Eclectic & Electric

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

When: Sept. 3

Where: Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-373-5600

Ben Harper brings his acoustic slide guitar, soul style, and political energy to an unusual sit-down concert at the Orpheum. According to his website, the international star plans to dress up for this tour and invites you to join him—but only if you’re “in the mood.”  

The Flaming Lips

When: Sept. 9

Where: Myth Nightclub, 3090 Southlawn Dr., Maplewood, 651-779-6984

If you missed The Flaming Lips’ celebrated performance at the 2006 State Fair, you can experience the band’s one-of-a-kind show September 9. The Lips’ contribution to 2006’s Great Get-Together included confetti canons, animal costumes, and a giant hamster ball with lead singer Wayne Coyne trapped inside. 

Crowded House
When: Sept. 9
Where: Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-339-7007
Crowded House founders Neil Finn and Nick Seymour have re-formed the band and released its first studio album in fourteen years, Time on Earth. Finn’s perfect pop songs haven’t aged, leaving a thirty-year catalog to draw from, so hope for a few Split Enz gems as well. Pete Yorn opens. 

Steve Vai
When: Sept. 19
Where: State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-373-5600
Rock legend and Grammy–winner Steve Vai is one of the most technically advanced guitar players alive, and he has played with many of rock’s legends, including David Lee Roth and Frank Zappa. He brings his seven-stringed and multineck guitars to the State, along with his own band.

Ani DiFranco

When: Sept. 21

Where: State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-373-5600

From small college tours to nineteen albums in seventeen years on her independent label, Ani DiFranco continues to make outspoken and politically charged songs. Her stop at the State Theatre is in support of Canon, a thirty-five–song career retrospective. 

Sinead O’Connor
When: Sept. 24
Where: Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-373-5600
Since her infamous 1992 SNL appearance, the uncompromising and potent Sinead O’Connor has sold millions of records.  Her newest, Theology, is a two-disk album in response to the world after 9/11.

Arcade Fire
When: Sept. 30
Where: Roy Wilkins Auditorium, 175 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, 989-5151
The seven members of Canadian–based Arcade Fire add a slew of classical instruments to the standard rock lineup to create epic, multilayered music that has plenty of crossover appeal. They are performing in support of their new album, Neon Bible, with special guest LCD Soundsystem.

Electric Arc Radio
When: Sept. 15 & 29; Oct.13 & 27; Nov. 10; Dec. 8
Where: Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, 410 Oak Grove St., Mpls., 612-813-5300
For its third season, the Electric Arc Radio show—a live reading of a sitcom, set on a theater stage, and not actually on the radio—moves to the Woman's Club of Minneapolis. After closing its last season with a cameo by Al Franken and music by The New Standards, the zany storyline featuring six writers living together in one house continues. Will Brady come out of his ascot closet? Will Sam try for a rap record deal? Find out this fall. Plus, see musical performances by Little Man, Haley Bonar, Storyhill, Mary Everest, and others.

Revival at the Turf
When: Third Sunday of each month
Where: Turf Club, 1601 University Ave., St. Paul, 651-647-0486
In April, local Americana/roots duo The Get Up Johns debuted their monthly Revival show at the Turf Club. Meant to "channel the camp and spirit of the musical variety show," the show features local acoustic and roots musicians performing rapid-fire sets in a two-hour show. Since debuting, Revival has hosted Tim O’Reagan (of The Jayhawks), Charlie Parr, John Hermanson (of Storyhill and The Hopefuls), and many others. The Get Up Johns only require audience members to pay the $5 cover, not that they “get right with God.”