Friday, March 9
Garage Humor
WHAT: Marc Maron
WHERE: Acme Comedy Company, Minneapolis
WHEN: 8 and 10:30 p.m.
Marc Maron, a veteran of Air America and countless comedy clubs, is the Sisyphus of comedy, the guy always pushing and getting nowhere. He’s also one of the most introspective stand-ups working today and his conclusions can often be summarized by the title of his podcast, taped in his California garage: WTF. Learn more at acmecomedycompany.com
Friday, March 9
Indoor Fireworks
WHAT: Atlantis Quartet
WHERE: The Artists’ Quarter, St. Paul
WHEN: 9 p.m.
Guitarist Zacc Harris, one of Minnesota Monthly’s “Artists We Love” in 2011, brings his merry band of high-energy jazz renegades to the intimate AQ stage for the release of their new album. Shifting from punkish clang to quiet streams of melody, the music is no less commanding for its constant inventiveness. Learn more at artistsquarter.com
Saturday, March 10
Song of Myself
WHAT: The Story of My Life
WHERE: Illusion Theater, Minneapolis
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
Steven Meerdink and Kevin Hansen, the founders of Minneapolis Musical Theatre, reunite onstage for the first time in six years. This two-man musical is about an author whose success is straining his friendship with an old pal. In real life, this is Hansen’s last production—he’s retiring after the run, leaving his friend Meerdink to carry on. Learn more at aboutmmt.org
Saturday, March 10
The Dogs Return
WHAT: The Honeydogs’ What Comes After CD release show
WHERE: First Avenue, Minneapolis
WHEN: 6 p.m.
The Honeydogs celebrate their tenth studio album—a bittersweet occasion given the recent loss of frontman Adam Levy’s son. (A dollar from each ticket will be donated to a memorial fund.) The music, as it happens, is a joyous, hook-filled call for hanging tough and honoring the important things in life. Learn more at first-avenue.com
Sunday, March 11
The Family that Fights Together
WHAT: Hay Fever
WHERE: Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis
WHEN: 7 p.m.
Noël Coward’s classic comedy of bad manners revolves around an artistic family (read: eccentric): a retired actress, a novelist, and their two odd children. Each invites a guest to their estate and, of course, it’s the interlopers who bear the brunt of the witty jabs and parries. Learn more at guthrietheater.org
Sunday, March 11
The Other Half
WHAT: John Oates
WHERE: Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, Minneapolis
WHEN: 7 p.m.
Stay with us. A recent profile in Esquire revealed John Oates, the quieter, formerly mustachioed half of Hall & Oates, to perhaps be the more thoughtful performer all along. Lately, he’s revived his career (he didn’t release a solo album until 2002) with a soulful, bluesy, singer-songwriter feel—a return to his coffeehouse days in the late 1960s. Learn more at dakotacooks.com
