Mike Palm stories

Proceeds from the “A Celtic Rock Christmas” show will assist a pair of local organizations, and Pittsburgh’s The Low Kings were happy to join the bill. “It’s gonna be a great event,” vocalist/guitarist Shawn Melvin said of the Dec. 11 event. “It’ll benefit the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, which does an...

In the 20 years since Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano formed the pop/soul/R&B duo Johnnyswim, the now-married couple has played plenty of holiday concerts. “We’ve cut our teeth touring a lot with Christmas shows,” Ramirez said. But an early New York City show still stands out. The duo recorded the...

“INITIALS,” the first EP from Pittsburgh’s Jade Eye, is “about beginning something,” according to guitarist/vocalist Justin Ingala. “It may not always be perfect at the get go, but making steps in the direction you’re heading for is what it’s all about,” he said. “We have tons more finished songs and...

Pittsburgh’s King Blue Heron released their “Salvation Sound” EP earlier this year, made with producer Billy Mannino. “We were so in love with the results,” vocalist/guitarist Emily Hardenberger said. “We actually just got back from recording some more songs with him. He made those tracks really sparkle.” The band recently...

Other than some festival appearances and three shows back in the 1980s in California, progressive metal band Queensryche had never toured with the German metal band Accept. Until now, that is. With close to 100 years between the two bands, the veteran bands are out on the Volume and the...

Singer-songwriter Krystal Keith will sing the national anthem ahead of Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium. Keith, the daughter of the late country singer Toby Keith, will also sing two of her father’s songs at halftime, honoring the U.S. military as part of the...

The spirit of John Denver’s music — and Christmas — is evident in the Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas show. Starring Rick Schuler, the show pays tribute to Denver, who died in 1997, with a nostalgic look back at the country/folk singer known for songs like “Rocky...

The long and winding road of Sir Paul McCartney’s career brought him to Pittsburgh for a sold-out show Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena. And what a road it’s been. The concert, part of his Got Back Tour, spanned almost three hours — with several storytelling interludes — and included...

After Blondshell’s European tour wrapped up in September, Sabrina Teitelbaum had around a month before the next leg of her U.S. tour started. That “off” time turned out to be quite productive. “I’ve been writing a lot. I think when I don’t have pressure to write, I end up writing...

It’s been a busy year for Pittsburgh indie singer-songwriter Zack Keim. The Fox Chapel Area High School graduate, 28, released his second solo album, “Battery Lane,” in February, logged more than 100 shows around the country and completed a 10-concert tour of Spain. “My music’s really big in Spain for...

Channel One Sound System out of the United Kingdom will be playing this weekend in Pittsburgh, and all proceeds from the show will be donated to charity. Featuring selector Mikey Dread and MC Ras Sherby, Channel One will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Tech25 in the city’s Mt. Oliver...

The latest tour for veteran pop-punk band All Time Low got off to an admittedly “wonky” start when lead singer/guitarist Alex Gaskarth got laryngitis, forcing the cancellation of a few shows. “It’s always so devastating when your body fails you on tour,” Gaskarth said last week. “When a guitar breaks...

The Crane Wives’ upcoming fall tour feels about the same as always to the band, even with no fresh album to promote. With a sound that has evolved from folk to more indie rock over the years, the Michigan band released “Beyond Beyond Beyond” more than a year ago, and...

Country rocker Tanner Usrey has a few more dates left on his Bad Love tour, but he has mixed feelings about the upcoming end. “I don’t know, man. I’m a road dog,” he said Tuesday. “(But) it’ll be good to have some time off, for sure.” The tour, which runs...

Country singer Morgan Wallen might have just told Kenny Chesney to hold his beer. Wallen will be playing his biggest Pittsburgh shows next year in a pair of stadium shows at Acrisure Stadium on his Still The Problem tour. Wallen, the “Whiskey Glasses” and “Chasin’ You” singer,” announced concerts on...

A one-of-a-kind partnership means Jenna Fournier will be able to take her Kid Tigrrr project out on tour. “I wouldn’t be on the road if it weren’t for them right now,” Fournier said last week. The One Night Live tour features a collaboration among Live Music Society, D-TOUR and Cleveland...

It might feel like Colin Hay is taking the first part of the title of his latest album, “Man @ Work Volume 2,” a bit too literally. There were a pair of tours playing in Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band earlier this year, plus Men at Work’s summer package...