POP/ROCK If you caught her earlier this year at the Dakota, you'll understand why Carolyn Wonderland was named best female vocalist at the annual Austin Music Awards this year. She sings the blues and other rootsy music with grit and authority, like a sober Janis Joplin. And she plays a mean slide guitar, too, as evidenced on last year's tasty "Peace Meal." (8 p.m. Fri., Dakota Jazz Club, $25.) Jon Bream
Since 1967, founding keyboardist Neal Doughty has rolled with the changes of REO Speedwagon. He's still working with frontman Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall, who both signed on in the 1970s. They'll revisit the 1980s when REO's "Hi Infidelity" was a 10-million-selling blockbuster. (8 p.m. Fri., Mystic Lake, $38 & $49.) Bream
Even though Steve Albini produced some of the biggest and best albums of the '80s-'90s alt-rock wave ("In Utero," "Rid of Me," "Surfer Rosa"), his own sonically frayed band of the era, Shellac, never rose out of the underground -- clearly by design. The noise-rock trio followed in the freak-blasting wake of Albini's earlier band, Big Black, and featured Minneapolis' own heavy throttler Todd Trainer of Riflesport on drums. They still get together for shows every few years and are marking their 20th anniversary with dates here and in Chicago. Italian-rooted quartet Bellini and local faves the Stnnng open. (7:30 p.m. Sat., First Ave. $12.) Chris Riemenschneider
Did someone declare this corporate-rock weekend? If REO at Mystic and Journey at the State Fair weren't enough, there's Boston, reprising "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind." Since singer Brad Delp committed suicide in 2007, Boston has had several personnel changes, with founder/guitarist Tom Scholz being the main constant. Newcomer David Victor and Tommy DeCarlo, the keyboardist who joined in 2008, handle lead vocals. (8 p.m. Sat., Treasure Island, $39 &$49.) Bream
Deke Dickerson has established himself over 25 years as a modern rockabilly god. He's got the guitar chops, the songwriting savvy, a hot band, a fine voice, quick wit, easygoing stage presence -- everything but a ducktail. (9:30 p.m. Sat., Lee's Liquor Lounge, $12.) Tom Surowicz
fDeluxe has booked its second Twin Cities gig. That would make twice as many appearances here as its original incarnation, the Family -- a 1985 Prince spinoff project with vocalists Paul Peterson (a replacement in the Time) and Susannah Melvoin (twin sister of Wendy, Prince's then-guitarist). The Family recorded the original version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" and its own modest hit, "Screams of Passion." The group reunited last year without Prince's blessing (hence the name change) and released an invigoratingly funky album, "Gaslight." (7 & 9 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $30.) Bream
For the first time in nine years, Little Feat has new material to play in concert. This year's "Rooster Rag" is a typically funky, eclectic Feat stew, featuring some lyrics by Grateful Dead contributor Robert Hunter and Bill Payne playing the Band's piano. The title track, "Just a Fever," "Rag Top Down" and the blues chestnuts "Mellow Down Easy" and "Candy Man Blues" should be ideal additions to Feat's live repertoire. Read an interview with Payne at startribune.com/music. Tom Fuller Band opens. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Minnesota Zoo, $34; 2:30 p.m. Mon., Vetter Stone Amphitheater, Mankato, with City Mouse and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, $20.) Bream
An evening colorfully titled "Davina and the Duke" finds jump-blues guitar hero Duke Robillard and his band sharing the stage with rousing Twin Cities bar stars Davina & the Vagabonds, whose mix of rollicking piano, red hot horns and bluesy belting has proven to be a hit around the globe. Robillard is a versatile player, just as adept at supple swing jazz as gritty blues. Compatible? Should be. Combustible? That, too! (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, $25.) Surowicz
Dubbed the Latin-rock answer to Feist, Y La Bamba is an eclectic ensemble out of Portland, Ore., whose young singer Luz Elena Mendoza blends the traditional Mexican folk of her family roots with modern, experimental sounds. Steve Berlin of Los Lobos produced the sextet's just-released second album, "Court the Storm." Ecuadorian-flavored local sonic collagists Buffalo Moon open. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center. All ages. $10-$12.) Riemenschneider
Jerry Douglas is the king of the dobro. How else could he get Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Dr. John and Bela Fleck to play on his new album, "The Traveler"? Douglas also enlisted longtime bandmate Alison Krauss. Although he started in bluegrass, Douglas now journeys all over the musical map, as "The Traveler" demonstrates. Not only is this a rare club gig for Douglas but he'll have stellar companions: bassist Viktor Krauss (Lyle Lovett, Bill Frisell, Chieftains) and drummer Omar Hakim (Weather Report, Sting, Dire Straits). (7 & 9 p.m. Thu., Dakota, $40-$50.) Bream
JAZZ The last time we can recall Pat Metheny playing a club gig in town, it was the mid-1970s at the Longhorn Bar, better known as the breeding ground of Twin Cities punk. The guitar superstar meteorically graduated to concert halls, but his new project with the Unity Band -- Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez and new face on bass Ben Williams -- is bringing him back to intimate venues. Multi-reedman Potter, a jazz insider's favorite, is getting his biggest mainstream exposure as the first sax player to serve as a Metheny sideman since Dewey Redman and Michael Brecker traded licks on the memorable double LP "80/81" more than 30 years ago. See Sunday's Variety for an interview. (7 & 9 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Dakota, $50-$100.) Surowicz
HIP-HOP Not to be confused with Wugazi, Wu-Block is a Wu Tang Clan offshoot that's actually affiliated with the Clan, a collaboration between its members and the D-Block crew. The album is due Oct. 9 with the likes of Method Man, Jadakiss and Raekwon on it, but its primary purveyors were Ghostface Killah and Skeek Louch, who are now on tour together. Expect to hear them team up on the single "Union Square" and other songs in addition to performing their own sets. Saigon from HBO's "Entourage" opens. (10 p.m. Thu., Cabooze. $22-$25.) Riemenschneider
ELECTRONIC Paul van Dyk gigs in the Twin Cities only happen about once every presidential election, so don't take this one lightly, even if the German trance hero is touring behind a rather unremarkable new album, "Evolution." Among the record's many collaborations is the song "Eternity" with vocals by Minnesota's own Adam Young of Owl City fame. (10 p.m. Fri., Myth. $30-$35.) Riemenschneider
Amon Tobin is one electronic artist who doesn't operate strictly for the dancefloor, as evidenced by his current tour "I.S.A.M. 2.0." The shows center around a 25-foot, 3-D art installation that keys off the music. The Brazilian DJ/producer has collaborated with the Kronos Quartet and provides a lot of the sounds for the hit British show "Top Gear," and he naturally offers a cinematic aesthetic in his ambient, experimental music. He's also touring with British producer Holy Other. (8 p.m. Thu., Orpheum Theatre. $38.) Riemenschneider
