Altar Bar Hosts Less Than Jake; ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ Opens at Benedum (Tues., 3/8/16)

1) If you want to relive ska punk’s glory days of the late 90’s, you’ll find what you’re looking for at Altar Bar with Less Than Jake. Combining the distinctive beats of punk with the horns and saxophones of ska, Less Than Jake hit mainstream in 2003 with the album Anthem. The band has toured with Bon Jovi, The Warped Tour, and Bad Religion. We can hope to hear their famed “She’s Gonna Break Soon” as well as old and new favorites. Less Than Jake will be performing their 90’s albums Losing Streak and Hello Rockview along with other favorites. A Wilhelm Scream and Junior Battles open. 8 p.m. 1620 Penn Ave., Strip District. (EC,RH)

She’s a farm wife, he’s a hot-shot photojournalist, and passions are ignited but dark skies loom: Elizabeth Stanley and Andrew Samonsky play the unlikely couple in “The Bridges of Madison County.”  Photo: The Bridges of Madison County, by Matthew Murphy.

2) Who knew that covered bridges could become a multimedia sensation? Those in Madison County, Iowa, did it by sparking a story about an undercover, extramarital affair that ends in heart-wrenching drama. The novel was a runaway bestseller. The movie had Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, an odd pair, making audiences sigh and weep as they played the story’s fictional odd bedfellows. And the latest iteration, by Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman, adapted from the novel by Robert James Waller. keeps the tearjerker quotient high while adding music. The Broadway musical version of The Bridges of Madison County visits Pittsburgh in a national touring production. This show didn’t exactly sweep New Yorkers off their feet, closing after only 137 performances in 2014, but is winning hearts across the heartland. The musical has two big things going for it: outstanding songs—Bridges won a Tony Award for Best Score—and its underlying tale of improbable love, which continues to resonate with many. 7:30 p.m. Performances through March 13. Benedum Center, 237 7^th Ave., Cultural District. (MV)

3) At Theater Square, renowned saxophonist Kenny Blake is the featured performer for this Tuesday’s jazz series at Backstage Bar. His sound is a combination of traditional jazz with modern rhythm and blues.Swing, Latin, ballads, and standards are also musical components of Blake’s versatile repertoire. Blake, who’s released five solo CDs, has performed throughout the United State, Europe, and South Africa. No cover. 5 p.m. Theater Square. 655 Penn Avenue, Cultural District.

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