W♥M

Alien vs Terminator

Read More Alien This is the sixth Alien film, and it’s probably one of my new favorite, following the original Alien and Aliens, of course. I’ll start with the things I like: great acting from everyone on this film. Visually, everything …

Alien: Romulus
20thcenturystudios.com

The latest Alien film, Alien: Romulus is very good. I’ve always liked the Alien franchise, I’m even one of the few people that liked Alien: Covenant (although I didn’t really like Prometheus as it was somewhat of a confusing ‘Alien’ film).

In the new Alien: Romulus, we follow these space teenagers as they try and steal some fuel for their stasis chambers, for long space travel on an abandoned spaceship. Of course, they accidentally unleashed the Aliens and facehuggers. They fight for their lives to try and escape, and that’s pretty much the plot of the movie.

The film looks like the first film, it’s dark and gritty and dirty. I love the look; it looks like the future, if it was in the 1970s. The Alien looks amazing, and I believe it is because it’s “a guy in a suit” and not computer-generated. So it looks real. I wish more movies would do practical effects.

The only thumbs down I have is that they used a CGI of Ian Holm (who plays the Android Ash from the first film). Holm died in 2020, so resurrecting him for this role seems like an odd choice. I mean, why not do the same for Lance Henriksen to play the Android Biship from Aliens? Or maybe just hire a brand new, fresh actor? I am only guessing that the filmmaker just wanted to tie something back to the original Alien film.

Otherwise, Alien: Romulus, is a terrific little Alien film, that you can actually just watch on its own without having seen the other films.

I hope they do more in the Romulus-universe, I’d like to see more Cailee Spaeny, who also recently starred in my favorite Civil War film.

Read More Terminator Around this time, Shirley Manson became a fulltime cast member in great "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" series, so there wasn't a whole lot of touring or promotion around this time. …

Terminator Zero
netflix.com

There’s a new Terminator in town, it’s called Terminator Zero (aka Terminator: The Anime Series).

Summer Glau at Minnesota Fan Fusion (05 Aug 2018)

As you know, I’m a big fan of Terminator franchise, although the last film Terminator: Dark Fate was not great. I really love Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, because I felt the series worked better as a television/long-form series. The series stars Game of Thrones-famed Lena Headey as Sarah Connor and Summer Glau as a female Terminator called Cameron (named after the Terminator creator James Cameron). Again, I love the series, it’s really a shame that it was cancelled after two seasons… but man, that second season is pretty amazing!

Terminator Zero is about a scientist called Malcolm Lee developing an AI to counter Skynet, in the year 1997. Close to Judgement Day, a Terminator from the future was sent back to prevent the AI from going online. The human resistance has also sent back a mysterious soldier with the same purpose… but finding herself trying to protect Lee’s three children.

There were a couple of twists and turns, which probably wouldn’t surprise anyone if they were paying attention. The show does a good job in sprinkling in clues, but if you’re a fan of these sort of time travel stories, you’ve probably figure it all out and who’s who.

I was pretty satisfied with the television and its ending. I will be happy if Netflix just leave it at this ending and that’s it. I don’t really think I need more of this universe. If they want to do another Terminator series, do something completely different.

Read more Movies.

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Fallout Classic Collection

Fallout® Classic Collection Read More Fallout I’m happy to announce that Fallout: London is available now, via GOG. The game is currently free, I’m not sure if it will cost money in the future. You can’t play the game by itself, as it uses the engine and base …

The Fallout Classic Collection is currently free on Epic Games. Originally this collection was supposed to be free in February 2024, as part of the Fallout celebration for the then-upcoming Fallout television show on Amazon… but, for whatever reasons, it was delayed until now.

If I were to hazard a guess, we may possibly get some Fallout news this week. Perhaps a trailer for Fallout Season 2? It’s probably in relationship to the upcoming new Fallout 76 game update for “Milepost Zero – Country Road” (which launches September 3). I honestly tried and tried to get into Fallout 76, but that game is not for me.

Anyway, of course, as the original Weekend Gamer, I bought these “Fallout Classic” games when they were sold in big boxes at software stores. I still have all the original manuals and discs. I love the first two games; as far as I’m concern, they are perfect games of that time period.

For whatever reasons you don’t own these games, now is the perfect time to get it for free on Epic Games.

P.S. I’m putting Fallout: London on hold for now, because the game launch was a disaster. The game crashes, there’s missing assets, there are some bugs that prevents you from creating female characters, and various other bugs… Also, I wish they would have just given us a Pip Boy instead of the British Tablet. Anyway, the game may be too ambitious, especially with a small team of volunteers. They could have perhaps released the game as a limited beta-testing, to iron out all the bugs, before making it a public release. When I have more time, I will give Fallout: London another try.

