Opening for Josh Ritter, I heard some SXSW buzz about these guys and was surprised that they had a Mexicali tinge to their roots folk. Not that I’m complaining at all, mind you. Listen for yourself here. They will be back in town for a free show at Schenley Plaza on August 26 to close the summer concert season. Appropriate since they kind of opened it…

I really love these library sets. There’s nothing like seeing a band play in unorthodox settings. Really looking forward to their upcoming debut release…

Another buzz band that’s blowing up right in front of our eyes. This show was (surprising for a late Wednesday night) sold out. Now there is a strange phenomena that occurs at shows that I will never be able to wrap my head around. I arrived just as openers Guards where wrapping up and there was a good two foot space between the stage and the audience. As Guards begin to tear down their gear for Cults, the entire audience walk two steps to the lip of the stage. It’s the weirdest thing to see and I see it a lot. As for the band, they were good. I think they need some road experience to become a bona fide live band but that will come in time for sure…

Due to a photo shoot earlier in the night, I survived the hell that is Route 28 traffic to arrive at Brillobox to be able to hear exactly 1.5 songs from the band. Not nearly enough to form an honest opinion. I do know one thing, this Brillobox lighting scheme has to go. Now, not only am I complaining as a photographer but as an audience member I couldn’t see anything. Seriously, the best photo of the set is of a stuffed bird! What I do know is that my peeps over at Pgh Music Report are fans of this band and their bloggy crush can be found here…

So far this year, I have seen (amazingly to me) around 100 bands play. This show is in hardcore contention to be my favorite of all of them. With a killer opening act to boot, I wasn’t expecting too much from a band that almost exclusively plays songs about baseball. I have zero interest in the sport but the band’s love for the game is infectious and the tunes are fun, catchy and great, regardless of the subject. I had a shit-eating grin the whole set. R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills was pinch-hitting for an absent Peter Buck and I have to say, the band may have been better for it. He actually can sing where Buck cannot and to have them play the Mills’ penned ‘Rockville’ sealed the deal. Just an awesome time. Another review here. More photos here…

My man Scott has been pimping these guys large for a few months now, and I finally decided to check out what all his gushing was about. Man, am I so glad I did. These guys came out of the gate smoking and never let up. They sounded really good in the open expanse of the park but I am sure a club setting would be unbelievable for their sound. I won’t the mistake again of missing them anytime they roll through town. More photos here…

Not an uber fan of hers but I do like that song ‘The Story’ a lot. My first exposure to here was outside Club Cafe in 2006. I was waiting in line for the sold out matt pond PA/dios malos late show doors when Brandi came out of the club after finishing the early show. She seemed very quiet but nice, I guess. I had no clue who she was till I found out later. Yeah, thrilling tale….More photos here…

Not at all familiar with their stuff but one a the few chances to shoot the festival’s concerts this year and I took it. I was surprised at the low turn out for all the shows I saw this year. Regardless, for an offshoot band that’s celebrating 30! years, I was highly impressed at the joyous energy coming from that stage. A review here. More photos here and here…

Third time seeing her. I really like her new songs and she and her band are great live. It always amazes me that I seem to be only photog in the PIT during most opening acts? Openers seem to get no love when they definitely should…

I thought I was on time for the show as Rocco was wailing away mid song. I started shooting and he walked off stage. I never seem to get my timing right with Diesel shows. Luckily for me, he was the opener. Unluckily for a woman outside after the show, she missed the whole Black Dub set. Bummer…

I like Bright Eyes. I really like the “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” release. I like his solo and Mystic Valley Band stuff more than his other albums. O.K. got it? I have found that people who do like Bright Eyes, LOVE Bright Eyes. Case in point, talking to some fans in the front row, I found a girl who waited twelve hours in line to be close to the stage. She was from Australia and flew over for this tour. She was on her 24th show so far! Nice. Another fun fact: Playing keys in this configuration of the band was none other than Laura Burhenn from The Mynabirds, a friend of this blog. More photos here…

Sloan are a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1991. They have just released their tenth full length album, The Double Cross, and are stopping by in Pittsburgh this week to promote it. As always, courtesy of my friends at Drusky Entertainment, I have two passes to give away to this all ages show. To enter, email me at hughshows@comcast.net with the subject line ‘Sloan’ and the name of the person in the message body who will bring I.D. to the show which will be good for two passes. This week’s contest runs until Wednesday, June 22 when the winner will be randomly chosen and contacted. Next Saturday a new contest will be announced. Good luck!…

On Father’s Day, two folksy singer songwriters stop in Pittsburgh to perform a co-headlining gig at the intimate Club Cafe. Haley is supporting her new album ‘Golder’. Daniel’s latest is ‘In the Cool of the Day’. They were both cool enough to take some time to participate in this edition of First/Last Fridays…

I really like this band. They were great last year at Hartwood and sounded just as good playing new material supporting Bright Eyes on this night. This is the kind of band that has legs for a long career. The guys are cool as hell in person so it will be nice to see them ‘blow-up’. Earlier in the afternoon they played a studio session at WYEP which you can listen to here…

Nick 13 is the the guitarist/vocalist/songwriter for the band Tiger Army. His music has been described as “punk americana”. Last week he dropped his debut solo album. He is touring to support it and stops in Pittsburgh on Sunday. He was nice enough to participate in this latest edition of First/Last….

Anyone who gets weened on classic rock, usually gets to CSNY at some point. I wasn’t any exception and have seen these guys in one configure or another many times over the years. Maybe my tastes have changed too drastically but even though they sounded really good, I was kind of put off by the whole, “We are hippies who fought the good fight and are still around to tell about it” stance they are imprisoned by. I was done early on when Graham introduced the second song by saying, “I wrote this for Joni”. Ugh…people payed $75 for this shtick? I guess since the place was sold out. Another perspective here…

and his band sounded great. Things weren’t looking so good early on. The PA wasn’t working to start the set and Josh came out and performed a delicate acoustic tune solo to soundcheck which sounded good from the lip of the stage but was inaudible to the thousands on the lawn. After about a twenty minute delay the technical hiccup was resolved and the concert was saved. I am sure he made many a new fan at Hartwood…

This band from Buffalo are playing the Moose this week previewing material from their July 26th EP release, Almost Not There. Guitarist/Keyboardist Joseph Stocker was cool enough to participate in this edition of First/Last…

This week’s contest is a hat trick of sorts. The third annual Ribs on the River festival at Station Square features three nights of music and food that has quickly become a popular fan favorite in Pittsburgh. Along with the above mentioned headliners, there are scores of Pittsburgh bands playing as well. ..