Big Gigs: Best Twin Cities concerts Sept. 13-19

There is no new Eagles album this time around. But there is a new/old guitarist welcomed back — Twin Cities-bred Bernie Leadon, who grew up in what is now Apple Valley. Don Henley and Glenn Frey invited Leadon, the twangy guitarist from the early years, back for this summer's tour. However, don't expect guitarist Don Felder, who is still in litigation with Henley and Frey. And don't expect any solo material from Henley or Frey; only Joe Walsh is visiting his non-Eagles terrain on this tour. Opening is JD and the Straight Shot, fronted by Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, chairman of Madison Square Garden and owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers. (8 p.m. Wed. Target Center, $52-$187.) Bream

POP/ROCK

Fronted by the leading lady of the late 1970s/early '80s English ska revival, Pauline Black, the Selecter has broken up and reformed twice now. But the group is hot again thanks to two recent albums (2011's "Made in Britain" and this year's "String Theory") and hit festival appearances. Black is joined by one other original member, co-lead singer Arthur "Gaps" Hendrickson, to offer the old favorites "On My Radio" and "Three Minute Hero," along with new horn-spiked selections. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, $20-$25.) Tom Surowicz

One of two units of Black Flag alumni to hit the road this year, FLAG features co-founding vocalist Keith Morris (also of Circle Jerks and OFF! fame) and original bassist Chuck Dukowski tearing through the classics. Also on board are onetime members Dez Cadena and Bill Stevenson, plus Stevenson's Descendents bandmate Stephen Egerton. Reviews and footage from the current tour suggest a riotous affair. Opening are T.S.O.L., those other L.A. punk vets, plus Cerebral Ballzy and locals Off With Their Heads, who enlisted Stevenson to produce their latest album. Read an interview with Morris at startribune.com/music. (8:30 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $30.) Chris Riemenschneider

The newish Chicago indie pop duo Wild Belle features the Afrobeat inclinations of Elliot Bergman and the soulful vocals of his younger sister, Natalie. Their 2013 debut, "Isles," is a breezy trip through reggae/pop burnished with electronica. The highlight is "It's Too Late," with Natalie Bergman channeling Estelle in a lazy reggae-got-soul groove with horns. Saint Rich opens. (9 p.m. Fri. Triple Rock, $13-$15.) Jon Bream

They live in the Twin Cities and named themselves after Beer City, U.S.A., but Omaha is where Farewell Milwaukee chose to be when it came time to make their third record. The Americana rockers, led by rainy-day tunesmith Ben Lubeck, took over Conor Oberst's and Mike Mogis' ARC Studio for nine days and took a mostly live approach to recording "Can't Please You, Can't Please Me" with producer Brad Bivens, whose work engineering Dawes' latest disc is nicely echoed here. The hometown release party features Portage and Daredevil Christopher Wright co-leader Jon Sunde for openers. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $12-$15.) Riemenschneider

As a solo act, former Men at Work frontman Colin Hay could deservedly bill himself as Funny Man at Work. The Scotland-born, Australia-made and Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter tells hilarious tales of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll and does spot-on impressions of Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Sting and others. The voice behind "Who Can It Be Now" and "Overkill" also can be a serious songwriter, as evidenced on his latest disc, 2011's "Gathering Mercury," which was informed by the death of his father. After several triumphant gigs at the Cedar on the funky West Bank, Hay graduates to a spiffy downtown theater. Opening is Chris Trapper, former frontman of the 1990s alt-rock Push Stars. (8 p.m. Sat. Pantages, $28.) Bream

Since Milwaukee roots-rock songwriting ace John Sieger reunited his critically acclaimed Semi Twang in 2009, they've made more albums in their second incarnation (two) than the first time around (a lone record on Warner Bros. in 1988). The time-tested sextet has bounced back nicely with "Wages of Sin" and their new disc, "The Why and the What For." Their return to Minnesota after a quarter-century should be a barfly's triumph. (9:30 p.m. Sat., Lee's Liquor Lounge, $10.) Surowicz

After finishing fourth in 2010 on England's "The X Factor," Cher Lloyd has plied her bratty, cheeky attitude and flair for hooky pop music into Simon Cowell-propelled stardom. Big in Britain, she has gained enough traction in the States to prompt Taylor Swift to invite her onstage in Los Angeles to duet on the Brit star's hit "Want U Back." Lloyd has potent pipes, as demonstrated on "Beautiful People" on her 2012 "Sticks & Stones" debut album. With another album due late this year, she has just dropped a new single featuring T.I., "I Wish," which suggests Miley Cyrus doing early Britney Spears. Fifth Harmony, a teen pop female vocal group, opens. (7 p.m. Mon. First Avenue, $25.) Bream

Against Me! released one of the best punk albums of the 2000s — 2007's Butch Vig-produced "New Wave" — and now the Florida quartet is preparing to release what could be one of the most daring and divisive albums in punk-rock history. It's called "Transgender Dysphoria Blues," and both the title and songs refer to bandleader Laura Jane Grace's transformation over the past three years from the former Tom Gabel to the most high-profile transsexual woman in rock 'n' roll. Philly trio Hop Along opens. (9 p.m. Tue., Triple Rock, $15.) Riemenschneider

