7-24 This is Hardcore, Killswitch Engage, Unearth, Crowbar, Overcast, Ringworm, Code Orange Kids, Xibalba, Noisem, Expire, Lifeless, Rock Bottom, Philadelphia @Electric Factory

This is Hardcore is by far the most exciting fest in the USA every year, and for me maybe in the entire world. The cross section of underground bands that loosely at times fit into the hardcore genre provide good diversity and always the opportunity to see bands that I wouldn't see anywhere else. This year's fest has the most interesting lineup of any year we've attended thus far.

This is the first year we've attended all 4 days. Our friends getting old as fuck, or at least for some reason it seems like they want to be and feel old as fuck. Resigning any sentiment of youth and energy in favor of polo shirts and 10 pm bedtimes. I don't think I'll ever get it. Regardless, me and Eric, doing what we'll always do, made the late night trip from one side of PA to the other on Wednesday night. 5 hour drive about, it went by fast, and once again Camry handled it like a champ.

We got the deal of the century, the hotel was free for 4 days. Fucking awesome shit. It was also way too classy for us. I'd really rather stay in some New Jersey slum motel like last year. We stayed at the Four Points by Sheridan. It had a nice bar and shit in the lobby, a salt water pool, super friendly housekeeping who actually said hello and shit when you passed them in the hallways, breakfast that cost like $10. It was way over the top and we were most definitely the only TIH goers staying there. It wasn't all good at the hotel though, the TV had some of those scratchy static lines running vertically, the swimming pool was kinda dirty, and I couldn't smoke in the room. Next year we're going back to staying at a hotel with a fist sized hole in the door.

We made the crucial mistake on this day by parking in one of the attended lots. Fucking $25. Fuck that. Those fucking con artists ripped us right off properly. Fuck em. They won't get us again because the next day we figured out how to buck that system.

The line was around the corner and took forever to get in despite the fact that we were pretty early. This day of the fest is seen as a metal day. Very few true hardcore bands played. I think it was awesome, but it appeared that this was by a longshot the least attended day of the fest.

Rock Bottom - We missed them because of the line.

Lifeless - I wish I'd have missed them. They're one of those tough guy bands that there is nothing special about. See, if you're going to be a super tough band like them, then you have got to either have the best songs, or the best live show. They have none of that. I hadn't seen them before, but my impression of them was a negative one. I connect them with the bands that encourage crowd killing and the ultra-violence that makes shows no fun to go to. In the end I was pretty close to right. I didn't enjoy the set and don't think I'll ever go out of my way to see this band. One of the worst bands of the fest. The crowd's response to them was a bit sluggish.

Expire - The first band that drew heavy crowd response. It was a great set. With a mid tempo modern hardcore sound they brought the most and the stagedives. It was a very good set. My first time seeing them. I'll have to listen more and will for sure go see them again.

Noisem - A younger and newer hardcore band. They fit into the subgenre of weirdo metal hardcore. The response to their set was weak because their songs aren't great for stagediving and not good for moshing. I enjoyed the set and I think if this band stays together they'll be something to see in the future.

Xibalba - The first band of the year that we willfully didn't watch. We listened outside. Tough guy shit, I'm sure the mosh was pretty ignorant.

Code Orange Kids - They make me feel good about Pittsburgh hardcore. They got some serious crowd response. The pit was heavy as fuck. Their stage presence is amazing. Despite being more of a weird metal hardcore band like Noisem, they have some songs that are much more conductive to energy at a place like TIH. Great set. This band is really growing on me.

Ringworm - "This happens every year. In between the mosh parts are these things called solos. Ask your uncles and your dads about them. They'll fill you in." A great line by the singer Human Furnace that sums up Ringworm's set pretty well. They slayed it, but the crowd really only got crazy for a few songs. One of the best sets of the day, and one of my favorite sets of the weekend. They didn't play Dollar Whore or Birth is Pain, but still the set was awesome. I had to get the frisbee and backpatch and towel, so this was the first band whose merch table I hit hard.

Overcast - An older band who is going to be putting out a discography soon. I don't think they've played anywhere in years. It's always a great thing about TIH fest because they pull bands like this out of the woodwork and often their showmanship squashes a lot of the newer bands. Overcast pretty much killed it. The singer has dreads no joke 5 feet long. Brought some metal, brought the mosh. Good set by a band that I should be listening to. This was the first set of the day that had to be stopped mid-song because someone was hurt pretty badly. I didn't see what happened but dude ended up ok and going out with the medics. They resumed play successfully.

