By: Joe Kleinschmidt
THURSDAY
Dan St. Germain
Stand-up comedians often have to rely on appearance, and unfortunately, New York-based Dan St. Germain’s reddish facial hair looks just like that of fellow comedian and beard enthusiast Zach Galifianakis. St. Germain’s humor comes across as more incisive than sarcastic, though, so the comparison ends there. He’s been a talking head on “Best Week Ever” and appeared on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” so the guy’s still paving his way in the comedy world. If you prefer more marijuana-themed jokes, you can also catch fellow “Best Week Ever” correspondent Doug Benson at 10:30 p.m.
Where: Acme Comedy Company, 708 N. First St., Minneapolis
When: 8 p.m.
Cost: $15
Age: 18+
FRIDAY
“Appointment with Death”
A group of travelers stay at the King Solomon Hotel in Jerusalem in this play from famed murder mystery novelist Agatha Christie. The show is partly based on the writer’s own travels in the Middle East — Christie spent several seasons at archaeological field sites with husband Max Mallowan. “Appointment with Death” is a prime example of Christie’s prowess at crafting the psychological thriller. The cast of characters include a psychiatrist, a former member of Parliament and an American family — all possible suspects in the murder of Mrs. Elmore Boynton.
Where: 245 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis
When: 8 p.m.
Cost: $22
SATURDAY
Twin Cities’ Roots, Rock, & Deep Blues Festival
Patrick’s Cabaret, Harriet Brewing and Mosaic Café are hosting an all-day concert of roots, rock and deep blues music. The third annual festival this year includes the Meat Puppets, Chastity Brown Band, Spider John Koerner, Zoo Animal and L’Assassins. With four stages and 28 bands, the festival boasts a diverse line-up full of local blues-blasting bands. Pair that with plenty of beer and food trucks, and you’ve got one of the year’s most accessible fests.
Where: Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave. South, Minneapolis
When: 1 p.m.-10 p.m.
Cost: $20
Age: All Ages
LISTEN
“The Big Dream”
by David Lynch
Legendary filmmaker David Lynch’s second album is officially due out Tuesday, but you can stream the entire album online via Pitchfork. Featuring 11 original tracks and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Ballad of Hollis Brown,” “The Big Dream” combines Lynch’s atmospheric touch and modern blues. His debut LP, “Crazy Clown Time,” felt fragmented — better suited to a lost “Twin Peaks” episode. This time around, the songs are fully fleshed out. On “Star Dream Girl,” Lynch’s heavily filtered voice creeps over guitar riffs reminiscent of “Time Out of Mind”-era Dylan. Until his next film, “The Big Dream” will have to satisfy your surreal side.
PLAY
“The Last of Us”
Steal your roommate’s PlayStation 3 to play one of the year’s most anticipated video games. Like many modern games, you wield a bunch of deadly weapons to kill hoards of enemies. But what sets “The Last of Us” apart is the storytelling — the game plays out like a cross between Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” and a classic George A. Romero zombie flick. Joel and Ellie are the main characters, journeying across the United States and avoiding the “infected.” The game’s engrossing story compliments the visually stunning graphics on screen — this is the stuff of nightmares.
WATCH
“Pacific Rim”
Monsters have been duking it out on screen since the Gamera and Godzilla movies of the ’50s and ’60s. Now Guillermo del Toro conjures up giant machines to battle sea-dwelling beasts. If anyone can give a spectacle-driven treatment a true update to the B-movie cliché, it’s del Toro. The fairy-tale obsessed director’s the brains behind both “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the “Hellboy” franchise. (See selections from del Toro’s filmography at the Trylon Microcinema this month in preparation for the new movie.) “Pacific Rim” already has Kanye West’s seal of approval—he declared it one of his favorite movies of all time. Let’s hope Yeezus is right about this one.