The Big Gigs for week of 12/2

HOLIDAY

The new CD "The New Standards & Friends Holiday Show" captures the spirit of this yule tradition, now in its fifth year. The Twin Cities jazz/pop trio welcomes such guests as poet Robert Bly and singers Prudence Johnson, Dan Wilson and Gary Louris -- all heard on the compilation -- for a hipster holiday revue. New Standards singers Chan Poling and John Munson won't disclose this year's guests except to say they're luminaries from jazz, dance, poetry, hip-hop and New York. Always recommended -- even without knowing the guest list. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Fitzgerald Theater, $32.) Jon Bream

Pianist Lorie Line is taking a new approach with her annual holiday show: She's splitting her appearances between Burnsville Performing Arts Center (this weekend) and Orchestra Hall (Dec. 21-23). She's cut back her accompanists to the "Fab 5," including new violinist Maureen Nilsen and the former drummer from hip-hop/soul band Black Blondie, Nate Babbs. But expect the usual stunning outfits, holiday classics and bell ringing, all wrapped with a big bow. (7:30 p.m. Fri. & 3 p.m. Sat., Burnsville Performing Arts Center, $47.) Bream

Before heading to his usual 18-night holiday run at New York's Blue Note nightclub, telegenic trumpeter Chris Botti brings his combo to town. Known for his PBS specials and his work backing Sting and Paul Simon, Botti has sent three of his solo albums to the top of Billboard's jazz chart. While his recordings fall in the realm of smooth jazz, Botti and his excellent band offer more spark, passion and rewards in concert. (8 p.m. Fri., Orchestra Hall, $25-$100.) Bream

This year, Minnesota's own Broadway star Linda Eder reunited with her ex-husband, composer Frank Wildhorn, for an album called "Now," which mostly evoked vintage Barbra Streisand. Right now, the versatile chanteuse from Brainerd is concentrating on her annual holiday show. She will be joined by high school vocalists from the Hennepin Theatre Trust's Spotlight Musical Theatre Program (she's the spokesperson) and her own combo. (8 p.m. Fri., Pantages Theater, $53.50-$63.50.) Bream

Trans-Siberian Orchestra's idea of a Christmas pageant is fire, fog and heavy-metal bombast. TSO tells the story of an angel looking for the Christmas spirit and then blasts with volume, speed and special effects. Paul O'Neill, the leader of this collision of heavy-metal and classic music, is featured in the new PBS special "The Birth of Rock Theater." (3:30 & 7:30 p.m. Sun., Xcel Energy Center, $31-$65.) Bream

POP/ROCK

In the two-plus years since his truly royal "Noble Beast" album, Andrew Bird has flittered around through myriad projects, including a score for the indie flick "Norman" and a song on the new Muppets movie soundtrack. He also instigated -- and later tried to quell -- a documentary movie on himself called "Fever Year," which chronicled his unusual musical ways as well as a lengthy illness that sidelined him some in 2010. Hopefully, the Illinois indie-folk virtuoso's regular year-end gig at First Avenue with his Minneapolis-based band will signal a more regular year to come. The gig could be billed as the Postpartum Party, since both Bird and opener Haley Bonar have new babies at home. (7 p.m. Sat., First Avenue. Sold out.) Riemenschneider

Not only is he the only singer/songwriter to run for governor of Texas, but Jesse Ventura's pal Kinky Friedman may be the only musician undertaking a multi-state Hanukkah tour this year. Not sure if the man once hailed as the Frank Zappa of country music will sing any Hanukkah songs, but the tongue-in-cheek troubadour promises to perform "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore" and "Ride 'Em Jewboy." He'll also be hawking his books, including "You Can Lead a Politician to Water..." and "The Christmas Pig," and signing "anything but legislation." (9 p.m. Sat., 400 Bar, $40.) Bream

Southern Cali metal hitmakers Avenged Sevenfold are taking a victory lap behind their 2010 album "Nightmare," a harrowing disc made in the shadow of drummer James "The Rev" Sullivan's death and frontman M. Shadow's anxiety bouts. Openers Hollywood Undead went over well at this summer's 93X Fest and can share black eyeliner with the Avenged dudes, if needed. Asking Alexandria and Black Veil Brides also perform. (6:30 p.m. Sat., Target Center. $25-$44.75.) Riemenschneider

L.A. pop-rockers Foster the People have fostered a lot of mixed emotions since their tellingly brief but surprisingly OK gig at the Fine Line in June, just as their summer mega-hit "Pumped Up Kicks" was kicking into gear. They postponed their First Ave show back in October so they could play "Saturday Night Live," where they enlisted Kenny G to jam with them. Even more cheesebally, they're squeezing in a short set at the KDWB Jingle Ball across the street at Target Center right before this gig. Give Mark Foster and his fellow band of pretty boys credit for sticking to the original venue (unlike Adele). The question is: Are they really a good fit for First Ave anymore? Local opener Poliça lends back some buzz to the proceedings. (9 p.m. Sun., First Avenue. Sold out.) Riemenschneider

