POP/ROCK

The snow arrived in time for the kickoff of the annual Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks Extravaganza Tour. Since the guitar star lives in the Twin Cities, we always get the first date of the 28-show tour. If this too-early snow doesn't put you in the mood for yule tunes, then think of it as a musical showcase for terrific big-band arrangements and Setzer's underappreciated guitar prowess. Rock, blues, jazz, country, rockabilly, Latin, flamenco — he can play it all. And, yes, he'll throw in a few Stray Cats struts and maybe something from his top-notch new album "Rockabilly Riot!" L.A. blues-rock trio Record Company opens. (8 p.m. Fri., Orpheum Theatre, $53.50-$89.) Bream

Already generating a strong indie buzz under the stage name FKA Twigs, British electronic siren Tah­liah Barnett is now also becoming a star of tabloids and gossip blogs since she started dating "Twilight" actor Robert Pattinson. Her debut album, "LP1," has a minimal, sexy ambience akin to label mates the XX, but with a little more dramatic flair of the Kate Bush variety. She's also trained in ballet and has danced in Kylie Minogue and Jessie J videos, so expect a strong visual element in her local debut. (9 p.m. Fri., Fine Line, sold out.) Chris Riemenschneider

After declining over a couple of albums, Interpol is back from an extended hiatus and back to making gorgeously gloomy rock on par with its classic 2002 debut, "Turn on the Bright Lights." The new one, "El Pintor" (anagram alert!), follows frontman Paul Banks' solo turn and his New York band's return to indie-label status on Matador Records. It sounds like a proper follow-up to "Bright Lights," and should be even better in concert, where these guys have always been impressive. Florida's Hundred Waters opens. (9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Against many odds, emergency room visits and arrest warrants, the original members of Mötley Crüe have survived and stood together long enough to take a bow on their 33-year career. Their farewell tour could stretch on into next year and include another local date, but having their hero Alice Cooper as opener really makes this a special event. Newcomers the Raskins also perform. (7 p.m. Sat., Xcel Energy Center, $20-$125.) Riemenschneider

Being the son of one of Texas' best-known authors wasn't enough to make James McMurtry one of the Lone Star State's most revered songwriters, but 25 years of consistently rich, story-driven albums and his rather wicked guitar-playing talent have sealed the deal. He's previewing his first new collection in six years, "Complicated Game," produced by Louisiana ace C.C. Adcock. Fellow Austinite Jonny Burke opens. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club, $20.) Riemenschneider

Usher

It's billed as the Unpredictable Evening with Todd Rundgren. And judging by set lists from the tour, I'd say the billing is apt for one of rock's quirkiest and most creative forces. There will be some Utopia tunes, pieces from Rundgren's solo career (though not necessarily big hits like "Hello, It's Me") and an odd lot of covers — he's played tunes associated with Tony Bennett, Robert Johnson, Johnny Preston, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Cheap Trick. (8 p.m. Sun., Mill City Nights, $40-$42.) Bream

While his muttering-to-manic voice is still unmistakable, Strokes singer Julian Casablancas gets even further away from his older band's sound on his second self-billed effort, "Tyranny," recorded with new band the Voidz. The dance-punky record experiments in freaky sonic loops and urban rhythms, like a mishmash of Tune-Yards and the Clash's "Sandinista." It could be a wild blast or an overindulgent mess in concert, but Casablancas has a good track record. He's offering only one or two Strokes songs at shows but has been throwing in some fun covers. Local fuzz-rockers Ripper and Casablancas' longtime pal Har Mar Superstar open. (8:30 p.m. Mon., First Avenue, $25.) Riemenschneider

Shara Worden performed on memorable tours for Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois" and the Decemberists' "The Hazards of Love," and she has worked with members of the National and Fatboy Slim on other projects. Her classically trained vocal talent shines brightest in her main vehicle, My Brightest Diamond, whose fourth album, "This Is the Hand," blends vibrant rhythms and jagged, St. Vincent-like sonic forays around Worden's operatic voice. Dosh and Ghostland open. Read an interview with Worden in Sunday's Variety. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $15-$18.) Riemenschneider

