Saturday news and reviews

Posted at 10:17 AM on January 29, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: News and reviews

Happy reading!

Books

'I Hotel' author addresses activism
Carleton grad Karen Yamashita returns to Minnesota to discuss her novel on the civil rights struggle of Asian-Americans.
- Kriston Tillotson, Star Tribune

Charles Baxter talks about the art of the short story, his far-away fans, and being pegged as a Midwestern writer
Charles Baxter speaks to a standing-room-only crowd at Micawber's in St. Paul.
- Laurie Hertzel, Star Tribune

Craft

'True Grit' socks: Made in Minnesota
Mankato knitters made "authentic" socks worn by Jeff Bridges in the film.
- Alex Gaterud, Star Tribune

Music

Linkin Park plays to its base
The rap/rock hitmakers' smaller crowd at the Xcel was nothing to mope over.
- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Linkin Park mellow -- and drag -- as they age into a new direction
What happens when six angry young men hit their 30s? Friday night at the Xcel Energy Center, rap/metal alchemists Linkin Park attempted the rather difficult trick of maintaining that youthful rage while pushing their sound into a more abstract direction and -- gulp -- maturing in the process.
- Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press

Bao Phi, Guante, Maria Isa, and more at the Artists' QuarterThis weekend, an all-star list of local spoken word and hip-hop performers will be coming together for a knock-out show that raises consciousness with a beat.
- Sheila Regan, City Pages

Pendulum's Rob Swire talks DNB, dubstep, and disliking 'In Silico'
It's kind of hard to tell what year should be written on drum and bass's headstone since its influences are still so obvious in electronic and fringe genres.
- Jen Boyles, City Pages

Party for Life Session 2 to benefit ailing singer-songwriter Michael McElrath
There's folk on the Twin Cities independent music scene who truly care about each other.
Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet

Stage

Minnesota Opera announces 2011-12 season
Minnesota Opera's slate includes world premiere and pairing of Valenti and Constantinescu in "Werther."
- Graydon Royce, Star Tribune

Minnesota Opera presents a world premiere and three of opera's most popular works
Operas fresh, French and familiar make up the Minnesota Opera's 2011-12 season.
- Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press

'Basement Ladies' bus catches fire in Red Wing
Three treated for smoke inhalation in Red Wing; troupe's tour will continue.
- Andrew Penkalski, Star Tribune

French performer doodles on stage
An odd, cutesy show concludes the Walker's Out There series.
- Rohan Preston, Star Tribune

'L'effet de Serge' misses far more than it hits
'L'effet de Serge' is a Jekyll and Hyde proposition: Parts of it (maybe 15 minutes) are innovative, thrilling, and funny; the rest of it (about an hour) is mind-numbing tedium.
- Ed Huyck, City Pages

Phillipe Quesne's "L'Effet de Serge" at the Walker Art Center: A delicate balance
A little glimpse into the life of Serge is all L'Effet promises, and it delivers beautifully on that promise.
- Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet