1-6 Downfall of Gaia, Old Accusers, Vestiges, HumanError, Pittsburgh @Kopecs

I hadn't been to a show in about a month, so it was good to get out even though I'd only ever heard the Old Accusers from the bands on the bill. As always Kopecs provided the desired experience. The show started way late, I think one of the locals, Egality, cancelled. But time wasn't an issue so all went well. Turnout was good, not great. I'd say around 40 people.

HumanError - Tough hardcore/metal. The band was good. The singer was intense. I could see getting into this band, even though they didn't do anything spectacularly.

Vestiges - They had some heavy stuff, but a lot of slow drawn out build up that never reached adequate climax. I enjoyed about half of their songs. Punk metal/weird metal is how I'd catagorize them. I was hoping they'd be better.

Downfall of Gaia - This band was very much like the last band except more slow less very heavy. I didn't enjoy them all that much.

Old Accusers - I've seen them many times now. They were good, the best band of the evening by far. Good intensity. What I expect from this band.

Hi's - good trouble free evening, Steak and Shake, fire, turnout
Low's - having to work in the morning

11-26 Sticky, Highway 13, Lucid Music, Cultivator, Short Dark Strangers Remix, @Kopecs

I don't often get to go to shows on weekend nights, but I got out on this night. It was an interesting show because of all the unknowns. Most of the night's bands shared the same members.

The show ended up being free, no one collected money at the door. The drinks were cheap, so thats awesome. They had free rigatoni and bread. We may be adults now but we freaking love us some free food. Gorged myself on rigatoni and bread.

Highway 13 - A rockabilly trio who played about ten songs. They were good. I get the feeling the bass player isn't all that good, but he was good enough. They were entertaining and set a good mood to the night.

Sticky - Dana from Short Dark Stranger's new band. They were ok. The lyrics were meh, realy simple, and great at the same time. "I'm gonna get fucked up. Fuck you." But that kind of made it cool. The music was cool too, really early 1980's punk sound. Nothing complex. I'd like to see this band again as much as I don't care if I ever see this band again.

Cultivator - The best band of the night. Fast three piece punk rock, but not so fast and noisy that they border as a noise band. The vocals were real shoutyscreamy and they were extra good. The singer was entertaining. I'd like to see this band again.

Lucid Music - The only rap group on the bill, but they were freaking good as all hell. They remind me so much of the Jurassic 5. Good lyrics, great delivery, good dj'ing. I liked everything about it.

Short Dark Strangers Remix - Huge disappointment. Their new singer, the guitarist from Cultivator, sucks compared to Bob. Bob's dead. Suit jacket dude is whack. Short Dark Strangers with Bob singing were one of my favorite live bands ever, and I couldn't stomach this set without him. F it. We left early at my behest.

Hi's - bands, rap group was sick, cheap drinks, free show, free food
Mid's - weed dude, not sure if I like him or not, he sure was drunk as a f though
Low's - Short Dark Strangers stinking it up, let it die please.

11-20 From the Back of the Room: A Documentary About Women in Punk, Icon Gallery @Mr. Roboto Project

This evening was an interesting evening. First off this was my first time to the new Mr. Roboto Project location. I'm happy to see that it's larger than the old space, nicer than the old, and better in pretty much every way. The only con is that in front of where the band plays at is a wooden structural support. But that's a small problem. The bill for tonight was a screening of a new documentary about women in punk rock, and then a band played a set.

From the Back of the Room: A Documentary About Women in Punk - I was suprised at how many people turned out to see this film. Roboto was pretty much packed to the hilt. We got there right before they put the film on and we had to stand for most of it against the wall because all the seats and spots on the floor were taken. It ran about 90 minuites, which was about 30 minuites too long by my take. I thought they could have edited it better to have some of the audio interviews playing while showing a band's set to cut down on runtime. Also I think they could have cut down a few of the topics talked about because some points were rehashed a few times in different segments.
There were some things I liked very much about the film. I liked how they didn't bash men at all. The film didn't demean the presence of men in the underground. I also liked the perspectives on the Riot Girl movement, with a few of the women interviewed saying how they never got into Riot Girl bands because they weren't mean enough and were too normal or friendly. The film had a few laughs and a vast assortment of punker ladies interviewed. All in all I thought it was pretty well done and documented an important issue.

