The Big Gigs: Music of note Aug. 24-30

Updated: August 23, 2012 - 2:47 PM

Yeasayer, Archers of Loaf, Gotye, Leon Russell, the Suburbs.

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Yeasayer plays First Avenue on Friday.

Photo: Anna Palma,

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POP/ROCK

If you were hoping Yeasayer would make an album that sounds more like Depeche Mode and OMD, you have it. The jaggedly rhythmic Brooklyn art-rockers smoothed things over on their third record, "Fragrant World" (issued this week), featuring heavy echoes of '80s synth-pop and some of the droning electro-whir of their fellow Rock the Garden alums MGMT. They'll probably liven things up onstage, but the record is a real snooze. Daughn Gibson opens. (9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue. $25.) Chris Riemenschneider

One of those early-'90s college-radio bands that had modest sales but major influence on other musicians, Archers of Loaf have been doing a reunion tour the way God -- or at least day jobs -- intended them: as long weekends. Frontman Eric Bachmann continues to tour and record with Crooked Fingers, but the rest of the band has settled into nonmusical work. The Chapel Hill, N.C., quartet will make its overdue Minneapolis visit count, with a two-night stand that should draw heavily from all four albums, loaded with idiosyncratic songs, full-throated vocals and scrappy two-guitar noise. Each disc has been newly reissued by hometown label Merge Records. (9 p.m. Sat. & Sun., 400 Bar. $25.) Riemenschneider

After a 15-year hiatus, the Desert Rose Band reunited in 2008, plying Americana music with elan. Actually, when leader Chris Hillman first started playing this kind of music with the Byrds and Flying Burritos Brothers, it was known as country rock. He has some fine pickers and singers, including Herb Pedersen and John Jorgensen. (7 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, $45.) Jon Bream

It's always a treat catching DJ Abilities back in town from Milwaukee, where the turntablist moved shortly before the death of his partner in rhyme, Eyedea. It's especially nice to see him carrying on their duo's innovative spirit. It can be felt in his current tour with Jel, who is co-founder of the L.A. indie label Anticon, a member of the duo Themselves, beatmaker for the likes of Atmosphere and Sage Francis, and an occasional rapper. Look for solo and duo sets. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry, $10-$12.) Riemenschneider

Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" may be the biggest single of 2012, but that doesn't mean he can fill the biggest venue in town. The Belgian/Australian electro-pop star's show was downsized from Target Center to Myth (ironic, since his April gig in Minneapolis was moved up to Epic from the Varsity). At least, there will be better sightlines than Epic, where much of the sellout crowd couldn't see the impressive backdrop of video, animation and lights, which greatly added to the appeal of all those other songs that few people knew. Opening are Aussie songstresses Missy Higgins and Jonti, one of whom will undoubtedly fill in for Kimbra's part in the smash duet. (7:30 Sun., Myth. $45.) Riemenschneider

Poison frontman Bret Michaels plays Minnesota about as often as he goes doo-rag shopping, but in this case he is actually looking for something more than a good time. He'll deliver an intimate solo acoustic set for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Breath Easy II fundraiser. Tim Mahoney, Crankshaft, the Cole Allen Band and other locals also perform. (4 p.m. Sun., the Pourhouse, 10 S. 5th St., Mpls. $50.) Riemenschneider

No surprise: Girl Talk sold out First Avenue as quickly as Springsteen did Xcel Center, even though Girl Talk's gig was announced only two weeks ago. Pittsburgh's electronic mash-up whiz was supposed to play the canceled SoundTown and is coming here on his way to Chicago's North Coast Fest, so we're lucky that he's back in a club. Let's see if he's up to something new or just rehashing past efforts. (9 p.m. Tue., First Avenue. Sold out.)

Seattle's retro female hip-hop duo THEESatisfaction opens for Girl Talk and then plays a full set next door, where Toki Wright opens with his new live band. (9 p.m. Tue., 7th Street Entry, $12.) Riemenschneider

A well-known session guitarist in his native England, Albert Lee has amassed quite a résumé since moving to the States in the mid-1970s. He's been a sideman to Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, the Everly Brothers, to name a few. He's regarded as a rockabilly expert and a country master. Lee has been a member of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and a member of the supergroup Biff Baby All Stars with Eddie Van Halen and Steve Morse. (7 p.m. Wed.-Thu., Dakota, $30.) Bream

Now that he's a member of the Rock Hall of Fame (inducted in 2011) and made an album with Elton John (2010's "The Union"), Leon Russell is commanding more attention. In April at the Dakota, the 70-year-old Oklahoma piano man seemed reborn. The Buddha-like figure behind the keyboards and laptop was surprisingly talkative and humorous as he played a little Dylan, Stones and Beatles as well as "Delta Lady," "A Song for You" and other tunes that made him famous. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center, $35-$50.) Bream

One of the Twin Cities' all-time great live bands, the Suburbs are hanging on despite a death and personnel changes. Spaced-out guitarist/singer Beej Chaney, who lives in Los Angeles, seems sharper at every gig, and pianist/singer Chan Poling and drummer Hugo Klaers haven't missed a beat after all these years. Guitarist Steve Brantseg and bassist Steve Price have been the right additions to keep the dance-rock of "Love Is the Law," "Music for Boys" and other favorites timeless. Local garage-pop vets the Magnolias open. (7:30 p.m. Thu. Minnesota Zoo, $34.) Bream

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