Twin Cities concerts of the week: Ratt at Treasure Island, Poliça & Spank Rock at First Avenue

Robert Ellis: The Houston-reared country/folk troubadour's eponymous fourth album was one of the best Americana records of 2016. Singed by a bad breakup, he conversely lightened up his dark Southern gothic writing style with lovely, Calexico-like borderland instrumentation. He's playing a special "seated" show with opener Jenny O, whose new album was produced by Father John Misty's main guy Jonathan Wilson. (9 p.m. Fri. Turf Club, $15.)

Dead Man Winter: Trampled by Turtles frontman Dave Simonett touts his second album by his rockier solo act, a barbed personal LP titled "Furnace," with opening sets by Erik Koskinen and the Pines. (8 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $20.)

Poliça & Spank Rock: A couple months before they open for New Order in California, electro-pop siren Channy Leaneagh and her pulsating band are bringing a special act home for a rare local set to help celebrate their fifth anniversary. Baltimore's sonically daring, lyrically lecherous rapper Spank Rock is a hard one to peg, between his assorted collaborations with everyone from Mick Ronson and Boys Noize to the Avalanches and his own scattershot recordings, including the new EP "The Upside." He's easy to love in concert, though. Taskforce also performs. (9 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, Mpls., $25, eTix.com.)

Ratt: Eighties metal is the new gold at casinos, it seems, especially with this latest booking featuring two of the most troubled but resilient bands in the genre. Ratt's latest lineup finds singer Stephen Pearcy back out front with original guitarist Warren DeMartini by his side plus a well-known new-ish member, ex-Quiet Riot slinger Carlos Cavazo. The "Round and Round" hitmakers are paired with a less-enticing version of "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" rockers Great White, led by guitarist Mark Kendall with a new singer. (8 p.m. Sat., Treasure Island Casino, Welch, $31-$51, Ticketmaster.com.)

Gladys Knight: In 2009, Knight did a U.K. farewell tour. But she's far from the retiring type. The Empress of Soul put out an album, "Where My Heart Belongs," in 2014. She has toured regularly and appeared in a few movies, including last year's "Almost Christmas" with Danny Glover and Gabrielle Union. With such classics as "Midnight Train to Georgia," "If I Were Your Woman" and "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me," Knight has a top-shelf repertoire of pop-soul. (8 p.m. Sat. Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, $54-$69, mysticlake.com)

Maceo Parker: He graced the stages with James Brown for many years and with Prince for several years. Now the veteran saxophonist will funk up a Minneapolis stage with his own band. (7 & 9 p.m. Mon. Dakota, Mpls., $25-$50, dakotacooks.com)

Shirley Caesar: When she takes to the stage, it's hard to tell where the preaching ends and the singing begins. Because with the first lady of gospel, they're one and the same. She's always testifying to the Lord, as she does on her latest, the Grammy-nominated "Fill This House," which features guest turns by soul man Anthony Hamilton and gospel great Hezekiah Walker. At 78, Caesar shows no sign of slowing down. Say "Amen!" With Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Beverly Crawford. (7 p.m. Thu. Orpheum, Mpls., $44-$74, ticketmaster.com)

Martina McBride: She still has those powerful pipes that launched "Independence Day" and "A Broken Wing." (Thu. State, Mpls., $49.75-$89.75, ticketmaster.com)

Noname: She does have a name, Fatimah Warner, and made for a name for herself locally at last year's Soundset festival. Now she's a hot commodity thanks to her affiliation with fellow Chicago hip-hop star Chance the Rapper and her jazzy but edgy new album, "Telefone." (8:30 p.m. Sun., 7th Street Entry, sold out.)

Japandroids: Fans of this high-adrenaline Vancouver roar-rock duo are rejoicing now that its first album in five years, "Near to the Wild Heart of Life," has finally dropped — and especially now that rumors of the band mellowing out proved very untrue. Singer-guitarist Brian King did let middle-age and Springsteen-esque writing seep into the album, but the live show should still hit like a monsoon. Edina-reared Craig Finn of Hold Steady fame opens the show with his Uptown Controllers previewing a new album, "We All Want the Same Things." (9 p.m., First Avenue, Mpls., $20, eTix.com.) Riemenschneider

Run the Jewels: Probably Bernie Sanders' unlikeliest ally in last year's presidential campaign, RTJ's lead boomer Killer Mike returned more fiery, fast and furious than he has ever sounded before on "Run the Jewels 3," another dazzling collaboration with fellow rapper and wizard producer El-P. The duo enlisted the likes of Zack de La Rocha and Beyonce collaborator Boots to make things even more madcap on the record. They have no trouble captivating a crowd on their own, too. The Gaslamp Killer, Gangsta Boo, Nick Hook and Cuz open. (8 p.m. Tue., Myth, Maplewood, all ages, $30, eTix.com.)