The Big Gigs for week of 11/16

POP/ROCK How many 89.3 the Current-adored new bands can one little-known Eau Claire, Wis., group spawn? The answer is three, thanks to Field Report, the quietly orchestrated, Daniel Lanois-esque Americana/folk ensemble whose frontman Chris Porterfield got his start in DeYarmond Edison with Justin "Bon Iver" Vernon and the dudes in Megafaun. After local opening gigs with Dr. Dog and Emmylou Harris, the band returns for a long-awaited headlining gig behind its sleepy but elegant eponymous debut, which includes the single "I Am Not Waiting Anymore." Milwaukee's Old Earth opens with moody local rockers the Farewell Circuit. (9 p.m. Fri., Turf Club. $12.) Chris Riemenschneider

A lot happened for Old Crow Medicine Show during its year-plus hiatus. The Nashville-based, all-acoustic folk/bluegrass troupe splintered into various outside projects and was featured in the Mumford & Sons-led documentary "Big Easy Express." Founding member Chris "Critter" Fuqua rejoined after a battle with alcoholism while another longtime Showman, guitarist Willie Watson, exited. The end results are on display as the group returns to the road in support of its new album, "Carry Me Back." Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys open. (9 p.m. Fri., Mill City Nights. $34.50.) Riemenschneider

Want a chance to see an '80s one-hit-wonder up close and in stylish confines? Try Bow Wow Wow at the new spot run by the former Nick and Eddie restaurant team. The Malcolm McLaren-created British group, which scored with its 1982 remake of the Strangeloves' "I Want Candy," still tours sporadically and pops up occasionally on hipstery retro outlets such as Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" soundtrack. Local punkabilly starlets L'Assassins open. (9:30 p.m. Fri., the Belmore/New Skyway Lounge, 25 N. 1st St., Mpls. $20.) Riemenschneider

After touring with Bon Iver and Radiohead in the past year, dynamic chamber-folkies Other Lives are headlining their own tour. Their new "Mind the Gap" EP dramatically layers diverse instrumentation and sleepily enchanting vocals in a Pink Floyd-in-flannel fashion. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, $12-$14.) Michael Rietmulder

On this year's "Charmer," Aimee Mann returns to a pop sound, a synth-driven 1980s vibe reminiscent of the Cars. The title track is built around a catchy keyboard lick. She teams with James Mercer of the Shins on the breakup song "Living a Lie." And then there's the single "Labrador." To fully appreciate it, check out the video, a parody of her 1985 breakthrough hit video "Voices Carry" with Til Tuesday; it features "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm and rocker Ted Leo, who will open this concert solo. (7 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $25.) Jon Bream

Celebrating Christmas in concert before Thanksgiving? That may be verboten in some people's books, but our own pompadoured guitar god will kick off the Brian Setzer Orchestra's 26-concert Christmas Rocks! tour this weekend, not far from his Minneapolis condo. The terrific guitarist and swell showman always comes up with colorful outfits and snazzy arrangements for his big-band treatments of holiday fare. And, on the ninth annual yule tour with his well-drilled 18-piece orchestra, he might even throw in his secular sensations "Rock This Town" and "Jump Jive and Wail." (8 p.m. Sat., Orpheum Theatre, $43.50-$58.50.) Bream

The Whigs are a straight-up, no-nonsense rock trio from Athens, Ga., whose poppy but bombastic songs -- think: Nirvana gone South -- have gone over well when they've opened for the likes of Kings of Leon and the Hold Steady. Their new album, "Enjoy the Company," was produced by Hold Steady cohort John Agnello. Opening band Kuroma is led by former Whigs member Hank Sullivant, who also toured with MGMT. (9 p.m. Sat., Triple Rock. $15.) Riemenschneider

Techno statesman Richie Hawtin has embarked on a tour targeting college-age fans of the burgeoning EDM genre who may have been in diapers when he was throwing Detroit-area raves. Detroit techno forefather Kevin Saunderson, Gaiser, Ean Golden and more also perform. (9 p.m. Sun., Loft at Barfly, $20.) Rietmulder

Frat-rap pioneer Asher Roth was easy to hate in 2009, when his smash single "I Love College" gave the popped-collar set further license for obnoxiousness. Leaked tracks from the Pennsylvania-born MC's forthcoming follow-up feature a more perspicacious Roth rapping atop artful, genre-swerving beats. Has the party-rapper graduated to respectability? This much is certain: His image is less undergrad, more indie-rock. (7 p.m. Sun., Cabooze. All ages. $16.50-$18.) Jay Boller