Fallout® Classic Collection

Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
You've just unearthed the classic post-apocalyptic role-playing game that revitalized the entire CRPG genre. The Fallout® SPECIAL system allows drastically different types of characters, meaningful decisions and development that puts you in complete control. Explore the devastated ruins of a golden age civilization. Talk, sneak or fight your way past mutants, gangsters and robotic adversaries. Make the right decisions or you could end up as another fallen hero in the wastelands...

Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
Fallout® 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed game that took RPG'ing out of the dungeons and into a dynamic, apocalyptic retro-future.

It's been 80 long years since your ancestors trod across the wastelands. As you search for the Garden of Eden Creation Kit to save your primitive village, your path is strewn with crippling radiation, megalomaniac mutants, and a relentless stream of lies, deceit and treachery. You begin to wonder if anyone really stands to gain anything from this brave new world.

Mastering your character's skills and traits for survival, Fallout® 2 will challenge you to endure in a post-nuclear world whose future withers with every passing moment...

Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
You are the wretched refuse. You may be born from dirt, but we will forge you into steel. You will learn to bend; if not you, will you break. In these dark times, the Brotherhood - your Brotherhood - is all that stands between the rekindled flame of civilization and the howling, radiated wasteland.

Your weapons will become more than your tools, they will become your friends. You will use your skills to inspire the lowly and protect the weak... whether they like it or not. Your squadmates will be more dear to you than your kin and for those that survive there will be honor, respect and the spoils of war.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

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How Long Gone at Turf Club, St Paul (01 July 2024)

07/01 How Long Gone at Turf Club Read More How Long Gone The How Long Gone Podcast will be ending their tour at the Turf Club, in St Paul, on July 1, 2024. The show is hosted by bicoastal elites, Chris Black and Jason Stewart… It was started during the pandemic ...

The How Long Gone Podcast ended their tour at the Turf Club, in St Paul, yesterday, July 1, 2024. Prior to their final appearance at the Turf Club, the two hosts, Chris Black and Jason Stewart recorded a new show at their hotel in Minneapolis, talking about watching Michael J Fox at the Coldplay set at Glastonbury. They also talked about Tame Impala, and a few other music items… unfortunately the music topics did not carry over to their Turf Club appearance.

Instead, they talked about their appearance at the White House, their $95 haircut, and paying $500 for two disappointing steaks.

The interesting thing is that their photos were shown in the new season of The Bear, a television about a chef and his kitchen staff. I watched the trailer, which has a frame with their photos, and it’s really not a show I’m interested in watching… but I am happy that their reach is far and wide.

You have to admit that it’s really cool that a podcast is touring. It’s proof of their success.

Like the podcast, the live recording of their show was only about an hour, with no opening band or acts. So, literally about an hour, the show is over. At the end, they took some questions from the audience.

One of the questions was about the two-man camera crew recording the show. According to Chris, they were going to put together a Minneapolis video special, which they will be releasing for free. It’s just a matter of time, as they have to work on editing it at a later time.

They also mentioned that since it was their last night of the tour, they were just eager to return home. They are going to take off a week to recover.

In the meantime, be on the look out for their live and uncut podcast at the Turf Club on their website.

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How Long Gone at Turf Club (01 July 2024)

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Weekend Gamer: Fallout 33

Pip-Boy (Television Series) Features Official merchandise from the Amazon Original series Fallout Die-cast metal front casing, hand-painted weathered finish TFT LCD display with an exciting range of animated in-universe screens Timepiece with in-universe clock/watch display with alarm function Memory foam cuff for increased comfort and universal fitting Elegant display stand for table top clock function and collectible display Rechargeable internal Li-Po battery charged via USB-C Created by the minds at The Wand Company Read More Fallout I was most excited to see some of the main cast (Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, and Aaron Clifton Moten) for the upcoming Fallout television show from Amazon Prime on stage. They even had a guy in a power armor suit! …

Amazon is going all-out in licensing and marketing merchandises promoting their upcoming Fallout television show (all the episodes will drop on April 12, 2024). Check out the new official trailer now (the trailer already got over 10 million views!).

The new trailer looks great, and I think the showrunners have played the game and understand what fans want to see on screen. I love seeing all the game lore and items in the trailer and cannot wait to watch the show. Of course, I will be reviewing it… if it’s bad, I will definitely let you know. Based on the trailer, it looks like it is on the right track for a good Fallout show.

Anyway, if you’re a longtime Fallout fan, with all these upcoming Fallout 33 Merchandises, there’s never been a better time to be alive! Unfortunately, that also means is that you’re definitely going to be broke.

