Weekend Culture Compass - 10K, comedy and local noise rock.

Friday

Music – 10,000 Lakes Festival

By the time you’re reading this, day 2 of the festival (yesterday), will have already passed. What does that mean? It means you’ve already missed Wilco, Atmosphere, Mason Jennings and Akron/Family. That does suck, especially considering those acts are some of the finest to grace the hippie/stoner festival’s stages in a number of years. But, there’s still Trampled by Turtles and Cloud Cult today, if you’re willing to make the trek up to D.L. And get yourself geared up for DMB Saturday, bro-diddle.

Soo Pass Ranch, 25526 Cty. Hwy. 2 Detroit Lakes, MN

12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

$75 to $185

Music – Bouncer Fighter

The bohemian-chic quaintness of the Kitty Cat Klub doesn’t lend itself particularly well to hot rock and/or roll combos such as Bouncer Fighter, but the intimacy harkens to a basement show – a source of great nostalgia for punkers. Anyway, to call Bouncer Fighter simply a punk band would be selling them short. The Minneapolis 5-piece – they’ve got a freakin’ viola player, how’s that for an angle? – have been lauded plenty by the local press, and deservedly so. Their brand of layered, diverse punk-derived rock is executed well and vocalist Caleb Pease’s voice is reminiscent of vaudeville punks Murder by Death’s frontman Adam Turla’s.

Kitty Cat Klub, 315 14th Ave. S.E.

9 p.m.

Free

Festivals – Lumberjack Days

What would a festival be without chainsaw skill/dog leaping competitions, cribbage tournaments, parades, a treasure hunt and a floating stage with the buoyancy to hold both a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band AND The Wallflowers? Well, it sure as hell wouldn’t be Lumberjack Days, which, as you guessed, has all of those. Taking place Thu. through Sun. along the gorgeous St. Croix River, this campy festival is uniquely Minnesotan.

Water St. from Mulberry St. S to Nelson St. along the St. Croix River, Stillwater

Thu. through Sun., 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Free (music acts not included)

Dancing – Jean Jam 2: A Denim Dance

Here’s the deal: this First Ave. event features several DJs, live visuals (whatever that means) and encourages all participants to wear as much denim as possible. Ironic concept party? Genuine appreciation of dance music and blue jeans? Who knows? Who even knew there was a Jean Jam 1? Still, if oddball themes and rockin’ jeans are your thing, there’re worse things one could get drunk at on a Friday night.

First Ave. VIP Lounge, 701 First. Ave. N.

10 p.m.

$3 ($1 with college ID)

Saturday –

Music – The Blind Shake, Private Dancer, Gay Witch Abortion

Fans of kickass local rock music, rejoice. What could/perhaps should be billed as a Learning Curve Records showcase (all the bands call the stellar MPLS label home), will certainly be a very, very loud night nonetheless. Quick style rundown: The Blind Shake are noise-punks who are celebrating a CD release this week, Private Dancer specializes in Black Lips-ish surf-punk and Gay Witch Abortion is a guitar/drum metal hybrid that kill live. Plus, this show is free. How could self respecting rocker not attend?

Grumpy’s Bar & Grill, 1111 Washington Ave. S.

4 p.m.

Free

Film – “Pink Floyd: The Wall”

Odds are most Pink Floyd devotees will be in Detroit Lakes at 10K, but those remaining can make the stoner’s pilgrimage to South Minneapolis and catch – probably not for the first time – Alan Parker’s 1982 film based on Pink Floyd’s 1979 landmark LP “The Wall.” The film’s then groundbreaking artiness comes off a little dated, but it remains an essential piece of counterculture cinema.

Riverview Theater, 3800 42nd Ave. S.

11:30 p.m.

$5

Theater – Panda Sandwich/WTF in the Garden of Eden: Pre-Fringe Appetizers

The jam-packed absurdity of that header leaves room for some explaining. Panda Sandwich is a new, local sketch comedy group that promises “irreverent scenes chock full of unicorns, carnies, and unexpected bat attacks.” K, might rule, might suck. Then, “WTF in the Garden of Eden” – a short play by Adam Sharp and Bethany Simmons – performs. It’s about androgyny and fallacies about a “perfect world.” Sounds a bit like fallback material for a first-time, fresh out of college screenwriter, but who knows? Might be good. Either way, the Bedlam is a hip place and the price is reasonable.

