Rick Springfield and Richard Marx to Heat Up Benedum Stage; The Park Plan EP Release Party at Howlers (Sat., 1/28/17)

1) Attention ladies: Rick Springfield, former soap opera hunk (“General Hospital”) and Grammy Award-winning pop singer, takes the stage in the Cultural District with another classic heart-throb: Richard Marx. Both will be performing full acoustic sets. Springfield’s breakout hit was “Jessie’s Girl” in 1981 and other top songs include “Don’t Talk to Strangers” and “I Get Excited.” His latest release is 2016’s Rocket Science. Marx—who recently helped subdue a crazed passenger on a Korean Air flight—will bring his roster of hits to the affair, including “Satisfied” and “Don’t Mean Nothing.” (The music video for “Don’t Mean Nothing” starred his first wife, Cynthia Rhodes. Marx has been married since 2015 to former model and MTV host Daisy Fuentes.)  He also has a new single out: “Last Thing I Wanted.” 8 p.m. Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District.

2) The Park Plan—a Pittsburgh quartet that blends socially conscious lyrics with a sound reminiscent of surf rock and ’90s indie—is releasing its third EP, Last Looks. The EP debut party will be at Howlers with support from other talented local bands: LoFi Delphi, Old Game, and Lorenzo’s Oil. The Park Plan have been steadily gaining a large following since forming in 2014. The group has played Ladyfest, and last year, they helped to put the “rock” in Lawrenceville’s annual Rock All Night Tour (RANT). They played a killer set, which included crowd favorites like “Good Guy with a Guy,” in the basement performance space of Javo Studios. Bassist Jenn Jannon-Fischer and guitarist Adam Jannon-Fischer are also wife and husband; the former plays in The Freshes and Garter Shake as well. Also on guitar is Joe Tarowsky (of Action Camp too) and on drums is Ian White, who also sits behind the kit for riot grrrls Brazilian Wax. This is a good opportunity to see some rising Pittsburgh rock talent. 8 p.m. 4509 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. (CM)

3) The Pitt men’s basketball team and coach Kevin Stallings—are coming off a terrible loss to Louisville at home Tuesday night— take on the Clemson Tigers today. Tip-off is at noon. Next up is an an away game against North Carolina. Come on Pitt, you can do it! Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace St., Oakland.

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