BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY
9 p.m. • Myth • 18-plus • $25-$45
Cleveland is known for many things: a mediocre football team, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ... Drew Carey. But perhaps the Cleve's greatest contribution to American culture is hip-hop quintet Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, whose soothing melodies, Phil Collins sampling and cutthroat lyrics caused a nation to nod their heads in both confusion and aural glee. Bone Thugs will forever return us to a time when prog-rock, country ditties and gangsta rap could live in harmony, a time lost but never forgotten, a time called the '90s. Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone -- who quit the crew last year -- are back for this 20th-anniversary tour, where the group will play 1995's "E. 1999 Eternal" in entirety and pay homage to Eazy-E. Bone Thugs' ninth studio album is due in 2013. TONY LIBERA
MASON JENNINGS
8:30 p.m. • First Avenue • 18-plus • $22-$25
Jennings had an unusually quiet year, which could actually make his annual First Ave gig more interesting than usual. One of Minneapolis' most celebrated singer/songwriters, the mostly acoustic indie-folk stalwart is working on the follow-up to last year's inspired, light-to-dark collection, "Minnesota." He'll have a band with him and he's bringing in some new folks he enjoys for openers. Los Angeles area folkie Haroula Rose has a buzz going back home and the ever-artful Jim White is producing her next record. Wisconsin boy/girl duo Blessed Feathers also opens.CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
MAN-SIZED ACTION
9 p.m. • Minneapolis Eagles Club • $6
Hüsker Dü cohorts Man Sized Action are getting back together after 11 years. All four original members of the bombastic, snarly post-punk quartet -- a big enough deal to have their name on the walls outside First Avenue -- are heading up a lineup of other early-'80s scenesters. The show will also feature Bill and Ernie Batson (Mighty Mofos, Hypstrz) and MSA guitarist Tom "Tippy" Roth's other band, the Silverteens. Frontman Patrick Woods said the purpose of the gig is simply to "celebrate old friendships" before the holidays. MSA's first of two albums, 1983's "Claustrophobia," was produced by Bob Mould and issued on the Hüskers-run Reflex Records. C.R.
PERMED OUT SHOWCASE 3
10 p.m. • Cabooze • 18-plus • $8-$10
This budding hip-hop collective anchored by a trio of young-buck beatmakers bum-rushed the local scene this year with its bombastic, stage-mobbing performances. As a whole, the 10-member entourage proved fairly prolific, dropping its "WeOutChea" LP and numerous splinter projects. Tonight's Permed Out Showcase marks the third such all-crew exhibition, as well as emcee Bobby Raps' 20th birthday (no b-day shots for this bro). Greg Grease, fresh off the release of his stunning new album "Cornbread, Pearl & G," and Mike the Martyr open. MICHAEL RIETMULDER
HEIRUSPECS
11 p.m. • Icehouse • $10-$12
While it seems every rapper is working with a live band now -- no complaints! -- let's not forget the group that taught everyone how to do it locally: Heiruspecs. The second-most-famous band of former St. Paul Central High School buds (after Mint Condition) is finally working on new music again and reconvening at a new venue for its seventh annual holiday concert, always loaded with guest appearances and an extra dose of communal hip-hop spirit. Wolf Lords and Metasota open.C.R.
