Reviewer's Picks: 15 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week
Times of discover News: A friend and former opening act for both Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, the 25-year-old Los Angeles pop singer is enjoying huge popularity with her sophomore album, "The Secret of Us," and new single "Close to You." The record was co-produced with The National's Aaron Dessner, who helped craft the elegiac-like melancholy of Swift's "Evermore/Folklore" tunes. The daughter of filmmaker J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath, Abrams displays her young, smart, Hollywood-esque personality in songs like "I Love You, I'm Sorry." Now we'll see how she shines as a starter. The role model, known as L.A. Strummer/Rapper Tucker Pillsbury opens. (8 p.m. Wednesday, The Armory, 500 S. 6th St., Mpls., resale tickets only, armorymn.com)
After a 38-year absence from the Twin Cities scene, ELO is bringing its magic to St. Paul in 2019 and sounds as brilliant and ambitious as ever. '70s classics like "Evil Woman," "Do Ya" and "Turn to Stone" enthralled fans as Lynne's one-man band was joined in the studio by dozens of other musicians. At age 76, the former Traveling Wilbury has announced that the Over and Out tour will be his final North American trek with ELO. (Monday at 8 p.m., Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $49 and up, ticketmaster.com)
Twin Cities fans of Nashville favorites Modern Outsiders were already so excited about their first show in eight years that they bought up tickets in minutes, despite being stuck at a poor location (the Armory is already booked; see above). That excitement grew even higher last week, when Simpson kicked off the tour with a well-received and interestingly varied set of more than 30 songs, including songs from the Kentucky-crafted alt-twanger's superb new album, including several random covers and the rich melody "Passage du Désir.", posted under the pseudonym Johnny Blue Skies. I definitely wish the shows were done under the open sky, like they were in Moorhead last night. But we'll take it. (8 p.m. Wednesday, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, ticket resale only, ticketmaster.com)
He's a world-class singer ("Up, Up and Away," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "MacArthur Park," "Wichita Lineman," "The Worst That Could Happen," "Galveston," "Highwayman.") Nearby has a shelf full of Grammys and a spot in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Webb is a master pianist and arranger and, as they say, a singing voice singer. And he's an extraordinary storyteller who can answer the question of why someone leaves a cake out in the rain. With Pete Mancini. (7:30 p.m. Sunday, Parkway Theatre, 4814 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls., $49-$69, theparkwaytheater.com)
In the nature of this fourth Neary annual all-star musical send-up There's Some Rock 'n' Roll, where female all-stars from the Twin Cities music scene perform some of rock's most sensual songs about reproductive rights. Let's switch it up a little. Questionable classics have been skewered by artists ranging from the Beatles, the Police and Maroon 5 to vocalist Ted Nugent. This year newcomers like the Jayhawks' Karen Grotberg and the Gully Boys' Nadira McGill join repeat performers like Kiss the Tiger's Meghan Kreidler, The Suburbs' Jenny Winterbauer, Katie Vernon, Lucy Mitchell and Abby Wolf, who were featured on last year's song list. Disgusting turned up to 11." Comedian Lizz Winstead created this event to benefit the nonprofit Abortion Access Front. (8 p.m. Saturday, Parkway Theatre, 4814 Chicago Ave., Mpls., $50 donation, theparkwaytheater.com)
Instrumentalists who interpret other people's songs rarely get MacArthur "genius" grants, but Leila Josefovitch is a fearless supporter of new music, one of the best mediums it can offer. She will perform a solo performance of English composer Thomas Adès's 2005 violin concerto, "Concentric Paths." But just as interesting is her 2020 work, "The Exterminating Angel" symphony, composed of her opera score based on Luis Buñuel's landmark surrealist film. Thomas Sondergaard will also conduct two spectacular Maurice Ravel Orchestra showcases. (Thursday at 11 a.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m.; Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $25-$106, 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org)
The SPCO season is no longer threatened by a strike or lockout, as musicians and management have agreed to a new three-year contract. So celebrate the popular collection of Antonio Vivaldi's four violin concertos, "The Four Seasons," featuring SPCO violinist Kyu-Young Kim as soloist. The all-baroque, all-strings program features C.P.E. It also includes Bach's symphonies and Francesco Geminiani's "La Folia" Variations. (Friday at 11 a.m., Saturday at 7 p.m., Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; Sunday at 3 p.m., Lutheran Church
