Dec. 2018 Concert Guide: Tree of Life Concert, Brian Wilson, S.O.S Band, Con Funk Shun, Andrea Bocelli, and Ingrid Michaelson

The Brian Wilson Band performing at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival in 2005. (photo: Pardy and Wikipedia.)

This month’s highlights include concerts by two different Beach Boys’ bands. The first is Brian Wilson with Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. The other, led by Mike Love with Bruce Johnston flies the official Beach Boys banner. Hopefully, both iterations will come back together one day. Both groups will play Christmas songs and Beach Boy hits. Another big show is the concert by the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli who sings both opera and pop songs.

Do you want the funk? Well the Cultural Trust has the funk for a two night concert weekend with the S.O.S. Band, Con Funk Shun, and Brick. Pittsburgh will also be visited this month by Flockers and The Flock. They are the names given to the fans of Cody Jinks and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong respectively. Other shows in the spotlight are: Clint Black,Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Reverend Horton Heat, O.A.R., Esperanza Spalding, Night Ranger, Cat Power, and Straight No Chaser.

Pittsburghers continue to respond to the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting tragedy with positivity. There will be a Concert for Tree of Life with proceeds going to the victims fund. Daya and Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers are two of the performers on the concert bill.

There’s many rising rockers visiting the ‘Burgh this month including: Rubblebucket, The Struts, Middle Kids, Ingrid Michaelson, and Cloud Nothings. Don’t Forget to decorate your holidays with some of your favorite live music performers and bands.

Saturday, December 1

Two years ago, The Struts opened for Third Eye Blind at 105.9 The X’s Kick-Ass Christmas show at Stage AE. This year, they headline. Their music (and flamboyant dress) harks back to glam and classic rock groups such as Queen and AC/DC. Frontman Luke Spiller met guitarist Adam Slack in 2009. They formed the Struts in Derby, England, and just five years later, the band opened for the Rolling Stones in Paris. 2014 saw the release of their debut LP, Everybody Wants, and this year, their sophomore LP, Young & Dangerous. Opening are The Glorious Sons from Kingston, Ontario. Singer Brett Emmons shines on cuts like “Everything Is Alright” from their second album, 2017’s Young Beauties and Fools. Two of the sons are also brothers: Brett and his sibling, Jay Emmons, on guitar. The Blue Stones, also from Canada, and local heroes Gene the Werewolf open too. Doors open 6 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

Rubblebucket mixes indie, jazz, and psychedelic rock. The band started a dance party during its set at the 2016 Thrival Music Festival. The party culminated with the band parading through the audience during “Came Out of a Lady.” Alex Toth sat on one concert-goer’s shoulders while still playing the trumpet. Singer and saxophonist Annakalmia Traver then announced it was his birthday. Toth and the audience couldn’t have looked happier. Traver and Toth met at the University of Vermont as music majors; Rubblebucket, active since 2007, is based in Brooklyn, New York City. The band has played “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and NPR’s “Tiny Desk.” This year’s Sun Machine is the group’s latest album. The single “Fruity” is a slow burn but a no-less-colorful track. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes to the Rex Theater. And the Kids and Jack Stauber open. 8 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. (CM)

Rubblebucket’s lead singer and saxophonist Annakalmia Traver performing near the front of the stage during the 2016 Thrival Music Festival. (photo: Rick Handler)

Sunday, December 2

The “Reverend” is in town. The Reverend Horton Heat, that is. The Reverend is Dallas-based musician Jim Heath. He and his band have been described as “psychobilly,” with influences of big band, punk, surf, and several other genres, making for an eclectic, energetic fusion of sound. Heath formed his band in 1985; the name “Horton” nods to country music and rockabilly singer Johnny Horton, who is known for his version of “The Battle of New Orleans.” The Reverend Horton Heat has released 12 albums since 1990, most recently this year’s Whole New Life. “Psychobilly Freakout,” from 1990’s Smoke ’Em If You Got ’Em, has been used in a variety of media, including “Beavis and Butt-Head” and in a commercial for Buell Motorcycle Company. The Reverend’s service is at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. Assisting in the service are Big Sandy, Junior Brown, and The Blasters. 7 p.m. 285 Northgate Dr., Warrendale. (RH, CM)

Monday, December 3

Brian Wilson is one of the key contributors to the great American songbook created by the Beach Boys. Surfing, racing, and love were some of the thematic elements in their tunes. Many of them written by Wilson, he is credited with writing more than two dozen Top 40 hits for the Beach Boys. Wilson’s innovative writing and recording techniques became well-respected in the industry. He is a true champion who overcame the incapacitating challenges of mental illness to again achieve greatness through his music.

Wilson is a highly talented singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and arranger who is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a two-time Grammy winner. He is touring under the banner of Brian Wilson presents The Christmas Album Live. Wilson is especially well-known for his work on The Beach Boy’s groundbreaking album, Pet Sounds. The album was the Beach Boys’ 11th studio album and was one of the first concept albums, incorporating, rock, jazz, psychedelic, classical, and avant-garde influences. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” “Sloop John B”  and “Caroline, No” were all notable hits from the album. Wilson’s intent was to make the greatest rock and roll album ever. It peaked at no. 10 in the U.S. and at no. 2 in the U.K. Special guests performing with Wilson are Beach Boys’ founding member Al Jardine, and Blondie Chaplin. 7:30 p.m. Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (RH)

Brian Wilson gives the OK sign and a smile while performing as part of The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Reunion at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2012. photo: Takahiro Kyono, Wikipedia.

If you missed Courtney Barnett back in October, but are still craving some rock ‘n’ roll from the land down under, check out Middle Kids at Club Cafe. Like Barnett, Middle Kids are Aussies, and they also pair fuzzy melodic guitar with witty lyrics, such as on “Don’t Be Hiding.” The trio hails from Sydney, Australia. Hannah Joy sings and plays guitar, and her husband, Tim Fitz, also plays guitar. On drums is Harry Day. The band released a self-titled EP in 2017 and followed it with a debut LP, Lost Friends, in 2018. They have toured the states before and have opened for such acts as Ryan Adams and Cold War Kids. The Shacks open. 8 p.m. 56-58 S. 12th St., South Side. (CM)

Tuesday, December 4

Mike Love, a founding member and singer/songwriter for the quintessential American pop-rock band—The Beach Boys—brings his version of that band to Greensburg’s Palace Theatre for a concert. Love reunited several years back with Brian Wilson and other surviving original members for a tour and album, and he performs tonight with his band under the Beach Boy’s name. The Beach Boys created many top hits, including, “Surfin’ USA” (which Wilson wrote lyrics for and was heavily influenced by Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen.” After some wrangling Berry received a co-writing credit), “California Girls,” and “I Get Around.” Love co-wrote many Beach Boys hits including “Good Vibrations.”  He has also written in a different media, his memoir Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy was a New York Times Bestseller. They are on their Reason for the Season tour and will be playing Christmas songs and Beach Boys’ hits. 7:30 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St. (RH)

Wednesday, December 5

A cappella singing has garnered a loyal audience with movies like Pitch Perfect and TV shows like “Glee” having had huge fan bases. See what all the buzz is about with Straight No Chaser at the Benedum Center. The group’s 2013 album, Under the Influence, features the likes of superstars Rob Thomas, Dolly Parton, and Phil Collins, among others. SNC’s 9 intertwining voices make for a rich, smooth sound, kind of like a fine bourbon (thus, the name). Don’t expect traditional alma mater tunes though. When covering songs like Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” SNC shows us that a cappella is not only relevant but also worth seeing live. The group’s latest album is Holiday Spirits: 10th Anniversary Edition. 8 p.m. They will also be performing tomorrow night at 8 p.m. 237 7th St., Cultural District. (EC/RH)

Cloud Nothings are from up the road in Cleveland, Ohio. The quartet’s sound is reminiscent of ’90s alternative. If you missed them when they headlined WYEP’s Final Friday in Schenley Plaza in August 2016 or opening for Japandroids at Stage AE on Halloween 2017, catch them at the Club at Stage AE. Cloud Nothings released their fifth album, Last Building Burning, this year. Opening are The Courtneys, a Vancouver, British Columbia, trio whose sound is also similar to ’90s alternative bands such as Pavement, Sleater-Kinney, and of course Hole. After releasing their 2013 self-titled debut, The Courtneys toured much of the United States and Canada and opened for Tegan and Sara. The Courtneys’ latest release is 2017’s The Courtneys II. {arsonist} also opens. Doors open 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

