POP/ROCK Two early American idols, Fabian and Bobby Vee, are teaming up in a benefit for the fine arts programs at Minnetonka High School. Philly's Fabian was a 1959 teen idol on the strength of the hits "Turn Me Loose" and "Tiger" and his movie "Hound Dog Man." Vee, from Fargo, N.D., made his name the next year with "Devil or Angel" and "Rubber Ball." The longtime St. Cloud-area resident is bouncing back with this year's "Rarities: Unreleased Gems From the Capitol Vaults," featuring 60 recently unearthed songs written by the likes of Carole King, Burt Bacharach and Vee himself. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Minnetonka High School, 18301 Hwy. 7, Minnetonka, $35-$55, 952-935-7131) (J.B.)

Two of the mightiest live bands in twang-rock/alt-country, Lucero and Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit could make for the wildest, heaviest, booziest zoo concert of the summer. Memphis mavens Lucero made a successful leap to the majors last year with the soulful album "1372 Overton Park," and their punkier side is exemplified in the new announcement they'll be touring with Social Distortion this fall. Former Drive-by Trucker Isbell and his crew are reportedly prepping a new album, while their 2007 disc, "Sirens of the Ditch," remains an unsung gem. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Minnesota Zoo amphitheater. $26.) (C.R.)

It was booked as a regular Flamin' Oh's gig, then founding drummer Bobby Meide died in June of a neurological disorder. So this performance will turn into a joyous, wildly rockin' tribute to Meide, the beloved, hard basher who looked like Ringo Starr and played like Keith Moon. Revisit all those Oh's favorites from the 1970s and '80s -- "I Remember Romance," "Paradise Avenue," "I'm the Gun" and more -- with Robert Wilkinson and company. (9 p.m. Sat., Famous Dave's Uptown, $8.) (J.B.)

If you dig Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, then check out the dapilicious, Oprah-endorsed Kings Go Forth (named for a Frank Sinatra/Tony Curtis war flick). Musically, this expansive Milwaukee retro R&B revue favors Philly and Chicago over Memphis and Detroit. With three male lead singers, crisp horns and occasional Latin percussion, the 1970s soul party never stops. Their debut, the raw and righteous "The Outsiders Are Back," was released on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label in April. Bring your dancin' shoes. The Twin Cities' own horn-flavored soul-rockers Chooglin' open. (8 p.m. Sat. Cedar Cultural Center, $12-$15.) (J.B.)

With the Foo Fighters on hiatus amid Dave Grohl's stint with Them Crooked Vultures and the birth of another Grohl baby, guitarist Chris Shiflett has followed drummer Taylor Hawkins into the side-project realm, and this time it's not with his all-star punk cover band, Me First & the Gimme Gimmes. His first "serious" solo album, "Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants," features twangy, spirited Americana rock that can be filed between Son Volt and Camper Van Beethoven. He and the Dead Peasants kick off their tour here, with Ari Shine opening. (9 p.m. Sat., 400 Bar. $10. 18 & older.) (C.R.)

When original bassist Bill Keefe relocated to Switzerland, the Vibro Champs soldiered on. But when charismatic frontman Dave Wolfe took off for Texas, the band largely disappeared from the local scene. Guitarist and songwriter Al Subola, always the Champs' main creative force, formed his own quartet and started making his own CDs. Yet the red-hot rockabilly band never actually disbanded, just cooled its engines, and last year's "Mr. International" release found the Champs back in fine form -- expect to hear the bulk of those tracks at the combo's latest reunion, with the Star Chiefs opening. (9:30 p.m. Sat., Lee's Liquor Lounge. $7.) (T.S.)

Record producer, musician, filmmaker, chatterbox and now hair salon operator Chris Strouth was a cause celebre in the local news media last year when he found a new kidney via Twitter and FaceBook. Back to health and as animated as ever, Strouth has organized a cool benefit for the National Kidney Foundation, with a reasonable price tag, a rockin' lineup of bar stars, and a great title, "The Kidneys Are All Right." The all-day event's musical roster, in order of appearance, is: Faux Jean, Felonious Bosch, Starfolk, John Munson (of Semisonic and the New Standards renown), the Mighty Mofos, the Vibro Champs, Blue Sky Blackout, Fauna and BLNX. (2-10 p.m. Sun., Club Jäger, $8.) (T.S.)

If last week's Blitzen Trapper show wasn't a strong enough fix of '70s-baked, Laurel Canyon-derived psychedelic folk-rock for local Pitchfork readers, the double header with New York band Phosphorescent and J. Tillman should do the trick. Phosphorescent has produced three lovely and harmonious if a bit hippie-dippy albums for the Dead Oceans label; the best is the new one, "Here's to Taking It Easy" (see what we mean about being hippie-ish?). Fleet Foxes drummer Tillman steps out again on his second solo disc, "Singing Ax," due Sept. 14. (8 p.m. Tue., Cedar Cultural Center. All ages. $12-$14.) (C.R.)

