With 10 minutes left inEpisode Two of "American Rust," we finally get a good look at Jeff Daniels in Ambridge.
His uniformed police chief character sitsata ground-floor window of the old Ambridge borough building, next to Pizza House (aka "Police Station Pizza"), oneevening as his romantic interest Grace (Maura Tierney) grabs his attention from a vehicle parked near the Ambridge Post Office.
Episode Three also shows an Ambridge streetscene, though that's all the farther I was allowed to preview "American Rust," which premieres at 10 p.m. this Sunday on Showtime.
I think viewers will dig Daniels as Del Harris, apill-popping, dry-witted, hardened Gulf War vet and ex-Pittsburgh cop who's now the police chiefin Buell, afictional Fayette County town plagued by unemploymentand drug addiction.
It's a grim drama, not counting the lengthy Episode Two wedding scene, which neglectsto spotlighta western Pennsylvania-style "cookie table." Have you been to a local wedding without one? Though "American Rust" does accurately depict the stampede toward the dance floor ata Yinzer wedding when the deejayplays "Celebration" by Kool & The Gang.
As usual in western Pennsylvania-set shows, characters avidly hunt, and drinkIron City andIC Light (Daniels' character prefers his Yuengling.)
You'll recognize Braddock, the Mon Valley, Pittsburgh's tunnels and skyline, and hard-to-pin down wooded areas of our region.
The plot revolves around the murder of an ex-cop who had been fired for unruly behavior months earlier by ChiefHarris. The police chief is put into a conflicted situation whenan investigation revealsaprime suspect istheson of the chief's girlfriend.
Daniels and Tierney are great, though the supporting cast hasn't given me much reason yet to root for or against them.
If "American Rust"wasset anywhere else, I mightnot continue watching. After two episodes, I bailed on HBO's similar Delaware County-set "Mare of Easttown" because it was too bleak and trying too hard to substantiate its suburban Philly setting (parodied deliciously in a "Saturday Night Live" sketch.)
But we're talking the consistently delightful Daniels, and western Pennsylvania, so I've got to see where "American Rust"goes. After all, those Buell police cars and camera crew spent a lot of time in Ambridge, so I'm counting on more local scenery.
Unlike Jason Momoa's critically thrashed Netflix film "Sweet Girl," which used the Ambridge Do It Best Center for a scene that ultimately got left on the cutting room floor.
I hopethat snipped Ambridgescene ends up in the director's cut version fortheinevitable "Sweet Girl" DVD.
"That is exactly what we were hoping for," said David Strano, of the family-run Ambridge Do-It Best.
Boss in the 'Burgh
The first of Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers' two epic hometown performances backed by Bruce Springsteenat theformer Nick's Fat City nightclub on Pittsburgh's South Side will appear on a new release.
A baker's dozen of live tracks recorded at thatOctober 1995 concert will grace Grushecky and The Houserockers' "American Babylon: Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition" out Oct. 29for digital and streaming release,with a vinyl LP arriving early in 2022.
Springsteen is heard on eight of the live album’s tracks, including his own song“Light of Day,” and a cover ofChuck Berry's“Down The Road Apiece.” The live album also offers Grushecky fan fave“Pumping Iron.”
Springsteen produced the Pittsburgh rock stalwarts' "American Babylon" studio album, andco-wrote two of itssongs,“Homestead” and “Dark and Bloody Ground.”
The 25th anniversary "American Babylon" edition also features bonus demo tracks.
Pre-order it atorcd.co/JoeGrusheckyAmericanBabylon25
Yinz Citizen
Speaking of Joe Grushecky, he's part of a top-notchlineup of Pittsburgh musical talent that will entertain in theYinz Citizen concert fundraiser Thursday.
Streaming at 8 p.m. liveonYinzCitizen.com, theevent will feature performances by Grushecky &The Houserockers, Derek Woods Band, Bill Toms Band, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Brandon Lehman of Swiss Army, Driving While Black Records artists, Leigh Solomon Pugliano, Evan Thorsen, Paging Doctor Moon, Back Alley Sound andShelf Life String Band.
Between performances, viewers will seetaped segmentsfrom Pittsburgh's original rap starWiz Khalifa, Steeler-turned-visual-artist Baron Batch, radio personalitiesLarry Richert andRandy Baumann, and local bandThe Garment District.
The concert raises money for 412 Food Rescue, whichdebuted Yinz Citizen last November, calling it “the ultimate Pittsburgh mixtape.”
“Our first Yinz Citizen concert was viewed 8,600 times within a week, and 4,300 people joined us live,"Sara Swaney, of 412 Food Rescue, said."With the Delta variant on the rise, we wanted to ensure that everyone could participate in a safe and comfortable way, regardless of how COVID was impacting our community.”
Since 2015, 412 Food Rescue’s volunteers distributed 19 million pounds of surplus food, donated by restaurants and retailers, to people experiencing food insecurity.
More Tady:Squeeze lyricist talks hit songs and tour headed to Greensburg
Beaver County radio:WBVP-WMBA radio stations sold to St. Barnabas Broadcasting
Time Passages
Al Stewart postponed his Sept. 15 show at the Palace Theater "due to concerns over the Coronavirus Delta variant" and factoring in his age.
The 76-year-old Stewart rescheduled hisGreensburg show for April 16, 2022 ("The Year of The Cat"!) Well, actually The Year of The Tiger, according to the Chinese Zodiac.
If you've listened to 1970s radio, you get the punchline.
Scott Tady is thelocal Entertainment Reporterfor The Beaver County Times and Ellwood City Ledger. He's easy to reach at stady@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @scotttady
