Pittsburgh’s Mars Jackson does a ‘Heart Dance’
Mars Jackson, the sole R&B/hip-hop artist on the Pittsburgh label Misra, is offering a taste of his forthcoming album with the single “Heart Dance,” a smooth R&B jam over an “electro-boogie” beat produced by Nice Rec and Grand Ear. 2016 album, “Strange Constellations.”
It arrives with a video — directed by Jordan Misra throws around lots of comparisons Armstrong and shot at Highway Robbery in describing him, evoking Loudon Wainwright Vintage, a clothing store on the South III, Warren Zevon, Elvis Costello Side — in which Jackson plays a clerk and Graham Parker. While he might not swooning over a shopper played by Adri have the forceful or distinctive delivery of Johnson. some of those guys, the Americana singersongwriter
The album,singersongwriter can turn a phrase. “Good Days Never He will be joined by Chet Vincent & Last Forever” (formerly The Big Bend, Bindley Hardware Co. and calledDan Getkin & The Twelve-Six at 8 p.m. “Unemployed Admission: $8; $10 at door; www.ticketfly. Faith”), will be releasedcom. with a show on May 4. In the meantime, Jackson, a singer/rapper originally from New York who grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Schenley High School and Slippery Rock University, plays a gig at Club Cafe on Friday.
“This show is my first headliner show, which there will be more of,” he says. “I just want to see how the audience will vibe to my new set and some new songs from the album. I just wanted to provide the score for the audience that night and highlight two other local artists in Benji and Sellers.”
It begins at 10 p.m. Admission is $10; clubcafelive.com.
MATHENY ON MISRA
More in the typical Misra vein is William Matheny, the singer-songwriter from Morgantown, who played keyboards in the West Virginia bands Southeast Engine and guitar in The Paranoid Style.
He will be at Mr. Smalls, Millvale, on Friday for the reissue release show of his
BURGH BOYZ FEST
The Burgh Boyz podcast will go live in concert with the first installment of The Burgh Boyz Fest, featuring artists they’ve had on the show.
It’s at The Boiler Room Pittsburgh, 1070 Banksville Ave., Banksville, with Hardo, Asco100k, OWEY, Stunna2Fly, Kizzl, $TONEY, Palermo Stone, JkJ, Hubbs, Franchise and more.
“It will be at least one or two songs from everyone — from Hubbs to Hardo — so a good mix of music and also a great networking opportunity for any artist that wants to get in the same room with these artists,” Mr. Stone says.
“We plan to make this an event that we can do once a month to commemorate our guests from the show, show the city love, and have some fun,” says DJ Motormane.
It runs from 7 to 11 p.m., ages 18 and up. Cash bar for anyone 21 and over with a valid ID. Admission is $10; eventbrite.com.
The Burgh Boyz podcast, which features DJ Spillz, DJ Motormane, Flackwood, Portia Foxx and Quentin Cuff, can be heard on Blogordieradio.com Tuesdays at 7 p.m.