The Joy Formidable in Concert at Mr. Smalls; The Playhouse Running ‘The Flick’ (Sun., 4/10/16)

1) Sometimes, all you need is some loud guitar and a steady drumbeat. That, plus the lush vocals of Rhiannon “Ritzy” Bryan, made for a winning formula on The Joy Formidable’s “Whirring.” That single was many Americans’  introduction to the Welsh rock ‘n’ roll trio. It appeared first on their debut EP, 2008’s A Balloon Called Moaning, and later on their debut studio album, 2011’s The Big Roar. Part of the song’s exposure also came via the comedy trio The Lonely Island, who sampled it on their song “YOLO.” The Joy Formidable have released two more albums since, most recently last month’s Hitch. Those hungry for more releases can sign up for Aruthrol. Launched in 2014, it’s the band’s spin on the idea of a vinyl club. Every month, fans receive a vinyl single. Side A features a song sung by the band in their native Welsh. Side B features another artist admired by the band. Pittsburghers looking for even more “Joy” in their lives can check out their concert at Mr. Smalls. Everything Everything opens. 8:30 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

2) Annie Baker’s The Flick, which won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, may be one of the oddest plays to receive that award. Many critics have loved it but some hated it. The Flick is long, about three hours, and not much happens. Then again, that’s how life can be—and the play has been praised for the uncanny ways it draws humor, and human insight, from a story that essentially goes nowhere. The characters are three under-employed Millennials, two guys and a gal. They work as the ushers, janitors, and general do-it-alls at an old movie house far past its glory days. Yet somehow, according to the play’s growing legions of fans, marvelous flashes of brilliance emerge while this trio of drudges go about their drudgery in an empty film theater after the show. You can see for yourself in the Playhouse REP company’s production of The Flick. In the Studio Theatre at Pittsburgh Playhouse. 2 p.m. Runs through April 24. 222 Craft Ave., Oakland. (MV)

3) Whiskey Tango Foxtrot – If you pick which movie you’re going to see based on how interesting the cast is you’ve probably already ordered tickets for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Tina Fey, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Billy Bob Thornton, Josh Charles, Cherry Jones, and Thomas Kretschmann star … and Soledad O’Brien shows up playing herself! The reason all these people got together was to make this film adaptation of a memoir by Kim Barker called The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan about her years as a war correspondent. The film’s directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the highly original duo behind such oddball movies as I Love You Phillip Morris, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and last year’s most underrated film Focus. Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

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