8-9 This is Hardcore

This is Hardcore is without a doubt the fest hardcore fest in the US every year. The lineup this year was as sick as ever. Right off the bat I had a problem with deciding which days I wanted to go to. Since I live most of the year in the poor house I could only go to 2 days of the 4 day fest. In the end we decided Friday and Saturday were the days with the most bands we love. Thursday was a strong lineup with Cold World, Boysetsfire, Stick Together, Suburban Scum, Striking Distance, and Kill Your Idols. But the awesomeness of the other 3 days was way better than that. Sunday's highlights for me were Gwar, Sick of It All, Negative Approach, Slapshot, No Redeeming Social Value, Code Orange Kids, and Colin of Arabia. I've been itching bad to see NRSV since East Coast Tsunami fest last year. But because of said money problems Sunday wasn't feasible either. Friday and Saturday were pretty great in every sense.

The Hotel was a piece of shit, but 3 people splitting like $60 a night was too good to refuse. Though, we did drive past a few hole in the walls advertising around $40 a night, so next year maybe we'll take yet another step down the quality of life ladder and stay in a place somehow less nice. The Knights Inn in Mt Laurel New Jersey had a smoking room with 2 beds so we snatched that up. There was a hole in the corner of the door, but luckily there was a piece to a broken drawer laying around that we propped up to block the hole. The reservations were for 4 people, they only gave us 2 sets of towels. The front desk doesn't give out extra towels, sheets, pillows, or blankets so we had to make that work. The sheets and comforters had holes in them. One of the lamps didn't work. The shower leaked water all over the floor. The fridge sucked and only worked about half of the time. It was a mess. But good price. I'd stay there again.

I'm glad we planned to stay over in Jersey on Thursday night. It allowed for us to rest up before the fest. Next road trip I think we'll do the same again. Papa Johns provided the grub for the evening. The best pizza chain.

Rock Bottom - Opened the Friday night bill with the mosh. I never heard of this band before and was suprised at how many people were into it. They were some tough guy-esque hardcore. OK band. The opener could have been worse, like the band that opened the one day of ECT fest the other year, Get Railed.

Enabler - I didn't think they'd get a great reception from the mosh hungry early crowd at TIH. I was pretty much right. Their style is like a thrashy punk metal hardcore band. It's hard to tough guy mosh to this band. They were good despite a lot of energy from the crowd.

Incendiary - We went outside for some food during this band. A bunch of bands later in the day commented on how awesome they were. So I'm a little bit disappointed we missed them.

Xibalba - Tough guy metal hardcore from California. They had some pretty heavy jams, but I didn't think anything about them was especially good. They got good reaction from the crowd. I thought the first portion of the set was better than the second. Better songs. They're like Terror but a bit tougher presence on stage, a little slower and heavier.

Rotting Out - This is when the show started to heat up for me. Though, I was very disappointed that they didn't play City of Shame. That song is their best one. The stagedives were on, the mosh was on, and they always bring great energy to the set. It was pretty awesome, but next to the rest of the day they don't make my top 5 for Friday.

Bane - Every single show they play is great. They've never been bad to me. The set wasn't particularly long, but they played all songs that I know. They announced that they're making another album, which is a surprise since last year they were talking about it being hard on them and they didn't know how much longer they'd be able to keep it up. Halfway through the set was a pizza party which involved Joe Hardcore dressed up like a cheesy chef and someone in a viking hat and a dude dressed up like a funny red cat throwing pieces of pizza off the stage. A lot of pizza too, like 15 large pizzas worth. It was awesome, pizza flying everywhere. It made the floor super slick though. So that was no fun. Give Blood, Speechless, Can We Start Again, all the good songs. As always I can't wait to see them again. They were the second best band of the day.

Ramallah - They were not on the original lineup announcement, but I was super happy to see them added. White Trash Rob's bands don't come around Pittsburgh at all pretty much these days. So getting to see this band, which I like a lot more than Blood for Blood, was awesome. Even better was to hear that Ramallah is getting back together and making new music and selling new merch. It was cool seeing Rob's unique demeanor on stage. Then they played So Common So Cheap and it was great. Most of their songs are about political issues and pointing a finger at worldwide attrocities. But their style keeps them from projecting the image of a band that takes theirselves too seriously. Fun set. Third best band of the evening. Tragedy - I didn't think they'd get a good reception at all, but I was surprised. It was definitely the weakest response of the second part of the evening, but still more than I expected. Their set was real tight with some awesome singalongs. I love this band. One thing I liked the most is that neither of the main vocalists ever spoke anything. It was always growled or yelled. It was nice. Great set. I'm glad they incorporated a popular d-beat style hardcore band into the mix. They're the best of their style that is going today. Though, I didn't see that they were selling any merch. They were the fourth best band of the evening.

