9-27 East Coast Tsunami Fest, Obituary, Wisdom in Chains, Sick of it All, Cro-Mags, Fury of Five, Lifeless, VOD, Hoods, Penntera, Next Step Up, Suburban Scum, Palehorse, Brick by Brick, Yesterday's Youth, Reading @Reverb

Going to this fest we were expecting a repeat of what we witnessed last time when Blood for Blood played. It turned out pretty disappointing for this first day. I'm not sure if it's the venue or the timing, but ECT can't hold a candle to This is Hardcore. Both days we went in pretty late, we didn't care too much to see the first half of the day.

Yesterday's Youth, Brick by Brick, Palehorse, Suburban Scum, Next Step Up, Penntera, Hoods - We missed them. I don't feel too bad, I'm assuming no more than 300 people saw any of them.

VOD - Pretty disappointing. I wasn't into them. I used to like them, then I didn't listen to them for years, and now I can't get into them for the life of me. Sucks.

Lifeless - I'd rather drink in the car than watch this band. So that's what we did.

Fury of Five - I hadn't seen them before, and I'm glad I got to this time. They kick ass. Heavy old school NYHC style street level hardcore. I don't think I'll ever binge listen to them, but I really enjoyed the set.

Cro-Mags - I wasn't at all disappointed in their set, but the crowd was really a piece of shit. Practically no movement or anything. I really liked the band though. Good energy, and of course good songs.

Sick of it All - They killed it, as you would expect. They didn't play a few songs that I really like, like Sanctuary, America, Potential for a Fall, and a few others. But they just killed it. The crowd didn't care too much. Maybe like 40 people gave a shit.

Wisdom in Chains - They were the most hype band of the day. They killed it too. The new songs are bangers, the old songs are bangers, it's all banger shit. When We Were Young. I'd estimate maybe 80 people gave a shit.

Obituary - To end up the day, metal gods Obituary got like 10 people into it. Super disappointing. They were heavy and super good, but just like the rest of the day and most likely the entire weekend, no one cared real much.

High's - Wisdom, Cro-Mags, Obituary, Sick of it All.
Low's - The price of beer, attendance, the hype level.

8-22 Skull Fest, Neutron Rats, Iron Reagan, Thulsa Doom, Arctic Flowers, Submachine, Blanks 77, Pittsburgh @Belvederes

We new going in that this show was going to be a total ripper. And it was.

Neutron Rats - Metal punks who brought it heavy. There weren't all that many people there for the band, but they brought it real heavy and fast. I liked them.

Iron Reagan - They killed it like they did every other time I saw them. They're the best band in the new wave of thrash metal. They're fun and loud. I'll always be trying to see them.

Thulsa Doom - Definitely the most disappointing band of the night. The songs were good and there wasn't anything in particular I didn't like. But the punks weren't into them, and it seemed like they might not have played for a while or something. All in all it was good music and mildly entertaining.

Arctic Flowers - This was the first of two times I'd be seeing them this weekend. They're a really good easy listening punk band. I like their energy and they're very good at playing their songs. I'll see them again for sure.

Submachine - Old Pittsburgh punks getting it. They played very well and were received well too. I'd seen them before and I'll see them again.

Blanks 77 - Somehow I've never seen them before even though they'd been playing forever. The set was good. They used the word cunt a lot. I guess some people didn't like that, especially when he was calling their female guitarist a cunt. Oh well, punks will be punks. I liked the show. Fast pogo punk in the old school vein.

Hi's - The venue, the show.
Low's - Nothing.

8-23 Skull Fest, Zex, Arctic Flowers, New Regrets, Pittsburgh @Rock Room

This was the Skull Fest aftershow for the Infest show. We went straight over because we weren't near drunk enough, and Mr. Smalls wasn't near packed and shitty enough. And we needed to get our punx on.

New Regrets - This band was really really good, and also from Cleveland. Cleveland stepping up big with awesome bands this weekend. They were a more rock and roll influenced punk rock. I remember them being funny. We struck up a conversation with the singer outside the venue, cool dude, and if I wasn't 75% hammered I might be able to recount it for you. I'll be all over seeing this band again.

Arctic Flowers - This band isn't my style, but they put on some great shows this weekend. They killed the Rock Room with their easy punk style.

Zex - We didn't get to see them at the other Skull Fest show they played at, but I wish I had. The singer played with her boobies all out, it was cool. Fast hardcore weirdo punk. Very good set.

Hi's- Everything
Low's- Nothing

8-23 Skull Fest, Infest, Dream Death, Occultist, Fuck You Pay Me, Killer of Sheep, Pittsburgh @Mr. Smalls

This was the main attraction for me of all the Skull Fest shows. What sucked about it is that the place was way too big and way out of the way from the rest of the Skull Fest venues. Most of the gutter punks wouldn't want to go here for a show. The venue also has a stigma about it because of the barrier in front of the stage, expensive drinks, expensive door fees, getting patted down, and the police station literally next door. So needless to say turnout was disappointing. I'm guessing 200 people absolute maximum.

Killer of Sheep - They were good but I remember the singer having a bad attitude. That just sounds funny but I think he was pissed about something. The worst KoS set I've seen.

Fuck You Pay Me - This band is awesome. The best thing to come out of Cleveland since Ringworm. They're fast and heavy, kind of in the vein of Coke Bust. I really enjoyed the set, especially the singer's hatred of the barrier. He stood on top of it for a lot of the time.

Occultist - I've been all over this band for a long ass time. But time and again I'm disappointed by their not playing Death Sigils. They still killed it. Heavy as fuck, bringing the metal to Skull Fest big time.

