The Big Gigs: Quasi, Meat Puppets, Madeleine Peyroux

POP/ROCK After recording wild and influential, twangy acid-punk albums in the early '80s, then winding up on Nirvana's "MTV Unplugged," then landing the unlikely radio hit "Backwater" in 1994, the Meat Puppets continue to forge an ever-weirder legend. Brothers Curt and Cris Kirkwood have bounced back from Cris' jail stint and addiction demons and are tearing up clubs like kids again. They also just finished a new album at Spoon drummer Jim Eno's studio. The Kirkwoods now have Shandon Sahm (son of Sir Doug) on drums. Kid Dakota and Vaudeville open. (8:30 p.m. Fri., 400 Bar. 18 & older. $10.) (C.R.)

Wisconsin-reared, North Carolina-based Megafaun, the folk-rock/Americana band featuring Justin Vernon's pre-Bon Iver bandmates, has been a favorite on the Current with its morning-vibed ditty "The Fade." Its local ties continue to grow in the all-star electronic project GAYNGS, featuring the adventurous spirit they apply so well to rootsy acoustic fare. Charlie Parr and Michigan trio Breathe Owl Breathe open. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center. All ages. $12-$14.) (C.R.)

"This isn't your grandfather's New Orleans record," declares jazz-funk jam band Galactic's new disc "Ya-Ka-May." Despite the presence of old-school stars Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint and the Wild Magnolias, it's a fresh and colorful collection of Crescent City party music, seasoned with acid jazz, futuristic funk and NOLA bounce. Two of the album's guests are touring with the band: Cyril Neville and Rebirth Brass Band trombonist Corey Henry. (9 p.m. Fri., Cabooze, $20-$22.) (J.B.)

Hotly hyped Rhode Island alt-country experimentalists Deer Tick, who will soon hit the road with Dr. Dog behind their third album "The Black Dirt Sessions," can be charming or grating, with questionable singing abilities and overly clever arrangements but quality songwriting. With must-see all-female Tennessee country trio Those Darlins as openers, they're worth a shot. (10 p.m. Fri., Triple Rock. 18 & older. $12.) (C.R.)

The Jets started singing in Polynesian restaurants in the Twin Cities and ended up national pop stars, scoring hits with "Crush on You" and "Make It Real." Part of the charm of this family band was pre-teen singers Liz and Moana Wolfgramm. Twenty-five years after signing with MCA Records, they're reuniting for a hometown show. Read an interview with Moana at startribune.com/music. (7:30 p.m. Fri., State Theatre, $22-$65.) (J.B.)

After a mesmerizing if a bit tepid set opening for Friendly Fires last fall, young London digi-goth trio the XX makes its headlining debut here with its haunting, sexy '09 debut still very much all abuzz. Last month's shows at South by Southwest showed the band to be a little more confident and experimental with its minimalist sound, although it still seems light on material. JJ and NOSAJ Thing open. (9 p.m. Fri., Varsity Theater. Sold out.) (C.R.)

Michael Cavanaugh was the Tony-nominated singer/pianist for "Movin' Out," the Billy Joel jukebox musical. He has spirit and spunk, but how will the Piano Man's pop play with the Minnesota Orchestra? (8 p.m. Fri., Orchestra Hall, $22-$60.) (J.B.)

Scrappy young San Diego garage-punk quartet the Soft Pack -- which changed its name from the Muslims once its buzz started kicking in (for obvious reasons) -- offers up traces of the Arctic Monkeys (see: the single "Answer to Yourself"), Jonathan Richman's Modern Lovers and the Fall on its eponymous debut album. British trio Male Bonding opens. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club. 21 & older. $8.) (C.R.)

Fresh from a tour of Australia opening for Diana Krall, Madeleine Peyroux will showcase material from "Bare Bones," her first collection of originals, co-written with Joe Henry, Julian Coryell, Steely Dan's Walter Becker and her producer Larry Klein. Although not as thrilling as her languid readings of standards and pop hits, the songs sound old and timeless. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Dakota, $28-$45.) (J.B.)

Colorado indie-folkie Gregory Alan Isakov has been touring with the likes of Ani DiFranco and Brandi Carlile, who sings on his new album, "The Empty Northern Hemisphere," which has echoes of Springsteen and Josh Ritter. Local troubadour Luke Redfield opens. (8:30 p.m. Mon., Varsity Theater. 18 & older. $12.) (C.R.)

