The Who in Concert at PPG Paints Arena; Moondogs Hosts Indigenous; Sheila E. and Women Who Rock at AE

1) The Who are one of the quintessential rock bands of our time, emerging on the mod scene in England in 1964. Although they were Mods they rocked hard with Pete Townshend‘s windmill power chords, Roger Daltrey‘s dynamic vocals, Keith Moon’s amazing drumming, and John Entwistle’s stand out bass lines. Unfortunately, Moon and Entwistle have joined the great rock band in the sky. The Who in their formative years were known for destroying their instruments and equipment on stage in a power meltdown. This reflected the auto-destructive wing of the pop art movement. On a more constructive note The Who were pioneers in another art form—the rock opera—creating Tommy (’69) and Qudrophenia (’73). Those rock operas spawned the hits respectively “Pinball Wizard,” “We’re Not Going to Take It” and “The Real Me,” “The Punk and the Godfather.” Their touring band includes Townshend’s brother Simon on lead guitar and vocals and Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey on drums. For their current Moving On! Tour, which who knows, could be the band’s last one, they are performing with a symphonic orchestra. The Who are touring in advance of an upcoming album release later this year. 7:30 p.m. PPG Paints Arena, 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown 

The Who performing at the Ahoy Rotterdam in 2007. (Photo: Joep Vullings and Wikipedia)

2) The story of blues-rock outfit Indigenous is really the story of frontman Mato Nanji (Ma-TOE NON-gee), who was born and raised on the Yankton Sioux Reservation of South Dakota. A second-generation rocker, Nanji formed Indigenous in his teens with his brother, sister, and cousin—a lineup that lead to an award-winning debut in 1998 and an invite to join B.B. King’s Blues Tour in 1999. The family would stick together through four more releases before splitting in 2006. Nanji found even more success on his own as songs from his solo album Chasing the Sun, released under the Indigenous name, wound up on the soundtracks of “Deadliest Catch” and “Sons of Anarchy.” It was also the No. 2 Billboard Blues Album of 2006. Nanji has been a member of the Experience Hendrix Tour since 2002. He plays a mean version of Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return).” Indigenous’s latest release is 2017’s Gray Skies, an album of bootlegs and rarities. Catch Indigenous at Moondogs. 7:30 p.m. 378 Freeport Rd., Blawnox. 

3) It’s a night of Women Who Rock at Stage AE. Sheila E., a noted drummer, singer, and frequent collaborator with the late Prince, headlines. (The pair collaborated on 1986’s “A Love Bizarre.”) Local soul singer Lyndsey Smith also performs. WDVE FM’s Michelle Michaels hosts. The concert also features Sounds of Pittsburgh Women’s A Cappella Chorus, the Rising Star Contest winner, and DJ Jess. The 2019 Women who Rock Award will be presented to Dr. Sharon Hillier of Magee-Womens Research Institute for her work on women’s health issues. Proceeds benefit women’s health at Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation. Doors open 6:30 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

Sheila E. in action on her kit.

4) Simply copying the promo material for an event is lazy journalism, but sometimes an exception must be made. The following is for Her Holiness, The Winter Dog: “In a dystopian future, humans cause the extinction of all animals. Now they must use humans to replace their sacred pets. To protect their status and religious values, three sisters hire a guardian of faith who dresses and lives as a dog. As their spiritual leader, The Winter Dog incites change—but not in the way they expect.” Her Holiness, The Winter Dog is a chamber opera by composer Curtis Rumrill and librettist Zachary Webber. It was commissioned by Kamratōn, a Pittsburgh-based all-female chamber ensemble. The group is performing the opera along with the Quince Ensemble (new-music vocalists) and Shana Simmons Dance, with Daniel Curtis as musical director. 8 p.m. Ends tomorrow.  Her Holiness, The Winter Dog is presented as part of Pittsburgh’s Community Supported Art series at the New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. (MV)

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