Best local concerts this week
If the national touring acts seem a little underwhelming this week, look to the local. Shows by the Buckle Downs, Paul Luc, The Clarks, Uprooted and Liz Berlin are scheduled.
TUESDAY
“This will be the rock ‘n’ roll event of the year.” says singer Brent Smith, and for huge fans of Shinedown (his band) and Godsmack, that just might be the case. Who are we to judge? The alt-metal bands will bring all that bluster to KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown, touring behind chart-topping albums. The Sully Erna-led Godsmack released its seventh album, “When Legends Rise” in the spring, aiming for more of a melodic hardrock sound. Shinedown arrives with its sixth album, “Attention Attention,” which is billed as “a psychological journey that follows an individual from life’s lowest lows to the highest highs as anxieties dissipate and demons disappear.” 7:30 p.m., $18-$99; ticketmaster.com.
In a similar vein but on a smaller scale, Springfield, Mass., metalcore band All That Remains plays Mr. Smalls, Millvale, with Upon A Burning Body, Eye On Attraction and Gears. 7 p.m. $18; ticketweb.com.
WEDNESDAY
G-Eazy, who broke out of Oakland, Calif., in 2015 with “Me, Myself & I” and went back into the top 10 again last year with “No Limit,” headlines Wild Things Park in Washington with Lil Uzi Vert, Ty Dolla $ign, YBN Nahmir and P-Lo (HBK Gang). HipHopDX said that G-Eazy’s current album, “The Beautiful & Damned,” “possesses enough serious assertiveness and classic Bay area slick talk to burn well into 2018,” which it has. Consequence of Sound gave it a D+, saying that G-Eazy is a “retread of Drake’s depression and Rick Ross’ obsession with hustle, only devoid of humor and from a white guy.” 7 p.m., $39-$59; ticketmaster.com.
Steel Pulse, the roots-reggae band that emerged from the British punk scene in the ‘70s with the single “Ku Klux Man,” plays Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall with Tribal Seeds. The Grammywinning band is still led by David Hinds and also includes original member Selwyn Brown. 8 p.m., $35.75-$42.75; ticketfly.com.
The Dead Daisies, an Australian hard rock/metal collective formed in 2013 by David Lowy, hits Jergel’s, Marshall, with a lineup that features John Corabi (Motley Crue/Union), Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake), Deen Castronovo (Journey/Bad English) and Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake/Dio). They are joined by Dizzy Reed’s Hookers & Blow, led by the Guns N’ Roses keyboardist. 7 p.m., $20-$34; ticketfly.com.
THURSDAY
Believe it or not, it has been 25 years since we first started hearing “Mr. Jones,” “Round Here” and other songs from Counting Crows. The Berkeley, Calif., band
went against the grunge grain with a style more reminiscent of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and The Band on its breakout album, “August and Everything After,” in 1993. Counting Crows arrives at KeyBank Pavilion on the “25 Years and Counting” Tour, three years after the band released its seventh album, “Somewhere Under Wonderland.” They are paired with LIVE, the York, Pa., band that topped the charts in 1994 with the eighttimes platinum “Throwing Copper,” which featured the songs “Lightning Crashes,” “I Alone” and “All Over You.” 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $18-$109; ticketmaster.com.
The Rex Theater, South Side, welcomes Steve’N’Seagulls, a Finnish hillbilly band that plays bluegrass versions of classic rock songs like AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” and Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain.” The band, which is on Spinefarm Records along with Anti-Flag, discovered the market for bluegrass covers after their video of “Thunderstruck” went viral. Their debut album, “Farm Machine,” topped the Billboard bluegrass chart in 2016. 8 p.m., $18 - $20; ticketmaster.com.
FRIDAY
It’s a solo drummer show, but it’s not one long drum solo. Terry Bozzio, who was the drummer for New Wave band Missing Persons, along with working for Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson and many others, brings his Reality Tour to the Oaks Theater in Oakmont. According to press notes, “Terry Bozzio is able to accompany himself with bass note patterns and, at the same time, melodically solo with highly developed coordination skills to express a ‘complete musical statement’ on the drum set alone.” 8 p.m. Tickets are $20; ticketfly.com.
