Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes ‘Having a Party’ at South Park; Club Cafe Putting on the Velcro Shoes (Fri., 8/14/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EJyo4ZU1HI

 Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are bringing their wall of sound to South Park as part of the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series. The band features a New Jersey rock sound complemented by a talented horn section. Southside Johnny’s first three albums were arranged and produced by the co-founder of the band and Bruce Springsteen associate Steven Van Zandt. The albums mainly comprised songs written by Van Zandt and/or Springsteen. They are known for the songs “Trapped Again,” “Without Love,” and “We’re Having A Party.” Jon Bon Jovi cites Southside Johnny as a big influence on him becoming a singer. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are touring in advance of their latest album Soultime! set to be released this fall. A special guest will be local rock legend Joe Grushecky—who generates a dynamic Pittsburgh sound, and is a friend and collaborator to Jersey guys Southside Johnny and Springsteen. 7:30 p.m. South Park Amphitheatre, Brownsville and McCorkle Rds. (RH)

2) Pittsburgh indie band The Velcro Shoes are playing Club Cafe this month with an almost all-local line-up that could be billed as the “Indie Bands With Excellent Names” show. They’re joined by fellow locals Claire with the Turban—who describe themselves as “guitar-driven shoe-gazey alt-synth”—and Street Pigeons, who describe themselves as a northern rock band. Rounding out the line-up is Michigan husband-and-wife duo Overly Polite Tornadoes, who also have a contemplative, shoe-gazey vibe. The Velcro Shoes, made up of Eric Emerson, Garett Bogden, Bill Krowinski, and Mike Slobodian, put out their second release, Emphatic, last year. It’s available for digital download. Their artist bio promises the live show will transport you back to time “before jumping up and down was replaced by the head nod,” so choose your footwear appropriately. 10:15 p.m. 56-58 S. 12th St., South Side. (HM)

3) Jurassic World — Am I wrong or wasn’t the underlying message of the Jurassic Park series a caution against being blinded by greed? Well, director Colin Trevorrow, along with a pack of writers, throw said caution to the wind and bring us Jurassic World, the fourth installment of this saga about dinosaurs scientifically brought to life in the modern world. Here’s the plot: The “Jurassic World” dino-theme park on Isla Nublar has been highly successful for the last decade. Here’s the problem: People are bored and attendance is slipping.

Yes, you read that right. Nobody’s going anymore because they’re all, like, “dinosaurs … whatever.” So the company creates a new giant genetic mutant to entertain the crowds. What could possibly go wrong? Hasn’t anyone seen the previous films? The second movie, The Lost World: Jurassic Park ended with a T-Rex running loose through the streets of San Diego so what kind of whackadoodle would even consider going to Isla Nublar? The same sort of person, I guess, who has grown bored looking at a “regular” dinosaurs. (Try not to cheer when the mutant eats them.) Chris Pratt, Vincent D’Onofrio, B.D. Wong, and Judy Greer star. Will it be a hit? Or will it bring to mind the tag line from the Stephen King film Pet Sematary: “Sometimes, dead is better”? Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

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