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There are always shows happening in Pittsburgh over the weekend that are worthy of your attention and may not be widely advertised in our traditional media outlets. Please go out to #SupportPGHMusic!
Friday May 6, 2016
– Derek Woodz BAND w/ The Werks & Nakho and The Medicine For The People at Nelsons Ledges
– Raggoo Festivoo 2016
– New Indigo
– The Red Western at Arsenal Cider House w Llore
– In Bed By Ten May One Year Anniversary
– You Are Warming Weather – Opening Reception
– GA Showcase pt. 1
– Hoesy Corona, Dr. Jason Mendez, & Gregory Garay: Café Con Leche Latino Resident Artists
– 5901 Presents: The Park Plan / VXRoads / Blue Clutch / Dori Cameron
– City Grows Poetry Night!
– YRS ALBUM RELEASE SHOW
– Daily Grind’s Early Album Release Show
– Hospitality House: The Tall Trees, Heather Kropf, brad yoder
– Rachael Sage (NYC) with Sun Hound
– JD Eicher Full Band Pittsburgh CD Release Show
– Steelesque supporting Cracker
– Double Release Party!! w/ The Lopez /// Cotopaxi /// The Village Bicycle /// Blod Maud
– PUNK ROCK at T BIRD with! FLAMINGO NOSEBLEED (Ft. Wayne, IN) // PLAYOFF BEARD // THE SCRATCH N’ SNIFFS // SUPER FUN TIME AWESOME PARTY BAND
– Scott Shelby at Bee’z Bistro
– DIRTY CONFESSION at Frankie I’s! w/ special guests Bad Friend Ben!
– Showcase at The Funhouse with Good Old Ernie, Maura Moonshine and Guy Russo!
– Mad Doctors // Ghost Guts // Franny Moon // Zak Kane
– Paul Erdman Returns to PA
Saturday May 7, 2016
– PITTONKATONK 2016 : A May Day Brass BBQ/Picnic
– Framework Music and Arts Festival presented by WYEP
– Unplugged/Plugged In – May 7th at The Smiling Moose
– An Evening with Kelley McRae
– Riverview Relay 4 Life Benefit at the Oaks Theater with Nied’s Hotel Band and Jessica Bitsura
– When I’m Not Riding
– C. Scott | Avi Diamond | Sol Persona @ Cattivo
– The Rocky Horror Picture Show Party! ☾ VOODOO ☽
– ROCK-N-ROLL in Polish HILL!
– Right TurnClyde at the Oakmont Tavern
– Jack’s Shadow/B Banerjee-J Papay-C Van Gemert/I Insect
Sunday May 8, 2016
– Sunday Acoustic Brunch For Moms
– Spirit’s Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet
– Mother’s Day Beer Release – Hibiscus Saison
– JackLucy / Jeremiah Daly
– PONY TIME (Seattle) w/ The Lopez, Sun Hound AND Trash Bag
Since 1986 (jeez… where did 30 years go?) I have only missed David Lowery perform in Pittsburgh once. I was in my car on my way to the show when my buddy told me it was already over. Damn!
I never made that mistake again and he returns to Pittsburgh on Friday (5/6) to play a late show with Cracker at the Hard Rock Cafe as blog faves Steelesque support. Get your tickets here. See you there!
“The dusk begins to melt away into the heavens, blending the horizon into inevitable mirage. Heat waves descend in the distance as two shadowy figures begin to come into view. One: the old timer, an axe in each hand and a scowl on his lips. The other: the bandito with a short fuse and a low gauge crowd pleaser slung high on his hip. Such is the beginning, and ultimate end of The Mixus Brothers. Sworn to avenge their alleged slights they travel the dark roads of an America that misunderstands and underestimates them. They’re out for revenge, they’re coming for you…and nothing will stand in their way…so be on the lookout, Jebbh and Red think your town may be next…”
The Mixus Brothers is an Americana band from Pittsburgh who will be performing songs from their new album Let the Cards Decide this Saturday (5/7) at Diesel Club Lounge as they support Mail the Horse from Brooklyn. I want to thank Johnny Willett AKA Red Mixus (Drums/Vocals) and Jacob Stempky AKA Jebbh Mixus (Guitar/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
Thanks, fellas. So Jebbh, noting both Obscured by Clouds AND The Fallen Leaf Pages as faves? Dude, we have to hang!
“Rachael Sage has had an illustrious career as an independent artist, respected and praised by the likes of the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Rolling Stone and Billboard. She has shared the stage with Ani DiFranco, Sarah McLachlan, and Shawn Colvin and her songs have appeared on MTV, HBO, “Fame” soundtrack and Lifetime TV’s “Dance Moms”. She has made a name for herself as one of the most active touring artists in independent music with her dynamic stage show, signature flair and colorful stage banter.”
Rachael Sage is a singer-songwriter from New York City who comes returns to Pittsburgh on Friday (5/6) at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh with support from blog faves Sun Hound behind her latest album Choreographic. I want to thank Rachael for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
Thanks, Rachael. I have to say that you will forever have a spot in my concert going conscience as being the last performer to ever play at Garfield Artworks before it closed.
“This is a rock band from Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Since 2013. Featuring members, now or then, of the Fuckies, Bunny Five Coat, Blindsider, Paris Green, Liverball, Zits of America and Lullaby Engine.”
Murder for Girls is a riotous rock band from Pittsburgh who are releasing their latest full-length album All the Wishes this Thursday (5/5) with a show at the Thunderbird Cafe with support from Sun Hound and Reign Check. I want to thank Jonathan Bagamery (Bass) and Stephanie Wallace (Guitar/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
Thanks, Jonathan and Stephanie. I have been really diggin’ the new album. Should be a banger on Thursday!
