The Big Gigs: Shows in the next week

POP/ROCK There are plenty of reasons to catch ZZ Top this time around. First, their "In Your Face" tour is playing in theaters, a rare treat. Secondly, they're working on an album with none other than producer Rick Rubin and thus could be gearing up for a commercial/critical comeback. Most important, the lil' ol' band from Texas (still the same three guys!) always remained tougher and grittier onstage than their overproduced '80s hits would have you believe, a point driven home by a feisty show last year at Xcel Center. (8 p.m. today, Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $46-$50.50; $503.50 for front pit.) (C.R.)

One of those bands known more for who it influenced than for its own music, Wire made a heavy mark on the likes of R.E.M., the Cure and Guided by Voices. The British postpunk band saw its early discography reissued last year on the 30th anniversary of its debut, "Pink Flag," and now it has issued its first new album in five years, "Object 47," which fits in with and really hovers over much of today's best indie-rock. (9 p.m. today, First Avenue. $15.) (C.R.)

After playing lots of festivals and amphitheaters this summer with pal/boss Jack Johnson, Minneapolis indie troubadour Mason Jennings is finally giving his hometown fans a chance to hear the songs on his latest album, "In the Ever," up close and ... well, they're always pretty personal. Animal Liberation Orchestra's frontman Zach Gill opens. (8 p.m. Sat., Orpheum Theatre. $26-$31.) (C.R.)

"Watershed" is the first album k.d. lang has written and produced by herself. Maybe the great Canadian chanteuse could have used an extra set of ears. While the songs are strong and penetrating individually, as a whole they are a bit similar and sleepy. But reviews indicate that they come alive in concert, with lang's generous and quick-witted personality. (7 p.m. Sun., O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, $52 & $55.) (J.B.)

Since she made her Dakota debut in 2004, we've been telling you that Bettye LaVette is one of the most emotional and expressive soul singers on the planet. So what if she was overlooked for 42 years? She oozes passion, whether interpreting tunes by Elton John, Lucinda Williams and Willie Nelson or her own gems. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun.-Mon., Dakota, $22-$32.) (J.B.)

The hometown band picked to perform before Sen. Barack Obama's big acceptance speech/anointment in Denver, Colorado pickers Yonder Mountain String Band has been in the studio with mainstream rock producer Tom Rothrock, but sounds as jam-bandy as ever on a new live album, "Mountain Tracks, Vol. 5." Rowdy country-rocker Todd Snider opens. (8:30 p.m. Sun., First Avenue. 18 and older. $25-$30.) (C.R.)

Since emerging in the 1960s, Peter Paul & Mary have never shied away from politics. Will they talk about the election? The war? At least, count on them to do "Puff, the Magic Dragon" as well as two hits by Minnesota songwriters -- "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (yes, John Denver was living here at the time). (7 p.m. Sun., Orchestra Hall, $37-$75.) (J.B.)

On "Little Wild One," Joan Osborne reins it in. After doing the blues, rocking with the Grateful Dead and soul serenading with the Motown band, she has reunited with the team that helped on her smash "One of Us" from her 1995 debut album. There is a spiritual undercurrent here, especially on "Hallelujah in the City," the disc's high point. Opening is Matt Morris, a former Mickey Mouse Clubber whose tunes have been recorded by Kelly Clarkson and Justin Timberlake. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Varsity Theater, $28-$30.) (J.B.)

Are you sick of Yael Naim's ubiquitous "New Soul" from the MacBook commercials? There's a lot more to the 30-year-old Paris-born Israeli chanteuse, like her intoxicating minimalist reading of Britney Spears' "Toxic." Her self-titled 2007 CD suggests Feist with a French accent. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center, $21.) (J.B.)

TV on the Radio's "Dear Science" is one of the must-have albums of the year, as powerful and madcap as it is elegant and visionary. And that's not the only reason why the New York art-punk band's two-night stand is a must-see. Another is its stellar reputation as a live act, built up over many First Ave gigs. Last but not least, Detroit soul punks the Dirtbombs are a grade-A opening act. (9 p.m. Mon., 7 p.m. Tue., First Avenue. All ages on Tue. $20.) (C.R.)

The video game-sponsored Rock Band Live Tour is sort of a Who's Who of emo-leaning American rock bands. Headliner Panic at the Disco failed to match the breakout success of its 2006 debut with this year's sophomore album, "Pretty. Odd.," even though it was a better record. Dashboard Confessional's 2002 weeper "Scream Infidelities" is still its biggest hit. The Plain White T's are still riding the success of last year's jangly mega-hit "Hey There Delilah." Newcomers the Cab open. (7 p.m. Tue., Target Center. $29.95-$39.95.) (C.R.)

The Toadies' stalker-paced 1995 hit "Possum Kingdom" (scream it with me: "Do you wanna die?!") is still a favorite on hard-rock stations, even though the Texas band split up in 2001. Frontman Todd Lewis has led the similarly hard-hitting Burden Brothers since then, but without the same impact. So he has reformed the old band with two out of three other original members and is on tour supporting the comeback-worthy CD "No Deliverance." (8 p.m. Tue., Station 4. 18 & older. $15.) (C.R.)

