Big gigs for July 3-9: Kacey Musgraves, Beach Boys, Salt-N-Pepa, Booker T. Jones, D4-th

Concert spotlights for the week, also including Taste of Minnesota, Weird Al, Strange Names and burgeoning gospel group the Jones Family Singers.

July 3, 2015 at 3:22PM
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION - Salt-n-Pepa are seen at Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival, on March 22, 2015 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The event, produced by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) raised over $1,000,000 to provide services and support for Floridians living with HIV/AIDS. ( Photo by Jesus Aranguren/AP Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation ) ORG XMIT: CPA110
Salt-N-Pepa shake up the Minnesota Zoo Wednesday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

POP/ROCK

Esteemed B-3 organ star Booker T. Jones, 70, has been collaborating recently with lots of younger hipsters — Drive-by Truckers on his 2011 Grammy-winning "Potato Hole," the Roots and Sharon Jones on 2012's "The Road From Memphis" and a parade of guests on 2013's "Sound the Alarm," including Vintage Trouble, Gary Clark Jr., Estelle, Mayer Hawthorne and Sheila E. Of course, Jones landed in the Rock Hall of Fame with Booker T. & the MGs on the impetus of such 1960s instrumental classics as "Green Onions" and "Time Is Tight"; as a sideman, he's played with Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Neil Young and Willie Nelson, among others. Always a treat. (7 & 9 p.m. Fri. & 7 p.m. Sat., Dakota Jazz Club, $35 & $42.) Jon Bream

Oldies rock isn't the only music being served at the relocated Taste of Minnesota, but it's certainly the predominant flavor in Friday's lineup with "Slow Ride" crankers Foghat — down to drummer Roger Earl as the only original member — plus "Hands to Yourself" hitmakers the Georgia Satellites and '70s party band the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Saturday's fireworks come with a pair of fiery 93X-brand alt-metal bands, P.O.D. and Fuel, plus '60s garage-rockers the Castaways, Joey Molland's Badfinger and Petty tribute band Free Fallin'. Sunday winds down with a twang: Phil Vassar of "Just Another Day in Paradise" fame, bro-country prospect Jon Pardi and local go-to guy Chris Hawkey, plus the festival's ultimate retro rocker, Kip Winger, whose namesake '80s hair band was immortalized by Beavis and Butt-head. (11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun., Carver County Fairgrounds, Waconia, $10, free before 1 p.m., free all day for 12 & younger, atasteofmn.com.) Chris Riemenschneider

After hitting jackpot again last year with his hit parodies "Handy" and "Tacky" — spoofs of Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" and Pharrell Williams' "Happy" — "Weird" Al Yankovic is cashing in with a casino gig to kick off Mystic Lake's busy holiday weekend. The comedic music vet landed his first No. 1 record in 2014 after 30 years on the charts, which proves he's either a timeless entertainer, or pop music has never been more ripe for spoofing. (8 p.m. Fri., Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, $34-$42.) Riemenschneider

If anyone is going to attempt to throw a block party on July 4th in Minneapolis, it should be those independently minded dudes in Dillinger Four. The irreverent, irascible, irrepressible punk-rock vets mark their 21st anniversary by taking their annual "D4th" blowout outside, where they will play alongside nine other bands including Florida's acclaimed firebrand quartet Against Me! and a certain unannounced act whose name should be lifted or pulled out of the social-media rumor mill by the time you read this. Also performing: Avail frontman Tim Barry, L.A. area punk vets Toys That Kill and locals Off With Their Heads, Scared of Chaka, Pink Mink, Nato Cales and United Teachers of Music. Surly is making a special D4 brand beer, too. (1-10 p.m. Sat., outside the Triple Rock, $50.) Riemenschneider

While his cousin and former bandmate Brian Wilson's story is beautifully told on screen in the new movie "Love & Mercy," Mike Love, left, is hoping to find a little more love and mercy this summer for his remade lineup of the Beach Boys, featuring Bruce Johnston as the only other heyday-era member. They'll perform "Fun, Fun, Fun" under the setting sun, sun, sun in the welcome return of Mystic Lake's outdoor stage, with fireworks to follow. (8 p.m. Sat., Mystic Lake, $32 lawn, $49-$69 reserved.) Riemenschneider

A year after ditching the Twin Cities for New York, Strange Names return home with plenty to brag about. The tastefully retro and irrepressibly catchy synth-pop trio just dropped their debut album on influential NYC indie label Frenchkiss Records, a bubbly and bouncy collection aptly titled "Use Your Time Wisely" and featuring a "Breakfast Club" locker's worth of '80s new wave influences of the Human League and Simple Minds variety. They're meeting back up with their old friends in the new band Pornonono, featuring members of Fort Wilson Riot and Night Moves. (9 p.m. Wed., 7th Street Entry, $12-$15.) Riemenschneider

COUNTRY

With her "Same Trailer Different Park" debut, Kacey Musgraves made quite a splash, winning Grammys for best country album and song ("Merry Go Round") and leading to her being CMA's best new artist. With her just-released sophomore effort "Pageant Material," the 26-year-old Texan proves that she's the real deal. Smart, funny, original, clever and a little bit subversive, she likes to push buttons and tweak funny bones. "Biscuits" is seasoned with corn and the punch line "Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy." "Good Ol' Boys Club" slams the music biz, "Pageant Material" talks about her teen years and "Dime Store Cowgirl" shows her commitment to her roots. She's equal parts small-town homespun charm and modern open-minded cowgirl. She even got Willie Nelson to duet on a hidden track, "Are You Sure," which makes you certain she's serious about this stuff, too. Sugar & the Hi Lows open. (7:30 p.m. Thu. Minnesota Zoo, $59-$71.50.) Bream