Most of the products are available for pre-order now and shipping in April or May.

Below are some upcoming Fallout items. Pretty much all these releases, I will be buying or looking to buy.

PIP-BOY (Fallout TV Series)
bethesda.net

This is a $200 1:1 faithful replica of the Pip-Boy as seen in the Fallout TV series. It’s made from a mix of die-cast metal and injection moulded ABS … and the best part is that it has a functioning TFT LCD screen showing in-universe animations and is also a working timepiece with an in-universe alarm clock function!!! This is the one key feature that I wanted when I purchased my two Pip-Boy 2000 MK VI. I love my Pip-Boy 2000, but I have expressed that I would’ve loved a functioning screen.

The company making this is the Wand Company, who also made the Pip-Boy 2000, so I know it is a very high quality product, and I think is worth the $200 asking price… especially because it also comes with its own display stand (something that you had to buy separately for the Pip-Boy 2000).

Now for the bad news: the Pip-Boy TV Series won’t be ready to ship until November 2024. I’m going to wait a few months to check back on this product. I just hope it doesn’t sell out.

If I can’t get this new Pip-Boy, it’s not the end of the world, I am very happy with my two Pip-Boy 2000.

Fallout Vault 33 Hoodie

FALLOUT VAULT 33 HOODIE
ign.com

This Fallout - Official Vault 33 Hoodie Orientation Kit - Limited Edition is an official kit available exclusively from IGN (Internet Gaming Network). This kit comes with a hoodie, a pin, and a certificate of authenticity. The Pinfinity AR Pin was the thing that pushed me over to pre-order this item… plus, if ordered before March 18, you benefit with a $10 off the retail price.

With the $20 shipping, all in all, you’re looking to spend over $100 to own this.

While that price is not affordable, the way I see it, you’re probably never going to see this for sale anywhere else.

Fallout Gunnar Glasses

FALLOUT GUNNAR GLASSES
gunnar.com

I am seriously considering on buying these retro-future square Fallout Gunnar glasses. I am trying convince myself I need it for a Fallout Cosplay, and that the metal case is way cool. The $100 price barrier for a pair of glasses is what is stopping me from pulling the trigger, no pun intended for the Gunnar company.

Looking at other product-tie-in, such as Diablo IV glasses, the $100 price is the standard licensing product… otherwise, their normal glasses are typically $50.

There are three Fallout lens type, each have a variety of blue-light blocking intensity… so depending on your lens color preference, that is the only difference. They all come with a metal collectors case, a custom microfiber cloth, and a pouch, all with the Vault-Tech 33 logo.

The glasses will ship in early April, so I have a few weeks to decide if I need these glasses or not. (I will probably get them).

Fallout Vault Boy

MCFARLANE FALLOUT
mcfarlane.com

As we previously predicted, these McFarlane Toys’ Fallout products are statues… similar to their Diablo IV series. I’m going to say that, based on looking at the images online, they’re not that desirable to me. Out of the four: Maximus (in Power Armor), The Ghoul, Lucy, and Vault Boy, I only want two of them: The Power Armor and Vault Boy. Maybe my opinion will change if I see them in person… for now, it’s really hard to tell if I will love these or not.

I did pre-order Maximus and waiting for Vault Boy to be available to pre-order. Lucy and The Ghoul, I am hoping to see it at Gamestop or some retailers and I will buy them that way…. Or wait until the release date (April 30th) to get them.

Otherwise, you can save $15 if you order the Amazon Exclusive 3-Pack for $60 for the three “posed figures”.

They are limited to 5.6k or 3.7k, so if they sell out, I guess I will save some money.

Fallout Design Lab Controller

FALLOUT DESIGN LAB
xboxdesignlab.xbox.com

These custom Xbox Design Lab Controllers can get very expensive. If you want metallic triggers, that’s an extra $10. If you want rubber grips, that’s extra… You can go all out and spend about $200 on a controller.

I didn’t go all-out, and just stuck to the base controller with the new custom Fallout body art ($15 extra). You pick all the colors, design your own custom controller… and making it uniquely yours, however ugly it is.

So, yes, I ordered the Fallout controller, even though I own about 10 Xbox Controllers already (including a wired Fallout Nuka Cola controller). These special Design Lab bodies are available for a limited time, I know this because I was on the fence about buying a previous custom controller… but never got around to it - and now that artwork is gone (and probably won’t be coming back).

The only downside to these Design Lab is that it can be very expensive. I spent $90, just doing the minimum opinions.

Ultra Pro Fallout Binder

ULTRA PRO FALLOUT BINDER
ultrapro.com

Now that you bought all those Magic the Gathering Fallout cards, where are you going to keep them? I’m looking at the Ultra Pro Fallout Binder, which promises to hold all 480+ Magic Cards. It retails for $30, and, unfortunately not available until April 2024… I am going to wait to see if it is in stock before I buy this.