After outstanding appearances at the Minnesota Zoo and a return engagement there pending, Chris Isaak requested to move indoors this summer. The cable-TV idol, vaudevillian cutup and rockabilly heartthrob has his reasons. Of course, the reason he's on tour is to promote 2009's "Mr. Lucky," which is suitably retro with subtle modern production touches, and this year's "Live at the Fillmore," which asserts that he is indeed a San Francisco treat in concert. Opening is Louisiana soul man Marc Broussard. (7:30 p.m. Wed., the O'Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, $29-$32.) (J.B.)

Seeing Matt Berninger teetering off the balcony, howling "Mr. November" with his mike cord stretched over fans' heads last summer, ranks up there as one of the most riveting moments at First Ave in recent years. Berninger's critically lauded, unflinchingly artful Brooklyn-via-Ohio rock quintet the National -- who also opened for R.E.M. here in 2008 -- might not be quite as explosive and animated this time around, what with the more morose and complex music on their fifth disc, "High Violet." But the record's elegance and drama should make for a different kind of mesmerizing high-wire act, especially spread out over a two-night stand. The Antlers open. (7 p.m. Thu. & 9 p.m. next Fri., First Avenue. Sold out.) (C.R.)

HIP-HOP Snoop Dogg's old 213 cohort and Dr. Dre's half-brother, Warren G never replicated the success of his 1995 hits "Regulate" and "This D.J.," but he remains an influential rapper and producer. Proof of his stature was on last year's album "The G Files," featuring guests spots by Ice Cube, Raekwon, Paul Wall and his Dogg brothers. One-man band Heatbox and local hip-hop "Fiya"-starter Toki Wright open. (10 p.m. Fri., Epic. 18 & older. $20-$30.) (C.R.)

After 25 years in the business and 18 albums, Too $hort is one rapper you can say hasn't changed much with the times or trends, for better or worse. Now 44, the Lil' John mentor and original "Hip Hop Honors" honoree from Oakland, Calif., earned as much attention for his recent arrest in Boise -- allegedly for fighting with security guards who would not let him bring underage girls backstage -- as he did for releasing his first album without longtime label Jive Records, "Still Blowin'," featuring such titles as "Checking My Hoes" and "I'm a Pimp." Yep, same ol' $hort. (10 p.m. Sun., Karma nightclub, 315 1st Av. N., $20-$40.) (C.R.)

COUNTRY/ROOTS Harmony-singing sibling acts have been a fixture of country and bluegrass from Day One. Minnesota now has its own sweethearts of roots/Americana, Sister Shaw -- Kari and Megan Shaw, sounding vaguely like two Emmylous, which is pretty darn nice. Recently they upped the family ante by adding jazz brothers Chris and J.T. Bates on bass and drums, expanding their quartet to a sextet. You can be forgiven if you haven't seen Sister Shaw yet, since their gigs are sadly scarce, but you can taste their backwoods harmony sound in a pre-gig radio appearance on KFAI-FM's "House Party" (about 5:20 p.m. Wed. on 90.3 FM, followed by concert at 7 p.m., 331 Club, free). (T.S.)

It sure sounds like a party in overdrive at this year's We Fest. Keith Urban, who combines poppy vocals with guitar-god fret work, headlines on Thursday, following the rambunctious Montgomery Gentry and rousing Randy Houser. Redneck party king Kid Rock, who has more country in him than half the Nashville pretenders on the country charts, tops the Aug. 6 festivities, with the gritty trio of Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Eric Church setting the table. Country's stadium stalwart Kenny Chesney wraps up the revelry on Aug. 7, after Dierks Bentley and Gretchen Wilson get the party started. (2:45 p.m. Thu.-Aug. 7, Soo Pass Ranch, Detroit Lakes, single day tickets start at $59, www.wefesttickets.com) (J.B.)

JAZZ Still "The Great Unknown" after dozens of releases, unstoppable guitarist Reynold Philipsek uncorks yet another album. "All the Things You Are" indeed features a solo rendition of the Jerome Kern masterpiece, but the rest of the material is original, and much of it explores Philipsek's Polish and Czech ancestry. It's a lively, lovely mix of jazz, folk and chamber sounds, including the gypsy swing gem "Beatnik Pie" and the appropriately spooky ballad "Edgar Allan Poe." The cover charge includes a free copy of the CD. (8 p.m. Sat., 318 Cafe, Excelsior. $12.) (T.S.)

BLUES Initially making her mark as a backup singer for rock stars -- notably Van Morrison, Frank Zappa and Sly Stone -- Lady Bianca has become a Bay Area blues and soul queen. First introduced to Twin Cities audiences via the Cork Marcheschi documentary, "Survivors," shot at the original Wilebski's, Lady Bianca is now back in Frogtown. In the intervening years, she's released six CDs and copped one Grammy nomination. (7 p.m. Fri., Wilebski's.) (T.S.)

Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider and freelancer Tom Surowicz.