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.

11-13 Sincerity Fest, Pittsburgh @Springdale Firehall

Shiiiiit. I haven't documented a single thing in about three months, so in the spirit of getting back on the wagon I'm going to try to recount anything memorable about this past year's Sincerity Fest.

Like always Sincerity Fest is one of the best shows of the year. For one it's free. Two the food is good as hell. And the bands usually kick ass. Sincerity Fest v.2013 was no exception.

Since I've already screwed up remembering a lot of the bands, I'll go ahead and list all the bands from the fest that I don't remember at all. Some of them I'm sure I missed because I showed up too late, the rest of them I missed because I was eating or drinking or I did see them and just don't remember. Run Forever, Purge, Meth Quarry, Glass Lungs, Forebearance, Driver, Eternal Sleep, Egality, Black Mask, Wolfnote, GhostxShip, Human Animal. Sucks that that is most of the fest.

No Reason to Live - This band was heavy as hell. I enjoyed them very much. Haven't seen them since unfortunately. I don't think they play out very much.

Adventures - I remember thinking that the sound sucked. I really like this band, members of the Code Orange Kids. Pop punk with bad vocals at times.

Embludgeoned - Band is another good example of heavy done right from Pittsburgh. I enjoyed the set, but again, haven't seen them since.

Unit 731 - Super mosh zone band from Pittsburgh. I like them, but not so much as to go to a show just to see them.

Path to Misery - This band kills it. The singer is the one who puts on Sincerity Fest. I like his antics and the heavy ass political themed music. I bought the 'kill people who hurt animals' shirt.

Incendiary - This band was suprisingly way good. They were getting all the hype and they showed why. Not so much a different band from Backtrack or Cross Me or other similar styled bands. I'd love to see them again.

Harms Way - As always, this band is the definition of a heavy hitter. I liked the set, but still don't particularly like any of their recordings.

Code Orange Kids - This band grows on me every time I see them. Love the stompy heavy jams. Pittsburgh for life.

Hi's - I remember having a great time. The veggie burgers were kick ass and the chili. Bands and friends.
Low's - Nothing that I remember, everything I don't remember.

9-26 Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Trash Talk, Pittsburgh @Altar Bar

A little bit late writing this one. Show was an interesting one on paper. Two popularish rappers and a gritty hardcore band. I figured not many hardcore kids would be footing the bill for this one just to see Trash Talk. I was right. But it was still a kick ass show.

Trash Talk - Pretty much killed it. They played Walking Disease right off the bat. They played a decent mix of old and new. Fast and loud as fuck. I enjoyed the set very muchly.

Action Bronson - This fat white dude sounds a whole lot like Ghostface Killer. I liked the set. Good energy for a rapper. There was one part of the set where he walked across the floor to the steps and half way up the steps and was rapping his songs in the middle of the crowd. It was so funny because this ultra skinny white guy was on the steps with him dancing horribly having a great time. It was really really funny. I enjoyed that more than pretty much anything else after TT.

Danny Brown - We left before he played.

His - Trash Talk, Bronson, dancing white guy.
Low's - The upstairs was too packed.

9-7 Valient Thor, Ramming Speed, German Shepherd, Rogue Signals, Pittsburgh @31st Street Pub

I'd been itching for a good metal show. Even though the 31st Street Pub isn't my favorite destination for beer and music, for some shows it does just fine. This show is a good example of that. Enough people there to make it well attended, but few enough so that the bar wasn't jam packed.

Rogue Signals - I really like the name. That is about it. They're a rock and roll metal style band with a female singer. She's an ok singer. The musicianship was OK. Overall none of the songs were very good.

German Shepherd - Another local band. They were OK. Heavy rock music by four dudes. They were way better than Rogue Signals, but still I don't think I'll be going out of my way to see them.

Ramming Speed - Now I'm pissed that we missed them a month or so ago at Belvederes. They were super good. Pretty much a straight forward thrash metal band with some groovy hardcore inspired quasi-breakdowns at times. Good for the metal heads, good for the metal punks, good for the hardcore people. Some of their songs have serious sing along potential. I enjoyed pretty much every song very well. The singer was very entertaining. He looked like he was enjoying the shit out of himself. Fist pumps everywhere.

