Bruce Hornsby

It’s been 25 years since Bruce Hornsby and his then band, the Range, hit it big with “The Way It Is.” That a social protest song would become 1987’s musical earworm is testament to Hornsby’s way with insanely catchy piano phrases. After his successful pop career, Hornsby has followed his muse down all sorts of paths: a semi-regular gig with the Grateful Dead, collaborations with everyone from Sir Elton to Tupac, and a recent bluegrass project with Ricky Skaggs. Saturday night in Troy, however, it’s just Hornsby and a piano—which should be enough. (Nov. 3, 8 PM, $30-$45, 2nd and State streets, Troy, 273-0038)