Beach Boys, Harry Connick Jr., Johnny Angel play this week
It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas with an eclectic group of performers in concert this week:
TUESDAY
Harry Connick Jr. (Benedum): The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-pianist star from New Orleans is on his Holiday Celebration Tour, timed with the release of his new album, “Make it Merry.” His fourth holiday record features a pair of new originals — the title track and “On This Christmas Morning” — to go along with classics like “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” and newly recorded versions of his own originals and fan favorites like “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus” and “When My Heart Finds Christmas.” He’ll mix up the holiday songs with his other hits, and jovial sense of humor, in the Cultural District. 7:30 p.m. Sold out; trustarts.org.
WEDNESDAY
The Great Heathen Tour (Stage AE): Amon Amarth, the kings of Viking metal, headline this morbidly crushing package with Carcass (Liverpool, England), Obituary (Tampa) and Cattle Decapitation (San Diego).
Announcing its “monumental and historic raids” of the U.S., the veteran Swedish band challenged fans with “Let’s make these the biggest death metal shows in history in this country! Bring your viking spirit and get ready to raise your horns and row like you’ve never rowed before! See you at the shows!” The Amon Amarth stage show comes with Viking ships, a Viking helmet drum riser and live battle reenactments. Doors at 5:30 p.m. $34.50/$39; axs.com.
THURSDAY
Johnnyswim ( Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall): It’s a pleasant evening of soulful folkpop and Christmas songs with the Nashville-based husband-andwife singer-songwriter duo of Amanda Sudano-Ramirez and Abner Ramirez. As The New York Times noted, “She is full of fervor, and he is the soothing counterforce. They are a pairing of equals, a key finding its lock.” 8 p.m. $35/$40; eventbrite.com.
FRIDAY
The Beach Boys and The
Holiday Vibrations (Benedum): Mike Love leads The Beach Boys in this holiday show featuring classics from the group’s 1964 Christmas album along with songs from his own holiday album, “Reason for the Season.” Love’s version of the band features longtime member Bruce
Johnston as well as John Cowsill from the sibling band The Cowsills. Multi-instrumentalist Scott Totten, who has been with the band since 2001, is the musical director. 7:30 p.m. $49; trustarts.org. Girls Night Out: Women of
the ’90s Country (Spirit): Pittsburgh singer-songwriters join forces for an evening celebrating “the strong-willed, independent and just badass women of ’90s country … from The Judds to Shania Twain, The Chicks, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Reba, Pam Tillis, Faith Hill.” The lineup features Molly Alphabet, Lauren Rose Thayer, Woodland Creatures, Halloway Williams and Anne Celedonia with The Living Street, Kenny Stockard, Jon Bindley and Clinton Clegg. There will also be a special performance by
Anna Steesia. 8 p.m. $15/$20; spiritpgh.com. SATURDAY Johnny Angel and the
Halos (Rivers Casino): The Pittsburgh oldies group, which dates back 50 years, emerges from its semi-retirement for a reunion show at The Event Center at Rivers Casino. The Halos, who perform soul and rock from the ’50s to ’70s, have worked with The Temptations, Chuck Berry, Frankie Valli and Ray Charles. The show, which will include holiday tunes, is at 7 p.m. $20. riverscasino.com/pittsburgh.