Ultra Pro also makes a variety of other tie-in with the Magic the Gathering/Fallout cards, including several official playmats. The design that I want is the Fallout Playmat - Sol Ring - for Magic: The Gathering, Limited Edition Collectible Trading Tabletop. The Playmats are usually around $40.

There is numerous food-related Fallout tie-in that I won’t bother to mention (like coffee, Jones soda or Arizona Ice Tea), but once you consume them, they’re gone. Sure, you can save the wrapper or packaging, but it’s just not ideal for me. I also feel like they’re overpriced for what it is. For example the Jones drink is around $15 per bottle. That’s a $10 markup for a normal soda drink.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

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Weekend Gamer: Fallout Edition

Fallout (Television Series) Season 1 Based on one of the greatest video games of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them above. Read More Fallout I was most excited to see some of the main cast (Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, and Aaron Clifton Moten) for the upcoming Fallout television show from Amazon Prime on stage. They even had a guy in a power armor suit! …

Ahead of the highly anticipated Fallout television show, which is set to debut on April 12, 2024, we are getting a ton of Fallout goodness. I have compiled everything Fallout here.

Fallout: McFarlane Toys

FALLOUT: MCFARLANE TOYS
mcfarlanetoysstore.com

In breaking news, McFarlane Toys announced their partnership with Amazon MGM Studio and Bethesda to create brand new Fallout collectibles based on the upcoming television.

I will, of course, be buying these, as I am a fan of their DC Comics 7-inch toyline and generally happy with their prices. Unfortunately, based on their bad sculpting for The Witcher or “statues” of Diablo IV, this might not be a knock out of the park.

Although I want to see Fallout action figures, based on their comment of “collectibles”, I think McFarlane may be making statues or props. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Fallout: London

FALLOUT LONDON
fallout4london.com

This upcoming mod for Fallout 4, will take place in London. The game is set in the year 2237, events between the original two Fallout games. This will be the first game that is strictly British, so I’m very curious about the unique UK-only guns and armor, and fashion.

The free mod is scheduled to be released on April 23, 2024.

Magic: Fallout

MAGIC: FALLOUT
wizards.com

It’s the crossover you never saw coming: Magic: The Gathering and Fallout. I love both, so this is pretty awesome…. Unfortunately, I know that I will be spending quite a few caps trying to collect all the cards. I really want a Power Armor and I want those Bobbleheads cards.

I got so excited about the Fallout crossover, that I ended up re-downloading the Magic Arena card game in anticipation of getting free Fallout digital cards.

Magic: Fallout will be out March 8, 2024. I will be poor March 9th…

Fallout S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Anthology

Fallout S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Anthology
bethesda.net

Finally, Bethesda will be selling the Fallout S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Anthology. You can pre-order it now directly from them, and it will likely ship in a few months. I am disappointed in the release, as it’s Steam digital codes only… and I already own all those Fallout games on Steam. In fact, I own all these games on pretty much all platforms.

The $60 Anthology comes with 7 S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Cards with Steam game codes and one Mini-Nuke, with bomb sound. I only really want the Mini-Nuke… so if Bethesda can just sell that product for, say, $20, I will be happy to hand over the cash.

Details:

The Complete Award-Winning Collection
Experience the definitive collection from the award-winning Fallout® series. The Fallout S.P.E.C.I.A.L Anthology features all seven critically-acclaimed games (Fallout 76, Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition , Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 2, Fallout) and official add-ons in a premium collectible set, packaged in an exclusive mini-nuke storage case, complete with audible bomb sound.

INCLUDES:

7 S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Cards with Steam game codes

One Mini-Nuke, with audible bomb sound

Prime Gaming: Fallout

Briefly:

Amazon is giving away the original Fallout game for free via GOG at Prime Gaming. Unfortunately, I already own the game, so I won’t be redeeming.

Epic Games was going to offer all three original Fallout Trilogy for free this Thursday, however they pulled down the leak. Instead we’re getting Super Meat Boy this week. Fear not, I believe those games will be available for free sometime within the two months before the television show is launched. I’m actually not that excited about it, since I already own all three games on Epic already.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

Read more Weekend Gamer.

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Ninjas ninjas ninjas

House of the Ninjas Read More Ninja Today, I found The Ultimate Ninja Boxset. Look, I already own all these movies (Venom of the Ninja and Ninja: The Final Duel), so what made me want to drop $3 on this? …

House of the Ninjas
netflix.com

Netflix’s latest hit show, House of the Ninjas, is show about a retired ninja family… and it’s pretty good!

