Portugal. the Man, Rhiannon Giddens, and Kiefer Sutherland in Area Concerts (Tues., 5/22/18)

1) Wow. When Portugal. The Man headlined Mr. Smalls Theatre in March 2017, the band had released “Feel It Still” just three weeks earlier. By October of that same year, the single had reached no. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40. Until then, Portugal. The Man were hardly mainstream, even if they had one of the most impressive runs in modern music. Beginning in 2006 with their debut, Waiter: “You Vultures!”, they released a new album every year for five years while touring constantly. The group released Evil Friends, which was produced by Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Broken Bells), in 2013. Their latest album is 2017’s Woodstock. Members have come and gone, but the core has always been singer/guitarist John Gourley and bassist Zach Carothers, friends since they met in Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska. They headline Stage AE. Jack Harlow opens. Doors open 6 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

Portugal. The Man performing in 2016 at the Cliff Bar Cyclescramble in San Rafael, California. Photo: Trevor Bolliger and Wikipdia.

2) Rhiannon Giddens has the kind of voice that could have come from any time and any genre and still be a show stopper. At times on her debut solo album Tomorrow is My Turn, she sounds like a ‘60s R&B diva—such as on “She’s Got You”—while on other tracks her vocals wander confidently through folk, gospel, jazz, country, and blues. Better known as front woman of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, an old-time fiddle-and-banjo folk band, she has worked with many other artists and released her debut solo album, Tomorrow Is My Turn, in 2015. Her latest, 2017’s Freedom Highway, was named Album of the Year at the International Folk Music Awards. (Check out the track “Julie,” above.) Hailed as one of today’s great interpreters of American music of many kinds, Giddens has won awards ranging from a MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship to—get ready for it—the 2016 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. Rhiannon Giddens performs with her touring band at the Byham Theater, in a show presented by Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and WYEP. Jake Blount and Tatiana Hargreaves open. 7:30 p.m. 101 6th St., Cultural District. (CM, MV)

3) Kiefer Sutherland began his career with such movies as 1986’s Stand by Me. He became synonymous with his character, Agent Jack Bauer, on the Fox drama “24,” and now he plays President Kirkman on ABC’s “Designated Survivor.” But Sutherland has other talents. He started Ironworks, an independent record label, in 2002, where he remained more a behind-the-scenes guy until he recorded an album of originals, 2016’s Down in a Hole. Fans of Sutherland or rock ‘n’ roll can see him at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. 8 p.m. 285 Northgate Dr., Warrendale. (CM)

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