On this year's "Tales From the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles," Suzanne Vega offered her first new material in seven years. She is, by turns, serious (songs about Mother Teresa, Buddhist philosophies), lighthearted (she name-checks Macklemore and samples 50 Cent) and self-reverential ("Song of the Stoic" is part "Luka," part Leonard Cohen and part rap). For Vega fans, "Queen of Pentacles" is a good omen. Local hero Adam Levy opens. (7 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Dakota, $35-$45.) Bream

Following the lead of countrymen Arcade Fire, Canadian indie rockers Stars hit the club for their latest album, "No One Is Lost," trading the arty, swelling melodrama of previous releases for a dance-floor fatalism (see: Kesha's "Die Young"). The results? Mixed. Amy Millan brings the synth-y party more convincingly than subdued co-vocalist Torquil Campbell, though the duo's songwriting efforts ultimately fall flat. But hey: At least Stars are still tinkering rather than coasting on the 10th anniversary of breakout LP "Set Yourself on Fire." Canuck septet Hey Rosetta! opens. (7 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, 18-plus, $20.) Jay Boller

Eloquent picker. Master storyteller. Electro-acoustic guitar pioneer. The very gifted and very British Adrian Legg is all of those things, plus a journalist, acclaimed author and frequent commentator for public radio's "All Things Considered." The man voted "Guitarist of the Decade" in the 1990s will showcase his new release, "Dead Bankers," in an early-bird show at a surprising venue. (6 p.m. Wed., Lee's Liquor Lounge, $18-$20.) Tom Surowicz

A clever way for GWAR to continue on just seven months after the sudden death of founding frontman Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus), the costumed sci-fi/gore metal band has added a female co-leader, Vulvatron. Judging by her name and genitalia-enhanced costume — warning: those rubbery breasts are loaded! — she's not going to win any feminism awards, but she could lighten a sad situation and add something new to the heavy music. Corrosion of Conformity opens. (7 p.m. Thu., Skyway Theatre, $19.) Riemenschneider

After warming the hearts of sold-out crowds at the Cedar and Varsity with their icy harmonies, Johanna and Klara Söderberg are back as First Aid Kit for their first First Ave headlining gig. The hippie-chic Swedish sisters broke out locally with the sweet indie-folk song "Emmylou" and are still earning steady airplay on 89.3 the Current with the serene follow-up record, "Stay Gold." Oklahoma singer/songwriter Samantha Crain opens. (8:30 p.m. Thu., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

HIP-HOP/R&B

Best known for the cheaters' anthem "Paranoid," Los Angeles rapper/singer/producer Ty Dolla $ign found fanfare crooning hornball antics with a gospel lilt. Auto-Tune takes the edge off his raspy voice and piously lascivious lyrics. Lil Bibby and Joe Moses also perform. (6 p.m. Fri., Cabooze, all ages, $20-$25.) Michael Rietmulder

With a preppy greaser swagger, G-Eazy's steadily building buzz over the past three years reached new heights this summer. The real-life Gerald Gillum's debut album hit No. 3 on Billboard's Top 200 and the rapper/producer landed coveted opening slots on the Drake vs. Lil Wayne tour. Linguistically, Oakland's answer to Macklemore isn't blowing anyone away, but the intoxicating beat on single "I Mean It" is hard to deny. With Bay Area icon E-40, Iamsu! and Jay Ant. (6 p.m. Sat.-Sun., First Avenue, sold out.) Rietmulder

Usher's eighth album, "UR," was due this year but delayed indefinitely. That hasn't derailed his 27-city UR Experience Tour, which started this month. The pop/R&B superstar has 20 years of hits ("You Make Me Wanna," "OMG," "Burn," "Yeah!") and dazzling dance moves. And, oh, those fab abs. August Alsina and DJ Cassidy open. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Xcel Energy Center, $37.50-$152.50.) Bream

