Photo courtesy of Curtis Wayne Millard
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Twangy charm and accessibly poetic lyrics first draw you into the music of Aaron Lee Tasjan, performing tonight at Club Café. His latest release is 2016’s Silver Tears, a collection of smart, soulful cowboy ditties like the endearing ballad “Memphis Rain” and “Hard Life,” which sounds like a country-fried “Coconut” by Harry Nilsson. Whatever preconceptions you might have about modern country can be left at the door. Joining Tasjan tonight is super-talented local songster Paul Luc. Alona Williams 7 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $12. 412-431-4950 or www.clubcafelive.com
[ELECTRIC CHAMBER] + SAT., MARCH 25
Combining multimedia visuals with experimental chamber arrangements, the composers and musicians of Bang on a Can All-Stars join forces to create an audiovisual experience that escorts audiences into different worlds. Their work has included everything from folky, technical jaunts such as “Gene Takes a Drink” and “Reeling,” from Field Recordings, to playful and diverse arrangements like “Matt Damon,” from Big Beautiful Dark Scary, as well as the eerie ambience of Anthracite Fields. At The Andy Warhol Museum tonight, Bang on a Can will perform the majority of Field Recordings with film elements to match the audio cinema being constructed and deconstructed on stage. Meg Fair 8 p.m. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. $12-15. 412-237-8300 or www.warhol.org
[PUNK] + MON., MARCH 27
Touché Amoré bursts with a passionate energy and poetic honesty. This is especially true of the band’s latest release, Stage Four. The album takes the listener into the world of vocalist Jeremy Bolm as he copes with the grief of losing his mother to cancer. His melodic, impassioned shouts guide the intense riffage and driving drums that flurry into an emotional storm that serves as a celebratory memorial to his mother’s life, while standing as a monument to his sorrow and struggles. Catch Touché at Cattivo with the progressive punk rockers of Edhochuli and hardcore punk outfit Concealed Blade, sure to induce two-stepping and headbanging that will make you look so tough that everyone will forget you spent 40 minutes (justifiably) crying to Touché. MF 6:30 p.m. 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. All ages. $13-15. 412-687-2157 or www.cattivopgh.com
[SKA PUNK] + TUE., MARCH 28
Known for its eclectic sound and uncommon blend of punk, ska, rock and a handful of other genres, Fishbone has been a standout since 1979. From that unique perspective, its abrasive social and racial commentary brings nuance to a topic more commonly explored in hip hop. Tonight at the Rex Theater, the band plays its 1996 concept record, Chim Chim’s Badass Revenge, in its entirety Although the lineup has gone through its share of shakeups, the group will be joined by former guitarist John Bigham (who previously played with Miles Davis) and original drummer Phillip “Fish” Fisher. AW 8 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. $18-23. 412-381-6811 or www.rextheater.com
