Concert Guide August 2024: Bruce, Aldean; Doobies, Menzel, Imagine Dragons, and Childish Gambino

Bruce Springsteen with guitar performing at Roskilde Festival in Denmark in 2012.  (Photo: Bill Ebbesen and Wikipedia)

It takes a big act to book two nights at PPG Paints Arena and one of the biggest, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, are playing two. Springsteen and Pittsburgh have always had a strong affinity for one another. Another big act that will be performing there this month is Childish Gambino, the stage name for the mulit-talented performer, Donald Glover. We also have two very popular country music acts this month at Star Lake, Jason Aldean and Dan + Shay. The “shed” is running strong as it nears summer’s end with additional performances by the Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood, Imagine Dragons, Creed, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Idina Menzel, who some have named the Queen of Broadway, is bringing her vocal talents to the Benedum Center. Melissa Etheridge is this year’s star performer for Women Who Rock at Stage AE. Also there is Rock, Reggae, and Relief with several popular reggae bands headlined by the Dirty Heads. Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers are riding high after releasing a new album and play Hard Rock Cafe.

The Concert Guide features (in chronological order) Spotlight Picks, Other Shows of Interest, and Big Shows on the Horizon. Get out and see what pleases you, whether it’s one of our concert picks or something entirely different. Mike Vargo (M.V.) also contributed to this guide.

Spotlight Picks

Friday, August 2

Dan Smeyers grew up in Wexford, Pennsylvania, and graduated from North Allegheny High School. He attended CMU before embarking on his professional musical career. Smeyers played in several  bands, one of which was even on the Vans Warped Tour, before meeting Shay Mooney, a native of Natural Dam, Arkansas, in Nashville. The two of them clicked and started writing country songs soon thereafter. After some early success they started performing together as Dan + Shay. Now they have five albums and numerous awards including three Grammys and five ACM Awards. Dan + Shay’s latest album is Bigger Houses, released last year. The album reached no. 9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It’s big single is “Save Me The Trouble.” Special guests are Jake Owen and Dylan Marlowe. 7 p.m. Pavilion at Star Lake. (R.H.)

Saturday, August 3

If you are neither a postwar Boomer nor a postmodern intellectual, take heart. Post-grunge might be just the genre for you, and a band that is among its foremost avatars visits the Pittsburgh area when Creed performs at Star Lake. This is a post-second-hiatus version of Creed, a product of their recent second reunion. However—in a testament to the members’ enduring friendship—the original lineup remains nearly intact from Creed’s formation in Tallahassee in 1994, when lead vocalist Scott Stapp and lead guitarist Mark Tremonti were fellow students at Florida State. They’re joined on the current, nostalgically named Summer of ‘99 Tour by longtime drummer Scott Phillips and bassist Brian Marshall, with the main substitution (for touring purposes) being rhythm guitarist Eric Friedman in place of the long-departed Brian Brasher. Creed is a spiritually inspired group. The band’s power ballads tend to display what one critic called “Christian-infused testosterone.” Creed comes to The Pavilion at Star Lake with guests 3 Doors Down and Finger Eleven. 7 p.m. 665 Rte. 18, Burgettstown. (M.V.)

Saturday, August 10

Slip on your cowboy boots and head down to The Pavilion at Star Lake, where Jason Aldean takes center stage. Aldean has accumulated many awards over his career, including Male Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year at 2013’s Academy of Country Music Awards. He was born in Macon, Georgia and moved to Nashville at 21. His 2005 self-titled debut album cemented his success and “Why” became his first number-one single on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Aldean was performing in 2017 at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas when a gunman fired into the crowd. Fifty-eight people died; another 851 were injured. The following Saturday, Aldean opened “Saturday Night Live” with a rousing cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” Petty had died, of unrelated causes, the day after the shooting. Aldean’s latest album is last year’s Highway Desperado. He is slated to visit Star Lake on his Highway Desperado Tour 2024 with guests Lauren Alaina, Chase Matthew, Austin Snell, and Dee Jay Silver. 7:30 p.m. 665 Rte. 18, Burgettstown. (C.M., M.V.)