HIP-HOP

Probably the biggest surprise on the Minnesota Zoo lineup this summer is an old-school hip-hop act — Salt-N-Pepa. That's right, Cheryl James ("Salt") and Sandra Denton ("Pepa") are back, their profile boosted by a current Geico TV commercial and local airplay on the new Hot 102.5 hip-hop oldies radio station. They'll visit their 1986-99 heyday and the hits "Push It," "Whatta Man" and "Shoop." Reports are that the rappers put their music in context by doing a rock medley from back in the day. Oh, "Sweet Child O' Mine." DJ Shannon Blowtorch opens. (7:30 p.m. Wed. Minnesota Zoo, $55-$67.50.) Bream

GOSPEL

From the refinery mecca of Baytown, Texas, the Jones Family Singers come off like the spiritual answer to an oil well blowout. A true family band — five sisters, two brothers and their father — they were working the Gulf Coast gospel music circuit when Austin music critic Michael Corcoran and Spoon drummer Jim Eno helped bring them to the attention of South by Southwest festival goers and other hip tastemakers. Over the past two years, they've played everywhere from Lincoln Center to the Playboy Jazz Festival to (just last week) Russia. They're now the subjects of an inspiring new documentary, "The Jones Family Will Make a Way," and just issued a soul-rocking live album, "Live From Mt. Zion." Their Twin Cities debut comes between stops at the Newport and Winnipeg folk festivals. (7 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club, $30.) Riemenschneider

CLASSICAL

When the great symphonist Anton Bruckner was a boy he sang in the choir at the monastery of Sankt Florian near Linz in Austria, later becoming its organist. The St. Florian Boys' Choir is still in operation, and during a 12-date U.S. tour joins forces with Minnesota's own North Star Boys' Choir for a concert in Elk River. The Austrians bring nine centuries of tradition with them — they're the oldest boys' choir in the world — and a reputation for polished, expressive vocalism gleaned from their many recordings and international appearances. (7 p.m. Fri., Central Lutheran Church, 1103 School St., Elk River. Free) Terry Blain

Minnesota Orchestra followers can get a flavor of what happened on its recent trip to Cuba in a concert package dubbed "Celebrate Cuba!" It will include music from the tour — with works by Bernstein, Márquez and Gershwin. Musicians will recount their experiences, and a new video will encapsulate the tour's many highlights, including mentor work with students. Coro Entrevoces, one of Cuba's top choirs, also will perform a selection of unaccompanied pieces, symbolizing the cultural cross-pollination created by this historic visit. (2 p.m. Sun., Orchestra Hall, $25-$55.) Blain

JAZZ

Among the great Brazilian composers, Antonio Carlos Jobim best captured the nuance of an island breeze, in its ability to be both soothingly cool and warm at the same time. Vinicius Cantuária is a sublime yet incisive interpreter of Jobim's sambas and bossa novas — they waft from his guitar and vocals with the composer's trademark beguiling elegance. Like Jobim, Cantuária was raised in Rio with an affinity for jazz. Last year he released an album devoted to Jobim's songs and staged a memorable eight-night residency in San Francisco covering the catalog. His renditions tinker with the harmony and leave the memorable melodies (like the indelible "Girl From Ipanema") intact. (7 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $25.) Britt Robson

How many artists can claim a nine-decade career? Irv Williams began performing with his sister on the fiddle at age 5. This week he'll be blowing the tenor sax in celebration of his latest CD, "Pinnacle," at age 95. Whether it is the easy lilt of swing-era tunes like "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" and "Them There Eyes," or gorgeous ballad treatments on "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" and "Lush Life," the breathy fullness of Williams' horn yet again reinforces his "Mr. Smooth" sobriquet on this release. It also features Irv reminiscing over his times with Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Lunceford and Count Basie in the last interview ever conducted by Twin Cities radio personality Leigh Kamman. As on the record, bassist Billy Peterson and guitarist Steve Blons will round out the trio. (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, $7.) Robson

On the second Wednesday of the month, the Jazz Central venue has been the creative sandbox for bassist Chris Bates for more than two years now. Under the rubric Magica Improvisada, Bates has performed bass duets with Anthony Cox, tackled Terry Riley's seminal "new classical" work, "In C," with a phalanx of bassists and drummers, and assembled different combos that aren't connected to his three or four regular working ensembles. This week's Magica is his third go-round with a trio featuring pianist Peter Schimke (his old cohort in How Birds Work) and drummer Cory Healey. The material will include a mix of originals and covers that range from ECM-era Kenny Kirkland to Thelonious Monk to Billy Bragg. (8:30 p.m. Wed., Jazz Central, $10 suggested donation, sliding scale). Robson


Photo by Leah Millis • leah.millis@startribune.com Minneapolis, Minn. June 18, 2011--] Booker T. Jones took the stage during Rock the Garden music festival at the Walker Art Center. Despite rainy weather, thousands of people turned up to enjoy a variety of bands.
Booker T. Jones has a two-night Dakota gig. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Grammy Winner, Kacey Musgraves was the first act to play before Lady Antebellum at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN on February 7, 2014. ] JOELKOYAMA•jkoyama@startribune
Kacey Musgraves takes the Minnesota Zoo stage Thursday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
The Jones Family Singers, from Baytown, Texas.
The Jones Family Singers, from Baytown, Texas. (Chris Riemenschneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Coro Entrevoces, a Cuban choral group, performs for the Minnesota Orchestra before dinner at the Hotel Nacional in Havana, Cuba on Wednesday, May 13, 2015. ] LEILA NAVIDI leila.navidi@startribune.com /
Coro Entrevoces, a Cuban choral group, performs Sunday at Orchestra Hall. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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