Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Perform at Consol; Quantum’s “Brahman/i: A One-Hijra Stand-Up Comedy Show” Now Playing (CPs Thurs., 2/5/15)

1) Garth Brook’s sings about having “Friends in low Places,” well he also has a lot of friends in Pittsburgh places as he is performing six concerts in four days at the Consol Energy Center. He last performed in Pittsburgh 17 years ago, so there is definitely some pent-up demand. Brooks shot to fame quickly with his first traditional style country album Garth Brooks, rising to number two on the U.S. Country charts. Not bad for a young Oklahoman. Next up he combined the country twang in his voice and guitar with rock sensibilities and garnered a huge success with the 1990 album release No Fences. The album produced the hits “The Thunder Rolls,” “Friends in Low Places,” and “Unanswered Prayers.” The release spent 23 weeks at no.1 on the Billboard Country charts. Brooks is a multiple Grammy Award winner and the number one over all album seller since 1991. He is touring in support of his latest release Man Against Machine. Also performing is Grammy Award winning country music star, author, and Brook’s wife since 2005—Trisha Yearwood. Don’t forget your boots and beer money. 7:30 p.m. Concerts through Feb. 8. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

Come in if you dare, says the laid-back stand-up hijra (Sanjiv Jhaveri), with musician David Bielewicz behind him.

2) Like all Quantum productions, “Brahman/i: A One-Hijra Stand-Up Comedy Show” is an unorthodox play that merits an explanations: “Hijra” is a Hindi word for an intersex person. Playwright Aditi Brennan Kapil, an Indian-Bulgarian theater artist, grew up in Sweden and lives in Minneapolis. Brahman/I is part of her Displaced Hindu Gods trilogy, which invokes the spirits of ancient deities while exploring the lives of Indian immigrants in the West. And, as the subtitle indicates, it’s written as a show by a standup comic. For that role Quantum has Sanjiv Jhaveri, who has acted in Indian-American films. He riffs with high humor on the problems—and, interestingly, the power—that can come from being someone who doesn’t fit neatly into any one gender, nationality, or other identity. 8 p.m.  Grapenuts Night, a pre-show wine-tasting at 6:30 p.m., is also available for tonight’s performance. Continues through Feb. 22 at Quantum’s “Temple of Comedy” (the Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. Community Center), 113 N. Pacific Ave., Garfield.

3) Creative.Life.Support Revival Series—an innovative local band showcase now in its fourth year—is featuring Drowning Clowns, Lone Wolf Club, Liz Berlin, Chet Vincent, and more in its event tonight. Each band distributes free admission tickets for those 21 and over (under 21, $2) and is paid on the number of tickets redeemed at the door.  A nice win-win for Mr.Smalls and our many great local bands. Tickets can also be reserved online. 7 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale.

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