Image of the Day-"Part 1"

The Sadies

Club Cafe
Thursday September25, 2008
Southside

I cannot recall in recent memory how much a band totally blew me away with their set. They came on and absolutely crushed the room with their precise skill and ferocious playing. They were absolutely amazing and I will have much more from them in the coming days.

Image of the Day-"The Chorus"

Donora

Sunday September 21, 2008

Rock The Vote Rally

William Pitt Student Union Lawn

University of Pittsburgh

Donora was asked at the last minute to play this voter registration drive. I was excited that they would be playing an outdoor gig on a beautiful day...and I could make it home in time to watch the Steelers (too bad they lost a horrible game). Talking to the band about their full length debut coming out soon hopefully means they will be playing out a lot more in the coming months.

Image of the Day-"Heatstroke"

Magic Bullets

New American Music Union College Bands Stage

Saturday August 9, 2008

Southside Works

During this band's set I couldn't shake the image of Morrissey out of my mind. Frontman Philip Benson's charismatic mannerisms were a dead on ringer for the gloomy crooner from England.

Image of the Day-"The Other Woman"

Jill West & The Blues Attack

Saturday September 6, 2008
Carnegie Arts & Heritage Festival
Carnegie, PA

Queen of the Pittsburgh Blues. Ummm...yeah, what else can you say?

Image of the Day-"I Ain't Going Down"

Joe Grushecky

Saturday September 6, 2008

Carnegie Arts & Heritage Festival

Carnegie, PA

This blues fest is in it's 21st year? Wow? Shutting down main street for a relatively free night of booze and blues on a late summer evening is sure the way to go. Yeah, I missed Cracker, Donora, Local Honey, The Grievious Angels, and Lohio who were all playing the same night. I like hometown legend Joe, even though he is always my least favorite guest at a Springsteen show. Good ole' blue-collar rock.

Remember A Day

R.I.P Rick Wright

(1945-2008)

I usually limit my posts to Pittsburgh related music musings but I would be totally remiss if I didn't mention his passing due to the overwhelming influence his music had on me growing up. Sure, Roger Waters was Pink Floyd in many peoples opinions. Still, there was something about Wright's songs that hit me early on in my initial discovery of the band. "Remember A Day', 'It Would Be So Nice', 'Paintbox', "Summer '68", 'Great Gig In The Sky', and 'Us & Them' will live with me forever. The heartbreak of the piano in 'Nobody Home' is absolutely devastating. I will always treasure riding to Ohio for a Floyd show in '88 and being drawn like a zombie to the man playing the opening chords of 'Echoes'. Shine on indeed brother.

Image of the Day-"Mama From The Mountain"

Cortney Tidwell

Saturday August 30, 2008

William Pitt Union Assembly Room

University Of Pittsburgh

She opened for The Silver Jews and was pretty good. She looked like Janis Joplin but wailed like Bjork.

Image of the Day-"Coming Home"

Nothing Unexpected

New American Music Union College Bands Stage

Saturday August 9, 2008

Southside Works

The only local act on the festival bill. I wouldn't have minded seeing more local flavor represent (including the main stage!) these guys ended up playing in front of the biggest crowd of the competition. I am sure it was no accident that their set ended as the gates of the fest proper opened. They delivered a highly energetic set. I'll have more from them tomorrow.

Image of the Day-"Bad Blood"

The Black Fortys

New American Music Union College Bands Stage
Saturday August 9, 2008
Southside Works

So it's about three bands into the day and I'm getting thirsty for a beer. The Black Fortys take the stage and not being blown away...or even the slightest impressed with their song I beeline to the nearest indoor bar. Go figure, they won the contest. That's how much I know. Listening to some songs on their myspace I realize I could've held off on the suds. They sound decent.

Image of the Day-"Suffering Jukebox"

Silver Jews

Saturday August 30, 2008

William Pitt Union Assembly Room

University Of Pittsburgh

It's funny when you go into a show with zero expectations and come out a convert. That's sorta how this show went down with me. I am not gonna be rifling through Berman's trash anytime soon (as he seemed to be taking care of that himself on stage) but damn this concert was great. Easily in the Top 5 of the year (so far).

This turned out to be one hell of an enjoyable show. I was familiar with the Jews a tiny bit, but boy are they good live. David Berman's stage presence is quite...schizophrenic?, at least on this night. The band, who was spot on though, more than compensated for his overall aloofness. More pics to come later.