POP/ROCK At least for those of us lucky enough to get a taste of its live shows back in the day -- and by taste, I mean smashed chunks of watermelon landing in your mouth -- Metallagher was an unforgettable antidote to the often overly serious mid-'00s music scene. The quintet concocted the who'd-a-thunk-it mixture of Metallica tunes and Gallagher bits, combining the biggest band of its members' youth with arguably the worst celebrity comedian of all time. They're back for an almost-annual gig to remind you how bad the hammer-swinging comic really was, but they're also good enough as a cover band to do the pre-"Black Album" tunes justice. The Good Bars and Deaf Mexico open. (10 p.m. Fri., Triple Rock. $10.) Chris Riemenschneider
Just as nonchalantly as he dropped out more than a decade ago, one of the Twin Cities' most buzzed-about indie singers of the '90s is back with the Jim Ruiz Set, a new trio featuring his new wife and a batch of new, classic-sounding lounge-pop songs. Ruiz just released his first album since his last Legendary Jim Ruiz record in 1998, titled "Mount Curve Avenue" and issued on a new local co-op label, Korda Records. Ruiz headlines a showcase for the label with two of its other acts: Ocean Blue, an atmospheric and jangly Pennsylvania buzz band signed to Sire Records in the early '80s and now partially based out of Minneapolis, plus the Owls/Hang-Ups mash-up group the Starfolk. To read an update on Ruiz, see Saturday's Variety section. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry. $12.) Riemenschneider
A cult-loved New York band solidly stuck between the grunge and hardcore punk scenes in the early '90s, Quicksand played a hometown reunion gig and Jimmy Fallon's show over the summer, and things went well enough to launch its first tour in 13 years. The quartet released only two crushing albums, "Slip" and "Manic Compression" -- both of which stand up surprisingly well -- before abruptly splitting in 1995. In the interim, bassist Sergio Vega became a member of the Deftones, and frontman Walter produced for the likes of Hot Water Music. They were a monstrous live act, and recent clips suggest they still are. Canadian band Single Mothers opens. (8 p.m. Sun., First Avenue, $25.) Riemenschneider
A sister act originally born as a healing way out of a personal tragedy, the Ericksons have maintained their stark, soul-baring, go-to-the-light tone while stretching out musically on a record that should bring them into the spotlight. "The Wild" was recorded in the semi-wild environment of Fall Creek, Wis., at Justin Vernon's studio, with the same guy who engineered Field Report's record there, Beau Sorenson. Atmospheric guitar/pedal-steel parts and rolling drums add a Daniel Lanois-like sheen to Bethany Valenti's and Jenny Kochsiek's coffeehouse-warm, Emmylou Harris-channeling vocals. The sweet-voiced sibling folkies even get rocking in one of the best tracks, "Find Yourself a Lover." Their album-release party features Jimmy Peterson, of Bellwether and 757s notoriety, as opener. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $12-$15.) Riemenschneider
Come for the good cause, and stay for the hyperactive rock, when the Used heads up the 11th annual Take Action Tour. This year's do-gooder caravan and accompanying compilation album -- from the Hopeless Records nonprofit offshoot Sub City -- benefits the It Gets Better Project, an organization that counsels and encourages gay and lesbian teens. It's also another chance for Utah's angst-ridden Warped Tour vets to promote their fifth album, "Vulnerable." Rounding out the lineup are Michigan metalcore band We Came as Romans, Crown the Empire and Mindflow. (5:30 p.m. Thu., First Avenue, $27.50.) Riemenschneider
COUNTRY
Always a Nashville outsider, Dwight Yoakam has captured only one Grammy and no prizes from any of the major country award organizations. But this proud purveyor of Bakersfield country music has scored 14 Top 10 country singles, sold more than 25 million albums and won the hearts of many fans with his honky-tonk tales, edgy big-screen acting and sexy dancing legs in concert. Yoakam's recent album "3 Pears" -- his first collection of original material in seven years -- was one of the best country albums of 2012. With a 1960s vibe permeating the collection, there are introspective ballads (the Buddy Holly-meets-Roy Orbison "Trying"), honky-tonk romps ("Dim Lights, Thick Smoke"), twangy Beatlesy pop ("Take Hold of My Hand") and Byrds-like pop-rock ("Nothin' But Love," "A Heart Like Mine," produced by Beck). (8 p.m. Fri. Treasure Island Casino, Red Wing, Minn. $38-$48, 1-877-849-1640.) Jon Bream
FOLK/ROOTS With a double bill of Kelly Joe Phelps and Peter Mulvey, you get two fine songwriters and singers who are also excellent guitarists. Pacific Northwest bluesman Phelps is a critics' darling and musicians' favorite known for his stellar slide-guitar work, both lap slide and bottleneck. Wisconsin-based Mulvey is nominally a folkie, but his range of interests and material seems boundless. Lesser-known but ultimately more interesting, Mulvey has terrific taste in cover material, putting his own quirky stamp on gems by everyone from Marvin Gaye to Leonard Cohen to Thelonious Monk. 8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, $15.) Tom Surowicz
