Champagne enthusiasts know the value of a well fermented wine. They know it’s the all-important wait that creates not only the chemical reaction to produce alcohol, but also the anticipation of the first lip-smacking taste. Minneapolis’ electro-organic, indie-rock super-group Halloween, Alaska is about to pop the cork on an album that’s spent almost three and a half years in the wait, and enthusiasts couldn’t be more eager. Their first releases, 2004’s, Halloween, Alaska, and 2005’s, Too Tall to Hide, left connoisseurs with a sweet and lingering aftertaste, brimming James Diers’ articulate, darkly dramatic lyrics and warmly layered keys to the top of thick, bubbly bass lines, crisp and vibrant guitar parts and modern jazz guru Dave King’s (Bad Plus, Happy Apple) expertly crafted palette of half electric, half acoustic percussion. While the band was too busy to do much touring, it still found itself selling out shows throughout the Twin Cities and receiving airplay on national radio, as well as being featured multiple times on the soundtrack for the hit television show The OC. Their brand new offering, Champagne Downtown, delivers the same savory, melodramatic spectrum of flavor, but this time around Jacob Hanson (12 Rods, Cowboy Curtis) makes his sparkling debut with the band on guitar, and Grammy-winning engineer Tchad Blake (Tom Waits, Pearl Jam, Elvis Costello) adds his recipe to the mixing process. Halloween, Alaska will serve their new release on April 9 at the House of Rock on a menu that includes local loves Laarks and Meridene, as well as an awe-inspiring light show. Various wines will be available for purchase at the bar.

    Halloween, Alaska CD release + Laarks + Meridene • Thursday, April 9 • House of Rock, 422 Water St. • SORT OF EARLY SHOW: 9pm • $5 • ages 21+ • www.house-of-rock.com