Of Monsters and Men Play Stage AE; CHMH Hosts Trombone Shorty (Wed., 9/16/15)

1) Of Monsters and Men’s international success began as a slow build. First was “Little Talks,” that 2011 single with the catchy “Hey!” hook and the irresistible duet between singers Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson. But when critics compiled their best-of lists for 2011, My Head Is an Animal, the quintet’s debut, was conspicuously absent from many a ranking. The reason? The entire album had yet to be released outside the band’s native Iceland. Once it was, though, in April 2012, audiences around the world dug the band’s indie-pop beat. The album reached number six on the Billboard 200, the highest charting performance for an Icelandic musical artist in U.S. history. (Take that, Björk.) They then toured nonstop and even made it to Pittsburgh in 2013. They return to Stage AE, this time behind their sophomore effort, 2015’s Beneath the Skin. Singles like “Crystals” subdue the horns and bring forward the drums for a more contemplative, though no less lifting, sound. Oh Land opens. Doors open 6:30 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

2) Trombone Shorty recently collaborated with Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters in a free concert in New Orleans’ French Quarter. They opened the windows and doors of Preservation Hall and gave a concert to surprised people walking by. A sizable crowd gathered immediately. The performance also featured members of the world famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The concert was part of a documentary by Grohl that explores music germane to certain cities. Trombone Shorty, a native of New Orleans, shot higher on the national scene in 2013 with his hot brass rocker “Fire and Brimstone.”  He will be performing with his group Orleans Avenue at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, Chelsey Nicole & The Northside Vamps open. 8 p.m. 510 East 10th Ave., Munhall.

3) Could there be a more perfect synergy of stage names than Diane Coffee and Delicious Pastries? The two acts were clearly destined to perform together—or at least happily collaborate over breakfast. Diane Coffee is the performing name of musician Shaun Fleming, who calls his musical genre “Psychedelic Motown”—and that’s actually a pretty apt description of his eclectic, exuberant style. He released his first album, My Friend Fish, in 2013, and will follow up in September with Everybody’s A Good Dog. A former child actor and currently also drummer for the band Foxygen, Coffee recently relocated from New York City to Bloomington, Indiana, where he developed his new songs. Opening act Delicious Pastries are a Pittsburgh band who play melodic pop tunes with a sweet, vintage vibe. 8 p.m. Spirit, 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. (HM)

4) Tonight’s Pirates game against the Chicago Cubs promises to be an exciting match up. Also exciting is the night’s giveaway, A Roberto Clemente number 21 T-Shirt for the first 20,000 fans. Oh, and did I mention beer and nachos. 7:05 p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

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