Icon Gallery - It was ironic how immediately following a film that gives big props to women in punk rock, 60% of the people in the house left and didn't stay in support of a punk band with a female singer. All the film nerds and hipster fucks bounced and didn't stick around for the band. Bullshit. Icon Gallery's singer is awesome, she sounds great on the mic. I enjoyed the short set very much. Though, to my dismay, I don't think I'll ever hear my favorite Icon Gallery song live. It's from the demo and they just don't play those songs, I don't think.

Hi's - turnout, the band, most of the film, Mr. Roboto Project in a great new location and very much improved
Low's - it was hot in there during the movie, having to stand

11-17 Russian Circles, Deafheaven, Instructions, Pittsburgh @Smiling Moose

I was suprised by how many people were there. The show started a little bit late, but the place was packed. The most people I've ever seen at a Smiling Moose show. I'm glad it drew the way it did. Pretty obviously everyone was there for Russian Circles and no one knew of the other bands.

Instructions - Two bass players, one drummer, thats it. They had some decent songs. The second to last song had a specifically sweet bassline. I kinda enjoyed the set.

Deafheaven - Death metal vocals, death metal music with a little bit of ambient rockish stuff mixed in. I enjoyed listening, but ultimately was disappointed. They were not as good as I had hoped they would be. Stage presence was practically nonexistand. They are one of the newest bands on Deathwish Records, and sometimes Deathwish backs some weird bands like this. So I'm not suprised by what they brought.

Russian Circles - Set was extra good. They don't have vocals, so they focus their energies on creating ambiance with their music. They brought the easy metal, but still ripped shit up. I don't know any song names or anything, but every song was good. I'll go see this band the next time they come through.

Hi's - turnout, Russian Circles, cheap beer, pizza before the show
Low's - the cold, Deafheaven disappointing

10-25 Crunk Witch, Brzowski & DJ Halo, Sneaky Mike, Pittsburgh @Garfield Artworks

This show was a trip from the getgo. We arrived like half an hour after it was supposed to start, and we were the only people there. Got so many laughs at this show. All in all it was a great time. A total of three people paid at the door. We were two of them.

It's not often that I go to shows like this, so it's a bummer that turnout was so completely horrendous. Hip-hop and electro pop aren't my normal, but as long as they're ethically sound underground groups it's within my realm.

Sneaky Mike - He's a hip-hop/pop artist from Pittsburgh. The only local who actually played. He was EPIC. Just a dude rapping and singing to the music being played on his laptop. He is a complete goofball weirdo. He had a song about being a weirdo, which was fitting. None of his songs were especially good, but the badness of the tracks is what made him great, combined with amazing energy. He would be the Weird Al of pop and hip-hop if Weird Al didn't know he was a goof. Some great things happened during the set like him stripping down, gyrating the mic stand in such comical ways, and getting his hair caught in the mic stand. I really hope he keeps his act going because if I never see him again I'll die a little bit inside.

Brzowski and DJ Halo - DJ Halo is a good DJ. He was spinning stuff with skill using a few cd tables and a laptop. But he wasn't just playing tracks, he was mixing and cutting with skill. I enjoyed watching him for sure. Brzowski is a rapper with a gruff voice. Pretty distinguishable. I didn't so much like when they were paired together because they were putting down some ambient drum and bass tracks and rapping over them, but it was good and entertaining anyway.

Crunk Witch - I'm just a fucking pumpkin. I liked this group. A eletro pop/screamo type group made up of a young husband and wife, which made it all kinds of cute I guess. The singer has very good vocal range. Sweet couple. They were talking to us and gave us free treats because we were 2/3 of the people there. Super nice, and if they come around again it'll be awesome and I'll go see them for sure.

Hi's - My company, the night in general was great, bands/groups
Low's - turnout, that the night had to end.

