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.

Image Of The Day-"London!"

Donora
Three Rivers Arts Festival
Tuesday June 9, 2009
Point State Park
Downtown

After seeing the band several times in the year, I was excited that they debuted a couple tunes on this night to fulfill the allotted time slot. It was also the biggest stage I had seen them play on up to that point. It was strange to see them spread out like that after photographing them on smaller stages seemingly standing next to each other. My hope is that the stages get bigger!

Image Of The Day-"Difference Is Time"

Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band
Sunday July 12, 2009
Mr Smalls Theater
Millvale

This show was fantastic. The album these guys made is easily in my top ten for the year. Why did I wait three months to post it? I get lazy and have literally thousands of images to sift through. I am not kidding. At this show alone, I took 200 pictures and Conor just seemed to scream into the mic from my point of view. No variation at all. I was lucky enough to get a photo pass for this. Three songs and I am out. No pit access. When I go to get it, they let the audience in before me and I am stuck trying to jockey a position with these teenage uber fans. Bummer, man. I was standing there for three hours. Standing. There. For three hours. I am getting old. I felt they didn't turn out nice the next day, so I put it off and another show came up. It's funny because even though these pictures aren't that great, in retrospect, they aren't that bad. Better than I have seen yet from Smalls that night. Maybe I shouldn't stop trudging through the label contacts, managers, security, college kids, and general time away from my beautiful family to do this? Nah, I the love music.

Ticket Giveaway-'The Entertainer'

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

It's obvious that I love music. What many might not realize is that I love movies just as much. Ever since I was a kid, I have absorbed facts, trivia, and any inconsequential minutiae relating to film. I consider myself a walking movie encyclopedia. Seriously, next time you see me, ask me who stars in any movie and I can probably tell you.
It's always been cool to me that a bona fide movie legend has been working in Pittsburgh for several years now as Principal Pops Conductor for The Pittsburgh Symphony. Marvin Hamlisch's filmography as a composer is jaw dropping. 'The Sting', 'The Way We Were', and 'The Spy Who Loved Me' are just a few of his career highlights.
He is 'conducting' a meet and greet and Q&A this Saturday around 1:45 p.m. at the Waterworks Cinema before a screening of his latest film, 'The Informant' starring Matt Damon. Tickets are only $4 and can be bought on the day of show only but I have a pair to give away now. The first person to e-mail me the correct answer to the following question at manhugh1@comcast.net will have two tickets waiting at will call in their name.

Mr. Hamlisch is one of only two people ever to win an Emmy, an Oscar, a Grammy, a Tony, a Golden Globe, and a Pulitzer Prize. Who is the other person? Good luck and see you there.

Image Of The Day-"Here Is A Heart"

Jenny Owen Youngs
Thunderbird Cafe
Friday, September 11, 2009
Lawrenceville

A last minute addition to the line-up, she seemed a tad out of sorts during her set. Maybe it was because she supposedly JUST arrived from Brooklyn or else that's her overall vibe. Either way, she wasn't bad but I am sure she has had better shows.

Image Of The Day-"When You Wish Upon A Star"

Walt Disney World
September 23-28, 2009
Orlando, Florida

I'm back. Ever since I was a little kid I always wanted to hit "the most magical place on Earth". Thanks to the G-20 and Yom Kippur, I was able to take my family there for a fantastic time. I am backlogged for proper concert pics (broken record, I know) but should be quite busy in the near future. Next week in particular there is an insane wealth of shows and that's just from one promoter! Stay tuned.