-arena show, Godsmack will be joined by Five Finger Death Punch, fresh from its successful cover of "Bad Company," and Drowning Pool, whose recent "Feel Like I Do" hit No. 4. 7 p.m.; Roy Wilkins Auditorium, West Fifth Street between Washington and West Seventh streets, St. Paul; $49.50-$39.50; 800-745-3000.

— Ross Raihala

OCT. 20

JAZZ / HUGH MASEKELA

Wednesday-Thursday: The South African trumpeter/composer/singer has scored gold-record hits and global fame, but his six-decade musical career has been transcended by his influence as an outspoken opponent of apartheid, slavery and other injustices. In 2009, Masekela released "Phola" (meaning "to get well, to heal"), his second CD for 4 Quarters Entertainment/Times Square Records. It includes previously unreleased songs he wrote in the 1980s, along with a reinterpretation of "The Joke of Life (Brinca De Vivre)," which he recorded in the mid-'80s. 7 and 9:30 p.m.; Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $45 (early) and $30 (late); 612-332-1010.

— Dan Emerson

FAMILY / PUMPKIN CARVING

Wednesday: Slash, slice and sculpt your pumpkin into a spooktacular jack-o'-lantern (and leave the mess behind for someone else to clean up). Silverwood Park hosts a carving party and mass pumpkin lighting on the patio, followed by a screening of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." Pumpkins will be provided. 5 p.m. carving, 7 p.m. screening; Silverwood Park, 2500 County Road E, St. Anthony; $8; reservations required, 763-694-7707 or threeriversparks.org.

— Maja Beckstrom

OCT. 21

HUMOR / DAVID SEDARIS

Thursday: In his latest book, "Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary," humorist and National Public Radio favorite David Sedaris offers short animal fables the Onion likens to "somewhere between Aesop and Bret Easton Ellis." Sedaris will sign copies after the show. 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $35-$42; 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

— Amy Carlson Gustafson

COUNTRY / GEORGE STRAIT AND REBA MCENTIRE

Thursday: Billboard recently and rightfully named George Strait the top country artist of the past 25 years. While others have burned brighter and sold more records, few artists in any genre can match Strait for consistency. The Texas native has been a mainstay of country radio since his 1981 debut single, "Unwound," and has sold more than 68 million albums in the United States. In 2009, he picked up a Grammy for best country album, while the Academy of Country Music named him artist of the decade. Fellow country star/actress Reba McEntire shares top billing with Strait for this show, his first in the Twin Cities since January 2006. Lee Ann Womack opens. 7 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $91.50-$22; 800-745-3000.

— Ross Raihala

POP / RICHARD MARX

Thursday: The son of an advertising jingle writer, Richard Marx grew up immersed in the world of catchy hooks. So it's not surprising he began his career in music writing hits for others, including Chicago and Kenny Rogers, before becoming a star on his own in the late '80s. It makes just as much sense that once his songs like "Right Here Waiting" and "Hold on to the Nights" fell out of favor, he returned to writing for others, with a resume that includes Keith Urban and Barbra Streisand. While he has been playing shows with Vertical Horizon's Matt Scannell (the pair recorded the album "Duo" together), this local stop will feature Marx performing solo and acoustic. 7:30 p.m.; Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville; $34.50; 952-895-4685.

— Ross Raihala