If you’re anything like me, you tend to start hibernating once the temperature dips below about 40 degrees. It’s time to emerge from underneath your pile of blankets and hot chocolate packets to warm up your soul with some concerts in the city this winter!
Magic City Hippies with Tim Atlas
Find yourself temporarily transported to Miami while you’re watching the Magic City Hippies at Thunderbird Café on January 19th. The band is originally from the magical city of Miami, and their 2019 album, Modern Animal, is a testament to the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that they’ve experienced there. Their sound has been described as indie funk, and there’s a unique underlying groove and warmth to their music that sets them apart from most indie bands. They also aim to entertain—you may just hear lead singer and guitarist Robby Hunter bust out his rapping chops from time to time, and you’ll probably find yourself swaying along to the rhythms of melodic tunes like “Limestone” and “Franny.” Tim Atlas, an indie pop artist with R&B influences, will also lend his talents to the stage at Thunderbird Café on the 19th.
Showtime: Sunday, January 19th, 2020, 8:00PM, Thunderbird Café and Music Hall
Trampled by Turtles with special guest Them Coulee Boys
American folk rock and bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles may come from somewhere that’s even colder than here (Duluth, Minnesota), but that doesn’t mean that they can’t warm up a crowd. Their most recent album came out in 2018, called Life is Good on the Open Road, but with seven other full albums released and several chart-topping songs, they’ll have a full armory of tunes to choose from during their performance at Mr. Smalls Theatre on January 29th. “Wait So Long,” one of their more well-known songs, showcases the band’s expert fiddle, banjo, and guitar skills alongside catchy, yet touching, lyrics and impassioned vocals. Their music can at times sound frantic, but only in the best possible way—this band is bursting with an ecstatic energy that should motivate the crowd to move along with it. Them Coulee Boys, a punk, bluegrass, and rock ‘n’ roll band, should also deliver an enthusiastic performance.
Showtime: Wednesday, January 29th, 2020, 8:00PM, Mr. Smalls Theatre
King Princess
Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer King Princess first made waves in the American music scene with her breakout song “1950,” released in 2018. “1950” is a gorgeously groovy exploration of unrequited queer love, while “Talia,” a heartbreaker of a breakup song, uses backing vocal harmonies to complement King Princess’ raspy, powerful voice. Just a couple of years after hitting the mainstream music scene, King Princess is already well on her way to becoming a US pop icon. If you aren’t familiar with her music though, the indoor venue at Stage AE will give you the opportunity to experience her tour in an accessible way, which should include plenty of songs from her October 2019 album Cheap Queen. This Brooklyn-born artist also dresses and performs to impress, with glitter jumpsuits and piano and guitar playing interspersed with her singing, so you certainly won’t be bored seeing her live this February.
Showtime: Saturday, February 8th, 2020, 7:00PM, Stage AE
Root Shock
“Reggae-infused soul” might be one way to describe Root Shock’s music, but you’ll want to listen to this dynamic group in person before you try to categorize the sounds that you’re hearing. Supporters of the band have called their music uplifting and even healing, so a night out with Root Shock may be just what you need to help combat the winter blues. However, while this may be feel-good music, their songs certainly don’t lack in depth either—complex jazz guitar licks accompany twisting lyrical narratives, and the voices of both the male and female singers are mesmerizing; you may just find yourself completely bewitched by this band. The rhythm section is also nothing to sneer at, drawing on ska, funk, and even heavy dub style patterns. Make it a priority to see Root Shock at this intimate Club Café show on February 11th!
Showtime: Tuesday, February 11th, 2020, 8:00PM, Club Café
Post Malone with Swae Lee + Tyla Yaweh
Have you been running in circles looking for good shows to see this winter? Run no further, because Post Malone’s Runaway Tour is making a stop in Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena in February. Post Malone, a singer, rapper, and songwriter affectionately known as “Posty” among his fans, began rising to popularity in 2015. A household name now, he has three studio albums, including Hollywood’s Bleeding, his latest 2019 album, which is bolstered by his #1 Billboard Hot 100 song, “Circles.” Post Malone’s sound draws on multiple genres in addition to rap, including trap, pop, hip hop, and rock, along with the more freeform, ambient sounding cloud rap subgenre. His shows have been selling out to amped up audiences around the country, so get your tickets while you still can. Rappers Tyla Yaweh and Swae Lee should also help pump up the crowd in Pittsburgh.
Showtime: Monday, February 24th, 2020, 8:00PM, PPG Paints Arena
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.