Best concerts of the week: 5 Seconds of Summer, Twenty One Pilots, Ghostface & Raekwon and the return of Rogue Valley

Rogue Valley: After impressively issuing one album for every season in a year-long span 2010-11, this starry-night-toned Twin Cities folk-rock band was understandably spent. Frontman Chris Koza went off and made a poppier solo album, guitarist Peter Sieve toured with Jeremy Messersmith, keyboardist Linnea Mohn joined the Go 96.3 FM staff, and she and drummer Luke Anderson had a baby. They came back together with a new commitment and inspiration that shines through on their new album, "Radiate/Dissolve," full of more lush arrangements and poetic songs that demand an ornate, intimate theater for the release party. With guests the Laurel Strings, Messersmith, Chastity Brown, Nona Marie Invie and Joe Horton (8 p.m. Fri., Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, $20-$45.)

Twenty One Pilots: The Ohio duo behind the rap-rock smash "Stressed Out" and the emo reggae hit "Ride" are difficult to classify. As Rolling Stone magazine put it, the group mixes "angsty lyrics, Macklemore-style rhymes, Ben Folds-like piano pop, 311-ish reggae beats, hard-rock energy and the occasional ukulele ballad." A Twenty One Pilots concert is a trip for tweens and teens, complete with makeup, masks, banging EDM beats and a rolling hamster ball a la the Flaming Lips. (7 p.m. Fri. Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, $25-$45.)

Ted Nugent: The "Cat Scratch Fever" rocker will offer flashy guitar licks and probably some pointed political commentary. (8:30 p.m. Fri. Medina Entertainment Center, starting at $48.13.)

Marc Cohn and the Blind Boys of Alabama: The Grammy-winning piano man is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his debut album (featuring the hit "Walking in Memphis") and his 923rd performance at the Minnesota Zoo, where he has performed more than any other act. The gospel-harmonizing Blind Boys always fire up a crowd. (7:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat. Minnesota Zoo, $52-$64.50.)

Ghostface Killah and Raekwon: Two of Wu-Tang Clan's three strongest rappers, the duo paired up last summer to mark the 20th anniversary of Raekwon's revered solo debut "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx," and they're back with a new Raekwon LP to tout. (10 p.m. Fri., the Venue, 315 1st Av N., Mpls., $20-$40.)

Die Antwoord: The freaky sci-fi South African techno-rap duo had its set cut by bad weather at last year's Summer Set fest but will be safely indoors this time previewing a new album, "Mount Ninji and Da Nice Time Kid." (9 p.m. Fri., Myth, all ages, $32-$35.)

Selector Dub Narcotic: Olympia music hero Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and K Records indie-rock fame is back at it with this new synth-funk act, and his local date is a typically unique one in a church that includes a reunion set by local ambient rock faves Ice Palace and sweet harmonizers the Starfolk. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Aldrich Avenue Church, 3501 Aldrich Av. S., Mpls., all ages, $10.)

The Baseball Project: Something to cheer after the All-Star break is another local gig by this baseball-themed all-star band, led by Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate and Scott McCaughey of the Young Fresh Fellows, and featuring R.E.M.'s Twins-hating bassist Mike Mills and Minneapolis' own Linda Pitmon of Zuzu's Petals on drums. They will also appear at Sunday's Twins game. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club, $15.)

5 Seconds of Summer: Australia's contribution to the boy-band world is hitting Xcel Energy Center for the second consecutive year on July 31. Go figure. Last fall the quartet dropped its second album, "Sounds Good Feels Good," which sounds a good deal like Imagine Dragons doing Green Day. The album has yielded the hits "Hey Everybody," which has shades of recent X headliners Duran Duran, and "She's Kinda Hot," which was cowritten with the Madden twins of Good Charlotte. With One OK Rock and Hey Violet. (7:30 p.m. Sun. Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, $29.95-$79.95, ticketmaster.com)

Kiss: Kudos to Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons for deciding outstate Minnesota is worth a deuce this summer. The original duo behind the Hottest Band in the World© and their two replacement members are hitting both Mankato and Duluth on their patriot-themed Freedom to Rock Tour, for which they're very coolly hiring some U.S. war veterans as roadies. They're also employing a couple deep cuts on the tour between the all-too-standard standards. "American Idol's" Caleb Johnson opens both shows. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Verizon Wireless Center, Mankato; and 7:30 p.m. Wed., AMSOIL Arena, Duluth; $39.50-$125, Ticketmaster.com.)

Shawn Mendes: Despite touring with a band and covering songs by the likes of Drake and Rihanna, the 17-year-old Canadian is a singer-songwriter at heart. The "Stitches" hitmaker sings mostly about love found and lost, but his new single, "Treat You Better," addresses domestic abuse. (7:30 p.m. Tue. Roy Wilkins Auditorium, $40. )

Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle: Both Grammy-winning singer-songwriters have built lofty reputations and admirable repertoires over the years. Their 2016 collaboration album "Colvin and Earle" is stronger on the songwriting than the harmonizing, though they connect on covers of "Tobacco Road," "Ruby Tuesday" and "You Were on My Mind." (7:30 p.m. Tue. Minnesota Zoo, $48-$60.50.)

Bettye LaVette: No R&B singer performs with such full-bodied, soul-purging emotion. She's one of a kind, with remarkable interpretations of such diverse songwriters as Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton and the Who. (7 p.m. Thu. Dakota, $42-$47.)

Ray LaMontagne: Forget those Van Morrison comparisons. On this year's Jim James-produced "Ouroboros," this whisperer channels the trippy psychedelia of Pink Floyd. His touring band features members of My Morning Jacket. (7:30 p.m. Thu. State Theatre, $69-$83.)