10-19-2011 Drug Lust, Barren Scepter, Elitist, Salvation, Mower @Kopecs

Kopecs is such a great place for shows like this. The regular patrons of the bar are black folks and older guys. It was funny going from the heavy punx going on upstairs to the rap and jazz fusion going on from the jukebox down at the bar. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

It was good to see a bunch of hot chics at the show. The bike punks were there in effect. Turnout was good but not great. This was the cheapest show option for the night. There was an Earth Crisis/Path to Misery/Gutrench show at the Altar Bar that cost $30 to get into because it was headlined by the Cavalera Conspiracy and Otep. Glad I didn't break the bank going to that show and drinking $5 beers. There was also a ska show going on at the Rex for $15, but I stand by our decision to hit up the cheap punk show. Good call.

Some girl gave me a nice compliment on my Homewrecker long sleeve right before we left after Drug Lust. "Pure filth. Nice shirt." Sweet. Thanx!

Mower - Opened up the night. A two piece fast punk band from Pittsburgh, drums and guitar. The two guys in this band look like they're probably brothers. I enjoyed the songs they played. Perhaps the volume was up a bit too high, but I like that most of the time.

Salvation - I didn't know at the time who they were when they played, but after reflection I do remember the singer for his antics and energy. He gets those crazy eyes when he's rippin up the mic. I liked this band and will probably go see them the next time they're in the Burgh. Fast and heavy at times. Hardcore punk.

Elitist - The best band of the night. They were probably the most riff heavy band of the night. Were lyrics audible I suspect we'd have been assaulted with a bunch of anti-Christian ramblings. I liked this band's merch, of which I got a back patch and a t-shirt. I really liked all of this band's songs and I'll be getting whatever of their material I can get my hands on.

Barren Scepter - I loved this band too. Female singer who was hot and good. Sweet riffage, heavy punk. The best Pittsburgh punk band that I've seen in a while. Upstaged Drug Lust in my opinion. I'd like to see more of this group. I was very impressed. Often hardcore punk bands end up all sounding the same, but I felt their songs were a bit better than your standard fare.

Drug Lust - Supposedly the last show for this Pgh band. I wasn't too impressed. The set was good but not too good. The singer spent half of the set trying to get you to not like the band. "We all hate this song." "I hate this song." "You should hate this song." Oh well, I didn't hate any of the songs. Great band name though.

Hi's - The bands, the bar, turnout was ok, I'm thinking 40 people paid and everyone stayed until the end, Primantis beer and pizza was good, we had fun all night goofing and etc. Punx

Low's - Rain, my fire didn't catch.

10-6 Leftover Crack, Plastered Bastards, Scattergun, Hipster Death Machine, more @Altar Bar

Going into this show I was pretty stoked on the Pittsburgh portion of the show. Leftover Crack was the only touring band on the bill, and I'm glad it was that way. Altar Bar was big enough for this show, but I hate that they wouldn't put on the Penguins game until 11 or so and beer there is so fucking expensive. We saw some people there from back home who I didn't expect to see.

Eat the Government - We missed them, but heard some going on from outside.

The Scratch and Sniffs - Half of this band wore makeup. I don't care to see them again. Generic punk.

Hipster Death Machine - Great set. I had not seen them before, but really enjoyed the performance. Metal ska that's good. Not that chaotic 13PFP shit. Rumor is that it may have been their last show or they're going to be going through a lineup change. I hope they don't call it quits. People were into the set.

Scattergun - Mature punks playing fast punk rock stuff. I enjoyed the set. The singer was talking about the occupation of Pittsburgh and whatnot that is supposed to happen next week. People were into this set too.

Plastered Bastards - Loud street punks. I enjoyed the set, though they sounded a lot like Scattergun. They were probably the most polished local band who played. Though, both of the bands playing before them had more interesting frontmen.

Leftover Crack - The only disappointing thing about this set was that So You Wanna Be a Cop didn't get played. Everything else was sweet. Great sing-along street punk. They played all the bangers, and played them well. This was my third time seeing them and I think I'll probably go see them again when they come back.

Hi's - Primantis for happy hour, good company, most of the bands.

Low's - Price, money issues.