Concerts this summer

POP/ROCK Between solo shows and performances with the Hardways, Martin Zellar is squeezing in two outdoor Gear Daddies gigs this summer, including Aug. 23 in their hometown of Austin. In the late '80s and early '90s, the Gear Daddies were Minnesota's most popular party band, with Zellar's slices of Americana heart and soul buoyed by a group that was less rambunctious than its audiences. Opening is Charlie Parr, the most exciting Minnesota acoustic bluesman to emerge in decades. (7:30 p.m. today, Weesner Family Amphitheater, Minnesota Zoo, $48.) (J.B.)

Nine Inch Nails often goes five years between records, which is one reason it's so surprising that Trent Reznor's harrowing industrial-rock band already has two albums to its name this year. Other surprises: Reznor released both online for free; one ("Ghosts I-IV") is entirely instrumental, and the other ("The Slip") is widely regarded among the group's best. Guns N' Roses team members Robin Finck and Josh Freese are back on board for this tour, which lands at Lollapalooza a day after Minneapolis. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Target Center. $47.50-$39.50.) (C.R.)

Any attention given to the Warped Tour's new local location or its extra-punky lineup this year is now on the back burner behind Katy Perry's Twin Cities debut. The cute and coy California pop singer, 23, signed onto the tour before her saucy "I Kissed a Girl" blew up to the top of the charts and became the song of the summer. At least Perry is a colorful addition to the usual mix of male aggression, including Perry's boyfriend's group, Gym Class Heroes, and the must-see punk band of the last half-decade, Against Me! The day-long lineup includes local power-poppers Motion City Soundtrack, the Blink-182 offshoot Angels and Airwaves, plus All That Remains, Reliant K, Pennywise, The Academy Is... and dozens more. (Noon Sun., Canterbury Park, Shakopee. $32-$35.) (C.R.)

Another in the cavalcade of male/female duos, England's Ting Tings have one of the summer's most infectious songs, the '80s-evoking "Shut Up and Let Me Go" (featured in an iPod commercial). Also watch out for "That's Not My Name," the duo's No. 1 smash in the U.K. In a role reversal of the White Stripes, the star singer/guitarist is the female (Katie White) while drummer Jules De Martino takes a back seat. Solid Gold opens. (6:30 p.m. Mon., Varsity Theater. Sold out.) (J.B.)

Los Lobos doesn't need a new album to do a tour, though David Hidalgo and Louie Perez have the singer-songwriter collection "Unreleased Songs and Rare Recordings" available. For three decades, this East Los Angeles group has been one of America's most invigorating, diverse and best live bands. For their Brotherhood Tour, these Minnesota Zoo favorites are joined by Texas' Los Lonely Boys, who last month released their third album, "Forgiven," which is more of the same blues, rock and soul with occasional Latin seasoning. Always highly recommended. (7:30 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Minnesota Zoo, $49.) (J.B.)

A mere month before the Republicans convene in St. Paul, El Vez brings his presidential campaign to Minneapolis. "El Vez 4 Prez" will feature the Mexican Elvis' spot-on musical commentaries and parodies with a Latino subtext (he's running on the Brown Party ticket). Whether he's tackling Christmas, gospel music or politics, El Vez is always a treat that rewards your ears, feet and funny bone. Lysa Flores opens. (9 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, $12-$14.) (J.B.)

Clem Snide frontman Eef Barzelay has issued a string of artier and apocalyptic (but poppy and witty) albums under his own name. His latest, "Lose Big," includes a track written while he was scoring last year's Sundance flick "Rocket Science." (9 p.m. Wed., 400 Bar. 18 & older. $10.) (C.R.)

A band bluesy enough to play last month's Deep Blues Fest but twangy enough to headline Lee's, the Tarbox Ramblers count Robert Plant among their biggest fans. In fact, Plant's acclaimed collaboration with Alison Krauss sounds a bit like the Boston trio's ambient, lost-highway blues. (9 p.m. Thu., Lee's Liquor Lounge. $6.) (C.R.)

On hold while She finished a movie and He recorded with Conor Oberst and Jim James, She & Him have finally hit the road in support of their charm-oozing, torch-song-filled debut, "Volume One." The pair is better known as actress Zooey Deschanel, last seen on screen in "The Happening," and rootsy indie-rocker M. Ward, last seen on tour with Norah Jones. Read an interview with She & Him in Sunday's Variety A&E. (7 p.m. Thu., First Avenue. 18 & older. $16-$18.) (C.R.)

R&B Chaka Khan and Prince have a long-standing connection. As a teen, he had her poster on his bedroom wall. She had her biggest hit ever with a version of his "I Feel for You" in 1984. He produced an album ("Come 2 My House") for her in 1998 at Paisley Park. Now living in London, the soul princess last fall released the uneven but still commendable "Funk This," which included a version of Prince's "Sign o' the Times" and the dance club sensation "Disrespectful," featuring Mary J. Blige and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. (8 p.m. Tue., Fine Line, $41.50.) (J.B.)

COUNTRY The Twin Cities have always been a great market for Trick Pony so it's no surprise that the trio's ex-lead singer, Heidi Newfield, is performing here the day after the release of her solo debut, "What Am I Waiting For." It's a stand-out effort, thanks to a wealth of strong tunes and an alluring ache in her gritty voice, which sounds like a cross between Stevie Nicks and the Dixie Chicks. The can't-miss tunes range from the explosively romantic single "Johnny and June" to the novelty knockout "Knocked Up." (8 p.m. Wed., Cabooze, $10 with CD included. ) (J.B.)

JAZZ Prince's longtime tenor saxophonist Eric Leeds teams up with his old pal, hot-shot trumpeter Brian Lynch. Lynch won a Grammy this year for best Latin jazz album, "Simpatico," with the Eddie Palmieri Project. Lynch's lofty resume includes stints with Horace Silver, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Phil Woods and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (he was the group's final trumpeter). Leeds first met Lynch in Sheila E's E Train; the saxist and trumpeter shared a stage at the old Dakota in 1997. (8 p.m. today-Sat., Dakota, $10) (J.B.)

Raucous, pensive, groovy, electric, freewheeling -- all those adjectives apply to Twin Cities supergroup Starry Eyed Lovelies, with guitar guru Dean Granros, drums rabblerouser Dave King, bass all-pro Anthony Cox and saxophonist Michael Lewis. (9 p.m. today-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $12.) (T.S.)

WORLD Afro-pop superstar Habib Koite -- whose excellent Bamada band manages to be light and airy and hard-grooving -- has scored a million-selling duet with Bonnie Raitt, a winning appearance on "Late Night With David Letterman" and one of the more infectious anti-smoking songs you'll ever hear, "Cigarette Abana." His show kicks off DEMO's six-day Pan African Festival. 7:30 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center. $20-$25.) (T.S.)

Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider and freelancer Tom Surowicz