The Big Gigs: Our critics' music picks

Still best known for her appearances on Bob Dylan's "Desire" and "Hard Rain" albums, and in the unfortunate film "Renaldo and Clara," violinist Scarlet Rivera has gone on to a varied career spanning jazz-rock, world music, Celtic and New Age sounds, and working with everyone from the Indigo Girls and Tracy Chapman to Stanley Clarke and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. On her way to "Dylan Days" in Hibbing, she'll play a tune-up concert backed by old pal/songwriter Gene La Fond, and his folk 'n' rollin' band the Wild Unknown. (8:45 p.m. Thu., Cabooze. $8) (T.S.)

Heretofore an art-rock "collective" that at times tried way too hard to blur its sound, Animal Collective turned into more of a focused band with real songs on its eighth album, "Merriweather Post Pavilion," one of this year's most critically acclaimed discs. Which isn't to say the psychedelic Baltimore ensemble -- whose members also record as Panda Bear and Avey Tare -- have given up pushing the envelope. Tracks on the disc simultaneously recall "Pet Sounds," Frank Zappa, Kraftwerk and early Floyd, all of which should make for a wonderfully crazy live show. (6:30 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. All ages. $15-$17.) (C.R.)

With its fourth album "New Again" due out June 2, anthemic hard-rock band Taking Back Sunday is touring clubs to help build up hype. The CD's title reflects the Long Island, N.Y., quintet's changed lineup, with new guitarist Matthew Fazzi. Anberlin and Envy on the Coast open. (6 p.m. Tue., First Avenue. All ages. $25.) (C.R.)

Newly reformed after a seven-year hiatus, Texas' metallic alt-rockers the Toadies are best remembered from the still-heavily rotated 1995 single "Possum Kingdom" ("Do you wanna die?!") but have plenty more powerful screamers to conjure up, including quite a few from last year's CD "No Deliverance." (9 p.m. Tue., Station 4. 18 & older. $15-$17.) (C.R.)

After living in Coldplay's piano-pop shadow for two hit albums, Keane added guitar and a vintage 1980s synthesizer sound to last fall's "Perfect Symmetry," the trio's third collection of Britpop. The upshot: Frontman Tom Chaplin is playing guitar in concert -- but Keane is getting less radio play. (8 p.m. today, Myth, $32.50-$35.) (J.B.)

Since selling out the Varsity three months ago, Owatonna wunderkind Owl City (Adam Young) has continued to take flight via his MySpace-generated online buzz. The 22-year-old whiz kid recently made his debut in New York at the Bowery Ballroom, and sold out that puppy too. Meanwhile, his basement-taped, Postal Service-echoing synth-pop tracks have charted all over iTunes, and he's working on his major-label debut. Swimming With Dolphins opens. (6:30 p.m. today, Varsity Theater. Sold out.) (C.R.)

With his Stooges gigs sadly finished following the death of Ron Asheton, former Minutemen and fIREHOSE punk hero Mike Watt is back touring with a new trio called the Missing Men, which he put together with bandmates Tom Watson and Raul Morales to birth his third punk-rock opera, "Hyphenated-Man." (9 p.m. today, 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $10-$12.) (C.R.)

A cult hero in the early 1970s, Dan Hicks retired his hip, swingin' band, the Hot Licks, way too early. Having made a comeback in the '90s, Hicks has released his best album since his heyday. "Tangled Tales" is a swell combo platter of hot licks and hip attitude. Unlike his recent studio discs, this one avoids big-name guest vocalists, though some mighty musicians, including Charlie Musselwhite, Roy Rogers and David Grisman, sit in. Five of the selections are reprised from his 1994 live album "Shootin' Straight," and he offers cool covers of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and the vintage "Ragtime Cowboy Joe." (8 p.m. Sat. ,Cedar Cultural Center, $25-$30.) (J.B.)

At this point, do you want to know what Foreigner is? It's a brand name carried on by founding guitarist/songwriter Mick Jones. Singer Lou Gramm, the voice behind "Hot Blooded" and "I Want to Know What Love Is," left in 2003. Current singer Kelly Hansen (who looks like a young Steven Tyler) was with Hurricane, the current bassist used to play with Dokken, the keyboardist worked in Jimmy Kimmel's band and the saxophonist/keyboardist/guitarist toured with Aerosmith. (8 p.m. today, Treasure Island Casino, $28 & $38.) (J.B.)

Don't expect the Fall Out Boy of 2006 or '07 in concert on the Believers Never Die Part Deux Tour. You'll hear old musical favorites, but Chicago's ultimate emo rockers have added politics to their presentation with footage of AIG, Bernie Madoff and riots as well as Bono-like commentaries from Pete Wentz. Also appearing are Hey Monday, All Time Low, Cobra Starship and Metro Station, featuring Miley's brother Trace Cyrus. Fall Out Boy also will sign autographs at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Mall of America. (7 p.m. Sun., Roy Wilkins Auditorium, $36.) (J.B.)

This month's "416 Club" show is pretty enticing, as back-porch bluesers the Brass Kings, with their washtub bass and washboard ryhthm section, share a bill with Nirmala Rajasekar, local queen of the Indian veena, playing centuries-old Carnatic classical music. Caribbean music fans can also experience the debut performance of the band Soukousize, featuring singer Dallas Johnson, Congolese guitarist Siama Matuzungidi and Tony Paul on percussion. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center. $5.) (T.S.)

COUNTRY Last year at the Guthrie, Rockie Lynne, the wanna-be country star from Coon Rapids, pulled out every trick in a two-set marathon: acoustic numbers, electric tunes, even an American Legion color guard plus two Iraq War veterans. He played a medley of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and "I'll Fly Away" followed by "The Star Spangled Banner" a cappella. He told stories about growing up in an orphanage, having a hard-of-hearing dog and missing his young daughter while on the road. Maybe this time the talented but unfocused singer/songwriter/guitarist will explain what's happening with his second album since he signed with Robbins Entertainment in 2007. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Guthrie Theater, $25.) (J.B.)

JAZZ Betty Carter, who would have turned 79 Saturday, gets a birthday salute from Minnesota admirer Lucia Newell, one of the few singers equipped to pay tribute to the daring vocal improviser, whose girlish sound belied a hard-as-nails scrapper. Newell will perform some Carter originals, tell a few stories from her colorful career, and transform standards in a Betty-like fashion with hard-swinging support from pianist Chris Lomheim, bassist Terry Burns and drummer Phil Hey. (9 p.m. today-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $10) (T.S.)