Image Of The Day-"Ace Coltrane"

Spindrift
Tuesday March 31, 2009
Garfield Artworks
Larryville

As coincidence would have it, both Kirkpatrick Thomas and Dave Koenig were in Brian Jonestown Massacre at one point who I just had seen the night before. Dave told me they met up with the band at a rest stop earlier in the day for a little reunion. You could expect these guys to be broody and mysterious based on the music they make but nothing could be farther from the truth. They were a very pleasant bunch.

Image Of The Day-"The New West"

Spindrift
Tuesday March 31, 2009
Garfield Artworks
Larryville

As endearing as Garfield Artworks is for us photogs with it's aesthetically awful cobwebs and grime stains on the walls, the biggest challenge is the lighting. Too lousy 100 watt bulbs to create 'art' is a task, man. So it's even more fun when a band shows projections and turns off said lights ...great, I'm screwed. Yeah, it's a pain but the results IMO turn out extremely cool and worth the effort. Seriously, it's a gamble and I end up shooting ten times more shots to get the good ones.
Worth it? Sure. More tomorrow.

Image Of The Day-"Speak To The Wind"

Spindrift
Tuesday March 31, 2009
Garfield Artworks
Larryville

These guys were on the eclectic (and somewhat bloated) bill which was headlined by Say Hi or Telekinesis depending on your definition of a headliner. Spindrift didn't seem all that thrilled that there were four bands playing the night and the fact that they were loaded and gone seemingly minutes after their set only accentuated my observation. Still, they were quite bad ass! More tomorrow.

Image Of The Day-"The Sudbury Nickel"

I have an extreme man crush for The Sadies. Last year they put on one of my favorites shows ever to a very sparse crowd at Club Cafe. Talking to my man Sean that night he mentioned they just finished an album with John Doe and will likely tour behind. I was pumped that they announced a Pittsburgh date. The album is...eh, alright (like most of The Sadies studio stuff) but live is where this band shines and they more than proved it at The Thunderbird. Rumor has it they might be collaborating with Neil Young! Wow!

Image Of The Day-"The Day We Met"

Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles
Thunderbird Cafe
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Larryville

I love SB&TBS. They have been through town a few times since I discovered them awhile back and for some reason or another I couldn't make the show. I had already snagged a ticket to see this show (The Sadies RULE!!) and was thrilled when they were announced as support. Suffice it to say they played a terrific set and as a bonus performed my absolute favorite song of theirs (see post title) at my request! Scratch off another must hear live tune before I die.
It was actually quite awhile since I have been to the Thunderbird. I was kind of nervous in that the last time I was there to catch The Last Waltz Ensemble, I got there late after the Kevin Drew show at CMU, and the place was silly packed. I couldn't even get to the main room. I had dour hopes for this show but getting there early enough to snag an upper level table and not having a crazy amount of people makes it one of THE best rooms in the city.

Image Of The Day-"Hay-zoos Tune"

Meeting Of Important People
Thursday May 7, 2009
WYEP Studios
Southside

So yeah, my favorite record of the year so far are by these guys...from Pittsburgh no less. I was standing next to the boys from Round Black Ghosts who stated that this just might be the best local music they have heard in ten years! WORD! Aaron sings? Sweet!

Image Of The Day-"I Think I Like You!"

Donora
Thursday May 7, 2009
WYEP Studios
Southside

Headlining the newest installment of CP Remixed, the band debuted the live version of 'I Think I Like You' with Casey on keys! They have a slew of upcoming dates this summer so if you have never seen them play you have some great opportunities coming up. BTW, Thanks for the shout-out Andy!

Image Of The Day-"Weak In The Knees"

Serena Ryder
Monday May 4, 2009
Club Cafe
Southside

I never heard Serena's music before. I was only vaguely familiar with her from the backing vocal contributions she made to the last Great Lakes Swimmers' album Ongiara. Being a free show courtesy of WYEP (membership does have it's benefits) I was happy I checked her out. She has a raw vocal delivery (courtesy of those Marlboros, no doubt) and her songs are in a lite rock vein that I really enjoyed. Nothing Earth shattering here but as she mentioned from the stage she is returning to town soon and I plan on being there.

Image Of The Day-"Warriors Get Your Gear On"

Joy Ike

Monday May 4, 2009
Thursday May 7, 2009
Club Cafe
WYEP Studios
Southside

I had two chances to catch Joy play in one week. I never heard her before and thought that she was surprisingly good considering that I usually don't listen to her style of music. She has a jazzy, laid back vibe and I really appreciated her original songs. She was also super nice in person and I wish her nothing but success in the crazy music business game.

Image Of The Day-"Send Me On My Way"

Rusted Root

Tuesday May 5, 2009
The Mall At Robinson
Robinson Township

Over the years I have seen the Root play in many diverse places including A.J. Palumbo Center, Chevrolet Amphitheater, Jack's on 13th, Star Lake, Conneaut Lake Park, PPG Plaza and Three Rivers Stadium. The Mall at Robinson may be the strangest. They were doing an in-store at the FYE but I assume that they wanted to have enough room for a crowd and set up at the food court (which, unfortunately, wasn't neccessary). I thought that they sounded surprisingly good with this line-up and the new songs weren't bad at all. They are playing Hartwood to close out the Allegheny County Summer Concert season on September 6 which sounds like a good time to me.

Image Of The Day-"Please Please Please Please"

Brewer's Row

Pittsburgh Marathon 'Music By The Mile'
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Southside

Mark from the band sent out a Myspace bulletin that they were playing during the marathon...at 7:45 A.M.!!!
"What we have in mind is breakfast on the go for 10, 000 people!"
Needless to say it was a slow, easy start for the group since they had two hours and change to fill. I eventually had to go out on the course to try to catch my buddy in the race and I could still hear them playing somewhat but man were they smoking! They sounded like a ripping jamband. Good stuff indeed.
BTW, my buddy ended with a 3:57:04 time. Way to go Joe!

Image Of The Day-"Daylight Out"

Jennifer O'Connor

WYEP Live + Direct 11 CD Release Party
Friday May 2, 2009
Schenley Plaza
Oakland

This was my second time seeing Jennifer play. She is very good but nothing really stopped me dead in my tracks during the set. I should familiarize myself with her recorded stuff because as I said she was good.

Image Of The Day-"Shhh!"

Donora
WYEP Live + Direct 11 CD Release Party
Friday May 2, 2009
Schenley Plaza
Oakland

As many times as I feature this band (a whopping 53 posts and counting!) I should rename this blog DonoraShowsRedux. I think it's warranted for how good they are. I plan on seeing them again this upcoming Thursday at YEP for CP Remixed. You should too

Image Of The Day-"I Saw Lightning"

Telekinesis!
Tuesday March 31, 2009
Garfield Artworks
Larryville