The Big Gigs for the week of 10/14

POP/ROCK

Part preacher and part guitar hero, Robert Randolph always thrills with his fervent "sacred steel" guitar, whether he's playing originals, spirituals, blues chestnuts or tunes by Bob Dylan, Prince and John Lennon. Coming on like a modern-day Sly & the Family Stone gone gospel, Randolph and his Family Band reimagine things in ways that you might recognize until you get to the chorus of, say, Michael Jackson's "Thriller." (8 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $20.) Jon Bream

Yet another hipster musician manly enough to pull off falsetto without sounding like a sissy, Milagres singer Kyle Wilson uses his high-reaching voice to great effect on his band's second album for the Kill Rock Stars label, "Glowing Mouth." The Brooklyn-based quintet echoes old-school gloom-popsters like Echo & the Bunnymen alongside buoyant modern rockers such as Grizzly Bear and Spoon on the atmospheric, jaggedly rocking collection. (9 p.m. Mon., 7th Street Entry. $8.) Chris Riemenschneider

Two of Minnesota's best-kept secrets will meet up (and meat up) when Charlie Parr heads down to Bayport for a doubly gritty gig at the barbecue joint started by the former promoter of the Deep Blues Fest. The acoustic bluesman, who opens for Low again back in Duluth a night earlier, smokes on his slide guitar as well as these folks smoke their Texas-style sausage, and his songs linger with flavor. Ohio trio Staving Chain also performs. (7 p.m. Sat., Bayport BBQ, 328 5th Av. N., Bayport. $10.) Riemenschneider

It took last year's Big Four concerts with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth to finally persuade guitarist/bandleader Scott Ian to get Joey Belladonna back out front in Anthrax, and the decision is paying off in droves. The pioneering thrash band's first album with its heyday singer in 21 years, cheekily titled "Worship Music," has reignited the band's non-faithful fans and earned ample praise. Looks like Mastodon has competition for the most-heralded metal album of the year. Always a powerhouse on stage, Anthrax is on tour with fellow '80s vets Testament, who sounded mighty opening for Slayer last year. Death Angel opens. (8 p.m. Sun., First Avenue. $27.50-$30.) Riemenschneider

Having organized countless benefits and booked such bars as Famous Dave's, Minneapolis singer/songwriter Paul Metsa has probably given more gigs to Twin Cities players than any other local musician has. Now it's payback time. Several locals, including Sherwin Linton, Willie Walker, Willie West and Mari Harris, will interpret Metsa songs at a concert to celebrate the publication of his memoir, "Blue Guitar Highway," by the University of Minnesota Press. It's a hard-to-put-down collection of his brushes with Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Garcia and Joey Ramone as he tried to carve his own career as a raspy-voiced troubadour. Read an interview with Metsa in Sunday's Variety section. (7 p.m. Wed., Ritz Theater, free.) Bream

Best known for his work with Gov't Mule, the Allman Brothers and the Dead, Warren Haynes explores his R&B and soul roots on "Man in Motion," his first solo studio album since 1993. True to his jam-band heart, there are plenty of long-winded tunes, but they're flavored with fiery exchanges between Haynes' guitar and various saxists, keyboardists and vocalists. Among the highlights are the smoldering, sax-spiked "Your Wildest Dreams," the funky "Sick of My Shadow," the Wilson Pickett-evoking "Take a Bullet" and the album's lone cover, William Bell's 1967 nugget "Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday," which demonstrates that Haynes is a more soulful singer than he's given credit for. (8 p.m. Wed., Fitzgerald Theater, $30-$35.) Bream

With the Black Crowes back on extended hiatus, co-founding guitarist Rich Robinson has revived a solo career that easily keeps him out of his brother Chris' shadow. He's nowhere near the powerhouse vocalist that Chris is, but he shows off decent range and soul as well as his songwriting talent on a new album, "Through a Crooked Sun." Let's see Chris try to play guitar as mightily as Rich can. Opener Dylan LeBlanc is a promising Louisiana songwriter who opened Lucinda Williams' Dakota gigs last year. (8 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center. All ages. $20.) Riemenschneider

