The Big Gigs for April 19-25

For the jam-band nation, the concerts are never long enough. So here's a double bill that should provide plenty of soulful granola tunes. Ryan Montbleau is a Boston soul man, equal parts Amos Lee and G. Love with a hint of Dave Matthews. Montbleau swears that his band and headliners ALO are like brothers from different mothers. Headliners ALO, a California crew signed to Jack Johnson's Brushfire label, are laid-back jammers with a flair for pop hooks who are more energetic live. (8 p.m. Fri., Varsity, $16.50-$28.50.) Jon Bream

Allentown, Pa., quartet Pissed Jeans is one modern band on the Sub Pop Records roster that sounds left over from the label's late-'80s era, with hardcore-meets-sludge-metal guitar crunch and Nirvana/Melvins-style snark. The band's fourth album, "Honeys," is especially a riot, with fervent songs that mock everything from mass-processed food to drunken socialites, all delivered by wily, wild-eyed frontman Matt Korvette. Local noise maestros Gay Witch Abortion and Total Trash open, in case there was any doubt earplugs might be required. (9 p.m. Fri., Triple Rock, $12.) Chris Riemenschneider

Fountains of Wayne's celebrated songwriting duo Chris Collingsworth and Adam Schlesinger have always been held up as more sophisticated pop maestros than their rocky albums and novelty hit "Stacy's Mom" suggest. So it shouldn't be surprising that they're playing one of the poshest clubs in town on a three-city acoustic trek. (8 p.m. Fri., Dakota, $35.) Riemenschneider

Nobody in Minnesota nowadays does native son Bob Dylan as well as the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank do. After issuing solo albums last year, Duluthian brothers Teague and Ian Alexy paired up for a second Hobos collection, "Number One Contender," and it plainly yet magically shows off their No. 1 influence. Working at Sparta Studios with Rich Mattson co-producing, they seemed to egg each other on the way the Band prodded Bob, with loose, lively song rave-ups and masterful guitar work. Easily one of the best Minnesota-made albums of the year. The bros kick off their release weekend Friday at Grandma's Sports Garden in Duluth. Their Twin Cities party will feature Trampled by Turtles fiddler Ryan Young and openers the Jillian Rae Band and Walker Fields. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry, $10.)

Johnny Rivers is the rare 1960s rock star who can still headline his own shows rather than touring with an oldies package. At 70, he retains the vocal strength and charisma to deliver his hits, including "Summer Rain," "Secret Agent Man" and "Poor Side of Town." He's even got a new single, a bluegrass-tinged rendition of "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It." (8 p.m. Sat., Treasure Island Casino, $20-$30.) Bream

Before she became a famous actress on Fox's "Married ... With Children," Katey Sagal was a singer who worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Tanya Tucker and Bette Midler. She even released a couple of solo albums and has contributed songs to the soundtrack of her current hit series, FX's "Sons of Anarchy." Sagal is taking the show on the road for four Midwest gigs, bringing versatile jazzy soulman Curtis Stigers to sing the theme song, cast members Theo Rossi (Juice) and Mark Boone Junior (Bobby Elvis) to answer questions from fans, and herself to showcase her musical talents. Read an interview with Sagal at www.startribune.com/tv. (8 p.m. Sat., Mill City Nights, $49.50-$250.) Bream

Beyoncé played Etta James in the movie "Cadillac Records," Christina Aguilera has included James' "At Last" in her repertoire for years, and Flo Rida sampled James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me" in his hit "Good Feeling." Versatile Minneapolis singer Thomasina Petrus, who portrayed Billie Holiday at Park Square Theatre, will salute James in a show titled "Etta ... Tell Mama." (7 p.m. Sat. & 3 p.m. Sun., Capri Theater, $25.) Bream

While his old bandmate Morrissey canceled on Twin Cities fans three times before finally calling off his date here, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr could very well pick up a lot of new admirers on his first-ever U.S. solo tour. His second solo album, "The Messenger," is electrifying, showcasing the distinctive guitar work he also brought to The The, Electronic and Modest Mouse as well as Marr's unsung songwriting abilities. He's reiterating those abilities on tour by playing a handful of the Smiths' best-loved songs, for which he shares credit. Read an interview with Marr in Sunday's Variety section. (8 p.m. Tue., Varsity Theater, $22-$35.) Riemenschneider

