Monday, September 9

The Drug Budget Album-Release Show

Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $5, 18+

How to describe the Drug Budget? Part freak-folk, part ska, part lo-fi doo wop, this band's debut full-length, Overpower Afterparty, has a whopping 18 people playing everything from kazoos to horns to a djembe behind frontman Vain Mainstream's quirky, impassioned lyrics. How they're all going to fit on the Triple Rock's stage remains to be seen. With Rape Door and Hot Damn!

Total Trash Tour Kick-Off

Memory Lanes, Minneapolis

10 p.m., free, 21+

Tonight's installment of punk rock bowling (in which the bands set up camp on the lanes as attendees bowl on either side of them) doubles as the tour kick-off for fiery quartet Total Trash. They'll be joined at this show by Nashville's FancyTramp and fellow Minneapolitans Kitten Forever and Miami Dolphins.

Tuesday, September 10

Brian Laidlaw and the Family Trade

331 Club, Minneapolis

10 p.m., free, 21+

Fresh off playing the International Cat Video Film Festival (how many artists get to say that?), Brian Laidlaw and his folk-pop outfit the Family Trade play the 331 as part of their month-long "Conspiracy Series." This week's gig will feature support acts Becky Gaunt & the Gauntlettes and Bomba de Luz.

The Playlist Underground with Toby Thomas Churchill

The Underground, Duluth

8 p.m., free, all ages

The Twin Ports’ beloved public arts program, The Playlist, is hosting a special performance from two of Duluth’s preeminent musical talents. Post-rock powerhouse Portrait of a Drowned Man will split time with the always insightful singer/songwriter Toby Thomas Churchill for a show that will be broadcast on the television series later this fall. This free performance will be open to all ages and takes place at Duluth’s newest art space, The Underground, located in Duluth’s historic Depot.

Wednesday, September 11

GRRRL PRTY

Icehouse, Minneapolis

9:30 p.m., $6, 21+

New collective GRRRL PRTY—which finds MCs Lizzo and Sophia Eris of the Chalice teaming up with spitfire rapper La Manchita—will be holding it down at Icehouse on the second Wednesday of each month, starting with this one. They're making good on their promise of female empowerment by hosting powerful support acts Black Blondie, Ashley Gold, and Aby Wolf at this residency kick-off, with free hair and make-up assistance provided by their DJs DUO.

Tickle Torture, Usonia, UMAMI, Blue Blazer

Cause Spirits and Soundbar, Minneapolis

9 p.m., free, 21+

A lot of bang for zero bucks, this show combines the exhibitionist electro-pop of Tickle Torture with freak-rock bands Usonia and UMAMI, plus Mike Schwandt of White Light Riot's new project Blue Blazer.

Thursday, September 12

The Current's Public Music Meeting

Amsterdam Bar and Hall, St. Paul

6 p.m., free with registration, all ages

Want a say in what gets played on the Current? The station will be hosting another public music meeting this Thursday night, giving the audience a chance to way in on unreleased songs and make their opinions known.

Friday, September 13

BBGUN Album-Release Show

Icehouse, Minneapolis

10 p.m., $8, 21+

Fans of Wishbook (and, by extension, Cowboy Curtis) will be happy to hear that songwriter Neal Perbix is at it again, this time in a new group called BBGUN that finds him co-penning songs with Al Church. Live, the band fleshes out their sunny indie-rock sound with the help of drummer Jeremy Hanson, bassist Jesse Schuster, and members of Cloud Cult.

The Pines

Sacred Heart, Duluth

7:30 p.m., $10 adv/$15 door, all ages

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more fitting venue for sprawling roots band the Pines than Duluth's Sacred Heart, a beautiful former church that's been turned into a music venue and recording studio. Gospel-folk quartet Southwire opens.

Koo Koo Kanga Roo, The People Say Fox, General B and the Wiz

Red Star Lounge, Duluth

10 p.m., free, 21

Playing a rare 21+ show, the Minneapolis duo of Koo Koo Kanga Roo bring their interactive dance party back to Duluth for a performance at Red Star Lounge. Their show, centered around acting silly and dancing as hard as you can, will be an interesting fit when they hit the road this fall with English folk-punk artist Frank Turner. Catch the Roo along with local post-pop rockers The People Say Fox and Twin Cities indie blues rock outfit General B and The Wiz.