Panic - They started the set out with Written in Stone, which is my favorite song. I was surprised with how good their set sounded and looked because they don't play much at all. Most of their songs are like 1 minute long, so their set of about 20 minutes probably about maxed them out on songs. Very good set, and enjoyable. Still, not quite enough to make the top 5 of the day.

Blacklisted - I hadn't seen this band in a while. And most of the shows that I did see them were at Roboto or somewhere else in the Pittsburgh area. Pittsburgh doesn't like Blacklisted so much so those shows are always pretty tame. So it was nice to see a building go off for them. They didn't play anything off of Our Youth is Waster or The Beat Goes On, I don't think. If they did it wasn't any of my favorites. But they did play Cannonize and that is the overall best Blacklisted song. Everything was super raw and aggressive with some big time pit action. Fifth best band of the evening.

Modern Life is War - I was very happy that they didn't have the 45 minute build up snoredom period that was before Gorilla Biscuits last year. They went on promptly and ripped the fuck out of the place. It was great. It's been years since I saw them because they haven't been playing. They played all the good songs, By the Sea, First and Ellen, Marshalltown, and many many more. Sing along city. All the stagedives. The set and the day of the fest was everything I hoped it would be.

Top 5:
5. Blacklisted
4. Tragedy
3. Ramallah
2. Bane
1. Modern Life is War

Highs - everything, every band, the food selection
Lows - the price of beer, the steamyness of the weather outside.

7-19 Cannibal Ox, Prop Anon, Kenyattah Black, Irealz, Double AB, B White of the 58's, Timecapsoul, Proseed, Fortifiex Phoenix, Tracksploitation, Mr. Owl, DJ Spaed, The Camp, Pittsburgh @Belvederes

I don't go to a lot of rap shows, so recognizing who is who and the order people played in is difficult for me. So I'll do my best to piece together who played and what the hell was actually going on at this show. It seemed like we saw 15 different acts.

Mr. Owl - A friend of a friend. He did a DJ set for the first hour of the show. We missed him.

DJ Spaed - No idea who he was or if he actually played. But I'm 99% sure that when we were there, no one said, "this is dj spaed."

Stillborn Identity - They weren't on any flyers or anything, but one of the acts gave them a shout out as if they performed. I guess they might have before we got there.

Proseed - We got there when Proseed was on stage. He was ok. White guy, half thuggin it. Meh. I won't be going to any shows just to see him.

The Camp - When they were on stage they were talking like they traveled a good distance, but evidently they're from the Pittsburgh area. Maybe they all walked to get there. My fav in this group was the big fat guy who wasn't allowed to have a mic for about half the set. Break Shit was a good song. My least favorite guy in the group was the skinny dude with the 'sex drugs and rap' shirt on. Wasn't feeling that dude.

Fortified PhonetiX - In my head I keep getting this group mixed up with a group that followed. But I'm pretty sure that this is the group who had the secondary rapper wearing a black hat backwards and a black shirt that I'm pretty sure was a Pirates shirt. Either way, the secondary rapper, I believe, was rapping over top of a track of him rapping. I wasn't feeling that at all. I think the main rapper was rapping without backup. The reason why a rapper rapping over a tape of him rapping is so whack is that because that's only one little step better than lip syncing.

Tracksploitation - This group was made up of 3 dj's all spinning at the same time. It was pretty cool. Someone was break dancing while this was going on. That was fun to see. All in all, this may have been the best segment of the night. Oizo from Killer of Sheep was on stage the entire time yelling shit into the mic about the 58's. I did not know beforehand, but the 58's are some kind of Pittsburgh rap crew. I'm super disappointed that that is what Oizo is reduced to when he's not playing a punk show.

B White of the 58's - I wasn't impressed at all. I couldn't respect this rapper because of his funny hat. It looked like he had a head of dreads under his Chicago Bulls new era cap. He didn't. He was just tryin to thug it a little bit harder. Won't be going anywhere just to see him rap.

Can Ox's crew didn't get there until about 12 or so. This is where they started going on. I have no idea if I actually have the order they went on correct. But I'm going to give it a go.

