Top weekend shows: Wire, Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris
Wire: The U.K. punk-era iconoclasts have trimmed themselves down to an even leaner and meaner trio, and the recent “Red Barked Tree” – only their 12th studio album in 34 years – functions as a solid career overview of the band’s many stylistic shifts, 9 p.m. Saturday at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., $21; etix.com.
Robert Plant: The former Led Zeppelin singer has left a lot of money on the table to pursue his artistic muse rather than cashing in on reunion tours. His Band of Joy includes monster guitarist Buddy Miller and sublime vocalist Patty Griffin, 8 p.m. Saturday with the North Mississippi Allstars at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress, $45, $75, $95; ticketmaster.com.
Emmylou Harris: The marvelous Nashville-based singer has forged a career that has skirted the edges of country convention while carrying forward the maverick soul of her ‘70s collaborator Gram Parsons. She headlines the Old Town School of Folk Music’s annual benefit concert, 6 p.m. Saturday at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Av., $250; 773-728-6000.
greg@gregkot.com