The Big Gigs: Critic's picks for the next seven days of music

POP/ROCK Ever since its 2002 comeback album with Barsuk Records, "Let Go," Nada Surf has been on a creative roll. Matthew Caws & Co. are back to tout their third effort for the Death Cab-affiliated label, "Lucky," which reflects their successful revival with sunnier songs and a settled, comfortable indie-pop vibe. San Diego's Violent Femmes-like acoustic-punk band the Delta Spirit and Jealous Girlfriends open. (9 p.m. today, Fine Line. 18 & older. $20.) (C.R.)

Three nights after opening for Nine Inch Nails at the Target Center, the metal-ish Japanese experimental-rock trio Boris offers a small club date that will probably better suit its insanely adventurous sounds. The fact that their band name comes from a Melvins song should tell you how weird these guys are. Clouds and Zebulon Pike open. (9 p.m. today, Triple Rock. 21 & older. $13-$15.) (C.R.)

After 21 years of post-Thanksgiving gigs at the Ordway, guitar god Leo Kottke is still trying to find his comfort level at the State, where he will appear for a third consecutive year. For the first time in his holiday homecoming tradition, the virtuosic picker with the delightfully quirky sense of humor has added an opening act, his longtime pals David Hidalgo and Louie Perez of Los Lobos. For an interview with Kottke, see startribune.com/music. (8 p.m. Sat., State Theatre, $32.50-$44.50.) (J.B.)

With its singer and guitarist back from their side project Hellyeah, Mudvayne has earned a collective "hell, yeah!" from fans for its strong new album, "The New Game." The Peoria, Ill.-reared metal band -- which ditched its Gwarry costumes years ago -- is a fine fit for the loudest holiday concert in town, the annual 93X Butterball. The lineup also includes Tennessee's "Beautiful" rockers 10 Years, who were on Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution Tour this summer, and California alt-metal vets Snot. (6 p.m. Sat., Myth. All ages. $32.) (C.R.)

Like Billy Bragg, Jonatha Brooke has crafted a new album with old Woody Guthrie lyrics that she has set to music. "The Works" is a wonderful project, filled with compelling lyrics (more personal than usual for Guthrie) and commanding, organic music, performed by A-listers Joe Sample, Steve Gadd, Christian McBride, Derek Trucks and Keb Mo. Toad the Wet Sprocket vocalist Glen Phillips, who duets with her on "Sweetest Angel," joins Brooke at -- how appropriate -- the Guthrie. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Guthrie proscenium stage, $25.) (J.B.)

Hinder has saved itself from one-hit-wonder status with its new album, "Take It to the Limit," thanks in large part to the power-ballad single "Without You." There's meatier and manlier stuff on the rest of the Oklahoma quintet's record, though, so don't expect a soft incarnation of the annual hard-rock-swilling Jagermeister Music Tour. California grunge holdovers Trapt and WWE anthem-makers Rev Theory open. (7 p.m. Tue., First Avenue. 18 & older. $27.50.) (C.R.)

Minnesotans have long known that Linda Eder wasn't totally a big-voiced Broadway diva. She's a good ole horse-raising and -riding Minnesota gal who returns to her musical roots -- a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll -- on "The Other Side of Me," her eighth album and first for the jazz-oriented Verve label. The acoustic "If You Believe (the Way I Do)" sounds warmly personal and Nashville-friendly while "Waiting for the Fall" gallops like medium-tempo, organ-driven Shania Twain. On "Other Side," Eder demonstrates smaller but still passionate facets of her special voice. (7:30 p.m. Thu., State Theatre, $42-$52.) (J.B.)

R&B Sharon Jones may be the hardest-working woman in show business, to paraphrase an old line about James Brown. Often billed as the female answer to the Godfather of Soul, Jones is an unstoppable force, an impassioned singer and kinetic dynamo who spreads joy with fresh and sassy retro R&B. Bring your dancing shoes for Jones & the Dap-Kings, who wowed State Fair-goers for two nights this summer. This tight, terrific Brooklyn band will funk the place up. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Pantages Theatre, $27.50.) (J.B.)

JAZZ Dance your Turkey Day calories away in old-school fashion at the Big Band Thanksgiving Swing Dance, an event that celebrates tireless big-band advocate Jerry Swanberg's 10th anniversary as a KBEM-FM broadcaster. The all-star Bellagala Big Band -- featuring such outstanding players as Larry Foyen, Dave Graf, Russ Peterson, Jim ten Bensel, Doug Haining and Ron Seaman -- has put together a night of 30-plus Les Brown charts, including Band of Renown versions of "Misty" and "Flying Home." Wear jitterbugging shoes! (8 p.m. today, Bloomington KC Hall, 1114 American Blvd. $10.) (T.S.)

Just turned 80, Ernestine Anderson is one of our greatest jazz and blues singers. She beguiled audiences as a precocious teen with R&B great Johnny Otis, toured with swing legend Lionel Hampton and recorded with bebop saxophonist Gigi Gryce (who penned her early near-hit "Social Call"). After a commercially fallow period, alliances with Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Quincy Jones and Concord Records made her a club and festival favorite and a Grammy nominee. Anderson set can be counted on to deliver blues swagger, easy swing, ample romance and time-stopping balladry -- her versions of "Old Folks" and "Big City" will likely never be topped, and only B.B. King is as convincing on "Never Make Your Move Too Soon." (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun.-Mon., Dakota Jazz Club. $20-$28.) (T.S.)

Sam Miltich and the Clearwater Hot Club hail from upriver in Grand Rapids -- far from Django Reinhardt's swingin' Paris, or even the Twin Cities' lively "Hot Club" scene. That hasn't impeded the progress of this trio, which has released three CDs and toured the United States, Canada and Japan. Led by deft and subtle guitar phenom Miltich, 23, the trio also features his dad Matthew on bass (and some amiable, shower-worthy vocals) and Mark Kreitzer on rhythm guitar. Then there's the invaluable guest star of their fourth CD, "Just You, Just Me" -- Twin Cities sax legend Dave Karr, who nearly steals the disc and will be on hand for this weekend's release party. (6 p.m. Sun., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)

Best known as lead guitarist for No Wave funksters James Chance & the Contortions, Chris Cunningham was a busy fellow in his New York City days, also playing with the Golden Palominos, Marianne Faithfull, the Lounge Lizards, Boukman Eksperyans and Marshall Crenshaw, among others. Now ensconced in Minnesota, teaching at McNally Smith College of Music, he formally debuts his new acoustic band, Mississippi Peace -- featuring his equally esteemed wife, Michelle Kinney, on cello; Louisiana transplant Melissa Matthews on violin, and Graham O'Brien on drums -- at a freebie show. (7 p.m. Wed., McNally Smith Auditorium, 19 E. Exchange St., St. Paul. 651-291-0177.) (T.S.)

COMEDY Part of the rising tide of indie comics playing rock clubs, Stella is a collegiate comedy trio featuring Michael Ian Black (the funniest of VH1's "I Love the '70s/'80s" commentators), David Showalter ("Wet Hot American Summer") and David Wain ("Role Models" director and co-writer). All three of these NYU alums starred in the short-lived but cult-loved 1993-95 MTV series "The State," and took their group name from another quirky show that aired on Comedy Central. (8 p.m. Thu., First Avenue. 18 & older. $20-$22.) (C.R.)