Drive-By Truckers 2X, The Machine, Irish Fest and more

Another week, another bunch of bands to see.

I'm going to start with the National and one of my favorite bands, Drive-By Truckers. I've raved about these guys a few times before. I've posted articles (here's another one: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/tribpm/s_556665.html). Their last four albums have received 4, 3.5, 3, and 4 stars respectively in Rolling Stone. If Bruce Springsteen had grown up in Alabama instead of NJ and listened to Skynyrd, Neil Young, Suicidal Tendencies, The Stones, AC/DC, R.E.M. and The Replacements, he would be the Drive-By Truckers. If you want passionate, epic, rowdy rock n' roll on Friday night, join me at the Truckers show on Friday night at The National. Doors open at 8, the show starts at 9 with opening act The Whigs, tickets are $20. If you are going to the show, let me know.

If you want a preview of the Drive-By Truckers, they'll be doing a free in-store performance at Plan 9 Records in Carytown on Friday @ 1:30pm. I know where I'll be spending my lunch hour. I don't know if it will live up to one of my favorite shows of all time, the Plan 9 30th (?) anniversary show that was also a benefit for the Bryan and Kathryn Harvey Family Memorial Endowment. The band is friends with Plan 9's owner and this was an emotional, rousing, invigorating show. But being that the band has a history with Plan 9, even the in-store performance should be exciting.

On Saturday at the National, is Pink Floyd tribute band, The Machine. Considering that Floyd shows no signs of ever getting back together and even if they did, you'd have to put a mortgage on your house to buy tickets, this is as close as you'll get to a Floyd show. A friend saw The Machine and said they have a spectacular light show and sounded great, so if you are into Floyd, you might want to check this out. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8, tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

If you're looking for something to do in the daylight and/or with the kids, the Irish Festival of St. Patrick Parish in Church Hill takes place on Saturday from 10 AM - 7 PM and Sunday from 10 AM - 6 PM. This is at Broad & 25th in Church Hill and they block off about six blocks for this festival. We've gone almost every year since we lived in Richmond (it was much easier and drunker when we were childless and lived down the street in Tobacco Row). They have the obligatory moon bounce, face painting and giant slide for the kids, jugglers, bagpipers (aren't they Scottish?), fife and drum corps, great food, beer (natch), Irish-themed crafts and great local music of the blues/Americana variety. If you didn't air yourself out this past weekend at the Easter Parade, the Irish Fest is a great place to get out and enjoy the spring weather.

At Toad's Place on Wednesday night, Rusted Root will be playing their rhythmic music. Doors open at 8 and tickets are $25.

Blues legend Johnny Winter is at Toad's on Thursday night. Doors at 7, show at 8, tix are $20 in advance, $25 day of show.

The BoDeans will be at Toad's on Monday, 3/31. Doors at 7, tix are $20.

Blues band, The Nighthawks, play at the Capital Ale House Downtown on Friday night. The Capital Ale House says: "For more than 30 years, The Nighthawks have entertained audiences all over the world with their unique blend of blues, rock, soul, R&B, rockabilly and swing. Their hard driving, soulful, and sometimes raucous live performances earned them a reputation as "the world’s best bar band." They've played along side legends that include Muddy Waters, BB King, Gregg Allman, Pinetop Perkins, John Lee Hooker (and more) and have helped launch the careers of numerous blues artists."

Have a great week and let me know if you'll be at the Truckers show!

Tony Jordan