After El-P produced Killer Mike's absolutely killer 2012 solo effort "R.A.P. Music," the Brooklyn indie-rap maven and the booming-voiced Atlanta rap wizard became seemingly unlikely bandmates in Run the Jewels. Their 2013 eponymous effort was a charmingly loose, free-form yet intense effort. They manage to keep its galloping pace and battling spirit alive while getting more serious and showing more skill on "Run the Jewels 2," a shoo-in as one of hip-hop's best reviewed albums of the year. The guys are gems in concert, too. Ratking, Depost and David Ruffin Theory also perform. (9 p.m. Thu., Fine Line, sold out.) Riemenschneider

COUNTRY

It's the home stretch for Garth Brooks in Minneapolis. Seven shows down, four to go. Will his voice hold up with back-to-back doubleheaders? Will he add new material from Tuesday's release "Man Against Machine"? Will crowd flow and restroom cleanup be better this weekend than last? Will this week's weather lead to no-shows from faraway fans? Warning: The late show will not start on time. (6:30 & 10:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Target Center, $70.50.) Jon Bream

In 1971, the hip, long-haired Nitty Gritty Dirt Band collaborated with a bunch of country vets, including Mother Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff and Earl Scruggs, on a remarkable three-LP set of traditional tunes titled "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." Now the group's leader, multi-instrumentalist John McEuen, is touring with John Carter Cash, son of Johnny and June, to celebrate that album and all those songs associated with Hank Williams, Merle Travis and the Carter Family. The performance includes stories, photos and, of course, music by a group that includes former Nitty Gritty member guitarist/clarinetist Les Thompson. (7 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $40-$50.) Bream

BLUEGRASS

One of the best bluegrass bands of the 1980s, Hot Rize called it quits in 1990, with occasional reunions by its busy founders — solo star Tim O'Brien, Nick Forster and Pete "Dr. Banjo" Wernick. But the group, which now includes Grammy winner Bryan Sutton, just released its first album of fresh material in more than two decades, "When I'm Free." The quartet will be touring until spring to rebuild their fan base, with their cornpone alter egos Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers along for the ride, of course. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center, $35.) Surowicz

ROOTS

Blues, rockabilly and roots-rock fans are justly excited about the reunion of the Paladins. The great San Diego group, led by tasty guitar hero Dave Gonzalez, split in 2004 after releasing some excellent records. Gonzalez worked with terrific country songwriter Chris Gaffney in the splendid Hacienda Brothers band, then became a Stone River Boy after Gaffney passed away in 2008. Now he's happily back on the road with bassist Thomas Yearsley and outstanding Gene Krupa-inspired drummer Brian Fahey. It's a killer time-tested trio — spare, soulful and potent. (7 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club, $27.) Surowicz

Brian Setzer brings the sounds of Christmas to the Orpheum Friday.

JAZZ

Together for eight years, yet still a rumor in their own town, talented local trio Firebell — Park Evans (guitar), Graydon Peterson (bass) and Jay Epstein (drums) — takes a big step toward raising its profile with a swell debut album, "Impossible Vacation." It kicks off with a spacey and gorgeous Peterson-penned ballad, "Much Needed Wanderlust." Then Epstein lets loose with his shimmering cymbals on the spiky title track, calling to mind a graceful volley of Muhammad Ali punches. The surprising cover tunes include a moody, slightly sinister re-imagining of Del Shannon's "Runaway." (9:30 p.m. Mon., Icehouse, $10.) Surowicz

CLASSICAL

In a rare occurrence, Minnesota Orchestra performs a work by a living woman composer. Russian-born Polina Nazaykinskaya, heard here in a 2010 Future Classics program at Orchestra Hall, hits prime time with "Winter Bells," a symphonic poem inspired by her visit to a mountainous region in her homeland in Russia's Volga region. One section, which Minnesotans can relate to, arises from her image of lone traveler fighting his way through a deadly blizzard. Finnish guest conductor Hannu Lintu makes his MO debut, and pianist Jonathan Biss is back for the first time since 2000 to play Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20. The orchestra also performs Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5. in B-flat major. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Orchestra Hall, $25-$96.) Claude Peck