Buffalo Rose ‘Rabbit’ EP Release / Friday, February 25, 2022 / Thunderbird Café / Pittsburgh, PA wsg Broken Fences

 

Some random band shots from Saturday, August 7, 2021 in Millvale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#SupportPGHMusic

Strand of Oaks is currently touring behind their excellent new album, Eraserland. My buddy Max Somerville from local band Wreck Loose was tapped to play keys on the tour and when a Pittsburgh date was announced, the date was a rare weeknight pin in my schedule. Unfortunately, the show sold out and to my surprise, longtime faves Apex Manor was a late announcement as opener. The minute I discovered this, I contacted Apex Manor songwriter Ross Flournoy (who plays in Strand of Oaks band along with Max) and he quickly put me on the guest list. Catching up with Ross, seeing his hometown crowd cheer Max on, and enjoying two great bands has me thinking twice about avoiding the Southside on a weeknight in the future.

Huge thanks to Ross, who’s new album Heartbreak City comes out on Merge Records May 31 but was on sale last night and I have to say, it is so damn good!

Sweet video via Zoob.

The cool folks at Roxian Live were kind enough to have me come into the newest Pittsburgh venue The Roxian Theatre, located in McKees Rocks, to take a few snaps of the brand new space.
The design is modern but compliments the remaining and refurbished ceiling and bas relief designs on the exterior.
With the venue capable of holding between 675-1411 capacity, depending on the seats or no seats setup for any given event, the main room is a wide stage level area located behind the soundboard and a large pit right before the stage which can hold 94 seats when not general admission. Above are 365 permanent seats in the balcony area, including a VIP space which can hold 60 with a private bar all its own. That would be one of three full bars, a second one behind the balcony and the largest on the main floor. There will be 20 rotating taps featuring local and craft beers and if you are an Untappd app user, you are in luck as they they will be participating as well. Most shows will be all-ages, even with alcohol served but there may be 21+ shows. There is no kitchen but plans are to have 1-6 food trucks next to the building depending on the weather. Food stays outside, though.
Street parking can be found around the venue and they also have spaces behind back (where the annual Feastival takes place.) The venue is working with Rite Aid a few blocks away to be able to use their lot which has more than enough parking for a sell out show.

The first two shows are a free ones with The New Mastersounds both this Thursday (5/9) and Friday (5/10).

I want to thank box office manager and publicist Alex Neal for the tour and special thanks to Lindsay Dragan for the incomparable ‘guitar poses!’

Nevada Color at Theater Square Rooftop Shindig on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA

matt pond PA / Young Buffalo on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA.

matt pond PA recently hit Pittsburgh on a short tour to promote the 10th Anniversary of their excellent 2005 release “Several Arrows Later” by playing the album in full. A few days earlier in Chicago, they were robbed and among other items stolen were their passports, preventing them from playing Toronto. They forged on with the tour which ended last night in New York. There is an active GoFundMe page where supporters can still help out the band recover at least monetarily.

Joining them on the tour were Oxford, MS indie rockers Young Buffalo.

This is also a very special post for me in that for the first (and hopefully not the last) time in HughShows history, I am truly thrilled and honored to have a guest photographer share their talents with you. I really couldn’t be happier with the artist for this debut feature. Long Hong has been a friend and supporter to me for several years now and he is one of my favorite concert photographers in the city. He is the kind of photographer that makes you feel as though you were there and he certainly did with these photos. From Long,

“I feel so very lucky to be Hugh’s first guest photographer on his music blog and very fortunate to revisit one of my favorite albums in college.“

Thanks so much, Long! The feeling is mutual, man. Let’s to do it again, buddy. Young Buffalo

matt pond PA

Nevada Color at Studio X on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA.

One of the greatest aspects of being a music fan in Pittsburgh is the endless opportunities to see local bands play their music in different settings. Radio station 105.9 The X has been putting on a monthly Studio X showcase for bands and broadcasting/archiving the set at a later time. This particular show will be aired on the radio tomorrow for Mother’s Day at 8:30 pm. I love what Nevada Color are doing. I actually shot their second ever gig and watching them grow and mature as performers is awesome.

Dream Phone at Carnegie Library Main Branch (Quiet Room) on Sunday, April 12, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA

Tonight at Brillobox is a very sweet bill consisting of Robin Vote, Blød Maud, Littler (Philadelphia) and the gals of Dream Phone. This is one fun band to see. They have a ’60s girl group inspired garage pop sound and contain members of local faves The Harlan Twins, The Lopez, Roulette Waves, Paddy the Wanderer and Delicious Pastries. You can thank me later.

