Music

What: “The Evolution of Music,” a presentation by professor Charles Snowdon

When: 4:30 p.m., Friday

Where: 125 Nolte Center, 315 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis

Describing the music composer David Teie created, professor Charles Snowdon gives a sharp critique.

“It’s really high-pitched, and it’s shrill,” Snowdon said. “It kind of reminds me of someone scraping their nails on a blackboard or something.”

What: Kinetix and Juno What?!

When: Doors at 9 p.m., show at 10 p.m., Friday

Where: Cabooze, 917 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis

Cost: $12 advance, $14 day of the show

Ages: 18+

Kinetix epitomizes the ski-bum vision of Colorado. The eight-year-old, five-piece band is energetic on stage but laid-back when going about their business.

Originally a funky rock group, Kinetix gained notoriety around the Denver area for their spirited stage presence, graduating from parties to venues and from Colorado to the nation.

What: Dethklok with Machine Head and The Black Dahlia Murder

When: 7 p.m., Wednesday

Where: Myth, 3090 Southlawn Dr., St. Paul

Cost: $32

Ages: All ages

The animated television show “Metalocalypse” is a satire of the cult of celebrity through the lens of a death metal group.

The band, Dethklok, is so popular in the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim show that it’s essential to the success of the world economy.

What: The Magnetic Fields with Gal Musette

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday

Where: First Avenue Mainroom, 701 N. First Ave., Minneapolis

Cost: $30

Age: 18+

Even though his lyrics tend to evoke ambiguity, Stephin Merritt explains his songwriting process in very simple terms.

What: Bassnectar with Zedd, Gramatik and Gladkill

When: Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Where: Target Center, 600 N. First Ave., Minneapolis

Cost: $38 advance, $41 day of the show

Ages: All ages

Bassnectar’s Lorin Ashton grew up in a Bay Area commune. His experiences there laid the groundwork for his music and outlook on life.

“I feel like I was really fortunate,” Ashton said. “I want to share that inspiration with other people.”

Marshall McLuhan was before his time when he coined the phrase, “The medium is the message.” This election season, Minnesotan acts are using music as a medium to advocate voting against two amendments on the ballot this year — one proposing that the state recognize marriage as being solely between one man and one woman and the other requiring all voters to have government-issued photo identification.