The Big Gigs: Our critics' music picks

If they're still standing, the Ike Reilly Assassination will make their Triple Rock debut for the final show in the four-night "Hard Luck Residency" tour of Twin Cities venues. (9 p.m. Fri., Triple Rock. 18 & older. $15.) (C.R.)

A cult favorite in the Twin Cities since his days with Soul Coughing, Mike Doughty is touring as an acoustic duo (with cellist). Expect material from 2009's Beat-poet evoking "Sad Man Happy Man" as well as his two Dan Wilson-produced discs, 2008's poppy "Golden Delicious" and 2005's "Haughty Melodic." (7 & 9:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Dakota Jazz Club, $25.) (J.B.)

Tyrone Wells' epic but intimate pop/rock sound on 2009's "Remain" landed his tunes on "Grey's Anatomy" and Cities 97. This year, the singer-songwriter from Washington state decided to rein it in for a stripped-down CD, "Metal & Wood," and a solo acoustic tour. (8 p.m. Fri., Varsity, $16-$18.) (J.B.)

The reach-for-the-skies falsetto and rolling piano of Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik can be heard in Oscar-winning Sandra Bullock's film "The Blind Side." While that song ("Chances") bears too close a resemblance to the group's biggest hit, "Superman (It's Not Easy)," at least Andrasik offers echoes of two other hitmakers -- Elton John and Billy Joel -- on the title track of the band's 2009 CD, "Slice," which pays tribute to Don McLean's "American Pie." (8 p.m. Sat., Fitzgerald, $27.50 & $29.50.) (J.B.)

File Johnny Rivers under "underappreciated" when it comes to oldies acts. The singer/guitarist has a jukebox full of radio classics -- "Secret Agent Man," "Mountain of Love," "Poor Side of Town," "Summer Rain," to name a few -- and the still-cool 1960s star delivers them with style and enthusiasm. (8 p.m. Sat., Treasure Island Casino, $20-$30.) (J.B.)

With their emotional radio-friendly rock, Needtobreathe would like to be the next Kings of Leon. These South Carolina boys, featuring brothers Bo and Bear Rinehart -- who started this quintet as a Christian-rock band -- sound even more Southern. With Graham Colton and Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers. (7 p.m. Sat. First Avenue, $16.25.) (J.B.)

Hannah Montana's BFF on TV, Emily Osment tries to follow Miley Cyrus' musical lead and distance herself from the Disney pop sphere on the new "All the Right Wrongs." Co-writing with members of the Plain White T's and Eve 6, Osment, 17, aimed more for bona fide rock instead of bubblegum, but only one number ("You Are the Only One") has true rock bite. Opening is Hot Chelle Rae, a Nashville pop/rock quartet featuring sons of famous musicians Paul Overstreet and Phil Keaggy. (6 p.m. Sat. Varsity, $20.) (J.B.)

A star in the Far East and Europe, violin showman David Garrett interprets everything from Metallica to Mozart. With one PBS concert behind him, the 28-year-old Juilliard-educated German (his mom is American) is trying to connect with pop crowds. His self-titled 2009 CD includes versions of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever." (7:30 p.m. Sun., Fitzgerald, $35-$38.) (J.B.)

Cowboy Junkies are bringing their hushed country/blues back to a bar. But don't expect the Dakota to be anything like the Fine Line, where Margo Timmins and crew debuted to an overly talkative bunch of hipsters in 1989. But you might hear the clank of fork to a plate while Timmins croons her post-modern melancholy. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $35 & $45.) (J.B.)

Vampire Weekend have twice proven themselves on record, now that the hype-solidifying sophomore album "Contra" has soaked into fans' heads with its light but savvy Afro-styled beats and infectious pop hooks. Twin Citians finally get to see if the New Yorkers can prove themselves on stage. Their one and only show here at the Triple Rock in 2008 was so short and seen by so few, this feels like their proper local debut. Openers Abe Vigoda are California desert dwellers styled after At the Drive-In. (8 p.m. Mon., First Avenue. Sold out.) (C.R.)

Gearing up for a rowdy summer on tour with Paramore and the revived Lilith Fair, Tegan & Sara have plenty of rousing anthems and full-scale rockers to match the bigger venues on their sixth album, "Sainthood," co-produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie) and Howard Redekopp (New Pornographers). The twin Canadian sisters also have some of the most adoring fans in rock and always put on a memorable show. Steel Train and Holly Miranda open. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Orpheum Theatre. $32.50.) (C.R.)

