FDELUXE
fDeluxe has booked its second Twin Cities gig. That would make twice as many appearances here as its original incarnation, the Family -- a 1985 Prince spinoff project with vocalists Paul Peterson (a replacement in the Time) and Susannah Melvoin (twin sister of Wendy, Prince's then-guitarist). The Family recorded the original version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" and its own modest hit, "Screams of Passion." The group reunited last year without Prince's blessing (hence the name change) and released an invigoratingly funky album, "Gaslight."
LITTLE FEAT
For the first time in nine years, Little Feat has new material to play in concert. This year's "Rooster Rag" is a typically funky, eclectic Feat stew, featuring some lyrics by Grateful Dead contributor Robert Hunter and Bill Payne playing the band's piano. The title track, "Just a Fever," "Rag Top Down" and the blues chestnuts "Mellow Down Easy" and "Candy Man Blues" should be ideal additions to Feat's live repertoire. Tom Fuller Band opens. Little Feet plays Mankato, Minn., on Monday with City Mouse and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
BETTYE LAVETTE
A 1960s R&B singer on the rebound, Bettye LaVette is not only one of the greatest interpretive singers of our time -- covering everyone from the Beatles to Lucinda Williams -- but one of the most emotive and physical R&B singers around. Since 2004, she's been a sensation at the intimate Dakota Jazz Club but she has the power to fill a bigger space, as she demonstrated at President Obama's inaugural celebration. LaVette might preview her new album, "Thankful N' Thoughtful," which is due in late September along with her autobiography, "A Woman Like Me."