Years ago, the Tawara lost a family member to another ninja clan, they put that lifestyle behind to become a normal family. Now the shinobi father is struggling with his brewery business. The mother is now a bored housewife and clepto. The older son is a shinobi who can’t kill. The daughter is an Instagram ninja. The deceptive grandmother. And, of course, the chubby ninja family cat.

The youngest son, who is about 10 years old, is a curious kid… who has the making of becoming a future ninja.

I love it, it has drama of a soap opera, with Game of Thrones secrecy and intrigue… and it’s all about family. You generally care about everyone in the family, and you don’t want to see them get hurt.

Of course, the family is threatened by another ninja group, the Fuma clan, who they thought were destroyed when their eldest son died. But that group went into the shadows, where they remained for years until they resurfaced as a new deadly cult.

Although the story is very Eastern, it does also have a Western feel, due to the show’s creator, American director and write, Dave Boyle. The soundtrack is very 60s inspired, like The Zombies’ “The Way I Feel Inside”. Even the show’s theme song is “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (but reimagined and performed by Tomo Nakayama).

Ninja Kamui Read More Shinobi Ninja They are stopping by next Monday with Brooklyn's Shinobi Ninja. Ninjas are just cool, everybody knows this. …

Ninja Kamui
adultswim.com

A new Japanese anime series called Ninja Kamui recently just premiered on Adult Swim’s Toonami. The series is E&H Production and Sola Entertainment with executive assistance by Williams Street.

It’s about a retired ninja named Joe Logan who went into hiding in the Midwest in America. He witnessed his wife and son get murdered by this weird techno ninja clan… and now Joe is on a revenge quest to destroy the people who murdered his family.

So far, there’s only two episodes, but this world is bonkers! We’re talking supernatural-level super powers. For example, an assassin ninja who split into a doppelganger. Our hero, he has this black cloud breath that can summon multiple limbs. The craziness reminds me of Ninja Scroll or Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls.

I do love a revenge story, and this series is starting off on a strong note. So far, fans and critics have been loving what they’ve seen.

Episode 3 will be airing this Sunday: Feb 25, 2024.

Description

After his family was brutally attacked by a gang of masked assailants, Joe Logan is approached by FBI agents Mike and Emma to help investigate the murder of his wife and son.

Higan learns that a string of recent murder victims were all former ninjas who had their covers blown. Higan goes after the boss ninja and swears to take revenge for his dead wife and son by crushing the organization.

Read more Television and Shaw Brothers.

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Minneapolis: February 22 to February 23, 2024

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

02/22 Jon Batiste at First Avenue Read More Jon Batiste Jon Batiste is the frontman for his band Stay Human. NPR's Weekend Edition recently featured Batiste and Stay Human, as they played songs from their debut album Social Music, out now on Razor & Tie. …

02/22/2024 Thursday

Jon Batiste
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

GRAMMY-winning artist Jon Batiste semi-recently teamed up with 2x-GRAMMY nominated dance-pop duo Sofi Tukker for a new remix of “Worship,” from Batiste’s World Music Radio.

Batiste will be headlining First Avenue, in Minneapolis, on February 22, 2024.

No opening band listed on the bill, as of this writing.

Tour Dates

Jan 8 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The GRAMMY Museum
Feb 16 Portland, OR, US Arlene Schnitzer
Feb 16 Portland, OR, US Arlene Schnitzer
Feb 17 Seattle, WA, US Paramount Theatre
Feb 18 San Francisco, CA, US The Fillmore
Feb 18 San Francisco, CA, US The Fillmore
Feb 20 Denver, CO, US Paramount Theatre
Feb 22 Minneapolis, MN, US First Avenue
Feb 23 Madison, WI, US The Sylvee
Feb 24 Chicago, IL, US Riviera Theatre
Feb 26 Detroit, MI, US The Fillmore
Feb 27 Indianapolis, IN, US Murat Theatre
Feb 28 Nashville, TN, US Ryman Auditorium
Mar 1 Miami, FL, US Montreux Jazz Festival
Mar 3 Atlanta, GA, US Tabernacle
Mar 12 Toronto, ON, Canada Massey Hall
Mar 13 Montreal, QC, Canada MTELUS
Mar 15 New Haven, CT, US College Street Music Hall
Mar 16 Boston, MA, US Orpheum Theatre
Mar 17 Philadelphia, PA, US The Fillmore Philadelphia
Mar 19 New York (NYC), NY, US Beacon Theatre
Mar 21 Washington, DC, US Warner Theatre
Mar 21 Knoxville, TN, US Big Ears Festival
Mar 22 Charlotte, NC, US The Fillmore Charlotte
Mar 26 Dallas, TX, US Winspear Opera House
Mar 27 Austin, TX, US Austin City Limits Live
Apr 25 Miramar Beach, FL, US Seascape

