Jeremy Messersmith: Delayed by a year as he dropped his "Obscenely Optimistic" ukulele album, Jeremy Messersmith's "Late Stage Capitalism" is the big, ambitious orchestral-pop album intended as the follow-up to his 2014 national breakthrough, "Heart Murmurs." At his release party, the great Twin Cities pop songsmith will show off the obscenely catchy "Monday, You're Not So Bad" and "Purple Hearts" and the more dramatic "Once You Get to Know Us" and "Fast Times in Minnesota." (9 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $25 etix.com)

Soccer Mommy: Twenty-year-old Nashville rocker Sophie Allison's many appearances with her band at the South by Southwest music fest two weeks ago lived up to the buzz surrounding her debut album for Fat Possum Records, "Clean," a No. 1 favorite locally on U of M station Radio K's playlist. She writes with a Morrissey-like mix of melodrama and jagged romance, which she wraps in melodic hooks and sometimes stormy climaxes. She's also due back in town opening for Liz Phair in June. (9:30 p.m. Sat., Bryant-Lake Bowl, Mpls., sold out.)

Gang of Youths: The Australian quintet kicked up a lot of dust at SXSW with the anthemic, Springsteen-gone-punk songs on its sophomore album and a rowdy, live show, all of which has made it one of the biggest new bands Down Under at the moment. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry, sold out.)

The Low Anthem: A decade since its debut, Rhode Island's mellow-cool ensemble continues to sound like an unreleased Wes Anderson movie soundtrack. This time around it has a heavily buzzing opener in Haley Heynderickx, an Oregonian picker with a willowy voice and a wild, imaginative writing style. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club, $15.)

Judas Priest: The bad news is the last of Priest's two pioneering guitarists, Glenn Tipton, had to bow off the group's current tour due to Parkinson's disease. The good news is new guy Andy Sneap of the British metal band Hell has reportedly fit right in, and Tipton did help the group muster its best album in years to tour behind, "Firepower." Another big plus: The metal vets' first Twin Cities show in nine years is in a venue literally meant to host heavy metal, the Armory, which earned a favorable reception during Super Bowl week. Saxon, with original singer Biff Byford, and Black Star Riders open. (7 p.m. Mon., the Armory, 500 S. 6th St., $63-$118, ticketmaster.com.)

Karla Bonoff: She's probably better known as a songwriter than a singer. Linda Ronstadt, who employed her as a backup vocalist, recorded Bonoff's "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me," "Lose Again" and "If He's Ever Near" for her 1976 album "Hasten Down the Wind." Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd and Aaron Neville, among others, also recorded Bonoff's songs. She had her own hit in 1982 with "Personally," which she didn't write. (7 p.m. Mon. Dakota, Mpls., sold out)

Soccer Mommy (Sophie Allison)

Weird Al Yankovic: Forget the costumes, props and, most of all, the parodies. Weird Al, who has made a career of spoofing pop hits, will concentrate on his original material on his Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. Comedian Emo Philips will open. (7:30 p.m. Tue.-Wed. Pantages, Mpls., $59.50-$283)

Dan Auerbach: The Black Keys frontman has put together a Rolling Thunder-type cast of characters for the tour behind his straight-ahead fun, '70s-flavored solo album "Waiting on a Song." Dubbed the Easy Eye Revue, it boasts Nashville session players such as drummer Gene Chrisman and keyboardist Bobby Wood, who've appeared on innumerable legendary records but have rarely hit the road. It also features guest vocalists in Louisiana bluesman Robert Finley, 64, and Shannon Shaw, whose band Shannon & the Clams also open. They're not playing any Keys tunes, but you probably won't care. (8 p.m. Tue., Palace Theatre, 17 W. 7th Place, St. Paul, $35-$40, eTix.com.)

Billie Ellish: Probably the most world-renowned act playing 7th Street Entry this year — never mind if you've never heard of her — the 16-year-old Los Angeles singer/songwriter earned a big viral buzz via SoundCloud with her 2016 single "Ocean Eyes" and has since become a major name on YouTube and Apple Music with her debut Interscope EP, "Don't Smile at Me." She's often been compared to Lorde but has a mellower, breezier vibe that's very Southern Californian. (7 p.m. Tue., 7th Street Entry, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., sold out.)

Little Big Town: Even though it doesn't have a lead singer, the country vocal quartet has done just fine, thank you. Now in their 20th year, LBT has scored big recently with "Tornado," "Girl Crush" and "Better Man." Karen Fairchild has the big voice in LBT but harmonies and multiple lead singers are their hallmark. That — and an interband marriage — are why LBT has been called the Fleetwood Mac of country. Last seen with Luke Bryan at the Vikings' stadium, LBT is touring with Kacey Musgraves and Midland. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Target Center, Mpls., $24.50-$59.50, axs.com)

John Maus: After a six-year hiatus, the synth-rock/electro-punk wizard from Austin, Minn., is back on tour with a new album for Domino, "Screen Memories," with his first-ever live band backing him. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $16-$18.)

Margaret Glaspy: The New York rocker of "Emotions and Math" notoriety has played both Rock the Garden and Festival Palomino locally and is making her first main-room headlining debut after dropping a surprise EP, "Born Yesterday." (8 p.m. Thu., First Avenue, $17-$20.)