Spotlights: Gomez, We Were Promised Jetpacks

POP/ROCK Wily British melodymakers Gomez -- one of the most consistent and underrated bands of the '00s -- are back on another U.S. tour working their way to next month's Coachella fest. Last year's "A New Tide" album includes some of the quintet's most sophisticated pop work to date. It's bringing a hotly hyped and similarly unclassifiable young band of Englishmen, One eskimO, whose sweetly soulful and psychedelic pop was cinematic enough to inspire a 10-part "visual album" to go alongside their eponymous debut. (9 p.m. Sat., Fine Line. 18 & older. $25.) (C.R.)

Out supporting his first album in four years, "The Rainwater LP," Brooklyn's resident hippie soul man Clarence Greenwood -- aka Citizen Cope -- is also taking his sweet, carefree time touring. His two-show run in Minneapolis is one of many multi-night stands with his full band in intimate venues nationwide. (8 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Varsity Theater. 18 & older. $30. Sat. show is sold-out.) (C.R.)

Roots hero Delbert McClinton's voice may have lost a little but, at 69, he remains a roadhouse warrior and top-notch songwriter, as evidenced by 2009's "Acquired Taste," an impressive, impassioned collection of blues, funk, rock and gritty soul produced by Don Was that doesn't sound either barroom sloppy or studio slick. Opening is Minnesota's most enduring roadhouse blues institution, the Lamont Cranston Band. (8:30 p.m. Sat., Medina Entertainment Center, $28-$33.) (J.B.)

Even though he'll be back at First Ave, Garrett Dutton will surely give a shout-out to the now-closed Uptown Bar, where G. Love and Special Sauce made their Twin Cities debut in 1994. He showed a commanding personality back then, and the guitarist/singer and his rhythm section have become more accomplished at blending blues, hip-hop and grooves, as demonstrated on last year's live disc, "Long Way Down." (8:30 p.m. Sun., First Avenue, $25.) (J.B.)

Longtime chums and labelmates of fellow Scotsmen Frightened Rabbits, Edinburgh quartet We Were Promised Jetpacks earned a modest buzz off last summer's debut "These Four Walls," which recalls the ethereal anthemic sound of way-early U2 with hints of Franz Ferdinand's jittery dance-rock. Washington state fuzz-rockers the Lonely Forest and yet another ursa-monikered hipster band from New York, Bear Hands, open. (9 p.m. Tue., Varsity Theater. 18 & older. $10-$12.) (C.R.)

Maine-raised singer/songwriter Howie Day spent nearly eight years on the road, which meant 2009's "Sound the Alarm" was his first album in six years. After touring with Colbie Caillat last fall, he's headlining his own shows with his guitar, tape loops and such radio tunes as "Collide" and "Be There." This is a makeup from a postponed January show so tickets from that gig will be honored. (9 p.m. Wed., Fine Line, $20.) (J.B.)

You can probably guess that the buzz band Hockey is from somewhere where they don't slap the puck around much (yep, Oregon), but would you believe the quartet makes the kind of stylish dance-rock that most NHL fans would beat them up for playing? Singer Ben Grubin cops from the Strokes' Julian Casablancas the way that guy from Candlebox echoed Eddie Vedder, while his group rehashes the dancefloor-in-rock-clubs sounds of Phoenix and LCD Soundsystem. It's an enticing formula but resoundingly lacking in authenticity, a trait that may be reinforced by the fact that Hockey shot straight to the big leagues (Virgin) for its debut album, "Mind Chaos." Denver's Constellations and Astralwerks newcomers the Postelles open. (9 p.m. Thu., 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $10.) (C.R.)

Wu-Tang Clan rap giant GZA is not the typical hip-hop act you see at the punky Triple Rock, which only adds excitement to this date. Along with his cousins RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard, the artist occasionally known as Genius (not as occasionally as he'd like) co-founded the Clan and made one of its best solo albums, 1995's "Liquid Swords." His masterful, outlandish lyricism carried on even when the production slipped on subsequent discs, but his last one, 2008's "Pro Tools," was actually one of the better ones. He's pre-hyping another album due later this year. (9 p.m. Thu., Triple Rock. 18 & older. $15-$18.) (C.R.)

