The Big Gigs

POP/ROCK Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine's thrashy answer to Ozzfest, the third annual Gigantour features his venerable band with a host of other dark and deadly favorites. Megadeth just added a new guitarist, Nevermore's Chris Broderick, and put out a new topical CD, "United Abominations." Rounding out the bill are two of Europe's biggest death-metal bands, In Flames and Children of Bodom, plus U.S. newcomers Job for a Cowboy and High on Fire. (6 p.m. today, Myth. All ages. Sold out.) (C.R.)

For the past decade, Chicago singer/songwriter Justin Roberts, formerly of Minneapolis indie rockers Pimentos for Gus, has crafted a career in kids' music. His new disc, "Pop Fly," is a folk-pop home run, thanks to the title track, which perfectly captures what it's like for a rookie Little League outfielder to try to catch a fly ball. It's the best outfield song since John Fogerty's "Centerfield." (11 a.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, $12 kids, $15 adults.) (J.B.)

The Kills, another masterfully minimalist man/woman garage-blues duo, went to Benton Harbor, Mich., to make their third CD, "Midnight Boom." Per usual, the music is raw, sexy and very dark. "Cheap and Cheerful," a recent single, is sorta danceable but hardly cheerful. ("I want expensive sadness/ Hospital bills, parole/ Open doors to madness," Allison Mosshart sings.) Telepathe opens. (9 p.m. Sun., Triple Rock, $13.) (J.B.)

If "After the Lovin'" is one of your (or your mom's) favorites, then consider spending Mother's Day with Engelbert Humperdinck. He'll reprise "Release Me," "Am I That Easy to Forget" and other schmaltzy songs. (7 p.m. Sun., Mystic Lake Casino, $34-$49.) (J.B.)

LCD Soundsystem's rippling effect on indie-rock continues to show, and thankfully so in the case of Does It Offend You, Yeah? Never mind the bad name (taken from the BBC's "The Office"). This wild dance-rock quartet from Reading, England, is making a big splash on its first U.S. tour following a Rolling Stone best-new-artist nod and raves for its new album, "You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into." The band's blasting sound comes off like an unholy but wholly infectious mix of Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers and the Butthole Surfers. It's on tour with fun and innovative Florida hip-hop duo Yo Majesty. (9 p.m. Mon., 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $8-$10.) (C.R.)

On its sophomore CD "Can't Love, Can't Hurt," Augustana has moments of U2-like ambition and Adam Duritz-like indulgence. But, ultimately, the Cities 97-loved San Diego band mostly sounds like a second-rate Fray. (8 p.m. Mon. Fine Line, $16-$18.) (J.B.)

After her sophomore effort, "Kala," was Rolling Stone's somewhat surprise pick for best album of 2007, M.I.A.'s stock has apparently risen all the more. The Sri Lankan-British rapper/dancehall-style singer was among the leading names on the main stage at the Coachella fest, and she's playing other festivals and bigger venues throughout the spring and summer. Local fans still vibrating from her funktastic First Ave gig last November aren't quite sure how she might fare out at Maplewood's strip-mall mega-club. What it lacks in urban hip, Myth will make up for in hi-fi production value. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Myth. All ages. $23-$25.) (C.R.)

New Zealand musical heir Liam Finn (son of Crowded House's Neil Finn) has made a name for himself as a crafty indie-folk songwriter with his Yep Roc debut, "I'm the Lightning." But the stage is where Finn really comes to life. Touring only with a female co-vocalist, the 23-year-old wunderkind uses a tape-loop machine to round out his sound, madly bouncing between drums and guitars in a way that's more musical than gimmicky. Finn just finished a tour with Eddie Vedder and is now touring as opener for Laura Viers, the poetic Portland-via-Seattle tunesmith who's out promoting her third album for Nonesuch, "Saltbreakers." (7:30 p.m. Tue., Cedar Cultural Center. All ages. $12-$15.) (C.R.)

One of Texas' greatest storytelling songwriters, James McMurtry has followed the tragic tale of America on recent albums. The Son of Larry's growing knack for topical writing comes to a head on "Just Us Kids," a Steinbeck-ian collection with songs about the great corporate takeover, religious fervor, struggling families and you-know-who. The standout, "Cheney's Toy," is a wounded-soldier epic that should go down as one of the best protest songs of our troubled times. It's a pretty mean rocker, too, a side of McMurtry that always comes out at the 400. Austin country-rockers the Dedringers open. (9 p.m. Tue., 400 Bar. 18 & older. $15.) (C.R.)