In what is likely to be the most frightening little show of the week, Minneapolis deathcore band Buried Above Ground plays the Funhouse at Mr. Smalls in Millvale. The band’s label Seek and Strike notes, “This is the new face of deathcore, embracing more ‘aggressive’ Americanized heavy metal blended with extreme metal roots.” It’s an early 6:30 p.m. show. $10; ticketmaster.com.
Paul Luc and Kayla Schureman, two of the city’s finest indie/Americana artists, perform a free show at South Park Amphitheater. Earlier this year, Rolling Stone hailed Luc as one of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know,” although his sound is more akin to Tom Petty. 7:30 p.m. www.alleghenycounty.us/ parks.
Pittsburgh soul-rock band The Buckle Downs, led by the talented Kiki Brown, plays the free Summer Fridays at the Frick, on the North Lawn, Point Breeze. The Mac & Gold, Wood Fired Flatbreads, BRGR, and Sugar & Spice Ice Cream food trucks will be on site. 6:30 p.m; thefrickpittsburgh.org.
SATURDAY
Pentatonix, Grammy-winning a cappella group that won season three of “The Sing-Off” in 2011, returns to headline KeyBank Pavilion. The group, which incorporates beatboxing and percussion along with vocal harmonies, is touring behind its sixth album, “PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. I,” a covers project that includes Camila Cabello’s “Havana,” Charlie Puth’s “Attention,” Portugal. The Man’s “Feel It Still” and Bruno Mars’ “Finesse.” Since making its debut in 2014 with “PTX, Vols. 1 & 2,” Pentatonix has sold nearly 10 million albums worldwide. 8 p.m. Tickets are $18-$129; ticketmaster.com.
We get all kinds of tribute bands coming through here, with the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd being the most popular. This one seems like a rarity. Rumours ATL: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute visits Mr. Smalls, recreating the ’ 70s experience of seeing the popular hitmakers. 9 p.m. $15; ticketmaster.com.
The free AcoustiCafe at the Night Market show in Market Square, Downtown, features Liz Berlin ( of Rusted Root), Adam Fitz and Chris H. 5 p.m.
FRIDAY-MONDAY
We are so very close to realfootball. TheHeinz Field Kickoff and Rib Fest celebrates the occasion with four nights of music, three of them country, and ribs from 15 regional and national vendors. The lineup: Friday: Tim Litvin (7:30 p.m.), Granger Smith ft. Earl Dibbles Jr. (9 p.m.)
Saturday: Milly (7:30 p.m.) and The Clarks (9 p.m.)
Sunday: Dylan Schneider (7:30 p.m.) and Lonestar (9 p.m.)
Monday: Saddle Up (4 p.m.), Tim Vitullo (5:30 p.m.), Parmalee (7 p.m.). the
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
The 11th annual Concert for Anna benefit takes place at the Quality Inn, New Kensington, with 15 bands over three nights. The 2018 recipient is Shannon Ploskunak, to help her family in the battle against cancer. Also presented will be The Nathan Bittel Scholarship to help ease the tuition burden for a young person with autism. The Friday lineup features Flux Capacitor, Neutral Loss, Captain Doobie And The Big Bambu, Big House Pete and Heidi and The Hellcats. On Saturday, it’s Safety Last, Ezekiel, Ferris Bueller’s Revenge, Five Alarm Flood and Soul Raydio. Sunday features Folk You, Here And Now, After The Fall, The Holy Gift (Tool tribute) and Creep. 7:15 p.m. $10; info at A Concert ForAnna Facebook page.
SUNDAY
There is a Hartwood Acres show, but it’s not free. It’s the 19th annual Allegheny County Music Festival with Uprooted featuring Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, with special guests Meeting of Important People, Starship Mantis and The Living Street. Entry is $20 per vehicle; requested donation benefits the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. Opening bands at 5 p.m., Uprooted at 8 p.m.
Parker/Throckmorton Trio plays the Reservoir of Jazz series on Reservoir Drive in Highland Park at 5 p.m.