Big gigs for Jan. 31-Feb.6

Last year, Trey Anastasio received a Tony nomination for co-composing the music to Pulitzer winner Doug Wright's Broadway musical "Hands on a Hardbody." And he rocked New Year's Eve with Phish at Madison Square Garden. He's back on tour with the Trey Anastasio Band, playing Phish pieces as well as solo material, including tunes from his ninth disc, "Traveler." Highlights of the 2012 album include the Zappaesque "Scabbard" and a reggae-flavored cover of Gorillaz's "Clint Eastwood." (7:30 p.m. Tue., First Avenue, sold out.) Bream

POP/ROCK

Ain't no party like a Galactic party, for real. The New Orleans funk-rock masters have made a name for themselves in the jam-band/festival realm over the past two decades, but they're also loved by funk and R&B purists in their native New Orleans. Their latest tour again features Living Colour's powerhouse singer Corey Glover, who joined on a temporary basis to record and tour with 2012's riotously fun album "Carnivale Electricos"; the chemistry stuck. Opening are '70s-flavored psychedelic funk throwbacks the Stepkids.

(9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $25.)

Chris Riemenschneider

After a 13-year hiatus, the once "legendary" Jim Ruiz finally returned last year with his album "Mount Curve Avenue," a delicious slice of loungey lazy-afternoon pop. Apparently, he's ready for another extended break. The quirky Minneapolis scene vet cooked up a story online about moving to Hamburg to take up residency at the (long-defunct) Star Club, but the truth is he's burned out after just a year of infrequent gigs. Following a pair of shows over the next two weekends, he doesn't plan to perform for at least another year. Somehow, the Star Club story makes more sense. Somewhat Fierce and Chicago's Syrup Eddies open Friday's show. (9 p.m. Fri., Kitty Cat Klub, free; 9 p.m. Feb. 7, Aster Cafe, $7.) Riemenschneider

Iowa's second most famous metal band — after Slipknot, of course, with whom they share a singer and guitarist — Stone Sour's members don't hide their faces or their love for more anthemic, hook-prone hard rock. Corey Taylor even sounds vaguely Chad Kroeger-like on the recent bash-n-pop single "Do Me a Favor," from the second of the band's well-received two-part album series "House of Gold & Bones." These guys can still thrash with the best in concert, though. Michigan band Pop Evil of "Deal With the Devil" notoriety opens with Stolen Babies. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Skyway Theatre, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Another tragedy turned into a spirited annual music fundraiser, "Turning Rebellion Into Money: A Tribute to Joe Strummer" memorializes local artist Daniel Levy (son of the Honeydogs' Adam Levy) by raising money for Free Arts Minnesota in the name of one of Daniel's favorite rockers. Among the local all-stars getting their Clash on are Adam Levy, members of the Cloak Ox, BNLX, Gabriel Douglas, James Diers, Jacob Hanson, Greg Grease, Al Church, Two Harbors and all-female tribute band Rude Girl. (8 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $8.) Riemenschneider

Six months in the planning, the Hoopsnakes are staging a ballroom reunion. Two-time cancer beater Bruce McCabe finally feels strong enough to sing as well as play his rollicking blues and boogie piano. Guitar hero Charlie Bingham and drummer Jim Novak are flying in from Florida and California, respectively, to reacquaint themselves with the joys of Minnesota winter weather. And bassist Mick Massoff, lately a long-distance trucker, is driving in from Wisconsin. The event will also feature brother Larry McCabe on trombone and seldom-seen sax man David Eiland. Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys open. (8 p.m. Sat., Medina Entertainment Center, $17-$24.) Tom Surowicz

MPR's "Wits" is not only branching out, with a recent weekend in Los Angeles and broadcasts heard on more than 100 stations, but the hipster music-comedy show has spawned a new Twin Cities band. John Munson and the Witnesses features "Wits" musical director Munson (who is also in the New Standards and Twilight Hours), singer Janey Winterbauer of Astronaut Wife, vibraphonist Steve Roehm of the New Standards, drummer Richard Medek and pedal steel guitarist Joe Savage. The Witnesses will be part of the Music in the Burbs series at a 228-seat theater in Anoka. (7 p.m. Sat., Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, 420 E. Main St., Anoka, $21-$25. 763-422-1838 or www.lyricarts.org.) Jon Bream

Her name, Yuna, and her place of origin, Malaysia, might suggest pop exotica, but the music on "Nocturnal," her second U.S. release, is acoustic pop/soul with occasional dance grooves. Think Ellie Goulding and early Norah Jones. On her debut, Yuna did a cool cover of Nirvana's "Come as You Are." The 26-year-old chanteuse's wispy, slightly jazzy voice on the breezy single "Falling" should earn her some love from Cities 97 loyalists. Opening are Jarell Perry and Shee-Rah. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Fine Line, $10-$15.) Bream

