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[HIP HOP] + FRI., SEPT. 23
Trey Songz is reportedly now at work on his fifth full-length in six years; the hip-hop/R&B idol established himself in the late 2000s as a major player, and as the sexting anthemist of a generation (with “LOL Smiley Face” in 2009). Today is Trey Day in Monroeville, it would seem, as the singer and songwriter appears tonight at the Monroeville Convention Center. Andy Mulkerin 8 p.m. 209 Mall Blvd., Monroeville. $35-65. All ages. 888-71-TICKETS or www.treysongzpittsburgh.com
[ROCK] + FRI., SEPT. 23
Yeah, we dig Aaliyah and the Notorious B.I.G. and whatever other offerings are pumped through the speakers in the dark, dance-y environs of Belvedere’s on ’90s night. But sometimes the smooth, hip-hoppy stuff is just a little lacking. For those in the era of the slap bracelet dying for a flashback to sounds inspired by the rise and fall of grunge, Foo Fighters play Consol Energy Center tonight. Check ’em out to see “if anything could ever be this good again.” Kate Magoc 7 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Downtown. $29.50. All ages. 412-642-1800
[INDIE POP] + TUE., SEPT. 27
NewVillager recently released its debut album, an arty mix of electronic beats and smooth vocals that recalls everything from the post-gospel harmonies of TV on the Radio to the experimentation of Arthur Russell. The album is nice — but the real appeal of the Brooklyn duo-plus-collaborators is the visual aspect of its performances. The band is a sort of made-for-music-video outfit, and merges sounds and sights in its live act, making it as much performance art as live music. NewVillager plays The Andy Warhol Museum tonight. Phat Man Dee con Carlos y Miguel open. AM 8 p.m. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. $10-12. All ages. 412-237-8300 or www.warhol.org
[DANCE-POP] + WED., SEPT. 28
Keyboards, synths, talk-box: The electrofunk duo Chromeo, which has managed not only to recapture an audience of ’80s-pop fanboys and girls, but also to gather up a totally new and fresh one, is in town tonight along with neo-soul-pop guy Mayer Hawthorne at Stage AE. You might want to hit up your local arcade Dance Dance Revolution and work out the kinks in your dusty footwork before hitting the floor. KM 7 p.m., 400 North Shore Drive, North Side. $25. All ages. 412-229-5483
[INDIE ROCK] + WED., SEPT. 28
Phil Elverum is a legendary figure in the Seattle scene; he’s played in bands like Old Time Relijun, but his real fame comes from his solo project, once called Microphones and now called Mt. Eerie. Now as when Microphones was at its peak in the early 2000s, Elverum manages to create soundscapes that are, well, eerie, using unorthodox and often lo-fi recording techniques and heartfelt if uneasy vocals. He plays the Braddock Carnegie Library tonight; Nicholas Krgovich opens. AM 7 p.m. 419 Library St., Braddock. $10. All ages. 301-651-5829 or sixtyoneb@gmail.com
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2011.
Why not mention that Rise Against plays with Foo Fighters that night? Rise Against are one of my favorite bands and have headlined plenty of tours – I don’t remember ever listening to them until the 2000’s. They also have a current music video that speaks volumes on the recent surge in teen suicides–certainly keeping up with the times. Not to mention Foo Fighters recent album received some extremely favorable reviews by modern critics who, I’m guessing, aren’t all “stuck in the 90s.”