The fact that Australian alt-rock heroes the Church are on their 30th anniversary tour might send Gen X-ers into a deep depression, but it took the moody band eight years and four albums before breaking through with "Under the Milky Way." So you're not that old. Co-founders Steve Kilbey, Peter Koppes and Marty Willson-Piper are playing intimate acoustic sets to mark the occasion. (8 p.m. Tue., Fine Line. 18 & older. $33.) (C.R.)

Honor Society has toured with the Jonas Brothers (who manage them) and Timbaland. With the R&B-tinged pop on its "Fashionably Late" CD, this New Jersey quartet is trying to reach beyond the JoBros' audience. That's why it sang the National Anthem at this year's NFL Pro Bowl and will do the same at the Twins game Wednesday. (7 p.m. Tue., Varsity, $16-$18.) (J.B.)

On his fourth album, "What We Want What We Get" (out this week), Nashville blue-eyed soul man Dave Barnes walks the line between Stevie Wonder R&B and contemporary Christian music. (7 p.m. Wed.,Varsity, $15-$18.) (J.B.)

Masterful commentators on unrequited love, singer-songwriters Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Thompson have teamed up for the ironically named Loud and Rich Tour. Friends since guitar god Thompson produced a couple of Wainwright albums in the mid-1980s, they will each do a set as well as collaborate. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Fitzgerald Theater, $37-$39.) (J.B.)

Heretofore a duo featuring ex-Sleater Kinney drummer Janet Weiss with her ex-husband Sam Coomes out front, Quasi has grown into a trio with bassist Joanna Bolme. The noise level has thus noticeably gone up on the band's new album, "American Gong," a playful and adventurous blast of punky, witty garage-rock that should be doubly fun in concert. London-reared openers Let's Wrestle are newly signed to Merge Records. (9 p.m. Thu., Turf Club. 21 & older. $10-$12.) (C.R.)

WORLD Touring behind the splendid CD "I Speak Fula" -- on Sub Pop Records, if you can believe it -- Bassekou Kouyate keeps breaking new ground for the ngoni, the banjo's ancient ancestor. Known to worldbeat fans for his work with Toumani Diabate, Taj Mahal and Bela Fleck, he and his wife, terrific singer Amy Sacko, have toured the world relentlessly with his band, Ngoni Ba, which injects rock energy into Malian griot traditions. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center. $30-$35.) (T.S.)

While Senegalese superstar Baaba Maal is most impressive in a scaled-down acoustic setting, his latest CD, "Television," is a cool collaboration with New York electronica act Brazilian Girls that was co-produced by the great Barry Reynolds, of Compass Point Studios and Marianne Faithfull renown. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center. $30-$35.) (T.S.)

BLUES A Chicago stalwart who played with Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Magic Slim before emerging as a bandleader in his own right, John Primer copped a Grammy nomination last year for co-starring on the impressive two-CD set "Chicago Blues: A Living History." He'll have high-quality opening acts, with soul singing great Willie Walker Friday and blues groover Detroit Don King Saturday. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Wilebski's Blues Saloon. $12.) (T.S.)

Rockin' blues guitar honcho Walter Trout is phenomenally popular in Europe but taken for granted in his U.S. homeland. A former co-frontman of Canned Heat and sideman with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, he celebrated 20 years as a solo act last year with a mostly live CD with the amusing title "Unspoiled by Progress." (9 p.m. Fri., Famous Dave's Uptown. $10.) (T.S.)

COUNTRY A lesser known member of Big & Rich's Muzik Mafia, James Otto considers himself a country soul singer. Hence, his repertoire usually includes Bob Seger's "Night Moves," Jamey Johnson's "In Color" (Otto co-wrote it) and his own "Just Got Started Lovin' You," one of the biggest country radio hits of 2008. (8 p.m. Fri., the Rock, $17-$20.) (J.B.)

JAZZ Bebop sax master Richie Cole debuts his collaboration with "Radio Days" singers Five by Design, a revue-oriented vocal quintet that's been a hit everywhere from the Kennedy Center to Istanbul. Cole certainly knows how to integrate his alto in singing groups -- he's recorded with the underrated Rare Silk and the overrated Manhattan Transfer. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club. $20-$25.) (T.S.)

CLASSICAL Video games get the classical treatment when the Minnesota Orchestra presents "Video Games Live," music of the most popular games accompanied by footage on giant video screens. An interactive segment gives selected audience members the chance to play a game live onstage while the orchestra performs the music. (8 p.m. Sat., Orchestra Hall. $25-$50.) (W.R.B.)