Some years ago, Broadway star Idina Menzel‘s career (which was doing quite nicely already, thank you) was  unexpectedly hijacked by a song from a Disney movie. She had established herself as a top stage actress and singer with Tony Awards for her featured role in Rent and for the lead role, as the Wicked Witch, in Wicked. But when Menzel voiced Queen Elsa in the 2013 animated movie Frozen, her song “Let It Go” rocketed her to a whole new level of mass-market fame. Since then she has continued voicing Elsa in Frozen follow-ups while branching out in several directions. Showing significant range, Menzel starred in the 2022 true-crime film American Murderer and the 2023 Netflix comedy You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, while also guest-judging on “Ru Paul’s Drag Race All Stars.” She has toured regularly as a vocalist, and in her latest album, last year’s Drama Queen, she ventures into disco-type beats and new power ballads. But you can bet the setlist will still include a certain Elsa song when Idina Menzel comes to Benedum Center on her Take Me Or Leave Me Tour. 8 p.m. 237 7th St., Cultural District. (R.H., M.V.)

“Hey mon, come on down to Stage AE cause we be jammin’ for Rock Reggae and Relief 2024“ with Dirty Heads, The Movement, The Elovaters, Third World, Roots of Creation, and local talents FUBAR. “Rock Reggae & Relief is a charity reggae music festival that brings people together in love and unity and raises money for our neighbors in need. RRR 24 is raising money for Pittsburgh Scholar House and their Wayfinders Scholarship Fund.” The event is produced in association with the the Piatt Family Foundation. So have a blast and help out our neighbors. And if that’s not enough fun, there’s also a free (with ticket) preparty Friday evening at Roost with Roots of Creation. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (R.H.)

Wednesday, August 14

Imagine Dragons have played several different Pittsburgh venues over the years. One of the first was Altar Bar and the group soon leaped to the big-time air of Consol Energy Center. Their first album, 2012’s Night Visions, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and went on to win the Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Album award. The Las Vegas group, whose style draws from rock, indie, and dubstep, is touring in support of their latest album Loom, which dropped June 28. The recording reached no. 6 on Billboard‘s Top Rock and Alternative Album chart. Imagine Dragons are big supporters of Ukraine in their fight against Russia including spearheading an effort that donated 92 specially equipped ambulances and recording a song about a young boy who survived the shelling of his village. Special  guest is Jacob Banks. 7 p.m. The Pavilion at Star Lake, 665 Rt. 18, Burgettstown. (R.H.)

Thursday, August 15 & Sunday, August 18

The first song that I can remember hearing by multi-Grammy-award winner Bruce Springsteen was “Born to Run.” I loved the music and the lyrics! What I especially noticed was what sounded like tiny bells playing throughout the song. Only later did I learn this was the result of a glockenspiel played by the late E Street Band member Danny Federici. Other early favorites were “Backstreets” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.” I then went on to ravenously enjoy every song on Darkness on the Edge of Town, which produced songs like “Prove It All Night,” and The River, which gave us “Out in the Street” and “Hungry Heart.” Springsteen’s most commercially successful record is Born in the U.S.A., which sold more copies than any other of his albums. It is also one of the best selling albums ever, generating the mega-hits: “Dancing in the Dark,” “Glory Days,” “I’m on Fire,” and the title track. All of those songs reached the top ten. The E Street Band is composed of  Garry Tallent, Roy Bittan, Max Weinberg, Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, and Patti Scialfa (also married to Springsteen). Clarence Clemmons nephew Jake Clemmons plays saxophone.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have had continuing success over the years despite obstacles that included the devastating losses of saxophonist Clarence Clemons and Federici and Springsteen’s vocal troubles of last year which forced him to cancel many tour dates including those scheduled for Pittsburgh last September. However, like great champions, they’ve moved forward and found a new path. When the sum of great musical parts come together in a positive way—as with Springsteen and The E Street Band—magic happens. Only the Strong Survive is Springsteen’s latest album and it covers soul and R&B songs. 7:30 p.m. both August 15 and August 18. PPG Paints Arena, 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (RH)