Thursday, December 6

What began as teenage time-passing in drummer Chris Culos’ Rockville, Md., basement soon became O.A.R.’s first album, The Wanderer—and the band’s been working ever since. With several platinum records, sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, and nine acclaimed studio albums to date, O.A.R. shows us how to transcend the constrictions that eras and styles often bestow on contemporary music; as their acronym suggests, “Of a Revolution” does not allow the passage of time to quiet them. If you need proof, you can see them in concert at Stage AE and you’ll have a chance to see O.A.R. meld indie-alt-pop themes from the last two decades. The band’s latest album is 2016’s  XX.  Special guest is Josie Dunne. Doors open at 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (EC, RH)

Friday, December 7

Esperanza Spalding is renowned for her mix of jazz, blues, hip-hop, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban influences. Spalding, a native of Portland, Oregon, is an accomplished composer, singer, and bassist, and she also sings in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. She won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2011 (famously beating Justin Bieber in an upset and becoming the first jazz artist to win the award). Her seventh studio album, 12 Little Spells, dropped this year. The album contains, appropriately, 12 tracks. Her live shows are also stellar and have included a performance at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies at Oslo City Hall. When she was touring her fifth album, Emily’s D+Evolution—which saw production by longtime David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti—she incorporated elaborate stage design and acting into her show. Pittsburghers can see her at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall. 8 p.m. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall. (RH, CM)

Saturday, December 8

Vocal legend Andrea Bocelli will play Pittsburgh for the first time in over 20 years. He is touring in support of Sì, his sixteenth album and his first album of original material in 14 years. Sì features Dua Lipa, Josh Groban, and Ed Sheeran, who co-wrote “Amo soltanto te.” Bocelli, who was born in Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy, became famous across Europe after dueting with Luciano Pavarotti on “Miserere.” Bocelli performed his first concert in the United States at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1998. He has sold over 90 million records worldwide and has been nominated four times for a Grammy award. His concert in Pittsburgh is at PPG Paints Arena. 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (CM)

Tuesday, December 11

Indie-pop singer and adult-alternative darling Ingrid Michaelson makes a stop in Pittsburgh this December. Michaelson is no stranger to innovative music videos. The video for her hit “Girls Chase Boys” is an updated take on Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible” video of the 1980s. “Girls Chase Boys” is from her sixth album, 2014’s Lights Out. Then she used the popular messaging app Snapchat to record the music video for “Hell No,” which she shot on her phone over the course of four weeks.“Hell No” is from her seventh album, 2016’s It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense. This year, she went in a different direction and released Songs for the Season, which is—you guessed it—a Christmas album. Get into the spirit with her Christmas concert at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall. Michaelson, a native New Yorker, has been playing music since she was four years old. 8 p.m. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall. (CM)

Thursday, December 13 

Country music legend Clint Black,, is in concert at the Palace Theatre. Black is known for the hits “Walkin’ Away,” “Spend My Time,” and “A Better Man.” He has had 22 No. 1 hit songs on the Billboard country charts and also has won five Academy of Country Music Awards. Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson have been the biggest influences on this successful, traditional country music recording artist. Black’s most recent album release is 2015’s On Purpose., Black is married to actress Lisa Hartman-Black. 7:30 p.m., 21 W. Otterman St. (RH)

Cody Jinks hails from Denton, Texas, but he’s treating Pittsburghers to back-to-back shows over two days at Stage AE. Jinks plays hard-strumming country music. Some of the aggression in his chords may evoke his early days in a thrash metal band. The lyrics, though, are pure country—booze, religion, struggle—it’s all there and all in the spirit of outlaw country forebears, such as Merle Haggard. No surprise Jinks covered “The Way I Am,” written by Sonny Throckmorton and first recorded by Merle Haggard, on his seventh album, I’m Not the Devil, which was released in 2016. His eighth album, Lifers, was released this year. Jinks, who began playing country music in the mid-aughts, has slowly built a dedicated fan base, who go by the name the Flockers. Meanwhile, his backing band is the Tone Deaf Hippies. Great names, great music: what’s not to like about this guy? The Steel Woods open. Doors open Thursday and Friday nights at 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

