’80s New Wave Musician Howard Jones at Hartwood; Giants vs. Bucs (Sun., 8/23/15)

1) “Things Can Only Get Better” Howard Jones sang in his snyth-pop, British new wave song in 1985. The positive, infectious hit featured a catchy base groove and vocals, great keyboard and horn runs, and backing vocals from the all-female group Afrodiziak. The song even crossed over and was a success on the R&B charts. Jones had success with other songs, with 15 Top 40 hit singles worldwide between 1983 and 1992. Those hits included “No One is to Blame,” “Like to Get to Know You Well,” and “Everlasting Love.” His 1984 album Human’s Lib entered the U.K. charts at the No. 1 and stayed on the charts for 57 consecutive weeks. Not content to just revel in the glow of past hits, Jones’ works with music equipment-makers to help develop new models of keyboards and synthesizers. He also has a new CD and DVD of his multimedia show Engage, which just ended its New York City run. “A highly interactive live experience designed to immerse audiences in an audio/visual feast. It embraces EDM, contemporary classical, cinematic and pop music influences, and fuses it with ballet, modern dance and philosophy,” is how the show is described on Jones’ site. He’s in concert at Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheatre as part of the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series. 7:30 p.m. Middle Road, Hampton Township.

2) Our battlin’ Bucs take on the San Francisco Giants  tonight in the last game of a three-game series. And, magically just in time for school to start, all fans 14 and younger will receive a Kids Pirates Lunch Bag. Parents you’ll have to supply the soggy tuna sandwich and apple to fill it on the first day of school. 8:08 p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

3) Hearty Sunday dinners aren’t just for the meat eaters or the financially comfortable. Grab some friends and head over to Brillobox for the Starving Artist Sunday Suppers. Every Sunday, the restaurant’s chef creates a different hearty vegetarian meal and offers it for just $7 to give you a break from your regularly scheduled ramen du jour. You’ll want to get there early, as the special only goes until the food runs out (and at that price, it will). 5 p.m. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield.

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