Saturday, August 17

The Grammy Award-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band plays The Pavilion at Star Lake this month on their Deuces Wild tour. Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks are both bandmates and a married couple. They formed the band in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2010 after both had already tasted career success. Trucks was a member of the Allman Brothers for a number of years, fronted his own band, and worked on projects with many musicians, including Eric Clapton. He’s known as one of the guitar greats and was ranked No. 16 on Rolling Stone‘s list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2011. Before becoming a headliner of her own, Susan Tedeschi opened for top acts like B.B. King, Bob Dylan, and even the Allman Brothers (that’s how they met in 1999). Known for her pleasant vocals, she is a respected guitarist in her own right. The Tedeschi Trucks Band has been nominated for two Grammy Awards and won one in 2012 for the album Revelator. Before flying the banner of Tedeschi Trucks Band, the two collaborated in their previous band, Soul Stew Revival. Their soulful, blues-rock 12-piece band is a big reason for their success. Their latest LP release is 2022’s I Am the Moon. Opening is Margo Price. 7 p.m. 665 Rt. 18 Burgettstown. (R.H.)

Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers are Pittsburgh rock royalty that have risen through several incarnations—from the Brick Alley Band to Joe Grushecky and the Iron City Houserockers to the unit’s present day form—Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers—to become one of Pittsburgh’s top bands. Over the years Grushecky’s sound is one of both hard-driving rock and roll and insightful ballads. The lyrics and music seek higher ground, and find it. Top songs include “Pumping Iron,” “Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive),” and “Rock and Real.” Grushecky has recently released Joe Grushecky Houserocker: A Joe Grushecky Anthology and on July 12 released a fantastic new album, Can’t Outrun a Memory. Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers are riding the big success of Can’t Outrun a Memory with a show this evening at Hard Rock Cafe. What’s interesting about this concert date is that it falls between the two shows that Grushecky’s friend Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are playing at PPG Paints Arena. Just saying. See our story and interview with Grushecky about the new release. 8 p.m. 230 W. Station Square Dr., Station Square. (R.H.)

Tuesday, August 20

The Doobie Brothers are a big time rock band that rose out of San Jose, California and charted many hits in the 1970s and early 1980s. The initial outfit was fronted by lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Johnston. He led the band  from 1970 until he left in 1975. During that period the Doobies had top hits like “China Grove,” “Black Water,” and “Listen to the Music.” In 1976 Michael McDonald signed on as lead vocalist and the band’s sound took a new course. That version of the band scored hits with “Takin it to the Streets,” “What a Fool Believes,” and “Minute By Minute.” Kenny Loggins even has a co-writing credit on “What a Fool Believes.” Johnston then returned to the band in 1987 and has remained with them ever since. Michael McDonald is now back in the fold too. The Doobies had a new hit in 1989 with “The Doctor.” Liberté is the group’s latest album and was released in 2021. Special guest is Steve Winwood, who’s had his own big success with songs like “Higher Love,” “Back in the High Life Again,” and  “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” (with Traffic). 7 p.m. The Pavilion at Star Lake, 665 Rt. 18 Burgettstown. (R.H.)

