The651.com

It’s a hard rocking, raucous weekend in St. Paul.

Friday: Bloodnstuff, IGUANO, The Goondas & The Bad Spots
Turf Club
1601 University Avenue
9:30 pm, 21+, $7
Among Friday night’s highlights is a garage punk-laced show at the mighty Turf. It’s a solid lineup if I’ve ever seen one, showcasing some of the Twin Cities’ loudest, hardest and most entertaining-to-watch bands of the moment. First up is the Bad Spots, a new rock ‘n roll band whose roster features members of some local acts-of-note, including Bridge Club, Is/Is and the Sex Rays. Next up is the Goondas, who play punk rock in the vein of the Sex Pistols and Iggy Pop – okay, with maybe less blood, but no less of the spit. Headlining is Bloodnstuff, a local duo that’s blown up as-of-late for having a big, Southern- and math-rock-infused sound that belies the seeming limitations that would come from being a drums-and-guitar-only combo. Playing last is IGUANO, a band featuring some old school talent like Jacques Wait of Pink Mink and Ehsan Alam of Revolver Modele and a sound in the vein of early Iggy Pop and the Stooges. Click HERE for the Turf Club site.

Friday: Freedy Johnston
Amsterdam Bar & Hall
6 W 6th Street
9 pm, 21+, $9
Also on Friday is a show from longtime singer-songwriter Freedy Johnson, who many may remember for his mid-’90s REV 105 hit “Bad Reputation.” He’s still around, and still playing songs about troubled loners, heartbreak, alienation and disappointment. His latest release is a collaborative effort put out earlier this year with Susan Cowsill and Jon Dee Graham, working together as The Hobart Brothers and Lil’ Sis Hobart, but expect him to focus largely on solo material spanning his discography, which dates back to 1990 through his latest, 2010′s Rain on the City. Locals Alison Scott, Kevin Bowe and the Okemah Prophets open. Click HERE for the Amsterdam Bar site.

Saturday: A Queensday Celebration: Venus de Mars & All The Pretty Horses / El Le Faunt & His Traveling Circus / Deceitful Lapwings
Amsterdam Bar & Hall
6 W 6th Street
8 pm doors, 21+, $8
The Amsterdam celebrates Dutch cultural holiday “Queensday” in honor of the Queen Mother with a show featuring some of the Twin Cities’ most theatrical musical acts. Gender-bender goth rockers Venus DeMars and All the Pretty Horses headline the bill along with El Le Faunt and His Traveling Circus, which also celebrates its album release with this show. The vaudevillian pop collective have been described by l’etoile music writer Jon Hunt as “a whiskey-soaked music-hall act in a Tim Burton movie,” and I couldn’t describe them better myself. Rounding out the bill are new dark-folk trio the Deceitful Lapwings fronted by Milkbar’s Sarah Moeding, plus live burlesque and Professor Oscar’s Congress of Curiosities doing a sideshow act. Click HERE for the Amsterdam site.

Saturday: CLAPS, Hollows, Real Numbers & Rollerblade
Turf Club
1601 University Avenue
9:30 pm, 21+, $7
Also on Saturday night is a night of jangly rock ‘n roll with a dose of darkwave minimal synthpop, in the form of Minneapolis’ own CLAPS. The band could have a great career as a New Order cover band, their sound is that spot-on, but their originals are nothing to scoff at. Next on the lineup is Chicago girl-fronted trio Hollows, whose sound is straightforward, super-fast punk rock with a dose of surf – definitely worth checking out. Real Numbers is a Minneapolis trio in the vein of Southern jangly guitar indie-pop, and they’re totally infectious. Click HERE for the Turf Club site.