Penguins vs. Sharks in Game 5 of NHL Finals; Don McLean Brings ‘American Pie’ to Jergel’s (Thurs., 6/9/16)

1) Our Pens face off against the San Jose Sharks in game five of the Stanley Cup finals. The pressure is on. Let’s not lift the skate up from the Shark’s neck (do Sharks have necks?) and close out these finals quickly. Let’s go Pens! 8 p.m. Consol Energy Center, 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

2) “So bye, bye Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry” was all over the airwaves in ’71 when Don McLean‘s American Pie album, with a single of the same name, rose to the number one spot on the U.S., U.K., and Canadian album charts. “American Pie” has somewhat cryptic lyrics whose meaning many people have been trying to discern for years. It is generally regarded that the phrase “the day the music died” refers to the ’59 plane crash that killed three of the top acts in the burgeoning rock ‘n roll genre—Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr.). McLean had success with other songs, though none as big as “American Pie.” He’ll be performing at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. 8 p.m. 285 Northgate Dr., Warrendale.  (RH)

3) If you like singer/songwriters, Beth Orton is coming. If you like ‘em British and bizarre, well, bingo. And if you like to hear them for free, Orton is free at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. Her style is sometimes folktronica, sometimes crisp, clean ballads. Orton’s career is the stuff of legend in England, where she famously got her start by bumming a cigarette from electronic musician William Orbit. (The two began a relationship; Orbit urged her to perform on stage, and the rest would be history except that she’s still performing.) Orton’s first album was the 1993 Superpinkymandy, released only Japan and now very hard to find anywhere, but here’s a cut called “When You Wake.” Her seventh release, Kidsticks, is upcoming this year. Orton also acts—she had a key role in the indie film Southlander, playing the (fictional) lead singer of L.A.’s Future Pigeon—and logical minds can find no reason not to catch her act at the Arts Festival. 7:30 p.m. Dollar Bank Main Stage, Point State Park, Downtown. (MV)

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