The Big Gigs for the week of 4/20

POP/ROCK

Mere babes when they won City Pages' Picked to Click poll in 2008, Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles have outgrown their cutesy, street-busker phase. "Heat," the prolific bunch's fourth album, could be called their first adult record. Recorded in New York with Matt Boynton, an engineer for MGMT and Beirut, it has more electric guitar than ukulele and is way more sophisticated. Floor-stomping opener "Just a Kid" even brings in pedal-steel guitar. Most of all, Michelle's wit and charm as a songwriter have blossomed, from the come-hither wordplay in the snarly "Undone" to the post-breakup poetry in her elegant "Million Things." Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons and Communist Daughter open. (9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $12-$15). Riemenschneider

Tanlines sounds like the bastard child of two groups you probably never imagined would hook up: The Pet Shop Boys and the National. Brooklynites Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm channel the former's warm, worldly, downbeat synth-pop with the latter's urban-wasteland rock sound on their second album, "Mixed Emotions." The duo's live set earned strong marks last month at South by Southwest. Opener Rewards is the new moniker of Chairlift co-founder Aaron Pfenning, recording for the LCD Soundsystem-affiliated DFA label. (9 p.m. Fri., 7th Street Entry. $10-$12.) Chris Riemenschneider

Once competitors with Nickelback for mainstream-rock radio play with such singles as "She Hates Me" and "Control," Puddle of Mudd is down to frontman Wes Scanton and one other member of its heyday lineup. That might explain why the Kansas City-reared hard-rock band is staying put at the Brick while other bands are moving up to bigger venues. There should be no problem fitting in all the fans. (8 p.m. Sat., the Brick. 18 & older. $20.) Riemenschneider

Listening to the less-than-prolific Counting Crows' "Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation)," you might think it's a low-key collection of originals until the fifth tune, "Meet on the Ledge," which Richard Thompson wrote for Fairport Convention. Then you check the liner notes and realize this is a collection of covers, mostly obscure (raise your hand if you're familiar with Coby Brown, Romany Rye or Tender Mercies?). Pure Prairie League's "Amie," the Faces' "Ooh La La" and Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" plow familiar ground but Adam Duritz seldom makes anything sound familiar or easy -- especially Counting Crows' biggest songs. (8 p.m. Sat., State Theatre, $39.50-$59.50.) Jon Bream

On his just-released fourth album "Moving Up Living Down," Eric Hutchinson crafts catchy radio-friendly pop songs that reflect his influences -- the Beatles, Motown and Jason Mraz. Discerning listeners of Cities 97 and KS95 might be able to distinguish nice-guy Hutchinson, the voice of "Rock and Roll," from Mraz, Matt Nathanson and the current parade of pop-lite male singers. Because of ticket demand, the show has been moved from the Fine Line. (6 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $18.) Bream

Moonlighting of late in Dessa's band, Aby Wolf returns to center stage to promote the self-titled debut of her group, A. Wolf & Her Claws. Wolf added layers of electronic grooves and trip-hoppy tones to folk-poet songs originally commissioned by the Cedar's nonprofit arm. Comparisons to Poliça fit hypno-rockers such as "Rise Anew," while there's more of an eccentric, Björk-like quality in such tunes as "Pluto." Wolf feeds well off the meaty groove of her band, featuring drummer Joey Van Phillips (Mystery Palace), keyboardist Linnea Mohn (Rogue Valley) and electronics wiz Jesse Whitney. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, $10-$12). Riemenschneider

The buzz is building for Sydney's the Jezabels, who won the Australian Music Prize in 2011 for "Prisoner" and earned praise stateside for their performance last weekend at Coachella. The two gals/two guys quartet has an all-encompassing, swelling indie sound, distinguished by Hayley Mary's soaring voice, which owes debts to PJ Harvey, Kate Bush and Florence Welch. (8 p.m. Sat. ,Triple Rock, $10-$12.) Bream

Sitting in a chair in front of a stadium full of blues and rock fans, Johnny Winter looked a little frail at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival in 2010. But the 68-year-old Texan sounds renewed on last year's "Roots," his first album in seven years. Sure, he's buoyed by a parade of all-star guests, including Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes and Vince Gill, but Winter's voice and guitar sound vibrant revisiting blues chestnuts. (7 p.m. Sun., Famous Dave's, $25.) Bream

An Austin, Texas, quartet that defies categorization -- a mix of hazy jam band, experimental indie-rock and Lone Star boogie -- White Denim recently toured as Wilco's opener, and drummer Josh Block was part of Craig Finn's solo band this winter. In July, they will be part of the SoundTown fest. Their 2011 album, "D," was an oddly alluring and aurally blissful collection from start to finish, and it still didn't fully capture their live show. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club, $10. Also 9 p.m. Sun., the Cave at Carleton College, Northfield.) Riemenschneider

She may be the sweet-voiced fiddler that Garrison Keillor loves. But on her second solo album, "Sun Midnight Sun" (out May 8), ex-Nickel Creek mainstay Sara Watkins adds a little rock-styled intensity to her dreamy folk-pop sound. Credit producer Blake Mills, guitarist in Lucinda Williams' band. Watkins has some heavyweight special guests, including Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, Benmont Tench and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar, $18-$20.) Bream

