Versatile Guitarist Larry Carlton at MCG Jazz; O-Town in Our-Town (CPs Sat., 12/6/14)

1) Larry Carlton—noted rock, blues, and jazz guitarist, who’s played with Steely Dan, and The Crusaders—plays a concert tonight as part of the MCG Jazz series. He became an in-demand session guitarist and then toured with various groups before venturing out on his own as a solo artist. Nominated for 19 Grammys and winning four, he has a new holiday album out, Four Hands & a Heart: Christmas. Carlton’s hot riffs on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne“ are listed as one of the three best guitar licks in rock music by Rolling Stone. 6 and 8:30 p.m. Both shows are sold out but tickets may be available on ticket reselling sites. Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, 1815 Metropolitan St., Manchester.

2) The boy band O-Town had as its genesis the ’00 reality TV show, “Making the Band,” which was produced by MTV and aired on ABC for its first two seasons. The first year showed the choosing and making of the band under the guidance of music producer Lou Pearlman. The following two seasons were without Pearlman and showed the band practicing, recording, and performing music on tour with the third and final season airing on MTV. Pearlman—who also organized the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync—was convicted in ’08 of running a Ponzi scheme and money laundering. He’s now serving a lengthy jail sentence. O-Town has overcome many obstacles to produce a nice melodic pop sound, which you can hear in tonight’s show at The Altar Bar. The band members reunited in ’13 after ten years apart and are now performing as a quartet. O-Town is touring in support of Lines & Circles, released this past August and the new single “Skydive.” The O in O-Town is for Orlando, Florida, although none of the band members is from there—may have been a corporate marketing decision. 7:30 p.m. 1620 Penn Ave., Strip District.

3) The Pens are playing an afternoon game against the Ottawa Senators at Consol Energy Center today at 1 p.m. As the late Pens’ coach “Badger” Bob Johnson liked to say, “It’s a great day for hockey!” 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

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