A Perfect Circle, Robyn Hitchcock, and Hoodie Allen in Area Concerts; Pittsburgh Light Up Night (Fri., 11/17/17)

1) Despite many fans’ hopes, neither Tool nor A Perfect Circle will release a new album this year. That hasn’t stopped the bands, both fronted by Maynard James Keenan, from touring. Tool played the Petersen Events Center in May; A Perfect Circle will play there tonight. And although there’s no word yet on when the new Tool album will drop, the next A Perfect Circle LP will be out in 2018. The supergroup’s core is Keenan and guitarist Billy Howerdel. Current members include James Iha (formerly of The Smashing Pumpkins), bassist Matt McJunkins, and drummer Jeff Friedl. The group formed in 1999 and went on hiatus after the release of 2004’s Emotive, a covers album of anti-war songs. They’ve played on and off again since 2010. Fans eager for a taste of the new record can check out “The Doomed,” which the band shared in October. 8 p.m. 3719 Terrace St., Oakland. (CM)

2) If Robyn Hitchcock had not made his mark as a singer-songwriter, he’d be known as the guy who looks like Steve Martin wearing an Andy Warhol wig. But the hair is his own and so is his distinctive musical style. Elements of that style include lyrics that convey surreal imagery, eerie/spacey guitar work, and a jaunty/cynical mood that says this is serious but I’m having fun with it. Hitchcock combines the elements in various ways—“Raymond and the Wires” (above) doesn’t sound a lot like “I Want to Tell You About What I Want”—yet both are from the same album, this year’s self-titled LP, which also includes a track called “Virginia Woolf” … Wait a minute! What kind of artist waits until his twenty-first studio album to release one that’s self-titled? Probably an artist who’s a bit weird, but in a nice way. Hitchcock broke onto the scene in the 1970s in his native England as leader of The Soft Boys. He’s been performing and recording solo and/or with various other configurations of musicians since 1981. In live performances he tells stories along with the music, and the stories are weird, but in a nice way. Catch a few with Robyn Hitchcock at Carnegie Lecture Hall of Oakland. 8 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. (MV)

3) “I’m just kiddin’, I’m a white kid, hi kids”—Yep, that’s Hoodie Allen, the clown prince of yuppie hop, as he summed himself up in a signature line from his 2011 breakout release, “No Interruption.” The artist formerly known as Steven Markowitz chose his stage name as a pun on Woody Allen: white guy, comedian, nerdy but kinda cool; get it? In cuts like “Fame Is For Assholes” (with Chiddy Bang) and “Are U Having Any Fun?,” he mixes classic hip-hop memes such as gratuitous profanity and the objectification of women with satirical riffs on the suburban upper-middle-class technoculture. Hoodie knows the latter quite well. He grew up on Long Island, acquired an Ivy League degree, and worked at Google before quitting to become a full-time musical prankster. Now on tour in support of his latest album, this year’s The Hype, Hoodie Allen will be at Stage AE. Luke Christopher and Myles Parrish open. Doors open 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (MV, CM)

Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers bring a Bash to a rockin’ climax.

4) Tonight’s 57th Annual Light Up Night is the official kick off to Pittsburgh’s holiday season—even if some national retailers started the holiday season the day after Halloween. Highlights include several tree-lighting ceremonies, ice skating at PPG Plaza, Fireworks Finale (9:38 p.m.), and an appearance by Santa. There’s also top-notch local entertainment featuring Jeff Jimerson, MCG All Stars, Lyndsey Smith and Soul Distribution, and  Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. National acts performing include Andy Grammar, and Maggie Lindemann. Merriment and goodwill will spontaneously occur all over the Golden Triangle. This is a holiday celebration not to miss. For a complete schedule, visit Downtown Pittsburgh for the Holidays. 6 – 10 p.m., Downtown.

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