The Big Gigs: Our critics' music picks

After delivering a trunkful of memorable songs with the Drive-by Truckers, Jason Isbell had no trouble finding traction in his solo career. The Alabama-bred country-rocker already has two strong albums under his belt and a backing band (the 400 Unit) that matches the Truckers' intoxicating energy on stage. They usually do many of the DBT songs, and rightfully so. Soul-metal trio Earl Greyhound makes for a great opener. (9 p.m. today, Turf Club, $12-$14.) (C.R.)

Last seen opening for Ozzy on Halloween 2007, Rob Zombie is leaving his director's chair and returning to the road on the "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" tour, promising plenty of Halloween-like gory fun for 93X's annual Butterball concert. Ghoulish psychobilly bands Nekromantix and Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures should make for fun openers; the latter group was seen in Zombie's "Halloween 2" flick. (7:30 p.m. today, Roy Wilkins Auditorium. $40.) (C.R.)

One of the few local stars who can (and does) bounce between the State Theatre and the 400 Bar for gigs, Mason Jennings is probably best-suited in the middle-ground territory at First Ave, this time in support of his bold new album, "Blood of Man." More than just Jennings' "plugged in" disc, the album piles on the distortion without sacrificing intimacy or evocative lyrics. Actually, songs like "Pittsburgh" and "The Field" are his most harrowing ever. Opener Nathanial Rateliff is a young Denver songwriter newly signed to Rounder Records. (7 p.m. Sun., First Avenue. All ages. Sold out.) (C.R.)

The Brian Setzer Orchestra's seventh annual Yule trek will feature holiday nuggets (collected on his swingin' new "Christmas Rocks") and a few tunes from Setzer's new, Minneapolis-recorded CD, "Songs From Lonely Avenue," as well as Stray Cats favorites. Read an interview with Setzer in Sunday's Variety A+E. (7 p.m. Sun. Mystic Lake Casino. Sold out.) (J.B.)

The name the Galactic Cowboys Orchestra should be the first clue of the wonderfully jumbled-up musical styles at work in this new band of Twin Cities vets, led by guitar guru Dan Neale and featuring his bandmate in Martin Zellar's old group, violinist Lisi Wright, plus bassist John Wright (Lehto & Wright) and drummer Mark O'Day (Willie Murphy). Their all-original, all-instrumental debut disc, "Lookin' for a Little Strange," varies wildly from Zappa-esque jazz-rock to Celtic folk to rustic hillbilly jamming, but somehow sounds coherent. The Pat Donohue Band opens their release party. (7 p.m. Sun., O'Gara's Garage. $6.) (C.R.)

A hip, hazy electronic-rock duo from London, the Big Pink resembles this year's version of MGMT, in large part because it's a twosome on record that expands to a full band on tour, but also because of its record's psychedelic-dance qualities. The band's debut, "A Brief History of Love," also boasts a charming if derivative Britrock sonic pastiche, as heard in the Verve-echoing, Current-spinned single "Dominos." No surprise the show sold out fast. Read more on the Big Pink in Sunday's Variety A+E. (9 p.m. Wed., 7th Street Entry. Sold out.) (C.R.)

This year's seventh annual night-before-Thanksgiving gig by the Ike Reilly Assassination is doubling as an album release party. Reilly has been hyping the new record, "Hard Luck Stories," with a series of online video clips co-hosted with his burdensome banker. Their faux-show even has a name: "Where's My Goddamn Medicine?" Looks like the Libertyville, Ill., rocker hasn't lost his sharp wit and keen eye for characters in these hard times. Pop-punk faves the Magnolias and Martin Devaney's Crossing Guard open. (8:30 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. $12-$15.) (C.R.)

The 10-month-old Burnsville Performing Arts Center has struggled. After canceling a George Jones show, the 1,000-seat theater has turned to a more contemporary country star, Phil Vassar, the energetic piano man who has been trying to jump-start his career since his 2007 hit "Love Is a Beautiful Thing." He'll preview songs (including the aggressive ballad "Everywhere I Go" ) from his forthcoming album, "Travelin' Circus." (7:30 p.m. Sat., 12600 Nicollet Av. S., Burnsville. $37.75.) (J.B.)

What do jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny have in common? Drum master Roy Haynes played with all of them. The 84-year-old marvel is still making new friends with his nonstop drive and epic solos as he rides herd on the fresh-faced and fantastic Fountain of Youth Band, co-starring pianist Martin Bejerano, saxman Marcus Strickland and Wisconsin-bred bassist John Sullivan. (8 & 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $25-$30.) (T.S.)

