Image of the Day-"You As You Were"

Shearwater

Altar Bar

Monday, May 7, 2012

Strip District

Second time seeing the band and being that it's an entirely new band backing songwriter Jonathan Meiburg, I was a tad reticent going in. All fears were wiped away as they muscled through a terrific set focusing exclusively on the new material. I dubbed it "Shearwater grows a pair!" Awesome.

Image of the Day-"Chloe in the Afternoon"

 St. Vincent

Altar Bar

Monday, May 7, 2012

Strip District

Believe me, I do like St. Vincent. Thing is, I just don't go nuts for her as it seems her fans do. Her music is technically good but it's a little too 'geometric' for me. I never say to myself, "You know, I'm in the mood for some St. Vincent." When it's on, it's enjoyable. Like Andrew Bird, Grizzly Bear, Vampire Weekend, The National and many more of the latest indie trends, I just don't seem to get it. I certainly don't mean to sound harsh it's just you can't fall in love with everything. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention how damned packed this room was. I literally couldn't get back from the stage to the  entrance without going through the bar. Crazy.

Image of the Day-"The Rip Tide"

Beirut

Altar Bar

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Strip District

I really had no desire to see this show, even though I had a massively popular ticket giveaway and that it was a "WYEP presents...", I decided to at least check it out. I couldn't imagine the amount of people crammed into the place (for two nights, no less) to see this band. I am certainly not familiar enough with their music but evidently, many others are. Crazy.

Image of the Day-"New Speedway Boogie"

Jackie Greene

Altar Bar

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Strip District

On my way home from the Sam Roberts show, I was on RT 28 about to pass the 16th Street Bridge when I thought, what the heck, maybe stop in and grab a few shots of Jackie Greene. It literally took me ten minutes to park, get the photos and be on my way home again. I wish I could have stayed because he sounded great but I wake up for work at 5 A.M. Cheese move I know but the pictures didn't turn out half bad for a scant few minutes of effort. More photos here.

Summer Saturday Ticket Giveaway # 11 - Alkaline Trio

Alkaline Trio
Club Zoo
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Strip District

Alkaline Trio are melodic cult rockers hailing from Illinios. They are supporting their new album 'Damnesia' and headed to Pittsburgh this Tuesday on their 15th Anniversary tour. Opening the show will be the cool dudes in mewithoutyou and The Drowning Men.
As always, my awesome friends at Drusky Entertainment are offering up a pair of passes to the show. This is an all-ages event with doors at 6 p.m. and the music starting at 7. To enter, be the first person to email me at hughshows@comcast.net with the subject line 'Alkaline Trio' and the name of the person who will bring I.D. to will call the night of the show good for two passes in the message. Being that I am accepting the first entry, I'll say that this contest will run about and hour or so, if that. The last time I did this it took twenty minutes to declare a winner. I will contact that person immediately and announce the winner in the comments of this post and on twitter. Next week starts a new contest and as always, good luck!

Summer Saturday Ticket Giveaway # 5 - Cut Copy

Cut Copy
Club Zoo
Monday, July 11, 2011
Strip District

We're going all 'indie' this week with the giveaway. Cut Copy are a synthpop band hailing from Australia. They are supporting their new album 'Zonoscope' and headed to Pittsburgh next month. Opening the show will be none other than local upstarts 1,2,3 Band (who will be featured in this Friday's First/Last segment).
As always, my cool friends at Drusky Entertainment are offering up a pair of passes to the show. This is an all-ages event with doors at 6 p.m. and the music starting at 7. To enter, be the first person to email me at hughshows@comcast.net with the subject line 'Cut Copy' and the name of the person who will bring I.D. to will call the night of the show good for two passes in the message. Being that I am accepting the first entry, I'll say that this contest will run about and hour or so, if that. I will contact that person immediately and announce the winner in the comments of this post and on twitter. Next week starts a new contest and as always, good luck!

Image of the Day-"A Working Day"

Ben Folds
Club Zoo
Thursday November 11, 2010
Strip District

To be honest, I couldn't tell you one song from Ben Folds. I am so unfamiliar with the guy's music, I couldn't even hum a melody from him or his previous band Ben Folds Five. That's not to say there aren't others who could. I couldn't believe how many people were at this show. What also amazed me is the reception he got when he took the stage. I am not exaggerating when I say it sounded like a Learjet taking off. Amazing. Setlist here. More photos here.

