They Might Be Giants brought out deep cuts, fan favorites in 3rd sold-out night in Pittsburgh
They Might Be Giants have always been undefinable. The duo of Johns (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) released their first record in 1986 and have made 22 more studio albums since. They are prolific, certainly. Their lyrics are often absurd and funny, and their voices aren’t conventional, but they have...
Jeannette Community Band kicks off 36th season on Memorial Day weekend
The Jeannette Community Band will open its 36th season with a May 26 concert at the Jeannette American Legion, 109 S. Fifth St.. The 7 p.m. concert will feature the band of more than 60 volunteer musicians from the city and surrounding communities. In addition to director Ron Stemple, Maria...
Free outdoor concerts bring Irwin community, businesses, artists together
Borough groups and businesses are taking advantage of the warm weather to bring a summer full of music to Irwin’s downtown. “We wanted to please a variety of crowds with different types of music, so we branched out this year with some acts little different from what we’ve done in...
Babehoven’s Maya Bon on co-writing ‘Water’s Here In You,’ defining meaning in songs, compilation albumVideo
Maya Bon, the frontwoman of the indie folk rock duo Babehoven, said the band’s new album involved letting go of some of her control, but the new dynamic felt really exciting. In the past, Bon wrote the songs then brought them to bandmate/partner Ryan Albert for further collaboration. This time,...
Bad Religion and Social Distortion, titans of punk, can still rock
Even after more than 40 years, both Bad Religion and Social Distortion can still rock harder than many of the bands they’ve inspired. Touring together for the first time, the punk pioneers put on a show full of face-melting guitar solos, mosh pits and a lot of nostalgia Friday night...
Latrobe rapper prepares to head out on 2nd international tourVideo
Sean Lewandowski started writing rhymes in high school after discovering hip-hop in the early 1990s, but he began taking it seriously after hearing Kanye West’s 2004 record, “The College Dropout.” “It gave me the confidence to pursue rapping, because it was such a breath of fresh air and expanded my...
Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber are expecting a baby, renew their vows
NEW YORK — Cue up his 2010 megahit “Baby.” Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber (nee Baldwin) are expecting their first child together — and have renewed their vows. A representative for Hailey Bieber confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the model is just over six months pregnant. The...
Duquesne student’s journey from a cracked violin to master’s degree, fellowship
At age 9, Jesse Thompson heard a violin for the first time and was mesmerized by it during a student assembly as a public school student in Williamsport, Pa. There was one problem. There were not enough violins in school for him to study it in class. “I was bawling...
Live Casino Pittsburgh releases summer concert lineup of local artists
The three venues at Live Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield will put on a summer concert series, with a lineup comprised of local artists. The performances are free. Here’s the lineup for each of the venues: Sports & Social May 10: Brothers Kelly May 17: Tres Lads May 24: Metro May...
Live Nation’s $25 sale in Pittsburgh includes Jennifer Lopez, Robert Plant, more
Jennifer Lopez, Bret Michaels and Robert Plant/Alison Kraus highlight the Pittsburgh shows available for just $25 per ticket in Live Nation’s Concert Week sale. Running from Wednesday through May 14, the all-in price of $25 includes fees but doesn’t include sales tax. Supplies are limited for the tickets, available online...
The Decemberists highlight new album in 1st Pittsburgh show in 6 years
After the Decemberists finished playing their new song “Burial Ground” — an ode to hanging out in graveyards — frontman Colin Meloy mused about the crowd vibe Tuesday night at Stage AE in Pittsburgh. “I hope I didn’t bring people down,” he joked. There was little chance of that happening,...
Taylor Swift bill is signed into Minnesota law, boosting protections for online ticket buyers
MINNEAPOLIS — People buying tickets online for concerts, sporting events and other live events in Minnesota will be guaranteed more transparency and protection under a so-called Taylor Swift bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Tim Walz. The law, prompted by the frustration a legislator felt at not being able...