Ingo Bethke is a young jazz sextet with a weird name, an unusual front line (tuba, saxophone, trumpet) and a kitchen sink repertoire. Its self-titled debut CD confidently covers acres of interesting ground -- post-bop, free jazz/improv, funk grooves, an Israeli folk song, mini-big-band passages, a bit of wack poetry and a 12-minute opening track that starts off with what sounds like happy, hip circus music. Is there such a thing as restless brain syndrome? These guys seem to have it, along with lots of fun. (11:30 p.m. Sat., Dakota Jazz Club. $5.) (T.S.)

Coming up with what would have been a slick concept 15 years ago, the JazzMN Big Band showcases "The Three Tenors" -- namely, outstanding hometown saxophonists Dave Karr, Dale Mendenhall and Pete Whitman. No arias, just lots of sax appeal. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center, 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Minnetonka. $17-$27.) (T.S.)

Nichola Miller established herself as a swingin' young singer of charm and promise playing to the tattooed dancing set at Lee's Liquor Lounge a few years ago. Now back after biting the Big Apple, she's recording a live album that co-stars piano magician Rick Carlson and his quartet. (7 p.m. Sun., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)

Chicago soul singer extraordinaire Otis Clay's latest CD is a funky 2008 gospel affair, "Walk a Mile in My Shoes," featuring top musicians from the Windy City and Memphis, a medley of Soul Stirrers classics and a live duet with Carla Thomas on the always inspirational "If I Could Reach Out and Help Somebody." Still in terrific voice at 67, Clay will treat you right and do a slew of his Hi Records gems, as well. (8 p.m. today-Sat., Dakota Jazz Club. $25.) (T.S.)

A cool music-driven church in St. Paul that became a record label, the House of Mercy team didn't have to change its tune much to come up with a terrific kids CD, "The Youngster Parade." Its 18 Americana/folk-flavored tracks range from sure-fire classics such as "Oh Susanna" and "Crawdad Song" to a bevy of fun and often touching originals, delivered by local busybodies such as Dan (Daddy Squeeze) Newton, Bunny Clogs (the Honeydogs' Adam Levy), Dan Israel, Donna Simpson (the Waifs), Jon Rodine and CP Larson, many of whom will be on hand for a family CD-release party. (10 a.m. Sat., Ginkgo Coffeehouse, 721 N. Snelling Av., St. Paul. Free.) (C.R.)

Rubber-faced two-time Grammy winner Bill Harley sneaks in tasty folk 'n' blues guitar licks while charming tots with such songs as "Grownups Are Strange" and the audience participation favorite "Echo." It's a show for the PBS/NPR/Minnesota Parent crowd -- just one man, six strings, not much hair, but lots of stories. (11 a.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center. $5-$15.) (T.S.)

Along with John Fahey and Leo Kottke, Peter Lang was one of Takoma Records' "Big 3" triumvirate of "American primitive" guitar masters. Lang remains a great if underexposed picker, a natural storyteller, a pretty good blues singer and a booking coup for the intimate coffeehouse/wine bar he visits this weekend. (8 p.m. Sat., Riverview Cafe, $12-$15.) (T.S.)

It may be the most important thing the Minnesota Orchestra does. "Future Classics," conducted by Osmo Vänskä, is the culmination of the orchestra's annual Composer Institute, directed by Aaron Jay Kernis and mounted in conjunction with the American Composers Forum and American Music Center. This year's concert features seven emerging composers from as close by as Iowa and as far away as Spain and Hong Kong. It's the best way I know to spot tomorrow's compositional trends today. (8 p.m. Sat., Orchestra Hall. $12-$40.) (L.F.)

For its Bridges show this year, the Minnesota Chorale goes intergenerational, performing with the Minnesota Youth Chorus, a free after-school program for fourth- to eighth-graders from Minneapolis. The mentoring relationships between the young singers and adult chorale members is the focus of a concert that includes a new song for the occasion by Stephen Paulus. Another new song was created by five MYC members in a composition workshop. (7 p.m. Sat., St. Olaf Catholic Church, 215 S. 8th St., Mpls. $10-$18. 952-930-5100.) (C.P.)

Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream, Chris Riemenschneider and Claude Peck, and freelancers Tom Surowicz and Larry Fuchsberg.