The Big Gigs

POP/ROCK While other metal veterans downsize their shows to play Myth, Motörhead is taking a step up to the Maplewood megaclub. That speaks to Lemmy Kilmeister & Company's timeless, child-scaring cool, and the fact that their First Ave shows in recent years have been mighty, ear-blistering affairs. Out with another hard-throttling album, "Motörizer," they're getting name-brand support from the Glenn Danzig-less Misfits. Another opener worth catching is Valient Thorr, which recently landed from the planet Venus (no, really -- its bio says so). Airbourne and Year Long Disaster also perform. One more reason to head out early: Motörhead is doing a rare in-store at the Hot Topic across the street in Maplewood Mall from 6-8 p.m. Lock up your daughters! (6:30 p.m. today, Myth. All ages. $32.50-$35.) (C.R.)

Ra Ra Riot is rightfully garnering praise for its full-length debut, "The Rhumb Line." The Syracuse, N.Y., sextet -- anchored by violin, cello and guitar -- made the album a few months after the sudden death of its original drummer, giving the album a tint of mourning without taking away from the band's infectious and often gorgeous art-pop. (9 p.m., today 7th Street Entry. 18 and older. $8.) (C.R.)

Newfoundland's Great Big Sea made its mark with sea chanteys and pub songs. On its new CD "Fortune's Favour," the trio steps further into mainstream pop with mixed success. "Walk on the Moon" and "Here and Now" sound like solid if anonymous stuff you might hear on Cities 97 while the ambitious "Hard Case," the harmony-happy "Dream to Live" and the peppy, aggressive "Oh Yeah" sound more distinctive. However, when they stick to what made them popular -- the punkish "Straight to Hell" and the folk-flavored "Company of Fools," "Banks of Newfoundland" and "Rocks of Mersasheen" -- Great Big Sea fares just fine. (8 p.m. today, State Theatre, $28-$40.) (J.B.)

In town for the Target Children's Book Festival, They Might Be Giants also makes adult music with an absurdist bent -- its stock in trade since the mid-1980s. Between their commendable kids' CDs "Here Come the ABCs" in 2006 and "Here Comes the 123s" this year, John Linnell and John Flansburgh offered "The Else," a collaboration with the Dust Brothers of Beck fame. It's hit-and-miss, with the standouts being the cleverly brainy "Bee of the Bird of the Moth" and "The Mesopotamians," the catchiest Middle East-inspired tune since "Walk Like an Egyptian." Moon Maan opens. (9 p.m. today, First Avenue, $20-$22.) (J.B.)

The Walkmen have been turning in mesmerizing shows at the 400 Bar for almost a decade, so it's no surprise that the band's latest album, "You & Me" -- purportedly recorded entirely live in the studio -- stands out as one of this year's most powerful indie-rock discs. Always a group that evoked post-"Highway 61" Dylan, the reverb-loving New York quintet especially merits a "Blonde on Blonde" comparison here. The single "In the New Year" is a new favorite on the Current, and the rest of it is equally stirring. Highly recommended. (9 p.m. Sat., 400 Bar. 18 and older. $15.) (C.R.)

Joan As Police Woman -- the nom de stage of alt-rocker Joan Wasser of the Dambuilders and Those Bastard Souls-- dials down the rock on "To Survive," a piano-ballad-dominated collection dedicated to her mother, who recently died of cancer. She's at her best on "To America," a horn-accented duet with Rufus Wainwright. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, $10-$12.) (J.B.)

Indiana's hazy and occasionally hilarious country-rock band Backyard Tire Fire returns to support its charming second album, "The Places We Lived," which falls somewhere between Dr. Dog, early Wilco and "Music From Big Pink." Bloodshot Records newcomers Ha Ha Tonka and local faves Little Man open. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry. $10.) (C.R.)

We knew about the kangaroos, but who knew Australia was also home to a hopping electronic scene? Two dance-rock acts boiling over Down Under, Cut Copy and the Presets, are on tour together to prove it. Cut Copy really is in the copying business, openly channeling such '80 acts as New Order, OMD and the Pet Shop Boys for a sound that's kitsch as it is catchy. The Presets are an equally retro but more upbeat and innovative duo with a buzzing new album, "Apocalypso." Read about the Presets in Variety A+E on Sunday. (9 p.m. Tue., Fine Line. 18 and older. $17.) (C.R.)

The finale of TV's "Sopranos" revitalized Journey, which has another new singer who sounds just like Steve Perry. Discovered by the band on YouTube, Arnel Pineda of the Philippines, Journey's fourth lead vocalist, has won over fans who won't stop believin' in these 1980s giants. Opener Cheap Trick, with the lineup from its 1977 debut LP intact, remains an unimpeachable power-pop icon. (8 p.m. Tue., Target Center, $35-$65.) (J.B.)

One of Scotland's top singer/songwriters, Dougie MacLean has been a member of the Tannahill Weavers and toured (and recorded) with Kathy Mattea. His latest CD, 2006's "Inside the Thunder," is downbeat in tempo and mood. The centerpiece is "Song for Johnny," for the late Johnny Cunningham, whom MacLean replaced in the group Silly Wizard. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center, $25-$28.) (J.B.)

