POP/ROCK
Even without Neil Young and his scorching "Living With War" songs from 2006, expect Crosby, Stills & Nash to find the politics in their catalog -- "Military Madness," "For What It's Worth" and "Teach Your Children" -- in this election year. But these Woodstock veterans will also explore their long-standing love affair with harmony. (8 p.m. today. Orpheum Theatre, $64-$104.50.) (J.B.)
It's not too late to trek to Walker, Minn., for the last two nights of the four-day Moondance Jam. The KQRS-sponsored classic-rock campout features a round of '80s hair-band nostalgia on Friday with Poison, Sebastian Bach and Great White. Saturday has a Taste of Minnesota-like menu with George Thorogood, the Dennis DeYoung-less Styx and local country-rock heroes the Gear Daddies, plus young guitar hero Kenny Wayne Shepherd. (3 p.m. today and Sat., Moondance Ranch in Walker. $85/day. MoondanceJam.com.) (C.R.)
The Basilica's bash ain't the only rocking church party around. The fourth annual St. John Block Party in Rochester has a lineup that might convert plenty of Twin Cities rock fans this weekend, with perennial favorites the BoDeans and Soul Asylum as headliners and local club stars Cloud Cult, Haley Bonar, Dan Israel & the Cultivators, Romantica and the Alarmists. (Noon-11 p.m. Sat., St. John the Evangelist Church, 11 4th Av. SW., Rochester, Minn. 1-507-288-7372 or www.sjblockparty.org. $25.) (C.R.)
Last seen with Emmylou Harris, guitar god Mark Knopfler is touring with his own superb band this time, promoting his fifth, non-soundtrack solo CD, "Kill to Get Crimson." It's another mellow, folk-styled excursion that will give the finger-picking phenom more strong material to work with in concert. Look for a few Dire Straits tunes but not necessarily the big hits. Opening is dark, offbeat singer/songwriter Jesca Hoop. (7:30 p.m. Sat. Orpheum Theatre, $65-$110.) (J.B.)
In May, Eric Hutchinson opened for YouTube darling Marie Digby at the Varsity and now, thanks to some airplay on Cities 97 for "Rock & Roll" and the Basilica Block Party, he has his own headline gig. Actually, he's been on tour opening for Missy Higgins and since she's playing the Basilica kegger, well, he's at the Fine Line. (6 p.m. Sat. Fine Line, $12 advance, $14 door.) (J.B.)
Why a British bar even celebrates a French holiday has long since been beside the point with the annual Brit's Pub Bastille Day party, a fundraiser for One Heartland (children with AIDS/HIV) that brings England's own '70s pub-rock hero Graham Parker to town every year to play the unbeatable second-floor lawn-bowling patio. Parker's solo set (6 p.m.) will be sandwiched between a staging of "The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)" (3:30 p.m.) and a screening of "Moulin Rouge" (9 p.m.). (Sun., Brit's Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. Free.) (C.R.)
From the same great event planners who bring us the Red Stag and Uptown Pride block parties, the Barbette Bastille Day Block Party features reunions by two bands that ruled the scene around the turn of the century, neo-funk stalwarts the Sensational Joint Chiefs and the original lineup of Faux Jean. This summer's everywhere-band, Romantica, also performs along with sass queen Foxy Tann and young hotshots One for the Team and Black Blondie. It's another zero-waste event with organic food and local artisan booths. Proceeds benefit the Minnesota Fringe Festival. (4-10 p.m. Sun., outside Barbette restaurant, Lake St. at Irving Av. S., Mpls. Free.) (C.R.)
For the 10th incarnation of Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, the Beatles drummer has enlisted two (former) big stars (keyboardist Edgar Winter, guitarist Billy Squier) and a few do-you-remember-me rockers (Gary Wright, Colin Hay of Men at Work and Hamish Stuart of Average White Band). Of course, you'll remember all the hits, including "Dream Weaver," "Who Can It Be Now," "Pick Up the Pieces" and the inevitable "With a Little Help From My Friends." Starr may even do a tune or two from his little-heard 2008 CD, "Liverpool 8." (7:30 p.m. Mon. Mystic Lake Casino, sold out) (J.B.)
