The Big Gigs: Our critics' music picks

POP/ROCK

For the 15th annual Basilica Block Party, Cities 97 has tapped bands that stand out onstage rather than on the station's playlist. Hence, it's the most exciting basilica lineup in years. Tonight is too hard to handle, with the long-awaited reunion of Minnesota's Americana kingpins the Jayhawks -- who haven't offered this incarnation with Gary Louris and Mark Olson since 1995 -- playing at the same time as the always invigorating Black Crowes, the R&B-infused Southern rockers whose frontman Chris Robinson has worked closely with the Jayhawks principals. Also appearing tonight are newer faces who get exposure on Cities 97: Mat Kearney, Serena Ryder and promising Erin McCarley. Saturday's lineup stars the Twin Cities-nurtured Hold Steady, the most enrapturing live band to emerge in the '00s; the always involving Counting Crows with the mesmerizingly indulgent Adam Duritz; the much-hyped local heroes Tapes N Tapes, and Cities 97 poster child Matt Nathanson of "All We Are" and "Come on Get Higher" fame. There are three stages at this fundraiser for the renovation of the Basilica of St. Mary. (5 p.m. today-Sat., Basilica of St. Mary, Hennepin Av. S. & 17th St., Mpls., $40 for one night, $70 for two.) (J.B.)

Frank Black has been busy of late, issuing a CD by his new project Grandy Duchy (featuring his wife, Violet Clark) and finishing off the mega-sized Pixies box set, "Minotaur." The artist also known as Black Francis and Charles Thompson is taking a break from studio work and returning to the road for a short solo acoustic tour. The shows usually feature a little bit of everything he's done. With more Pixies gigs lined up in Europe for the fall, and maybe a U.S. outing after that, this could be the last chance for a while to see him in a venue anywhere near this small. (10 p.m. today, Triple Rock. 18 & older. $20.) (C.R.)

The twin sisters from Down Under known as the Veronicas are trying hard for U.S. success. For their second CD, "Hook Me Up," these 22-year-old electro-popsters turned to such hit writers as Max Martin and Billy Steinberg, but Lisa and Jess Origliasso come across as desperately vampy Katy Perry/Kelly Clarkson wanna-bes. With Pretty Reckless and the Love Willows. (6:30 p.m. today, Station 4, $13.) (J.B.)

If you've never seen him live, rockabilly hunk Chris Isaak is as funny as he is musically satisfying. If you've caught his act before, you realize it's all shtick that's as slick as his pompadour and as electrifying as his suits. This year, Isaak delivered some new material on "Mr. Lucky," his first album in seven years. It proves he still loves Roy Orbison. Isaak's own classic, "Wicked Game," is guaranteed to give you goosebumps. (8 p.m. Sat., Mystic Lake Casino, $35 & $48.) (J.B.)

New kings of rock opera Green Day will present "21st Century Breakdown," a compelling if long-winded 2009 exploration of our trying times set to an array of classic sounds, in its entirety and then reprise the pop-punk hits ("Longview," "When I Come Around," "Good Riddance," "Holiday," "Boulevard of Broken Dreams") that made it one of America's essential bands of the past two decades. If this presentation is half as exhilarating as Green Day's opera-oriented "American Idiot" shows were in 2004-05, then this could well be the concert of the year. The Bravery opens. (8 p.m. Sat. Target Center, $23-$47.50.) (J.B.)

A cheaper, cozier if not closer alternative to the Basilica bash, the St. John's Block Party in downtown Rochester has an adventurous lineup this year, headlined by '90s alt-rock hitmakers Cracker ("Low," "Teen Angst"), newly reunited '80s alt-rock pioneers the Meat Puppets (see separate gig entry below), Minnesota-bred orchestral art-rock heroes Cloud Cult (playing only a few shows this summer) and the best two bespectacled indie folk/pop tunesmiths from Minneapolis, Chris Koza and Jeremy Messersmith, plus the Greycoats, Alison Scott, Shoeless Revolution and more. (Noon-11:30 p.m. Sat., Church of St. John the Evangelist, 11 SW. 4th St., Rochester. $25. SJBlockParty.org.) (C.R.)

For the second time in five years, Elton John will headline the Starkey Hearing Foundation's So the World May Hear Gala. Let's hope this time that the Hall of Famer skips the synthesized strings and just sticks to his grand piano and grand voice. He's so much better in unguarded moments. Also performing will be heartwarming crooner Tony Bennett, the glorious Gladys Knight and funnyman emcee Billy Crystal. (5 p.m. Sat. RiverCentre, St. Paul, 1-800-769-2799.) (J.B.)

Fifteen years after they were invited to crash Nirvana's "MTV Unplugged" and flirted with their own bit of fame via the hit "Backwater," Arizona-reared acid-twang-punk trio the Meat Puppets have made a wounds-licking triumphant return. Co-founder Cris Kirkwood has bounced back from a half-decade of heroin addiction to rejoin his brother Curt and hammer out a new record, "Sewn Together," which is as blurry and weird as their early albums on SST Records, but also often rocks like the '90s stuff. The Puppets are on tour with Duluth's Retribution Gospel Choir, led by Low frontman Alan Sparhawk. (9 p.m. Sun., 7th Street Entry. $15.) (C.R.)

Uptown's Bastille Day Block Party is sort of like Cinco de Mayo fiestas in gringo towns: Most attendees don't know why it's held, and they don't really care, so long as the music, food and beer are good and cheap. This year, the music better hints at the event's roots, with a New York-based headliner led by two French-singing indie-rock babes, Les Sans Culottes, preceded by a beloved rock band whose members have actually been to Paris, Halloween, Alaska, and two other local groups, Romantica and Idle Hands, whose frontmen are Irish (hey, same continent). Doomtree rapper Sims, Wisconsin klezmer band Yid Vicious and mega-diva Foxy Tann also perform. (4-10 p.m. Sun., outside Barbette, Lake St. and Irving Av. S., Mpls. All ages. Free.) (C.R.)