One Beatles tribute a year might not be enough for First Ave, which is hosting Rock the Cause's "All You Need Is Love" concert, a benefit for the Free Arts Minnesota program for underprivileged kids. Badfinger guitarist Joey Molland, who recorded for Apple and played with various Beatles back in the day, heads up the show along with Prince & the Revolution's Matt (Dr.) Fink and the full-time tribute bands Rubber Soul, Revolver and Hard Day's Night. Other acts include White Light Riot, the Lovers Show and an updated version of Johnny & the Moondogs, featuring members of Ouija Radio, the Alarmists and Melismatics. Should be a good Fab Four fix until Curtiss A's show in December. (7:30 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. 18 and older. $12-$15.) (C.R.)

The leader of Seattle's Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter has been described as a good witch. Her third solo album, "Like, Love, Lust and Open Halls of the Soul," is melancholy and often mesmerizing, framed by ex-Whiskeytown guitarist Phil Wandscher's versatile shadings. With Marissa Nadler. (10 p.m. Wed. & 7 p.m. Thu., Bryant-Lake Bowl, $10-$14.) (J.B.)

The phrase "Nashville songwriter" usually conjures up a slick operator, but David Olney's blend of folk, blues, hard country, rock, old-time jazz swing, biting wit and full-throttle performance passion is closer in spirit to Springsteen, Townes Van Zandt (who was a huge Olney fan), Dylan or Neil Young at his angriest. Olney writes unique story songs, often with an unsparing world view, and can belt 'em out like a man possessed, though he's just as likely to be subtle or funny. (9:30 p.m. Thu., Famous Dave's Uptown. $5.) (T.S.)

CHILDREN'S MUSIC It's billed as the Target Children's Book Festival but there will be musicians as well as authors. Look for Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players to do the title cut from their latest CD, "Pop Fly," the perfect kids baseball song. They Might Be Giants will sing well-crafted tunes from their two excellent kids' discs, which adults can easily enjoy. And Lisa Loeb will celebrate "Camp Lisa," her fun, kid-friendly look at "Going Away," "Peanut Butter & Jelly" and "Best Friend," a kumbaya ditty that rings true for people of all ages. (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., Hyland Lake Park Reserve, 10145 Bush Lake Rd., Bloomington. Free). (J.B.)

JAZZ Thoughtful and hard-swinging bop pianist Hod O'Brien first made his mark in New York City in the 1950s -- he took Bill Evans' place in the Oscar Pettiford Quintet, in fact. But his most fruitful alliance, onstage and off, started in 1980 with singer Stephanie Nakasian, the best jazz thrush you've probably never heard. Sounding like a hip update of the great Kenton band singers (June Christy, Chris Connor), she inhabits ballads, has impeccable time and sensual tone, scats wonderfully, revels in jazz history and even plays humorous "mock trombone." It's a marriage made in bebop heaven. (9 p.m. today-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $15). (T.S.)

If Charlie Byrd pioneered jazz on the classical guitar, Earl Klugh took the instrument into "smooth jazz" territory, achieving international stardom by adroitly finger-picking his nylon strings. But his big influence was country session legend Chet Atkins. Also listening closely to electric heroes, classical gurus plus pop, R&B, Latin and Caribbean artists, Klugh wound up with a hybrid style of acoustic guitar that's immediately recognizable if not exactly legit jazz, netting more than a dozen Grammy nominations. His latest CD is called "The Spice of Life," underscoring the variety in his approach and catalog. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun.-Mon., Dakota Jazz Club. $25-$40.) (T.S.)

San Francisco chanteuse Jacqui Naylor has one hand in jazz, the other in pop. While she can play straight-ahead jazz with elan, she specializes in creative mash-ups -- melding "Black Coffee" with Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" or AC/DC's "Back in Black" with "My Funny Valentine" -- and reimagined rock hits, such as the Rolling Stones' disco-y "Miss You" as a haunting, hipster seduction. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, $15 & $20.) (J.B.)

AFRICAN Congolese/Kenyan soukous legend Samba Mapangala will make a rare stop on his way to next weekend's World Music Festival in Chicago. As the leader of Orchestra Virunga, he became prominent throughout East Africa in the '80s and '90s via such albums as "Feet on Fire" and "Virunga Volcano." (10 p.m. Sat., Blue Nile. $20.) (C.R.)

Canadian old-time banjo ace Jayme Stone explores his instrument's West African past with Malian kora master Mansa Sissoko on the delicious new world fusion CD "Africa to Appalachia." The music of Mali dominates, but there are detours into Senegal (on "Dakar," which recalls the jazzy workouts of Tony Rice, Mike Marshall and Bela Fleck) and the American South (the old mountain chestnut "June Apple"). Stone and Sissoko have joined forces for a tour that should be both entrancing and educational, a polyrhythmic tale of two continents. With Spaghetti Western String Company. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center. $15-$18.) (T.S.)

BLUES Former Twin Cities harmonica blaster Lynwood Slim has assembled a band of talented T.C. cronies for his first local gig in several years. He also has a great opener: the fingerpicking acoustic blues duo Bob Bingham & Gordon Thorne, playing songs from their swell new CD, "2." (9 p.m. today, Famous Dave's Uptown. $5.) (T.S.)

Blues legend B.B. King turns 83 Tuesday, and local fans can celebrate early with Billy (Big Daddy) Cade and his King tribute show. While Elvis impersonators are a nickel a dozen, Cade may be King's lone full-time onstage devotee -- he has the clean and biting guitar sound, the flashy outfits, even the girth. Schooled in Chicago, seasoned in Las Vegas and now residing in the unlikely blues mecca of La Crosse, Wis., Cade has the master's endorsement: "Billy Cade's tribute is second to none," says King. (9 p.m. Sat., Famous Dave's Uptown. $5.) (T.S.)