American Rebels, Squares, Strange

Rex Bar, Duluth

10 p.m., $5, 21+

A rock show led by Duluth staples American Rebels and featuring a “surprise mystery band” is what’s in store for your Friday visit to the Rex Bar (located in the lower level of the Fitger’s complex). There’s no telling who’ll turn out to be the surprise guest, but we do know that Minneapolis Eastern-influenced psychedelic outfit Squares and fellow visiting act Strange will be part of the evening’s entertainment.

Saturday, September 14

Franconia Jazz Festival

Franconia Sculpture Park, Franconia

12-6 p.m., free, all ages

What better way to spend one of the last Saturdays of the summer? This family-friendly event features a lineup of some of the state's finest jazz musicians, including Trio Pika (featuring Adam Linz of Fat Kid Wednesdays), Sophia Shorai, the Atlantis Quartet, Lucia Newell, and Debbie Duncan.

Electric Fetus Garage Sale and Fall Festival

Electric Fetus, Minneapolis

10 a.m.-5 p.m., free, all ages

The Electric Fetus's annual fall festival and garage sale returns this weekend, with major discounts on new and used LPs, CDs, and DVDs, and live music happening all afternoon. The festival will also offer up food from Glam Doll Donuts and Potter's Pastries. Set times:

12 p.m. Andrew Broder of The Cloak Ox

1 p.m. Brian Just Band

2 p.m. Black Market Brass

3 p.m. The Crunchy Kids

4 p.m. The Starfolk

Haphduzn Video-Release Show

Icehouse, Minneapolis

10:30 p.m., $10, 21+

It's been a big year so far for rapper Haphduzn, who toured the state on Atmosphere's "Welcome to Minnesota" tour this past winter and dropped his excellent Whittier Alliance album with producer Dimitry Killstorm this spring. This Saturday, he'll debut a new video for his song "T.O.F.U." (which features guest vocals from Slug) and perform along with openers VANDAAM, Rapper Hooks (formerly of the Tribe and Big Cats!), and DJ Frank Castle.

Farewell Milwaukee Album-Release Show

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $12 adv/$15 door, all ages

Alt-country and roots enthusiasts Farewell Milwaukee take a turn inward on their contemplative new album, Can't Please You, Can't Please Me. They'll be joined by Duluth folk-rock band Portage and J.E. Sunde (of the Daredevil Christopher Wright) at Saturday's album-release show.

Planemo, The Farsights, Warsaw Cipher, Orchyd

The Driftwood Char Bar, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $5, 18+

It’ll be a North vs. South showdown when Duluth acts Planemo and the Farsights split a bill with Minneapolis electro-pop band Warsaw Cipher and the aural/visual spectacle that is Orchyd this Saturday at the Driftwood Char Bar. Can Planemo’s brand of harmonic indie rock and the Farsights' folk influenced punk sound (think the Thermals) win over the locals? Show up and judge for yourself. And, while you’re there, wish Orchyd bass player Charlie Milkey (a recent Duluth transplant) and Farsight drummer Ryan Nelson a happy birthday.

Chaperone Records' First Birthday Party

The Red Herring, Duluth

4-11 p.m., free, all ages

Duluth’s finest purveyor of local vinyl, Chaperone Records, celebrates its first anniversary with a birthday bash complete with an evening of concerts from seven of the label’s hottest artists including Actual Wolf, Lion or Gazelle, Fever Dream, Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, Red Mountain, Southwire, and Charlie Parr. The festivities not only comprise of musical entertainment but will also include merch giveaways, a photo booth, art show (featuring local artists, of course), and a fiery performance from the Spin Collective. The event takes place at the future headquarters of Chaperone Records and will be followed by a dance party led by DJ consortium the Crunchy Bunch.

Sun Gods to Gamma Rays, Moon and Pollution, Plosives

Red Star Lounge, Duluth

10 p.m., free, 21+

Follow up your visit to the high energy Chaperone Birthday party with a far more relaxed showcase of ethereal Minneapolis acts blending unique melodies with hypnotic textures. Although new on the scene, Moon and Pollution (which features mastermind Graham O’Brien of No Bird Sing) has already played Duluth’s Bayfront Park opening for Atmosphere and Trampled By Turtles. The cosmic dream pop of Sun Gods to Gamma Rays and a DJ set by Plosives round out the lush presentation.

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