Thursday, November 14

No Bird Sing Album-Release Show

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $10 adv/$12 doors, all ages

With their excellent third album, Definition Sickness, out this week on Strange Famous Records (see our preview of the album here), hip-hop trio No Bird Sing will take the stage at the Cedar tonight to perform new songs and likely invite a few special guests to the stage. Opening the show will be space-rock band Alpha Consumer and charismatic young MC Dem Atlas, who just signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment earlier this week.

Sound Unseen's Noise Nite with Animal Lover

Amsterdam Bar and Hall, St. Paul?

9:30 p.m., $5, 21+

What better way to come down off a screening of a documentary about a death metal guitarist (Death Metal Angola, showing at 7 p.m. at the Trylon) than with a concert that showcases some of the best new noise-rock bands in the Twin Cities? As part of the ongoing Sound Unseen festival, tonight's "Noise Nite" rounds up recent Picked to Click finalists Animal Lover, punk trio Ex Nuns, Ramones tribute band We Want Airwaves!, and DJ Richmanva.

Sounds Like Home benefit show featuring Astronautalis

Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $20, 18+

From our preview: "The second annual Sounds Like Home benefit show is sure to be a philanthropic fiesta, with all proceeds dedicated to aiding homeless children in the area. Local heroes Astronautalis, Night Moves, Strange Names, and Fort Wilson Riot will bring down the house as audience members rack up the donations."

Heaven on Howitzers, Portrait of a Drowned Man, Oblivion

Kitty Kat Club, Minneapolis

9 p.m., free, 21+

Duluth’s instrumental post-rock, movie-scoring quartet will make a return visit to Minneapolis for a weeknight show at the Kitty Kat Club this Thursday. Oblivion opens and Heaven on Howitzers (featuring members of Hollow Boys, Prissy Clerks, and Wolf Mountain) will headline.

Friday, November 15

BNLX Fest II

Cause Spirits and Soundbar, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $7, 21+

Power trio BNLX are throwing a two-night bash at Cause in support of their new compilation album, Produit Collecté, which comprises tracks off their series of eight EPs and four new songs. The first night of this second annual fest will feature support from Wiping Out Thousands, Fury Things, Gloss, DJ Jake Rudh, and a special farewell performance by Blue Sky Blackout.

Ecid vs. Wide Eyes and Phillip Morris 

Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $10, 18+

Two hip-hop acts go head to head at this dual album-release show, which celebrates the new two-volume EP from Ecid, Post Euphoria, and the first Wide Eyes album in a few years, The Sick and the Dead, which is a collaboration with MC Phillip Morris. Rapper Hooks, Ashley Gold, and DJ Foolproof will also be on hand for what's sure to be an action-packed show.

Shiro Dame, MaLLy, and Mayda

Amsterdam Bar and Hall, St. Paul

9 p.m., $6 adv/$8 door, 21+

Another in a series of shows booked by the Sound Unseen festival, this stellar bill combines the talents of solo artist and Black Blondie co-founder Sarah White—who will perform with her new project Shiro Dame—plus rapper MaLLy (whose excellent new EP Strange Rhythm just dropped last week), and pop powerhouse Mayda.

Saturday, November 16

Aaron and the Sea EP-Release Show

Kitty Cat Klub, Minneapolis

Synth-pop duo Aaron and the Sea teamed up with Grant Cutler to produce their darkest, most expansive album yet, the Cloak and Dagger EP. Fresh off a jaunt overseas to play the Iceland Airwaves Festival, they'll celebrate the release of the new album Saturday night at the Kitty Cat with support from Umami.

BNLX Fest II

Cause Spirits and Soundbar, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $7, 21+

Power trio BNLX are throwing a two-night bash at Cause in support of their new compilation album, Produit Collecté, which comprises tracks off their series of eight EPs and four new songs. Saturday's show will once again feature headliners BNLX with support from openers Pink Mink, Flavor Crystals, Two Harbors, and Frankie Teardrop.

Venus de Mars, L'Assassins, Tickle Torture

Amsterdam Bar and Hall, St. Paul

9 p.m., $6 adv/$8 door, 21+

Get your leather pants on. This Sound Unseen showcase combines three acts that know the meaning of not just playing music but putting on a show. All the Pretty Horses frontwoman Venus de Mars opens the night, followed by the '60s biker gang-channeling punk quartet L'Assassins and inimitable electro-pop artist and exhibitionist Elliot Kozel's project Tickle Torture.

Jeffrey James O’Loughlin, Dave Mehling, Dan Dresser, Space Carpet

Beaner’s Central, Duluth

7 p.m., free, all ages

Jeffrey James O’Loughlin is throwing himself a birthday bash this Saturday at his home away from home, Beaner’s Central. Jeffrey James, who invokes the spirit of Paul Westerberg like none I’ve ever seen, will perform along with fellow Beaner’s legends Dan Dresser, Dave Mehling and upcoming new stars Jen West and Rory Isakson together as Space Carpet.

Pert’ Near Sandstone, Black River Revue, Mike Munson

Tycoons Alehouse, Duluth

9 p.m., $10, 21+

Americana pickers (and one clogger) in Pert’ Near Sandstone make a return visit to Duluth on Saturday. Joining the energetic roots group will be Duluth bluegrass band Black River Revue and Winona bluesman Mike Munson.

Portage, Lookdown Moon, Fuzzy Ellis

The Rex, Duluth

10 p.m., $5, 21+

The Largoff Basement Shows continue this Saturday night at The Rex. The series, named after a mythical creature, features three unique bands each month, with a percentage of the cover charge going to a local charity. This time around the Boys & Girls Club of the Northland will benefit from a concert that features Duluth acts Fuzzy Ellis, Lookdown Moon, and the Twin Cities-by-way-of-Duluth act Portage.

Sunday, November 17

Charlie Parr

Amsterdam Bar and Hall, St. Paul

7 p.m., $6 adv/$8 door, 21+

An afterparty for a documentary on Charlie Parr screening earlier in the day (Meeting Charlie Parr, showing at 5 p.m. at McNally Smith College of Music), Parr himself will perform along with like-minded roots songwriters the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank and Frankie Lee.

Mark Olson, Tony Bennett

Teatro Zuccone, Duluth

7:30 p.m., $15, all ages

Founding member and principal singer/songwriter of the Jayhawks, Mark Olson, will be in Duluth for a one-night-only solo performance at Teatro Zuccone. Olson, who also spent a decade with his roots ensemble the Creekdippers, most recently released a new album called Mockingbird Time with a reunited and reconfigured Jayhawks in 2011. Tony Bennett, of Duluth band Cars & Trucks, will open the show with a rare solo show of his own.

Twin Ports concert recommendations courtesy of Duluth Local Show host Walt Dizzo.