Valient Thor - I had only listened to this band before, but never seen them. The set was killer. Rock and roll metal done as good as it can be done. They're like a less heavy more party Doomriders. Very riffy, driving rock and roll with plenty of singalongs. I'll for sure go see them again.

Hi's - $2 beers, Ramming Speed, Valient Thor.
Low's - The Pub can get really fucking hot.

8-25 Skull Fest 5, Zero Boys, Nightbirds, Submachine, Wetbrain, Pittsburgh @Belvederes

Every year I try my hardest to go to as many of the Skull Fest shows as I possibly can. This year I had to work on Friday and Saturday so with only one show on Sunday, it was my only choice. I'm bummed I missed the mutant punk alleyway carnival, but at least my only Skull Fest option was a solid show.

Wetbrain - Hawaiian shirt hardcore punk band. I liked the singer's demeanor. He was super strange but fun to watch. Kind of like he didn't give a shit, but just strange. Good band. Members of Inmates and 9 Shocks Terror from Cleveland.

Submachine - The only Pittsburgh band of the night. Hardcore punk of the olde gaurde. They were really good too, and had the best fan reaction I've ever seen of them. Sometimes fast sometimes not, always a little bit mean.

Night Birds - This was their first time ever coming to Pittsburgh, and judging by the crowd's reaction I'd say they'll be back. They were really good, I can see this band playing This is Hardcore and getting good response. Hardcore punk in the vein of 7 Seconds. Not very screamy, and not very riffy. More on the punk side than on the metal side. I hope they come back to Pittsburgh because I'd really like to see them again. Their bass player was the best musician of the night, and the only musician who really stood out as being very good to me.

Zero Boys - They were part of the initial punk wave in the United States, starting up in '79 I think. So they've been playing their jams for a while. I really enjoyed the entire set except for one song. They sounded a lot like the Descendents or Agent Orange, and I think they covered a Descendants song (or was it an Adolescents song?). Either way, these old fucks ripped it up in very nice fashion. The one song I didn't like at all was a cover song, I can't remember who is the original artist on the track. The Machines maybe? Either way, the singer and the drummer switched places for this one and it was no good. The drummer can't move his head, or just refuses too. It was terrible watching him. But the entire set as a whole did not disappoint.

Hi's - the venue, turnout was most likely around 200 or 250, all the bands.

Low's - nothing

8-10 This is Hardcore

We were pretty beat when we got back to the hotel from This is Hardcore Friday. But a good rest and big breakfast the next day did us all good.

So according to the This is Hardcore application on my smartphone there was an old NYHC band called Absolution that was scheduled to play at ???? time. As far as I know this never happened. I can't find any explanations as to why. It doesn't really matter, I don't know the band or anything.

Caught in a Crowd - We missed them. We were a little bit late getting to the show on this day, this is the only band we missed because of being tardy.

Things We Say - From South Korea. They sounded a whole lot like Mental from Boston, especially the singer. Old school sounding get low breakdowns, great for the creepy crawly or your favorite non-toughguy dance. I thought their set was tight as fuck and awesome. They sounded super appreciative about the chance to play there. I never did find their merch, if they had any. For a good portion of the day they were the best band that had played.

Beware - I feel like we watched this band, but I can't remember anything about them. 100% completely not memorable.

World War 4 - I had high hopes for this band because of the former members of Floorpunch and Righteous Jams and such. I was wrong. This band was pretty poop. I didn't think many of their songs were good. The singer was completely not entertaining and everything was unoriginal. Disappointed in WW4.

Turnstile - They had some songs I really really liked. And some songs that were pretty boring. What I don't like about them is the toughguy air that they have about them. I think that their best songs were the ones with sick singalongs mixed in with good beatdowns. All in all I liked the set.

Mindset - We listened to this band from the chairs outside. "I don't think I like this band much." I completely don't get the hype, this band isn't that good.

Maximum Penalty - They were supposed to play in the time slot that Mindset played in, but they were late because the singer got caught on the NJ turnpike. I was surprised by the weak reaction to this band. I thought they had a pretty unique sound. The singer had a voice and delivery style unlike anyone else on the bill, kinda like a rapper at times and kinda like a White Trash Rob style singer at other times. It was a cool set, but not that awesome.