First/Last-Don Miggs-Ticket Giveaway

Photo courtesy The Miggs

The Miggs
Ed Kowalcyzk
Thriving Ivory
Jack To My Friends
The Altar Bar
Sunday September 19, 2010
Strip District

So it's Friday and well, this train cannot be stopped. Looks like these little Q&A's are gonna continue on. The Miggs are rock band from Florida and are coming to town this weekend as support for Ed Kowalcyzk of Live fame. Courtesy of Rock Ridge Music, I have a pair of passes to give away to a lucky reader of this blog. To enter, just email me at hughshows@comcast.net with the subject line 'The Miggs'. Please supply your name for the folks at will call that will be good for two passes to the show on Sunday. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by tomorrow. As always, good luck. As a preview of sorts, bandleader Don Miggs was kind enough to participate in this, the return of First/Last Friday!

The first album you ever bought?
Cheap Trick-Dream Police.

Your last album bought?
Big Boi-Sir Luscious Left Foot, Ed Kowalczyk-Alive, Mumford & Sons-Sigh No More, Brandon Flowers-Flamingo. I tend to buy in bulk! LOL

Favorite album of all time?
1965 by the Afghan Whigs or U2’s Achtung Baby

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Hmm, I have to insult someone? I tried but just didn’t get the first TV On The Radio CD, even with all the hype.

First concert attended?
Night Ranger with 38 Special. Thanks Uncle John.

Last concert?
Maroon 5 with Miggs!

Favorite concert ever?
Tough one! Stadium- U2, Arena- Michael Jackson, Club- Twilight Singers, House- Gareth Asher.

Least favorite concert?
Mandy Moore. Like watching paint dry but less exciting.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
The people are like family. They will hug you as soon they hit you and are open to hearing good music. And the snow gets deep but that doesn’t stop the faithful from coming out.

Thanks Don. Better not run into Ryan Adams, dude! I also like your perceptions of Pittsburgh people. Maybe that's one reason I never left?

Ticket Giveaway-Sea Wolf/Sera Cahoone/Patrick Park

Sea Wolf
Sera Cahoone
Patrick Park
Altar Bar
Friday September 24, 2010
Strip District

This is one great bill. I easily would have seen any of these artists by themselves. The fact that they are playing together makes this a must see show for me. Thanks to Drusky Entertainment, I have a pair of passes to give away.
As always, entering is really easy. Just email me at hughshows@comcast.net with the subject line 'Sea Wolf' and provide the name in the message that you want for the folks at will call the night of the show. This is good for you and a friend to attend. The show is all ages. The winner will be randomly picked and contacted on Saturday September 18. Good luck and I will hopefully see you there.

Image Of The Day-"Hit My Door"

Small Cities
Kayafest
Sunday May 30, 2010
Strip District

I love this band. They have a CD release show this Friday June 11th at the Thunderbird. I am really looking forward to hearing the disc. More photos here.

Image Of The Day-"Albatross"

Public Image Ltd
Club Zoo
Friday May 14, 2010
Strip District

Let me start out by apologizing about these pictures. I was beyond thrilled to be able to shoot this show. I am by no means the punk aficionado, but the guy is a legend in my eyes and I was so psyched. Usually we photogs get three songs, no flash. No problem. I ask Rambo how many tunes I get in the pit? He's counting...eh, five. FIVE?!? SWEET! I'm sure to get a bunch. The band comes out and ...it's darker than Brillobox. No kidding, I am trying all my tricks and nothing. Where's the light, lighting guy? So I snap like crazy just to hopefully get a few and my camera bunks out because I am pushing it. Bummer. Not to be dismayed I still have THREE songs left and hopefully salvage something out of this night.
That being said, I think these pictures are AWESOME! I love them. What a character he was. I actually had the chance to meet him and he couldn't have been nicer and funny and cool as I could have never imagined. I have met countless musicians over the years and he definitely ranks at the top as the sweetest of them. Kind of strange.
I also have to give a shout out to my man Joshua who, along with some other super gracious people who really take care of me in this city, allows me to actually live out a dream and I am sincerely and forever grateful for that. Merv's review here. More photos here.

