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.

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.