The better-known band that fostered them early on will probably never reunite, but at least Hüsker Dü's cohorts Man Sized Action are getting back together after 11 years. All four original members of the bombastic, snarly post-punk quartet -- a big enough deal to have their name on the walls outside First Avenue -- are heading up a lineup of other early '80s scenesters at the Minneapolis Eagles Club on Saturday (9 p.m., $6). The show will also feature Bill and Ernie Batson (Mighty Mofos, Hypstrz) and Man Sized Action guitarist Tom "Tippy" Roth's other band, the Silverteens.
Local music notes: Man Sized Action reunites, WIB drops 'Damn' good CD
The '80s blasters that shadowed Hüsker Dü play their first show in 11 years Saturday.
December 20, 2012 at 8:20PM
MSA frontman Patrick Woods said the purpose of the gig is simply to "celebrate old friendships" before the holidays. Woods, Roth and bandmates Kelly Linehan and Tony Pucci were all Hüskers hangers-on who opted to start their own band. Their first of two albums, 1983's "Claustrophobia," was produced by Bob Mould and issued on the Hüskers-run label Reflex Records. When Pucci went off to college in 1984, the band split amicably. Go figure. ...
Just a few days after seeing its former keyboardist Nick Mrozinski (aka Nicholas David) take third place on NBC's "The Voice," the White Iron Band is dropping its sixth album for the 10th annual "Dreaming of a White Iron Band Xmas" concert at the Cabooze on Friday (9 p.m., $8). The hard-boogieing country rockers recorded the new collection -- charmingly titled "Damn the Nighttime" -- at Rich Mattson's Sparta Studio up north, and the woodsy setting seemed to add a wilder edge. Duluth troubadour Teague Alexy, of Hobo Nephews notoriety, opens the show in support of his own solid new CD, "This Dance." ...
After parting ways with his old band the Japhies a few months back, brawny bad-boy singer Reed Wilkerson has wound up in another hard-working hard-rock band, Black Church Service. His first gig with BCS is Saturday at Cause, which is doubling as a video-release party for Day-glo rapper Xavier Marquis (10 p.m., $7). BCS and Wilkerson have been working up new material. ... If you can't make it out to their early-evening gigs every Monday at the Turf Club and/or haven't yet been to the best new music venue of 2012, there's a great chance to catch the Cactus Blossoms for brunch on Sunday at Icehouse starting at 11 a.m. (no cover, 2528 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls.). ...
As always, you can thank some of your friendly neighborhood Jewish musicians for keeping at least one of our rock clubs open on Christmas Eve. Bobby Z of Prince's Revolution will head up the annual Jewbilee concert Monday at 7th Street Entry (9 p.m., $3), featuring his family band Sons of Moses with Temple Israel rabbi Sim Glaser, plus the Minnesota Free Music Klezmer Orchestra, DJ Mike 2600 and several local comics. Proceeds benefit the Jewish Action Committee. ...
Another Prince cohort, Alexander O'Neal, is back from London for a couple shows at the Dakota before the holidays. The "Fake" and "Never Knew Love Like This" hitmaker performs Saturday and Sunday (7 p.m., $32-$36). ... Someone who took the opposite residential trajectory as O'Neal -- she moved to Minneapolis from Ireland in 2000 after meeting her future husband here while on tour with "Riverdance" -- angelic voiced Irish singer Katie McMahon returns to the O'Shaughnessy on Saturday for her 10th annual "Celtic Christmas" concert. In addition to her large cast of musicians, the show features the Corda Mor Irish Dance Troupe (7:30 p.m., $12-$27). ...
Last-minute holiday ideas for local music lovers: Besides the obvious certificate from any of the great local indie record stores, another great option is all the venues in town that sell gift cards to use on future tickets, including the Cedar Cultural Center, First Ave, the Dakota and (via SueMcLean.com) the Minnesota Zoo amphitheater.
chrisr@startribune.com • 612-673-4658 Twitter: @ChrisRstrib