Wisdom in Chains - My favorite band in the world on most nights. They played a set shorter than I had hoped. I was surprised that the setlist didn't include Chasing the Dragon or Death of Whiskey Finger, but did include Everything You Know off of the same album. Also off the new album they didn't play My Friend or Ghost of Buddy or Defend Protect, but they did play Peace to My Family. Interesting song choices. It didn't matter in the end. They killed it. 3rd best band of the day. Their old school oi influenced sing along hardcore was an odd duck on the day, but a much needed change of pace at this point in the day.

Defeater - The first part of their set was really good, the second half not so much. They're also a style of hardcore that doesn't have much in the terms of breakdowns. They have an emotional sound with a good bit of singalongs and not a whole lot of mosh. Good set, but nothing amazing.

Rival Mob - Just like last year, they were insane. Crazy wild pit, great energy, great crowd response. I love seeing this band live even though I don't know any of their songs. They play really tough hardcore without seeming like a toughguy band. Cool set. They were the 4th best band of the day.

Nails - They played right after the dinner break. We were still eating at the time so we didn't watch this band. They sounded alright from the outdoors. Tough California metal inspired hardcore. It seems like a lot of people liked them.

Killing Time - I don't like this band a whole lot. But I didn't watch them either. Their singer had a few funny things to say, so that's always appreciated. A lot of people seemed to have liked this set too.

Ringworm - I was glad and excited that this band was on the bill. They're more of a metal sound than anyone else on the bill. It made it nice to watch the band's demeanor which is more of a metal band than a hardcore band. It was a nice switch-up. Dollar Whore is such a banger, great song. The pit was going for most of the set too, good stuff. One thing about Human Furnace, the singer, is that his banter between songs is too nice. He's like cracking jokes and he sounds all nice. I'd like it much better if he sounded real mean or something. Fifth best band of the day.

All Out War - The pit went berserk for this band. It's a rarity that AOW plays anywhere these days so it was a big deal that they were on This is Hardcore this year. Good set, played Burning Season and a few other of my favorite songs. Though they didn't play For Those Who Were Crucified or Resist. I enjoyed it, but the pit was too big and violent for my likings so I didn't get into the mix.

Ceremony - Great set. They started out with a song that sounded like a Sonic Youth cover or something. All the band members were kind of awkwardly standing on stage playing this easy and boring song. Then: "enough of this shit." and the fracas began. Even though they played most of their stuff off the new album, which isn't very heavy or singalong intensive, it was still an amazing set. Just enough older tunes to keep it crazy, and they played the newer weird songs in such a way that it was still bananas. Open Head was their best song. "fuck police..forever". Second best band of the day.

H2O - They played for what seemed like forever. It was a great set and a super energetic set, but very long. They played all the songs that I really really like. Singalongs, stagedives everywhere, it was a good time. Their style of NYHC sing along music is perfect for This is Hardcore. As long as they are a band I think they'll have a spot on the bill.

7 Seconds - Great set. Most of the crowd didn't give them a lot of energy because their real old style hardcore isn't all the rage these days. But a good bit of stagediving and circlepitting went on. I was so stoked that they played pretty much the entire live cd. All the good jams. They even played 2 new songs that were killer. I enjoyed everything about the set. Best band of the day in my opinion. Kevin Seconds has an amazing demeanor to him, like he's the least threatening person ever.

Top 5 of the day:
5. Ringworm
4. Rival Mob
3. Wisdom in Chains
2. Ceremony
1. 7 Seconds

Top 5 bands of the two days together:
5. Wisdom in Chains
4. Ceremony
3. Bane
2. 7 Seconds
1. Modern Life is War

High's - Everything, the food trucks, the bands
Low's - generic toughguy mosh bands to start the day, what happened to Absolution?, the tough mosh getting on my nerves sometimes (more like a few tough moshers getting on my nerves), for the weekend as a whole the high wasted pants were everywhere and making chics look terrible. So many horrible thighs up in that bitch. Let's get rid of that trend.