10-31 Submachine, The S/cks, Six Speed Kill, Silence, Pittsburgh @The Shop

Submachine is an awesome band. This was their 25th anniversary show doubling as a Halloween party. Great venue for the show and a great time all around.

Silence - I didn't like this band too much. They either sounded a little like the Jerry Only Misfits or the Koffin Kats. We couldn't decide definitively. Either way, they were average at best.

Six Speed Kill - This band was actually pretty good. They channel the sound of Motorhead, in that vein of rock and metal. Vocals were good, they just need a new name.

The S/cks - Awesome band. Playing fast punk, but not of the mo-hawk variety. I really like this band and will go out to see them again.

Submachine - Of course they killed it. Great energy. The crowd was into it. Great Pittsburgh night of everything.

Highs - Submachine, the Sicks, the venue, turnout.
Lows - It was a little bit chilly out.

10-18 Leftover Crack, Days N Daze, All Torn Up, Juicy Karkass, Pittsburgh @Rex Theater

So we went to go to this show. But the mother fucker was sold out. Couldn't believe it. Bullshit.

9-30 Madball, The Greenery, Eternal Sleep, Hand of Zeus, No Good Deed, Pittsburgh @Cattivo

We were a little bit late getting to the show so we missed No Good Deed and Hand of Zeus. But all that's ok because we got to drink beer in the car on the cheap and smoke all you can smoke before going in.

No Good Deed - Missed em. Was drinking PBR. I've seen them a few times and I'm not the biggest fan. I'm pretty sure they're the band that people were getting all super violent about at Roboto. Wasn't a good time at all.

Hand of Zeus - Missed them.

Eternal Sleep - I really like this band and they're always growing on me. Love the head bang. Heavy newish shit from Pittsburgh. Always a good show.

The Greenery - Never heard of this band before. I was assuming they'd be all about smoking the greenery but they didn't mention it once during the set. Seemed like some young dudes who lucked out and get to tour with Madball for a bunch of shows. They were heavy and pretty good. I went into the show thinking they'd suck, but I actually like them.

Madball - Everyone likes Madball. They played some old shit and some new shit. I liked all the shit.

Highs - All the bands, pretty much everything.
Lows - More people could have been there.

9-19 Comeback Kid, Stray from the Path, Being As An Ocean, Major League, Deez Nuts, Pittsburgh @Altar Bar

A rainy trip into Pittsburgh for some banger bands.

Deez Nuts - Didn't play. That's probably a good thing, I can't imagine they're any good.

Major League - Wasn't very good. "This band is singing about feelings and shit." They're a wimpy kind of hardcore band.

Being As an Ocean - They were good. They weren't singy or wimpy or anything so it was better than the other band. Maybe I'll give them a listen sometime.

Comeback Kid - They were awesome like always. They didn't play Hailing on Me or a few other songs that I had wanted to see, but that'll happen when a band has like a million killer songs. The energy was good and everything was cool. I hope Comeback Kid plays pretty much forever.

Stray from the Path - I hadn't seen them for a few years since they played in Charleroi. They were very good. Something like a hardcore version of Rage Against the Machine. I was very surprised. I'll have to listen to them more.

All in all it was a very good night.

High's - Comeback Kid, Stray from the Path
Low's - Not much.

9-11 Weekend Nachos, Radium Girls, Concealed Blade, Honeymoon, Pittsburgh @The Shop

We were a little bit late in arrival and missed the first band.

Honeymoon - Missed them. A confusing name, I think they probably play some real fast shit with a wimpy name.

Concealed Blade - I saw them once before and this time they were way better. The vocals were awesome and growl yelly. The beats were good, fast and then groovy, almost a surf punk hardcore feel. Not so different from Angel Dust and some other similar bands. Another good Pittsburgh band.

Radium Girls - Their last show ever. I like this band. Fast yelling with a female singer. Goodbye Radium Girls.

Weekend Nachos - I was happy with their set. I was half concerned that the douchebag crew would be in attendance, but I was wrong. The crowd was great. When mosh happened it was respectful and reasonable but still fun. I like the way WN goes from fast to slow. Not many bands get the sound right like they do. Jock Powerviolence is such a good song.

High's - All the bands and the venue.
Low's - Nothing.

9-6 Agnostic Front, Freedom, Killer of Sheep, Weapons of Choice, Pittsburgh @Cattivo

I was excited for this show because of the small show space. Last few times I've seen Agnostic Front has been in bigger spots and there just weren't enough people there to fill in. I think about 100 people probable paid for this show. Well worth $12 for me.

Killer of Sheep - Looks like they revamped their lineup. New front man, and this time he's really good. I enjoyed his vocals more than the last guy. Just more fitting. Looked like a new bass player too. Fast and rowdy is good again.

Weapons of Choice - The vocals were really good, but overall they kinda sucked. Or maybe they just seem like they sucked next to all the other bands. The whole time I was trying to think of another band the vocals sounded like, maybe 86 Mentality or something similar. I'd give them another chance for sure.

Freedom - A real surprising band. They were super super good. Non-racist skinhead hardcore. They reminded me of Foreseen from Finland a little bit, but less thrashy. Fast hardcore with a few tougher parts, real angry vocals, I loved it.

Agnostic Front - We lucked out with their set. The bass player had to leave the tour because he's having a kid, and the fill in guy, some dude from Bostonish area, only knew old songs and a few new ones. So we got to see an awesome set. They did play three new songs and they were all short and super good. Old heads in AF still bringing the heat, it was good to see. Vinny Stigma is always fun to watch, he's such a goof.

High's - Freedom, AF, the venue
Low's - Nothing

8-30 Blackalicious, George Hollow, New Breed Brass Band, Fortified PhonetiX, Pittsburgh @Altar Bar

We were pretty stoked for this rap show. Blackalicious is the shit and I was hopeful about the other groups too. We got there a little bit late and we missed Fortified PhonetiX. We saw him before, I think at the Cannibal Ox show, and he was good. But we didn't see him on this night.

George Hollow - He was super good. One white dude with funny hair on the raps, and another white dude who can't rap on the turntables. I'm not sure if the rapper was George Hollow, or if that is the name for the two of them together. I liked his stage presence. He kind of roams around slinging raps. I enjoyed it, for sure.

New Breed Brass Band - This band was officially the shit. A 6 piece, two drummers, two trombone, a tuba, and a trumpet. Marching band style, had an awesome New Orleans feel to them, which makes sense because that's where they're from. They were more of a jazz band with some hip hop flavor. If they ever come back to Pittsburgh I will most definitely go see them again.

Blackalicious - Never could be disappointed with them. Gift of Gab is an amazing rapper. His flow is unparalleled. The DJ Chef Xcel is awesome too. The best surprise however was The Truth Speaker. Dude can sing and rap and he is awesome. They played for a long time, the new songs are dope, the old songs are dope, everything about Blackalicious is dope.

So I was, like at many rap shows, kind of surprised and maybe a little disappointed that the entire crowd was white. Out of probably 150 in attendance, maybe 6 black people were there. I guess I just don't understand. Why doesn't the black community actually support a lot of underground hip hop groups? For the life of me I can't understand why this is.

Highs - All the groups, everything.
Lows - Nothing.