MUSIC
John Mellencamp
The contrarian Indiana rocker arrives for a three-night stand with an unconventional opening act — clips from vintage movies because his tour is sponsored by cable outlet Turner Classic Movies. Then the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and his band (with fiddler Lisa Germano back in the fold after a 29-year absence) deliver his classics like "Pink Houses" and "Rain on the Scarecrow" plus choice cuts from last year's "Strictly a One-Eyed Jack." On the criminally overlooked and highly commendable album, Mellencamp evoked Bob Dylan in more ways than a gravelly voice, and he got Bruce Springsteen to join him on three numbers. (8 p.m. Thu.-Sat., State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $49.50-$139.50, ticketmaster.com)
JON BREAM
The Heavy Heavy
After half of the tracks on their six-song 2022 EP got heavy radio and TV play, including "Miles and Miles" and "Go Down River," this rootsy and hazy British rock band with boy/girl lead vocalists are hitting the road harder than ever in 2023, playing bigger venues and festivals. They just released a deluxe edition of the EP featuring bonus-track covers from Crosby, Stills & Nash and Father John Misty, excellent examples of Georgie Fuller and Will Turner's cool, Jefferson Airplane-y vocal mingling and their band's Laurel Canyon-esque vibe. Sun June opens. (9 p.m. Fri., Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls., $20-$40, axs.com)
C.R.
Kirk Whalum
His saxophone has been heard on his own Grammy-nominated smooth jazz records, R&B records by the likes of Luther Vandross and Jevetta Steele, jazz records by George Benson and George Duke, gospel records by CeCe Winans and T.D. Jakes, soundtracks including "The Bodyguard" and "Boyz n the Hood," and Whitney Houston's blockbuster albums and tours. An ordained minister, Whalum also has recorded the "Gospel According to Jazz" album series. This spring, he's hit the road with his own jazz combo for a tour of small venues. (6:30 & 8:30 p.m. Thu., the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $30-$40, dakotacooks.com)
