Better Oblivion Community Center: With a goofy name that belies its seriously inspired and infectious tunes, this is the new duo featuring Nebraskan indie-folk stalwart Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame and rising Los Angeles tunesmith Phoebe Bridgers, who's fresh off another well-received collaboration with Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker in Boygenius. Though 15 years apart in age, they melded their affectionate voices and poetic writing styles with natural chemistry on their eponymous debut album. They've been raising local expectations all the higher by covering the Replacements in their handful of shows so far. (8 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., sold out.)
Mayda: One of the Twin Cities' great big-thing/small-package rockers alongside Little Man and Prince, St. Paul singer/songwriter Mayda Miller turned into a full-on funk queen for her wild new album, "MRDR PxP," featuring coproduction from her longtime mentor Michael Bland (ex-Prince drummer) and added bits of electronic grooves and '80s synth-rock flavor. She's promoting the record by pairing up with fellow one-name-groove-machine PaviElle. (10:30 p.m. Fri., Icehouse, $10-$12.)
Marilyn Maye: Look at the numbers: 76 appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," 61 years of performing at Lake Okoboji in Iowa and 75 years singing professionally. Maye is simply the queen of cabaret. At 90, she's one of the sharpest entertainers on the nightclub circuit, full of wisecracking personality and great tunes from the Great American Songbook delivered with deepfelt emotion. She even teaches master classes on how to entertain. Read an interview with Maye in Saturday's Variety or startribune.com. (5:30 & 8 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Crooners, Fridley. $30-$40)
Dan + Shay: Maybe being a duo is the way to cross over from country to pop. It worked for Florida Georgia Line and now for Dan + Shay. Their Grammy-winning, twang-free but intoxicating "Tequila," a reflection on an old relationship, has been all over Top 40 after dominating country stations. Their follow-up "Speechless," a head-over-heels love song, has also topped the country charts. Opening is Aussie singer Morgan Evans, whose 2017 hit "Kiss Somebody" may have been written about soon-to-be wife Kelsea Ballerini. (7:30 p.m. Fri. The Armory, Mpls. Sold out.)
The Magnolias & the Customers: Two noisy but catchy Twin Cities pop/rock bands that garnered a little national buzz in the '90s, they're both back from hiatus and — in the Mags' case — a new lineup featuring Dave Randall of Kinda Kinky and Red Flags on bass. (8 p.m. Fri., Hook & Ladder Theater, Mpls., $7-$10.)
Katy Vernon: She's come a long way literally and figuratively in her journey through the Twin Cities music scene, and now the ukulele-strumming British transplant is opening up on a personal odyssey that preceded her new album, "Suit of Hearts." Dramatic, cliff-pondering folk-rock songs such as "Latest Disaster," "Look to the Sea" and "Somebody's Daughter's Daughter" were written during a stayover in England as she fought past depression, alcoholism and the lingering pain of losing her parents during childhood. It's a triumphant, feel-good record with wistful music to match from her longtime band and album guests the Prairie Fire Lady Choir and Laurel Strings, both whom will perform at the release party along with Dan Israel. (8 p.m. Sat., Parkway Theater, 4812 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., $10-$15, theparkwaytheater.com.)
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie: Since coming into last year's Soundset fest fresh off the Netflix series "Rapture" and his viral hit "Drowning," this 23-year-old Bronz rapper doubly known as Artist Dubose (yes, "Artist" was his birth name) has flirted with bona-fide pop stardom through affiliations with Juice Wrld and 6ix9ne and more hit songs, including "Look Back at It" and" "Keke." The slick, AutoTuned, often chilled-out sound on his albums, including the new sophomore effort "Hoodie SZN," belies dynamic, sweaty live performances where the "boogie" part of his name rings true. (8 p.m. Sat., Varsity Theater, 1308 4th St. SE, Mpls., sold out.)
