The Big Wu
It's not their wild NYE gig of old, but still a big reason to celebrate. Minnesota's enduring, Southern-flavored, Grateful Dead-loving jam band is finally dropping its first album in 14 years, coyly titled "We Are Young We Are Old." The nine-song set showcases the underrated, warm writing talent of both singer/guitarist Chris Castino and singer/drummer Terry VanDeWalker, although one of its best tunes, "Kick in the Head," actually features lyrics by Dead collaborator Robert Hunter. It's also the first Wu LP to feature guitarist Mark Joseph, who eight years ago helped sparked new life — if not exactly urgent record-making goals — into the band. (8:30 p.m. Sat., Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls., $17-$22, eTix.com.)
Guided by Voices
One of those time-tested bands that every die-hard rock fan should see at least once at First Ave, hyper-prolific Ohio indie-rock guru Robert Pollard and his ever-changing (but ever-reliable!) power-pop space-punk group Guided by Voices are making a twofer trip north by northwest to play their usual Minnesota getaway before ending the year at Chicago's Bottom Lounge. Nashville vet Bobby Bare Jr., a mighty fine songwriter in his own right, has settled in as the new GBV guitarist alongside mainstay Doug Gillard. They showed some fine chemistry already on the band's lone album of 2018, "Space Gun." Predictably, word is they have a double LP and one more album already in the can for next year. (8 p.m. Sun., First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., $30, first-avenue.com.)
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
