Big Gigs for Oct. 10-16: David Gray, Stereo Confession, the Pixies and much more

POP/ROCK

A cause as big as cancer research deserves two shows in one night: Kill Kancer's Killer Soiree will kick off with a VIP gala featuring the posh, jazzy reworkings of the New Standards and rising R&B/soul singer PaviElle French. Then things get down and dirty with a rare set by pop-punkers Howler, soul-rock sextet Black Diet, Afrobeat funk ensemble Black Market Brass and Runaways acolytes the Rebel Queens. (7 & 9 p.m. Fri., Mill City Nights, $10-$50, KillKancer.org.) Chris Riemenschneider

The touring Safe in Sound Festival takes over Myth's parking lot for a day of outdoor bass drops. The bill is topped by Canadian melodic dubstep/electro-house duo Adventure Club, dubstep eardrum-destroyer Excision and heavy-hitting dubstep producer Flux Pavilion. Also performing: Excision accomplice Downlink, Vegas clowns Caked Up and Terravita. (3 p.m. Fri., Myth, $44.50-$79.50, all ages. An indoor after-show follows at 11 p.m.; $20-$25.) Michael Rietmulder

It's Gershwin as you've never heard him. In "The Colors of Gershwin," Twin Cities sibling quintet the Steeles re-imagine such classics as "Ain't Necessarily So" and "Of Thee I Sing" with their own gospel, soul and jazz touches. After this weekend's premiere — three years in the making, says J.D. Steele — the Steeles will take this show on tour. (7:30 p.m. Fri. & 2 p.m. Sun., Cowles Center, $40.) Jon Bream

Stereo Confession shows off the fruits of its summer labors with "No Coast." The teenage south Minneapolis surf-punk/garage-rock band's juvenile-spirited but maturely played debut album falls somewhere between Wavves, the Black Lips and Ramones. The Current has been heavily rotating "Video Games," and there are even more fun, raucous tracks. Producer Ed Ackerson (BNLX, Polara) liked the results enough to put the record out on his Susstones label. France Camp, Some Pulp and the Bombshells open the release party. See our video profile of Stereo Confession at startribune.com/soundcheck. (5 p.m. Sun., 7th Street Entry, all ages, $5.) Riemenschneider

The Pixies have gone through two bassists, three EPs and one full-length album in the three years since we last saw them. Paz Lenchantin of A Perfect Circle has reportedly settled in nicely as fill-in for Kim Deal, who quit the celebrated Boston alt-rock band last year during recording of the album "Indy Cindy." New songs pepper the set lists, but expect cuts from all the old records. Opening band Royal Blood is a must-see newcomer with a heavy British buzz. Read an interview with Pixies leader Black Francis at startribune.com/music. (7:30 p.m. Sat., State Theatre, $45-$59.50.) Riemenschneider

Competing with the Pixies for early-'90s alt-rock lovers' attention (it's actually possible to hit both shows), the Afghan Whigs also have a new record and two new members, but are relative novices on the reunion circuit, having played only one post-reformation gig here — a thoroughly enthralling Varsity Theater set in 2012. "Do the Beast" channels the harrowing dark-soul sound that made the Cincinnati rockers misfits in the grunge era, but still sounds timeless. New York tunesmith Joseph Arthur opens. (10:30 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $30-$35.) Riemenschneider

David Bromberg is a world-class picker, with an encyclopedic knowledge of roots music and an enviable Rolodex. (He's old-school enough to use a Rolodex.) Though his singing voice is limited, it's hard to resist "Only Slightly Mad," his 2013 album featuring guitarist Larry Campbell, harmonica player John Sebastian and banjoist John McEuen. Bromberg knocks you out with such blues nuggets as "Nobody's Fault but Mine" and "Keep on Drinkin'," tips his hat to country on "Last Date" and bluegrass on "The Fields Have Turned Brown." And then he gets all sentimental on a trio of originals that close the album. Minnesota native Tom Feldmann opens with his distinctive folk-blues guitar. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, $30-$40.) Bream

On his 10th album, "Mutineers," melancholy British popster David Gray seems a tad optimistic, which seems out of character. Or at least he seems to be pursuing joy. Producer Andy Barlow of '90s trip-hop act Lamb lends a light, comforting electronica sheen. And Gray still manages to channel Van Morrison at times, which is always a good thing. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Northrop, $49.50 & $65.) Bream

Glenn Tilbrook, who wrote the music in the great power-pop duo Squeeze, goes acoustic on this year's "Happy Ending," his fourth solo effort but the first for which he wrote the lyrics. His Beatles-y ways are apparent, from the George Harrison-like guitar on "Hello There" to "Bongo Bill," which features the harmonies of his 7- and 10-year-old sons. Rootsy Georgia singer/songwriter Jefferson Grizzard opens. (8 p.m. Tue., Turf Club, $20.) Bream

The Gaslight Anthem have settled in as rock's Jersey Boys of the 21st century, with their Springsteen-flavored story songs and brawny, blue-collared anthemic punk. They're mostly playing bigger venues but stuck with First Ave here, and are bringing another band that could headline the main room, Against Me!, the reborn Florida punk quartet led by transgender newsmaker/butt-kicker frontwoman Laura Jane Grace. (7 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Delta Spirit remains one of rock's best bands-on-the-cusp, with ambitious, "OK Computer"-like sonic waves and dramatic songs but also pleasantly accessible, Beatles-y melodies. The Brooklyn-based festival vets piled on more guitars and played around with arrangements on their fourth album, "Into the Wide." Fellow New Yorkers Sacco open. (8:30 p.m. Thu., First Avenue, $17-$20.) Riemenschneider

