Image Of The Day-"Happy New Year!!"

Talk about a perfect night. A lovely dinner with my beautiful wife, two sets of incredible music from my favorite bands ('List Show' AND 'Neighborhood Roofs'!!!), and giggling with my children as we welcome 2010. Thank you Pittsburgh! I am one very appreciative and lucky guy.

List-Shows!!! Favorite Photos of 2009 (412 Edition)

For whatever reason or another, these are some of my favorite pictures featuring local musicians from this year.

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.

List-Shows!!! Favorite Shows of 2009 Pt. 3

As with the previous posts, in no order:

The Broken West
Saturday March 28
Andy Warhol Museum
I LOVE this band. They opened for A.C. Newman (whose set I had to duck out early for to hit MOIP's CD release show). Two top shows of the year in one night!

Camera Obscura
Tuesday June 30
Mr. Smalls
I finally got on this band's wagon this year and can't believe it took me this long. Their acoustic set at YEP in the afternoon was just as good as the show proper later that night.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Monday March 30
Rex Theater
When Joel Gion and Matt Hollywood ambled on stage there was a collective gasp in the audience as the band blasted away and never looked back. Being invited on stage by the tour manager to shoot was icing on the cake. I do have to say the this was the grossest, weirdest, cranked out crowd I have ever been in. YUK!

Frightened Rabbit
Tuesday January 27
WYEP Studios
I missed their show the previous night but had to settle for this short studio set, which was awesome and had me promising myself to never, ever miss them again.

Fanfarlo
Saturday December 12
Brillobox
This band was just so much fun. A very late in the year surprise discovery.

The Rural Alberta Advantage
Tuesday October 8
Garfield Artworks
It's hard to imagine this is a sparse trio with the amazing music they make. A band with a huge future.

Dr. Eugene Chadbourne
Wednesday June 10
MoGlo Coffehouse
This was extremely cool. A veritable 'unplugged' in a coffeehouse! I love seeing shows in unconventional settings.

Good Night, States
Friday August 21
The Mansion
I will never forget the day I had the privilege of hanging with the band as they ran through the new EP for their release show. My own private concert! Thank you so much.

List-Shows!!! Favorite Shows of 2009 Pt.2

Again, in no particular order:

Jenny Lewis
Sunday July 9
Mr. Smalls
I really like both of Jenny's solo releases. She was fun, energetic and sounded great live. An added bonus was that my photo pass wasn't regulated to just the first three songs as is the usual. I was able to snap all night.

Bill Callahan
Tuesday April 14
Paul's CDs
I always scratch my head that there are no in store performances in the city. I love these intimate little sets. He was as laid back as his music.

Jason Lytle
Friday July 31
Riverplex Amphitheater
Perfect music for the atmosphere. Blew Neko away.

Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band
Sunday July 12
Mr. Smalls
First time for Conor to play here since Monsters Of Folk in 2004. Didn't disappoint. My only complaint was that they skipped my favorite song off the album, "Difference Is Time', which was on the set list. Boo.

Donora/Meeting Of Important People
Tuesday June 9
Point State Park
Donora and MOIP play on the big stage! Taking the family down for a free show is always fun.

Bobby Bare Jr./The Bottle Rockets/Ha Ha Tonka
Saturday July 4
The Smiling Moose
Too bad I missed Deadstring Brothers, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, and Dex Romweber Duo because of those pesky fireworks.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Tuesday February 10
Garfield Artworks
Is this band worth all the buzz? In concert they sure are.

Wanda Jackson
Friday July 17
Howler's Coyote Cafe
A musical legend...in a bar? She surprised me that she totally brought it besides the fact that she is 72 years old!

List-Shows!!! Favorite Shows of 2009 Pt.1

These are in no order:

Lohio/Boca Chica/Horse Or Cycle/The Harlan Twins/Mariage Blanc/Meeting Of Important People/Donora
Friday August 14
Mariage Blanc House
Mariage Blanc's Josh invited me to his party. Turns out my favorite local bands were playing. Totally cool, even though I had to duck out early and regrettably missed most of the bill.

Old 97's
Sunday June 28
Hartwood Acres
What's can be better than a free show in a beautiful park with refreshments, family, friends and one of your favorite bands? How about being allowed on stage to take photos! Thanks, Amy!

Hallelujah The Hills
Monday October 19
The Thunderbird Cafe
This band is just so great. My only complaint is that I didn't know the new songs before I saw them live.

Elliott Brood
Saturday November 28
The Thunderbird Cafe
Killer band playing a barnstorming set to close out their tour.

Donora/Lohio/The Harlan Twins
Friday November 20
Brillobox
Picking a favorite show among the many times I have seen these bands this year is kind of futile. They were all great.

Local Honey
Sunday March 8
Carnegie Library
What a fantastic idea. Have a band play the library. Did they hush it down for the setting? Um, hell no!

The New Pornographers
Friday April 17
CMU Lawn
Great set. Fun crowd. Ted Leo opening. Plus my man Warren set me up with a photo pass. Thanks, buddy.

Meeting Of Important People
Saturday March 28
Brillobox
I had a blast at their CD release show. My favorite album of the year...LIVE!

Dean & Britta
Saturday June 14
The Warhol Museum
This might be my favorite concert of the year. The show wasn't crowded which is ALWAYS a plus. The band sounded absolutely fantastic. Add the fact that this show coincided with the opening of the exhibit 'Warhol Live' (which was amazing). Seriously, what's not to love?

Image Of The Day-"All I Want For Christmas"

Holiday Hootenanny Rehearsals
Silver & Gold
Wednesday December 16, 2009
Friendship

This was the final evening of practice for the musicians before the show the next night (which was fantastic BTW-more on that soon). It was so interesting as a music fan to see how they got it together and worked out arrangements for the performance. I consider myself so lucky to be able to call these people friends and have the opportunity to hang out while they work. A personal thanks to everyone involved for letting me do that. More pictures here.

Image Of The Day-"Comets"

Fanfarlo
Saturday December 12, 2009
Brillobox
Larryville

This show was fantastic! I had a really good time. More so than that, the music was incredible. Listening to the band's album over the last week or so became more enjoyable with each listen and they translated the songs perfectly live. The crowd and band were having a ball. Afterward, they LOVED the art I brought them and even featured me on their Advent Calendar Day #16! Sweet!

Image Of The Day-"Have A Holly Jolly"

Holiday Hootenanny Rehearsals
Silver & Gold
Monday December 14, 2009
Friendship

Rehearsals are taking place this week for the 2nd Annual WYEP Holiday Hootenanny at the good doctor's abode in a teeny tiny room on the third floor. I was there for ninety minutes and the 'super group' dubbed again this year Silver & Gold only ran through four tunes. Seems like a Herculean task to accomplish but from the little I have heard it's going to be well worth it! Tickets are supposedly going fast for this show on Thursday the 17th, so get yours now. It's for a good cause and last years edition was a highlight of the year for me. I recently discovered the photos from last year after a hard drive failure and will be posting them as well as more rehearsal and this years show pics during this festive season! More images here.