The Big Gigs: Our critics' music picks

POP/ROCK Ever-versatile, ever-resourceful Connie Evingson has found a perfect theme for a Valentine's concert: A celebration of the Beatles songbook called "All You Need Is Love." The local jazz star, who dazzled in 2003 with reimaginations of Lennon-McCartney songs on her excellent "Let It Be Jazz," will be joined by an all-star rock-jazz ensemble including guitarist/singer Adam Levy, bassist Gary Raynor, pianist/singer Alicia Wiley and drummer Noah Levy. (4:30 & 7:30 p.m. Sun. 2/14, 7:30 p.m. Mon. 2/15, Jungle Theater. $25. ) (J.B.)

As Halloween, Alaska succinctly put it in an e-mail that compared sound engineers to airplane captains, music fans aren't supposed to know who A Benefit for Matt Lindquist is for. You'd only notice Lindquist if he was running a show into the ground. The for-hire audio tech to numerous local bands hit his own rough patch when an H1N1/pneumonia cocktail laid him up in the hospital. An eclectic mix of his best musical passengers are playing to help pay his bills and support the Twin Cities Music Community Trust, including electro-rock faves H,A, sludge-metal duo Gay Witch Abortion, Brit-rock kings Idle Hands, Murzik, Story of the Sea, Tal Tahir and host Brother Ali. (8:30 p.m. Fri. 2/12, First Avenue. 18 & older. $10.) (C.R.)

Never Shout Never could be the next teen pop sensation. So naturally he's kicking off his national tour at the Mall of America. That's right, Never Shout Never is one guy: Christofer Drew, 18, from Joplin, Mo. Looking like Justin Bieber's cute older brother with Beatles bangs, he has been a hit on MySpace (one tune has been listened to more than 21 million times) and performed on MTV. "What Is Love," his January debut on Warner Bros., is a collection of minimalist, acoustic-guitar pop with heart-on-the-sleeve emo lyrics. He'll be back at Station 4 April 9. (2 p.m. Sat., 2/13 Hot Topic, Mall of America, free) (J.B.)

Puddle of Mudd has long since risen above its inane name to land such hard-rock radio staples as "She Hates Me," "Away From Me" and "Psycho" -- perfect stuff for an anti-Valentine's Day vibe. The grungy Kansas City metal quartet just issued its fourth album, "Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate." Cavo and Silverstone open. (8 p.m. Sun. 2/14, First Avenue. 18 & older. $22.50-$25.) (C.R.)

"Heartbeat Radio," the latest disc by cuddly Norwegian indie-pop star Sondre Lerche, merits comparisons to Andrew Bird and Sufjan Stevens with its playful, lyrical orchestral pop. Opener JBM is an indie folkie with a classical guitarist pedigree a la Jose Gonzales. (9 p.m. Wed., Varsity. 18 & older. $15.) (C.R.)

Offering more traces of the Smiths and Suede than a preppy London pub, British mope-pop band Wild Beasts finally makes it to town in support of its weirdly fascinating second album for Domino Records, "Two Dancers." The quartet is led by a falsetto-flexing frontman named Hayden Thorpe, who sings about sexual deviancy and sordid socialites with operatic, religious fervor. (9 p.m. Wed., 7th Street Entry. 18 and older. $12.) (C.R.)

Kansas City cabaret stalwart Marilyn Maye, 81, who appeared on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" 76 times, earned a glow-in-the-dark review last year from the New York Times. It said the chanteuse "came across during the nearly two-hour, 35-song show as the embodiment and summation of a brash sock-it-to-'em nightclub tradition that runs from Judy Garland through Bette Midler -- but with jazz added." (7 p.m. Wed.-Thu., Dakota, $40.) (J.B.)

After sparking a slow, steady burn among alt-country/Americana fans, Bloomington, Ill., hellraisers Backyard Tire Fire add a little more fuel with a strong new album, "Good to Be." Produced by Los Lobos' Steve Berlin, it rousingly captures the band's loose, semi-baked, Band-meets-Dr. Dog, soulful twang. Smart local country-rockers John Swardson & Get Gone open. (9 p.m. Thu., Turf Club. 21 & older. $10.) (C.R.)

COUNTRY Pretty boy Jack Ingram got his break in 2005 with the No. 1 country hit "Wherever You Are." He landed in the top 10 again last year with "Barefoot and Crazy," an Eagles-meets-Chesney summer party romp. But he's trying to get more attention for his 2009 album, the ambitiously commercial "Big Dreams and High Hopes," so he's doing a solo acoustic tour of so-called "listening rooms." (8 p.m. Sun. 2/14, Fine Line, $15-$18.) (J.B.)

