The Big Gigs for week of 9/14

POP/ROCK Labelmates for more than a decade, Los Angeles punk vets NOFX and the locally bred fellas in Dillinger Four team up for an outdoor show just down the street from the crime scene of NOFX's locally beloved 2006 video/single "Seeing Double at the Triple Rock." Fat Mike and the band are still going strong on their 12th album, "Self Entitled." A new band on Mike's Fat Wreck Chords roster, Wyoming pop/punks Teenage Bottlerocket, open along with Eau Claire noisemakers Arms Aloft. (5:30 p.m. Fri., Cabooze Plaza. All ages. $25-$27.) Chris Riemenschneider

New York bluesman Popa Chubby has always been obvious about his influences, throwing in a Hendrix song here, a little Stevie Ray Vaughan there and plenty of Cream touches. On last year's "Back to New York City," the onetime punk sideman to Richard Hell saluted Leonard Cohen with a cover of "The Future" and Bach with an instrumental interpretation of "Jesus Joy of Man's Desire." But mostly the album shows Chubby's devotion to the blues and classic rock, with a flair for Meat Loaf-ian drama. (9 p.m. Fri., Famous Dave's Uptown, $6.) Jon Bream

They're both arty, adventurous and a little awkward. Maybe shy is the word. But David Byrne and St. Vincent met at a party for a charity album, started an art-music project and wound up with "Love This Giant," a collection of songs framed and buoyed by brass and reed players from the Dap-Kings and Antibalas. Released this week to much acclaim, the album sounds like a true and balanced collaboration that doesn't much suggest either's previous work. They will kick off their 24-concert tour in Minneapolis. (8 p.m. Sat., State Theatre, $39-$79.) Bream

Breezy and buoyant describe Jason Mraz's music. Granola and green describe his vibe. And good-time describes the impact of his hits "I'm Yours" and "Lucky." Platinum record sales haven't changed the San Diego lite-rock star much, judging from the recent single "I Won't Give Up" and his new album "Love Is a Four Letter Word." Opening is Christina Perri, the voice behind "Jar of Hearts." (7:30 p.m. Sun., Target Center, $27-$57.50.) Bream

Sounds of Blackness truly do live up to their name. The Grammy-winning Twin Cities choir will salute soul music of the '60s, revisiting the songs of Aretha, Otis, Sly, Marvin, Sam & Dave and Motown. Always an invigorating treat. (6 & 8 p.m. Sun., Dakota Jazz Club, $35-$45.) Bream

Former British punk rocker Frank Turner has evolved into a smart, witty singer/songwriter with an attitude. On 2011's "England Keeps My Bones," he delivered songs like a punk Billy Bragg. "I Still Believe" was one of the coolest singles of the year, a drinking anthem about the saving power of rock 'n' roll, from Elvis to Kanye. He can get personal and romantic, too. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Varsity Theater, $16.) Bream

With a Steve Albini-produced sophomore album in tow, the Cloud Nothings should appeal to Twin Cities music hipsters of decades past as much as the blog-educated kids already into the quartet. The Cleveland rockers -- kids themselves, in their early 20s -- boast a crumbling-wall-of-noise, two-guitar sound wrapped around scrappy punk melodies, sort of an unlikely blend of Fugazi, Trail of Dead, the Descendents and, yep, a little Replacements. Highly recommended, especially with local favorites Bloodnstuff adding to the noise level. (8 p.m. Sun., Amsterdam Bar & Hall. $12-$14.) Riemenschneider

Bob Mould isn't the only alt-rock vet out playing a classic early-'90s album: Matthew Sweet arrives a year late to mark the 20th anniversary of "Girlfriend," the Nebraskan rocker's bittersweet (or "bitter Sweet?") post-divorce record. In addition to the omnipresent title track, his critical and commercial breakthrough gave us such Big Starry gems as "Divine Intervention," "I've Been Waiting" and "Evangeline." Too bad Richard Lloyd and the late Robert Quine won't be on hand to rehash their blaring guitar work, but Sweet has been cranking out these songs all along. (8 p.m. Tue., Varsity Theater. $20.) Riemenschneider