Friday, December 14 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXo_CH1gqkg

The S.O.S. Band got many a party jamming in 1980 with the song “Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Part 1).” The funky beat of the band combined with the strong vocals of lead singer Mary Davis on the tune to give the Atlanta born group its first big hit. “Do It Right” rose to No.1 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart that year. S.O.S. went on to score more top dance hits with the songs “Just be Good to Me” and “The Finest.” Now they are visiting Pittsburgh as part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s We Want the Funk Festival with Con Funk Shun and Brick.

“Sometimes heart strings can be broken, but you just have to keep on goin’” is a line from the hit emotional slow-jammer “Love’s Train” by Con Funk Shun. The group started out as a high school band in Vallejo, California, and was initially on Stax Records before signing with Mercury Records in 1976. That’s when their true success began. Con Funk Shun went on to have 11 albums that topped the Billboard charts and spawned numerous hit singles. Those hits include “Straight from the Heart,” “Got To Be Enough,” and “Ffun.” They disbanded in 1986, but the group now tours with three of the original members. Brick, like S.O.S. Band, rose out of the city of Atlanta and had a big hit with “Dazz,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1976.  S.O.S. Band will play Friday night. Brick will open for Con Funk Shun on Saturday night. There’s a Friday night after party with DJs Nick Nice and Nate Da Phat Barber facing-off in an old school DJ battle. Before the Saturday night concert there is a screening of the documentary “Finding the Funk” by Dr. Scot Brown. These weekend concerts should heat up the month. 8 p.m., Friday; 7:30 p.m., Saturday. August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. (RH)

Tuesday, December 18

The Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, with eleven people killed and seven injured, was the darkest of days for the victims, Pittsburgh, the nation, and the world. However, it is most heartening to see the reaction to the tragedy. Many Pittsburghers have been doing what they can to offer comfort and solace to the victims, their families, and the rest of us. Another aspect of this sentiment is Concert for the Tree of Life featuring Daya, Jorma Kaukonen, Low Cut Connie, Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers, Sean Rowe with special guest Michael Glabicki and others. Proceeds will benefit the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh’s Victims of Terror Fund. Come, pay tribute, and have fun. Doors open 6 p.m. Stage AE, 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (RH)

Daya singing one of her hits at the 2016 Thrival Music Festival. (photo: Rick Handler)

Wednesday, December 19

This year’s Wanderer shows Cat Power at the top of her songwriting and arranging game. The single “Woman” features Lana Del Rey, and the album also includes a cover of Rihanna’s “Stay.” Cat Power was born Charlyn (“Chan”) Marshall in Atlanta. She released a series of acclaimed records from the mid-’90s through the early aughts, including a covers album in 2000. Her cover of “Sea of Love” also appeared on the soundtrack to the 2007 film Juno. Cat Power released The Greatest in 2006. Not a greatest hits album, but rather a collection of bare-bones originals, it is arguably “the greatest” record in her discography, released over a decade into her career. “Living Proof” is a beautiful song about love and doubt. Her previous album, Sun, seamlessly melded elements of electronica with blues. She released it in 2012. Catch her at Mr. Smalls. 8:30 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

Friday, December 21

“Sister Christian“ was one of Night Ranger’s biggest hits when it rose on the Billboard Hot 100 chart to No. 5 in June 1984. The San Francisco rock band has had many iterations over the years and is extremely popular in Japan. Night Ranger’s first five albums had worldwide sales of more than 10 million. Their most recent album, Don’t Let Up, features a classic Dodge Challenger on its cover with a large hood scoop and the words “Night Ranger” on its front license plate. Catch them on tour as they celebrate The Night Ranger Before Christmas in their 36th year together. Gene the Werewolf opens.8 p.m. Palace Theatre, 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg. (RH)

