Bob Dylan hasn't shown any sign of wanting to wrap up his never-ending tour, but he has displayed a penchant for keeping it interesting. His latest outing is his greatest in quite a while. They're calling it the Americanarama tour, featuring two of the most celebrated twang-rooted rock bands of the past decade, Wilco and My Morning Jacket, along with veteran American-roots-flavored British folk-rock vet Richard Thompson. Wilco and MMJ each played 12 to 15 songs apiece in the tour's first date, mostly their own fans' favorites. Dylan is still mostly playing piano on stage and has a new guitarist, Roomful of Blues co-founder Duke Robillard, who replaced Charlie Sexton. This one sounds so promising, it's worth a two-night stay in Bob's home state. (5:30 p.m. Tue., Bayfront Festival Park, downtown Duluth, $68, Ticketmaster.com; and 5:30 p.m. Wed., Midway Stadium, St. Paul, sold out) Chris Riemenschneider
POP/ROCK
Umphrey's McGee is at once a band of fun outdoor summer jammers and grittier barroom rockers, which makes the Chicago sextet a perfect fit for a parking-lot "plaza" between two biker bars. After lighting up last year's Summer Set festival, the UM crew returns for another moonlit gig between dates at Milwaukee's Summerfest and Des Moines' 80 / 30 Fest on their 15th anniversary go-round. (6:30 p.m. Fri., Cabooze Plaza, $25-$30.) Riemenschneider
After nearly a decade of playing "D4th" shows on July 4th at the club that its guitar player co-owns, mayhemic Minneapolis punk quartet Dillinger Four went ahead and turned the holiday gig into a three-night mini-fest with six different bands each night. D4 is only scheduled to play Friday alongside rowdy Texas favorites the Riverboat Gamblers, noisy Wisconsin trio Tenement, Southern Cali vets Toys That Kill and more. Saturday will feature local Epitaph label stars Off With Their Heads, '90s-era Chicago blasters Pegboy, the Arrivals (with D4's Paddy Costello on bass), In Defence and more. (7 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Triple Rock, $15/night.) Riemenschneider
Some 15 years and 2,200 shows into its career, Dark Star Orchestra is welcoming a new bassist, Skip Vangelas. He's no stranger to this Grateful Dead cover band; he filled in temporarily during 2001. DSO, which re-creates an actual Dead set list from a particular night, is more consistent than the Dead ever were — and just about as trippy. Here's hoping that they choose a gig from 1977 because the Dead's new boxed set from that year makes a strong case for it being the band's finest. (7 p.m. Fri. Minnesota Zoo, $30-$42.50.) Jon Bream
A founding member of both the Faces and Small Faces, Ian McLagan is one of rock's all-time great organists in addition to being bona-fide British rock royalty. He went on to tour with his old mate Ronnie Wood in the Stones and recorded with many other legends in the '80s. Equally cool (if not equally paying), he has spent the past two decades rocking the bars of Austin, Texas, with his Bump Band, which includes Austin vet Scrappy Jud Newcomb on guitar and carries the Faces' loose, rowdy spirit on stage. Don't miss this rare chance to see them here, especially with Curtiss A opening. (9 p.m. Fri., the Belmore/New Skyway Lounge, 25 N. 4th St., Mpls., $15-$20.) Riemenschneider
Named for a globe-shaped submarine, First Ave's first Bathysphere Festival will dive deep into the murky waters of droning psychedelic rock. Out-of-town headliners and wigged-out local rockers will be spread out between the main room and Entry each night. Night One features former Luna frontman Dean Wareham performing the music of his other old band, Galaxie 500, with his current band Dean & Britta, with opening support from Sonic Boom (of Spaceman 3), locals First Communion Afterparty (back from hiatus), Magic Castles, Pony Trash and more. Night Two offers riveting New York experimental stars A Place to Bury Strangers with spacey British vets the Telescopes, Mexican duo Lorelle Meets the Obsolete and more. (6 p.m. Fri., 5:30 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $15 nightly or $25/two-day.) Riemenschneider
Cheap Trick is one of the greatest Midwest rock bands of all time, but in recent years the Rockford, Ill., heroes have been stuck opening for lesser talents here. Twin Cities fans finally won back the "Surrender" rockers as headliners again, and in one of the most fun venues in town. Powerhouse vocalist Robin Zander still has the pipes, guitar Rick Nielsen is still equal parts fireball and cornball, and bassist Tom Peterson is still playing it cool. Nielsen's son Daxx has very capably and proudly replaced drummer Bun E. Carlos on tour. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, $65.) Riemenschneider
It's Los Regulars: Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys are teaming up again at the Minnesota Zoo. The finest Americana party band in America, Los Lobos, from East Los Angeles, fit the Minnesota Zoo probably better than any other band — and not just because they're wolves in musicians' clothing. Put it this way: They were the favorite band of longtime zoo promoter Sue McLean, who passed away this year. Los Lonely Boys, their younger counterparts from Texas, are a showy blues band of brothers who always take listeners to "Heaven." (7:30 p.m. Sun., Minnesota Zoo, $56 & $68.50.) Bream