Crowbar - By far the most surprising band of the entire fest. As a sludge metal band, never focusing on the beatdowns, they brought it and brought it fucking hard. The pit was going wild. It seemed that people were really into them. I had previously thought that this would be the beginning of a mass exodus for the end of the night, but I was wrong. TIH packed it in. Sludge metal stagedives? What? It was off the hook. You can tell this band has been playing for a long long time because they had their shit together. Great set, I'm sure if they ever come to Pittsburgh again they'll be playing with shit metal bands and their set won't be nearly as energetic, but I'm looking forward to it anyway. One of the top sets of the whole weekend.

Unearth - When they went on stage there were maybe half of the people in the building that were in there for Crowbar. It was still a lot of people, but I'm sure it had to be disappointing for them. They didn't help theirselves any by playing pretty poorly and people slowly trickled out as their set didn't suck anyone in. By far one of the most disappointing bands for me. I used to be super into their early albums up to the Oncoming Storm. But even their old songs sounded lackluster and with boring unimaginative beatdowns. Towards the end of the set some lady got hurt, evidently knocked out cold, and there was a long lull in the music. We took this opportunity to end the misery and get out of there. Won't be going out of my way to check them out in the future.

Killswitch Engage - This band isn't anything I'm very interested in. And after Unearth epically let me down I wasn't too keen on giving another mainstream hardcore turned metal band a chance. We got our merch and got out. Was super disappointed that Crowbar had packed up their shit and left before we got to their table. Almost got a Code Orange Kids jersey, but I probably wouldn't wear it.

Merch acquired this day: Ringworm (shirt, tote, patches, stickers, frisbee, towel, 4 beer coozies), Hail Pizza pentagram shirt that I love.

Best sets: 1. Crowbar
2. Code Orange Kids
3. Ringworm
4. Expire
5. Overcast

Disappointing sets: 1. Unearth
2. Lifeless

Favorite sets after one day: 1. Crowbar
2. Ringworm
3. Code Orange Kids
4. Expire
5. Overcast

Final thoughts of the night. Chics in high waisted shorts are still a big thing, it's good and bad, good is good and bad is fupa emphasis. Booty shorts are still prevalent. I will always wear tighter pants from now on because things will stay in your pocket better. We didn't utilize the $5 re-entry. Girl mosh was prevalent, and that's good to see. Dickhead mosh was happening, but not on the scale that it was a show ruiner. Metal wins.

5-25 Bane, Turnstile, Take Offense, Pittsburgh @Smiling Moose

Going into this show, it was a must see for us, because we were under the impression that it was Bane's last tour. Good news is that they said that's just a rumor and they'll be playing forever. So I was happy for that. We got there extra early so we could have dinner at the Smiling Moose. Black bean sliders, fucking delicious. I should have ordered a second helping of them because they were such the bomb.

Take Offense - I hadn't heard or seen this band before, but they killed it. Good semi-wig hardcore. I think of them like a heavier Backtrack. The lead singer looked like a tiny Lord Ezec from Skarhead and sounded like Freddy Madball, but the dude was a skiny dude and not a scary fuck like those two. I'd like to go see this band again.

Turnstile - This band kicks ass. Funky bass shit at times, good grooves, I enjoyed every bit of it. I liked them better here at the Moose than I did at This is Hardcore.

Bane - Great set. The new songs are killer. I'll go see them everytime. Top ten bands in hardcore for the past 10 years.

Hi's - everything
Low's - nothing at all

4-30 Iron Reagan, Occultist, Common Nightmare, Curseborn, Pittsburgh @Smiling Moose

Going into this show I was super excited for Iron Reagan and Occultist. I didn't have high hopes for Common Nightmare or Curseborn. The Smiling Moose is a good place for this show. We didn't eat there though, we stopped at Primantis on the way home for food and beer.

Common Nightmare, Curseborn - So this show was over a month ago and I'm just now getting around to writing this. All I remember about these bands is that they sucked. I didn't enjoy their shit at all. I do remember some douche bags up front who were loving it. They kept standing up on the steps in front of the stage and trying to get everyone to pump fists with them. They failed. Shit metal bands. We watched a few songs then drank the rest away.

Occultist - They kicked ass. Heavy and fast punk metal goodness. The lead singer was pretty engaging and she was an entertaining frontman. They're coming back to Pittsburgh this summer with Infest for Skullfest and it's going to be the shit.

Iron Reagan - This band kicked ass. They're coming back for Skullfest too. Going to rule. They're like Municipal Waste Jr. I enjoyed the shit out of all their songs, fast and thrashy.

Hi's - Kick ass bands, food, drink
Low's - Shit bands

3-31 Stick to Your Guns, Terror, Expire, Hundredth, Counterparts, Pittsburgh @Altar Bar

If possible I'll always go see Terror when they come to Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, it seems that half of the time they play with a bunch of shit bands. F those bands. I was worried on the way into the show, because the sign on the door said no moshing no stagediving. At a Terror show, no chance.