Irealz - This guy wasn't any good.

Double AB - This guy wasn't any good.

Kenyattah Black - This guy wasn't any good.

Prop Anon - This guy evidently used to be part of Immortal Technique. At least that's what one of the other rappers said. His raps were pretty good. I enjoyed his set.

Cannibal Ox - Good rap set. The first part of the set was especially good because they played a bunch of shit off of The Cold Vein. That's what everyone wanted to hear. Then they played a single off the new album, which was ok. Then the rest of the set was in conjunction with the dudes in their crew, which I could entirely do without.

Hi's - turnout, Can Ox, Prop Anon, Tracksploitation, The Camp
Low's - A bunch of whack rappers that I don't particularly care to see again. Missing Mr. Owl. Only one set with noticably sick DJ work.

7-16 Pity Sex, The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die, Brightside, Dads, Adventures, Pittsburgh @Mr. Roboto Project

Going to this show was a last minute thing. It was wings or this. Chose this. I had to work the next morning, so we left a little bit early. Not sure if The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die did not play or if they played last. Either way we didn't see them. It was by far the latest show at Roboto that I've ever seen.

Brightside - This band isn't any good. I didn't like anything about them really. Some of the teenyboppers in the house did though.

Dads - I thought this band was pretty good. Not as friendly as the rest of the bands to play. Two piece rock / poppunk from somewhere in NY I think.

Pity Sex - I saw this band at Sincerity Fest and wasn't impressed. They weren't any better on this night. They kinda sucked again. I don't think I'll be making any special trips out to see this group. Pop punk that just isn't good.

Adventures - Easily the best band of the night. One of the best pop punk bands active anywhere. They are super good and from Pittsburgh. I'll for sure go out just to see this band again.

TWIABPAIANLATD - We left after adventures because it was almost 11. Not sure how late they are allowed to have shows at Roboto, but this was most likely pushing it.

Hi's - Adbentures, Dads. Turnout.
Low's - How late the show ran. No beer inside Roboto.

7-11 Sneaky Mike, Mustache Required, Math the Band, Pittsburgh @Garfield Artwork

The idea to go to this show was a last minute thing. I haven't been going to shows in order to save some money, because I'm pretty much in the poor house and This Is Hardcore is coming up. But I gotta get out sometime.

Sneaky Mike - Because of tons of rain the Liberty Tunnels and Route 51 were shut down. We missed about half of Sneaky Mike's set. I was not happy about the amount of dubstep he worked into his act. And he didn't play any songs I knew. But he's still very entertaining hip hop pop whatever.

Mustache Required - Two piece weird white guy hip hop group. I enjoyed their set. They made me laugh. If they were on another show sometime I wouldn't be upset.

Math the Band - Normally a two piece, due to an emergency of some sort they were a one piece on that particular night. They're like Andrew WK but not quite as good or funny. I liked the set. Maybe I'll see them again sometime.

Hi's - Garfield Artworks as a venue, byob, the bands.
Low's - Rain and detours.

4-28 Raw Power, Wartorn, Submachine, Oh Shit They're Going to Kill Us, Lady Beast, Pittsburgh @Belvederes

I had hopeful expectations of this show, and was not disappointed. On Facebook the event had around 150 people that said they were going to the show. Well that turned out to be a bit high. I think probably around 75 people paid to get in. But the crowd was good size for punk in the Burgh at a dive bar on a Sunday. Despite the normal crappyness of Belvederes, it's a great place for punk shows. I really like the PA, the vocals always come over pretty clear. And I love the drink prices, $2 PBR's all night long. So those things make for a sweet punk show. At some point before Wartorn played there was a little fight back by the pool tables. I don't know what it was all about but it looked like the singer from Killer of Sheep tackles some white guy and yelled at him. The white guy got tossed, his girlfriend was pissed off, the end.

Lady Beast - I had heard this band was a metal band, but I hadn't seen them before. They have a very rock and roll metal sound, and the singer had rock and roll body language. They were entertaining. I think the guitarists of this band were of higher quality than the other guitarists to play this night. I liked the set, though I normally prefer bands with vocals a bit more raw. I'd see them again.

Oh Shit They're Going to Kill Us - Local thrash metal group. The singer is good, though the band isn't particularly entertaining. They were a bit better to bang your head to, and a bit less attractive in general than Lady Beast. All in all I enjoyed the set.