Bedlam Theater, 1501 S. 6th St.

7:30 p.m.

$15 ($12 with student ID)

Sunday –

Music – Obits

The mere mentioned of Sub Pop records may not carry the same weight it once did, but the label’s still a prime contributor to indie music and when one of their bands swings through town – in this case, Obits – it still commands attentions. As far as Obits goes, they’re comprised of members of respected indie bands of yore (Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu), dabble in guitar-heavy garage punk and are older dudes. The group is only one record in, this year’s warmly received “I Blame You,” but the high potential, low cost – not to mention the fact local stars The Dynamiters are set to open – make this gig close to a no-brainer.

Turf Club, 1601 University Ave. W.

9 p.m.

$8

Bikers – The Joint’s Pre-Sturgis Hog Feed

While the famous Sturgis motorcycle rally is not until August 3, why not get “geared” (bad um ch!) up at The Joint this Sunday? The Cedar Ave. biker bar plans to have a bike show, rodeo, tattoo contest, music and what they’re dubbing “the best hog roast ever.” Not entirely sure how many University students have accrued enough tattoos and/or gals to “ride bitch” to truly make this a desirable event, but it’s got the makings of a party.

917 Cedar Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN.

12 p.m.

Free

Comedy – The Smothers Brothers

If you’re not familiar with the Smothers Brothers, they’re legends. A folk/comedy duo long before the likes of Flight of the Conchords, Tenacious D and the likes, the group consists of brothers Dick and Tommy. Their CBS comedy show was cancelled in 1969 due in part to their political beliefs and counterculture sympathies (the group performed with many of rocks greatest legends). Now around their seventies, the brothers are still touring, still funny and still timeless. Costly show, but you can tell your kids who you saw.

Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN.

2 p.m.

$22 to $47

Bars – Chuck and Sean’s Trivia

Chuck Terhark/Sean McPherson=local writer and musician, respectively. 331 Club=hip N.E. hangout. Trivia=answering a series a questions in order to win prizes. In all, this event=a good way to spend the waning hours of the weekend. And considering our backwards liquor laws in this state, it might just be your only way to get drunk. Attend!

331 Club, 331 N.E. 13th Ave.

8 p.m.

Free

Culture to consume

Listen to this: A&E recently covered the Pitchfork Music Festival and the band Cymbals Eat Guitars were clear standouts. The Staten Island group is insanely young (the singer/guitarist Joseph D'Agostino can’t even legally drink a beer yet), but their debut record “Why There Are Mountains” hints at a sound similar to early Modest Mouse.

Eat this: As the dog days of summer approach, the humidity is sure to skyrocket in true Minnesota fashion. Considering most young folks are poor (and some are vegan), traditional ice creams may prove too costly. Thankfully, ice pops are affordable, delicious and, if eaten at the right rate, can produce a delicious pocket of juice at the end of the treat.

Drink this: It’s summer and there’s only one true drink of summer (no, not Mike’s Hard Lemonade you frat row hopping floozy), it’s gin and tonics of course! Get a lime, a bottle of gin, the tonic of your choice and get nice and hammered on the flavor of summertime.

Read this: In the wake of the newest movie installment, your best bet is re-reading the Harry Potter series you read in grade school. If they’re not still collecting dust in your mom’s basement, they can be picked up cheap on Amazon. Prepare to get addicted all over again, expect this time you’ve had sex, so the smooching of the later books will be less impactful.

Watch this: It’s noon. You’re terribly bored. What’s on Ch. 23? Why it’s Steve Wilkos. The man who was once Jenny Springer’s director of security has his own show. The only thing more delightful than the cavalcade of trashiness that parades through his studio is Steve himself. The man is a former cop, screams at his guests, hucks chairs and is known for his burley trademark, “Get off my stageee!” Delightful.

Click this: Might be old news to the web savvy, but the continuous procession of simultaneously desirable and disgusting food stuffs on This is Why You’re Fat make it an enjoyable surf. Chocolate bacon peanut butter cup, anyone?