It's too easy to compare Grieves to Macklemore. Although he happens to be a white indie-rapper from Seattle who offers sing-songy choruses and witty, catchy rhymes, the real-life Benjamin Laub has his own creative impulses, including the survival-mode concept permeating his latest Rhymesayers record, "Winter & the Wolves." Local vets Unknown Prophets, South Dakota crew Soulcrate and Seattle MC Sol also play the first night of a two-nighter, while K. Flay and MaLLy will open Saturday's all-ages show. (8 p.m. Fri., 5 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $15-$17.) Riemenschneider

Atlanta's hottest rapper, 2 Chainz stayed sizzling with last year's "B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time," the follow-up to his Grammy-nominated debut. This spring, the chain-dangling star dropped a no-charge EP, "Freebase," a sonic snack to keep his "2 Chaaaaiins!" rally cry in ears and blog posts. (9 p.m. Sat., Myth, $40-$60.) Rietmulder

Before he became a reality-TV star, Big Freedia was already well known locally thanks to several madcap tour gigs. The bounce/EDM-infused New Orleans rapper is back on the road before gearing up for another season of the Fuse series "Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce," which chronicles his life in the Big Easy as a cross-dressing, gay, hip-hop scenester — and earned a GLAAD Media Award for the way it goes about it. Grrrl Prty DJ/beatmaker Shannon Blowtorch opens. (9 p.m. Sat., Triple Rock, $16.) Riemenschneider

"Forever on the Stage" is an apt title for the new documentary about Sherwin Linton. The copiously detailed film (made by Pioneer Public TV of Appleton, Minn.) tells you everything you want to know and then some about Linton, the tireless 75-year-old veteran of more than 14,000 gigs, 26 albums and four marriages. The longtime Twin Cities resident is known for his Johnny Cash tribute show (they were good friends), the novelty hit "Santa Got a DWI" and his ability to weave a yarn in song or conversation. (Johnny Cash Tribute 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, $40; movie screening 2 p.m. Sun., Heights Theatre, Columbia Heights, $10-$15.) Bream

Righteous a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock is still going strong, celebrating its 40th anniversary. Women of substance? Indeed — and of gospel, folk, soul, blues and world music, along with steadfast social activism. Founder Bernice Johnson Reagon retired a decade ago, but two original members are in the fold (Carol Maillard and Louise Robinson) and the other two (Aisha Kahlil and Nitanju Bolade Casel) both have more than 30 years of Sweet Honey experience. Heck, even the sign-language translator, Shirley Childress, has been on board since 1981. (7:30 p.m. Thu., the O'Shaughnessy, $19-$53, 651-690-6700 or oshag.stkate.edu. Tom Surowicz

Trumpet great Roy Hargrove is used to glowing newspaper reviews, but this spring he got unwelcome publicity in the tabloid New York Post after a cocaine bust. The judge proved to be a Hargrove fan, and a sentence of two days' community service didn't make a big dent in the horn man's busy touring schedule. He returns to one of his homes away from home, ready to burn on up-tempo tunes and make you melt with ballads, with right-hand man Justin Robinson on alto sax plus a swell young rhythm section. (7 & 9 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, $30-$40.) Surowicz

Greg Herriges' splendid new album is called "Artifacts," but it could be titled "Around the World in 17 Songs." Russia, the Andes, India, France, Puerto Rico, Japan, China, Hawaii — the hometown guitar great deftly visits them all with his fingers, and some great sidemen (including Marc Anderson, John Wright and Boiled in Lead's David Stenshoel). He opens for singer and scholar Pooja Goswami Pavan, who offers a fresh take on Hindustani music, North Indian classical sounds both traditional and original. On her acclaimed 2013 CD, "In What Land's My Beloved?" she gives new life to ancient Sufi poems. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Parkway Theater, 4817 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., $15, 612-822-3030.) Surowicz

An audience favorite, principal cello Anthony Ross, takes center stage at the opening concerts of Minnesota Orchestra's monthlong Richard Strauss festival. In Strauss' tone poem "Don Quixote" Ross plays the title role, joined by principal viola Thomas Turner as his squire Sancho Panza. Andrew Litton then conducts two opera excerpts: The "Dance of the Seven Veils" from "Salome" and the enchanting and gorgeous Suite from "Der Rosenkavalier." (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Orchestra Hall, $25-$69, 612-371-5656, minnesotaorchestra.org.) William Randall Beard

This week's St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts feature the debut of world-renowned Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst. The centerpiece of the concert is the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. As part of the season-long survey of the Beethoven symphonies, he leads No. 1, the greatest symphony Mozart never wrote. The concert opens with Grieg's "Holberg Suite." (10:30 a.m. Fri., 8 p.m. Sat., Ordway Center; 2 p.m. Sun., Ted Mann Concert Hall, $10-$40, 651-291-1144, www.thespco.org.) Beard