The Big Gigs: April 1-7

POP/ROCK

One of several U.K. buzz bands making its stateside landing at South by Southwest two weeks ago, Welsh trio the Joy Formidable genuinely burst onto the scene at the festival. Frontwoman Ritzy Bryan looks like a china doll but plays like a pit bull, and her band's debut for Atlantic Records, "The Big Roar," boasts shoegazing fuzz-pop gems laden with Breeders-like hooks. Opening quartet Mona is blowing up early in England, much like fellow Tennesseans Kings of Leon did. The Lonely Forest also performs. (9 p.m. Wed., 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $12.) Chris RiemenschneiderIf anyone can transform cavernous Roy Wilkins Auditorium into a Euro club, it's the internationally renowned Dutch DJ Tiësto. He creates throbbing trances of the highest order -- music that sounds like a hit of Ecstasy feels. Tijs Verwest, the man behind the Tiësto moniker, has also moonlighted as a producer and recording artist since his emergence in 1996. His latest LP, 2009's "Kaleidoscope," features collaborations with Jonsi, Emily Haines and Nelly Furtado. This gig is part of the 175-date-plus "Kaleidoscope World Tour." (8 p.m. Fri., Roy Wilkins Auditorium, $62-$72.) Jay Boller

DeVotchKa seems to have swallowed the cineplex Kool-Aid. Since doing scores for "Little Miss Sunshine" and "I Love You Phillip Morris," the Denver ensemble has come across as less alt-gypsy and more cinematic. The new album "100 Lovers" features a moody melting pot of Eastern European, mariachi, Bollywood and Hollywood that is overall more mushy than compelling. (9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $25.) Jon Bream

The Birthday Suits have torn up Twin Cities clubs over the past half-decade without their Japanese heritage ever really being an issue, until now. The wall-bouncing, ear-shattering punk duo is heading up a local benefit for Japan's relief efforts with some of their best noisemaking pals, including current pop/punk darlings Pink Mink and the Gateway District, featuring members of the Soviettes, Rivethead and Banner Pilot. Still Pacific opens. (10 p.m. Fri., Triple Rock. 18 & older. $10.) Riemenschneider

If you're partial to roots-rock Americana songwriting, the double bill of James McMurtry and the Bottle Rockets should be plenty enticing. Austin, Texas troubadour McMurtry gained a legion of new fans five years ago when his biting portrait of working-class America, "We Can't Make It Here Anymore," became a YouTube sensation. And the perennially underrated and overachieving Bottle Rockets, the pride of Festus, Mo., have an ace songwriter themselves in Brian Henneman. (9 p.m. Fri., 400 Bar. $16.) Tom Surowicz

Buried far underneath the intoxicating roar of his guitar, J Mascis has written some damn lovely, melodically golden songs as the frontman of Dinosaur Jr. His latest Sub Pop-issued solo album, "Several Shades of Why," strips away all the noise with surprisingly sophisticated results. Philadelphia mad man Kurt Vile, who played backup on Mascis' record, is a must-see opener with his band the Violators and their buzzing second album for Matador Records. Fauna opens. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry. Sold out.) Riemenschneider

An early frontman for Southern Cali's most celebrated punk band (Black Flag) before spending a decade with one of its most underrated (the Circle Jerks), Keith Morris might have actually just joined his best group yet. No kidding. It's called OFF! and it features other Los Angeles vets from Rocket From the Crypt, Redd Kross and Burning Brides. Their sound is at once epic and cocky like Led Zeppelin but raw and dastardly like the wild horses Morris rode in on. Steve Albini-produced Sacramento hardcore band Trash Talk opens with Much Worse. (9 p.m. Sun., Triple Rock, $13-$15. 18 & older.) Riemenschneider

Iris DeMent is one of those much-revered underachievers. Or at least she operates under the radar (and doesn't update her website). She's beloved for her high lonesome voice and her ability to wed the sensibilities of the Carter Family with the poignant songwriting of a John Prine. She released three impressive albums in the 1990s and only one since then, 2004's "Lifeline," a collection of old-time church and gospel tunes. (7 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $45.) Bream

The Wood Brothers really are siblings. They grew up in Boulder, Colo., before Chris Wood took his bass to New York with Medeski Martin & Wood and guitarist Oliver ended up in Atlanta with King Johnson. Their third album together, "Smoke Ring Halos," is due later this year; one new track, the groovy "Blue and Green," finds the Woods jamming with the Mason Jar Music collective at a Brooklyn elementary school. (8 p.m. Sun., Fine Line, $15-$18.) Bream

While Baltimore might bring crack-addled images of "The Wire" to mind, it's actually something of an underground-music boomtown. Wye Oak is the next in a line of standout Baltimoreans including Beach House, Dan Deacon and Ponytail. The group -- vocalist/guitarist Jenn Wasner and drummer/keyboardist Andy Stack -- sounds a lot bigger than two people. Their textured, earnest brand of earthy indie-rock is akin to a louder Maria Taylor. Arty Brooklynites Callers and locals Zoo Animal open (8 p.m. Tue., Turf Club, $10.) Boller

When people ask, who shoulda/coulda made out of the Twin Cities but didn't, Tina & B-Sides belong on that list. A barroom mainstay in the '90s, Tina Schlieske and crew rocked with character and conviction. After self-releasing three CDs, she made two albums for Sire Records (home of Madonna and Talking Heads) but her gritty, robust bar-band sound didn't translate effectively to record. Now based in California as an indie artist once again, Schlieske comes home for regular themed gigs (Elvis, Christmas) and occasional B-Sides shows. (7 p.m. Tue., Hopkins Center for the Arts, $35.) Bream

