Hot Young Band Takes Petersen; Old Master Visits Byham (CPs Sat., 3/1/14)

1) The Avett Brothers mix the light romanticism of early rock and roll with the craftsmanship of a Paul Simon-like singer/songwriter and add a dash of the hoedown spirit of old-school Americana. Built around the nucleus of brothers Scott and Seth, the North Carolina band rode to prominence in the folk-rock revival that also brought you Fleet Foxes and Mumford and Sons. Since they partnered with producer du jour Rick Rubin on 2009’s I and Love and You, the Avetts have been unstoppable on their path to mega success. Their triumph can be traced by their ascension through Pittsburgh venues: In six years, they’ve gone from a small place at the Three Rivers Arts Festival to filling up Stage AE to having a following big enough to warrant the stadium-sized Petersen Events Center, which is where they will be tonight. The Tennessee string quintet Old Crow Medicine Show opens, and tickets are going fast. 7:30 p.m. 3719 Terrace St., Oakland.

2) For four decades, Richard Thompson has been one of the most reliable singer/songwriters producing new stuff. The 64-year-old, beret-wearing British musician’s body of work features slews of songs that are witty, sly, fierce, emotive, nostalgic and/or sweet, and he never does an album without producing at least a few real gems. Favorites include the bittersweet break-up song “The Ghost of You Walks,” the war commentary “Dad’s Gonna Kill Me,” and, of course, the tear-jerking romance ballad “1952 Vincent Black Lightning.” Covers of his work abound, but you can hear the man himself perform some of his best, in the most bare and intimate way possible, when Thompson plays a solo acoustic show at the Byham Theatre. His son Teddy Thompson opens. 8 p.m. 101 6th St., Cultural District.

3) Celtic punk, that party-ready hybrid of working-class genres both old and (relatively) young, is of course much in demand this time of year. To accommodate, Los Angeles-based Flogging Molly, one of the leaders of the scene, embarks on an annual Green 17 Tour, bringing its fast-paced, jumpy songs to a different city nearly every day for a month. With four gigs down and 16 to go in their mad dash to St. Patrick’s Day, the musicians come to Stage AE tonight. Two promising indie bands, The Drowning Men and Pasadena, open. 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore.

4) Wigle Whiskey offers its own artisan liquor made with local, organic grains. Today—starting when the doors open at 9 a.m. in the morning—the store is letting you have the first taste of its latest batches of hooch. At an event called Special Release: Aged Rye Finished 3 Ways, Wigle is opening casks of rye finished with apple wood, white ash wood, and plain oak, respectively. (The type of wood used in the barrel has an effect on the taste of the booze). Try all three, plus some hors d’oeuvres. 9 a.m. 2401 Smallman St., Strip District.

Share on Social Media