12-4 Wisdom in Chains, Menace, Objection, Dementor, Brick By Brick, one more, Altoona @Pellegrines Lounge

Altoona is a bit of a drive, a little over two hours, but it's manageable. I'll make that trip for a Wisdom in Chains show any day. This was a good week for hardcore. First Terror and then a few days later Wisdom. From top to bottom I knew the Terror show would be the better show because other than Wisdom the other bands are local or small time bands not called Code Orange or Take Offense.

We had never been to Pellegrines Lounge before but wasn't expecting much. I loved the space. Enough room and cheap drinks. All ages shows with no dividers or barriers or anything. The sound wasn't good, but it wasn't an echo chamber or anything. Service at the bar was about the worse I've ever had. They needed another bar tender. The one chic was running ragged and fucking up. Maybe it's just how the place works, but we ordered food and in order to get our food after it was cooked and brought out to the bar was to keep asking the bartender 'is that one mine?' What the fuck shit bar. But drinks weren't an issue since they had 24 ouncers of PBR for like 4 dollars.

At some point between Brick by Brick and Menace the high school mosh pit was in effect. The push was gong down serious style between like 4 high school kids. I'm guessing this was one of their first hardcore shows and they didn't really know what was going on. But good for them for getting into some shit.

first band - Some crap metalcore band. Wings of something or On Broken something. I can't remember what their name was.

Brick by Brick - This band is poop. Hardcore from New York. They remind me of Full Blown Chaos. Slower and unoriginal breakdowns. The last song they played was a horrible choice, a Pennywise cover song. By closing the set with the full rendition of Bro Hym they made a mockery of their set. Made them seem like some high school band with no good songs or style.

Dementor - Not good either. Metal hardcore. I think this was an Altoona band. I didn't enjoy. After a few songs it was time for more drinks and a smoke.

Objection - I think I've seen this band before. On most nights they have two singers, but on this night there was only one. I like his voice, but the tough style of hardcore is only listenable if played by the crem de la crem of the genre. This band is not that. The singer owns Rail City Tattoo in Altoona evidently and seems like a good dude.

Menace - I don't know if I liked this band in the past, but they were pretty good this time around. Heavy PA style hardcore. Nothing special in the grand scheme of things but they got some good movement and response in their hometown.

Wisdom in Chains - Great every time. They played a few songs from the new album which are all bangers, and some old songs too. What they didn't play was Dragging Me Down or We're Not Helping. I think a new era of Wisdom is here. Picked up that awesome We Never Sleep eyeball hoodie.

Highs - Wisdom in Chains, the push, cheap beer, the venue.
Lows - Food service, Brick by Brick.

11-30 Terror, Code Orange, Take Offense, King Nine, Malfunction, Pittsburgh @Altar Bar

Anytime Terror comes to town if at all possible I'll be there. They just released a new album The 25th Hour and this tour is in support of that. Altar Bar isn't my favorite place to see shows but it does the trick. For this show the bar upstairs was closed off and there was a odd setup with the barricade separating the all ages space from the drinking area.

Malfunction - Completely not memorable. I don't know anything about this band. Semi tough guy shit.

Take Offense - This band is good. Real good. I saw them before at the Smiling Moose and their set this time was better than that. I'm going to have to get some of their stuff. Good energy. The singer looks like a tiny Freddie Madball. Good band.

King Nine - There was a bit of hype for this band's first time to Pittsburgh. I like them. Heavy hardcore appealing to the hard mosh crowd.

Code Orange - They killed it just like they always kill it. They're a ways away from the band I saw at the Helter Shelter about 5 years ago with like 7 other people in the room. Every time I see them I think how much better they are live than on recording.

Terror - The best mosh hardcore band. They have been for years too. Great set. The new songs are good too. I liked Vogels appreciation of the people behind the barrier who didn't want punched in the face. That wasn't me, but it was nice.

Highs - The bands, the beer, about everything.
Lows - The weird barricade setup.

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.