02/23 Letterkenny Presents A Night of Stand Up at The Fitzgerald Theater Read More Comedy Letterkenny Live (comedy), Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland, $39.50-$75 The Crave Original Series troupe features nine cast members and performs new and classic sketches live. …

02/23/2024 Friday

Letterkenny Presents
A Night of Stand Up
at The Fitzgerald Theater
first-avenue.com

Letterkenny, the popular award-winning Crave and Hulu Original series, is bringing their unique stand-up comedy show to the Fitzgerald Theater, in St Paul, on February 23, 2024.

This comedy show, brought to you by Puppers Golden Lager and New Metric Media, will feature comedians from the Letterkenny series.

Headlined by Mark Forward (Coach), and featuring comedy sets from Jeff McEnery (Alexander) and Letterkenny writer Allie Pearse. Letterkenny writer Olivia Stadler, unfortunately, will not be appearing in St Paul… but will appear at select shows (see details below).

LETTERKENNY PRESENTS: A NIGHT OF STAND-UP 2024 TOUR

Feb 8 – Halifax, NS @ Casino Nova Scotia
Feb 9 - Moncton, NB @ Casino New Brunswick
Feb 12 - Guelph, ON @ River Run Centre*
Feb 13 - Chatham, ON @ Capitol Theatre*
Feb 15 - Sudbury, ON @ Fraser Auditorium*
Feb 16 - Pickering, ON @ Pickering Casino Resort*
Feb 17 - Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo State PAC*
Feb 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Feb 20 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Feb 21 - Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
Feb 23 - St. Paul, MN @ The Fitzgerald Theater
Feb 24 - Iowa City, IA @ Englert Civic Theatre
Feb 25 - Indianapolis, IN @ Schrott Center
Feb 27 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
Feb 28 - Rutland, VT @ Paramount Theatre
Mar 1 - Albany, NY @ The Egg
Mar 2 - Washington, DC @ Capital Turnaround
Mar 3 - Richmond, VA @ The National
Mar 5 - Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live
Mar 6 - Ft Lauderdale, FL @ Amaturo Theater
Mar 7 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
Mar 10 - Dallas, TX @ The Studio at The Factory
Mar 11 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre
Mar 12 - Kansas City, MO @ Folly Theater
Mar 13 - Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater
Mar 15 - Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
Mar 16 - San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
Mar 17 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
Mar 19 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
Mar 20 - Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
Mar 21 - Portland, OR @ Alberta Rose Theatre
Mar 22 - Coquitlam, BC @ The Show Theatre
Mar 23 - Victoria, BC @ Farquhar Auditorium
Mar 26 - Kelowna, BC @ Kelowna Community Theatre
Mar 27 - Edmonton, AB @ Myer Horowitz Theatre*
Mar 28 - Red Deer, AB @ Red Deer Memorial Centre*
Mar 29 - Grande Prairie, AB @ Douglas J. Cardinal Theatre, NWP*
Mar 30 - Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall*
Apr 1 - Saskatoon, SK @ Broadway Theatre*
Apr 3 - Regina, SK @ Casino Regina*
Apr 4 - Winnipeg, MB @ Club Regent Event Centre*
Apr 17 - Nashville, TN @ James K. Polk Theater*

*Select shows featuring Olivia Stadler in addition to the regular cast

02/23 Provoker at 7th St Entry

02/23/2024 Friday

Provoker
at 7th St Entry
first-avenue.com

Los Angeles based post-punk band Provoker is heading out on a massive tour, heading down to SXSW in Austin, Texas, in mid-March. One of the stops will be at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, on February 23, 2024.

As of this writing, no opening bands are listed.

Tour dates:

February 12 - San Diego, Ca - Casbah
February 13 - San Jose, Ca - The Ritz
February 14 - San Francisco, Ca - Rickshaw Stop
February 16 - Seattle, Wa - Barboza
February 17 - Vancouver, Bc - Fox Cabaret
February 18 - Portland, Or - Mississippi Studios
February 20 - Salt Lake City, Ut - Kilby Court
February 21 - Denver, Co - Larimer Lounge
February 23 - Minneapolis, Mn - 7th St Entry
February 24 - Chicago, Il - Sleeping Village
February 25 - Detroit, Mi - Lager House
February 27 - Toronto, On - Garrison
February 28 - Montreal, Qc - Bar Le Ritz
March 1 - Boston, Ma - O’briens
March 2 - Brooklyn, Ny - Baby’s All Right
March 5 - Washington, Dc - Dc9
March 6 - Philadelphia, Pa - Johnny Brenda’s
March 8 - Carrboro, Nc - Cat’s Cradle
March 9 - Atlanta, Ga - The Earl
March 10 - Nashville, Tn - Drkmttr
March 13 - Austin, Tx - Sxsw
March 14 - Austin, Tx - Sxsw
March 15 - Austin, Tx - Sxsw
March 16 - Houston, Tx - White Oak Music Hall
March 19 - Phoenix, Az - Rebel Lounge
March 21 - Santa Ana, Ca - Constellation Room
March 22 - Los Angeles, Ca - Teragram Ballroom

