Little Big Town at Benedum; Donnie Iris and The Cruisers and Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers Play Palace(Sat., 2/1/20

1) Little Big Town opened for Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert during past visits to Pittsburgh.  This time, the quartet headlines the Benedum Center. As it should, for Little Big Town has won multiple awards, including Grammys and CMAs. “Girl Crush,” just one of many songs by the band to chart on both country and popular radio, was the best-selling country single of 2015. It appears on 2014’s Pain Killer, the group’s sixth studio album. Little Big Town formed in Homewood, Alabama in 1998, and all four of its original members continue to record, perform, and tour together. Their latest album is this year’s Nightfall. One of the songs is titled “Over Drinking,” but they aren’t quite teetotalling yet. They recently collaborated with Browne Family Vineyards to launch 4 Cellars wine. Day Drinking is their line of canned wine spritzers. 8 p.m. 237 7th St., Cultural District. (CM)

2) Things are going to heat up a lot this month with a double bill of two outstanding Pittsburgh rock groups at the Palace—Donnie Iris and The Cruisers and Joe Grusheky and The Houserockers. Sure to be on the set list for “King Cool” and his Cruisers are top favorites including “Ah Leah” and “Love Is Like a Rock.” Iris was once a member of the Pittsburgh group The Jaggerz in the early ’70s who had a monster hit with the “The Rapper,” which reached no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now Iris and The Cruisers are celebrating their 40th Anniversary. Pittsburgh rock royalty Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers have remained a constant on the Pittsburgh music scene as the city morphed from steel mills to high-tech foundry. Grushecky is a consummate singer/songwriter. Grushecky and The Houserockers in 2018 released a new, first-rate album, More Yesterdays than Tomorrows. There are many hot tracks on the release including “The Voice.” 7:40 p.m. February 1 and there’s also a second show on February 8, both nights at 7:40 p.m. Palace Theatre, 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg. (RH)

3) Roots of Creation, who hail from New Hampshire, performed as part of last year’s Rock, Reggae, & Relief Festival in Market Square. (The proceeds benefited the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance through the Piatt Family Foundation.) Their latest album is 2018’s Grateful Dub, a covers album of Grateful Dead songs done in a reggae-dub style, such as “Fire on the Mountain.” They are performing the album in its entirety while on tour. See them at the Thunderbird Café & Music Hall. 8 p.m. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. (CM)

4) Rave Ami, a local rock power trio, is celebrating 10 years with a concert at Mr. Smalls Theatre. The band’s sophomore album is 2018’s All Great Bands Break Up. They dropped a grunge-y single, “Or Alike,” the following year. Helping with the celebration is the Weird Paul Rock Band, fronted by the irreverent and bowlcut Weird Paul himself. String Machine and Good Sport also open. 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

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