Friday, December 28

In 1996, musician/rock band manager Paul O’Neill hit upon the idea that Christmas tunes could be totally progressive and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra was born. The TSO plays holiday music, traditional and originals, with a Rush level of elaboration and technical skill, all of which has racked up millions of album sales. You probably know the band’s wailing, synth-infused version of “Christmas Eve / Sarajevo,” a.k.a. “Carol of the Bells.” It’s one of the most hardcore tracks that DJs pull out every December. Music like this deserves the arena treatment, with a great light show and all, so the TSO has been touring major venues at the holiday season annually. Paul O’Neill passed away from chronic health problems in 2017, and bassist Dave Z (David Zablidowsky) died last year too, in a motor vehicle accident. But the band plays on—surely, as these men would have wished—and the TSO visits PPG Paints Arena for matinee and evening performances. The show is billed as “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” the Best of TSO and more. 3 and 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (RH/MV)

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra performing at the Hershey Giant Center in 2004. (photo: Matt, TSO, and Wikipedia)

Monday, December 31

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong helped Pittsburghers to party New Year’s Eve 2016 when they opened for Lotus at Stage AE. This year, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong have the honor of ushering in the New Year as the headliner at Stage AE. Combining funk, rock, and electronica, the band members create feel-good, laid-back tunes in a Grateful-Dead-meets-Sublime kind of way. The result is as unique as their name. They always bring energy to their fans, called “The Flock,” who just can’t get enough. The group formed in 2009 in Baltimore and released its first LP, preposterously titled Funk EP, in 2010. Since then, the album titles have stuck to the P-motif of the band’s name: Psychology in 2014, Pleasure in 2016, and Pizazz in 2017. Even if jam bands aren’t your thing, the subtle island undertones in songs like “Couldn’t We All” may leave you asking the bartender for a little umbrella in your drink. Magic Beans open. Doors open 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (EC, CM)

Several Other Suggested Shows

Saturday, December 1

Get your Led Zeppelin fix this month at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening.  Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, has masterfully recreated his father’s band’s music with his own band. He (and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart) gave an amazing performance of “Stairway to Heaven” when the Kennedy Center honored Led Zeppelin in 2012. 8 p.m. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall. (RH)

Wednesday, December 5

Noted singer/songwriter Steve Earle was born near San Antonio and now lives in Nashville.  His musical genres include folk, country, rock, and Americana, with several different influences heard in some of his songs. He’s released 16 studio albums and won three Grammy awards, and many other artists have recorded and performed his songs. He may be best known for “Copperhead Road,” and will be performing that song and the others from the 1988 album of the same name.  Special guest is The Mastersons. 8 p.m. Sold out. Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. 285 Northgate Dr., Warrendale. (RH)

Thursday, December 6

The 1st Annual Team Jackalope Jingle Bell Jam is happening this month. The concert helps Team Jackalope raise awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis and will also raise funds for the officers injured in Squirrel Hill Tree of Life shooting. It’s a strong concert bill with Jim Donovan & the Sun King Warriors headlining. The band released We See Through It in April and it has been garnering a lot of airplay in Pittsburgh and beyond. Other big talents performing are Scott Blasey, Jay Wiley (The Hawkeyes), and Tim Vitullo,  6 p.m. Level 20 Sports Bar Restaurant & Banquet Hall, 1033 Paxton Dr., Bethel Park (RH)

Friday, December 14

Representing a few areas of culture we don’t often see converge, The Devil Wears Prada is a Christian melodic metalcore band named after a chick-lit novel. They’ve worked hard to earn the respect of the metalcore world. (With their name and religiosity, they had to.) The Dayton, Ohio-based musicians are on their With Roots Above & Branches Below 10 Year Anniversary Tour. “Sailor’s Prayer” is a good example of their music. Opening is Fit for a King, and ‘68. 8 p.m. Mr. Smalls Funhouse, 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (EC, RH)

Saturday, December 15

Critics classify the music of Old 97’s as alternative country-rock, although singer Rhett Miller has called it simply “loud folk.” Regardless of what to call it, the band has created music for over 20 years. The quartet released its first Christmas album, Love the Holidays, this year. Old 97’s play a “Holiday Extravaganza” at Mr. Smalls. CaseyMagic, a self-described “DIY punk rock magician,” and Rhett Miller himself, open. 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