Seattle area sludge-punk heroes the Melvins are trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records by pulling off the fastest tour of all 50 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C. A smaller trio configuration of the band led by the light-socket-haired Buzz Osborne, they started Sept. 5 in Alaska and will stop at their favorite Minneapolis watering hole on their way to an Oct. 25 finish in Hawaii. (7 p.m. Wed., Grumpy's Downtown parking lot, 1111 Washington Av. S., Mpls., 21 & older, $20.) Riemenschneider

Built to Spill has not put out an album in three years, so per usual, that's when the Boise fuzz-rock noodlers opted to go out on tour. Doug Martsch and crew are actually working on a new disc, but the centerpiece of their shows is the tight, tornado-spun guitar interludes that make them one of indie-rock fans' favorite jam bands. Helvetia and Sister Crayon open. (8:30 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. $20.) Riemenschneider

As Britain's godfather of the blues, John Mayall helped launch the careers of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Mick Fleetwood and Mick Taylor, among others. His latest guitar discovery is Texas' Rocky Athas, a high-school pal of Stevie Ray Vaughan. At 78, Mayall is still going strong on guitar, keyboards, vocals and, of course, harmonica, especially on his classic "Room to Move." (7 & 9 p.m. Thu., Dakota, $30-$40.) Bream

On their consistent third album "Neck of the Woods," Los Angeles' Silversun Pickups continue to mine the fuzz-roaring mid-'90s alt-rock terrain covered on their 2007 hit "Lazy Eye," which makes for electrifying live shows if not raves from Pitchfork. The Current is still showing them the love with steady rotation for the single "Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)." Fellow shoegazer-style rockers School of Seven Bells and Australia's Atlas Genius open. (7 p.m. Thu., State Theatre. $30.) Riemenschneider

Mindful Brooklyn rap hero Talib Kweli returns to headline an all-rap block party: the Hip-Hop Harambee (from the Swahili word for a positive social get-together). Kweli is bringing a six-piece band to promote his album "Prisoner of Conscious," due next month. Locals make up the rest of the lineup, including Doomtree's Sims, Big Zach of Kanser and More Than Lights, jazzy songstress Alicia Steele, the Grittee Committee with Greg Grease and Freez, buzzing young go-getters Audio Perm, Meta, Sean Anonymous and many more. (3-10 p.m. Sat., Nomad Pub parking lot, 18 & older, $10-$15.) Riemenschneider

How's this for a cool pairing? GZA delivering one of the most-loved rap albums of the '90s, "Liquid Swords," alongside Killer Mike, who's out promoting one of the best rap albums of 2012. The Wu-Tang Clan co-founder's dark, crime-ridden 1995 sophomore solo album was reissued this summer in a deluxe package that includes a miniature chess board. OutKast protégé Mike delivered a checkmate of a record with help from producer El-P, "R.A.P. Music." Wavves indie-rocker Nathan Williams' dopey space-funk duo Sweet Valley opens with Brooklyn dance-rock quartet Bear Hands. (8 p.m. Thu., First Avenue. $20.) Riemenschneider

COUNTRYThe Rotary Club of Farmington has gotten ambitious with its fourth annual Ramble Jam fundraiser. Featured Friday are Randy Houser of "Boots On" fame and hot newcomer Dustin Lynch, rising with the top 10 single "Cowboys and Angels." Saturday shifts into full-on party mode with Lee Brice, a Twin Cities favorite thanks to "A Woman Like You" and "Love Like Crazy," and Wisconsin native Josh Thompson, who made noise with "Beer on the Table." Also on the Saturday bill are honky tonk sweetheart Sunny Sweeney, who celebrates "Drink Myself Single," and the Twin Cities' own Rocket Club. (3:30 p.m. Fri. & 12:30 p.m. Sat., Dakota County Fairgrounds, Farmington, $25-$130, www.ramblejamcountry.com) Bream