Image Of The Day-"O Holy Night"

Second Annual WYEP Holiday Hootenanny
Silver & Gold
Thursday December 17, 2009
The Pittsburgh Opera
Strip District

Talk about fun. Imagine last year's edition only on steroids and you'll get a idea of this night. Bigger room, better sets, more songs. They really pulled it off. The whole show sounded great. Highlights for me were Aaron's 'Grinch', Craig and Sarah's 'Fairytale of New York', and Casey's stunning 'O Holy Night'. I have to say though that my absolute favorite part of the night was one single teeny, tiny xylophone note played just for me! Thanks, Megan. Many more pictures here.

Image Of The Day-"Cannibal Queen"

Miniature Tigers
Thursday June 4, 2009
Altar Bar
Strip District

Never heard this band before in my life. Apparently a bunch of kids who attended did since many of them jumped on stage (along with Kevin Devine's band) to help sing the last song of their set. This show took place on a Stanley Cup Playoff night and half the audience were more interested in the game being shown on the big screen. A word of advice to bands playing Pittsburgh, don't be all smug and diss the city's sports teams to the audience (you listening John Doe?) as lead singer Charlie Brand was doing all night. Not the most secure way to sell merch if you act like a condescending jerk towards the city you are playing in. Just sayin'.

Image Of The Day-"Judy And The Alpha Queen"

Brian Bonz & The Dot Hongs
Thursday June 4, 2009
Altar Bar
Strip District

BB&TDH are basically Kevin Devine's band. They played a set before Kevin came out for his. I didn't know one song, which makes it more difficult to enjoy but he was good regardless.

Image Of The Day-"Brother's Blood"

Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band
Thursday June 4, 2009
Altar Bar
Strip District

I have a personal list of songs I HAVE to hear live before I die. Many have been scratched off over the years thanks to seeing The Mendoza Line, Camper Van Beethoven, World Party, Neko Case, and Cat Power, among others, in concert. I had no idea who Kevin Devine was before I heard his tune 'Brother's Blood' and man did it instantly knock me out. I wasn't planning on hitting this show but on the strength of this song alone I HAD to see him play it live...before I die. I was not disappointed with the version or the entire show for that matter.

Let me talk a tad about the Altar Bar. It's a converted church with excellent sight lines through out even on the sides of the stages . It has an upper balcony snaking around the perimeter of the big room and for a fan the sound cannot be beat thanks to Sticks who works most shows. My biggest complaint as a photographer is obviously the lighting. They have these flood lights coming from behind the stage to totally wash out the bands back while there seems to be a couple tiny spots that barely illuminate the front. Tricky is an understatement when shooting there but other than that (oh yeah, the crummy location-yuk) I guess I shouldn't complain.

Image Of The Day-"Go"

Maddie Georgi

Sardonyx Music Conference Showcase
Saturday May 30, 2009
Altar Bar
Strip District

As part of the conference, songwriter's took the stage at The Altar Bar throughout the day to break up the monotony of the panel discussions. Local phenom Maddie Georgi played a short set and exuded amazing confidence and professionalism especially for being only 16 years old! She made national noise as a runner up in the CMT Music City Madness online contest. Not bad for a teenager. Talk about a bright future.

Image Of The Day-"Clouds Look Painted"

The Sunflower Spectacle
Thursday June 4, 2009
Altar Bar
Strip Disctrict

Discovering a new band is an exciting thing for me. When it occurs in a live setting is thrilling. These rag-tag neo-hippies who I never heard of weren't even scheduled to be on the bill but stumbled onstage and delivered a fun and energetic set. They are somewhat local (Johnstown-an hour and a half away) and I would love to see them play again. C'mon, their Myspace Influences list pretty much says it all!

Image Of The Day-"Come On Come On"

Ben Hardt
Sardonyx Songwriter's Circle
Saturday May 30, 2009
Altar Bar
Strip District

This showcase was part of The Sardonyx Music Conference that was taking place all day at The Altar Bar. Several musicians performed three tunes in a round robin setting. Ben's stuff sounded extremely sweet unplugged. I especially dug a new tune he played.