Holiday gift money burning a hole in your pocket? Treat yourself to some concert tickets and a new year filled with new music. Here are 17 of the best concerts coming to Pittsburgh in 2017:
January 13, Stage AE: Run the Jewels
From Atlanta, Big Mike; from Brooklyn, El-P. Together they are Run the Jewels, the supercharged voice of a generation and the greatest hip-hop duo in America today. This show was originally set for Mr. Smalls but it was quickly moved to the larger Stage AE to accommodate demand. Their new album, Run the Jewels 3, comes out the day of the show.
January 13, Rex Theater: Code Orange
Punk and hardcore might be Pittsburgh’s greatest musical export. Anti-Flag has been touring the world for years and The Gotobeds are making waves on Seattle’s Sub Pop Records. And then there is Code Orange, together since they were teens and returning to Pittsburgh to celebrate the release of their new album, Forever, which comes out on Roadrunner Records, home to metal giants like Slipknot, Gojira, and Killswitch Engage.
January 19, The Warhol Museum: Lee Ranaldo / Steve Gunn
It’s a two-for-one gunslinger special at The Warhol when Lee Ranaldo joins Steve Gunn for a pair of solo sets in the Museum’s entrance space. Ranaldo is known as co-founder and guitarist for Sonic Youth, while Gunn previously played in Kurt Vile’s band and was last in Pittsburgh in October opening for a sold-out Dinosaur Jr.. Both artists will be playing solo sets.
January 21, Cattivo: Princess Nokia and Moor Mother
Run the Jewels isn’t the only conscious hip-hop act coming to town. Destiny Frasqueri, better known as Princess Nokia, hails form New York and keeps shooting down offers from major labels. Moor Mother, from Philadelphia, combines hip-hop anthems with industrial noise in a style reminiscent of Death Grips. The show is being billed as “Aquapolypse NOW!” and all Aquarians get $5 off at the door. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
January 25, Carnegie of Homestead: Mogwai
In what seems like a logical move for Mogwai, the Scottish post-rock pioneers have focused their energy in recent years on creating soundtracks, most recently joining forces with Trent Reznor to score Leonardo DiCaprio’s global warming doc Before the Flood. On this tour they will be performing their other new soundtrack, Atomic, live and in its entirety alongside a screening of the Mark Cousins’ film Atomic: Living In Dread And Promise.
January 31, Heinz Hall: Ms. Lauryn Hill
When Lauryn Hill played at the Carnegie of Homestead in May there was less than one week’s notice before the show. (It still sold out.) She must have had a nice time because she’s back less than a year later on the second leg of her MLH Caravan: A Diaspora Calling! Concert Series tour. Said the former Fugee of the tour: “In these days of tension, tumult and transition, an exchange of this kind can yield direction, expression, understanding and empowerment as well as connection, self-love and appreciation that hopefully overflows into our respective communities.”
February 25, Rex Theater: Khruangbin
What type of music would a trio from a small Texas town of 300 play? If you guessed “psychedelic surf rock rooted in ’60s and ’70s Thai funk,” then you are correct. The band is signed to Night Time Stories, the same label that makes those Light Night Tale after-party mixes. Khruangbin has a timeless, other-worldly sound that’s perfect for getting a party started as much as winding one down.
March 7, Stage AE: Juicy J
There aren’t too many hip-hop shows announced for 2017 but Three Six Mafia vet Juicy J is a nice exception. From Memphis, J is part-owner of Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang empire and the two released a joint album over the summer called TGOD Mafia: Rude Awakening. Expect J to release a new album by the time of this gig inspired by his popular Rubba Band Business mixtape series. Canadian rapper Belly opens.
