The Wake

Every Monday night, men line up outside the Simpson United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. They wrap around the building, one by one, waiting for the weekly lottery. This isn’t the kind of lottery you see on TV with multi-million dollar prizes and oversized checks. This is a lottery sponsored by a coalition of homeless shelters including St. Stephen’s Shelter, Simpson Housing Services and Our Saviour’s Housing. The prize they offer is a 28-night stay in …

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On November 20, a Thursday night when many college kids were out drinking at the local bars, studying for a test or hanging out with friends, Habitat for Humanity members spent their night sitting on cardboard boxes outside the St. Paul Capitol. Group members participated in “Night Without a Home” in conjunction with Hamline University. By sleeping outside like the homeless, the group hoped to raise awareness on their struggle, shatter stereotypes, and “challenge Minnesota’s …

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Least likely phrase heard coming from Tim Pawlenty’s office:
“Man, I gots to be fiscally conservative!”Least likely thing heard in a National Enquirer meeting:
Wait a second – why are we calling him ‘Jacko’?Best way to start a post-winter break conversation:
“OK, so I was at Senor Frogs, right?”Dinkytown establishment most likely to be haunted by the pissed-off ghost of Bob Dylan:
Bobby Z’sLeast popular American value: ABSTINENCELeast popular winter vacation spot: IRAQBest career …

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Sure the 35-yard field goal would give the Gophers a victory over border rival Wisconsin and its first nine-wine season since 1905. But Gopher kicker/punter Rhys Lloyd had added incentive.“Coach [Glen Mason] told me that if I made the kick, the whole team was going to love me because we were going to have pizza for supper,” Lloyd said. “And I said, ‘As long as there’s extra.’”The 21-year-old, Recreation, Parks and Leisure major came to …

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The men’s club soccer time lost in the semifinals of the National Tournament in Tuscaloosa, AL, but not before spoiling other teams’ championship hopes. The highlight of the tournament was a 3-0 trouncing of defending champion Weber State, coach Alan Merrick said.“They [Weber State] were mesmerized by our performance,” Merrick said. “We came out and took it to them early in the game.”The Gophers beat Arizona State, Texas and Weber State and then loss to …

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In 2002 Gophers fans cheered as the Minnesota’s wrestling team successfully defended its 2001 national title. Last April, Dinkytown was once again swarming with fans after the men’s hockey team accomplished a repeat when they defeated New Hampshire in the national championship. Gopher fans might have another two-peat champ to cheer for, or cheer with, if the top-ranked U of M dance team pulls off another title in Orlando this January. Yes, the women’s dance team, the ladies …

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The annual border battle between the Minnesota Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers brings out the best each state has to offer. Each team plays its heart out for the Paul Bunyan Axe, a hallowed symbol of the blood, sweat and tears expelled throughout the rivalry’s history. But the players are not the only ones leaving their emotions out on the field. Gopher and Badger fans gather together each year happy to exchange hateful cheers, partake in …

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Many of the current housing problems faced by students living near campus were addressed Oct 28 at a Minnesota Student Association forum.Vice President Jeff Nath introduced “Project Lighthouse,” a multi-step project that attempts to conquer the economic and physical problems that students living near the university face.The housing component of Nath’s resolution calls for the city of Minneapolis, as well as the state, to impose stronger laws concerning “landlords who knowingly violate zoning laws or …

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Lights Out Asia, a newly formed post-rock project from Milwaukee, WI, plays an extremely innovative, stunning and sincere form of indie rock. Composed of two former members from the band Aurore Rien, the duo straddles the line between placid soundscapes and highly unique and palatable electronic elements. Influenced just as much from the soundtrack to the movie Bladerunner as modern day post-rock heroes Mogwai, both members have the ability to capture and articulate the deep …

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Finally, Paul Westerberg gets it right. After spending the nineties churning out puke-tastic ballads, the Minneapolis born ‘n’ bred icon has rediscovered his roots with Come Feel Me Tremble. No, Tremble does not sound like a Replacements album, and no, it’s not without its’ droopy balladry. But that doesn’t matter. After all, it’s been more than a decade since the demise of The Mats, and Westerberg is no longer a picture of carefree, youthful ignorance. …

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This summer I had the opportunity to take a time out of a day working at Sherwin-Williams and talk to Opeth co-founder, guitarist Peter Lindgren. For those shamefully unaware of Opeth (and if you are unaware of them, you should be ashamed!), Opeth has been one of the biggest forces in metal in recent years. They have combined the brutality of death metal with soft, melancholic parts, to create something that could only be Opeth. …

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Hidden in Plain Sight is a documentary dealing with the controversial School of the Americas, which trains Latin American soldiers in the United States. It’s a powerful film that shows the viewer testimony of individuals victimized by soldiers who had been trained at the facility, pictures of those unable to speak after such soldiers were done with them, and seemingly dubious testimony from United States military personal. The film is certainly well-edited, has a top …

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Twin Cities based Aesma Daeva has to be one of the most unique metal bands around. They merge together elements of classical, progressive, and metal music with female operatic vocals. The band has just released its third album The New Athens Ethos, which boasts an improvement from their first releases Here Lies One Whose Name Was Written in Water and The Eros of Frigid Beauty. Melissa Ferlaak performs beautifully on vocals. The guitar playing (John …

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Is Fran Healy depressed? The sound of his band Travis is an embodiment of catchy, melody-driven and upbeat choruses, but in their latest album 12 Memories, their distinctive sound is blended with mellow and sadly-depressing lyrics. Battling feelings of jealousy towards mainstream Britpop bands like Coldplay, Travis contently accepts its demotion with a grin. In the opening song “Quicksand,” frustration as a second-rate band is accompanied by an orchestra of violins and cellos. “Take me …

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Two years ago, rock n’ roll was dead. Then along came five, young, and hip New Yorkers who busted onto the music scene carrying a “who gives a s*** mentality” behind them. A tightly knit group of friends, The Strokes reinvented the New York music scene with a blend of raunchy, emotion-soaked lyrics with two treble-heavy guitars, root-note bass lines and a steady drum beat.They’ve done it again. Filling in as the poster-band for American …

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