SLCene Suggests: 5 Tips for Your Week

This week’s picks feature chart-topping rock-and-rollers, a local CD release party, a grand finale from Pioneer Theatre Company’s artistic director, a festival to help you live green, and more.

The Black Keys, Wednesday, May 2, Maverik Center, West Valley City, 7:30 p.m., $45-$55

Not a lot needs to be said about the hot streak that Akron boys The Black Keys have been on the past few years. When you look at the album-sales charts, there haven’t been many rock and roll acts hovering in the Top 10 for a long time, but the Keys’ last couple of releases, including 2011’s El Camino, both shook things up by landing in the top five. More recently, the duo has taken its live show from clubs and theaters to full-on arenas, including this stop in Utah that has Brit rockers Arctic Monkeys opening the show.

Samuel Smith Band CD release party, Friday, May 4, Bar Deluxe, 9 p.m., $7

Local bluesy rockers the Samuel Smith Band have been gigging like crazy for a couple of years, and recording tunes at a pretty consistent clip, too. They’re celebrating the release of their new album by welcoming a who’s who of local talent to join them on stage Friday night, including members of King Niko, Muscle Hawk, Suicycles, Pour Horse, Scenic Byway, Marinade and more. Suffice to say, it will be a rager, a one-night buffet of top-notch local musical talent delivering one-of-a-kind performances.

Man of La Mancha opening night, Friday, May 5, Pioneer Memorial Theatre, Salt Lake City, 8 p.m., $36-$57

The final production of Pioneer Theatre Company Artistic Director Charles Morey is a big, bombastic musical, as is typically the case for Pioneer’s final show of each season. The tale of Don Quixote’s pursuit of his “impossible dream” is a classic, and the Broadway musical won five Tony awards. The show runs through May 19. Check back this weekend for a review right here at SLCene.com.

L-R: Christine Moore as Moorish Dancer, William Michals as Don Quixote and Daniel Marcus as Sancho. Photo by Alexander Weisman.

Live Green SLC! Festival, Saturday, May 5, Library Square, Salt Lake City, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free

Now in its ninth year, the Live Green SLC! festival brings together all manner of enviro-conscious informational booths, eco-friendly entertainers and Earth-loving members of the public for a day-long event at the SLC Main Library that is both a good time AND good for you. Looking for some xeriscaping info, or ways to make your house more environmentally sound? This is the place to be on Saturday afternoon.

Shooter Jennings, Monday, May 7, The Depot, Salt Lake City, 9 p.m., $15 advance/$20 day of show

Before Lukas “Son of Willie” Nelson became a regular fixture of Salt Lake City’s music scene with consistent stops in our fair city, Shooter “Son of Waylon” Jennings was establishing himself as a country-tinged, somewhat-rockin’ offspring worth watching. I was a big fan of his debut album, Put the ‘O’ Back in Country, but he’s been a little hit-or-miss since. His latest release, though–called Family Man–is a return to form. Locals Ghostowne open the show.