Root sets sail
Rusted Root will be "On a Boat!" Saturday night at 7 to make-good on a Gateway Clipper Cruise that was postponed due to flood warnings back in March. On April 22, the city's favorite tribal rock band will launch a tour that hits North Carolina, Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago and the Mile High Festival in Denver on Aug. 14 with the Dave Matthews Band, Weezer, Jack Johnson, Phoenix and many others. For the full tour itinerary, go to www.rustedroot.com.
Keys to the Carnival
One of the hottest shows of the weekend hasn't gotten much publicity outside of Oakland. The Black Keys will headline the free CMU Spring Carnival Show Friday night at 8 on the College of Fine Arts Lawn with mewithoutYou. The Black Keys, who headlined the Three Rivers Arts Festival last year, will drop a new album called "Brothers" on May 18 that features a single, "Tighten Up," produced by Danger Mouse, and a cover of Jerry Butler's "Never Gonna Give You Up."
DJ contest
Hip-hop legend DJ Jazzy Jeff will be at the Zen Social Club at Station Square tonight to judge the Red Bull Thre3Style, a DJ contest and dance that will feature DJ Bonics (of KISS-FM fame), DJs Digital Dave and Rambo (Zen), plus Zimmie, Nugget, McFly and Super Scott. Each DJ will spin in 15-minute intervals, hitting three completely different musical genres.
The winner will take home a $1,000 prize check, an Altec Lansing Mix Boombox and also will receive a trip to Denver to compete in the national finals in October. The winner of that will go on to represent the U.S. in the international final in Paris. Judging with Jazzy Jeff will be DJ Huggy (Las Vegas) and Ronnie "Chico" Di Cicco. DJ Boogie (formerly of WAMO-FM) will play host. It begins at 9 p.m. For details, go to www.redbullthre3style.com.
Jammin' in Blawnox
The Stooges and the Pistols weren't available for pUNKapalooza, so Moondog's has assembled a cast that includes jammy, bluesy bands Juggling Suns, theCAUSE, Fourth River, Flying Cunninghams, Zen, Blackfish, Patti Spadaro Band, Groove Shifter, Well Strung, Dizzy Woosh, Flying Dutchmen and an all-star tribute to Old & In The Way featuring Sue Cunningham. The show is Saturday from noon to 2 a.m. at Moondog's and the Starlite Lounge, 378 Freeport Road, Blawnox. Tickets: $12 advance; $10 at the door; 12 and under free; under 21 with parent or guardian. Call 412-828-2040.
Vinyl night
Vinyl junkies are directed to Belvedere's in Lawrenceville Friday night where more than 20 record vendors will assemble for Record Fest 3. DJ Junior and Dan Allen will spin and there will be live set by punk band The Cheats. It runs from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is $3, or $10 for early bird shopping at 7 p.m. Go to www.myspace.com/pittsburghrecordfest.
-- Scott Mervis, smervis@post-gazette.com
First Published: April 8, 2010, 4:00 a.m.
