The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

MUSIC
Ben Lee

At the very green age of 14, Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee emerged on the music scene with his then-band, Noise Addict, and caused a minor stir, garnering the attention of members of both Sonic Youth and the Beastie Boys. Fifteen years later, with albums, movies, and experience under his belt, Lee is in town tonight promoting his sixth and most recent album, Ripe, which came out a couple of months ago. I just hope all those love songs are no longer about Claire Danes. Opening for Lee this evening are the Cary Brothers and The Kahn Brothers. What's with the whole brotherly theme, eh?

5 p.m., Varsity Theater, 1308 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-604-0222; $15/$17.

Ryan Montbleau Band

While their website claims they've averaged over 200 gigs per year for the past few years, this is no doubt the Ryan Montbleau Band's largest tour, as they promote Patience on Friday, released last month. "Patience is simply something you have to learn," says the band's frontman, "and Fridays are the days you go balls out." If you're a Ben Harper fan with a special place in your heart for Stevie Wonder, this is definitely a show for you to check out.

8 p.m., 7th St. Entry, First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-332-1775; $8.

FILM
The Quintessential Film Noir

No actress has commanded the screen as well as Lauren Bacall. No on-screen chemistry has impressed and charmed us as well as that between Bogie and Bacall. And the quintessence of that chemistry, of the duo, of an age, of a genre, of film noir... is without a doubt The Big Sleep. (Granted, I'd choose To Have or Have Not any day. Have you ever stepped on a dead bee?) The film is a gold mine in every sense possible — the best of the best at every stage: a Raymond Chandler novel adapted into a screenplay by William Faulkner, directed by Howard Hawks, and acted by Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and John Ridgley. This is Philip Marlowe at his finest: "I don't mind if you don't like my manners, I don't like them myself. They are pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."

8 p.m., Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis; 612-822-3030; $6.

Forever

Surely you've seen this image before. Pere Lachaise cemetery. Jim Morrison's grave. Some of us may have actually been there ourselves, paying respect to the Doors frontman and everything he has come to stand for (what exactly is that anyhow, desert peyote trips? jeans without underwear?); regardless, we've at least seen it on film. You know the story: the die-hard fan travels across the globe to visit the resting place of a beloved artist — Morrison, Chopin, Proust, Maria Callas, Oscar Wilde, Yves Montand — all in a quest for solace or inspiration, answers to an all-evasive question. It's no fiction. Every year, some of our favored, long-gone celebs receive millions of visits from people of all ages and corners of the world. Who are these people? Why are they there? What do they hope to get from the experience? Director Heddy Honigmann gives us a glimpse into their worlds in Forever. Watch the trailor.

7:15 & 9 p.m., Oak Street Cinema, 309 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis; $8.