Our Friday best: Dessa, comedian Lewis Black, Monster Jam and a Valentine's 'Cabarave'

Dessa

Minnesota's favorite Renaissance woman went all Roman on us last year with "Ides," a project in which she released a new track on the "ides" (the middle) of successive months. (Remember, Julius Caesar was killed on the ides of March.) After a fall tour, Dessa kicks off her 2022 concert dates in her hometown, with a new band. Songs from "Ides" — it's hard not to like the squiggly "I Already Like You" — figured prominently in last year's set lists. Meanwhile, Dessa is back with Season 2 of her podcast "Deeply Human," conversing with psychologists, mathematicians, DJs and animal behaviorists to ask, "Why do you do what you do?" Mayyadda opens. (8 p.m. Sun., First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., $35, first-avenue.com)

JON BREAM

'Carolyn Lazard: Long Take'

Opening Saturday at Walker Art Center, the first solo U.S. museum show by New York/Philadelphia-based artist Lazard focuses on the polarities of care and harm in relation to disability and Blackness. It includes a moving image and seating arrangement that mysteriously documents a performance without revealing any footage. Instead, the final product is text and sound, forcing viewers to reconsider the way artworks are made accessible, and to whom. The gallery will be covered with vinyl flooring mats. Altered benches make the space more comfortable. (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., 11-5 Sun., 11-9 next Thu., 725 Vineland Place, Mpls., $2-$15, walkerart.org)

ALICIA ELER

Lewis Black

NEAL JUSTIN

'Cabarave: Love Languages'

If your Valentine's Day urges lean toward the floaty and twisty, consider this evening of aerial arts, music, painting and dance. Five acts promise a sexy and unusual program to get pulses racing. The rest is up to you. (8 p.m. Sat. & Mon., Brother Justus Whiskey Co., 3300 NE. 5th St., Mpls., $25, rathausproductions.com)

CHRIS HEWITT

Monster Jam

MELISSA WALKER

Paul Taylor Dance Company

The Northrop Centennial Commission is set to premiere "A Call for Softer Landings," choreographed by Paul Chu, when this famed troupe takes the stage. Chu has been a dancer with Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite's company Kidd Pivot and was a guest choreographer on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance." The company also will perform two works from its repertory, created by Paul Taylor, who died in 2018: "Airs," with music by Handel, and "Promethean Fire," set to three keyboard works by J.S. Bach. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Northrop, 84 SE. Church St., Mpls., $41-$62, 612-624-2345, northrop.umn.edu)

SHEILA REGAN

The War on Drugs

J.B.

Action Bronson & Earl Sweatshirt

These two rabble-rousing underground rap stars, both of whom have teetered on mainstream success, make a good fit for a co-headlining tour. Brawny NYC native and Viceland TV star Bronson tops off the schedule after building up his reputation on tour. But Los Angeles' Sweatshirt — who has also put on some wild shows here with Tyler, the Creator and their Odd Future crew — is riding a strong buzz for his more tempered and contemplative but still lyrical pandemic album "Sick." The Alchemist and Brody James open. (7 p.m. Sat., Fillmore, 525 N. 5th St., Mpls., $60 & up, ticketmaster.com)

C.R.

Slobodeniouk and Skride

ROB HUBBARD

Lucy Dacus

After cutting loose in the indie supergroup Boygenius with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker in 2018, Dacus refocused her candid songwriting style on her more personal and ambitious third album, "Home Video," a concept record of sorts revisiting the sweet and sour memories of her youth in Richmond, Va. Also an inventive guitarist, she musters up a lot of power in concert. Saddle Creek Records' rising star Indigo De Souza opens. (8:30 p.m. Feb. 17., First Avenue, sold out except for resale.)