Big Gigs for June 7-13: Darren Criss, Dead Milkmen, more

He's been on "Glee" for three seasons and on Broadway for three weeks (in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"). Now Darren Criss is working on his first full-length album. But first comes the solo tour — it's sold out, naturally, and he has wowed fans at such hallowed spots as the Fillmore in San Francisco and the House of Blues in Hollywood. Criss specializes in melodic piano pop that showcases his sweet tenor and romantic nature. His songs are made for Top 40 radio. (6:30 p.m. Mon., Varsity Theater, sold out.) Bream

There was a lot more to the Dead Milkmen than "Punk Rock Girl." However, that 1988 moment-in-time novelty hit might be enough to get Gen-Xers to want to come out and relive their confused, wimpy, pre-grunge youth for this reunion tour. The scrawny, scratchy-voiced, fun-loving Philadelphia pop-punkers split in 1995 and didn't look back until 2008, when they reunited for the less-than-fun reason of paying tribute to deceased bassist Dave Schulthise (a k a Dave Blood). They've issued an album and several singles since then but play lots of oldies at shows. Iowan comedy punks Samuel Locke Ward & the Garbage Boys open. (9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $20.) Chris Riemenschneider

Long an admired guitarist and singer/songwriter, Richard Thompson takes a new tack on this year's "Electric." He calls it a Celtic power trio or "a folky slant" on Cream or the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Produced by another pretty great guitarist, Buddy Miller, "Electric" is filled with Thompson's sardonic wit and depressing lyrics — though this time they're often set to uptempo music. Thompson rocks harder than he has in years. He's touring as a power trio. Field Report opens. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Minnesota Zoo, $35-$47.50.) Jon Bream

Back in the day, you never knew what the unpredictable singer/guitarist Beej Chaney would do at a Suburbs gig. These days, Chaney, who lives in California, is less exciting and wild, but the 'Burbs, led by keyboardist/vocalist Chan Poling, still churn out pioneering Twin Cities dance-rock that sounds timeless. Rattle our bones once again, boys. Dead Larry opens. (9 p.m. Sat., Cabooze, $20.) Bream

With their icy electro-pop, Glasgow's Chvrches have built a buzz across the pond. The trio placed fifth in the BBC Sound of 2013 poll for most promising new artists. The Current is spinning their perky new single, "Gun," which is more metaphorical than violent — not surprising when you consider that singer Lauren Mayberry has a four-year law degree and a master's in journalism. The group's debut album is due in September. (9 p.m. Sat., Fine Line, $15.) Bream

If Cat Stevens had been around to hear Radiohead and Bon Iver, he might have formed a band like Junip. The Swedish trio has an arty, downbeat, crescendoing indie-rock sound with a soft, lonesomely comforting folkie heart, courtesy of classical-guitar-picking, moan-voiced singer José Gonzalez. An indie star in his own right, the Sweden-born bard of Argentinian descent reunited the band for a self-titled sophomore album that is hypnotic at times but occasionally a bore. Good thing this one's at the Cedar. Zoo Animal and Barbarossa open. (8 p.m. Sat, Cedar Cultural Center, $15-$18.) Riemenschneider

Weather-permitting, is there any gig that sounds better for the soul this weekend than Rock the Vine 4? It takes place in a scenic vineyard, with a charitable cause and plenty of the local crop to go around. The music should be pretty spirited, too, with fiery showman Mark Mallman heading it up alongside cosmic soul-pop rockers Roster McCabe, tight-as-nails alt-rock mainstays the Melismatics, twangy folk-rock tunesmiths Actual Wolf and Fathom Lane, arty electro-pop act Van Stee and sweet song picker Savannah Smith. Proceeds benefit Rock the Cause. (Noon-8 p.m. Sat., St. Croix Vineyards, 6428 N. Manning Av., Stillwater, $15, IRocktheCause.org.) Riemenschneider

Is it a fashion show, a boutique exhibition or a rock gig? Answer: yes. Voltage: Fashion Amplified is a really fun party, too, enjoyable whether you're a fashionista or not. This year's performers — all of whom will be decked out in specially selected attire while models work a runway — include the already wow-styled hip-hop queens in the Chalice, jewel-voiced singer Aby Wolf's electro act Wolf Lords, high school folk-popsters Bomba de Luz and improv rockers Dream Crusher fronted by rapper Sean Anonymous (who's profiled on page E3). Proceeds benefit local design booster MNfashion. (8 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $28-$33, MNfashion.org.) Riemenschneider