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis deliver powerful punk/jazz punch in Pittsburgh showVideo
The Messthetics are not a typical jazz band by any means. With a rhythm section comprised of bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty — both formerly of punk legends Fugazi — alongside guitarist Anthony Pirog, the Messthetics blur the lines between jazz and punk. On their third album, the...
Police investigating shooting outside Drake’s mansion that left security guard wounded
TORONTO — Police are investigating a shooting outside rapper Drake’s mansion in Toronto that left a security guard seriously wounded. Authorities did not confirm whether Drake was at home at the time of the shooting, but said his team is cooperating. The shooting happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday in the...
With help from AI, Randy Travis got his voice back. Here’s how his first song post-stroke came to be
With some help from artificial intelligence, country music star Randy Travis, celebrated for his timeless hits like “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “I Told You So,” has his voice back. In July 2013, Travis was hospitalized with viral cardiomyopathy, a virus that attacks the heart, and later suffered a stroke....
Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour visits Westmoreland County in SeptemberVideo
Luke Bryan is coming to Westmoreland County this fall. The country music star’s annual Farm Tour will visit Cunningham Family Farm in South Huntingdon on Sept. 28. The farm is located at 355 Fitz Henry Road. Bryan, who also serves as a judge on “American Idol,” is known for songs...
‘Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango’ marks Holocaust Remembrance Day at Rodef Shalom
The award-winning music program “Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango,” based on the poetry and writings of women who survived the Holocaust, will come to Pittsburgh this Sunday. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Rodef Shalom Congregation will present the concert, which has toured in Europe and North America over the past...
From cassette tapes to vinyl records, physical media is trending in Pittsburgh
Cassette tapes brought Veronika Cloutier to Pittsburgh. Vinyl LPs have kept her here. Before moving to Pittsburgh from North Carolina in 2021, the former vocalist and guitarist for the band Attack Cat measured the city’s livability by connecting with a local indie label that releases cassettes. “The fact that there...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh: May 3-5
Cinco de Mayo! May the Fourth be with you! There are plenty of reasons to celebrate this weekend. Here are five fun events going on around town. May the Fourth Be With You at the Symphony On Saturday, May 4, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents “Music of Star Wars.” The...
Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service hit ‘Such Great Heights’
Two staple 2000s indie bands are on an epic anniversary tour, and Pittsburgh concertgoers were lucky to see it Thursday night at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland. Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service have a few things in common. First, they both released landmark albums in 2003...
Mary J. Blige enlists Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin and more for women’s summit in New York
LOS ANGELES — Mary J. Blige is bringing her mission to empower women beyond her music to her hometown — with the help of the singer’s superstar friends. Taraji P. Henson, Tiffany Haddish and Jill Scott and other stars and experts will join Blige for her Strength of a Woman...
Young Rising Sons’ Andy Tongren on ‘(Un)Happy Hour,’ silver linings and singlesVideo
After a session spent writing songs in Los Angeles, the members of Young Rising Sons decided to go to a bar and grab some drinks. Their arrival, just one minute after happy hour ended, ultimately led to a song — “(Un)Happy Hour,” their latest single — with the concepts and...
Duane Eddy, twangy guitar hero of early rock, dead at age 86
NEW YORK — Duane Eddy, a pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser” and “Peter Gunn” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless other musicians, has died at 86. Eddy died of cancer Tuesday...
The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy on double album, love song … and DokkenVideo
Colin Meloy, the frontman for the Decemberists, laughed when he was informed of a band listed under the influences header on the group’s Wikipedia page. Listed among contemporaries like The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins and Modest Mouse, one group stuck out: Dokken, a 1980s glam metal...
Patty Griffin, Micky Dolenz, Paula Cole highlight Allegheny County Summer Concert Series
A two-time Grammy winner, the last surviving member of The Monkees and a singer whose song became ubiquitous with a 1990s TV show are some of the biggest names in this year’s Allegheny County Summer Concert Series, announced Wednesday. The concert series, with shows at South Park Amphitheater and Hartwood...
