The Big Gigs: Upcoming shows in the week of entertainment

Unlike certain other Independence Day events that involve those math-challenge beer tickets (i.e., eight tickets per beer, sold in blocks of 10), the only number you need to know at the Triple Rock is four -- as in Dillinger Four on July 4. The Twin Cities punk vets have been performing less and less, but are working toward a new album. They've played guitarist Erik Funk's club on this holiday for three or four years now. The fact that no one remembers the first year for sure is rather telling of what to expect. (10 p.m. today, Triple Rock. 21 & older. $8.) D4 will clean up its act for an all-ages Eclipse show the next day, with Off With Their Heads opening both gigs. (6 p.m. Sat., Eclipse Records. $4.) (C.R.)

Whether or not you're headed down to Minneapolis' downtown riverfront for fireworks, you still might enjoy another fiery display by New Orleans' favorite party-rock band, Cowboy Mouth. The fest vets, who scored the alt-rock hit "Jenny Says" in the '90s but are better known for their rowdy live shows, are performing as part of the city's Red, White & Boom Celebration. Two beloved local tribute bands, Trippin' (Dave Matthews) and the Belfast Cowboys (Van Morrison), also perform. (8:15 p.m. today, Mill Ruins parking lot, outside the Mill City Museum. Free.) (C.R.)

From the same label that brought us Beirut, Ba Da Bing Records, San Francisco area singer/songwriter/arranger Devon Williams' debut album, "Carefree," offers a nostalgic playlist of poppy '80s college-rock, ranging from Robyn Hitchcock to the Chills to a wee bit of Big Star. The latter influence might explain why his MySpace page features a rough version of the 'Mats' "Alex Chilton." Chicago's Scattered Trees open. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $8.) (C.R.)

After playing three nights at First Avenue in February, Umphrey's McGee, the Midwest's most popular jam band, returns to the friendly outdoor confines of the Minnesota Zoo. Let's hope they do "Push the Pig," the hard-edged Pink Floyd homage that stands out on the recent CD, "Live at the Murat," which was recorded last year in Indianapolis. That disc won this year's Jammy for best live CD, and Umphrey's tour with Disco Biscuits was named tour of the year. (7:30 p.m. Sun. Weesner Family Amphitheater, Minnesota Zoo, $28.) (J.B.)

The world's best guitarist under the age of 30, Derek Trucks juggles three gigs: the Allman Brothers, the Derek Trucks Band and Soul Stew Revival with Susan Tedeschi, his wife. Trucks wowed fans opening for Santana last spring and now he teams up with Tedeschi, a blues shouter who plays a pretty mean guitar, too. Read an interview with Trucks in Sunday's Variety A+E. Opening is Scrapomatic, featuring vocalist Mike Mattison from the Derek Trucks Band. (7:30 p.m. Mon. Weesner Family Amphitheater, Minnesota Zoo, $52.50.) (J.B.)

For the past 17 years, most of what we've heard about pop star George Michael has been in scandalous headlines: loitering in a public restroom, asleep at the wheel of his car, busted for pot possession. Now, at age 44, he's back -- onstage, at least. Touring behind a hits collection "TwentyFive," the old Whamster is doing what he promises is a last tour. During his two sets, he's offering a few Wham hits, lots of solo favorites and "Freedom 90" recast as a gay anthem. (8 p.m. Mon. Xcel Energy Center, $52-$177.) (J.B.)

Jimmy Eat World became the emo version of the Goo Goo Dolls after crafting pop-radio sellout cuts such as "The Middle" and "Always Be," the latter from its ho-hum 2007 album "Chase This Light." But unlike the Dolls, the Arizona-reared band remains a powerful live act, as evidenced by its recent arena-rock tour opening for the Foo Fighters. Attack in Black and Attention open. (6 p.m. Mon., First Avenue. All ages. $25.) (C.R.)

Australian band the Beautiful Girls upped the volume a little bit on its 2007 album, "Ziggurats," but frontman Mat McHugh still mostly writes in the mellow, acoustic folk-rock style that previously earned his band comparisons to Ben Harper and local pal Mason Jennings. (9 p.m. Wed., 400 Bar. $15.) (C.R.)

Now into their fifth decade, Roomful of Blues still delivers salty, soulful music that's full of zip. The Rhode Island jump blues institution lately features "new" vocalist Dave Howard, formerly of the High Rollers and Young Neal & The Vipers, who is something of a New England underground legend himself, and a perfect fit. The band is led these days by guitarist Chris Vachon, and still thankfully includes sax stalwart Rich Lataille, the only man who can boast about being on all 18 Roomful recordings. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Dakota Jazz Club. $22-$27.) (T.S.)

Bob Bingham and Gordon Thorne make up one of the finest ad hoc acoustic blues duos in the country. Only a select crowd of hipsters is aware of their offhand wizardry, however, since these guys are usually holed up in northern Minnesota. Catch 'em while you can at a fairly rare off-night "freebie" gig. This is blues at its coziest and least histrionic, with expert, agile, nonflashy guitar work, impeccable taste in "cover" tunes (some dating back to the 1930s), and vocals so natural and fine that fans of the late, great Dave Ray will approve. (8 p.m. Mon., Famous Dave's. No cover.) (T.S.)

An amazing technician on the diatonic harmonica, Jason Ricci has become a big favorite of the jam band home-taping and tape-trading crowd, and an instant hero to harmonica geeks. On the new CD, "Rocket Number 9," Ricci and his band New Blood play a mix of blues, hard rock, jazz fusion and jazz improv that's problematic yet all their own. Ricci's harp blowing is mammoth and monstrously good on the classic Windy City-style blues blast "The Blow Zone Layer" and on the extended 11-minute hippie rock workout "Loving Eyes." (9 p.m. today, Famous Dave's. $5.) (T.S.)