St. Vincent in Concert at Stage AE; Roxian Hosts Ani DiFranco; Masta Killa to Rap at Mr. Smalls (Sun., 4/13/25)

Sunday, April 13

1) Singer-songwriter St. Vincent, born Annie Erin Clark in Tulsa, Oklahoma, returns to Stage AE. She is a former member of the indie ensemble The Polyphonic Spree and she released her debut solo album, Marry Me, in 2007. Her music has an evocative pop sound, as heard on singles such as 2011’s “Cruel” and 2014’s “Digital Witness.” St. Vincent collaborated with Talking Heads’ frontman David Byrne in 2012 on the album Love This Giant. Her music production credits include work with rock band Sleater-Kinney. Both St. Vincent and Carrie Brownstein, of Sleater-Kinney and the television series “Portlandia,” co-wrote the screenplay for The Nowhere Inn. The movie also stars them both, and was released in 2021. St. Vincent is known for her guitar playing prowess and her latest album is 2024’s All Born Screaming. The LP, her seventh, was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning three this February. She also performed with several others the opening number of this year’s Grammys the song, “I Love LA.” Special guest is Wallice. Doors open at  6 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (C.M., R.H.)

St. Vincent performing at The Hollywood Palladium in 2018. (photo: Justin Higuchi)

2) Singer/songwriter/guitarist Ani DiFranco was one of the very first indie artists, having started her own record label—Righteous Babe—in ’89 when she was only 18. The label has allowed the Buffalo, N.Y., native to enjoy more creative freedom and forge a successful career, which she started at the tender age of nine playing Beatles songs at bars. She’s also busked with her guitar teacher. Amazingly, at 14, she began writing her own songs and launched a solo career playing coffee houses. DiFranco has also been a positive force for feminism and other social issues. Unprecedented Sh!t is DiFranco’s latest studio album and was recently released. Special guest is Wryn. Sold out. 7:30 p.m. Roxian Theatre, 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. (R.H.)

3) Sometimes, discerning Pittsburgh music fans want to skip the big-ticket stadium concerts and go hear an artist who might not be on track to headline a Super Bowl halftime show, but is really good. That’s why a venue like Mr. Smalls Theatre exists. And that’s where to hear Masta Killa, a.k.a. Jamel Irief. The Brooklyn-born rapper actually started out as an eye-popping street dancer. Then in the early 1990s he was inducted into—and mentored in the arts of rap by—the legendary Wu-Tang Clan. From there, Masta Killa developed his own style: slower and more intimately distinct than rappers who are out to break the x-words-per-minute barrier, yet packing plenty of punch. Since 2004 he has cut four solo studio albums aside from his Wu-Tang work. A fifth release, Balance, is due to drop and he’s now on his Balance Tour. Join Masta Killa at Mr. Smalls Theatre with a lineup of guests drawn from his vast network of fellow artists and admirers. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (M.V.)

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