The Big Gigs: Critic's picks for the next week in entertainment

POP/ROCK Susan Tedeschi won't have hubby Derek Trucks with her as she did this summer at the Minnesota Zoo. And she won't have Doyle Bramhall II, Sonya Kitchell or Tony Joe White who, like Trucks, joined her on "Back to the River," a rewarding new CD that mixes tough and tender blues-rock. (But maybe another guest, our homeboy Gary Louris, will show up.) Opening is charming British retro-rocker James Hunter, who, after two swell sets at the zoo, gets my vote for the best opening act of 2008. (8 p.m. today, Pantages Theatre, $47.50.) (J.B.)

Decreed a "next big thing" by Rolling Stone and iTunes, Low vs Diamond offers up urgent, U2- and Arcade Fire-ish drama-rock on its self-titled debut for Epic Records. The Los Angeles quintet is on a co-headlining tour with the similarly overture-prone Seattle trio Barcelona. (5:30 p.m. Monday, Varsity Theater. All ages. $10-$12.) (C.R.)

This weekend, Soul Asylum joins the ranks of Engelbert Humperdinck and Donna Summer by playing the casino circuit. Actually, for fans in the Hinckley area, it's a rare chance to see the Minnesota rock vets close to home, while Twin Cities fans might get a kick out of seeing them somewhere with a buffet -- not to discount the food at First Ave, where Soul Asylum is thankfully playing again Dec. 19. Yes, they serve booze at this particular casino. (8 p.m. today, Grand Casino Hinckley, Minn. $22-$32.) (C.R.)

Makers of the timeless pop-rock hits "The Way" and "Out of My Head," Fastball hasn't lost the luster of many of its more dated '90s alterna-rockers. For proof, check out the Texas trio's MySpace page for excellent new tracks from an album due next spring. Local duo the B-Team opens. (9 p.m. today, Fine Line. $15.) (C.R.)

Pioneering rap/rock/Afropunk/ska band Fishbone has lost a lot of its original members over the years, but singer Angelo Moore continues to lead the group through a wide gamut of styles and positive-leaning sociopolitical themes, which have no doubt taken on new meaning in the Year of Obama. Natives of the New Dawn and Heavy Mojo open. (9 p.m. today, Station 4. 18 & older. $15-$17.) (C.R.)

St. Paul's mighty acoustic/roots Red House Records offers its blue-ribbon lineup in the last in a series of 25th anniversary concerts: masterful Minnesota folkie John Gorka, clever New York singer/songwriter Cliff Eberhardt and underappreciated Texas Americana goddess Eliza Gilkyson. These and other artists on the label, including Greg Brown, Spider John Koerner and Kate MacKenzie, can be heard on this month's 64-track retrospective, "Red House 25." (8 p.m. Sat. Cedar Cultural Center. Sold out.) (J.B.)

Calexico continues to mine musical gold from the Arizona desert. Its latest CD, "Carried to Dust," features the usual divine mix of mariachi horns, plunky Spanish guitar work, tumbleweed rhythms and frontman Joey Burns' terrific desperado voice. Openers the Acorn, from Ottawa, Ontario, were nominated for Canada's Mercury-like Polaris Music Prize this year. (9 p.m. Sat., Fine Line. 18 & older. $17-$20.) (C.R.)

Twin Cities legends the Trashmen headline a glorious evening of garage rock, playing their monster hit "Surfin' Bird" and Europe-tested new material. But the big lure is an ultra-rare appearance by "cycle-delic" guitar gonzo Davie Allan & the Arrows, wo powered the soundtracks of many drive-in-movie cult classics ("The Wild Angels," "Born Losers," "Thunder Alley") -- more than two dozen soundtracks in all, including more recent work for Jim Jarmusch's "Night on Earth," "From Dusk 'Til Dawn 2" and "Psycho Sisters"). Remarkably, this is the guitar fuzzmeister's Twin Cities debut. Also hotly anticipated and making their first foray into Minnesota are the Neanderthals, a killer garage unit led by guitarist Eddie Angel of Los Straitjackets fame that wears nutty caveman duds. Ramones-loving hometown surf-punks the 99ers open. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club. $15.) (T.S.)

J.D. Souther's first studio album in a quarter-century, "If the World Was You," proves that the legendary California songsmith is aging well. Best known for the megahits he co-wrote with the Eagles ("Best of My Love," "New Kid in Town," "Heartache Tonight," et al.) and his own Top 10 single, "You're Only Lonely," he remains an agile melodist, adroit lyricist and impressive vocalist. Far jazzier than you'd expect, the disc features some great horn players and a 13-minute closing track that echoes Miles Davis' "All Blues." Souther, on his first national tour since 1985, will appear solo; New Jersey indie up 'n' comer April Smith opens. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center. $20-$25.) (T.S.)

While Disney Channel has the Jonas Brothers, Nickelodeon has the Naked Brothers Band. In occasional mockumentary movies, Nat and Alex Wolff lead a bubblegum pop band that -- surprise! -- tween girls love. The Nakeds also try to appeal to boys, as well, with their own video game. Don't think the Jonas Bros. will lose any sleep over the Nakeds and their Fully Clothed Tour. Savannah Outen opens. (4:30 p.m. Sun., Myth, $21.50 advance, $25 door.) (J.B.)

