WEDNESDAY
While the Boss was on Broadway, his E Street Band sidekick Little Steven rekindled the Disciples of Soul for the band’s first solo album in nearly 20 years. Van Zandt told the PG that he wanted “Soulfire” to capture his early early Jersey sound. “My five previous records in the ‘80s were all political. I was an extremely political artist, in fact. I thought let’s do a record where the music comes first rather than the politics, so I kind of focused on me as a songwriter, as a singer and an arranger/producer/guitarist.” He brings the band to the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall. 8 p.m. $35; ticketfly.com.
The last surviving member of Emerson, Lake and Palmer as well as the backbeat for Asia is touring as Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy, a power trio with guitarist Paul Bielatowicz and bassist Simon Fitzpatrick. They’ll provide a keyboard-less twist on ELP’s music at Jergel’s, Marshall. 8 p.m. $25-$40; ticketfly.com.
THURSDAY
The 15th annual Rhythms of Life Fundraising Concert at Meadows Casino in North Stabane, benefits Music Smiles, a very special program that brings live music performances to area health facilities, where it is an amazing uplift to patients. It was founded in memory of Pittsburgh musician Sonny Pugar. The concert will feature the “Rhythms of Life” House Band — Bob Banerjee, Matt Barranti, David Granati, Jason Kendall, Joey Granati, Ben Tryc. Rick Manning — joined by Justin Wade, Byron Nash with Dennis Garner, Samantha Sears, Jesse Lowry with Kenny Blake, Katie Simone, Soulful Femme: Stevee Wellons, Cheryl Rinovato, John Vento with Ian Arthurs, plus Bastard Bearded Irishmen and more. Sean McDowell will be on hand for opening remarks. Doors at 6 p.m, music at 7 p.m.; +21, silent auction, door drizes, free buffet courtesy of The Meadows from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. $25 entry, $20 advance; www.sonnypugar.org.
Grammy-nominated gospel/R&B singer Tori Kelly takes the stage at the Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead in Munhall, touring behind “Hiding Place,” which set the record for the most firstweek streams ever for a gospel album and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. “With gospel music, you can’t sing without all your heart being in it,” she said in a statement. “This album was an opportunity to do what I felt and never hold back. I could just be free and let the song take me over.” It begins at 8 p.m. $23.50; ticketfly.com.
Reviewing the Pickathon festival in Portland, Ore., Rolling Stone described Low Cut Connie “pound[ing] out a set that sacrificed their prettier moments ... in favor of gutbucket rock & roll and soulful boogie.” The Philly band fronted by Adam Weiner, who started out performing in NYC gay bars, plays Mr. Smalls in Millvale, with Ruby Boots. 8 p.m. $15/$17; ticketweb.com.
FRIDAY
Who better to play your Halloween party than the master of horror-rock himself, Alice Cooper? He does an underplay at Stage AE indoors for the DVE Halloween Party dubbed A Paranormal Evening, named for last year’s “Paranormal.” It had Alice joined by the “classic” lineup of the Alice Cooper Band along with Larry Mullen Jr. (U2), Roger Glover (Deep Purple), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and more. The focus will be on classic material, from “Billion Dollar Babies” to “I’m Eighteen” with his always stellar live band. 7 p.m. doors, $45; ticketmaster.com.
On a completely different note, post-punk icons Violent Femmes, always a good time, play a show at Mr. Smalls, Millvale, that sold out right away. 8 p.m.
The Music of Cream 50th Anniversary World Tour puts the next generation on stage at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg with Ginger Baker’s son Kofi Baker (drums), Jack Bruce’s son Malcolm Bruce (bass, vocals) and Eric Clapton’s nephew by marriage Will Johns (guitar, vocals). They’ll offer personal stories and classic songs from the British power trio like “Sunshine of Your Love,” “Crossroads,” “Spoonful” and “White Room” performed with footage of their relatives on the big screen. 8 p.m. $40-$49; palacetheatre.org.
The Legendary Album Series continues at The Rex Theater, South Side, with Pittsburgh musicians performing “Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits.” It features Luke Williams, John Shannon, Buddy Rieger, Anthony Pecora, Ben Tryc, Randy Baumann, Glenn Strother, Chris Colditz, Tim Good, Jocelyn Rent and more. Proceeds benefit the Sonny Pugar Memorial Fund. 8 p.m. $15-$20; ticketfly.com.
the singer/actress who starred in the Disney Channel series “Girl Meets World” and the TV movie remake of “Adventures in Babysitting” and is part of “The Hate U Give” cast, is the headliner for KISS-FM Halloween Party at Stage AE on the North Shore. The 19-year-old pop star from Lehigh Valley, Pa., released a debut EP, “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying,” in 2014 and followed that with two albums, “Eyes Wide Open” and “Evolution.” Her third album, “Singular,” is coming on Nov. 9, led by the single “Almost Love.” Also on the bill is AJ Mitchell, a pop/ R&B singer-songwriter who recently debuted with the major label debut EP, “Hopeful,” the includes the title track and the singles “Girls” and “High Like You.” Doors are at 6 p.m. $28/$30; ticketmaster.com.
The Calliope series plays host to folk-rock legend Jim Messina, known for his role as bassist in Buffalo Springfield and guitarist-singer in Poco (”Crazy Love,” “Heart of the Night”) and the duo Loggins & Messina (”Danny’s Song”, “House at Pooh Corner” and “Your Mama Don’t Dance”). During the 1980s, he issued three solo albums and reunited with Poco for a tour, and, in 2005 and 2009, he toured again with Loggins and Messina. In 2012, he released “LIVE at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts,” featuring songs from all of those phases of his career. He’s at Carnegie Lecture Hall in Oakland at 7 p.m. $50; $20 full-time students; calliopehouse.org.
Icarus Witch, a Pittsburgh metal band in the oldschool spirit of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, returns with “Goodbye Cruel World,” its first album in six years. The release show is at Get Hip Recordings, North Side, with Chasing the Sun. 7 p.m. $8/$10; icaruswitch.com.