Monday 2.11
Divine Heresy
Loft in the Lussier Teen Center, 7 pm
Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares raises the dead with his brutal metal act Divine Heresy. Dissent and Revolt and Enmity of Heart open.
Tuesday 2.12
Gay Seidman
University Book Store-Hilldale, 7 pm
The author of Beyond the Boycott kicks off an International Institute book series, offering perspectives on human rights from UW professors. Seidman looks at campaigns in South Africa, India and Guatemala in which activists successfully pressured companies with the threat of a consumer boycott.
Mark Olson
Cafe Montmartre, 8 pm
Since parting with ex-wife Victoria Williams, Olson has stirred up some of the best music of his career. At times, the former Jayhawk channels Bob Dylan, but his rootsy country-rock voice has also taken on the kind of burnished sweetness that only develops with the passage of time. Ben Kyle opens.
Wednesday 2.13
Cold Weather Artists
Escape Java Joint, 6:30 pm
Brenda Baker, Timothy Browning, Christine Olson, Jeremy Wineberg and William Turnbull discuss their intriguing public artworks, currently scattered from Monona Bay to Lake Monona to the Yahara River Parkway to the UW Humanities Building.
The Whigs
Majestic Theatre, 7 pm
Athens, Georgia's Whigs figure a dash of pop and a big old slug of garage rock will carry 'em deep into the hearts of college kids everywhere. Judging from the just-released Mission Control, they're probably right. Wild Sweet Orange, the Midwest Beat and Polydream open.
Christopher Taylor
Mills Hall in the UW Humanities Bldg., 7:30 pm
Mark your calendars. The brilliant UW pianist launches a 10-concert series of Beethove's complete piano sonatas (Feb. 13-April 18), grouping them thematically. The first program hops from early (Op. 2, No. 1) to middle (Op. 27, No. 1) to late (Op. 110).
Hurt
Annex, 8 pm
Okay, the snow won't stop falling and the winter seems endless. What better excuse do you need to soar along with Hurt as they update Tool and add some violence to Creed? Kennedy Road opens.
Thursday 2.14
DecaDanceTheatre
Overture Center's Capitol Theatre, 7:30 pm. A Q&A follows the show
The New York-based grrrl group tells stories of the hip-hop generation in ballets based on the music's vocabulary.
BC Big Band
Brink Lounge, 8 pm
The good-time local jazz band is powered by Barb Cheron's guitar and spiced by swinging horn solos. Free!
Puddle of Mudd
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
Puddle of Mudd's competent grunge-inspired anthems aren't likely to make it into the big book of rock classics. On the other hand, they should motivate some cathartic fist-pumping live. Neurosonic and Tyler Read open.
Hometown Sweethearts
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
The covers-crazy Sweethearts serenade lovers young and old at their very own Valentine's Day shindig. You bet they take requests.