Ringo makes all-star return
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It’s another week of legends in Pittsburgh, which kicked off Monday with separate shows from Paul Simon and Gary Numan, plus CD release shows from The Borstal Boys and Cello Fury.
TUESDAY
In the time it took to read this story, Bob Pollard probably just wrote another song. The indie-rock hero, who has written more than 2,000 songs, leads Guided By Voices back to Pittsburgh for a show at Spirit, Lawrenceville. A recent setlist had him doing 50 of those songs, including some from the new album, “Space Gun,” another cool blast of surrealistic, psychedelic space-rock. The current GBV lineup features veterans Doug Gillard and Kevin March and relative newcomers Mark Shue and Bobby Bare Jr. 8 p.m., $25-$30; ticketfly.com.
Singer-songwriter Josh Rouse, working very much in the gentle spirit of Paul Simon, arrives at Club Cafe, South Side, touring behind “Love in the Modern Age,” which was inspired by the early ’80s sound of The Blue Nile, The Style Council and Prefab Sprout. 8 p.m., $20$22; ticketweb.com.
WEDNESDAY
Three days in, we have our third legend. Ringo and His All-Star Band return to Heinz Hall, Downtown, with the 78-year-old Beatle doing his own classics (like “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “Octopus’ Garden,” “Photograph” and “It Don’t Come Easy”) and leading a cast that includes Colin Hay (Men at Work), Steve Lukather (Toto), Graham Gouldman (10cc), Gregg Rolie (Santana), Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette. 7:30 p.m. $74.25 and up. Pittsburghsymphony.org.
THURSDAY
Pop-rock singer-songwriter Mat Kearney, originally from Eugene, Ore., hits Stage AE, North Shore, having just released his fifth album, “CRAZYTALK.” The album, which features the singles “Kings & Queens” and “Memorized,” blends organic instruments, electronics and house grooves. Atlas Genius opens. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $27.50-$30; ticketmaster.com.
LA band Chicano Batman, which was on Jack White’s Lazaretto Tour in 2015 and has played both Coachella (twice) and Bonnaroo, brings its mix of soul, funk, rock and tropicalia to the Rex Theater, South Side. 8 p.m., $17-$23; ticketfly.com.
The Andy Warhol Museum’s Sound Series features an evening of experimental composition with Rob zurek’s Farnsworth Scores at the Carnegie Museum of Art theater in Oakland. The composer, cornetist and improviser has composed the piece as an experimental film and musical composition in collaboration with filmmaker Lee Anne Schmitt, intended to capture the interaction between humans, nature and architecture at Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s iconic Farnsworth House. It’s at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15; $12 students; warhol.org.
FRIDAY
Wayne Kramer, the guitarist for Detroit protopunks MC5, brings the MC50 tour to Mr. Smalls, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the debut album “Kick Out the Jams.” He’s joined by a supergroup of guitarist Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), drummer Brendan Canty (Fugazi), bassist Billy Gould (Faith No More) and singer Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla). It begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $35; ticketweb.com.
Thrival Music X Arts festival moves from Swissvale to Highmark Stadium will a lineup that features EDM producer Dillon Francis, indie dance-pop duo Matt and Kim, indie-rock band Bear Hands, Pittsburgh Americana rocker Paul Luc, singer-songwriter Brooke Annibale, Celtic punk rowdies Bastard Bearded Irishmen and rapper/singer Mars Jackson. Francis, a favorite at Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival and other festivals, brings the sound of moombahton, a fusion of house music and reggaeton. He’s hit the dance charts with such singles as “Get Low,” “Coming Over” and “Anywhere.” His sophomore record, “WUT WUT,” is a Spanishlanguage album with Latin influences. Brooklyn duo Matt and Kim, who took off most of 2017 after she suffered an onstage ACL injury, returned in May with “Almost Everyday,” a sixth album of upbeat dance-pop anthems. It begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are $30; ticketmaster.com.
Fans of the Little River Band can spend the night “Reminiscing” at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, Munhall, but it will be a little harder for the band, which has none of the members who were around when they scored that hit and others like “Lady” and “Cool Change” in the ’70s. The most recent member is bassist Wayne Nelson, who joined in 1980, and this has been a point of contention for the original members. 8 p.m., $39.75-$75; ticketfly.com.
Cello Fury, Pittsburgh’s intense classical-rock crossover band, marks its decade anniversary with the release of a third album, “X.” They play the release show at the Hard Rock Cafe, Station Square, at 9 p.m. $10-$15; ticketfly.com.
SATURDAY
Not a concert, and it’s sold out, but just FYI that Henry Rollins will be at the Carnegie Lecture Hall, Oakland, with his “Slide Show” tour. The former Black Flag and Rollins Band frontman, who started doing spoken-word shows in 1986, will be focusing on his travels to the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, South America and Antarctica. 8 p.m.
SUNDAY
The Borstal Boys, a new Pittsburgh supergroup that includes former members of Torn and Frayed, the Houserockers, The Dirty Charms and Rusted Root, will drop its debut album with a release show at This Is Red, a restored church at 1 Library Place, Homestead. It will feature music by Norman Nardini, Chuck Owston, Katie Simone, Jessie Denaro and Brett Staggs, and artwork by Cheryl Specht, Sarah Zeffiro, Jenn Wertz, Dennis Childers, Tim Thomas, Christina Marlene Harrison and Kali Levy. The band will have a light show by Strobe lighting and there will be alcohol provided by Band Together Pittsburgh, a nonprofit benefiting autism. 5:30 p.m. $20; eventbrite.co.uk.