Image Of The Day-"Cry, Cry, Cry"

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea
WYEP-FM Community Broadcast Center
Tuesday October 27, 2009
Southside

These little studio sessions are a great way to see a band that you unfortunately have to miss on that night for some reason or another. I didn't realize what a really powerful vocalist Nicole was and her new songs were awesome. Can't wait for the new release. Do yourself a favor and listen to the set here. All kinds sorts of interesting trivia comes to life in the interview segment with Mike. More photos here.

Image Of The Day-"The Dethbridge in Lethbridge"

The Rural Alberta Advantage
Tuesday October 8, 2009
Garfield Artworks
Larryville

This group was a total revelation. I heard a little of their stuff going in and was highly impressed with this trio. This album is definitely climbing up my top ten of the year. The songs are easily accessible despite the fact that they are mainly literal recollections on Canadian locales. As a bonus, the band members couldn't have been more friendly. I hope they stay that way as more exposure and larger audiences are sure to be in their near future.

The Lovely Feathers
Tuesday October 8, 2009
Garfield Artworks
Larryville

Opening for RAA, I never really heard of this band until my man at The PGH Music Report pimped them hard. The band seemed off, or was it the crowd? I was the closest to the 'stage' and was still a dozen feet away. Weird. No one wants to be too close but I think the distance might have thrown the band off a bit. My only regret was not taking the band up on their offer of selling all their records for $10.

Image Of The Day-"This Tornado Hates You"

Neko Case
Friday July 31, 2009
Riverplex Amphitheater at Sandcastle

Waterfont

Image Of The Day-"All On Your Own"

Good Night, States
'In The Impossible Tension' CD Release Show
Friday September 11, 2009
Thunderbird Cafe
Lawrenceville

I was really jazzed to hear the new release live in it's entirety. I actually heard almost all of it during the rehearsal photo session we did a few weeks back but never got to hear my favorite track, "Neighborhood Roofs" until they closed out the night with it at the Thunderbird. I drunkenly confessed to Megan that the song is probably my favorite song of all time! Well, yeah, that's what that nasty Hop Devil will do to you sometimes but in recollection the statement is not that far off. So, so beautiful.

Image Of The Day-"The One And Only"

Matt Miller
Tuesday October 8, 2009
Garfield Artworks
Larryville

First up on a triple bill, Matt came on and ran through a bunch of tunes with a sparseness of instrumentation that I felt was incredibly refreshing. The tunes sounded like he wrote them on the spot but his DIY demeanor and the Johnstown scene he comes from impresses the hell out of me. It's like if he can do it, why not me? I love a performer who has the balls to go in front of an audience solo and play their own songs.

Image Of The Day-"The Informant!"

Marvin Hamlisch Q&A
'The Informant' Screening
Saturday October 10, 2009
Waterworks Cinemas
Blawnox, PA

So I decided to attend this event. It was cool to meet the guy. I had to ask him, "What was it like to work on 'The Match Game' in the seventies?" He brushed me off by responding, "I'm too old to remember." Bummer. His brief introduction to the movie was interesting. The actual movie? I hated it. At least my wife liked it so it wasn't a total waste of an afternoon. As a side note, the pictures didn't turn out spectacular but you try to shoot in a darkened movie theater. Not the easiest place to take a photo.