The Ohio quintet The National is frequently compared to two of the most dour acts imaginable -- Joy Division and Leonard Cohen -- yet the band itself is not nearly so dolorous. Yes, its indie pop-rock is frequently imbued with the languid ethereality of Joy Division, and vocalist Matt Berninger's talk-sung baritone is reminiscent of Cohen's ominous narratives in both its deep-well tone and deep-thought subject matter. But the group's last two discs, "Alligator" and "The Boxer," kindle as much hope and reflection as despair, from both the detailed interplay laid down by the two pairs of brothers behind Berninger, and the singer's knack for slowly building momentum -- within individual songs, but also in concert, according to reviews of the group's live shows. Without a new record to showcase, the set list has been relying heavily on "The Boxer" -- not a bad thing at all -- and with this First Avenue gig coming between a pair of appearances at outdoor festivals, expect some churning energy.

Here is an artistic video of the group playing live last December. Here is the politically tinged "Fake Empire" live on Letterman. And here is the video for "Mistaken for Strangers" to show off their more uptempo material.
The National at First Avenue. Doors open 6 p.m.; $22 tickets but sold out.

Like The National, Arlo Guthrie played the Ottawa Blues Festival last night before arriving in town. A performer known as much for his between-song patter (this YouTube vid, from his "solo reunion tour," is all typically charming preamble) and his famous dad Woody as for his scripted material. Of course his signature piece, "Alice's Restaurant," is both song and tall tale. But Arlo's ultra casual approach obscures the depth of his experience as a troubadour, folk historian and songwriter. And his distinctive vocals retain their evocative tone and sage phrasing. You know he'll make you laugh. But you probably discount how much he can make you think and feel, too.
Arlo Guthrie at the Fitzgerald Theater. 8 p.m.; $38.

The bar for diva spectacle in concert has risen precipitously since the hoary days of Madonna and Janet Jackson, let alone Bette Midler. But whether it's the Thierry Mugler designs spicing the innumerable costume changes, the all-woman band, or the material ranging from Schubert ("Ava Maria") to Alanis ("You Oughta Know") to her own platinum stash of hits ("Crazy In Love," "Get Me Bodied," "If I Were A Boy," etc.), you can expect this Beyoncé show to be state-of-the-art diva spectacle, circa 2009. The tour even has its own highly informative Wikipedia page. Yup, all the cool party people will be at Target Center tonight.
Beyoncé at Target Center. 7 p.m., tickets $39-$127.