Dream Death - All their songs are super long, and without a packed crowd it all seemed a bit lackluster. Good long metal though. I liked them.

Infest - Their first time ever in Pennsylvania, which is amazing for a band that has been around as long as they have. They killed it. The singer pretty much said fuck the barrier and stood out in the pit the whole time. They played all the hits, it was glorious. I loved this set so much.

Hi's - Infest, Occultist, FYPM
Low's - The venue, the location, turnout.

6-28-2014 Sloppy Seconds, The Cheats, The Scratch N Sniffs, Pittsburgh @31st Street Pub

So I somehow missed writing a review of this show. Better late than never I suppose.

We were really excited going to this show. I had never seen Sloppy Seconds before and they are my favorite pop punk band ever. So I knew this was going to rule.

The Scratch N Sniffs - This band sucked. Eyeliner and all. Pop punk for shitty punks.

The Cheats - A really good band. I saw them a few years ago at Howlers and it was cool. They were good again this time. Pop punk of much higher quality than the opening band.

Sloppy Seconds - They played all the hits and it was great. I love Lesbians, I Don't Wanna Be a Homosexual, So Fucked Up, it was all great. We were drunk and had a great time. I'll see them again any time.

Hi's - Sloppy Seconds
Low's - Not much.

8-6 Revolt, Ajax, Blessed State, Worn Leather, Pittsburgh @Rock Room

I hadn't been to the Rock Room before, but it's a wonderful place. The tall cans of beer were $2, and the Wednesday night kitchen special is pizza boats which are big as fuck for $.50. Killer prices.

Worn Leather - We didn't see them because we were eating pizza boats, but we listened from the next room and I'm pissed because they sounded super good. They have an old style sound, something like a modernized Ramones. They sounded real good. Next time I'll make sure to watch them.

Blessed State - This band is ok. On recording they are styled kind of like No Trigger mixed with Hot Water Music or something similar to that. They were a decent show, with decent songs. I don't think I'll go out of my way to see them, but they're cool.

Ajax - They were really really good. Hardcore punk, fast stuff with burly beast vocals. The vocals sounded something like Tragedy live. Well, maybe, the PA system quality was pretty poor for this band, I think the music was probably too loud. But they were still the band of the night, put on a killer show, and I'm going to have to download some of their stuff, and I'll be trying to see them at Skull Fest.

Revolt - Standard punx music. Rough street punk shitpunk style. They were pretty entertaining though. Chic singer wigging out and shit. I enjoyed the set. They had a song about the masturbators, so that's good.

Hi's - All the bands, the cheap food, Rock Room
Low's - None

7-27 This is Hardcore, Slumlords, Turnstile, Death Before Dishonor, Suburban Scum, Harms Way, World War 4, Angel Dust, Test of Time, Philadelphia @Electric Factory

Going into this last day of This is Hardcore we knew we were going to cut out of there mid-day sometime. It was either going to be after Power Trip or Slumlords. It ended up being Slumlords. It hurts me to miss Madball, but we had to get back.

Test of Time - This band wasn't very good. There was practically no energy from the set. Completely not memorable.

Angel Dust - This band kicked ass big time. I'm always unsure about the bands that come out of nowhere are are super popular all of the sudden, but Angel Dust is awesome. They're like a Twitching Tongues that is actually super good. The singer has a unique singing presentation and he's very fun to watch. I'll for sure see this band again.

World War 4 - Another year of the ultimate hype band. The band isn't bad, but there's really just nothing special about them. I'd rather have Floorpunch. But then who wouldn't.

Harms Way - By far the best beatdown style band of the fest. They killed it. The energy is unparallelled which makes the music so much better. I remember at Sincerity Fest they were good, but I especially enjoyed them this time. I'm going to listen to more Harms Way, great gym music.

Suburban Scum - I like this band pretty well on recordings, but I didn't like the live show so much. The music was pretty good, but something gave me a real 'meh' feeling.

Death Before Dishonor - Another old time band that no one gives a shit about anymore. I like this band, but I don't think anyone else does anymore. The crowd took a break for this one.

Turnstile - Killed it. This is a few times I've seen them now and they always kill it. They got the catchiest bass lines. The mosh was on, the singalong was on. Killer shit.

Slumlords - The end of our day. I assumed that since they haven't played a show in forever that they wouldn't get much crowd response. They were more like a pariah to the mosh. And that's unfortunate because their set blew away my biggest expectations. Great songs like Slumber Party at Jackos and I Was Drunk At the Youth of Today Reunion. The singer was super super funny and great to watch. They didn't play Walking the Dog or Trustfund Oi Boy, but the set still killed it. They were selling a killer t-shirt with Scottie P, a bandmember, all over it. It's a funny and awesome shirt. But no shirt will ever be funnier than the Slumber Party at Jackos shirt.

The end of the day. God Slumlords was great. A 6 hour drive home and work early the next morning was not great.

Merch acquired: Slumlords shirt.

Best sets: 1. Slumlords
2. Angel Dust
3. Turnstile
4. Harms Way
5. Death Before Dishonor

Disappointing sets through 4 days: 1. Unearth
2. 100 Demons
3. Twitching Tongues
4. Lifeless
5. Suburban Scum

Favorite sets after 4 days: 1.Wisdom in Chains
2. Slumlords
3. Cold World
4. Crowbar
5. Agnostic Front

All in all, This is Hardcore didn't disappoint. But do they ever disappoint? They've already announced the dates for next year's show, and if at all possible we'll be there all 4 days.