Average White Band, Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers, and The Marcus King Band in Area Concerts (Sat., 12/ 7/19)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OQqCdlP1Ac

1) Average White Band is composed of very talented musicians and maybe should be called Above Average White Band or even Great White Band. Its success rises out of a funky beat, great vocals, and quite nice horn parts. The band formed in Dundee, Scotland in 1972 and shot to fame on songs like the million-selling “Pick Up the Pieces,” “School Boy Crush,” “Cut the Cake,” and “A Love of Your Own.” Founding members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre faithfully play the music with help from newer band members. AWB’s music is so well-loved and respected that other artists, including The Beastie Boys, Ice Cube, and Arrested Development, have utilized parts of AWB’s music. AWB is the 15th most sampled group ever. This year AWB released the compilation album, Gold. The group is appearing at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. 8 p.m. 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. (RH)

Average White Band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaT7dzM4gyc&t=52s

2) It was 40 years ago that Joe Grushecky and The Iron City Houserockers released their very first album,  Love’s So Tough. The LP was produced by The Slimmer Twins (Steve Popovich and Marty Mooney) through Cleveland International Records and released on MCA Records. Its tracks include the Houserocker classics: “Love’s So Tough” and “Hideaway.” Grushecky and The Houserockers will play the album in its entirety along with more of the band’s top songs. Original Houserocker Marc Reisman returns and will join them for the commemoration concert. For more of the back story about how Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers came together and recorded Love’s So Tough see our story from May. 8 p.m. Club Cafe, 56-58 S. 12th St., South Side. (RH)

1979 publicity photo taken by the legendary rock photographer Neal Preston.

3) The Marcus King Band was in town earlier this year when it opened for Chris Stapleton at KeyBank Pavilion. The band also opened for Tedeschi Trucks Band last year, same venue. You might have also seen Marcus King and his bandmates at the WYEP Music Fest the year before that. That’s all to say they tour hard, and they continue to rise, now headlining Mr. Smalls Theatre this December. Formed in Greenville, South Carolina in 2013, they’ve released three LPs, most recently 2018’s Carolina Confessions. Both it and their previous effort, their self-titled sophomore album, reached no. 2 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart. They have some crossover appeal too. “Homesick,” from their latest album, reached no. 26 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart. King will release a debut solo album, El Dorado, produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, in 2020. “The Well” is a single from that album. 8 p.m. Sold out. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

Rising blues/rock guitarist Marcus King brings his band to Pittsburgh for a sold-out show at Mr. Smalls Theatre this month. (photo: Alysse Gafkjen)

4) Cautious Clay was here earlier this year at WYEP’s Summer Music Festival. If you missed him, here’s your chance to catch him at the Thunderbird Café. His name is a play on Muhammad Ali’s birth name, Cassius Clay. He’s released a number of singles over the past few years, including “Sidewinder.” Remi Wolf opens. 8 p.m. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. (CM)

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