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Photo of Al Church and State by Shinano Katagiri

The hounds have uncovered a devil-worshipping Swedish heavy metal band, a slew of confessional style performers and artists who turn the phrase 'dirty girls' inside out, and an indie rock band which is seriously tongue-in-cheek.



Photographer and musician Charlie Ward has some advice. Take all your troubles down to the Amsterdam Bar this Friday and let the Minneapolis indie rock band 

 lift them off your shoulders, at least temporarily. The group is fronted by Al Church, who Charlie classifies as a huge goofball. You'll hear songs about such disparate subjects as making up your own dance moves, birthday parties, and intense relationships.





The phrase 'dirty girls' carries a lot of baggage, but actor and playwright Heather Meyer says a performance fest in Minneapolis is trying to present a more nuanced, multi-layered interpretation of what it means, good and bad. 

is a remount of a production of short works--in musical, performance art, spoken word monologue and mini-play form, which attempt to re-define 'dirty girls.' On stage at Nimbus Theatre through January 28.





Some say satan and heavy metal go hand-in hand, and bands such as 

, which St. Paul composer Mike Croswell has been following for the last couple years, are living proof. Mike says devil worship comes up often in the Swedish group's lyrics, but the playing is disciplined and tight. "Ghost" is in the midst of its first American tour, and arrives at Station 4 in downtown St. Paul this Wednesday, Jan. 25.





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And you can get an early sneak peek at the Art Hounds' picks every week by texting the word ART to 677-677.

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Chris Roberts

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The hounds have uncovered a devil-worshipping Swedish heavy metal band, a slew of confessional style performers and artists who turn the phrase 'dirty girls' inside out, and an indie rock band which is seriously tongue-in-cheek.


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Art Hounds: Ghost, Dirty Girls, Al Church and State

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