Don't dismiss Trailer Choir as a novelty act. Sure, this trio is a self-conscious hoot. Big Vinny, all 372 pounds of him, can dance and do the splits. Butter, the lead singer, has a quick and charming sense of humor. Crystal adds a big voice, country harmonies and eye candy. While Trailer Choir offered an encouraging EP last (hard to argue with the hit "Rockin' the Beer Gut"), there's no word on a full-length album. Opening is Rocket Club, the Twin Cities ensemble fronted by KFAN's Chris Hawkey that has made a little radio noise with the sentimental "One More Day." (9 p.m. Thu., Cabooze, $14-$17.) (J.B.)

CHORAL/GOSPEL VocalEssence is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Witness tribute to Black History Month in high style. Guest artists Sweet Honey in the Rock, a Grammy-nominated a cappella vocal ensemble that mixes blues, spirituals, gospel, hip-hop and African chants, joins the VocalEssence Chorus and conductor Philip Brunelle for a celebration of hope, love and justice. (4 p.m. Sun. 2/14, Ordway Center. $10-$40, 651-224-4222.) (W.R.B.)

CLASSICAL Soprano Dawn Upshaw's latest collaboration with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra mixes three Bach arias, two from the "Wedding" Cantata -- think of them as an early valentine -- with two towering Hungarians: Béla Bartok and the 83-year-old György Kurtag. At the heart of the program is Kurtag's extraordinary "Scenes From a Novel," settings of sad, serene poems by Rimma Dalos, a Russian writer living in Hungary, in which the singer is accompanied by violin, bass and cimbalom, the Hungarian hammered dulcimer. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 2/12-13, Ordway Center. $11-$59, kids $5.) (L.F.)

ROOTS/BLUES Don't be surprised if there's a little extra bounce in BeauSoleil -- the great Cajun/zydeco group is playing here on Fat Tuesday, and no doubt it's partying in overdrive after the Saints' Super Bowl win. Expect a generous helping from 2009's "Alligator Purse," featuring Southern soul tunes by Bobby Charles and Julie Miller as well as the bluesy "Rouler et Tourner" and the festive "Carriere Zydeco." Bring your beads and party on. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Tue., Dakota, $20-$30.) (J.B.)

Looking for a hip upriver Fat Tuesday celebration? The West Bank Mardi Gras features the sprawling fun factory that is the Brass Messengers; the next-generation classic jazz of the Southside Aces; the amiable Americana of the Roe Family Singers, and swingin' retro accordion sounds from Patty and the Buttons. Toss in the All City Brass Band, a bottomless pot of free jambalaya, and you've got quite a party, albeit without krewes, floats or flashers. (6 p.m. Tue., Nomad World Pub, $7.) (T.S.)

Best known for working with the legendary Howlin' Wolf -- and inheriting his band -- salty sax man/singer Eddie Shaw also logged time with Muddy Waters, Magic Sam and Ike Turner. His current Wolf Gang includes guitar-playing son Eddie (Vaan) Shaw, a bandleader in his own right. (9 p.m. Fri. 2/12, Wilebski's Blues Saloon, $10.) (T.S.)

One of Delmark Records' big 2009 releases was "Hey Jodie!," an excellent old-school R&B and down-home blues disc by Chicago bar favorite Quintus McCormick. The anti-Jonny Lang, he had to wait until his 50s to make this funny, funky and fresh 15-track debut. A soulful singer who recalls the late great Earl King, McCormick gets a mighty groove going with fat guitar licks that bite and sting. (9 p.m. Sat. 2/13, Wilebski's Blues Saloon, $8.) (T.S.)

Billing itself as the "oldest jug band gathering in the known universe," and certainly the only one with the grand prize of a waffle iron, the Battle of the Jug Bands is a big fun event now in its 28th year, featuring 20 bands from four states. It's also a food shelf benefit (bring a canned good or three), a tasty pot luck supper (bring a dish to share), and an event where some band names are nearly as long as the 15-minute sets -- how about Malcom Tent and the Heptic Discharge, or the Don't Try This At Home Jug Band? (12:30 p.m. Sun., 2/14, Cabooze.) (T.S.)

A new combo on the funky jazz scene, Vital Organ nabs guest singer Sheila Raye Charles for some off-night fun. Charles happily and charmingly does many of her famous dad's hits all over the globe -- check out her YouTube duets with the remarkable Brother Ray acolyte Uros (Perry) Perich, in Slovenia of all places. Vital Organ is organist Jason Craft, guitarist Zacc Harris and drummer Pete Hennig. (6:30 p.m. Tue., Hell's Kitchen. No cover.) (T.S.)

Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider and freelancers Larry Fuchsberg, William Randall Beard and Tom Surowicz.