Hella Mega Tour at PNC Park with Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Weezer; Little Italy Days Begins (Thurs., 819/21)

1) It’s going to be an evening of sing-alongs and big guitar riffs when the Hella Mega Tour―featuring Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer―stops at PNC Park. Green Day, who hail from East Bay, California, have albums that span generations, such as 1994’s Dookie, 2004’s American Idiot, and 2020’s Father of All Motherfuckers. Fall Out Boy emerged from the Chicago suburbs in the early aughts to bring emo to the masses with hits such as “Sugar, We’re Goin Down.” They released Greatest Hits: Believers Never Die―Volume Two in 2019. Weezer formed in Los Angeles in 1992, and their debut album, 1994’s Weezer (aka The Blue Album), is arguably a power-pop masterpiece. They’ve released a lot of albums since then, the most recent of which is 2021’s Van Weezer. Ska-punk group The Interrupters opens. 5:30 p.m. 115 Federal St., North Shore. (C.M.)

Green Day performing in Germany in 2017. (L. to r.) Jason White, Jeff Matika, Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool, Jason Freese, and Mike Dirnt. (photo: Alvaranstrong and Wikipedia)

BLOOMFIELD LITTLE ITALY DAYS— August 19 – 22, Bloomfield.  

Bring your main squeeze or just have a good time solo at Little Italy Days in Bloomfield.

2) Ah, Bloomfield. Only in Bloomfield does a summer festival begin with a free concert and a celebrity bocce tournament. This East End neighborhood is known for many things. Long ago, it was home to native people affiliated with the Lenni Lenape. Johnny Unitas played quarterback for the semipro Bloomfield Rams before his storied career in the NFL. In springtime, runners laboring through mile 22 of the Pittsburgh Marathon get an astounding energy blast when they find Bloomfield’s main street lined with screaming spectators and blazing rock bands. And in mid-August the blast is called Bloomfield Little Italy Days. Immigrants from Italy’s Abruzzo region began to arrive around 1900. Their descendants have given Bloomfield great Italian food markets, an active Catholic parish … and a locale that’s now blooming with modern art galleries, eateries of multiple ethnicities, and more. Musical acts at Little Italy Days range from oldies to opera to hip-hop. Featured entertainment this year includes Billy Mancini, John Lupone, Elias Khouri and the EK Band, Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band Let’s Groove Tonight, and accordionist Hank Edwardo; celebratory urban street life transpires; bocce balls are bowled. And did we mention the food? 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 19, noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 20-21, noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 22. Along Liberty Ave. and elsewhere in Bloomfield. (MV)

Share on Social Media