Local music: Lost Monks and Deep Blues

One of the most memorable local gigs of 2012 was way back in January, when fans lined up South by Southwest-style outside the 331 Club trying to get in to see Gary Burger, the supposedly obscure Minnesota music legend of G.I.-issue '60s garage-rock band the Monks. At the end of the electrifying, overpacked gig, Burger joked, "Maybe next time they'll book a bigger venue."

That's exactly what KFAI-FM's "Freewheelin'" host Jackson Buck has done. With the Spectors backing him once again, Burger will perform another "Freewheelin'" gig Friday at Lee's Liquor Lounge with punkabilly darlings L'Assassins opening (9:30 p.m., $10).

The 69-year-old Monks leader, who also happens to be the mayor of tiny Turtle River, Minn., can still play a mean brand of freak-noisy guitar and antiwar tunes that sound like precursors to the MC5.

Deep Blues comes 'Alive' There aren't any local performers on it, but there is a lot of local pride involved in the new concert album "Alive at the Deep Blues Fest," recorded last summer at Bayport BBQ in the St. Croix River town of Bayport.

The smoked-meat haven is run by the guy who also brought us the first guitar-smoking fest back in 2007, Chris Johnson. His annual event attracted interest from Alive Natural Sound, a Los Angeles collector's label that has issued Black Keys vinyl and albums by all of the acts featured on the new live collection, including Dan Auerbach-produced Ohio trio the Buffalo Killers, Left Lane Cruiser, Henry's Funeral Show, Radio Moscow and Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires.

Alabama grit rocker Bains returns to Bayport BBQ Saturday to celebrate the release with Eleganza!, ex-Chooglin' leader Brian Vanderwerf's new band (8 p.m., $10, www.BayportBBQ.com).

Random mix Local masters of bombast the Stnnng are over in England this weekend, performing in a holiday-themed installment of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival curated by Steve Alibini and Shellac. They got the gig after opening for Shellac at First Ave in September. The lads also plan to visit Abbey Road Studio to drop off their new album for mastering there. ...

Celtic-Cajun-flavored folk-rock troupe the Sweet Colleens take over Celtic Junction Friday to promote their fourth album, "Closer to the Sky" (7:30 p.m., $20 with CD, 836 Prior Av., St. Paul). While still heavily spiked with fiddle and accordion, the album shows off a rockier side to the rootsy quintet, with frontman Jeremy Greenhouse channeling as much Tom Petty as "Tom Dooley." ...

Cloud Cult just submitted its relatively long-awaited new album for mastering last week and is finally stepping out again to play a show Friday at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth. Meanwhile, violinist Shannon Frid has her own new band on the side, batteryboy, performing Wednesday at the Nomad Pub. ... After outside collaborations with the likes of Mike Mictlan and the Chalice of late, maniacal hip-hop duo Spyder Baybie Raw Dog and 2% Muck are back together and taking over the Nomad on Saturday to promote a new EP, "Bliff Mode" (10 p.m., $5). True to form, they're also offering free ice cream at the gig.