10-14-2012 Converge, Torche, Kvelertak, Pittsburgh @Altar Bar

Going into this show I hadn't heard any of Converge's new cd, but I figured it'd be a ripper. The other two bands were pretty new to me.

The weather was good this night, a perfect night for hardcore and metal.

Kvelertak - This band was pretty good. Some of my friends thought they were pretty butt, but I thought they represented metal pretty well. Good performance. I'd like to see them again.

Torche - This band sucks. They reminded me of a heavier Creed or something. They also played forever. I watched a few songs and listened to the rest from outside. Will not see again, I hope.

Converge - They didn't play many old songs, but still ripped it up. Dark Horse is an awesome song. The crowd was real into it. Probably the best Converge show in Pittsburgh that I've been to.

I like the Altar Bar for some shows, less for others. This show I'd have rather seen somewhere else that is a little bit shittier.

Hi's - Converge, Kvelertak, weather
Low's - Torche, expensive beer

10-7 Propaghandi, Comeback Kid, The Catastrophe, Worlds Scariest Police Chases, Pittsburgh @Altar Bar

We were super stoked for this show. Propagandhi doesn't tour through these parts much, so seeing them was a treat. I've been listening to them since about 2000 and every album is pretty solid. The show was $20 I think, which is usually a little bit steep by punk standards, but going into the investment I felt it would be worth it.

Also on the same night was a CDC wig-mosh show going on at the Ironworks. I'm not sure why they'd schedule CDC to play here on the same night as Comeback Kid is playing a big show. It's people like me they want to draw there. The gangster mosh people are going to CDC anyway, but I'd only go if there wasn't anything better to do. So Propagandhi and Comeback Kid got my cheese without any contest.

Worlds Scariest Police Chases - Pop punk hardcore punk kinda deal. They all dress up like Police officers kinda. Well, they at least wear badges. Either way their set was real fun. The lead singer has a cockyness to him, though it seems to be part of the show.

The Catastrophe - I was hoping for a decent band. But this band wasn't decent. We watched three songs then went outside for beer. Pretty boring to watch. And the appearance of the lead singer was a turn off for me. He looked like a frat boy or something.

At this point in the night the crowd really started filling up. I especially dislike how the Altar Bar has those fucking benches segregating the 21+ from the all ages portion. It's just that those benches take up a lot of floor space and are intrusive to the show experience.

Comeback Kid - Ripped shit up. Some people say they sound like Linkin Park but I don't get that at all from them. They played a few songs more from the newest release Symptoms + Cures than I expected. But that is ok. The new album is pretty good and the set was very very good. Great energy. Good punk pitting. The setlist was solid and I'll go see Comeback Kid every chance I get.

Is it the bands or the promoters that make the time period between the headliner and the band before absurdly long?

Propagandhi - Killed it. It was the best punx show I've been to in a while. The biggest sticking point with me was the lack of material played off of Todays Empires Tomorrows Ashes. They only played Fuck the Border from that particular release. However, the songs from Supporting Caste are bangers, especially Night Letters. Great set. Played for a little over an hour. Well worth $20 alone.

I'm thinking there were somewhere around 300 people in the building. I liked everything about the show other than the Catastrophe and the $6 I spent on a tall can of PBR. There was also somewhat of a fight during Propagandhi. Idiots. I'm sure they settled that score. :/

Hi's - Prop, CBK, turnout, choosing this show over the alternative

Low's - It was pretty cold out, $20 though it was worth it

9-18-2012 Ceremony, Dead Regrets, Rabid Pigs, Pittsburgh @Smiling Moose

It's not often I buy tickets beforehand, but for this show me and my peeps arrived with tix in hand. It ended up not being necessary, but I'm glad I could support Rabid Pigs in that respect anyways. So before the show, pizza, beer, bam. New parking spot in the lot on 18th.

At the beginning of the show I was concerned about turnout. It ended up being ok. I suspect that around 65 people paid. Probably around 80 people in the room including the bands. That's not great, but I'm thinking the promoter didn't lose money on the deal.

Rabid Pigs - They opened up this 3 band show. Fast hardcore power violence. They played well. Equally as well as they've played at the last few Roboto shows. I think I've determined that I've seen them at their best. The show where they had the "I am no feeble Christ, no, not me" intro was their best set. But they played well on this night. Played the I Hate You cover, not the Infest cover, much to my dismay. Ended up being the best local band of the night.

Dead Regret - This band wasn't very good. I'm sure all three of these guys are swell dudes, but their band wasn't entertaining nor good. I'm not even sure what sub-genre of hardcore I'd classify them as. Maybe 'middle of the road hardcore.' Whatever that means. They didn't have a lot of beatdown. Not a lot of thrash. Not a whole lot of fast parts. No sing alongs. I don't think their being on a show will ever determine my being in attendance. Next time I'll probably drink a beer instead of subjecting myself to that.

Ceremony - Killed shit. First off their singer is one of the best frontmen in hardcore. He's entertaining as shit. His use of the mic stand. The way he moves and his expressions are so strange. They played lots off the two most recent releases. Zoo is such a deviance from their classic sound. I'm not sure what direction they're really heading in, but weirdo punk seems to be their thing now. The Doldrums was great. Sick is one of my new favorite songs in the world. Great set. Great energy. Great everything. Ceremony rules.

So I've been thinking a lot about the 4 crusties who were there. I don't care about them one way or another in reference to my preference of their being there, however I can't stop wondering if they paid to get in. Normally crusties don't ever have $10 because that's what happens when you don't have a job and are homeless and all that. Let alone for 4 crusties to have $40 combined. They stunk and were filthy. I don't mind, but I'm sure someone did. I do mind if they didn't pay. The Smiling Moose is usually pretty tight at the doors, so I'm thinking they got in legitimately somehow.

Hi's - turnout, Ceremony, Primantis
Low's - Stanky crusty asshole who was standing on the soap box right in front of the stage most of the Ceremony set.

9-13 Dying, Adventures, Rabid Pigs, Glass Lungs, Pittsburgh @Mr. Roboto Project

We left home too early. Spent a few hours in Primantis eating pizza and drinking and playing pool.

I'd never listened to any of the bands on the bill except Rabid Pigs but had hoped good things. This show was put together last second for the touring band. Turnout is usually not good for shows scheduled a week before happening. I'd say probably 25 people paid at the door. 40 people in the room including local bands.

Glass Lungs - Screamo hardcore from Pittsburgh. They weren't very good. I don't listen to a lot of their type of hardcore, so maybe they were awesome and I just think they suck. It seemed like most of the people there thought they weren't very good.

Rabid Pigs - Fast hardcore powerviolence. They're good. I like watching this band. Didn't know the first cover, did they say it was a Punch Your Face cover? I don't remember. I knew the Infest cover though. Great song. I'm thinking they'll play it also at the Ceremony show.

Dying - Touring band from Philly. Has a dude in it from Pittsburgh bands of the past. They were very heavy, very agressive vegan xxx hardcore. I enjoyed them a lot. Good head nodding stuff in the vein of Heartless.

Adventures - They're billed as emo/indie but I'd say lots of bands billed as hardcore bands sound similar to them. Adventures is heavier than Lifetime. Something like Title Fight. The vocals didn't come across very well, per Roboto syndrome. I'd still really like to see them again in a place with better sound setup.

Hi's - hanging out, Dying and Adventures and Rabid Pigs, getting the rest of the crew their Ceremony tix cuz that show's going to be cool as fuck.

Low's - turnout, being so early but it ended up being ok

9-3 Salvation, Holy Life, Trogpite, Manson Girls, Pittsburgh @Helter Shelter/Sharon Tate Estate/Spahn Ranch

I have seen Salvation before, so I was looking forward to their fast hardcore punk. The rest of the bands were new to me, and local. A day before the show, local band Torn Off got onto the bill. The show had to be executed in a small time frame because by 10 it had to be done with. It was billed as the last show ever at the Helter Shelter/Spahn Ranch/Sharon Tate Estate so I knew there was the opportunity for some chaos.

Torn Off - Sweet ass band. I'd never heard of them before, but during the set they said they have several recordings and are coming out with something new. Very screamy vocals, but the singer was massively entertaining. All the songs were about killing yourself or someone else, it seemed. Heavy and fast 3 piece. No bass guitar. I'd love to see Torn Off again.

Manson Girls - Two people playing noise/no wave/minimalist beats. No bass here either, and no vocals. It was pretty boring. Basically a steady drum beat with a steady guitar rythm for 4 songs, then she put the guitar down and fucked around making noise with guitar peddles. It was pretty butt.

Trogpite - This guy was about to put on some dj dance music noise shit most likely. We didn't watch that debauchery.

Holy Life - They were ok. Fast hardcore punk with no beatdowns and not enough head nod. Ex-members of a bunch of Pittsburgh bands. They just weren't very good.

Salvation - KILLED IT. This set was so fun. Unfortunately I was the first to spill beer on the floor. Then people smashed glass bottles on the floor. Then they ripped the particle board off the walls. Then they ripped the frames off the walls and tried to knock down the ceiling fans with it. It was madness. As for the band, they were amazing. Fast get low two step style hardcore in the traditional Youth Attack Records vein. The vocals weren't loud enough, but the set was still very energetic. The crowd was more of a punk crowd than a hardcore crowd, but they were into it too. A little bit too much perhaps. During Salvation's last song some punks ripped the electric outlet out of the wall causing a massive spark and a power outage. End of set.

By the end of the night there was blood all over the floors. Broken glass everywhere. No power for most of the room. No walls. Garbage everywhere. Goodnight punk house.

I'd say at the maximum point there were 40 people there.

Hi's - the destruction, Salvation and Torn Off, drinking and gettin chilly
Low's - the house was destroyed before Salvation was done, the stench outside for the beginning of the show, turnout could have been stronger

8-31 Dead in the Dirt, Heartless, Hounds of Hate, Pray for Teeth, Rabid Pigs, Pittsburgh @Mr. Roboto Project

Going into the show I was expecting averageness. I got a little bit better than that form pretty much every band.

Rabid Pigs - I loved the Jesus hating intro. I'm not sure where it comes from, maybe a Crass song or something. But it's the same thing Crucial Unit used as an intro to their live set on the radio. Powerviolence. They covered Infest. Good set. Glad they played so I could buy Ceremony tickets.

Pray for Teeth - I enjoy the Old Accusers, but not this band so much. They kinda suck. Real heavy and weird kinda. But I just dont think they're very good. Spent most of the set drinking.

Hounds of Hate - Big time surprised. Fast in the vein of Floorpunch or something like that. The mosh was good. The tunes were good. Billed as a rock band, they're more like a fast hardcore band for sure.

Dead in the Dirt - I was moderately excited to see this band going into the show. But I should have known what I was about to get into. The few songs of theirs I know, I couldn't tell if they played them or not. Hah. To super enjoy this band I need a setlist and like 6 months of listening to the new album. They had good energy. Heavy, at times "grindy", fast hardcore. Not too much beatdown.

Heartless - Super good. The best I've seen them. They've got so much better in the last few years from their first show. I enjoyed the shit out of the set even though I don't know any of the songs. Very nice. Pittsburgh bringin it.

Hi's - turnout, Ceremony tickets, decent shoutouts like Fuck Christians.
Low's - not too much

8-25 Sickoids, Narcs, Slices, Crazy Scorpion Group, Skull Fest the band, Cognitive Dissonance, Pittsburgh @the Shop

Rational Animals was supposed to play this show. They cancelled so that was a little letdown. Going into the show they were my fav band on the bill. Oh well, as it turned out, everyone made up for their absence.

This show was billed as a mutant punk block party. That's pretty much what it ended up as. The alleyway was blocked off for one block and it was littered with crusties, punks, dogs, and other all night. It was nice.

Cognitive Dissonance - This band wasn't supposed to play, but they jumped on the show anyway. From Massachusetts. I loved the poor quality of the singing. After a few songs it occurred to me that the poor singing was really great singing. Metal punks. They had some super good riffs, and the one song the drummer got real metal on some shit and it was very good. I'd like to see this band again. It would end up that this was the most metal band on the bill.

Crazy Scorpion Group - The last time I saw this band I think I misinterpreted the lead singer. He looks like he doesn't give a shit about much of anything. I'm still under that impression, however I think that's part of his shtick. I liked this band better this time than last time, but they were still the worst group on the bill.

Slices - Killed it. The crowd was into it. They played like 6 to 8 songs. It was a rager for sure. The singer is so entertaining because of his strange antics and the way he sulks around. Very good set, I like them more every time I see them. Weird guy hardcore punk. Fast, melodic, nothing too metal or too heavy.

Skullfest the Band - This group was made up of guys from Slices and about 500 other Pittsburgh bands. It was cool. They either played a bunch of covers or just ripped off a bunch of older punk songs. Either way it was entertaining.

Narcs - This band was real cool and real good. They were punks who all wore police hats. They were probably the most strait up punk band on the bill. They professed their hatred for metal. The crowd was the most thin, and the most violent for this band. Not sure why it was the way it was, but who cares. The band slayed it, ripping through like 10 songs. I enjoyed their persona and songs very much.

Sickoids - The best band of the night. Their songs are hardcore punk bangers. Fast and faster. No breakdowns or anything. Very screamy. Had I more money I'd have picked up a shirt or something. I'll for sure go out of my way to see this band again. The crowd was into it from beginning to end.

So at the same time as this show, there was a show going on at Kopecs down the road. It was Appalachian Terror Unit, who is a bigger band than Sickoids. I haven't heard how that show went, but the turnout at the Shop was great.

Hi's - turnout, the fun, the drinks, the stink
Low's - nothing