Luke Bryan in First of Two Nights at First Niagara; ‘Julius Caesar’ on Stage at Throughline (Fri., 7/22/16)

1) One of the biggest acts in country music, Luke Bryan, hits the region on his Kill the Lights tour for back-to-back concert performances. Since 2009, the native Georgian has been on a tear with 14 songs rising to number one on the U.S. Country charts. “Country Girl (Shake it for Me)” went triple platinum and is the third-best-selling song by a male country artist. Early in his career, Bryan earned his keep as a Nashville songwriter by penning tunes for the likes of Travis Tritt and Billy Currington. He has proved to be more than capable of stepping into the spotlight himself, winning the 2013 Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year award. More often seen in a baseball hat than a cowboy hat, Bryan has become a fan favorite by writing music that deals with some pretty popular themes (see tracks like “Wild Weekend,” “Cold Beer Drinker,” and “I’m Hungover”). Bryan, who won the Billboard Music Award for Top Country Artist in May, will be joined by Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch at First Niagara Pavilion. 7 p.m. There is a second concert July 23. 665 Pennsylvania 18, Burgettstown.

Luke Bryan accepting an award from the Academy of Country Music. photo: Keith Hinkle, w.c.c.

2) There is an easy way to remember how iambic pentameter goes. English teachers used to drill it home with this line (italics added to show rhythmic emphasis): “You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!” The line is from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. It’s part of a tirade that a Roman official delivers to a crowd of commoners gathered for a political event, because he thinks they are displaying political ignorance. A lot of us today happen to feel the same about a lot of our fellow Americans. In fact, quite a few parallels can be drawn between the world of the play and the current socio-political scene. Therefore Julius Caesar might be of interest to audiences who’d like to see bluster and backstabbing performed more artfully than they are on the evening news. The people at Throughline Theatre Company think so. They’re presenting Julius Caesar in this election year to fit with the theme of their 2016 season, which is “Can you trust the government?” Performances through July 30. At the Grey Box Theatre, 3595 Butler St., Lawrenceville.

3) Our battlin’ Bucs take on the Philadelphia Phillies tonight in a 7:05 p.m. game. It’s also Free Shirt Friday, with the first 20,000 fans receiving a Pirates T-shirt. Tailgate before the game at the Friday Night Block Party featuring live entertainment, food and beer options, games and more. You can even meet former Pirate pitcher Rick Reuschel . And did we mention beer? PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

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