Weekend Culture Compass - Portugal. The Man, Beatles Rock Band and Electric Fetus' tornado benefit.

Thursday

Music — Portugal. the Man, Port O’Brien, The Dig

Indie/blues/soul/folk/etc. band Portugal. The Man tries to do it all. They come close with their intelligent, crunchy, guitar-driven sets. See this band to increase your indie concert cred., allowing you to tell that obnoxious kid with the amazing music collection that you know, “Yeah, I’ve seen them too!”

The Varsity Theater
1308 4th St. S.E.
8 p.m.
$13/$15

Art — Illo.Minn: Volume Two

For this exhibit, instead of using a canvas, these artists use dolls! Each artist gets a “munny,” a moldable, collectible, paintable and most of all lovable creature that they then can craft into their own design. You could see a Batman or an abstract piece on suicide, either way this is a novel exhibit. You can even bid for them, with proceeds going to benefit the CVA scholarship fund.

The College of Visual Arts
344 Summit Ave.
Free

Music/Video Games — Beatles Rock Band Contest

Eight groups going head-to-head. Each hoping to prove that they’re the best at mashing little plastic buttons and BEING TOTAL ROCK STARS!!! While playing rock band won’t get you laid, it will gain you respect from your frat bros and roommates. Come for the battle, but stay for the Britpop after party.

Brit’s Pub
1110 Nicollet Mall
7 p.m.
Free

Friday

Music — The Electric Fetus Tornado Benefit Show

The Fetus is still recovering from the summer tornado that lifted up their roof, then dropped it, damaging the majority of the store. Cloud Cult, which was on hiatus till now, is making their triumphant return at this local music extravaganza. Want to find out more? There’s an article published about it today! Read A&E for more.

First Avenue
701 First Ave. N.
7 p.m.
$16/$20

Music — Tight Phantomz, STNNNG and The Tanks

Punk f-ing rock. STNNNG is loud and angry, and we like ’em. They’re one of our top 10 local bands of the decade. Tight Phantomz is also loud, featuring Mike Lust’s of the Chicago band Lustre King.

Turf Club
1601 University Ave. W.
9 p.m.
$7

Dance — Bomp!

If this night were a Fall Out Boy song, it would be called “Dance, Dance”. Except this night is way less mainstream than FOB. Some have referred to it as a hipster dance party, but they were just being ironic. Solid DJs, delicious PBR tallboys, bumping and grinding, — what a place to meet an artsy new fling.

Bedlam Theater
1501 S. 6th St.
10 p.m.
$5

b>Saturday

Party —Worn to be Wild (Wants vs. Needs x Anthem Heart)

A super-secret hipster dance party? With screenprinting done on-site by the Anthem Heart guys? Sign us up. These wild gatherings of art kids, indie kids and DJ kids are known to last into the wee small hours of the morning, so we'd advise you wait until about 1 a.m. to show up. Don't forget cash for the bar.
Anthem Heart Studio

RSVP via Facebook for secret location

11 p.m.

$5

Music —No Bird Sing, Lookbook, Kill the Vultures

This may as well be called "New-ish Buzz Band Night at the Cedar." All three groups have been lauded as the best and the brightest locally, from No Bird Sing to the cult following developing daily around Lookbook. Go for the cred, dudes.
Cedar Cultural Center

416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.

8 p.m.

$12

Music —Dead of Winter Folk Fest

We're not sure why this multi-musician lineup starts at noon, but apparently it does. It runs until 10 p.m., so if you're in the mood for some heartwarming folksy tunes from bands like The Roe Family Singers, then you're in luck. Donations will be given to St. Stephen's Human Services to aid in their homelessness prevention project.

Shuga Records

165 13th Ave. N.E., Mpls.

12 p.m.

Donations accepted

Sunday

Shopping —Design Collective Winter Sale

Looking for something to wear to the upcoming local fashion extravaganza Voltage: Fashion Amplified? Ensembles by our Twin Cities talent are encouraged, and you can snag one here for up to 40% off. Allison Quinnell's ladylike designs are some of our favorites, so if you don't want a black eye, you'll stay away. (Take note: Sunday is the last day!)

Design Collective

1311 26th St., Mpls.

Fun Stuff —Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School

She might not get naked, but you can play the Jack Dawson to Lili’s Burlesque star Coco Dupree’s Rose at the 331 Club this afternoon. Bring some art supplies and some bar money and drink while you sketch her lovely form. We promise the rest of the crowd won’t make fun if you’re no bona fide artiste. Just say you’re channeling Picasso.
331 Club

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

2 p.m.

$10

Culture to Consume

Eat This: Last week, Heidi’s and Blackbird restaurants on 50th & Bryant tragically burned down in a fire. Give support by eating at surviving neighbor Malt Shop, a longtime favorite of A&E. Keep the area thriving, by enjoying their superb Reuben sammy.

Drink This: Lift Bridge’s popular and critically-lauded Biscotti Ale is worth a few of your drinking bucks this weekend. According to the Lift Bridge website, its blend was inspired by the holiday biscotti prepared by a grandma. Heavy Table says Biscotti Ale is complex enough for beer connoisseurs but accessible enough for the rest of us.

Read This: Though fashion magazines brag about their “600 New Spring Looks,” we’re more interested in the “Young Hollywood” issue of Vanity Fair. Highlights are a profiles on late director John Hughes, teen criminals looting Paris Hilton’s mansion and a behind-the-scenes story on the women who colored in ’40s and ’50s Disney flicks.

Watch This: As long as there are movies, there will be terrible gorefests being made to freak out and delight audiences. In The Crazies, a strange toxin has infiltrated the water supply of a rural town and its residents start going bonkers, threshing up their wives in a combine like so much harvest wheat. Egads!

Listen to This: Even though frontman Anton Newcombe is certifiably cuckoo, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, continues to crank out records at a rapid pace. Check out their newest, “Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?,” Also released this week is Joanna Newsom’s “Have One on Me.” Did you know that this elvish harpist is dating Andy Samberg?

Click This: “The 20 Funniest Figure Skating Faces” is a nice break from watching The Olympics .In music news, ASAP download Stereogum and team9’s mashup collection, including Taylor Swift, Vampire Weekend, The Pixies and more!