Just like Alt-J last weekend, Savages is back for another Twin Cities go-around after playing a smaller club gig this year and enjoying large amounts of British hype and local airplay at 89.3 the Current. The all-female London quartet channeled Joy Division with noisier, Mission of Burma-like punk bombast on its bleak new album, "Silence Yourselves." Opening multi-instrumentalist Duke Garwood played on the disc and is a frequent collaborator with Mark Lanegan. Read a profile of Savages in Monday's Variety section. (8 p.m. Tue., First Avenue, $17-$20.) Riemenschneider

Why did seven years pass between studio albums by Jonny Lang? Because the former Kid Jonny of Minneapolis has been busy being Daddy Lang in Los Angeles— raising four kids born in the past six years and touring to pay the bills. But he's back this month with "Fight for My Soul," his most well-rounded album. Produced by Tommy "Change the World" Sims, it's a deeply spiritual, blues/rock/soul/pop collection of originals without ever mentioning the Lord or Jesus. It's also the first major-label album that the Grammy-winning singer/guitarist has made entirely with his touring band, which includes the Minneapolis rhythm section of bassist Jim Anton and drummer Barry Alexander. Read an interview with Lang in Tuesday's Variety section. Honor by August opens. (7:30 p.m. Wed. State, $43.50-$53.50) Bream

If you expect next week's Iron & Wine concert to be an intimate, soft, solitary-folkie sort of affair like it was with early albums, then you clearly haven't been keeping up. Austin, Texas-based song man Sam Beam is now touring with a 12-member ensemble in keeping with the lushly orchestrated and sometimes surprisingly funky sound of his recent albums for Nonesuch. His latest one, "Ghost on Ghost," echoes Van Morrison's most ambitious stuff and even has a Christopher Cross-like soft-rock sheen to it. Beam might be losing some of his hipness factor, but he's really finding a groove. Brooklyn boy/girl duo Widowspeak opens. (8 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

You could view Jamaican superstar Jimmy Cliff's performance here as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the film that made reggae and him famous, 1973's "The Harder They Come," or a chance to promote 2012's commendable "Rebirth," a stripped-down affair, produced by Rancid's Tim Armstrong, that was sort of Cliff's answer to Johnny Cash's American Recordings series. Or you could simply view it a chance to see one of the most dynamic entertainers to come out of Jamaica and reggae. The magic of the lithe and limber Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has not diminished at age 65. Ethan Tucker opens. (8:30 p.m. Thu. First Avenue, $30.) Bream

WORLD

A regular visitor as a soloist, Indian slide guitar master Debashish Bhattacharya arrives this time with a full band, Modern India. The inventor of the 22-string "Hindustani slide" instrument will be joined by, among others, younger brother Subhasis on percussion, daughter Anandi on vocals, Grammy-winning flamenco and classical guitarist Adam del Monte and drummer Jeff Sipe of Aquarium Rescue Unit renown. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, $18-$20.) Surowicz

JAZZ

The most unexpected jazz gig of the month is a two-night festival honoring the late Lawrence "Butch" Morris, a free jazz cornetist, close associate of David Murray and pioneer of the "conduction" method of large ensemble improvising. He worked locally with John Devine and Michelle Kinney's big band Imp Ork, which is reuniting for this event. And he's profiled in the new film "Black February," screening both nights. Also appearing Saturday are Cherry Spoon Collective, Improvestra and Coloring Time. (7 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Ritz Theater, 345 13th Av. NE., Mpls. $15 nightly, $25 for both. 612-436-1129.) Surowicz

If you're a fan of jazz trombone, the Artists' Quarter is the place to be when Brad Bellows gathers his cool combo Locally Damaging Winds for its first formal gig since 2004. The front line has four trombones — Dave Graf, Pete Enblom, Bellows on valve trombone and Buddy Rich Big Band alum Wade Clark on bass trombone. They can bring the brass power, but this Twin Cities ensemble is capable of plenty of subtlety, too. The rhythm section is new, yet very worthy: pianist Bryan Nichols, bassist Tom Pieper and drummer Mac Santiago. (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., AQ, $15.) Surowicz

The longtime "Tonight Show" trumpet dynamo-turned-Minnesota Orchestra pops conductor brings his Doc Severinsen Big Band to the Twin Cities to tune up for a tour, with saxophone star Ernie Watts once again as featured soloist. Watts has played with countless big names, including Thelonious Monk, the Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin. Watts also has vast big band experience, so he's just what the Doc ordered. (7 & 9 p.m. Mon., Dakota Jazz Club, $30-$60.) Surowicz

Now a Blue Note recording artist, saxophonist/composer Ravi Coltrane is touring behind his recent album "Spirit Fiction," produced by old pal Joe Lovano. In addition to Coltrane originals and songs composed collaboratively with his great touring band, the disc features covers of Ornette Coleman and Paul Motian. (7 & 9 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club, $25-$35.) Surowicz