September 2022 Concert Guide

September 1

Michael Buble (PPG Paints Arena)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag_TCzmtxC0

1) Multi-Grammy Award-winning vocalist Michael Buble’ takes the stage at PPG Paints Arena this month. Buble’, a Canadian export whose 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible,  rose to the No.1 spot on the Canadian, American, British, Australian and several other album charts, is a popular world-wide performer. His music touches bases in several different genres including pop, jazz, easy listening, and soul. In addition to his four Grammy Awards Bublé has won several Juno Awards. Last November he released his 10th studio album, Love (denoted by a heart illustration). Bublé was quoted in an interview in October saying his Love album would be his last and he would be stepping out of the spotlight. After that article was published his record company released a statement that those comments were falsely reported. His latest tour is aptly named, Don’t believe the Rumors Tour. Also look for Bublé in a Super Bowl commercial this year. 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. 

 

September 6

Crowded House (Carnegie Library Music Hall)

 

September 7

Judy Collins (Byham Theater)

Legendary songstress Judy Collins was a piano prodigy by 13, and as she came of age, she used her music to rail against social and environmental problems. She’s known for reinterpreting traditional and contemporary folk music standards to create rich, insightful, poetic-like songs about life’s ups and downs. Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger influenced her with their use of storytelling through songs about hard-luck people. Collins, in turn, inspired others—Stephen Stills wrote the classic song, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” while breaking up with Collins. Collins’s version of Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” garnered her the Song of the Year Grammy Award in ’76.

 

September 9

Shinedown (Star Lake)

1) Florida alt-metal band Shinedown headlines KeyBank Pavilion. The band debuted with 2003’s Leave a Whisper, which was later rereleased to include a popular cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” Shinedown is touring in support of 2018’s Attention Attention with leadoff single, “Devil.” Badflower, Dinosaur Pile-Up, and Broken Hands open. 6:30 p.m. p.m. 665 Rt. 18, Burgettstown. (CM)

 

September 10

Ringo Starr (PPG Paints Arena)

1) Richard Starkey was born in the Dingle neighborhood of Liverpool, England on July 7, 1940. After growing up as an often sickly child in a poor neighborhood with divorced parents, he once again found himself recovering in a hospital. The hospital encouraged everyone to play in a makeshift band with whatever instruments were available. Young Richard grabbed a soft mallet and started banging on a hospital pan. He found his vocation and would be drumming from then on, even after family and friends gave him other instruments to try. He would become a highly accomplished drummer and joined up with three other Liverpool lads named John, Paul, and George who had a band and were looking for a new drummer. He was by then known as Ringo Starr (he reportedly garnered the nickname because of all the rings he wore. Starr came from his reluctant drum solos which he called starr time).

As we all know the Beatles achieved massive success and Starr had his moments to shine on songs like “Yellow Submarine,” “Octopus’s Garden,” and “With a Little Help From My Friends.” After the break up of the Beatles he went on to solo success with several top ten hits including “It Don’t Come Easy,” “Back Off Boogaloo,” and “Photograph.” Starr always seemed to find good drumming gigs including with the John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, two George Harrison albums and The Concert for Bangladesh, and additionally The Band’s Last Waltz. Readers of Rolling Stone magazine voted Starr as the fifth-greatest drummer of all time in 2011. His latest album, Give More Love, was released last September. His former bandmate, Paul McCartney, contributed to the record. 

Since 1989 Starr has occasionally toured with his own super group of ever-changing musicians, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. Members, too numerous to mention, have included his son Zak, Todd Rundgren, Joe Walsh, and Ginger Baker. Not only is Starr a legendary drummer, but also a fun and charismatic personality. He brings his latest iteration of the All-Starr Band to Heinz Hall. 8 p.m. 600 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (RH)

Styx and REO Speedwagon (Star Lake)

Styx is the mythical river in Greek mythology that sets the boundary between Earth and Hades. It’s also the name of a Chicago rock band whose major success was between the chronological boundaries of 1972 and 1984. During that period, the band had four consecutive multi-platinum albums and 16 top-40 singles on the U.S. charts. The hit parade included songs like “Lady” and “Come Sail Away.” Oh, and of course Steeler fans love Styx’s “Renegade,” which is often played at home games. Their latest album is 2017’s The Mission.

REO Speedwagon, who, mainly plays the outdoor shed during the summer concert season, flips the script and visits the Pittsburgh Area in fall and in a more intimate environment. The group will play two concerts over two night at Greensburg’s Palace Theatre. REO Speedwagon first achieved success with their 1978 album You Can Tune a Piano but You Can’t Tuna Fish, which contained “Roll With the Changes” and “Time for Me to Fly.” Their ’80 release Hi Infidelity had four singles that went on to become major hits. The band’s name is derived from the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 designed by Ransom Eli Olds, of Oldsmobile fame. This is a great chance to enjoy a top band in a smaller venue. REO Speedwagon is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of their Hi Infidelity album. (R.H.)

 

September 16

Elton John (PNC Park)

1) “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is an outstanding song by the English piano rocker Elton John. It’s also the last song of his encore set on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which visits PPG Paints Arena for a sold-out concert. John is one of the world’s best-selling musical acts. He’s sold over 300 million records. (Would that many reach the Moon from Earth?) John has charted more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 U.S. albums, 58 Billboard Top 40 singles, 27 Top 10, four No. 2 and nine at No. 1. And from 1970 to 2000 he had at least one song in the Billboard Hot 100. One reason for that success is his long-running songwriting partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Taupin would write the lyrics and give them to John who would then compose the music.