Willie Nelson and outdoor music venues are a match made in heaven. Unfortunately, that means fans in the amphitheater-challenged Twin Cities will have to make another road trek to see him. How fitting to catch him in farm country, though, given that's he's working his way across the heartland to next weekend's 27th annual Farm Aid concert in Hershey, Pa. His guitar playing and laid-back spirit remain as solid as his charitable commitments. (7 p.m. Wed., Vetter Stone Amphitheater, Riverfront Park, Mankato. $39.50-$79.50.) Riemenschneider

JAZZJazz bassist Chris Bates celebrates the splendid, hard-driving CD "New Hope," his first as a composer/bandleader. Well-known around town from such groups as the Motion Poets, Atlantis Quartet and Todd Clouser's A Love Electric, Bates has scaled a new peak with "New Hope" and his Red 5, a piano-less quintet co-anchored by brother J.T. Bates on drums and featuring saxmen Brandon Wozniak and Chris Thomson and trumpeter Zack Lozier. Beyond Bates' terrific songwriting and the group's cohesive heft, the ear-opener is the swaggering trumpet work of Lozier, whose New Orleans music pedigree comes through on the cool, radio-ready cut "251 Stomp." Otherwise, "New Hope" owes more to Ornette than Satchmo, with lots of hip surprises, including detours into Mother Africa ("Maliapolis"), and Happy Apple territory ("We're Going In"). (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter, $12.) Tom Surowicz

Trombonist/arranger Delfeayo Marsalis, last seen at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, returns with a mix of national and local bright lights. Trumpet star Sean Jones is a prodigious and exciting player, a headliner in his own right. Drummer Winard Harper made some memorable Verve recordings with his brother, trumpeter Philip Harper. When pianist Richard Johnson -- known for his work in Wynton Marsalis' celebrated septet -- relocated to the Twin Cities and started doing cool theme shows, the local jazz world was amused and enriched. Finally, there's young bassist Jeremy Boettcher, who gets a chance to show he belongs in fast company. (7 p.m. Wed., Dakota, $25-$30.) Surowicz

WORLDPutting a new, somewhat happier and bouncier spin on Portuguese fado music, the quartet Deolinda has been a big hit in Lisbon and now sets off on its first tour of America. Deolinda is a family affair, with brothers Luis José Martins and Pedro da Silva Martins playing classical guitars and a variety of string instruments, their cousin Ana Bacalhau handling lead vocals and her husband, José Pedro Leitão, playing bass. The band's song, "Parva que Sou" ("What a Fool I Am") has become an anthem among Portugal's collegiate crowd. Will their humor and charm translate? (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, $25.) Surowicz

Headliners Terakaft canceled their U.S. tour last week, but the Global Roots Festival -- a free event -- goes on at Cedar Cultural Center. Tuesday's opening lineup features JPP, a Finnish ensemble that balances its fiddle-driven Celtic-Slavic-Finnish folk mesh with the harmonium of Timo Alakotila, along with Trio Brasileiro, an exciting new guitar-mandolin-percussion group that plays buoyant Brazilian choro, full of fast-paced, syncopated grooves. (7:30 p.m. Tue.) Movits! is a Swedish casserole of hip-hop beats and swing grooves who got their big break on "The Colbert Report." They're paired with MC Rai, a politically earnest Tunisian transplant who mixes hip-hop with the catchy, mutable rhythms of North African rai. (7:30 p.m. Wed.) Closing-night headliner is now M.A.K.U. Soundsystem, an octet of mostly native Colombians now living in Brooklyn, who combine everything from cumbia to reggae to Afrobeat and hip-hop into a rollicking, funky porridge. Mexican singer/songwriter Rana Santacruz opens. (7:30 p.m. Thu.) Britt Robson