The Big Gigs: Critic's picks for music over the next 7 days

POP/ROCK The nü-metal band that Fred Durst famously cursed out, and System of a Down and Jack Osbourne helped out in landing a record deal, Taproot recently lost its contract with Atlantic but has carried on strong with its indie release "Our Long Road Home." Local hard-rockers 3 Pill Morning and Cocaine open. (8 p.m. today, Station 4. 16 & older. $15.) (C.R.)

Danish/German alt-rock trio 18th Dye, who recorded with Steve Albini and Matador Records in the early '90s, is back with its first CD in a decade. Opener Devon Williams is a San Francisco songwriter and guitarist in Lavender Diamond who toured with Destroyer and labelmates Beirut earlier this year behind his charming Big Starry pop/rock disc "Carefree." (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $8-$10.) (C.R.)

Longtime fans of Curtiss A's John Lennon Tributes are actually happy the show is back on a weeknight. Held at First Ave every year on the night of the Beatle's murder -- going back to the year it happened, 1980 -- the shows fill up fast and can end too quickly on weekends (thanks to dance nights). There's more room to stretch out on a Monday, and Mr. A and his large, spirited and thankfully noncostumed ensemble will undoubtedly do so as they cover all eras of Lennon's career. (7:30 p.m. Mon., First Avenue. 18 & older. $12.) (C.R.)

Despite being billed as the Dakota Jazz Club, the Nicollet Mall nightspot has made room for other genres, including pop singer-songwriters. This time it's Toby Lightman, who earned a degree in broadcasting from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, before moving to New York and releasing two critically applauded albums. Her urban soulfulness has earned her opening slots with Rob Thomas, Taylor Hicks, Train, Gavin DeGraw and, for one night, Prince. (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, $15.) (J.B.)

After a summer of outdoor dates, including a rousing if rambling State Fair show, the Black Crowes are back in the clubs tearing through this year's comeback-level "Warpaint" album along with a trove of old nuggets. This First Ave gig precedes a five-night stand at the Fillmore in San Francisco, so it should be smoking, especially with the divine addition of North Mississippi All-Stars' Luther Dickinson as second guitarist. Openers Vetiver are pals of Chris Robinson and recently toured with his local chum Louris. (8:30 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. $37.50-$40.) (C.R.)

Oasis is back. No, really, the British rockers' new album, "Dig Out Your Soul," is their best in a decade, and brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher seem to be on common ground (if still feuding) after Noel was attacked onstage in Toronto this fall. They're on tour with America's own love-him-or-hate-him rock star, Ryan Adams. His new album, "Cardinology," is a dud but Adams has been putting on steadier, rockier shows with his band the Cardinals of late. Matt Costa opens. Read an interview with Noel in Sunday's Variety A+E. (7 p.m. Wed., Target Center. $37-$67.) (C.R.)

One of Disney's enduring outfits, the Cheetah Girls have made three albums and three movies. Now operating without Raven-Symone, the trio sounds like a generic Top 40 machine, playing dance-pop, sanitized soul, Latin-tinged tunes and PG hip-hop. Expect plenty of costume changes, male dancers, sugary energy and screaming tweens. (7 p.m. Thu., Target Center, $33-$43.) (J.B.)

Proving it's possible to make a big splash in bluegrass with a six-piece group including no actual Southerners (but three New York fellas), the Infamous Stringdusters have just two CDs out, yet have racked up "song of the year," "album of the year" and "best emerging artist" awards from the tastemakers at the International Bluegrass Music Association. The Nashville-based band is loaded with hot pickers. (8 p.m. today, Cedar Cultural Center. $14-$16. (T.S.)

Always an awkward fit at the Current (89.3 FM) -- but also the one thing that kept the station tied to Minnesota Public Radio's rootsy folk/country beginnings -- "The Morning Show" with Dale Connelly and Jim Ed Poole is signing off with a public grand finale featuring Greg Brown, Peter Ostroushko, Prudence Johnson, the Steeles, Brass Kings, Jerry Rau and many more. The show is free. You pay by getting up that early. (6 a.m. Thu., Fitzgerald Theatre, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul.) (C.R.)

HIP-HOP Hardcore Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy is a touring machine, making his third appearance here in less than two years. Too bad his concerts are always so short. After releasing his third LP, maybe he has enough material now to give fans a proper show. "The Recession" is surprisingly topical, as Jeezy transforms musings on the current financial crisis and the new president-elect into sweeping, vibrant street anthems. (10 p.m. today, Epic, $35-$45, 18 & older.) (T.H.)

A blow-up year should lend some extra steam to the fourth annual Doomtree Blowout. Not only did the musically loose but personally tight enclave of nine rappers and DJs finally put out their long-awaited all-crew CD -- and tour behind it -- they also issued excellent full-lengths by Mike Mictlan (with Lazerbeak) and Cecil Otter. This home-for-the-holidays show is one of the few times of the year the whole gang is all together. With P.O.S.'s calendar quickly filling in behind his upcoming "Never Better" album, it could be the only such gig for quite some time. (6:30 p.m. Sat., First Avenue. 18 & older. $10-$12.) (C.R.)