Liverpool's surgical rockers Clinic are so proud of their new album, "Do It," they're playing the decidedly melodic and less-frantic album in its entirety on tour. The rest of the set list is up to the fans at each show, who can vote for songs at Clinicvoot.org. Shearwater opens. (9 p.m. Tue., 7th Street Entry. 21 & older. $15.) (C.R.)

When we last left Flight of the Conchords in their HBO TV series, New Zealand's "fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo a capella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo" had finally found fame in America. Real life seems to be mirroring the show, as Jemaine's and Brit's U.S. debut album landed at No. 3 last week. The album features songs from the first season (a second is on its way), including the Serge Gainsbourg send-up "Foux du Fafa" and the dirty-sexy romp "Inner City Pleasure." If you haven't seen the show, the obtuse humor could be hard to get. In fact, it was lost on plenty who did see it. (8 p.m. Tue., Orpheum Theatre. $35.) (C.R.)

Portland, Ore.-based indie-rock duo the Helio Sequence crafts some surprisingly pretty and atmospheric, Grant Lee Buffalo-like rock anthems for a twosome, as evidenced by its just-released fourth disc, "Keep Your Eyes Ahead." (9 p.m. Wed., 7th Street Entry. $10.) (C.R.)

R&B Hardly 10 minutes goes by on KDWB or B96 when you don't hear T-Pain's coolly manipulated voice. He's featured on Flo Rida's "Low," Lil Mama's "Shawty Get Loose," Rick Ross' "The Boss," Kanye West's "Good Life" and 2 Pistols' "She Got It," to mention a few recent hits. He's had his own triumphs, too, including "Bartender" and "Buy U a Drank." Judging by his performance at KDWB's Star Party last year, T-Pain is a rare triple threat who is equally accomplished onstage at singing, rapping and dancing. (6 p.m. Sat. Myth, $40-$160.) (J.B.)

If you romanced your lady in the mid-'80s, El DeBarge may be the ticket for Mother's Day. "Love Always" and "Who's Johnny" were his big solo hits and, with his family group DeBarge, he also scored with "Rhythm of the Night," "Time Will Reveal" and "Who's Holding Donna Now." (7 p.m. Sun., Epic, $25-$45.) (J.B.)

HIP-HOP While major-label hip-hop bombs on the pop charts, it's been a good couple of years for Talib Kweli, once the face of the late-'90s underground movement. Last summer, his latest album, "Eardrum," debuted at No. 2 on the pop charts. It was also an artistic success, featuring a who's who of superproducers, including Kanye West, Just Blaze and Pete Rock. Meanwhile, Kweli continues to work on his own label, Blacksmith. With distribution from Warner Bros., he hopes to have his first signee, underground star Jean Grae, in record stores this year along with his next album. (10 p.m. today, Epic, $27-$30, 18 & older) (T.H.)

WORLDBEAT Fans of the legendary Fela Kuti, his son Femi Kuti and the band Antibalas should check out the Chicago Afrobeat Project. They offer driving polyrhythms, a phalanx of soulful horns and intense energy. Go to Chicago AfrobeatProject.com to hear some incendiary MP3s of the CAP jamming with jazz heavyweights Paul Wertico and Fareed Haque. (8 p.m. today, Cedar Cultural Center. $12-$15.) (T.S.)

JAZZ Sax renegade George Cartwright expands his rambunctious trio GloryLand PonyCat for one night only, to include Jelloslave cellist Michelle Kinney, Fog guitarist Andrew Broder, and Hips Don't Lie drummer Davu Seru, along with core members Adam Linz (bass) and Alden Ikeda (drums). The gig promises two debuts: "Bonanza: The Musical" (he is a Cartwright, after all), a humorous "radio play" with prerecorded narration by his longtime fellow bandmember in Curlew, Davey Williams; and "Letters From the Earth," a musical fantasy in tribute to Mark Twain. (8 p.m. Sat., Studio Z, 275 E. 4th St., Suite 100, St. Paul. $8. 651-755-1600.) (T.S.)

BLUES Bay Area harp blaster Mark Hummel is touring with old friend Rusty Zinn, the red-headed guitar firebrand who's a headliner in his own right -- and known these days for playing rootsy reggae. Could be interesting, and it's certainly reasonably priced. (9 p.m. today, Famous Dave's. $5.) (T.S.)

Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream, Chris Riemenschneider and Tom Horgen, and freelancer Tom Surowicz.