British singer/songwriter Nick Drake was a brilliant, brooding, stage-fearing, depressive loner who become more famous after his death. He made only three albums from 1969 to '72, but those works, especially the finale "Pink Moon," have elevated him to revered status, with his dark, solitary and often bleak work often cited as the inspiration for many, including the Cure, Kate Bush and Lucinda Williams. He will be saluted by several Twin Cities musicians, including Mason Jennings, Steve Tibbetts and Haley Bonar, as well as esteemed music-biz executive Joe Boyd, who produced Drake along with Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd and many others. Boyd, who just produced a new Drake tribute album, will also give a presentation and do a Q&A. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Cedar Cultural Center, $10.) Bream

Much like Trampled by Turtles did last week, Poliça is wrapping up a steady year of international touring with a hometown gig at the club where it launched its album's release. If there happens to be any doubt the two-drummered, ethereal throb-rock quartet maintained its buzz in that time, this show follows a two-weekend stint at the Coachella Music Fest and the release of a new single, "Tiff," which features longtime pal Justin Vernon of Bon Iver on guest vocals. Psychedelic twang-poppers Night Moves open along with Ronia, a new duo featuring Dark Dark Dark singer Nona Marie and electronic wiz Mark McGee. (8:30 p.m. Tue., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Black, brilliant, woefully underappreciated — composer Julius Eastman (1940-1990) is a natural for Jace Clayton's first foray into classical music. As DJ/rupture, the Brooklyn-based renaissance dude has been creating and re-creating music with meaning (with an emphasis on Africa and the African diaspora) for the better part of 15 years. "Julius Eastman Memorial Dinner" finds Clayton and a small army of collaborators conjuring a multimedia celebration of the troubled visionary's short life and remarkable work. (7:30 p.m. Thu., 8 p.m. next Fri., Music Room at SPCO Center, 408 St. Peter St., third floor, $5-$10.) Rod Smith

After a decade of cultish fame and critical accolades, Idaho-bred Americana pop tunesmith Josh Ritter should see a little more commercial success with his charmer of a new album, "The Beast in Its Tracks." There's already good radio support for the sweet-lament single "Joy to You Baby," which sounds like a long lost Nilsson classic. Sea Wolf, a k a Los Angeles folk-rocker Alex Brown Church, opens with a solo acoustic set. (8:30 p.m. Thu., First Avenue, $25.) Riemenschneider

Kellie Pickler is starting to get more respect. The first "American Idol" alum to land on "Dancing With the Stars" — where she's doing quite well — Pickler released one of the most critically acclaimed country albums of 2012, "100 Proof." It's good ol' classic country, with such standout tracks as "Long as I Never See You Again" and "Where's Tammy Wynette?" Pickler always gets amped for her Twin Cities performances because her songwriter husband, Kyle Jacobs, is from Bloomington. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Mystic Lake Casino, $39-$49.) Bream

If you like sparkling, inventive, driving and bluesy mainstream jazz piano, David Hazeltine is your man. A Milwaukee native and longtime New York fixture, he has played with quite a collection of seminal jazz stars, including Eddie Harris, James Moody and Chet Baker (who advised him to move to the Apple). (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter, $15.) Surowicz

Tributes to John Coltrane usually involve a sax or two, but local guitar trio Red Planet pays tribute to Trane at every gig, recycling lesser known compositions such as "Saturn," "Africa" and "Mr. Syms." Now the Twin Cities Jazz Society has invited the band to tackle a whole concert's worth of Coltrane classics. That's an ideal challenge for lifelong Coltrane lovers Dean Magraw (guitar), Chris Bates (bass) and Jay Epstein (drums). (4 p.m. Sun., Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St., St. Paul. $5-$12.) Surowicz

Lest you think Molly Ringwald is another actress trying to be a singer, consider her background: She recorded with her father, a jazz pianist, at age 6, sang in L.A. musicals at 10 and recorded albums for Disney at 12. Then she became a teen actress, starring in "Sixteen Candles" and "Pretty in Pink." This year, Ringwald released her first adult album, "Except ... Sometimes," a collection of jazz standards. While she shows a good grasp of jazz instincts, her voice is a bit thin and her phrasing self-conscious. But Ringwald fans must hear her reworking of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" — the Simple Minds smash featured in her film "The Breakfast Club" — as a dark, intimate ballad. (7 & 9 p.m. Tue., Dakota, $25-$35.) Bream

Singer/songwriter, activist and women's music pioneer Holly Near comes to town for the first time in many moons in support of the ambitious two-disc set "Peace Becomes You." It ranges all over the map: jazz standards, folk, lounge pop, a hootenanny sing-along ("There's a Meetin' Here Tonight"), a "My Fair Lady" hit ("I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face"), even a Dean Martin cover ("Sway"). Near is bringing the core band from that album plus backup singer Andre dos Santos Morgan. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, $22-$25.) Tom Surowicz