He landed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as leader of the Lovin' Spoonful ("Summer in the City," "Daydream," "Do You Believe in Magic") and in the 1970s Earworm List for singing the hit theme to TV's "Welcome Back, Kotter." But John Sebastian is a tie-dyed folkie-meets-roots purveyor extraordinaire, a session-playing harmonica player (he's on the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues"), a jug-band ace and a pretty fair banjo picker. (7 p.m. Sun.-Mon., Dakota Jazz Club, $36.) Bream

Not only is Bill Payne a co-founder of the eternally funky Little Feat but he's played piano with a who's who of rock, including the Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, Emmylou Harris, Pink Floyd, Jackson Browne, Bob Seger and J.J. Cale. In his spare time, Payne is a serious photographer. So he's combining his two loves, music and photography, in a one-man presentation titled "Tracing Footsteps — A Journal of Music, Photography and Tales From the Road." The program will also offer clubgoers a chance to ask questions. (7 p.m. Wed., Dakota, $25.) Bream

"So Good, So Right" is Nicole Henry's impressive in-concert salute to songs of the 1970s. This Miami singer gets inside Bill Withers' "Use Me" with jazzy insight and soulful sass and gets down on Aretha's "Spirit in the Dark," testifying with a voice that starts soft and sweet and builds into a gospelly roar. Henry inventively turns Stealers Wheel's "Stuck in the Middle With You" into a funky scolding. This girl can sang. (7 p.m. Fri., Dakota, $25) Bream

Together more than 45 years, the Barbary Coast Dixieland Show Band will close the Twin Cities Jazz Society's annual "J to Z" concert series with a gig dedicated to the late Dick Ramberg. It took two musicians to replace the superb clarinetist and pianist on the group's recent whirlwind tour of Florida: Twin Cities clarinetist Fred Richardson and Florida-based pianist Bobby Van Deusen, who's headed here for the TCJS show plus a recording session the next day. It's a fun-loving ensemble, with two cut-ups who are also great players in trombonist Jim ten Bensel and jack-of-all-instruments Russ Peterson. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd. $22-$25. 952-563-8575.) Tom Surowicz

You don't need to be a biblical scholar to enjoy local pianist Dan Musselman's new release, "Devotion," which opens with five impressive trio pieces patterned after the books of Genesis, Job, Luke, Acts and the ever-scary Revelation. If you heard them on the radio, you might think of everyone from Chick Corea to Esbjorn Svensson to even Elton John before you'd think of St. Paul the Apostle or the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This stirring session also features bassist Andrew Foreman and drummer Zach Schmidt, plus guest trumpeter Hermon Mehari on the non-"good book" tracks. (3 p.m. Sun., McNally Smith College of Music, 19 E. Exchange St., St. Paul, free.) Surowicz

Back in the 1960s, South African flugelhorn hero Hugh Masekela and versatile jazz pianist Larry Willis were Manhattan School of Music students who jammed the nights away at NYC bars. That was before Masekela's hit career in jazz and groove music ("Grazin' in the Grass"), and before Willis made his mark on Blue Note albums by Jackie McLean and Lee Morgan, and as a member of Blood, Sweat & Tears. Recently they reunited for concerts in Cape Town, South Africa, and London, and a four-CD set called "Friends," with intimate takes of American jazz standards. The two are playing just a few U.S. dates. (7 & 9 p.m. Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, $25-$40.) Surowicz

Over the past three years, no Minnesota folk group has proven more ambitious or accomplished than the Finnish-American duo Kaivama. It has released exceptional CDs and toured the United States and Europe, often in the company of Finnish fiddler Arto Järvelä, their partner on a gorgeous new instrumental album. He won't be at Kaivama's annual West Bank concert, but the group will have some esteemed co-stars from Finland — the Polka Chicks, making their Twin Cities debut. The duo look cheerful enough, but along with the sparkling fiddle and accordion instrumentals on their recent album, "Viulu Ja Viinantilkka," is a song about getting out of jail and attacking a boyfriend — poking his eyes out so he can't look at other women. Ouch! (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, $15-$18.) Surowicz