The Deutschtown Music Festival Fundraiser with Working Breed, André Costello and the Cool Minors, Chet Vincent & The Big Bend and Big Gypsy at the Andy Warhol Museum on Saturday, April 11, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Deutschown Music Festival returns this year to take over the North Side of Pittsburgh on Saturday, July 11, 2015. The organizers of the event are hoping to be able to pay the bands this third year and they have launched an ambitious Indiegogo campaign to do just that. Let’s SUPPORT PITTSBURGH MUSIC and help spread the word. They also put on shows leading up to the fest and this one featured some of my favorite local bands. The revelation this particular night was my first time seeing the powerhouse quartet Big Gypsy. They are a smoking soul stirring blues-rock band that is quickly and deservedly gaining popularity. Do yourself a favor and check them out.

Working Breed

Ben Harrison of the Warhol Museum

André Costello and the Cool Minor

Chet Vincent & The Big Bend

Big Gypsy

Tonight my boys in Meeting of Important People have a single release show at the Andy Warhol Museum for a flexi-vinyl of their new song ‘All Rode Off Together‘ via Wild Kindness Records. Joining them will be blog faves The Van Allen Belt and Morgan Erina. To celebrate I have dug deep into the vaults to present a ‘partial’ representation of my times enjoying the music of Josh, Matt and Aaron over the years. As you can see, I have seen MOIP or Josh Verbanets solo more times than any other band in my life. See you again tonight, fellas!

André Costello and the Cool Minors at Studio X on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Tonight is the Deutschtown Music Festival fundraiser at the Warhol Museum. Get all the details here. Featuring some kick-ass local bands including our buds André Costello and the Cool Minors, the show will help SUPPORT PITTSBURGH MUSIC. That is what’s up!

Dumplings, Boca Chica, Butterbirds and Guy Russo at The Wilderness Recording Studio presents HughShows Live @ Eide’s on Saturday, December 13th, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA. Dumplings

Boca Chica

Butterbirds

Guy Russo

Satin Gum, Clinton Clegg & The Commonheart, Misaligned Mind and townsppl at The Wilderness Recording Studio presents HughShows Live @ Eide’s on Saturday, December 13th, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA.Satin Gum

Clinton Clegg & The Commonheart

Misaligned Mind

I have previously featured Pittsburgh pop-rockers Lofi Delphi on the blog but this was actually the first time seeing them play. You can listen to the set here. If you have never seen them please do yourself a favor and GO SUPPORT PITTSBURGH MUSIC! This set was at the always awesome WYEP Third Thursday series which has been hosting a local band every month for many years now. Such a great, free, early opportunity to catch a regional artist perform. In fact, scheduled this week at WYEP (3/19) is singer-songwriter David Wilson who will also just so happen to be on the blog in a few days.

On Thursday, February 26, 2015 blog faves Meeting of Important People gathered a bunch of friends at Treelady Studios to sing the chorus on their upcoming single being released by Wild Kindness Records. Among the throng that gathered were members of some of the best indie bands Pittsburgh has to offer including from left to right Derek White (New Shouts), Bethany Berkstresser (Balloon Ride Fantasy), Jeff Betten (Western Pennsylvania), Dave Hidek (Treelady Studios), Josh Verbanets (Meeting of Important People), Max Sommerville (Wreck Loose), Morgan Erina, Michael Cunningham (Neighbours), Addi Twigg (The Telephone Line), Matt Miller (Meeting of Important People), Molly Alphabet, Chet Vincent, Zack Keim (The Nox Boys), Guy Russo, Angela Pannitti, David Bubenheim (Pet Clinic) and Andre Costello. The single is being celebrated at a must see release at The Andy Warhol Museum on Saturday, April 18 with Morgan Erina and The Van Allen Belt as support. It was such a fun time in the room as it only took a few takes to nail it!

Scrap Kids / Brightside / Roger Harvey & The Wild Life at Shark Week House on Saturday, October 25, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA

Scrap Kids

Brightside

Roger Harvey & The Wild Life

Andre Costello and the The Cool Minors at The Wilderness Recording Studio presents
HughShows Live @ Eide’s on Saturday, October 11th, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Garment District at The Wilderness Recording Studio presents HughShows Live @ Eide’s on Saturday, October 11th, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Casino Bulldogs at The Wilderness Recording Studio presents HughShows Live @ Eide’s on Saturday, October 11th, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Casino Bulldogs at The Wilderness Recording Studio presents HughShows Live @ Eide’s on Saturday, October 11th, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA.