8-1 Michael Graves, The Big Bad, Chud, Sheldon Vance, 30 Caliber Corpse, Huntington WV @V Club

We were down in WV visiting friends. This was going on, so we went. We got there like 30 mins after the show was supposed to start. We were there at least an hour before they started. Fuck.

30 Caliber Corpse - Punk band. Not too good, not too bad. Covered the Ramones and shit. Real normal.

Sheldon Vance - A solo artist guitar player I think from the Huntington WV area. He was ok. I think he was trying to be real heartfelt or something.

Chud - Somehow Chud was the best band of the night from Charleston. Some of the lyrics were super obvious, but that's ok. Music was good. Fast punk maybe bordering on hardcore almost but not quite. The singer talked about being in jail for 7 years, but unfortunately the song about that was the worst one they played. He took his shirt off.

The Big Bad - They are a rockabilly type band. They were pretty good. Played way too long and many of the songs in the middle part of their set weren't very good. They lost me after a few songs. I liked their death punk style songs though.

Michael Graves - Didn't know what to expect from him, but didn't realize he was also a solo acoustic artist. He covered a Misfits song. Obviously that was the best song of the night. It was ok. We stayed for 20 mins or so then left.

Hi's - Chillin
Low's - A few of the bands I guess.

7-22 Old Accusers, Resistance Wire, Nullum, Pittsburgh @Cattivo

I wasn't going to go to this show but at the last minute I found out that my old friend from North Carolina was in town. We had gone to shows back in the day before he enlisted, but hadn't for years. This was the only night that he was in town that there was a show, so we went. This show was a benefit for a guy named Dakota. I didn't know him, and don't really know anyone who does, but evidently he died recently. Some of the bands seemed against anyone who was there just to see the bands. Saying things like, if this is just another show to you fuck you. And that's ok. Not mad at them.

Nullum - I remember during the set thinking that if they're a band for a while longer the live show will probably be good. Newish band, I think they've been playing for a year or so, but this is the first time I saw them. Heavy hardcore. Nothing fast. Growly man vocals and screamy man vocals. It was ok.

Resistance Wire - This band rips. The bassist from Code Orange is super entertaining. This band is heavy and inclines one to mosh. They might be the next good hardcore band out of Pittsburgh.

Old Accusers - It's been years since they played. This band was pretty good back in the day. This is the last time they'll ever play. Heavy and choppy at times, slow and a little less aggressive at times. Good stuff.

Hi's - Just about everything.
Low's - Nothing.

6-5 Pro-Pain, Submachine, Path to Misery, Hand of Zeus, Pittsburgh @Altar Bar

I didn't think we were going to make this show on time, but we did. After work it was a hurry, but it worked out well.

Path to Misery - They opened the night, surprisingly. They were the best band not named Pro-Pain. The set was cool, very heavy, politically charged. I felt there might be a little tongue in cheek when AJ said "This is for the gun grabbers and the Obama Administration." I'm pretty sure the song that followed was about guns being taken away. I think the song might really be making fun of people who are always complaining about Obama taking their guns away. Which hasn't happened yet.

Hand of Zeus - I like this band, but only so much. I liked their last song, and the song that dude from Erie sings on.

Submachine - Pittsburgh halfway hardcore punk. They didn't get any type of serious response, but the set was good like always. Good energy from old fucks.

Pro-Pain - I had been listening to this band for a while, but not listening a whole lot. They put on a real good set but way too long. I liked pretty much every song, but after 12 of them bitches I lost interest. The crowd was disappointing because of how few were there, I'm thinking 60 to 75 paid. But the promoter might have done well because it cost $18 to get in. New York City, old style crossover. I can see Pro-Pain playing This is Hardcore and killing it.

Hi's - The bands.
Low's - The price, not eating beforehand.

5-3 Bane, Expire, Killer of Sheep, Killing Thing, Hand of Zeus, Pittsburgh @Cattivo

So Expire had to drop off of the show because of family issues I think. That was a bummer, because they're good and this show needed another non-local band to get the juices flowing. Or maybe I'm just old as fuck and need to be more like the two kids who came in and danced like maniacs the entire time. Talked to them before Bane. They were pissed that no one else was into it, but they were cool as shit. Probably me like 15 years ago.

Killer of Sheep - Local hardcore punks opened up the show. They're a good band. Their style isn't complicated. Good for banging your head fast and such.

Killing Thing - Local band that kicks ass. Fast and heavy and good. If they keep playing I can see them as relevant in the future.

Hand of Zeus - I liked this band, but not extremely memorable. Hardcore.

Bane - Kicked all the fucking ass. They rule hard as fuck. Played all the bangers, didn't disappoint one single bit. Calling Hours was killer. It's sad that this will be it for them. I'll miss this band that got me super into hardcore.

Highs - Everything
Lows - Last Bane show in Pittsburgh

4-4 Radiation Risks, Eel, The Sicks, Pittsburgh @The Rock Room

We hadn't been to a show in a bit. This was a great one to go to.

The Sicks - Pittsburgh fast punks. I really like this band. Climbing on the pinball machines, getting crazy. Great band.

Eel - This band is fast and distorted as shit. Love this band too.

Radiation Risks - This band kicks ass. They have the sound of a surf punk hardcore band or something. Very much enjoyed the set.

Hi's - All the bands and the venue
Low's - Nothing

3-5 Rivers of Nihl, Dark Sermon, Post Mortal Posession, Conflict Cycle, Pittsburgh @Smiling Moose

My friend got free tickets to this show through his radio show. Free.99 means I'm going. Most of the time. Usually it wouldn't be a random shit metal show that would draw me out, but there was some reason for optimism with this one. I had read that the Smiling Moose had renovated. I pictured in my head an upstairs that didn't have the awkward stairs and wasn't so narrow. I was wrong. I think they just put up a little fence to barricade drinking from non drinking areas.

Conflict Cycle - I didn't like this band very much. Metal that sucked. I don't think I'll be seeing them again.

Post Mortal Posesson - I liked this band a little more than the previous band because their style of music is a lot less popular. But all in all I didn't like the band much either. I guess they're going without a singer or something right now. Death metal.

Dark Sermon - The band of the night. Even though the singer may have been a little bit over the top trying to create a certain mood, I still really enjoyed him. They reminded me of the Alestorm of Satan. I'm actually going to look up this band a lot more. The bass player was fun to watch too.

Rivers of Nihl - Unfortunately the other bands played for too long and this band only got to play 4 songs. That's the big bummer of the Smiling Moose having early shows, sometimes you just run out of time. But that's ok. Rivers of Nihl mixes death metal with hardcore and punk influences. That description might make them sound cool, but they're not super awesome. I didn't like the singer all that much. He didn't have a lot of personality on stage. But I liked the songs and they didn't suck. Yay metal. Metal won.

High's - Dark Sermon, good company, good drinks, good food.
Low's - Show cut short. Swollen ankle still hurt.

3-4 The Sicks, Wetbrain, Chiller, Pittsburgh @Gooskis

I like going to shows at Gooskis. The one thing I do hate is there is normally a decent wait at the bar. Surely it would be to their benefit to throw on a few more bartenders for a weekend night. Either way, this show had all of the markings of a good show, and that pretty much held up.

Chiller - This band was ok. Fasterish hardcore punk. I liked the lead singer. He looked very familiar. Locals that I'd see again.

The Sicks - This band rules. Old punks fucking shit up. Fast and loud, they remind me a little bit of Fuck You Pay Me.

Wetbrain - From Cleveland. They were hardcore punk in the vein of The Sicks. They had some songs that were super bangers. I thought the singer was pretty funny too.

High's - Good show, good venue, good company.
Low's - Nothing but the cold outside and my swollen fucking ankle.