DANCE Fresh from marketing his own brand of headphones, trance guru Paul Oakenfold is taking his innovative ways back to the performance ring to tout a new album, "Pop Killer." London's DJ/producer to the stars (see: remixes for Justin Timberlake and Madonna) has designed an ambitious, hi-fi, 3-D stage built around a pair of giant headphones that, according to his own hype, "bring the beats to life by way of rotating and contorting, so large in scale you would think they're designed for the gods." It could be rapturous or it could be ungodly, but it should be memorable. (10 p.m. Fri., Epic. 18 & older. $20.) (C.R.)

BLUEGRASS For my money, the Del McCoury Band is the best bluegrass group on the road. Leave out Del's high lonesome tenor and you've got the Travelin' McCourys, his backup quartet -- featuring sons Ronnie and Rob -- which does some fancy pickin' and holds its own on harmonies and lead vocals. This concert is part of the Take Five Tuesday series, which features a pre-show happy hour. (7 p.m. Tue., Hopkins Center for the Arts, $13-$18.) (J.B.)

COUNTRY Jimmy Wayne has the right combination of pretty-boy looks, hard-luck story and catchy songs to catch on in today's country scene. His "Do You Believe Me Now" went to No. 1 in 2008. But he couldn't continue the momentum last year with "Sara Smile," the Hall & Oates hit (with the duo singing backup) that is the title track of his third CD. He might have better luck with the Keith Urban-penned "Things I Believe" or the heart-tugging "Elephant Ears," about a girl bounced from one foster home to another. (8 p.m. Sat., the Rock, $17-$20.) (J.B.)

WORLD The Soweto Gospel Choir, 26 members strong and capable of raising any roof known to man, arrive from the outskirts of Johannesburg with three Grammy Awards and ringing endorsements from Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. The choir has also collaborated with Peter Gabriel, appeared at the Academy Awards, and opened for artists as diverse as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Celine Dion. Let's hope they bridge South Africa and northern Minnesota by performing their soulful version of Bob Dylan's "I'll Remember You." (7 p.m. Sun., Orchestra Hall. $22-$60.) (T.S.)

One of the great drummers of our time and a savvy combo leader with surprising charisma, Matt Wilson never disappoints. His all-star group, the wonderful Arts & Crafts, features trumpet king Terell Stafford, veteran of 50 CDs including a recent live disc recorded at the Dakota; keyboardist Gary Versace, a featured soloist with the Maria Schneider Orchestra who's equally potent on organ, piano or accordion, and German bass marvel Martin Wind. (8 & 10:30 p.m. Sat., Artists' Quarter. $20.) (T.S.)

Jazz and classical music switch-hitter Rex Richardson arrives as special guest of this year's U of M Jazz Festival. Adam Meckler, no slouch on trumpet himself, has arranged a Richardson piece for big band while Dean Sorenson, director of the U of M Jazz Ensembles I & II, has penned a tune in Richardson's honor. Attendees get two student big bands, one jazz combo and one star soloist, all for free. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Ted Mann Concert Hall.) (T.S.)

Brilliant young Japanese pianist Hiromi flies solo on her latest CD, "Place to Be," unplugging her synthesizer for an all-acoustic, quite grand piano date. The result is undiluted wizardry. The disc opens with a typically breathtaking rhythmic maelstrom ("BQE"), proceeds to a tour-de-force blues ("Choux a la Creme") and includes at least one big surprise: Pachelbel's "Canon" stated on plucked piano strings, which sound like a crusty harpsichord or cranky cimbalon. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Dakota Jazz Club. $20-$30.) (T.S.)

BLUES Just inducted into the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame (hello, Johnny Winter, hey there, ZZ Top), long tall Marcia Ball is currently embroiled in two tours -- one with her own band, another with the Sisters in Soul (Bettye Lavette, Maria Muldaur). Since Muldaur and Lavette recently serenaded local fans, we get a whole night of "Peace, Love & BBQ," New Orleans grooves aplenty, from the piano-pumping Texan in high heels. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun., Dakota Jazz Club. $25-$35.) (T.S.)

CLASSICAL "La Bohème"? "Not a chance," you grumble. Tough-minded arts consumer that you are, you haven't the slightest use for Puccini's much-told tale of love in a Parisian garret -- a melodious melding of high spirits with hunger, cold, disease and early death. "Sentimental folderol," you growl, a little louder than necessary; you, of course, are far above such saccharine stuff. Aren't you? Why not take in one of Minnesota Opera's eight performances, just to be sure? (7:30 p.m. Sat. & March 9-13; 2 p.m. Sun. & March 14. Ordway Center. $20-$200. 612-333-6669 or mnopera.org) (L.F.)