Australian Singer-Songwriter Vance Joy in Concert at Stage AE; Heinz Hall Hosts Blues Rocker Bonnie Raitt (Wed., 3/23/16)

1) The first time Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy toured Pittsburgh, he played Heinz Field. Granted, he wasn’t headlining, but what a feat. Equally impressive was that he was opening for pop-star Taylor Swift during her 1989 World Tour. And even more impressive? He got the invite after she covered his ukulele-rich single, “Riptide,” on a British radio program. “Riptide” has become a bona fide hit all its own. It has gone multiplatinum, both in the States and Down Under. In Australia, it holds the record for the most streamed song on Spotify. You can find the song on Joy’s debut album, 2014’s Dream Your Life Away. That album was reissued in 2015 as a deluxe edition with a few additional tracks, including the single “Fire and the Flood,” another hit for the singer. From this single, Joy got the title for his latest tour, one which he is headlining this time. He’ll be visiting the North Shore, again, this time at Stage AE. Blind Pilot and Jamie Lawson open. Doors open 6:30 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT-FoZt95D4

2) Blues musician Bonnie Raitt is in concert tonight at Heinz Hall. Raitt, after working hard for more than 10 years, achieved mega-success on the strength of her albums Nick of Time (1989) and Luck of the Draw (1991). “Something to Talk About” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me” were high-charting songs from the latter album. She had another hit album in 2012, with Sliptstream, her first in seven years. Raitt is touring in support of her new album Dig in Deep. 8 p.m. 600 Penn Ave., Cultural District.

3) Creative Control  – A thinly veiled attack on the brave new world of technology, this sci-fi feature is directed by, stars, and is written (with the help of Micah Bloomberg) by indie darling Benjamin Dickinson. A hipster techo outfit in Brooklyn (where else?) has come up with a rival to Google Glass. Charged with finding uses for the glasses (called “Augmenta”) ad exec David (Dickinson) soon realizes that he can superimpose the faces of women in his office on the body of porn actresses. Pretty soon he’s having a torrid (simulated) affair with his best friend’s girlfriend. In no time at all David’s ability to discern the difference between reality and virtual reality has disappeared. Here’s my question, why don’t these techno-geeks spend their energy on an invention that would really help … like coming up with a content generating device which writes copy for entertainment websites? 7:30 p.m. Ends today. Hollywood Theater, 1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont (TH)

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