Legendary Graham Nash Plays Carnegie of Homestead; CLO’s ‘Kinky Boots’ Kicks Up its Heels at Benedum (Tues., 8/4/15)

1) Twice the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has inducted Graham Nash: once with folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, and Nash and a second time with British pop group The Hollies. With the Hollies, Nash sang on pop songs like 1964’s “To You My Love.” With CSN, he wrote some of their biggest hits, like 1970’s “Our House,” which also features occasional CSN-collaborator Neil Young. In both acts, Nash lent his guitar stylings and distinct tenor vocals, both of which are sure to be on display for his solo show at The Palace Theatre. He knows people will be coming to hear hits like “Our House,” “Guinnevere,” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” But fans can also expect a few new compositions as well, from a solo album to be released in 2016. In addition to being a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Nash is also an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to both charity and music. 8 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg. (CM)

KINKY BOOTS (musical) by Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein. Aug. 4-9, Pittsburgh CLO.

2) From Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson to Jersey Boys, musicals based on true stories are an odd lot, and Pittsburgh CLO is presenting one of the oddest. Kinky Boots was derived from the true tale of a shoe-factory owner who saved his business by converting it to produce specialty footwear: the high-heeled, high-fashion boots worn by men who perform as drag queens. On Broadway, Kinky Boots won six Tony Awards in 2013, including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical. The latter prize went to Pittsburgh native Billy Porter as Lola, the pivotal queen who inspires the factory man to get those boots rolling off the line. He’s the soloist in the music video of “Sex Is in the Heel,” and now you can see him live on stage. Porter—a graduate of CAPA High School and Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama—is taking a Broadway vacation to bring Lola home in CLO’s Kinky Boots. 8 p.m. Performances through Sunday.  Benedum Center, 237 7^th St., Cultural District. (MV)

3) How is it that “American Dad!,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Sons of Anarchy,” three very different television shows, have featured music by Delta Spirit? The answer has to do with Delta Spirit’s sound. Although the quintet falls under the broad genre of indie, they dabble in anthemic rock (“From Now On”) and folk (“Devil Knows You’re Dead”), plus a few sub-genres in between. The latter song, by the way, was used in the series finale of “Friday Night Lights.” Delta Spirit got started when bassist Jonathan Jameson and drummer Brandon Young spotted singer Matthew Vasquez busking at 2 a.m. on a bench—talk about right place, right time. The group’s now touring in support of their fourth studio album, 2014’s Into the Wide, their highest-charting release yet. Inspired by the many guest musicians featured on The Band’s The Last Waltz, Delta Spirit promise to bring a special performer on stage for each tour stop. Denver got The Lumineers (and a Dylan cover). Who knows whom Pittsburgh will get for Delta Spirit’s Mr. Smalls show? 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

4) The Chicago Cubs continue their three game series against our Pittsburgh Pirates. Tonight is game two. 7:05 p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

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