The Avett Brothers Perform at Stage AE; Subba Serving Nepalese Food on North Side (Thurs., 5/12/16)

1) The Avett Brothers mix the light romanticism of early rock and roll with the craftsmanship of a Paul Simon-like singer/songwriter and add a dash of the hoedown spirit of old-school Americana. Built around the nucleus of brothers Scott and Seth, the North Carolina band rode to prominence in the folk-rock revival that also brought you Fleet Foxes and Mumford and Sons. Since they partnered with producer du jour Rick Rubin on 2009’s I and Love and You, the Avetts have been unstoppable on their path to mega-success. Their triumph can be traced by their ascension through Pittsburgh venues: In eight years, they’ve gone from a small place at the Three Rivers Arts Festival to filling up Stage AE. The Avett Brothers even created the theme song for the popular PBS series “A Chef’s Life.” Their new album, True Sadness, will be released in June. Chatham County Line opens. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Stage AE, 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (EC, RH)

2) As a sign of Pittsburgh’s growing cultural diversification, Nepali cuisine has been cropping up around the Steel City, with the North Side’s Subba generating some serious buzz among foodies. Quick geography primer: Nepal, home of Mt. Everest, is a country bordering India to the northeast. Unsurprisingly, then, Nepali food is reminiscent of Indian food. But, if you’re a Pittsburgher looking for something more familiar, something, say, pierogi-like, try momo—Nepalese dumplings filled with chicken and spices. Get them pan-fried or steamed. Other popular favorites include mango lassi (a yogurt-based drink) and a variety of meat and vegetarian dinner plates. Subba also serves Indian and Chinese dishes. Although the restaurant’s inside decor may be bare, it’s the food that’s bursting with color. 700 Cedar Ave., North Side. (CM)

3) The Family Fang – Marking his second turn as a feature film director Justin Bateman helms this David Lindsay-Abaire screenplay of Kevin Wilson’s bestselling 2011 novel. And nobody is going to accuse Bateman of picking “easy” material. Caleb and Camille Fang are artists whose “work”  involved filming (and embarrassing) their children, Annie and Buster, who were forced to take part in interactive public performance art pieces. Well the kids have grown up and, not surprisingly, are estranged from Mom and Dad. Annie is a Hollywood actress and Buster a writer. Their careers, however, start to take a turn for the worse … just as news reaches them  their folks are missing and assumed dead. So Annie and Buster go off in search of their parents … and themselves. Bateman plays Buster, Nicole Kidman is Annie with Christopher Walken and Maryann Plunkett as Caleb and Camille. It’s a black comedy featuring a heavy dose of melancholy. But don’t let that stop you, if the thought of Walken playing a performance artist doesn’t intrigue, then you got problems. 7 p.m. Ends today. The Hollywood Theater, 1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont.

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