March always brings out the Irish musicmakers. But while these young women with the angelic voices are Irish, Celtic Woman's blend of "Danny Boy," flashy fiddle and songs by Sting and Josh Groban walks the line between slick entertainment and Irish kitsch. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Xcel Energy Center, $45-$75.) (J.B.)

Popular acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro stopped touring in June 2009 because of Eric Lowen's battle with ALS. Now, Dan Navarro is making his solo debut here, reminding folks that he co-wrote "We Belong" for Pat Benatar and that his cousin is guitar hero Dave Navarro. (8 p.m. Thu., Fine Line, $15-$20.) (J.B.)

HIP-HOP Proud Midwesterners Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are playing their first show on a first-ever reunion tour with all five original members right here in Minneapolis. The Clevelanders have a new album, "Uni5: The World's Enemy," due out April 27, reprising a career that ignited when Eazy-E signed them to Ruthless Records and peaked with such rapid-flow late-'90s hits as "Tha Crossroads" and "1st of tha Month." (9 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. 18 & older. $22.) (C.R.)

COUNTRY The folks behind the Jägermeister Country Tour are so intoxicated by these new cowboy stars that they're heading to a downtown theater. Eric Church has earned top billing thanks to strong shows at the Cabooze and radio support for his songs, which balance grit ("Guys Like Me") with bittersweet ("Hell on the Heart"). Opening are Josh Thompson, the Wisconsin newcomer making noise with "Beer on the Table," and Rick Monroe, who married a Minneapolis woman and offers the hard-hitting, Toby Keith-evoking single "Get Ur Country On." (8 p.m. Thu., State Theatre, $23.) (J.B.)

REGGAE One of two groups of former Bob Marley sidemen constantly on the road -- and constantly confusing fans who, let's face it, aren't always great with details -- the Original Wailers are led by guitarists Al Anderson and Junior Marvin, who now handles a lot of the singing. Both guys toured and recorded with Bob in the late '70s and are faithful to his sound and mission. (8 p.m. Tue., First Avenue. 18 & older. $18-$20.) (C.R.)

A modern jazz combo with a cool name, Pooch's Playhouse features five guys with extensive credits in the Minnesota jazz scene: bassist Bruce (Pooch) Heine, guitarist Joel Shapira, pianist Mark Asche, saxophonist Dave Brattain and drummer Dave Schmalenberger. (drums). (7 p.m. Sun., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)

Latin jazz superstar Arturo Sandoval is an unstoppable musical force. The trumpeter and flugelhornist, a Dizzy Gillespie protégé whose fire-breathing solos deliver "Cubano bop" at its blazing high-note best, also excels at composition, bandleading, piano, percussion and pure showmanship. No wonder he's often been tapped to hobnob with pop icons, from Frank Sinatra to Alicia Keys. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Dakota Jazz Club. $35-$45.) (T.S.)

ACOUSTIC/FOLK Ever-versatile Claudia Schmidt color-codes the calendar on her website to differentiate between jazz and folk gigs. On what's coded as a folk gig, the former Twin Cities resident and "Prairie Home Companion" mainstay will celebrate her new album, "Promising Sky," which is, not surprisingly, a little jazzy, a little folkie and all good. (7 & 9 p.m. Sat. Gingkos, $18-$20.) (J.B.)

Another "PHC" favorite, mandolin and fiddle master Peter Ostroushko recorded with Bob Dylan, toured with Chet Atkins and Norman Blake, crafted TV soundtrack music for Ken Burns and is no doubt the only man ever to turn a borscht recipe into a hip song. (8 p.m. Sat., Riverview Cafe. $15.) (T.S.)

BLUES Here's a cool, no-cover, early-evening opportunity to check out the new, improved Wilebski's Blues Saloon in St. Paul. Kiss fan and blues-scene bon vivant Luke Braulick is holding his "5th Annual Spring Blues Bash" at the revived club. The casual party this year showcases Curtis Blake and Greazy Gravy. Blake, self-styled "maestro of the metal sandwich," is always impressive and potent on harmonica. (7 p.m. Thu., Wilebski's.) (T.S.)