St. Paul hip-hop band Heiruspecs began in 1997 in the basement of St. Paul Central High School, a fact the group has always claimed as a point of pride. For the fifth year in a row, the band is returning the favor to Central by hosting a benefit concert to fund a scholarship program at the school. It takes place Friday at the Bedlam Lowertown and features support from E-Turn, Mally, Solomon Parham and the Byzantine Sextet (featuring former Heiruspecs scholarship recipient Edmund Catlin). The band has given out $15,000 in scholarships and plans to award another $3,000 this year.
Breaking Free’s Demand Change Project takes over St. Paul’s Crowne Plaza this weekend for a conference aimed at putting an end to sex trafficking. One of the high profile portions of the event is the Victory Concert Saturday featuring “The Voice” veteran Ashley DuBose, R&B artist Tiffany Carter, comedian Kwame Anders and hip-hop poet Desdemona. Tickets are $20 at the door. For details, see breakingfree.net.
Iron Range singer/songwriter/author Paul Metsa will present a stage version of his 2011 memoir “Blue Guitar Highway” Saturday at the Music Box in Minneapolis. It’s only the second time he has performed the piece live, which he developed with the help of actor/teacher/writer Jim Stowell. The book is packed with local-music lore and details Metsa’s run-ins with everyone from Bob Dylan to Bob Mould and Paul Wellstone to Frank Stallone. Proceeds benefit Homeward Bound Dog Rescue.
A new locally produced reality show debuts at midnight Saturday on the CW23. “American Studio” puts Twin Cities musicians to the test, giving them 24 hours to write, record and make a video for a new song. “The time crunch fosters a state of intensity that compels the artist to create in the moment,” said producer T. Perry Bowers. Bowers is owner of St. Louis Park’s Taylor Sound and Video, where the series is shot. “The focus is mainly on the artists who are given the shot at creating a masterpiece.” Five episodes will follow on Saturdays at midnight through the Fourth of July.
If you don’t remember R&B crooner Sisqo’s name, you probably would recognize his 2000 smash “Thong Song.” Whatever happened to the Baltimore native who is now 36? Turns out he’s living in, of all places, Maple Grove. Earlier this week, Northwest Community Television caught up with the singer, who moved to Minnesota with his girlfriend and two kids to be close to her family. He continues to tour internationally and released his third album (and first in 14 years), “Last Dragon,” in February. Said Siquo of living in the suburbs: “No thongs out here!” Saturday night, Sisqo will make a guest appearance at Dream Ultra Lounge in downtown Minneapolis.
Pop music critic Ross Raihala can be reached at 651-228-5553. Follow him at Twitter.com/ RossRaihala.