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Crime Time: True Detective and Reacher

True Detective: Night Country Read More True Detective I saw The Handsome Family last year, little did I know that this band will become really popular because of HBO's True Detective series. Having seen the pilot, it's hard to ignore that wonderful song …

True Detective: Night Country
hbo.com

It’s been ten years since the original True Detective aired. Out of nowhere, HBO dropped the pilot episode to True Detective: Night Country on Sunday.

The new mystery involves eight men who disappeared at a remote research station in Alaska. Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) are the two detectives on the case.

Based on what I’ve seen so far, there’s a lot of supernatural elements in this new season. I’m not sure if it’s from a character’s perspective, or if it’s actually real, in this True Detective world.

While I do love the supernatural ghost stuff… it was only hinted at in the first season, and since then, the series is known for its grim and gritty hard-boiled detective stories.

Like previous seasons, the new series does play with different time lines, and at first it is very confusing what time we’re in… it does tell the story that everything is somehow connected. From the missing researchers to a murder cold case from the past.

So far, it has a very strong start, and it could be my new favorite season of True Detective. Personally speaking, while universally everybody hated Season 2, I am a fan of that second season. The worst season is Season 3, in my opinion, because it felt like a very boring series where nothing happens until the ending is revealed.

True Detective Season 4, titled “Night Country”, already is setting up a lot.

In keeping up with True Detective tradition of having a great theme song, Season 4 uses the dance grooves of Billie Eilish. In fact, you can hear Eilish’s music influences throughout the pilot.

Theme songs:

Season 1: The Handsome Family’s “Far from Any Road”

Season 2: Leonard Cohen’s “Nevermind” (alternate lyrics depending on episodes)

Season 3: Cassandra Wilson’s “Death Letter” (song was originally written by Son House)

Season 4: Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend”

Reacher: Season 2 Read More Reacher You know, I do like the Tom Cruise films Jack Reacher, so I was pretty excited that Amazon produced the television show called Reacher (based on the international best selling book Killing Floor by Lee Child). ....

Reacher: Season 2
amazon.com

Hobo muscleman Jack Reacher is back. Where we last left Reacher, he continues his life as a nomadic bum, helping people where he can.

In some small town, he stumbles on a carjacking situation and decides to help out by beating the daylight out of the car jacket. What a great punch-in-the-face introduction to Season 2. It’s off to a great start, as far as I’m concerned.

The latest season is based on Lee Child’s book Bad Luck and Trouble and is about murder of one of Reacher’s old MP squad. The murder sets in motion Reacher and his former unit teaming up to find the killers.

I’m really enjoying the story and action. There’s a lot of complaints from military people, saying how unrealistic it is (particularly the bar brawl at the Officer’s Club). I didn’t think too much on it, it’s just a thing that happened to allow for “team building” in Reacher’s unit.

Looking at the ratings, this is one of Amazon’s strongest shows, landing #2 in the streaming charts with 1.69 billion streams. It’s one of the few Amazon shows to land that far in the chart… which is dominated by Netflix.

Although Season 2 hasn’t ended just yet, Amazon has already green-lit a third season. I hope they bring back Reacher’s team and kind of just make it like an A-Team type of show.

P.S. If you only know Reacher from the Tom Cruise movies... you might be in for a shock when you see Alan Ritchson in the role. This guy basically looks like the Hulk.

Read more Television and Crime Time.

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Neeson 2023

Read More Liam Neeson Liam Neeson plays a hitman with a heart of gold in Memory. The hitman, suffering from early stages of Alzheimer, decides to make things right after declining a contract to kill a young girl. The 2022 film is based the Belgian film The Alzheimer Case. ....

In the Land of Saints and Sinners
imdb.com

Where we last saw actor Liam Neeson, it was for the “hitman with a heart of gold” movie Memory in 2022 - a remake of The Alzheimer Case. I mentioned for an actor in his 70s he was still very believable as an action star.

Neeson is at it again, and this time, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, is one of the best films I’ve seen from Neeson in a while. This is the second film that teams Neeson up with director Robert Lorenz… and I think they have a winner formula, because I did actually enjoy their film The Marksman.