St. Paul & the Broken Bones: After breaking out as an old-school, Stax-flavored soul act with its 2014 debut album, this Birmingham, Ala.-based big band with giant-voiced frontman Paul Janeway has continually evolved into an electrifying, forward-leaning modern funk and R&B troupe, so much so that third record "Young Sick Camellia" should be filed between Kendrick and Solange instead of Otis and Aretha. All along, it's been a band not to be missed (8:30 p.m. Sat. Palace, sold out)
Rodney Crowell: If you needed a reminder that this Houston singer is one of the pre-eminent — and most consistent — songwriters in country and Americana, then check out last year's "Acoustic Classics," on which he delivers stripped down versions of such older gems as "Shame on the Moon," "Ain't Living Long Like This" and "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight." Plus, he threw in a new one, "Tennessee Wedding," that is destined to be a go-to in the Volunteer State. In this century, the godfather of Americana has had a run of excellent records. So also expect some nuggets from such recent triumphs as "Close Ties" and "Tarpaper Sky." (8 p.m. Sat. Hopkins Center of the Arts, $37-$42)
Boiled in Lead: Keeping alive an annual gig that started at Goofy's Upper Deck and lasted at First Ave for many years, the Celtic twang-punk all-star Twin Cities band is too unique and subversive to actually play on St. Patty's Day, and instead it's returning to the Cedar a weekend later for an intimate "evening with" show. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, $12-$15.)
Bad Company: Opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd last year at the X, Paul Rodgers and Co. still had a convincing rock 'n' roll swagger, doing those classic rock staples "Can't Get Enough," "Shooting Star" and "Feel Like Makin' Love." Heyday drummer Simon Kirke is still onboard, along with ex-Heart mainstay Howard Leese, an American with a Union Jack on his guitar. (8 p.m. Sat. Treasure Island casino, $69 and up)
Patti LaBelle: At the recent Grammys tribute to Aretha Franklin, LaBelle's voice soared above all others. Her pipes remain not only stratospheric but deeply soulful. Doesn't matter if she's singing her own "Lady Marmalade" or "Over the Rainbow," she's still got it. At 74, the pride of Philadelphia will raise the roof, tell him off and find strength on her own. (8 p.m. Sun. Mystic Lake Casino showroom, Prior Lake, $40-$65)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo: The legendary South African vocal group that was introduced to the world on Paul Simon's landmark "Graceland" in 1986 picked up its fifth Grammy last year, in world music, for "Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration." Now under the direction of founder Joseph Shabalala's son Tommy, LBM returns for its most intimate Twin Cities performance. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Mon. Dakota, $40-$60)
Dessa & Minnesota Orchestra: It won't be the local hip-hop star's first rodeo at Orchestra Hall, but this pair of shows will offer several other firsts. Both nights will be recorded for an upcoming album, which will mark MN Orch's long-overdue debut on the Doomtree record label. And while she's still poring through last year's acclaimed solo album "Chime," Dessa also plans to debut several new songs just for the special occasion, which will feature regular guest vocalists such as Aby Wolf and Cameron Kinghorn and returning conductor Sarah Hicks. Pre-show fun on Tuesday includes Prairie Fire Lady Choir. (7:30 p.m. Tue. & Thu., Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $56-$86, sold out Tue., minnesotaorchestra.org.)
Donna Grantis: The former 3rdEyeGirl guitarist celebrates the release of her instrumental album "Diamonds & Dynamite," a riveting journey on the jazz-fusion highway with elements of Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis and Prince throughout the ride. Grantis' group of mostly Minnesotans showed great chemistry last week at Paisley Park, but this time they will be in a more suitably intimate setting. (7 & 9 p.m. Thu. Dakota, $25-$45 )
Twin Cities Women Who Rock: 89.3 the Current's "Local Show" host Andrea Swensson curated this cool, all-female but otherwise eclectic bill with R&B/soul maven and recent Amy Winehouse tribute star Mina Moore, former Bomba de Luz bandleader and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" revisionist Lydia Liza, and harmonious new indie-folk duo the Twins of Franklin. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Varsity Theater, $10.)
