Jerry Seinfeld Brings “Nothing” to the Benedum; Zac Brown and Milk Carton Kids in Area Concerts (Sat., 5/21/16)

1) One of the greatest comedians of a generation, Jerry Seinfield, is live in concert at the Benedum Center this evening. The creator of  “Seinfeld” the hilarious TV show about “nothing” (or everything), will no doubt entertain the audience with his “little observations” about everyday life. “Seinfeld” aired on NBC for nine years from 1989 to 1998. The show was slow to build an audience although a darling of the critics, but once it got going it was always high up in the Nielsen ratings. “Seinfeld” was a magical TV series that fired on all cylinders, with fantastic writing, acting, casting, and directing. Seinfeld has stayed active in his one true vocational love—stand-up. Like other top comedians, Seinfeld constantly tests out new material to see what garners the most laughs. With Seinfeld’s keen comic  insights into people and situations, this promises to be a night of many laughs. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District. (EC, RH)

2) Does the eight-piece country-rock outfit The Zac Brown Band have the best display of facial hair in music? Most of the band members sport diversely styled beards, and bearded or not they are coming to town on their Black Out the Sun Tour. 2015’s Jekyll + Hyde album, the band’s fourth, features a diversity of musical styles. This diversity is demonstrated by collaborations with both Sara Bareilles and Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell. The Zac Brown Band song “Heavy is the Head,” featuring Cornell, was primarily released to rock radio stations and not country. The move was a good one as the song sat atop the Billboard chart for Mainstream Rock Songs for a period last year, a rare cross-genre feat. Wax your whiskers and check them out at First Niagara Pavilion. With Drake White and the Big Fire. 7 p.m. 665 Route 18, Burgettstown. (EC, RH)

3) February saw a Pittsburgh visit by Rhiannon Giddens, well known for her performance at Another Day, Another Time. This folk concert, curated by T Bone Burnett, celebrated both the music of Inside Llewyn Davis, a Coen brothers film, and the ‘60s Greenwich Village scene. Now, three months later, other contributors to this celebration are coming to the City of Champions—The Milk Carton Kids. The duo, from Eagle Rock, California, is touring in support of their fourth studio album, 2015’s Monterey. They are playing the Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland, an acoustically and aesthetically sound space, though one rarely used for national touring acts. A rare treat. For a sampling of their sound, visit their website, where they offer their first two albums for free download. Their visit this month follows a series of high-profile national exposures within the past year: an appearance on “Conan” and a 2015 story in The New Yorker. The band has also received Grammy nominations in the categories of Best American Roots Performance and Best Folk Album of the Year. Margaret Glaspy opens. 8 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. (CM)

4) The Pirates take on the Colorado Rockies on one of the prettiest patches of grass in the ‘Burgh tonight at 4:05 p.m. It’s a Scratch and Win Saturday and a Raise The Jolly Roger bobblehead Night (first 20,000 fans). PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

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