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Friday: “Works for Words” with Chris Koza & Rogue Valley (7:30 pm, AA, $22.50, Fitzgerald Theater)

Chris Koza returns to “Works for Words,” the Current’s series that challenges local musicians to create one-of-a-kind performances. He originally appeared last year as a musical guest; now, Chris Koza is heading up his own evening with guests Sims of Doomtree, Gabriel Douglas of the 4onthefloor, and Caroline Smith of Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps. He’ll explore the meanings of the lyrics and importance of words in pop, rock and folk songs, accompanied by a full choir and orchestra.

Friday: M.O.T.O w/ Nice Purse, Teddy & The Turks, and the Dementionals (9 pm, 21+, $TBA, Turf Club)

If you’re looking for a solid punk lineup this weekend in the Twin Cities, go no further than St. Paul’s good old Turf Club. Headlining is M.O.T.O., a seminal proto-garage outfit from New Orleans that’s been toiling in the underground punk scene since the early ’80s. The rest of the lineup is nicely filled out with a batch of locals: young’n up-and-comers Nice Purse, Teddy and the Turks (punk with a Turkish flavor, natch) and the Dementionals, which contains members of old-school punk band the Sinks.

Saturday: Eric Kamau Gravatt w/ Brandon Wozniak and Adam Linz (9 pm, $10, Artists’ Quarter)

Jazz drumming legend Eric Kamau Gravatt graces St. Paul with his presence for an intimate show at underground jazz club Artists’ Quarter. Known for his intensity behind the kit, Gravatt’s resume includes Weather Report, McCoy Tyner and dozens more. For this show, he’ll be joined by locals Adam Linz of Fat Kid Wednesdays on bass, and Atlantis Quartet’s Brandon Wozniak on sax.

Saturday: Man Forever w/ Moonstone Continuum + Weakwick + Seated Heat (9 pm, 21+, $TBA, Turf Club)

It’s a good weekend for drummers in St. Paul, it seems. The unique and exhilarating drum project Man Forever comes to the Turf, and its as unusual as it is enthralling. It comes from Onedia drummer John Colpitts, better known as Kid Millions. It reimagines Lou Reed’s obscure master work Metal Machine Music as a minimalist drum one-man orchestra. With rhythms layered on top of one another, playing off one another, it all builds into a beautiful cacophony of rhythm. Opening are prog rock-turned-R&B smooth operators Moonstone Continuum, experimental bands Weakwick and Seated Heat, and DJ Mark McGee (Votel, Father You See Queen).