Young the Giant & Fitz and The Tantrums at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

Get all the feels with two bands from Cali—rock outfit Young the Giant and neo-soul indie-pop group Fitz and the Tantrums—at DLVEC’s fifth anniversary party. The all-ages show is the perfect way to say goodbye to summer break. With Alice Merton. August 16, 8 p.m., $33-$63. –Genevie Durano

Mary J. Blige at The Joint

It’s surprising these shows weren’t sold out at press time, considering the R&B legend has seen all 13 of her studio albums reach the Billboard 200’s top 10. And her impact isn’t just past tense; brand-new single “You Know” is a female-empowerment anthem as current as anything going right now. August 16 & 17, 8 p.m., $51-$209. –Spencer Patterson

Pianos to the Death at The Space

This isn’t just your garden-variety night of dueling pianos. PTTD turns the crowd-pleasing entertainment mainstay into a high-stakes game show, in which the audience picks the music and judges the musicians. August 16, 8 p.m., $20. –C. Moon Reed

Pups & Poetry at The Hydrant Club

Poetry doesn’t just happen in a library. Enjoy readings by a variety of talented local poets, including Clark County Poet Laureate Heather Lang-Cassera, as you sit among the happy pups of Downtown’s dog hangout. August 17, 6 p.m., free, 109 N. 9th St. –C. Moon Reed

Above & Beyond at KAOS

Fresh off a weekender at beautiful Gorge Amphitheater in Washington state, the electronic trio takes a breather from the summer festival circuit to engineer the nighttime SOAK Sundays party. A&B has emerged as one of the strongest acts on the roster during KAOS’ inaugural season, so you might not want to miss this one. August 18, 10:30 p.m., $20-$25. –Brock Radke

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at Brooklyn Bowl

Catch a ride on the Mothership Connection while Clinton is still captaining it—he’s planning to retire. Eventually. With Dumpstaphunk, Fishbone, Miss Velvet & The Blue Wolf. August 18, 6:30 p.m., $50. –Geoff Carter

James Beard House Dinner at Catch

Vegans, Baby founder Diana Edelman recently curated a plant-based dinner featuring five local chefs at the esteemed NYC institution. Here’s your chance to experience the menu at Aria. August 21, 6:30 p.m., $140, vegansbaby.com. –Genevie Durano

Permeating Landscape at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art

If you saw Primal Water at Bellagio last summer, you’ve already enjoyed an introduction to the dimensional art of Yasuaki Onishi. The artist has returned to BGFA with Permeating Landscape, featuring two large-scale pieces intended to stretch (in one regard, literally) your definition of what sculpture can be. “They are sculptures that do not point to any particular phenomena but leave much to be interpreted by the viewer,” Onishi says in an emailed statement.

“Vertical Volume” comprises 12 cylin-drical polyethylene bags that are activated by vertical motion; the bags expand and contract, constantly filling and emptying in reaction to their environment. And the exhibit’s namesake piece, “Permeating Landscape,” is a mountainlike form weaved from hanging strands of wire. Other mixed media and photographic works round out the exhibition.

In September, Onishi will create an entirely new sculpture at the Artist Studio at Bellagio, using locally sourced materials. Guests can watch as Onishi builds a steel exoskeleton around a local tree, using a special welding process. Daily through October 27, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., $5-$10. –Geoff Carter