[ROCK] + FRI., DEC. 7
Last year, we profiled Steve Bodner of The Damaged Pies on the occasion of that band's 25th anniversary. Tonight at Club Café, the band plays a show celebrating the release of a new documentary, Same Circus/Different Town, chronicling the anniversary show and the band in general. The movie screens (in an abridged form) at 6:30 p.m., then there will be live sets from Heidi Jacobs and the band of the hour, The Damaged Pies. Andy Mulkerin 6 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $8. 412-431-4950 or www.clubcafelive.com
[WORLD] + FRI., DEC. 7
If one were to make a list of Pittsburgh's most notable extracurricular music educators in the past decade, Pandemic founder Pete Spynda (a.k.a. Pandemic Pete ) would likely make the list. Tonight, the DJ event he founded with DJ Juddy (who left this year for jolly old England) and Caulen Kress celebrates seven years of bringing music from the Balkans, South America, India and other corners of the globe. You'll hear stuff here that you likely won't get anywhere else; tonight at Brillobox, for the anniversary, New York City DJ Joro Boro returns as a guest. AM 10 p.m. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. $7. 412-621-4900 or www.brillobox.net
[BENEFIT] + SAT., DEC. 8
By now you've likely heard about Dave Whaley, the musician and employee of Dave's Music Mine who was assaulted on the South Side in a road-rage incident last month. Whaley doesn't have health insurance, and is facing some serious costs from the surgery the beating necessitated. Tonight at Club Café is one of a few shows raising funds to help him out; it's a sliding-scale donation-based show featuring Mark Dignam, Mother's Little Helpers, Broken Fences and several more. AM 10 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. Donation. 412-431-4950 or www.clubcafelive.com
[HARDCORE] + SUN., DEC. 9
Fans of Every Time I Die can always expect the unexpected. Over the past 13 years, the Buffalo natives have broken out of the '90s hardcore scene and continued to evolve, shifting from their signature "party vibe" to a darker, angrier sound with the highly praised Ex Lives, released last March. Lately the band has been wrapping up its headlining fall U.S. tour and rounding out a line-up that has all the makings of a must-see live show. Catch the group tonight at Mr. Small's with The Chariot, letlive. and Kills And Thrills. Amanda Wishner 7:30 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $15. 412-821-4447 or www.mrsmalls.com
[HIP HOP] + WED., DEC. 12
Mod Sun describes his music as an "audible smile." The "hippy-hop" artist got into music at an early age, touring the world since he was 17 as the drummer for post-hardcore bands Scary Kids Scaring Kids and Four Letter Lie. Since pursuing his own career as an MC, Mod has released more than 100 songs, most of them for free, and he was even named one of the top 16 unsigned artists of 2011 by Rolling Stone. He plays the Shadow Lounge tonight; The Come Up and Pat Brown open. AW 7 p.m. 5972 Baum Blvd., East Liberty. $10-12. 412-363-8277 or www.shadowlounge.net