If you haven’t seen Childish Gambino, do it now, because after his current tour, Childish Gambino will cease to exist. That is, the stage name will be retired. Or so says the artist born Donald Glover, who has threatened to de-Childish himself previously, but this time he might mean it. The 40-year-old Glover, as Glover, has had quite the multifaceted career so far. Graduating from NYU’s Tisch School with a degree in dramatic writing, he’s written for NBC-TV’s “30 Rock,” acted in the network’s “Community” and in other TV series and films, written and performed sketch comedy, plus much more. It all seems to come together in his music. At a time when quick-cutting and lavish effects are often the norm in music videos, a Childish Gambino video like “Little Foot Big Foot” comes across as both a throwback and creatively new—besides which, the man can dance. And his current tour is even specialer. It’s in support of his just-released album Bando Stone & the New World, which he is also making into a feature film about a singer’s strange adventures in a post-apocalyptic world. Catch the apocalypse as it unfolds when Childish Gambino visits Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena. Guest artist is Willow. 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (M.V.)

Donald Glover performing under his stage name, Childish Gambino, at South by Southwest in 2014. (Photo: Daniel Benavides and Wikipedia)

Wednesday, August 28

Maybe you don’t want to miss this year’s Women Who Rock mega-concert at Stage AE. The headliner is the legendary Melissa Etheridge, whose new album, I’m Not Broken, was recorded live in a women’s prison. Also on the bill is DJ Femi, whose sounds span a range of electronica and hypnotica. And the show is emceed by the stunning jazz singer/actor Margot Bingham, a Pittsburgh CAPA graduate and Point Park alumna now scorching it in multiple media. Better yet, this is a fundraiser, with the proceeds—as always—helping to address women’s health issues at Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (R.H., M.V.)

Other Shows of Interest

Friday, August 2
The Commodores and The Spinners (Rivers Casino)
Debbie Gibson (Stage AE)
Justin Fabus (Rivers Casino)

Saturday, August 3
Eric Johnson (Palace Theatre)
The Nighthawks (Moondog’s Pub)

Monday, August 5
Corrine Bailey Rae (The Oaks Theater)

Tuesday, August 6
John Sebastian &  Jimmy Vivino (City Winery)
Victor Provost (Agnes Katz Plaza)

Wednesday, August 7
Slipknot (Pavilion at Star Lake)

Thursday, August 8
Primus and Coheed and Cambria (Stage AE)
Bill Henry Band (Rivers Casino)

Friday, August 9
Selwyn Birchwood (Moondog’s Pub)

Saturday, August 10
Shaggy (Hollywood Casino at The Meadows)

Saturday, August 11
The Struts (Stage AE)

Wednesday, August 14
Sublime with Rome (Stage AE)

Friday, August 16
Maddie & Tay (Roxian Theatre)
Zinnia’s Garden (Mr. Smalls Funhouse)
Black Ridge (Dive Bar & Grill Glenshaw)

Wednesday, August 21
Dweezil Zappa (Roxian Theatre)
John McDonald (Moondog’s Pub)

Friday, August 23
Gene the Werewolf (South Park Amphitheater)

Saturday, August 24
The Gaslight Anthem (Roxian Theatre)
Jim Donovan & Sun King Warriors (Latrobe Banana Split Festival)

Sunday, August 25
Scott, Rob, and Greg (Vinoski Winery)

Tuesday, August 27
Mila Shadel Trio (Agnes Katz Plaza)

Thursday, August 29
Cage the Elephant (Pavilion at Star Lake)

Friday, August 30
Living Colour and NASH.V.ILL (Crafthouse Stage and Grill)
Built to Spill (Mr. Smalls Theatre)
The Delaneys (Rivers Casino)

Saturday, August 31
Billy Price (Rivers Casino)

Big Shows on the Horizon

September 1
Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins (PNC Park)

September 3
Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper (Pavilion at Star Lake)

September 6
Nicki Minaj (PPG Paints Arena)
Meghan Trainor (Petersen Events Center)

September 7
James Taylor (Pavilion at Star Lake)

September 10
Jeff Lynne’s ELO (PPG Paints Arena)

September 14
Outlaw Music Festival: Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp (Pavilion at Star Lake)

September 18
Pitbull and T-Pain (Pavilion at Star Lake)

Rick Handler is the executive producer of Entertainment Central.

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