Lindsey Buckingham may have released "One-Man Show," a live solo acoustic album, this week. But don't necessarily expect his one-man acoustic performance in Minneapolis to be a regurgitation of that album. The Fleetwood Mac man is not only a gifted singer, songwriter and guitarist but he has the gift of gab. The set list should be a mix of Mac material and tunes from Buckingham's six solo discs, including last year's strikingly underproduced and homemade-sounding "Seeds We Sow." (8 p.m. Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, $80-$125.) Bream

Perhaps the most inspired mish-mash of classic punk and futuristic hip-hop this side of a P.O.S. record, the Death Grips are a teeth-rattling drum/rap ensemble from Sacramento, Calif. They've been in the music press in recent weeks over a fallout with Epic Records, which signed the group and then -- go figure -- dropped them for issuing their album for free online. Their experimental bomb-attack music has a similarly unscrupulous, forget-all charm. Cross-dressing New York rapper/poet Mykki Blanco opens. (9 p.m. Wed., 7th Street Entry. $15.) Riemenschneider

As Ike Reilly remembered it, Thanksgiving Eve 2002 was "the first time we played there and everybody knew all the words to the songs." The frontman of Liberty, Ill.'s Clash-loving quintet the Ike Reilly Assassination told former First Avenue booker Steve McClellan that night that he would play the same date every year "till the day I die." Reilly is still alive and returning with his gnarly-rocking pals for their 10th anniversary Turkey Day warmup. As always, the local openers add to the allure, with Communist Daughter headed out on tour with Jason Isbell next week and Actual Wolf fresh from its high Picked to Click poll position. (8:30 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. $15.) Riemenschneider

Punky, high-adrenaline, sometimes nihilistic New Jersey indie-rock band Titus Andronicus makes for an ironic Thanksgiving night entertainment option, given that the opening line of its riveting latest album, "Local Business," is, "OK, I think we've established that everything is worthless." Named after one of Shakespeare's most violent and tragic works, Titus has a way of having rowdy good fun even when it's railing against worldly or personal woes. Matador-signed Bay Area hardcore band Ceremony and local trio Buildings open. (9 p.m. Thu., 7th Street Entry, $15.) Riemenschneider

JAZZ The JazzMN Orchestra doesn't have the typical out-of-town guest for its "Tribute to New Orleans," but the enterprising big band does have a well thought-out program. It includes Ellington's "Portrait of Louis Armstrong," the timeless "Basin Street Blues," Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp" and some big-band takes on the work of such funky modern-day Crescent City brass bands as the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth. Toss in vocals by Charmin Michelle, who makes swinging seem as easy as riding a bike downhill, and you can't go far wrong. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center, 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Minnetonka. $17-$29. www.jazzmn.org) Surowicz

If you like gypsy jazz in the tradition of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, it doesn't get much better than Dorado Schmitt's Gypsy All-Stars. A brilliant French guitarist himself, Schmitt bounced back from a near-fatal car crash to become one of the world's top exponents of "jazz manouche." His band features two other amazing players: violinist Pierre Blanchard, a classically schooled modernist who's recorded with legendary saxman Lee Konitz, and supple, swingin' accordionist Ludovic Beier. Expect to be entranced. (7 & 9 p.m. Mon., Dakota Jazz Club, $20-$27.) Tom Surowicz

BLUES/ROOTS C.J. Chenier's latest album, 2011's "Can't Sit Down," is loaded with familiar blues, R&B and rock covers along with surprise zydeco treatments of Tom Waits' "Clap Hands" and Curtis Mayfield's "We Gotta Have Peace." Now Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band bring their bayou boogie upriver for two nights. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Dakota Jazz Club, $25.) Surowicz

NEW MUSIC In just four years, Zeitgeist's New Music Cabaret has taken on the aura of an eclectic mini-festival--a Cook's tour of the Twin Cities' ever-livelier new-music scene (with a bit of the baroque tossed in). The current edition marshals no fewer than 12 local groups in the cozy confines of Zeitgeist's Studio Z; highlights include Ensemble 61, playing Jocelyn Hagen's new "Tink and Thud" (7 p.m. Fri.), Gao Hong & Butterfly (10 p.m. Sat.), Carei Thomas' Neighborhood (5 p.m. Sun.) and, for the late-night crowd, flamboyant composer/pianist Joey Schad (11 p.m. Fri.). (Fri.-Sun., 275 E. 4th St., Suite 200, St. Paul. $10 per day. zeitgeistnewmusic.com) Larry Fuchsberg