Modest Mouse and Cat Power Play Stage AE; Billy Price Album Release Concert at Syria Shrine Pavilion: Unblurred First Fridays (Fri., 6/7/24)

1) Modest Mouse formed in Issaquah, Washington, in 1992. The group saw mainstream success with 2004’s Good News for People Who Love Bad News and its hit lead single, “Float On.” 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank was another big album for them. Some members have come and gone, but frontman Isaac Brock is a constant. The group’s most recent album is 2021’s The Golden Casket. Cat Power was born Charlyn (“Chan”) Marshall in Atlanta. She released a series of acclaimed records from the mid-’90s through the early aughts, including a covers album in 2000. Her cover of “Sea of Love” also appeared on the soundtrack to the 2007 film Juno. Cat Power released The Greatest in 2006. Not a greatest hits album, but rather a collection of bare-bones originals, it is arguably “the greatest” record in her discography, released over a decade into her career. “Living Proof” is a beautiful song about love and doubt. Her 2012 album, Sun, seamlessly melded elements of electronica with blues. Her latest album is 2022’s Covers. On it she covers songs from a diverse group of artists including Bob Seger, Iggy Pop, Billie Holiday, and Lana Del Ray. They will perform an outdoor concert at Stage AE. Doors open 6 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (C.M., R.H.)

Billy Price is all set for the release of his latest album.

2) Pittsburgh soul and blues legend Billy Price knew from an early age that he wanted to be a singer. Growing up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Price (then known by his formal name, William Pollak) sang in grade school and had the most popular bands in junior and senior high. And of course the band was doing all soul songs. He also had a band while attending Penn State University. After graduating he was in the Rhythm Kings, even playing the famous Fox Cafe in Shadyside. He was noticed by the late renowned blues rock guitarist, Roy Buchanan, who drafted him to be the lead singer of his band. Post Buchanan, Price formed the highly talented Billy Price and the Keystone Rhythm Band. And after closing the chapter on the Keystone Rhythm Band after many years, he went on to have a richly rewarding solo career which included being nominated for and winning numerous national blues awards including the prestigious Blues Music Award. He even recorded an album with the late great soul singer Otis Clay.

Now Price is ready to reach a new zenith in his career with his first ever album of all original songs, Person of Interest. He will be having an album release concert Friday, June 7 at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center Pavilion. Billy the Kid and The Regulators open. More information and tickets for Billy Price’s Person of Interest album release party at Pittsburgh Shrine Center June 7 is available at Price’s website. 7:30 p.m. 1877 Shriners Way, Cheswick. 

Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn — monthly gallery crawl and street fair.

During a 2015 Unblurred, fans and friends of artist/songwriter Aaron Pfeiffer gathered for his performance at Fieldwork Gallery. (Photo: Martha Rial)

3) Persons wishing to experience Pittsburgh’s summertime pleasures in the relative cool of the evening will do well to take part in the monthly Unblurred events along Penn Avenue in Garfield. They’re on the first Friday of each month, which, early this summer, means June 7 and July 5. And what’s up is quite a lot. Many art galleries along the street are open, as are other shops, eateries, and so forth. Some have music or performances. The Garfield Night Market, with stalls and vendors selling a wide spectrum of foods and crafts, operates in conjunction with Unblurred. Above all, Unblurred is a fine occasion to simply hang out, mill about, and enjoy. 3 p.m. till 11 p.m., 4800 through 5500 blocks of Penn Ave., Garfield. (M.V.)

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