Thursday, Sept. 29
1. Amyl & the Sniffers: After clips of their packed, rowdy show at the Fine Line in May were widely shared on social media, the buzz is strong enough for this Australian punk throwback band's quick return to town to take on the Mainroom. Frontwoman Amy Taylor is part Wendy O. Williams and Bon Scott, while the group's newest album, "Comfort to Me," cleans up and metallicizes their Stooges-meets-Motorhead sound just enough to not be too much. British rap/rock duo Bob Vylan opens. (8 p.m. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., $30, axs.com)
Also: An EDM/trance music supergroup of sorts featuring three stars of Berlin's electronic music scene, Moderat is playing one of its first U.S. shows here in support of its album, "MORE D4TA" (8 p.m. Palace Theatre, $35-$50); Detroit pianist BLKBOK (pronounced Black-Bach) mashes up hits by Cardi B, Lizzo and others with classical stylings (7 p.m. the Dakota, $30-$35); Minneapolis songbird Connie Evingson salutes the awesomeness of autumn with tunes about fall, accompanied by pianist Andrew Walesch (7 p.m. Crooners, $20-$30); St. Paul finger-picking guitar wiz Pat Donohue returns with the Prairie All-Stars (7:30 p.m. Belvedere tent at Crooners, $20-$30).
Friday, Sept. 30
2. Jack Harlow: The curly-haired Rolling Stone cover boy is on the verge of being the hottest rapper in the game. Playing straight man on Lil Nas X's "Industry Baby" landed Harlow at No. 1 for the first time. He reached those heights again this year with his own "First Class," boosted by a sample of Fergie's "Glamorous." On his sophomore album, "Come Home the Kids Miss You," Harlow gets plenty of help from famous friends including Lil' Wayne, Justin Timberlake and Drake, whose nonchalant flow is the inspiration for Harlow's style. The quality of his content has been questioned ("cold like the Minnesota Vikings at home"), but he's become a bona fide star, set to appear in a remake of the film "White Men Can't Jump." With City Girls. (7:45 p.m. the Armory, 500 S. 6th St., Mpls., $72 and up, ticketmaster.com)
Also: Folky shaman turned elegant rock balladeer Father John Misty settles in for a two-night stand behind his ornately orchestrated album "Chloe and the Next 20th Century" with opener Suki Waterhouse (8 p.m., also Sat., Palace Theatre, $45-$75); Korean rapper/singer DPR Live lands in Minneapolis (8 p.m. Fillmore, $85 and up); Sweden's ultra-intense death-metal band Meshuggah is touring with its first album in six years, "Immutable," with openers Torche and Converge (7 p.m. Myth in Maplewood, $42); California's vintage swing revivalist band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is nearing its 30th year and still popular on the road (7:30 p.m. Fitzgerald Theater, $40); Australia's cult-loved electronic rock duo the Avalanches went 15 years before releasing their second album but now have a third to promote, "We Will Always Love You" (8 p.m. Varsity Theater, $25).
Saturday, Oct. 1
3. Rodney Crowell: One of Texas' most poetic and penetrating songwriters has been diagnosed with dysautonomia, a nerve disease that sometimes slows him down. It didn't stop him from delivering last year's aptly titled "Triage," a low-key, reflective album about mortality, sin and redemption. Highlights include the dark, Dylanesque "Something Has to Change," the blues shuffle "I'm All About Love" (in which he mentions Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Greta Thunberg, Jessica Biel and the devil all in one stanza), and the graceful "Hymn #43," cowritten with John Leventhal, husband of Crowell's ex, Rosanne Cash, who sings backup. Crowell is trying to heal the world — and himself. (8 p.m. Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, $29-$44, hopkinsartscenter.com)
Also: The West Bank Block Party on the plaza outside the Cedar will feature an eclectic group of globally influenced local acts including Fanaka Nation, Deeq Abdi, the Hoka-Hey Singers, Jada Brown and a DJ-ing Lady Midnight (2-6 p.m. Cedar Cultural Center, free); Israel-based Ethiopian singer Gili Yalo, who's gaining a buzz in international circles with his funky, jazzy sounds, performs later at the Cedar Cultural Center with local show band Fanaka Nation (8 p.m., $20-$25); Lydia Liza, Bethany Larson and Cassandra Cole make a promising triple bill of gifted, young, local singer/songwriters (10 p.m. 331 Club, free); one of California's first and best skater-punk bands Agent Orange play their COVID-rescheduled date with the Toxenes and Silent Treatment (7 p.m. Hook & Ladder outside, $20); New Orleans Americana crew the Deslondes features former members of Hurray for the Riff Raff (9 p.m. Turf Club, $15-$18).
Sunday, Oct. 2
4. Ringo Starr: The 82-year-old Beatles drummer will spread his message of peace and love with a little help from his friends Edgar Winter, Toto's Steve Lukather, Men at Work's Colin Hay, Average White Band's Hamish Stuart and others. This is the 15th incarnation of His All-Starr Band, a live classic-rock jukebox that will play "Free Ride," "Rosanna" and such Beatles classics as "Yellow Submarine" and "Octopus' Garden." Never one to sit still, Ringo this month dropped "EP3," his third EP in 18 months, this one featuring the Linda Perry-penned "Everyone and Everything," about kindness and tolerance. (8 p.m. Mystic Lake Casino, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. NW, Prior Lake, $89-$249, ticketmaster.com)
5. Zach Bryan: Just over a year since leaving the U.S. Navy due to pursue a booming music career, this Oklahoma country singer has turned into one of music industry's best success stories of the year. His largely acoustic 34-track debut album, "American Heartbreak," went to No. 5 on the Billboard charts riding the backs of songs he posted online from a naval base. His slicker nine-song follow-up, "Summertime Blues," shows more of an Isbell/Sturgill country-rock bent and is adding to the demand on his largely sold-out coming-out tour. (7 p.m. Surly Brewing Festival Field, 520 Malcolm Av. SE, Mpls., sold-out)