Like last weekend's Lifter Puller reunion at the D4th block party, the local gig with the biggest buzz this weekend might be for a band that many believe ended too soon with too little recognition: Valet, which headlines the Turf Club on Friday.

Robin Kyle's warmly reverberating, lyrically instigating rock quintet is not only gigging again but also has a new six-song EP to promote, "The Truth Might Not Be Here." It's as good as anything Valet did before going on hiatus in the late-'00s, from the tensely rocking opening song "Start It Somewhere" to the gorgeous yet disturbing "100,000," which includes the EP's most classic line: "All the hip-hop artists write better than anyone else / And the indie-rock poets are falling head over heels in love with ourselves."

Rapper/poet Guante and Whatever Forever (ex-Prissy Clerks) open Friday's release party (10 p.m., $6). …

After a year of planning and six months of renovations, Vieux Carré — the new incarnation of the St. Paul jazz club formerly known as the Artists' Quarter — officially reopens under the Dakota Jazz Club's management Tuesday. Opening night will feature the new New Orleans-inspired food menu and music by up-and-comer Katia Cardenas. Jazz piano great Chris Lomheim plays there Thursday. Check for updates at the venue's Facebook page. …

The Dakota also had a hand in booking the New Standards to perform for free at St. Paul's Bastille Day celebration Saturday from 2-8 p.m., taking place on the 7th Place mall just outside Vieux Carré. Lo'Jo and the Francine Roche Trio also perform. … Monday's highly anticipated return of King Sunny Adé at the Cedar Cultural Center has been canceled, another in a long line of shows there stymied by U.S. visa delays. …

A horn-heated R&B band that falls somewhere between Mint Condition and Greazy Meal on the local music guidepost, Hustle Rose moves up to a headlining slot at First Avenue on Saturday to tout its album, "Stay Up." Singer/guitarist David Glen writes lively sex-me-up songs that sometimes sound Dan Band-ish trite, but his group's sly funk capabilities are serious business. … Speaking of Greazy Meal, the '90s grinders have booked two more reunion shows July 18-19 at the Cabooze. …

Good news for the local metal and punk scene, 93X's "Loud and Local" show returns this weekend and every Sunday at 9 p.m. Host Benjamin Raye promises tracks by Cold Kingdom, Strange Daze, Section 30, July Fighter, Capital Sons and Pinwheel for the first week back. … One of the Twin Cities' pre-eminent thrash bands of the '80s, Powermad, is about to drop its first album in 25 years, "Infinite," on Aug. 5. Hopefully guitarist Todd Haug can get away from his brewmaster duties at Surly to promote it live.