Art Hounds: "Hir" and a fictional tavern in Duluth

This week on Art Hounds a fictional tavern becomes a reality, Helado Negro performs at the Ordway, and transgender issues get an absurd staging in "Hir."

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Laney Ohmans loves listening to Helado Negro in the summer, because his electronic music has that perfect summer vibe. So Ohmans was thrilled when she heard that Helado Negro (a.k.a. Roberto Carlos Lange) is performing this weekend at the Ordway's new concert hall, accompanied by singer Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab, percussionist Jason Trammell of David Byrne's band and keyboard player Mikael Jorgenson of Wilco.

Lawrence Lee is looking forward to this Saturday night when a fictional Duluth tavern will become a reality. The podcast "Take it With You" features theater, local music and interviews with real guests, but the bar it's set in doesn't really exist. To kick off the second season of the show, the creators are taking over the Red Herring Lounge for one evening. Lee says there's going to be great music and good food, and it's sure to be a fun time.

Sarah Sawyer says the best compliment a writer can give a show is to say she's pissed off she didn't write it herself. Well Sawyer has been pissed off all week after seeing "Hir" at Mixed Blood Theatre. The play takes on gender identity with hilarity, while literally putting everybody's dirty laundry on stage.