Like the undead celebrated in many of the songs it plays, KFAI-FM metal show "Root of All Evil" has lived on despite the untimely passing of founder Earl Root in 2008. Replacement host Tim Honebrink is throwing a party to mark its 25th anniversary, and to help Root's widow, Nancy, with her fundraising efforts for leukemia and lymphoma research. Old-school faves Morticia will kick off the show, and Teratism will reunite as the headliner alongside other thrash/black-metal and hardcore bands, including Demonicon, In Defence and Deretla. (6 p.m. Sun., Triple Rock. $10.) Riemenschneider

Horse Feathers might have just released this year's great mellow-out indie-folk album. Fronted by sweet-voiced plainsman Justin Ringle, whose lyrics are inspired by Cormac McCarthy's stark novels, the Portland-based band wraps his haunting songs in elegant coats of French horn, piano and banjo. (9 p.m. Tue., 7th Street Entry. $13-$15.) Riemenschneider

After losing his wife to cancer in October, retro roots star James Hunter is back on the road. A former Van Morrison sideman, he's England's answer to Chris Isaak -- a killer singer, ace guitarist, quick-witted charmer and handsome pompadoured devil. (7 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Dakota Jazz Club, $40.) Bream

Even though Snow Patrol has an epic sound that screams arena ambitions, the Scottish-Irish rockers really belong in a theater. Last year's "Fallen Empires" added electronica to their expansive sound, but aren't the fans coming to hear the ultimate modern power ballad "Chasing Cars"? (7:30 p.m. Wed., State Theatre, $37.50.) Bream

Massachusetts musicologist Tim Eriksen is a professor (he did time at the U of M) and a picker who's played on "A Prairie Home Companion" and the soundtrack to "Cold Mountain." His new "Banjo, Fiddle and Voice" encapsulates what he does so well -- explore essential old-time folk. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Ginkgo Coffeehouse, $12-$15.) Bream

This week, literate New York singer/songwriter Dar Williams released her 10th album, "In the Time of Gods." With songs inspired by Greek mythology -- "I had such a crush on Hermes," she told the Wall Street Journal -- her sound is dark and moody, her images rich and heavy, her voice pretty and passionate. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cedar, $40-$43.) Bream

HIP-HOP

A Wu-Tang Clan member on 4/20: What could be higher, er, better? Missing from the Wu-Tang show at Epic in January, Ghostface Killah is scheduled to appear with Raekwon at the Soundset fest May 27. First, though, fans can catch him in the solo realm, where he's arguably been more consistent than any of his crew mates over the past decade and a half -- last year's sprawling "Pretty Toney Album" included. Local openers Villa Rosa are better known as Maria Isa and Muja Messiah. Anchormen, Homegrown Crew and DJ D Mil also perform. (9 p.m. Fri., Cabooze. $20-$23.) Riemenschneider

One of the highlights of last year's Soundset, Slaughterhouse is sort of a B-team collective from Eminem's Shady Records roster. They first performed together for the song "Slaughterhouse" on Joe Budden's "Halfway House" album and were also heard on Em's "Recovery." Their second full-length, "Welcome To: Our House," is due in June. Local rappers Absent and Mike the Martyr open. (10 p.m. Sun., Epic. $20.) Riemenschneider

COUNTRY

For her third album, Kellie Pickler decided to get real and mine her hard-core country roots, working with producers Frank Liddell (Miranda Lambert) and Luke Wooten (Dierks Bentley). It was a smart move as Pickler drops the corny persona and heads to the honky tonk on such winners as "Stop Cheatin' on Me" and "Where's Tammy Wynette?" (8 p.m. Fri., Treasure Island, $34-$44.) Bream

JAZZ

Cory Wong is a young man on the go. A fiery and excellent jazz guitarist and bandleader, Wong also runs acclaimed local label Secret Stash Records, plus he's done production work for such big names as Bootsy Collins, Jimmie Vaughan and gospel queen Shirley Caesar. When not playing straight-ahead or fusion jazz, Wong has dug deep into Peruvian music and old-school R&B. This weekend he releases an ambitious double disc, "Quartet/Quintet," featuring bass great Billy Peterson. (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter, $10.) Tom Surowicz

Outstanding trumpeter and composer Terell Stafford is the season finale guest of the JazzMN Big Band. A veteran who's played with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Benny Golson's Sextet and the Jimmy Heath Big Band, he should fit in perfectly. His JazzMN program will include the Bill Cunliffe chart "Minnesota," written for former Twin Cities trombonist Bruce Paulson. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center, 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Minnetonka. $10-$31. www.jazzmn.org.) Surowicz

At the ripe old age of 19, alto sax phenom Grace Kelly is already a jazz star, working with artists old enough to be her granddad, including Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis and mentor Lee Konitz. This precocious bebop master has a gripping sound that also embraces pop, R&B and gospel. She sings, too. Kelly's excellent touring band can follow her every whim. (7 p.m. Sun., Dakota Jazz Club, $20.) Surowicz

The fastest and funkiest jazz alto player ever, Julian "Cannonball" Adderly was a people pleaser whose too-brief career included groundbreaking recordings with innovators (Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans) and pop successes ("Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," "Work Song"). No slouch on alto himself, Doug Haining pays tribute with the Cannonball Collective. (7 p.m. Sun., Artists' Quarter, $5-$10.) Surowicz