As reliable a tradition as Leo Kottke playing Thanksgiving weekend, British pub-rock hero Graham Parker returns for his annual Bastille Day gig. Don't ask the logic behind this Anglo-Franco collaboration, just accept the passion of the singer-songwriter who rivaled Elvis Costello back in the mid-1970s. This summer, Parker put out a collection of demos, "Carp Fishing on Valium," a companion to his 2000 collection of short stories of the same name. (6 p.m. Sun. Brit's Pub, free.) (J.B.)

If Ryan Bingham had signed with one of the major labels in Nashville, he'd probably be another raspy-voiced hat act. But he's affiliated with the hip and tasteful Lost Highway label, and his second CD, the month-old "Roadhouse Sun," shows good instincts and commendable influences. This rootsy troubadour, 28, suggests an amped Bruce Springsteen fronting a versatile Texas roadhouse band, whose coolest song is "Dylan's Hard Rain." Jesse Dayton, of Austin, Texas, opens with his turbo country. (8 p.m. Mon., Varsity Theater, $12 advance, $15 door.) (J.B.)

With Derek Trucks and Henry Garza, Minnesota Zoo-goers have been treated to some hot pony-tailed guitarists this summer. Don't overlook Gov't Mule's monstrous Warren Haynes, who just lets his scraggly hair hang free. Of course, the blues-rock guitar hero also plays with the Allman Brothers and has been gigging with the Dead this year. I hear he does a terrific version of "When Doves Cry" that would be ideal for the zoo's bird-show amphitheater in Prince's hometown. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Minnesota Zoo, $29.) (J.B.)

Last seen at Xcel Center opening for R.E.M., and at the Fine Line and 400 Bar before that, the National finally takes over the stage at First Ave on its way to playing two of the summer's hippest festivals (Pitchfork and All Points West). The most exciting downbeat band in the country has been holed up in its Brooklyn studio for most of the year working on the followup to its 2007 masterpiece, "Boxer," all about living a boxed-in urban life. Here's hoping some of the new record is featured at the show, but Twin Citians still haven't heard enough of the previous two. Lo-fi NYC alt-folk duo Buke and Gass opens. (7 p.m. Thu., First Avenue. 18 & older. $22.) (C.R.)

When their eccentric but electrifying former band Hockey Night acrimoniously broke up just after getting signed to the LCD Soundsystem-led DFA label, Twin Cities rockers Paul Sprangers and Scott Wells moved to Philadelphia for a fresh start. The results are Free Energy, their new band, which is already generating a buzz among Brooklynite hipsters thanks to the continued DFA affiliation and a couple tracks burning across the Web. Hints of Pavement still permeate the music, but the songs sound more poppy and T. Rex-ish. Their local debut features His Mischief and DJ Soviet Panda as openers. (10 p.m. Thu., Triple Rock. 18 & older. $8.) (C.R.)

Immortalized at Woodstock and in a 1969 film of the same name, Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant" is a classic talkin' blues that stretches for 18 minutes and 34 seconds. His more conventional radio hit, a 1972 version of Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans," clocks in at a mere 4 minutes 54 seconds, long by radio standards. Because he's working solo acoustic, Woody Guthrie's son can take as much time as he wants. (8 p.m. Thu. Fitzgerald Theater, $38.) (J.B.)

R&B

In a concert sure to rival Britney Spears' for dazzling spectacle, bootylicious Beyoncé will offer Sasha Fierce dancing, an all-female band, eight costume changes, all her single hits, covers of Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan, and tributes to President Obama and Michael Jackson. She's out to prove that she is the irreplaceable diva of the '00s. Opening is Solange, Beyonce's Diana Ross-loving little sister. (7 p.m. Thu., Target Center, $37-$1,000.) (J.B.)

JAZZ

For a preview of what the ever-amazing drummer Steve Smith and his fierce and fun fusion ensemble Vital Information will dish up this week at the Dakota, check out the just-reissued 1989 recording, "Vitalive," which includes a couple great tunes that remain in the band's set lists 20 years later. Vital Information is an intense band that dares to inject a squeezebox into jazz-rock, that also is conversant with South Indian drum and vocal techniques, and that never fails to inspire and surprise in person. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun., Dakota Bar & Grill. $200-$30.) (T.S.)

The too-seldom-seen Ellen Lease/Pat Moriarty Quintet offers uncompromising modern jazz. Making the "New Thing" new again, via their own compositional savvy, the husband-and-wife team of alto saxist Moriarty and pianist Lease are compelling as both players and writers. Trumpeter Kelly Rossum matches their fire and thoughtfulness, while the muscular rhythm section of Dave Stanoch (drums) and omnipresent Chris Bates (bass) completes one of Minnesota's most cohesive, organic and underrated combos. (8 p.m. Tue., Studio Z, Northwestern Building, 275 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-755-1600. $5-$10.) (T.S.)

For his first headlining date in the Twin Cities, guitar prodigy Julian Lage is bringing a quintet with both predictable bass violin (by Peru's Jorge Roeder) and surprising cello (Aristides Rivas, of Venezuela). Now 21, with 13 years already spent in the public eye, Lage is touring in support of his long-awaited debut, "Sounding Point," on which he plays both acoustic and electric guitar, on original tunes and jazz classics ("All Blues," Lil' Darlin'"). (7 & 9:30 p.m. Tue., 7 p.m. Wed.,Dakota Bar & Grill. $12-$18.) (T.S.)

Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider and freelance writer Tom Surowicz.