5-21 First Blood, Path to Misery, Naysayer, Born From Pain, Betrayal, Steel City Firm, more, Pittsburgh @Ironworks/Hideout

Perhaps the venue changed it's name about a week before the show to the Ironworks, but it still says the Hideout real big on the outside. So it's whatever. I was expecting a mosh fest with idiots doing idiotic things. It was pretty close to that. But every band was much better than I figured them to be. Well, every band we got there in time to see at least.

Steel City Firm and the other local opener - We didn't get there in time to see them. Oh well.

Betrayal - I enjoyed this band. Tough beatdowns and fast two step parts. Nothing too original but it was still good. Every band other than PtM was like First Blood Jr.

Born From Pain - Came all the way from Europe for this tour. I'm guessing Belgium or something, but every time they said where they are from they just said Europe. They were the second best band of the night. I enjoyed the fury and the political overtones. I'd like to see them again.

Naysayer - I hadn't seen this band yet and I'm happy to have seen them this time. I for sure thought that people would be more into the sing along, but it was more of a tough mosh kinda show. They were good and I'd like to see again.

Path to Misery - I've seen them tons of times. This is the first time AJ ever headbutted me in the face though. It busted open an old scar that bled really good for about 12 hours. I'm sure I needed a stitch or two, but I don't do that. Also got to watch AJ throw expensive drum equipment into the pit. He's nuts.

First Blood - They were good. Every bit as good as they were 6 years ago in Dayton Ohio. It was a good set. I didn't get into it because I was still bleeding really good. F-em. They'll be back and I'll see them then.

Hi's - Good beatdown bands, turnout
Low's - my face bleeding out

5-17 Comeback Kid, Lions Lions, Featherlight, Tuesday's Too Late, maybe D&C, Pittsburgh@Smiling Moose

I like going to shows at the Smiling Moose, but I don't like it all. More aggressive shows like this are hindered by the shape of the venue. The shape is very narrow, and very long. So when the pit gets going it splits the crowd into 2 sections, up close to the stage and way in the back. The people way in the back have a shit view, there are merch tables and the sound booth in the way, it just sucks back there. So that really ruins the show experience for most of the people there who get caught towards the back.
Regardless, I hindered my own freedom on this evening by forgetting my wallet at my friend's house. So I couldn't drink. I was denied re-entry privileges. I had to wait up there by myself while shit bands played for my friends to get in there. It sucked.

I missed Tuesday's Too Late and if Divide and Conquer played I missed them too. Not mad about it.

Featherlight - Evidently they've been a band for a while. Melodic hardcore that tried to get heavy at times. I wasn't into it. Too soft and not good. Nice people with some nice things to say. But shit band.

Lions Lions - From Boston. They were disappointing, but with a name like that I was expecting what I got. They were all singy and then all tough and then all singy again. It was whatever. They were all spinning around with their guitars and in general were real fun to watch. All younger guys. I'll most likely never go to a show just to see them.

Comeback Kid - They played all the good shit except Hailing On Me. I love that song and didn't get to hear it. But they did play Wake the Dead and Operative Word and lots of stuff from their Turn It Around album. Great energy. Great crowd participation. I was a little irked by big guys being rough in such a small space. But when Terror played there and Steel Nation I was doing the same shit. So whatevs. Chauderman got slugged in the nozzle, that was cool. Join the club. I'll for sure go see this band every time they're in town.

Hi's - Comeback Kid
Low's - leaving my things at home, douchebags, shit bands

5-16 Tragedy, Ratface, Zeitgeist, the Crazy Scorpion Group, Pittsburgh@the Shop

Before going to this show we were a bit worried that we might not get in. Mind Cure sold out of all the pre-sale tickets that they had, which worried me. Turns out the show was running on extra punk time and we got there a bit early and got in fine. There were close to 200 people there, which was fantastic. And seeing Tragedy for only $10 is great all the time. The crusties were in the house. The accompanying smell was also in the house.

My friend CousCous, who I went to the show with, recalls a conversation/confrontation he witnessed between two punks. He is certain that the chic with the big hair is a hooker, and the drunk blonde chic was not a hooker. And the hooker thought the blonde was a hooker invading her space. There was no fight, just some funny dialogue. Also, he witnessed me being hit by an airborne beer can and didn't punch the thrower.

Crazy Scorpion Group - I wasn't into this band real much. They're not very serious, which is ok. The singer wore his backpack the entire time and looks like a real wise guy with some kind of smirk on his face. But that's ok too. It's just the songs weren't very good. Also, they meant to bring demos to sell, but they didn't bring the demos.

Zeitgeist - They were the surprise group of the evening. Local band. They were really good. I enjoyed the set. Fast punk, a little heavy, a little riffy. Chic singer who was good but pretty standardly unoriginal, though mobile and good to watch. I bought a patch that I'll put on my jacket.

Ratface - For sure the best I've ever seen Ratface. The crowd was into it. Shit was going on, and lots of people were inside to watch. Good times. I still like Zeitgeist better, but the Rat was good. They also have a decent little flag that they hang up and it looks cool.

Tragedy - Ripped the shit out of the place. They played mostly old jammers, and a few newer ones. They all killed. The pit was going. It was dark and spooky in there. They're the best d-beat influenced punk band that I've ever seen. At one point in the set the drunk guy with no shirt and dreads fell onto the guitarist/singer's guitar pedals. The guitarist attacked the dude prompting a bunch of people to throw the dude out. I'm not sure if that's all there was to the story or not, but that's what I remember seeing.

All in all, lots of beer was thrown around. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Hookers and all. There was an aftershow with Torch Runner playing in the South Hills afterwards. We made an effort to find the place, but when we determined we had failed, we just went back home.

Hi's - the whole show, the venue, turnout, byob always
Low's - it got a wee bit chilly out