At 74, Frankie Valli still has that Hall of Fame falsetto, but the current Four Seasons are four young dudes with Temptations-like choreography and distracting energy. Valli not only does Four Seasons classics, but a generous serving of covers from last year's "Romancing the '60s" CD. Read an interview in Sunday's Variety A+E. (7:30 p.m. Wed.-Thu., Orpheum Theatre. $53-$103.50.) (J.B.)

Matthew Sweet has been involved with a lot of fun projects, including his recent covers band with Susanna Hoffs. But he's at his best cranking and crooning out the mighty but melodic pop/rock heard on his classic 1991 album "Girlfriend," echoes of which reverberate through his latest, "Sunshine Lies." Another of his recent projects was producing the debut by the Bridges, a four-fifths female pop/rock band made up of siblings that opens the show. (8 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. 18 & older. $20.) (C.R.)

Lucinda Williams has long proclaimed the Twin Cities a favorite tour stop, and she's proving it by playing two shows two weeks apart to promote her rousing new album, "Little Honey," the first of which will be broadcast over the Web (lucindawilliams.com) and will feature a performance of the record in its entirety. Read an interview in Sunday's Variety A+E. (7 p.m. Thu., First Avenue. 18 and older. $30.) (C.R.)

HIP-HOP/R&B Absent from the scene for seven years, R&B crooner Maxwell is touring without a new album. He insists he's working on one (a 2009 trilogy called "Black Summer's Night"), but we've heard that from neo-soul men before. Judging by reviews of this comeback tour, he remains a gentle soul, reprising smooth come-ons such as "Sumthin Sumthin" and "Lifetime" that drive women wild. Husky-voiced newcomer Jazmine Sullivan opens. (8 p.m. Tue., Orpheum. $59.50-$125.) (J.B.)

White Jewish gangsta rapper from Brooklyn? That'd be Ill Bill. Gifted with a fierce voice and hard-core rhymes to boot, he's been an underground staple since his early years with the group Non Phixion. His latest album, "The Hour of Reprisal," batters listeners with the kind of chest-thumping tracks fans expect. Opening is another hard-core rapper, Sean Price of mid-'90s duo Heltah Skeltah, whose recent solo albums have been rightfully acclaimed by New York hip-hop enthusiasts. (8 p.m. Mon., Cabooze. 18 and older. $15-$20.) (T.H.)

BLUES Organist/pianist Bruce Katz is known for touring with Gregg Allman and John Hammond and studio work with many 12-bar stars, but it's hard to beat his own fertile mix of blues, bebop, soul jazz, rock, R&B and gospel riffs. On a superb new live CD, Katz starts off with an instant grabber in the Jack McDuff tradition, followed by a cool cover of Charles Mingus' "Better Get It in Your Soul" and fruitful detours into New Orleans piano, boogie-woogie and organ funk. (9 p.m. Sat., Famous Dave's Uptown. $5.) (T.S.)

Started in 1991 to showcase an instrument that doesn't often get its due in pioneering workingman's blues, the Harmonica Blowout series -- typically reserved for blues fests -- is taking to the clubs. Led by California-reared, Chicago-styled bluesman Mark Hummel and his band the Blues Survivors, the lineup includes Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman Kim Wilson and J. Geils' Magic Dick. (9 p.m. Tue., Cabooze. 18 and older. $18-$20.) (C.R.)

COUNTRY If Rascal Flatts/Taylor Swift wasn't your idea of a country girls' night out, then Martina McBride might be your ticket. With her stratospheric voice, she does empowering anthems ("Independence Day," "Concrete Angel") and shares her gift for nuance on classic country ("Help Me Make It Through the Night"). She also has a taste for classic rock, including "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." (8 p.m. Sat. Treasure Island Casino, Red Wing, Minn. $45-$110.) (J.B.)

WORLD Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart has been collaborating with Indian tabla ace Zakir Hussain since 1972. Their work reached a high point in 1991 with "Planet Drum," which won the first Grammy for world music. Their new effort, "Global Drum Project," is another intricate exploration of world rhythms that is more artful than entertaining. (8 p.m. today, O'Shaughnessy, $27-$32.) (J.B.)

Liz Carroll and Daithí Sproule -- old friends and highly esteemed Irish folk musicians -- get together for a night of duets. Chicago-bred Carroll has become a Celtic-music heroine with her precise and intense fiddle playing and oft-covered compositions. Derry-born and Twin Cities-based guitarist Sproule is well-known for his work with the band Altan. (8 p.m. today, Cedar Cultural Center. $18-$20.) (T.S.)

JAZZ The JazzMN Big Band opens its 10th season with an incongruous-sounding program: "The Latin Side of Conrad Herwig," featuring a New York trombone great who gives jazz composers (Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter) a Latin makeover. Toss in ever-tasty singer Charmin Michelle and the season should be off to a righteous and rhythmic start. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center, 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Minnetonka. $25-$29. 612-242-4791.) (T.S.)