Submachine - Local hardcore punk band that is a more popular group in the local area. They've been playing for a long time now, I think they got together in 1990 or something. The set was good. Punks were into it. It was a good time. There isn't really anything defining about their musical style. Not extremely fast or loud or heavy, but still very good. The singer was particularly entertaining.

Wartorn - Most of the crowd seemed to not like this band, but I thought they were pretty sweet. More of a hardcore band than anyone else on the bill. I'd say they classify as a d-beat/thrash metal/hardcore band. The vocals were pretty growly and the music was great for banging your head. I think a lot of the punks were turned off by them because the singer looked real clean and his voice was more of a shitty metalcore type than the punks like to get into. But they went down as my favorite band of the evening.

Raw Power - They are on tour in the States from Italy. I was expecting something a little more raw. They were a similar band to Submachine but a little less aggressive. I enjoyed the set. The singer said some things that were funny. I'd go see them again, but I wasn't blown away. The crowd stuck around until the end of the set, it was a good night.

HI's - turnout, cheap drinks, all the bands
Lows - nothing

4-23 Crazy Spirit, Glam, Una Bestia Incontrolable, Eel, Pittsburgh @Mr. Roboto Project

So I had a choice to go to this show, or to go to the Power Trip show. Turns out a ton of people showed up for the Power Trip show, and only an average crowd showed up for this show, so I'm glad this is the show I went to. I'm sure the hardcore show was fun, but the punx show was good too. I've never seen a band play in the front room at the new Roboto location before. It was tight confines, but made for good punk.

Eel - A bunch of local punks. Noisy, fast, punk with some funky reverb on the mike. The band was good, but not so much different from Drug Lust or a ton of other bands.

Crazy Spirit - More of a street punk band than any other band on the show. The punks were all down with them. Sounded something like GISM. They're from NYC. The set was fun. People were pogoing and running around in a circle. I'd go see this band again.

Una Bestia Incontrolable - The Uncontrollable Beast from Barcelona Spain. This band was ok, but probably my least favorite of the evening. They weren't especially fast or heavy or good in any way. I enjoyed it, but it was just ok. I was hoping they would seriously slay because I like their name, but that didn't happen.

Glam - My favorite band of the night and they were the heaviest band of the night. A little more metal than the other bands, not very street punk esque. No one moshed or anything because a fair amount of the crusties left after Crazy Spirit. They are on tour with UBI, and traveling together because both bands share members and are from Barcelona Spain. I'd go see this group again.

Hi's - touring bands, average turnout
Low's - Missing Alpha and Omega at the shop

4-22 Culo, Bad Noids, Drug Lust, Illegals, Pittsburgh @Gooskis

Gooskis is a sweet place for late drunk and smoky shows. I wish the bar was a little bit more accessible for getting drinks, but you deal with that. Most of the shows I've ever been to at Gooskis have been pretty well attended and this show is no exception. I'm thinking there were around 75 people in the room at the point of most attendance. Though, who knows how many people paid to get in, I know we didn't. It's not because we wouldn't have paid, but no one at the door asked us to pay and never did throughout the night. Whatever. A band called Birth Deformities was rumored to maybe play, but they didn't. For that matter neither did Culo.

Illegals - They opened up the show. They still strike me as Slumlords with the pace turned up a notch. I like the demeanor of the people in this band. Fun band. Right before they opened up the show there was a fight of some sorts and some dude in flannel got thrown out. Not sure what that was about but I'm pretty sure it was stupid. Sweet band, will see again.

Drug Lust - By far the best I've seen them. The set was sweet. The punks moshing was in full effect. It was a really good set. Hardcore punk.

Bad Noids - They played a bunch of songs and the people in attendance were lovin it. A very fun set. They have a bunch of songs that are total bangers. I'll have to listen to this band now. Their singer was funny, you couldn't understand what he was saying at all, but he sounded funny anyway. Kinda reminded me of Charlie from Always Sunny, except more stoned and less hyper. Fast hardcore punk. I'm glad they got added to the bill last minute, I'll go see them again.

Culo - Didn't show up. Some dude got on stage at the end of Bad Noids and was saying some shit about the Helter Shelter. I think he was trying to say Culo was playing a set at the Helter Shelter after the Gooskis show. But I don't think they have shows at the Shelter anymore. Either way, we didn't go to see if that's what was happening.

Hi's - Turnout, pretty much everything about the night.
Low's - Culo not showing up, Birth Deformities not playing.