The lineup for KDWB's annual Jingle Ball is heavy on acts with teen appeal: the bubblegum-ish Hot Chelle Rae, known for the smash "Tonight Tonight"; the increasingly popular Nickelodeon-hatched boy band Big Time Rush; Gym Class Heroes, who are making noise again with "Stereo Hearts"; emo rockers Cobra Starship; Florida soul man Jason Derulo; indie hitmakers Foster the People, and enduring headliner Kelly Clarkson, the original "American Idol," who is hot again with "Mr. Know It All." (6:30 p.m. Sun., Target Center, $28.57-$101.30.) Bream

A master of many styles, Catherine Russell was born into the music business. Her father, pianist Luis Russell, was Louis Armstrong's longtime bandleader and her mother, Carline Ray, is a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist who worked with the great pianist/composer Mary Lou Williams. Russell has sung backup with various big names (David Bowie, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper) and stole the show at the 2010 State Fair with the Dukes of September (Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen) on the McDonald hit "Takin' It to the Streets." In February, she'll drop her fourth solo CD, "Strictly Romancin'," a deliciously diverse collection that travels from sly blues and glorious gospel to rollicking jump blues and spirited swing. Her mom joins her on a duet of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "He's All I Need." Top-shelf stuff. (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, $25) Bream

True Wilco fans long ago stopped looking for the band's "best album since 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.'" Each of the Chicago sextet's efforts since its 2002 critical climax has its unique charms. However, "The Whole Love" really might deserve the blustery reception over all the rest. The alt-twangers-turned-art-rockers' first disc for their own label, dBpm Records, it has a classic Beatles sonic quality and some of the most visionary songwriting of Jeff Tweedy's storied career. As with all the recent Wilco material, though, the real test is how one of rock's all-time-best live bands pulls these songs off onstage. Classic Brit-pop hero Nick Lowe, of "Cruel to Be Kind" fame, is not to be missed in the opening slot. (7:30 p.m. Tue.-Wed., State Theatre. Sold out.) Riemenschneider

Get ready for another blast of East Bay funk as the mighty Tower of Power brings its eternal hipness back to the Dakota. Four of the 10 members date back to the 1960s, when the horn-propelled band emerged out of Oakland. Founding tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo is still the boss, leading the boys through such greasy funk classics as "What Is Hip" and "So Very Hard to Go." The group just released a live album, "40th Anniversary," featuring such guests as vocalist Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave) and TOP alums Lenny Pickett (saxman on "Saturday Night Live") and keyboardist Chester Thompson. (7 & 9 p.m. Tue.-Thu., Dakota, $45-$70.) Bream

HIP-HOP

The Tribe & the Big Cats! have been some of the most prolific and entertaining young hip-hop makers to watch in 2011, a year that started with the release of their debut album and went on to include the monthly "Make Good" singles. Heartily partying rapper TruthBeTold and his beatmaking partners are bundling those songs, including the would-be whacked-out hit "We Gone," with newer cuts to make up the "Make Good" EP. The release party features another hip-hop trio, Art School Girls -- actually three dudes -- along with Alicia Steele and "We Gone" collaborator MaLLy. (10 p.m. Fri., 7th Street Entry. $7.) Riemenschneider

ROOTS

Just in time for local "best of 2011" lists, the Barley Jacks celebrate their splendid new set, "The Lighthouse," a deep and deft mix of Americana, bluegrass, folk, country, cornfield jazz and Celtic music. The quartet is led by longtime Stoney Lonesome dude Brian Wicklund, who wrote the book on American fiddling -- several, in fact, for the fabled Mel Bay catalog. Joe Cruz is a proven talent on guitar, as well, and his trio Scenic Roots (bassist/vocalist Kevin Rowe, percussionist Joel Arpin) doubles as the Barley Jacks' rhythm section. But what really stands out is the consistent quality of the disc, the catchy numbers that tell interesting stories in under five minutes. Wicklund's philosophical "Chop Wood" and the romantic traditional tune "Moorlough Shore" are prime examples, and ya gotta like a band that taps both John Hartford ("In Tall Buildings") and Langston Hughes ("Life Is Fine"). (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, $15-$18.) Tom Surowicz

Though best known as a bluesman, guitarist, singer and songwriter, Alvin Youngblood Hart refuses to be typecast. Hart has also tackled Southern rock, hard rock, folk, Stephen Foster songs, even jazz poetry. Along the way, he's collected a W.C. Handy Award, a DownBeat Critics Poll award and a Grammy. So his solo appearance at a tiny suburban barbecue joint is a rather big deal. Reservations recommended. (10 p.m. Sat., Bayport BBQ, 328 5th Av. N., Bayport. $25. 651-955-6337 or BayportBBQ.com.) Surowicz

JAZZ

The band What Would Monk Do? can hardly be accused of overexposure -- they only dig deep into the book of Thelonious once or twice a year, usually around the holidays. Peter Schimke has the pivotal piano role, with Steve Kenny (trumpet), Billy Peterson (bass) and Kenny Horst (drums) completing a veteran cast that promises to be in full flower "Round Midnight." (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter, $10.) Surowicz