Big Gigs for May 1-7: Death Cab, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Trampled by Turtles, Tech N9ne

A lot happened in the four years that Death Cab for Cutie went between albums, including frontman Ben Gibbard's divorce from actress Zooey Deschanel, the reformation of his cult-adored electro-pop band the Postal Service and the departure of co-founding Death Cab guitarist Chris Walla from the band. All of that seems to play out in one way or another on the new record, "Kintsugi," an unhappy album even by Death Cab standards, but one that refreshingly explores new sonic territory. The three remaining members and two pick-up players round out the new touring lineup. Dramatic Brooklyn rockers the Antlers add some excitement as openers. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Northrop, sold out.) Riemenschneider

It's hard to argue with the high-revving, 2½-hour-plus chug-athons they usually turn in at First Avenue, but Drive-by Truckers are promising something different this time around. The kings of modern Southern rock are a few weeks into their Dirt Underneath Tour, a "Storytellers"-type show that involves chairs, acoustic instruments and stage banter along with deeper-reaching set lists. Frontmen Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley both spin some pretty good yarns. This should be a good test of their band's tight threading, too. The shows are split into two sets, so no opening act. (9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $22-$25.) Chris Riemenschneider

With their Cajun- and swing-infused brand of folky Americana rock, New Orleans upstarts Hurray for the Riff Raff stole more than a few hearts in the afternoon sun last September at Trampled by Turtles' Festival Palomino. They should sound equally warm inside the Cedar. Singer/songwriter Alynda Segarra went on to earn year-end praise from NPR and others for her elegantly haunting song "Body Electric" — which flipped traditional folk music's knack for harming women on end. Juno-nominated Canadian alt-twanger Daniel Romano opens. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, sold out.) Riemenschneider

For last year's "Songs for the Movie," Mary Chapin Carpenter rerecorded some of her tunes accompanied by a 63-piece orchestra and 15-voice choir (arrangements by Grammy winner Vince Mendoza). It makes for rich listening but I'm not sure if it enriches one's appreciation of the songs. Carpenter is not traveling with an orchestra or a choir, but set lists from the tour suggest that she's surveying her career, including all those catchy country hits — "Passionate Kisses," "I Feel Lucky," "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" — that made her rich and famous in the 1990s.(7:30 p.m. Sat., State Theatre, $46.50-$56.50.) Jon Bream

Trampled by Turtles has already been to both coasts and many points in between on tour this year. But the high-energy acoustic pickers are storing up demand back home in Minnesota for a couple of big gigs in the second half of the calendar, including another Bayfront Festival Park love fest on July 11 and the Sept. 19 return of their Festival Palomino. They're sliding in one underplay gig for Twin Cities fans to tide them over. Hazy local trio Web of Sunsets is highly recommended as the opener. (9 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

"I'm not bossy / I'm the boss," Speedy Ortiz frontwoman Sadie Dupuis rightfully clarifies on her band's killer new album, "Foil Deer." The record makes good on the buzz her Massachusetts quartet has been building on tour in recent years with its hard-blasting, '90s-flavored fuzz-rock. Dupuis in particular steps up as an intriguing bandleader, with traces of Liz Phair's drollness and Chrissie Hynde's melodic snarl. Fellow East Coasters Krill and Two Inch Astronaut open with locals Bitter Canon. (8 p.m. Sat, 7th Street Entry, $12-$14.) Riemenschneider

Fans of the British 2 Tone ska movement of the late 1970s/early '80s know the story: English Beat has splintered into two versions. Singer/guitarist Dave Wakeling stayed with the English Beat and singer Ranking Roger fronts the Beat. Wakeling's group will reprise the dance-happy hits "Mirror in the Bathroom," "Tears of a Clown" and "Can't Get Used to Losing You." (7 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Dakota, $35-$40.) Bream

Katie Crutchfield's breakout sophomore album as Waxahatchee, 2013's "Cerulean Salt," established her as one of the most adroit and devastating lyricists in indie rock. April's "Ivy Tripp," the anticipated follow-up LP issued via Merge Records, was recorded mostly in solitude amid a breakup with her boyfriend/musical collaborator. The resulting 13 tracks are rooted in the same melancholy grunge-pop that marked the young Alabama native's previous effort, but "Ivy" covers much more sonic ground — from the abrasive minimalism of "Breathless" to the Rilo Kiley-ish pop of "La Loose" to the crushing piano balladry of "Half Moon." Crutchfield's undeniable talent shines throughout. Buzzy L.A. guitar-bass duo Girl Pool opens. (8:30 p.m. Wed., Triple Rock, $12.) Jay Boller

Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere won't be there. But most of the rest of the cast from the ABC country-music soap "Nashville" will be in concert — as themselves, not as Deacon, Scarlett and the like. Chip Esten, Clare Bowen, Aubrey Peeples, Chris Carmack, and Lennon and Maisy Stella are on board. They'll offer songs from the show and soundtrack albums as well as some of their own material. They've got a top-notch band, featuring guitarist Colin Linden. Read an interview with Esten in Sunday's Variety. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Northrop, $38-$68.) Bream

Best known as an esteemed producer for his work with U2, Bob Dylan and Peter Gabriel, Daniel Lanois is also a recording artist. Last year's "Flesh and Machine" was an all-instrumental, electronic excursion that was part ambient, part 1990s movie soundtrack. Music from the disc — delivered by guitarist/keyboardist Lanois, terrific drummer Brian Blade and multi-instrumentalist Jim Wilson — will be the focus of Lanois' concert, but he also plans to play some more familiar numbers. Opening is Rocco DeLuca, whose latest album was produced by Lanois. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center, $20-$25.) Bream

When they ended a six-year drought of Twin Cities gigs with a lengthy and surprisingly visceral Fitzgerald Theater show in 2013, Scottish troubadour Mike Scott and his veteran folk-rock band the Waterboys clearly weren't gearing back up for a stroll down memory lane. They've since issued a strong new album, "Modern Blues," with traces of the Celtic-flavored melody-making of their classic 1988 album "Fisherman's Blues," but also some harder-rocking gems and heart-tugging soul ballads. Opening band the BlueBonnets features Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's and Gary Clark Jr.'s old jamming partner Eve Monsees. (8 p.m. Thu., First Avenue, $30.) Riemenschneider

After playing an acoustic songwriter showcase at the Dakota last year with his buddy Joe Ely, Texas music giant Alejandro Escovedo returns with his full band, the Sensitive Boys. They kicked off their tour at Jazz Fest in New Orleans last weekend and sounded very ready to go a month earlier at South by Southwest, balancing the elegant, baroque side of Escovedo's 30-year discography with his punk and glam-rock leanings. He might be the first Dakota performer who can brag about opening for the Sex Pistols. (7 p.m. Thu., Dakota, $38-$45.) Riemenschneider

Between last year's serious, stern single "Fragile" with Kendrick Lamar and this year's wild new one "Hood Go Crazy" with B.o.B. and 2 Chainz, Kansas City indie-rap hero Tech N9ne has edged pretty close to the mainstream. He's still doing things his way in concert, though, with his ever-present white face paint and a new live backing band. He returns to Myth with a mini-fest-like tour lineup including Slug's Felt partner Murs, Chris Webby and Krizz Kaliko. (7 p.m. Thu., Myth, all ages, $35.) Riemenschneider

"Hornet's Nest," Joe Louis Walker's 10th album of this century, is a real barnburner. The San Francisco blues guitar vet with the rough and ready voice tears it up on the Rolling Stones' "Ride On, Baby," the classic "Don't Let Go" and the title track, which he wrote. Determined to turn Minneapolis' swanky downtown club into a roadhouse, Walker is one veteran bluesman who knows how to rock you all night long. (8 p.m. Fri., Dakota, $25.) Bream

Adam Kolker is a near-ideal guest to sit in with the Chris Bates Good Vibes Trio. With a configuration of vibraphone (Dave Hagedorn), drums (Phil Hey) and bass (Bates), the Trio offers lithe, often dazzling rhythmic gymnastics but relatively limited texture and tonality. Kolker is adept on flute and a variety of reeds, with a recent concentration on tenor sax. He has won plaudits from DownBeat magazine for his interpretations of Béla Bartók and been nominated for Grammys playing with Latin conguero Ray Barretto. He'll slot an appearance with Good Vibes on Saturday between big-band dates as a visiting artist at St. Olaf on Friday and Sunday. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Jazz Central Studios, 407 Central Av. SE., Mpls.) Britt Robson