The Wake

Judging from the rampant celebration over Barack Obama’s historic presidential win, this weekend looks to be a time for great ra-ra and inspired good times. Stop doing your homework, forever, and go do something awesome this weekend.

City Pages Picked To Click artists Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles kicks off a miniseries stint at the Nomad Pub tonight, with the first of three Thursday concerts in a row. Lead Lucy Michelle conjures up the vocal talents of Jolie Holland as she plucks away at her ukulele, while her backing band brings a variety of instrumentation to the stage. This unique folk ensemble has something for everyone, and Michelle is easily one of the best whistlers I’ve ever heard. They’ve promised some new tunes this time around, and the event is FREE, so come on down to the Nomad and get let your folk flag fly. This is part of the Nomad’s Minniseries event, which showcases a new local artist every month. If you miss this one, the Lapelles shall be back next week for another free show!

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles with Poor Nobodys and Bitch n’ Brown (as the Chixxxy Dicks)
Thursday, November 6
Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Ave
Music at 9:30, 21+, FREE

This Saturday, the Clapperclaw Music and Arts Festival, an eclectic co-mingling of a great number of alternative forms, returns. The festival intends to showcase a wide range of local and national art, including film, art and fashion shows, and musical performances. This eclectic festival features music from local rappers Cecil Otter and Big Quarters, electronic-infused rock and roll from Speed’s The Name, Look Book and Man Is Doomed, out-of-towners XYZ Affair and Peter Adams, plus DJ sets from DJ Cool Money and DJ Real Talk Radio. On top of all this, there will be films screened all night, artwork from some truly talented local artists, and exclusive fashion work from local designers. I tried to write it all down here and there was simply too much; check out the Clapperclaw website for more information on what is happening and when. This event is $12 at the door and $5 in advance (with free drinks all night, did I mention that? Some people might like that sort of thing), so I suggest you get tickets early. A portion of the proceeds go to Free Arts Minnesota, which makes this awesome event all the more legit. Come check out this amazing festival and come support your local art scene!

Clapperclaw Music and Arts Festival
Saturday, November 8
Sound Gallery Recording Studio and Warehouse, 414 3rd Ave N
4 PM - 2AM (Check Clapperclaw website for schedule)
$5 pre-sale or during “Happy Hour” (4-7), $12 after 7, 21+

Also this Saturday comes the band famously kicked off tour with Guns N’ Roses a few years back for being simply TOO AWESOME (though this was not the official statement at the time, I believe, in our hearts, we all know the real reason). That’s right, those sex-starved sleaze merchants the Eagles of Death Metal are bringing their unabashed dirty-rock stylings to the Fine Line, and you’d better bring an extra pair of fists to pump cuz the rock is much too much. On tour in support of their latest effort, Heart On, the bad news boys bring you crunchy rock and roll to which you simply can’t help but move your feet. Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme drops the guitar and sits on the skins as frontman Jesse Hughes sings of love, lust and more lust while blowing your clothes off with his guitar solos. The California band bring a fun and sexy sound to the staple stoner-rock of the bands extended family, and no, they don’t actually play death metal. If the Eagles really played death metal, would they sound like this? Who cares? Come get your rock on and get your rocks off in the good old fashioned way at the Fine Line.

Eagles of Death Metal with The Duke Spirit
Saturday, November 8
Fine Line Music Cafe, 318 1st Ave N
$18/$20, doors at 8, music at 9, 18+