Expire - Because I had to work this day we got there late and missed them. Sucks dick that they played first because they're really good.

Counterparts - Instead of watching them we sat in the car and boozed. Good call.

Hundredth - Not very good in my opinion. However, these seem like really good people, they're involved with some nonprofits that are stright up good. I like the guys, not the band so much, but I've no problem supporting the band since they support good things.

Terror - Kick motherfucking ass. I have a feeling that the 75% of the crowd, which was everyone behind me, was standing still. Either way, the songs they played were mostly new, and I'm not surprised by that because of the audience. But the older songs they did play were true bangers, and the new songs are fucking sick too. Win win with Terror everytime.

Stick to Your Guns - I think this band sucks. They have a few singy songs, which I've always had disdain for. And their other songs just aren't all that good.

Hi's - Terror, partying
Low's - The other bands, high price, not much else.

3-15 Eel, War Emblem, Dying, Blood Red, Pittsburgh @Romeo II

This show was pretty awesome. It was at a house that I'd never been to before, so that made it a little bit strange. But after we found our way around, feeling like circus freaks, everything came together. The bands played in the basement, which was tiny as fuck. But on the upside of everything, there were two restrooms in the house, so that was great.

Blood Red - This band kicks ass. Fastish hardcore punk. Reminds me of Good Clean Fun because of the witty banter of the singer. This set was very entertaining and funny.

Dying - This band ended up not showing up. Oh well. Based on the description they wouldn't have fit in all that well anyway.

War Emblem - I love the name of this band. They ripped. No specific memorable songs or anything, but they just kicked ass.

Eel - Local skunk punks playing the fast and noisey and loud. I always enjoy their set.

Hi's - All the bands that played, the venue being pooper friendly, funny people watching and encounters.

low's - Not much.

2-18-2014 Backtrack, Cross Me, Eternal Sleep, No Good Deed, Posideon's Wake, Pittsburgh @Mr. Roboto Project

It had been a while since I went to a show. Mostly because of work through the holiday season, then poor weather took me out of the running for a few shows, and Magic of course. But I'm getting back into it officially. Backtrack was a great way to do that.

Eternal Sleep - I've seen this band before, and they're ok. I don't like the Hatebreed cover, it's just begging a little too much for mosh. For 90% of the set I couldn't hear the vocals at all. Then for the last two songs I was able to move 2 feet closed because someone walked out, and all of the sudden the vocals were crystal clear. I don't know if they fixed the vocal situation all of the sudden, or if there is some strange sound dichotomy going on at the beginning of the hallway in Roboto. Either way, band was alright as always.

No Good Deed - Band straight up sucked. The guitar work and the drumming was uninspired at best. Sounds like 400 other shitty metalcore bands that no more than 4 people want to listen to. The mosh got turned up to scary let's try to hurt everyone in the room levels, but the funny thing about that is that the moshers who were being rediculous didn't even seem to like the band that much. They didn't know the words. They looked tempid for the whole set until it became time to hurt bystanders. I think they just wanted to look tough for the other boys watching them. Sooo cool. I hate idiots like that and bands that encourage their stupidity. But I'm sure to you my little rant here is invalid and I'm a pussy.

Posideon's Wake - Missed this band mostly because after No Good Deed played I really needed some beers.

Cross Me - Band from Wisconsin is stright up killer. I enjoyed the shit out of the set. The mosh was good, respectful. I'll go see this band again for sure. Heavy and fast not so different from Backtrack, but a little groovy like Turnstile or something.

Backtrack - I've seen them a bunch of times. Good time every time. Fast heavyish hardcore.

Hi's - Everything except one band.
Low's - Potholes freaking everywhere. Big nasty ones too.

11-26-2013 Alestorm, Trollfest, Gypsyhawk, The Bloody Seamen, Pittsburgh @Smiling Moose

I love Alestorm. The band can't do a whole lot wrong in my eyes. We get stoked as fuck for Alestorm to come to town.

The Bloody Seamen - They opened the show and sucked. Their songs weren't any good. They were wearing makeup and shit as if a pirate would ever do that. Disappointment city.

Gypsyhawk - I really liked this band. Like a biker groovemetal band. I'd see them again for sure. Second best band of the night.

Trollfest - We opted to drink downstairs instead of watching Trollfest. Though, my brother watched them and says they were pretty good.

Alestorm - Great set. Played tons of songs I know. I remember I enjoyed irritating the shit out of some dude who wanted more than nothing to be right next to his girlfriend. I took great joy in that.

Hi's - Alestorm, beer
Low's - Nothing.