The way the Raveonettes have changed directions on their last three albums, it's hard to know what to expect from the Danish duo -- especially since they'll be arriving two days after dropping their fifth disc, "Raven in the Grave," a darker album with more synths and less guitar. Word is that the duo is touring with a full band, including two drummers. (8 p.m. Thu., Fine Line Music Cafe, $15.) Bream

COUNTRYIf Steve Earle had Kinky Friedman's sense of humor, he might come across like Hayes Carll. "I'm like James Brown, only white and taller. All I wanna do is stomp and holler," he sings on the stomping opening track of his splendid new album, "KMAG YOYO" (the title comes from military slang). Yet he's as much a barroom poet as he is a honky-tonk humorist. There are echoes of Guy Clark and Ray Wylie Hubbard in this 35-year-old Texan's songs, but he has a lot more musical firepower. Highly recommended. Shovels and Rope open. (8 p.m. Tue., Varsity Theater, $14.) Bream

NEW MUSICSince minimalist composer Philip Glass last performed in the Twin Cities in 2005, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has performed his music, he scored such movies as "Notes on a Scandal," collaborated with Leonard Cohen on music for a poetry project, composed an opera about the Civil War for the San Francisco Opera, composed three orchestral works and provided music for a video game. Returning for a performance of Lucinda Childs' "Dance" at the Walker, Glass, 74, will play a rare solo piano concert that will feature his recent Etudes for Piano. Food and beverages will be available only before he takes the stage. See next Sunday's Variety section for an interview with Glass and Childs. (8 p.m. Wed. Dakota, $45-$60.) Bream

ACOUSTICBritish acoustic guitar master Adrian Legg, who could give Garrison Keillor a run for his money as a storyteller, has two gigs in Minnesota next week. After playing the familiar confines of the Cedar Cultural Center, he'll head to Aunt Annie's Quilts and Silks, in one of Keillor's old stamping grounds -- tiny Avon, Minn., northwest of St. Cloud -- the following evening. Don't let the quaint name fool you. Aunt Annie's is turning into a great little venue for touring folk and blues solo performers, with Andy White, Doug MacLeod, Ray Bonneville and Slaid Cleaves all headed there soon. (8 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center, $15-$18. 8 p.m. next Fri., Aunt Annie's, $16. Info at AuntAnniesQuilts.com) Surowicz

JAZZ

You're only supposed to have one final album release, but St. Paul's jazz legend Irv Williams plays by his own rules. Still having fun at 91, the tenor sax champ follows up "Finality" with a new disc called "Duke's Mixture," featuring five original tunes and five standards, including a song he first sang and played on clarinet in 1936, "Until the Real Thing Comes Along." He's still the real thing, and fans may be shocked to hear how good his tender baritone voice sounds 75 years later. Williams is calling next week's release celebration his "retirement party," but more likely his next final album will be "Mr. Smooth Sings!" (7 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club. $5.) Surowicz

A brilliant yet unassuming piano master who plays nearly the whole spectrum of jazz keyboard and makes it seem easy -- it most certainly is not -- Great American Songbook scholar Dick Hyman has a rather awe-inspiring resume. He's scored a dozen Woody Allen films, written several orchestral works and a slew of chamber pieces, did some pioneering early recordings on the Moog synthesizer and has collaborated with everyone from Charlie Parker to Twyla Tharp. Plus, he knows more Rube Bloom tunes than any man on the planet. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts. $12-$24.) Surowicz

Hotel lobby pianist/singers don't need to be aural wallpaper. Case in point is "Pick Yourself Up" by JoAnn Funk, ensconced at the St. Paul Hotel on most Friday and Saturday nights. At times, her breathy, girlish voice can be almost cartoonishly dramatic (think Blossom Dearie). Her voice sounds more natural when she swings on "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" or yearns on "If I Had You." As a pianist, the Twin Cities veteran plays with style and verve, ably supported by bassist Jeff Brueske and drummer Nathan Norman. That rhythm section will join her for an album-release party. (7 p.m. Sat., St. Paul Hotel, 350 Market St., St. Paul, free.) Bream

Parlez-vous jazz? Swingin' clarinetist Tony Balluff and supple singer Maud Hixson certainly do. Their band French 75 stars in an afternoon soiree, "Beyond the Sea: Jazz From the Continent," spotlighting classic tunes that hit the charts in several languages. The band also features ever-smiling bassist Steve Pikal, back home pro tem after playing several months of gigs with San Antonio public-radio stars, the Jim Cullum Band. (4 p.m. Sun., Artists' Quarter. $12-$15.) Surowicz

April is apparently Jazz Appreciation Month, and the Dakota is responding by beefing up its jazz bookings. The fireworks start with tenor titan Joe Lovano and his dynamic Us Five band, featuring two drummers, Otis Brown III and Steve Williams. Be advised that best-new-artist Grammy winner (and Justin Bieber fans scourge) Esperanza Spalding isn't part of this tour, though she records with the group. European bass ace Peter Slavov and pianist James Weidman will round out the quintet. Highly recommended. (7 & 9 p.m. Mon-Tue., Dakota, $25-$40.) Surowicz