Brantley Gilbert in Concert at UPMC Events Center; Poogie and Winston Bell Play Greer Cabaret Theater (Sat., 4/13/24)

1) If you like your country on the country-rock side, seasoned with old-time religion and redneck pride, let Brantley Gilbert give you a ride. The man has a passel of platinum singles. He started as a Nashville songwriter, and then jump-started onto the star track when he grabbed the mic and poured his own voice into it. (Gilbert was named the Academy of Country Music’s New Male Vocalist of the Year in 2012.) His six studio albums tend to have Christian themes or at least titles, from A Modern Day Prodigal Son to his latest, So Help Me God. Just a look-and-listen to a video like the one for “Hard Days” should tell you where he’s coming from. But we’re not talking about a goody two-shoes here. Gilbert can be prone to cussin’ and cuttin’ loose. His current Off the Rails Tour invites you to go just where it says. Gilbert pulls the train into UPMC Events Center for a concert with guests including Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones.  7 p.m. on the Robert Morris campus at 6001 University Blvd., Moon Township. (M.V.)

2)  Poogie Bell is headlining his own ticketed show at the Greer Cabaret Theater at Theater Square. Bell is one of Pittsburgh’s top percussionists and has toured with jazz great Marcus Miller and played with numerous other big name musicians. His father, Charles, was a jazz pianist and band leader. Bell performed with his dad’s band at the early age of two and a half at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall. As a sideman, he has worked on three Grammy Award-winning albums: Chaka Khan’s 1992 album, The Woman I Am, which won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance; Marcus Miller’s 2001 album, M2, which won the 2002 Best Contemporary Jazz Album; and Angélique Kidjo’s 2007 album, Djin Djin, which won the 2008 Best Contemporary World Music Album. Bell tours the world and has recorded five albums of his own. The latest is 2013’s Suga Top. Bell is also a noted music producer as well. For this show Bell takes the stage with his son, Winston, a very talented saxophonist. Hear music composed by three generations of the Bell family. 7 p.m. 655 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (R.H.)

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