A longtime fixture of the Twin Cities scene, keyboardist, songwriter, singer and guitarist Gregg Inhofer has made his mark with such bands as Pepper Fog, on Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks," and at Curtiss A's annual John Lennon tributes. A great live solo CD in 2007, "Inside," suggested that the super-sideman had long-buried star power of his own. Now Inhofer steps out with his most ambitious, audacious project yet. "Music for the Upright Walking" is a tuneful, rockin' crazy-quilt of an album with an impressive band: guitarist Dale Strength, jazz great Eric Kamau Gravatt on drums, veteran bassist Charles Fletcher and youngster Jason Parvey playing sizzling sax. All will be on hand for next week's release party. (7 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club, $10.) Surowicz

HIP-HOP

No surprise that Mac Miller has sold out First Ave despite scant radio or press support. The Pittsburgh-reared indie-rapper was a crowd favorite at the Soundset fest back in May, and he has built up a rabid online following thanks to hits such as "Kool-Aid & Frozen Pizza." At least his juvenile, backwards-ballcap emo rap suits his age (19). With a young following like that, he'd better sell a lot of concert tickets. Most of his fans probably steal his CDs. Casey Veggies and the Come Up open. (9 p.m. Tue., First Avenue. Sold out.) Riemenschneider

Another Soundset vet who made a big splash as a fest newcomer in 2010, Yelawolf delayed the release of his first album for Eminem's Shady Records until Nov. 21 to "add some important finishing touches." Not sure if that meant adding a couple more of Lil Jon's "yeah's" to the first single, "Hard White (Up in the Club)." The Alabama-bred rapper, who's like the perfect halfway point between Slim Shady and Doomtree, is still hitting the road to preview "Radioactive" and always puts on an intense, near-maniacal show. DJ Kraze and Rittz open. (9 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. (9 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. 18 & older. $16-$18.) Riemenschneider

When his London-based percussionist couldn't get a visa in time for his U.S. tour, Senegalese star Baaba Maal decided to enlist different hand drummers in each town he visits. Another unique part of "Tales From the Sahel" -- billed as a "speaking and performance" tour -- is the participation of British music journalist Chris Salewicz, who'll serve as moderator, interviewing Baaba Maal onstage. The show co-stars Jim Palmer, a young guitarist and singer/songwriter. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, $30-$35.) Surowicz

JAZZ

This weekend marks the coming-out party of a new jazz combo with some familiar faces. Good Life features bassist Billy Peterson, pianist Peter Schimke, drummer Kenny Horst and saxophonist Brandon Wozniak. Peterson and Horst have been playing together for decades, Schimke partnered with them in How Birds Work, and club-hoppers know Wozniak from the Atlantis Quartet, Monk in Motian and the Dave King Trucking Company. (9 p.m. Fri., Sat., Artists' Quarter, $10.) Surowicz

Durable soul-jazz kings the Crusaders put on some super-groovy shows at the Dakota last fall, digging deep into their early 1960s catalog, with Gerald Albright ably subbing for original member Wilton Felder on sax. This week's welcome reprise gig finds Felder back in the fold, along with pianist/composer Joe Sample and trombone maestro Wayne "Big Daddy" Henderson. Now only drummer Stix Hooper is missing in action from the original core lineup -- not bad for a 50-year-old group. (7 & 9 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, $45-$65.) Surowicz

An excellent hard-touring band from Colorado, the Aakash Mittal Quartet offers intriguing original compositions that mix modern jazz with Indian music motifs. The saxman/flutist and his combo have been impressive in club and festival gigs. Now they return to play a free gig, with a "Meet the Band" Q&A component, at a St. Paul music school. (7 p.m. Tue., Walker West Music Academy, 777 Selby Av., St. Paul. Free.) Surowicz

CLASSICAL

The inaugural program of the Minnesota Sinfonia's slightly unseasonable Winter Concert Series showcases Minneapolis native Gary Levinson, who joined the New York Philharmonic's violin section at 21 and is now -- deep breath -- senior principal associate concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony. On the docket are works by Vivaldi ("Winter" from "The Seasons"), Haydn (the "Clock" Symphony), Tchaikovsky ("Melodie, Meditation and Scherzo") and Richard Proulx. Jay Fishman conducts; organist Lynn Trapp is also featured. (7 p.m. Fri., First Covenant Church, 1280 Arcade St., St. Paul; 1:30 p.m. Sat., St. Olaf Catholic Church, 215 8th St. S., Mpls. Free. 612-871-1701 or www.mnsinfonia.org.) Larry Fuchsberg