Sebastien Grainger, former singer/drummer in the over-the-top hard-rock duo Death From Above 1979, hasn't turned down the volume or energy level on the eponymous Saddle Creek Records debut by his new band the Mountains. Their catchy, high-charged, clap-along rock recalls Cheap Trick's best stuff. Canadian goth-rocker Josh Reichmann and Ela's Bill Caperton open. (9 p.m. Mon., 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $8.) (C.R.)

Another postponed concert finally coming back around, Trent Reznor's bleak, bleary, bleeding-eared rock machine Nine Inch Nails earned raves for the Lollapalooza set they played right after skipping our local date in August. At least Reznor should be better-rested at this makeup show and can take satisfaction in wrapping up a remarkable year that started with the surprising instrumental album "Ghosts I-IV" and culminated in the classic-styled comeback record "The Slip." The current NIN lineup includes longtime guitarist Robin Finck and drummer Josh Freese, both also of the revamped Guns N' Roses. Japanese experimental band Boris should be a challenging opener. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Target Center. $39.50-$47.50.) (C.R.)

Puddle of Mudd went through a two-fourths lineup change before last year's third album, "Famous," which made the Kansas-bred metal band a little less famous. Still, modern-rock stations gave the record's title track a good ride and continue to Muddy up their playlists with the older hits "Blurry" and "She Hates Me." Red, Safetysuit and Temperedcast open. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Myth. All ages. $28-$33.) (C.R.)

As promised when the band went on semi-hiatus in 2006, the Big Wu still gets together for special occasions. Thanksgiving certainly qualifies. The Minnesota jam-band stalwarts always had a familial vibe that suits the holiday. Their "Wu-Giving" concert is also one of the few gigs in town that night. Plus, the cover charge includes a traditional Turkey Day feast. (9 p.m. Thu., Cabooze. 18 & older. $10.) (C.R.)

COUNTRY Although they didn't win anything at last week's CMA Awards, Brooks & Dunn lit up the stage when Reba McEntire joined them. Still an arena-sized act, the duo probably won't dial it down when they squeeze into Treasure Island Casino's new events center with its high-roller prices. They went over the top on last year's flag-waving, tequila-guzzling, ZZ Top-loving album "Cowboy Town." Surprisingly, the best track is "Ballad of Jerry Jeff Walker," on which the Texas troubadour joins in. (8 p.m. Sat., Treasure Island Casino, Red Wing, Minn., $100-$200.) (J.B.)

R&B Twenty years after his first hit, sexy soul crooner Keith Sweat seduces once again on "Just Me," his first studio album in six years. He's best remembered for his new-jack hits "I Want Her" and "Twisted" and his late '90s trio with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, L.S.G. (9 p.m. Wed., Epic, $30-$50.) (J.B.)

BLUES/ROOTS C.J. Chenier has long since emerged from the shadow of his late father, zydeco kingpin Clifton Chenier, to become one of Louisiana's most respected musicians. He's not just another party-sparking accordion guru playing the umpteenth version of "Hot Tamale Baby," either, as evidenced by his 2006 album, "Desperate Kingdom of Love," which included the P.J. Harvey-written title track and some Van Morrison and Hank Williams nuggets. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Dakota Jazz Club. $20.) (C.R.)

WORLD Whether doing Yiddish dance classics or some of their Grammy-winning Woody Guthrie songs, serenading Garrison Keillor on the radio or David Letterman on the telly, New York's Klezmatics always offer fun, fire and fervor. The nation's premier klezmer ensemble mixes spiritualism and silliness, raucous rhythms and hot horn solos, tradition and innovation. (2 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center. $25-$28.) (T.S.)

JAZZ His fan, friend and sometime drummer Phil Hey stages a second (hopefully annual) Tribute to Dewey Redman, saluting the tenor-sax great known for his work with Ornette Coleman, Keith Jarrett, Old & New Dreams and his star son Joshua Redman, in addition to great solo albums that ran the gamut from "free jazz" to funky blues. Bassist Gordy Johnson, who also played with Redman, co-anchors a band that features Pete Whitman returning in the starring sax role he handled so well in 2007, and Bryan Nichols on piano. (9 p.m. today-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)

CLASSICAL Its website describes the Isles Ensemble as "a group of five string players from the Minnesota and St. Paul Chamber orchestras"-- and then lists six musicians, including a freelancer. But don't be deterred: These accomplished players really do know how to count, as they'll demonstrate in a top-flight program of Bach (Cello Suite No. 1) and Mozart: the seldom-heard B-flat Duo for Violin and Viola (which the scholar Hans Keller called a "sovereign masterwork") and the D-major String Quintet (which is even better). (7 p.m. Sun. Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, 2020 Lake of the Isles Pkwy., Mpls. $20, $10 students/seniors. 651-271-1630 or www.islesensemble.org.) (L.F.)

Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider and freelancers Larry Fuchsberg and Tom Surowicz.