Pittsburgh rock royalty Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers have remained a constant on the Pittsburgh music scene as the city morphed from steel mills to high-tech foundry. Grushecky is a consummate singer/songwriter. Grushecky and The Houserockers have recently released their new, first-rate album, More Yesterdays than Tomorrows. There are many hot tracks on the release. As a holiday gift to their fans, with entry, they will receive the band’s CD, Down the Road A Piece. Grushecky and The Housrockers have many great songs to choose from including “East Carson Street.” 8 p.m. Club Cafe, 56-58 S. 12th St., South Side. (RH)

Rising Pittsburgh rock group Milly is composed of Seth Milberger (vocals, guitar) and Johnny Grushecky (guitar). Johnny’s last name may sound familiar as he is the son of one of Pittsburgh’s favorite rockers, Joe Grushecky, and like his father he is also a very talented guitarist. Milberger and Grushecky had previously worked together in the bands The Composure and The I Drive before forming Milly in 2014. Their debut album release was Place in My Mind, which they recorded with producer Jim Wirt who’s worked on recordings by Incubus, Fiona Apple, and Jack’s Mannequin. On songs like “Throw It Away,” Milly shows their melodic pop rock talent. Special guests are Caleb Kopta and Atlantic Wasteland. Doors open at 7 p.m. The Club at Stage AE, 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore.  (RH)

Saturday, December 22

Johnny Angel and the Halos will play the Rivers Casino twice as part of their Holiday Show. Expect both oldies and holiday standards from these veteran Pittsburgh performers. Here they are performing The Four Seasons’ “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night).” 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. 777 Casino Dr., North Shore. (CM)

Wednesday, December 26

Bill Deasy was already a name on the local music scene when he and a few locals got together for a jam session in a Grove City apartment. Those guys, and him, became The Gathering Field, a ’90s-era regional favorite. Since then, Deasy has stacked up a résumé that would help him “make it” in a place like New York or L.A. He’s had a contract with Atlantic Records, opened for Springsteen and Dylan, and his “Good Things Are Happening” was a theme song for a “Good Morning America” video. Yet he’s remained rooted in Pittsburgh. In particular, Deasy likes to celebrate the day after Christmas here with his annual Boxing Day show—that’s an official holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, and other British-related countries, as you may know—so join him for a tuneful Boxing Day at Club Cafe and you could hear a song like “Hallelujah.” 8 p.m. 56-58 S. 12th St., South Side. (RH)

Sunday, December 30

Uprooted is a band fronted by Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, best known for “Send Me on My Way.” The song comes from 1994’s When I Woke, which went platinum in the U.S. Uprooted will perform both new songs and reworked Rusted Root songs, and it promises “more percussion and female vocals.” 8 p.m. Jergel’s Rhythm Grille, 285 Northgate Dr., Warrendale. (CM)

Monday, December 31

It’s two floors of fun. Diane Coffee headlines a New Year’s Eve party at Spirit Hall. Born Shaun Fleming, Diane Coffee calls his musical genre “Psychedelic Motown”—and that’s actually a pretty apt description of his eclectic, exuberant style. He released his first album, My Friend Fish, in 2013. His latest release is a single, this year’s “ANIMAL.” He is a former child actor and former touring drummer for the band Foxygen. Lyndsey Morgan Smith, Starship Mantis, and Benji open. Also, in the Spirit Lodge throughout the night, DJs Steph Tsong, Ricky Moslen, and Adam Shuck will spin Jellyfish—a new-wave, Italo-disco, and post-punk dance party. 8:30 p.m. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. (HM, CM)

On the Radar

January 16
Ja Rule (Jergel’s)

January 17
Rufus Wainwright (Byham)
Lettuce (Rex)

January 19
Crash Test Dummies(Jergel’s)
Donna The Buffalo (Rex)

January 20
Keller Williams (Byham)

Rick Handler is Entertainment Central’s executive producer. Christopher Maggio, a freelance writer and editor, made substantial contributions to this Guide.

Share on Social Media