Two bands that go way back to the '60s, Crow and Badfinger, are teaming up for a benefit for the son of Badfinger bassist Mark Healey. His son was assaulted by intruders in his home in October and has racked up medical and dental bills. So Joey Molland, Minnesota's resident Liverpudlian, and his version of Badfinger — known for the early 1970s hits "Day After Day" and "Come and Get It" — will share the stage with Crow, the Minneapolis rockers known for "Evil Woman" (later covered by Black Sabbath and Ike & Tina Turner) and still featuring Dave Wagner on vocals. (7 p.m. Wed., Famous Dave's, $20.) Bream

Those in search of a ferocious new groove should check out the title track of Paul Cebar's fresh CD, "Fine Rude Thing." It packs a Joe Frazier-worthy punch. The album is a kitchen-sink cornucopia of all the things Cebar likes, from Afro-pop to ska to New Orleans to Tom Waits to Havana to George Clinton. "The Whole Thing" sports haunting rhythms from the Jamaican hills. "Might Be Smiling" is a cool techno P-Funk sing-along. And when you strip away the busy modern production, "Not Necessarily True" recalls a classic Arthur Alexander ballad. It's clear that Cebar and the band had lots of fun in the studio, aiming to live up to their new moniker, Tomorrow Sound. The results are all still rootsy and soulful and eminently danceable, but way more au courant than retro. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center, $18-$20.) Surowicz

Last time Dr. Dog played First Ave in 2012, the soulful psychedelic Philly pop-rockers turned the cancellation of the SoundTown festival into a joyous, sold-out last-minute club gig. They had so much fun, they're returning for two nights this time in support of their charmingly eccentric, semi-warped new album, "B-Room." Read an interview with co-lead Dog Toby Leaman in Sunday's Variety section.

(9 p.m. Thu. & next Fri., First Avenue, $20 Thu., sold out Fri.) Riemenschneider

HIP-HOP

While there's no shortage of local rappers alleging they've been overlooked, that worn-out shoe fits in the case of Longshot and his new David-vs.-Goliath song "The American Way." The Chicago-reared, foster-home-raised, Drake University-educated thirtysomething rapper (born Chad Heslup) moved to Minneapolis after winning a Rhymesayers demo competition and went on to be a 2011 finalist in Vita.mn's Are You Local? contest but has yet to gain wider attention. His new album, "Nothing's Gold," might be the winning ingredient. Other tracks range from the bleak and powerful personal anthems "Don't Cry" to the dizzying, Dem Atlas-guested party-starter "No Matter What," each offering echoes of Wu-Tang's and Tupac's classic bite with barking modern beats from producer Young Diamond and others. Dem Atlas opens the release party. (10 p.m. Fri., Cause Spirits & Soundbar, $5.) Riemenschneider

The kind of music that Gary Allan plays has been called hard country. It's got grit and muscle and none of the tailgating-with-hot-babes clichés that populate most songs by male singers out of Nashville. Last year, the unvarnished veteran from California put out his ninth album, "Set Me Free," featuring the rockin' blues of "Bones," the slow-burning chart-topper "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)" and the brooding single "It Ain't the Whiskey." (9 p.m. Fri., Treasure Island Casino, Red Wing, $48-$58.) Bream

Newcomer Jon Pardi lives up to his surname. His two singles, "Missin' You Crazy" and "Up All Night," had a crowd partying at the Fine Line a couple of weeks ago. He performs after the World's Toughest Rodeo. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Xcel Energy Center, $15-$78.) Bream

WORLD

Fado has been largely dominated by women — especially when it comes to exporting the traditional melancholy Portuguese music to the United States. But António Zambujo is leading a revival of male fado singers. On 2012's "Quinto," his fifth album, he blends the traditional with the innovative, incorporating elements of bossa nova and cool jazz and such unconventional fado instruments as the clarinet. In some ways, he evokes Brazilian superstar Caetano Veloso. That's a good thing. (7 p.m. Tue., Dakota, $35.) Bream

Of all the Hawaiian guitar players who have come to the fore in the renaissance of the "slack key" style, no one can dazzle listeners quite like Ledward Kaapana. His two CDs of duets with blues and world music late-great Bob Brozman, "Kila Kila Meets Ki Ho' Alu" and "In the Saddle," offer jaw-dropping, amazing technique in the service of pure musical fun. Kaapana returns with another slack key master, George Kahumoku Jr., who has also recorded with Brozman and with the late harmonica wizard Norton Buffalo. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center, $22-$25.) Surowicz