In 1970, “Your Song,” from his second, eponymous album, was the first tune that really got John noticed. He was a sight to see in his early years with his stylish eyeglasses and flamboyant outfits. John, a very talented piano player and singer, created songs that ruled the rock radio airwaves, especially in the 1970s. They included “Daniel,” “Honky Cat,” “Rocket Man,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.” John’s touch has woven its way through the cultural fabric in other ways, too. He rewrote the lyrics to his “Candle in the Wind,” originally about Marilyn Monroe, to reflect the life of Princess Diana after her tragic death in 1997. John has also excelled on Broadway and received Tony Award nominations for Best Original Musical Score for The Lion King, Aida, and Billy Elliott, winning for Aida. Being a gay man, he fought for more funds to combat AIDS and raised large sums himself with his Elton John AIDS Foundation. He is retiring to spend more time with his husband David Furnish and their two children. John has been a part-time resident of Atlanta, Georgia, since 1991. 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

 

September 19

The National (Heinz Hall)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqN7MjY5KX0

1) The National are having a great year. The rock quintet’s fourth album, Boxer, turned 10. It is one of their best in a discography filled with capital-G Great albums. A lesser band’s career might have floundered, or at least plateaued, 10 years after such a release. Not the National, who have steadily risen from their beginnings in Cincinnati through their seventh studio album, Sleep Well Beast, released this September. The group, now based in Brooklyn, consists of the brothers Devendorf, twin brothers Dessner, and frontman Matt Berninger. Lizzy Goodman chronicles the National and dozens of other indie groups in her book Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York 2001-2011, which was released this year to considerable buzz. However, the National never forgot home with songs like “Bloodbuzz Ohio.” They play an outdoor show at Stage AE. Doors open 6 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

 

September 21

Marcus King Band (Stage AE)

3) The Marcus King Band was in town earlier this year when it opened for Chris Stapleton at KeyBank Pavilion. The band also opened for Tedeschi Trucks Band last year, same venue. You might have also seen Marcus King and his bandmates at the WYEP Music Fest the year before that. That’s all to say they tour hard, and they continue to rise, now headlining Mr. Smalls Theatre this December. Formed in Greenville, South Carolina in 2013, they’ve released three LPs, most recently 2018’s Carolina Confessions. Both it and their previous effort, their self-titled sophomore album, reached no. 2 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart. They have some crossover appeal too. “Homesick,” from their latest album, reached no. 26 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart. King will release a debut solo album, El Dorado, produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, in 2020. “The Well” is a single from that album. 8 p.m. Sold out. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

 

September 22

Goo Goo Dolls (Stage AE)

1) The Goo Goo Dolls began in 1986 as a trio from Buffalo, New York, with a penchant for the sound of their alt-rock heroes, The Replacements. Paul Westerberg, The Replacements’ singer, would later contribute lyrics to the Goo Goo Dolls song “We Are The Normal.” The Goo Goo Dolls released four albums in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, but it was their fifth album, A Boy Named Goo, and the single “Name” that brought them fame. 1998’s Dizzy Up the Girl was a bigger smash loaded with more hits, such as “Slide” and “Iris.” The band would perform the latter song and a cover of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ “American Girl” as part of The Concert for New York City, a benefit show for those affected by the September 11 attacks. The group continues to release new music every three to four years; their latest is this year’s Boxes. They play The Palace Theatre this month. SafetySuit opens. 7:30 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg. (CM)

 

September 23

The Avett Brothers (Stage AE)

1) The Avett Brothers mix the light romanticism of early rock and roll with the craftsmanship of a Paul Simon-like singer/songwriter and add a dash of the hoedown spirit of old-school Americana. Built around the nucleus of brothers Scott and Seth, the North Carolina band rode to prominence in the folk-rock revival that also brought you Fleet Foxes and Mumford and Sons. Since they partnered with producer du jour Rick Rubin on 2009’s I and Love and You, the Avetts have been unstoppable on their path to mega-success. Their triumph can be traced by their ascension through Pittsburgh venues: In eight years, they’ve gone from a small place at the Three Rivers Arts Festival to filling up Stage AE. The Avett Brothers even created the theme song for the popular PBS series “A Chef’s Life.” Their latest album is 2016’s True Sadness. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Stage AE, 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. Sold Out. (EC, RH)

 

September 28

Post Malone (PPG Paints Arena)

1) Clad in a magenta suit, Post Malone rang in 2020 alongside Ryan Seacrest and K-pop group BTS at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Minutes earlier, he performed “Circles” and “Congratulations.” (And a few days later, he got a new face tattoo.) The party continues in February at PPG Paints Arena, where he will headline. Born Austin Richard Post, the singer blends rock with cloud rap for a heady sound, such as on “Wow.” Other popular songs include his collaboration with rapper Swae Lee for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: “Sunflower.” Another collaboration includes a remix of Lorde’s song “Homemade Dynamite” with SZA and Khalid. His latest album is 2019’s Hollywood’s Bleeding. This was preceded by 2018’s Beerbongs & Bentleys. It broke the record for most songs simultaneously in the top 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with nine total. Swae Lee, who is one half of Rae Sremmurd (of “Black Beatles” fame), and Tyla Yaweh open. 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (CM)

Little Feat (CHMH)

Little Feat will perform at the Palace Theatre for its 50th Anniversary Tour. Some of the hits from this American folk-rock band are “Dixie Chicken” and “Fat Man in the Bathtub.” Guitarist Lowell George and pianist Bill Payne formed the group, which dissolved in 1979 before George’s death that same year. The band reformed in 1987. Its latest album is 2012’s Rooster Rag. 8 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg. (EC, CM)

 

Rick Handler is the executive producer of Entertainment Central.

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