MONDAY
Coheed and Cambria/Mastodon: The two metal titans join forces on the 26-city The Unheavenly Skye Tour which has Mastodon performing its fourth album, 2009’s “Crack the Skye,” in its entirety. Bassist-singer Troy Sanders told Stereogum when it was released, “Basically we're exploring the ethereal world. We're dissecting the dark matter that dominates the universe, in a nutshell.” Coheed, the progressive metal band from Nyack, N.Y., led by rangy singer Claudio Sanchez, will focus on “Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures,” the latest installment of its Amory Wars concept. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with Buffalo metalcore band Every Time I Die kicking off the show. $35; ticketmaster.com.
TUESDAY
Aaron West & the Roaring Twenties: This solo project allows The Wonder Years frontman Dan "Soupy" Campbell to veer off from pop-punk for a more pastoral and earnest sound closer to Counting Crows. They’re touring behind the new, second album “Routine Maintenance.” Rex Theater, South Side. With Pronoun, Diva Sweetly. 7:30 p.m. $19.50; ticketfly.com.
J. Roddy Walston & The Business: The Baltimore roots-rock quartet led by the Jerry Lee Lewis-style piano pounder plays a free show at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Point State Park at 7:30 p.m., following a 6 p.m. opening set by Gene the Werewolf.
WEDNESDAY
Ariana Grande: The former Nickelodeon star comes back to Pittsburgh, home of former flame Mac Miller, for her first show since headlining the Petersen Events Center in 2015. This PPG Paints Arena debut supports her chart-topping fifth album “Thank U, Next,” that produced three top 5 singles in the title track, “7 Rings” and “Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored.” She’s going to blow through more than 30 songs in 90 minutes in a performance that Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune described as “cool and efficient rather than visceral and moving.” With Normani and Social House. 8 p.m. $162+. Ticketmaster.com.
The Lemonheads/Tommy Stinson: A real treat for ’80s rock fans as Stinson (of The Replacements and Guns N’ Roses) has hopped on this tour with The Lemonheads, who are supporting “Varshons 2,” which has Evan Dando and company offering their take on songs by Nick Cave, Yo La Tengo, Lucinda Williams and Replacements’ frontman Paul Westerberg. Mr. Smalls, Millvale. 8 p.m. $25; ticketweb.com.
THURSDAY
Lucius: Following shows at Schenley Plaza and Hartwood Acres, this will be the third free outdoor concert here for the Brooklyn/LA indie-pop group led by angelic singers Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig. Their latest album, “Nudes,” found them revisiting their back catalog with acoustic versions and also doing a duet with Roger Waters, with whom they tour as backup singers. Three Rivers Arts Festival at Point State Park, 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie: Artist Dubose, better known as A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, grew up in the Bronx and was part of XXL's 2017 Freshman Class after doing some opening slots for Drake and Future and releasing debut EP “TBA.” Two years later, the 23-year-old rapper headlines the WAMO Summer Jam at Stage AE Outdoors, touring behind second album, “Hoodie SZN” (Hoodie Season), which featured the singles "Look Back at It” and “Startender” and guest help from 6ix9ine, Nav, Offset, Tyga and recent Stage AE headliner Juice Wrld. Doors at 6 p.m. with YK Osiris, YFL Kelvin. Tickets are $42; ticketmaster.com.
Pittsburgh Plays McCartney: The follow-up to Pittsburgh Plays Petty, this tribute to Sir Paul, spanning his Beatles, Wings and solo years, was rolled out in December at Mr. Smalls and now gets an encore performance at Jergel’s, Marshall, with a local lineup featuring Jon Belan (Gene the Werewolf), Andre Costello, members of Punchline, Byron Nash, Guy Russo, Jenn Wertz and Patrick Norman (Rusted Root), Harrison Wargo, Derek White, Derek Woods, Brett Zoric, the Beauty Slap horns, the Cello Fury string section and many more. 8 p.m. $21-$31; http://bit.ly/PghPlaysJergels
Tank and the Bangas/Too Many Zooz: The Arts Festival at Point State Park continues with Tank and the Bangas, the joyful funk/R&B/hip-hop ensemble from New Orleans that launched in 2011 and came to fame in 2017 when it won the NPR Tiny Desk Contest. Too Many Zooz was discovered via a viral video playing their squonky jazz-funk in a New York subway. The trio features fleet-footed saxophonist and Pittsburgh CAPA grad Leo Pellegrino, who added sass to Beyonce’s blockbuster “Lemonade” album and also joined her and the Dixie Chicks at the 2016 CMAs. 7 p.m. Free.
Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers/Milly: It’s a father-son night at the South Park Amphitheater with the Houserockers, who need no introduction, and Milly, the fine young power-pop band fronted by Seth Milberger that features Johnny Grushecky on bass. 7:30 p.m. Free.
Dustbowl Revival: The Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall in Lawrenceville is still not quite ready for primetime, so fans gets a free show from this melodic LA roots/Americana band at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks with Ferdinand the Bull and Big Blitz. 8 p.m.; roxianlive.com.
SATURDAY
Todd Rundgren: Following his tour last year with Utopia, the beloved ‘70s rocker and Hall of Fame snub is out on a hybrid book/concert tour promoting his autobiography “The Individualist - Digressions, Dreams & Dissertations.” While he’s been a master of confounding expectations, this show will go heavy on fan favorites, including the hits “We Gotta Get You a Woman,” “Hello It’s Me” and “Can We Still Be Friends.” Palace Theater, Greensburg. 7:30 p.m. $39-$59; thepalacetheatre.org.
Mandolin Orange: It will be a pretty chill Saturday night at the Three Rivers Arts Festival with this North Carolina duo — Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz — that plays warm, intimate folk music on guitar, mandolin, banjo and violin with gentle harmonies. Point State Park. 7:30 p.m.
Royal Honey: This year-old band made up of grizzled Pittsburgh rock veterans — Bobby C, Davey Nine Fingers, Greggy Velvet, Eric "Ginger Honey" Rodger and Angel O — has swagger to burn on their debut EP, “Hype, Money and Misbehavior.” Recorded at The Vault on the analog Neve console, it’s the good old, greasy, garage-y, blues-based rock of the sort that you’d find at the Decade, the 31st Street Pub, etc. It will be released with a show at Howler’s, Bloomfield, on a bill with The Legendary Hucklebucks, at 10 p.m.
Creative Life Support Records Summer Showcase: The new label run out of Mr. Smalls struts its stuff in this evening with indie-rock and Americana bands Bear Cub (the Jesse Hall-led group that relocated to Nashville in 2010), Pet Clinic, The Remote, LYOLA and The F--kies. It’s at Mr. Smalls, Millvale. 7 p.m. $10; mrssmalls.com.
SUNDAY
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe: A few weeks before the saxophonist-singer hooks up with The Rolling Stones for another tour, he brings his jazz-funk jam band to Point State Park for the closing ceremonies of the Three River Arts Festival. 7:30 p.m., following Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers.
Identity X: The Pittsburgh hard rock band fronted by David Toole, who has been a force in the musical theater scene in recent years, releases its second album, “Wounds of Our History,” with a show at Jergel’s, Marshall, with Horus Maze, Color Me Blind and HOA. 6 p.m. $10-$15; ticketfly.com.
First Published: June 10, 2019, 2:28 p.m.