WORLD The hip young Brazilian co-op band Kassin + 2 (Alexandre Kassin, Moreno Veloso and Domenico Lancelotti) offers a deft mix of freshly minted samba and bossa sounds, liberally spiked by electronica, rock and funk. Fans of Bebel Gilberto, Seu Jorge, Marisa Monte and superstar dad Caetano Veloso will dig this stuff, as the fertile trio has worked with all of the above. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center. $18-$20.) (T.S.)

Guitar legend and jazz-rock pioneer Larry Coryell rejoins with the mighty Alphonse Mouzon -- drummer for his groundbreaking band Eleventh House -- in what should be a fiery organ trio featuring Joe Bagg, a member of the Los Angeles Jazz Collective, on Hammond B-3. (8 & 10:30 p.m. Sat., Artists' Quarter. $25.) (T.S.)

Multi-reedman James Carter returns with his own groovy organ band, anchored by two talented pals from Detroit: Hammond B-3 player Gerard Gibbs and drummer Leonard King, who appear on Carter's smokin' CD "Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge." The new man in the band is reportedly Chicago trumpeter Corey Wilkes, now making a big name for himself in the current Art Ensemble of Chicago lineup. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Dakota Jazz Club. $25-$35.) (T.S.)

Even if you don't know his name, you've heard guitar wizard John Jorgenson licks. He's been an "A list" Nashville session man (including Grammy-winning million-sellers by Bonnie Raitt and Mary Chapin Carpenter), a founding member of the Desert Rose Band and a touring sideman for Elton John. Jorgenson is also a kingpin in the gypsy jazz movement -- he cameoed as Django Reinhardt in the Charlize Theron film "Head in the Clouds" -- and that's the mode he'll be in with a swingin' acoustic quintet this weekend. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center. $12-$15.) (T.S.)

CLASSICAL Overdosing on holiday music? Seek relief from The Musical Offering, which begins its program with Joseph Haydn's "Sunrise" Quartet (Op. 76, No. 4) and ends with "Transfigured Night," Arnold Schoenberg's lone hit, in its original scoring for string sextet. Along the way come the impeccable Gallic Wind Quartet by Jean Françaix and a trio by little-known Theophile Laillet, played by some of Minnesota's finest. (3 p.m. Sun., Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, 1531 Hewitt Av., St. Paul. $8-$17. 651-523-2459 or Musicaloffering.org.) (L.F.)

HOLIDAY Josh Groban may catch him, but curly-haired soprano saxophonist Kenny G still has the best-selling modern-day Christmas album, 1994's "Miracles," along with two other holiday best-sellers and a yule compilation. After cancelling last December at Mystic Lake Casino, he promises to make good tonight. (8 p.m. today, Mystic Lake Casino, $46-$59.) (J.B.)

Twin Cities pianist Lorie Line has released "Christmas Around the World," her eighth holiday recording. It features soprano Norah Long, who has earned enthusiastic reviews for many Minnesota productions including "Naughty Marietta," "Orpheus and Euridice" and "1776." Long joins Line and her eight-member Pop Chamber Orchestra for their annual holiday tour. You know the drill: fabulous outfits, big hair, a little dancing, some comedy, pleasing piano music and lots of seasonal cheer. (3 & 8 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., 7:30 p.m. Tue.-Thu., 8 p.m. next Fri., 3 & 8 p.m. Dec. 13. State Theatre, $44-$52.) (J.B.)

His prodigious mustache doesn't have the pizazz of Lorie Line's gowns but Butch Thompson, that other Twin Cities piano institution, puts the stride as well as some New Orleans flavor and just a whole lot of heart and soul into yule favorites. His two collaborations with cellist Laura Sewell rate among the finest Twin Cities-produced Christmas CDs ever. (6 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $10.) (J.B.)

Like Line, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has a formula: Opera meets big-hair rock in holiday songs. Unlike Line, TSO is not a cult of personality. In fact, it has two touring troupes, one of which features Jeff Scott Soto, a Journey replacement singer. (3 & 7:30 p.m. Sun., Xcel Energy Center, $37-$47.) (J.B.)

The 32nd year of VocalEssence's "Welcome Christmas!" concert includes the world premiere of "El Niño de los Andes" by Ecuadorian composer Diego Luzuriaga, who won the choral group's annual carol contest in 2006. In addition to the premieres of two carols (written for French horn and chorus), the concert features traditional Christmas carols and a rousing audience sing-along. (4 p.m. Sun., Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls.; 7:30 p.m. next Fri., Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 N. 4th St., Stillwater; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Rd., Edina; 4 p.m. Dec. 14, Plymouth Congregational Church. $20-$40. 612-371-5656.) (W.R.B.)

Harry Connick Jr.'s t"What a Night" is more jazz than pop, with arrangements that might not be to everyone's taste (e.g. the overbaked "Let There Be Peace on Earth"). But while it might not rank at the top of your stocking-stuffer list, it does include four originals that are keepers, plus a nice vocal turn by his 11-year-old daughter, Kate, on a swinging "Winter Wonderland." (7:30 p.m. Tue., Orpheum Theatre, $40-$75) (J.B.)