The Big Gigs: music of note July 27-Aug. 2

POP/ROCK George Michael without Andrew Ridgeley is not Wham. John Rich without Kenny Alphin is not Big & Rich. But Kurt Neumann without Sammy Llanas is still the BoDeans. If you've heard this year's "American Made" by Neumann's BoDeans, you might miss Llanas' vocal harmonies. (He left abruptly last summer.) But Neumann claims he did the heavy lifting for years. Frankly, he sounds a little ham-handed here, especially on the Mellencamp-wannabe "American," and obvious, especially on the faux Springsteen "Absolutely" and the Boss cover "I'm on Fire." He's more convincing on the Nashville-ready "Anything You Wanted." Judging by ticket sales, fans are still buying the BoDeans; still, some folks believe in truth in advertising. Miles Nielsen, a Cory Chisel sideman, brings his own band, the Rusted Hearts, to open Friday; Twin Cities' faves the Honeydogs do the honors Saturday. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Minnesota Zoo, $35.) Jon Bream

If you missed Warped Tour, you can still catch the band that has been on more of those outings than any other. Boisterous New Jersey punks Bouncing Souls are touring behind their ninth album, "Comet," recorded with producer Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag). This year also marks their 25th anniversary. Chicago pop/punk stalwarts the Smoking Popes, who've been together a few years longer, also perform along with the Menzingers and Luther. (6 p.m. Sat., First Avenue. All ages. $16.) Chris Riemenschneider

Big Time Rush is the new-millennium answer to the Monkees -- a made-for-TV boy band. The conceit on the Nickelodeon show is that these four hockey players from Minnesota go to Hollywood to ply their musical and dancing skills. In addition to the TV series being in its third season, BTR has released two high-charting albums and undertaken its first arena and amphitheater tour this summer. Opening are Australian teen Cody Simpson and irresistibly cute "X Factor" sensation Rachel Crow, who is now 14. (7 p.m. Sat., Target Center, $25-$65.) Bream

Whether he plays a jazz festival, a jam-band weekend or with Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph lights up the stage with his soulful voice and exciting pedal steel guitar. Backed by the Family Band (featuring two of his cousins), he gets the crowd going with his brand of gospel-blues and inspired covers of Dylan, Prince and Lennon. The perfectly chosen opener is JJ Grey and Mofro, gritty Southern blenders of blues, rock, country, gospel and R&B. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Minnesota Zoo, $38.) Bream

In her brand-new memoir, "Diamond in the Rough," Shawn Colvin is not easy to like at first. A childhood pyromaniac in Vermillion, S.D., she grew up to torch any items associated with her ex-lovers. But once you get past her anorexia, addiction and depression, you begin to understand this gifted singer/songwriter and the reasons behind her Grammy-winning "Sunny Came Home." Colvin's musical talents are amply demonstrated on this year's album, "All Fall Down," a collection of mostly dark songs framed by Buddy Miller's atmospheric but organic production. "Anne of a Thousand Days" disses a serial cheater and "Knowing What I Know" is classic, bitterly introspective Colvin. Opening is impressive Oklahoma rootsy singer/songwriter John Fullbright. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Guthrie Theater, $40.) Bream

Headliner of last summer's Carnival of Madness show at the State Fair, Theory of a Deadman is mostly playing fair and festival gigs this summer but is treating Twin Cities fans to one of its only club gigs -- in this case, the newly named and renovated space formerly known as the Brick. Vancouver's other brawny post-grunge hard-rock band (after Nickelback) is still out supporting last year's album "The Truth Is... ," which produced a couple of 93X-style hits in "Hurricane" and "Lowlife." Aranda and Charm City Devils open. (8 p.m. Tue., Mill City Nights. $25.) Riemenschneider

Jennifer Lopez is proving more unpredictable in concert than she was on "American Idol." In Newark, N.J., the other day, she entered with pomp and circumstance and, of course, lots of dancers. Then, after a couple of songs, she announced her departure from "Idol." Nice. She looked great on TV but is the '00s dance-pop diva past her prime onstage? We'll find out in her Twin Cities debut, which comes on a co-headline tour with Enrique Iglesias, who has conquered the charts in both English and Spanish. Frankie J opens. Read a joint interview with Lopez and Iglesias in Monday's Variety. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Target Center, $29.50-$129.50.) Bream

It's not often that an Oscar nominee performs at the 400 Bar. Josh Raskin, a mash-up artist of the Girl Talk ilk, mixes together the likes of Emily Haines, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Lauryn Hill under the stage moniker Kids & Explosions. He took a similar pieced-together approach to his 2008 film "I Met the Walrus," an Oscar nominee for animated short, based on a 1969 interview with John Lennon conducted by a 14-year-old groupie. Sad Sackabones opens. (9 p.m. Wed., 400 Bar. $7.) Riemenschneider

After some trying times -- a blocked lung, a divorce and the death of her father -- Mary Chapin Carpenter expresses her deepest emotions on this summer's "Ashes and Roses." Guests, including James Taylor, buoy the soft sounds but these reflections on heartbreak, loneliness and grief are far from easy listening. Opening is Tift Merritt, an alt-country warbler of style and grace. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Minnesota Zoo, $44.) Bream

Despite her Los Angeles roots, subtle storyteller Eleni Mandell has a Midwestern earnestness, which makes her biographical unbuttoned folk tales all the more tangible. Her latest album, "I Can See the Future" (which she began recording while eight months pregnant), tackles life-altering topics with chin-up zeal.. (9 p.m. Wed. 7th Street Entry, $10-$12.) Michael Rietmulder

Il Divo, one of Simon Cowell's most successful projects, returns with its neo-classical interpretations of pop songs. On their fifth studio album, 2011's "Wicked Game," the three tenors and a baritone offer the title track in Italian, Roy Orbison's "Crying" in Spanish and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" in English. (8 p.m. Thu., Target Center, $57-$127.) Bream

BLUESTo Minnesotans who remember the '60s, Mark Naftalin was as well known for being the son of the Minneapolis mayor as he was for playing keyboards in the Butterfield Blues Band. Beyond that storied group, Naftalin compiled a heavyweight résumé, playing with Albert King, Etta James, Bo Diddley and Van Morrison, to name a few. Now based in Connecticut after years in the San Francisco area, Naftalin runs a record label (Winner) and hosts a radio show, "The Blues Power Hour" (now in its 28th year). Between solo sets, he will be interviewed onstage by Minneapolis music man Paul Metsa. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Artists Quarter, $15.) Bream

JAZZVeteran bassist Jay Young shows off his new ensemble, the Lyric Factory, in a program of music by Herbie Hancock and Earth, Wind & Fire. The band features powerhouse drummer Kevin Washington, and some up-and-coming singers from McNally-Smith College of Music. (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter, $12.) Tom Surowicz

Any show by the reigning champ of the Hammond organ, Joey DeFrancesco, could be construed as a tribute to the great Jimmy Smith. But this two-night-stand is an overt "Tribute to Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery," with guitar legend Larry Coryell on board to salute the revolutionary Montgomery, who collaborated on a few joyous recordings with Smith. As if that weren't enough, the drummer for these dates is Jimmy Cobb, 83, the last surviving musician from Miles Davis' hallowed "Kind of Blue" album and drummer on several Montgomery albums. (7 & 9 p.m. Wed.-Thu., Dakota Jazz Club, $25-$40.) Surowicz