1) If you’ve caught jazz-pop singer Tony DeSare’s thoughtful and slower-paced version of Billy Joel’s “She’s Always a Woman,” or his energetic rendition of Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” in online clips, you know the artist can handle tunes from relaxing to rock. And you know that the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic will know how to make him sound like the velvet-voiced, rising star that he is for the modern presentation of “I Love a Piano” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Columbus East High School Auditorium, 230 S. Marr Road. Tickets are $5 to $55 at 812-376-2638 or thecip.org.
2) In my time of writing about both national and regional bands, I’ve discovered one thing: Returning to the same event year after year as an act in today’s fickle age of changing tastes is probably more challenging than buying a Bill Belichick T-shirt at Lucas Oil Stadium. But classic rock band Rick K. and the All-Nighters has played the local Hot Rods and Rock & Roll extravaganza for some 17 years running in downtown Columbus. The group returns this weekend for the event from 3 to 9 p.m. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Information: 1061theriver.com.