In the Land of Saints and Sinners is basically a revenge film. The film takes place in Ireland, in the mid-70s. Neeson is a retired hitman who does “one last job” and now finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game of the Irish terrorists, seeking revenge.

I think where the film really shine is with its supporting cast, including the dumb, but young hitman played by Jack Gleeson, the bartender Sinead (Sarah Greene), and the Star Trek star Colm Meaney as the handler.

Some critics might find the action/revenge film a tired cliché, but I like it and I like seeing Neeson in these roles.

Neeson’s next film is called Thug, about an aging gangster. Personally speaking, I wouldn’t mind it if Neeson revise his role as the detective in A Walk Among the Tombstones… but since that film didn’t do well in the theaters, they probably won’t revisit the character.

Retribution
imdb.com

Liam Neeson’s other 2023 film is the action thriller Retribution, which came out in August 2023 from Lionsgate with little fanfare. That’s probably because this film isn’t that great.

There is a twist in the story, but I already guessed the correct ending by this point… and I didn’t even see the original Spanish film El desconocido, which this film was based on.

The plot is about Neeson as a financier. His car is rigged with explosive that if he tries to get out of the car, that it will explode. It’s not a believable story, but you go with it, because it’s Neeson in the lead and he’s captivating to watch. Unfortunately, since he’s trapped in the car, there’s not much action that he can do.

Like I said, this is not a good film. The police are horrible at their job (equally bad acting). It is just a standard action film, the Guadian best summed it up, saying: “Liam Neeson is on autopilot in car-bomb movie.”

In the end, would I recommend this film? Probably not, but if you like Speed and looking for a new action film, check it out. You may want to also add Non-Stop and The Commuter to your watchlist, as they’re from the same people.

Read more DVD and Films.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Sci-Fi-A-I

Read More The Expanse Possibly the best Science Fiction television show on air right now is The Expanse (no, it’s not Star Trek: Discovery). As I previously mentioned, I love this show. In the world of the Expanse, there are three major …

Beacon 23
amazon.com

There is a new Sci-Fi show on Amazon Prime called Beacon 23. The show is based on the short story series of the same name by Hugh Howey. Originally it was meant to air on Spectrum Originals and AMC Networks… but it’s currently on MGM+ (which is own by Amazon).

The show stars Lena Headey, from Game of Thrones. She is a survivor from a spaceship crash and finds herself woken up on a space lighthouse called Beacon 23. The sole occupant named Halan Kai Nelson, but there’s more to his story than he lets on.

It’s a bit of mystery, and I’m not going to give away too much details… but let’s just say that it’s not what you think it is. Halan is locked out of control because of the A.I. malfunction. The Artificial Intelligence is written in a way where it has “emotions”, which is quite odd. Why would anyone program anger and sadness in a computer program?

Update: I’ve just watched Episode 4 of Beacon 23 and have concluded that this show is absolutely no good. The problem with this series is about the AI. Let me tell you, computers should not have feelings or are they children. It’s just dumb. In this episode, the computer is written like it is a three-year-old and it decides to murder someone. This is just bad writing.

Also, while we’re at it, for a space station, why is there only one person living there? Don’t you need a crew to keep maintenance on the space light house? Or how come the computer didn’t know someone was in the airlock? My home camera and sense motion, don’t you think an advance space craft would have basic sensors? It doesn’t make any sense.

If you’re looking for smart Sci-Fi, I suggest checking out The Expanse.

Read More Star Wars It seems like no one is watching Andor… or at least you rarely hear people talking about this Star Wars new television show on Disney Plus. Maybe it’s because fans are tired of Star Wars or maybe they’re just not interested in this weird prequel to Star Wars: Rogue One? …

The Creator
20thcenturystudios.com

Gareth Edwards’ latest film The Creator has gotten positive reviews. The film grossed $103.5 million with a “low” budget of $80 million.

Edwards is no stranger to Science Fiction, having debut with Monsters (a film I own on Bluray) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (easily the best “new” Star Wars film).

Since Edwards was a visual effects guy, he shot the whole film and used visual effects sparingly, which probably kept the budget low.

The story is about how the artificial intelligence (AI) detonated a nuclear warhead over Los Angeles, California, which started a war of humanity vs the robots.

There is a new threat and so the humans brought in an ex-undercover human to navigate the AI’s base.

I won’t give away too much, but the robot’s weapon is not what you think… and their goals are not what you expected.

It’s a simple story, maybe it might have worked better as a television series, where it can explore more on what it is to be human. Are AI really the enemy … or are the humans the true villains.

Read more Television and Sci-Fi.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com