“The Pittsburgh native, Emerson Jay, produces synth-ridden compositions over top of a driving kick and snare and often complimented with catch guitar and bass. This is music that will make you want to dance like a kid again.”
Emerson Jay is an indie synth pop band from Pittsburgh led by songwriter Jared Gulden (Keyboards/Vocals) who is starting to make some real noise in the local music scene following their latest single Feel Like Gold. The band is one of the organizers (along with those other young upstarts Nevada Color) in the first Framework Music and Art Festival which occurs this Saturday (5/7) starting at 5pm (Doors 4pm) at RE360 Warehouse in Allentown. Tickets are only $10 and can be snagged here. Produced to bring together DJ’s, photographers, videographers and musicians to showcase up and coming talent Pittsburgh has to offer. A portion of the proceeds will benefit early education and entrepreneurial organizations in the area.
The highlight is the great lineup for the night with André Costello and the Cool Minors, Donora, Wreck Loose and the aforementioned Nevada Color and Emerson Jay. I want to thank Jared for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
Thanks, Jared. Congrats on helping to put this fest together. I can’t wait, it should be a blast!
There are always shows happening in Pittsburgh over the weekend that are worthy of your attention and may not be widely advertised in our traditional media outlets. Please go out to #SupportPGHMusic!
Friday April 29, 2016
– Habatat & TrailHeads @ V.O.M.A.
– Beauty Slap, Jarrett Tebbets, Zoob & Memphis Hill // FoundSound Birthday Show
– MusicSPACE presents Future Oak Records Showcase: Ricky Valente + Arlo Aldo
– COOL LIKE DAT(The Redux)
– 28 North at Moondog’s
– Paul Luc, Bryan McQuaid, Armadillos, Chet Vincent And The Big Bend
– Raven and the Wren & Friends!
– Halfway to Halloween Rock and Roll Show!
– PBR Presents : Live Band Karaoke
– The Red Western, Slugss, Mystic Seers
– PURPLESAURUS REX
– Clean Air 4/29: Babyteeth / Connor Hill / Mike Masai / Clay Colonna
Saturday April 30, 2016
– The Pittsburgh Record Convention XLII
– DMF Fundraiser 2016
– DV8 OPEN MIC
– The String Theory @ Seven Springs Brewski Festival
– A Stellar Night of Music!
– An Evening with Sean Rowe and His Band
– Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton, with Locks & Dams
– Rhythm & Groove: Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival Fundraiser
– FFR “Gig Replacement” Series: Vol. I
– Family For Julz
– Showcase at the Funhouse with The Way of Life!
– Faster Pussycat LIVE w/ Dirty Charms, SuperMonkey, Brett Staggs, Electric Diablo
– Katie Hate Band Kick Off Summer tour At the HULA
– Dead River / Murder For Girls / Bill Jasper Acoustics
– Killer of Sheep, Thundervest, Tommy Gutless, Remainders!
– Right TurnClyde at the Beerhead Bar
Sunday May 1, 2016
– 2016 Marathon After Party
– The Block Party #1 – Spring Hill
– Worship This / Turnspit / Swiss Army at The Mr. Roboto Project
– Dumplings / Red Francis / Different Places in SPACE / The Dark Lines
– Loyal Order: Rex Manning Day Edition
Here is the Friday night portion of the 2016 Deutschtown Music Festival. Pleased note that Park Stage and James St. Restaurant are all ages. James St. Ballroom, Scratch and The Recovery Room are 21+.
The Pittsburgh Marathon takes place this Sunday morning, May 1st and along with all those people running, there are a ton of bands performing all along the entire course.
For the full list, check it out here.
This Sunday, May 1, 2016 from 4-7pm, head on over to Spring Hill (2000 Rutledge St.) on the Northside for the debut of The Block Party featuring live music from Delicious Pastries, Brewer’s Row and The Get Down Gang. It’s all ages, all free and sure to be a banger!
It’s all ages, all free and sure to be a banger! The Block Party, a project of One Northside Pgh in partnership with The Buhl Foundation, is excited to announce it’s first of five events in 2016 taking place in Spring Hill on Saturday May 1st. The Block Party is series of mini arts festivals that will call attention to and celebrate the valuable resources and local identities of Northside neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.
Located north of Downtown and neighboring Spring Garden and Troy Hill, Spring Hill is a picturesque neighborhood named for its hilly topography and natural underground springs. This “bedroom community nestled on the hilltop” sprang from German ethnic roots many decades ago and today houses neighbors of diverse races, economics, and social status that gives the community a melting-pot flavor.
This event is taking place in the new Asylgärten Park, a large lot owned for many years by the Spring Hill Civic League that is currently undergoing a renovation as a welcoming community space.
This free festival will feature:
A mobile stage from Flyspace Productions featuring the local bands delicious pastries, Brewer’s Row and The Get Down Gang – all bands with at least one resident of Spring Hill!
Food trucks will be onsite.
Stories about the neighborhood are being collected onsite by The Saturday Light Brigade.
Hands-on activities with Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse and Little House Big Art.
Public art with AIR: Artists Image Resource
Refreshments featuring the local, in-progress brewery, Spring Hill Brewing.
Activities with Mattress Factory – Museum of Contemporary Art.
Historical photos courtesy of Allegheny City Historic Gallery.
Brought to you by your friends at New Hazlett Theater, Deutschtown Music Festival and The Sprout Fund
On Saturday, April 30 from 6-9:30pm head on over to Wigle Whiskey Barrelhouse for a fundraiser hosted and MC-ed by yours truly featuring a sweet local music lineup to help offset the costs of putting on the Deutschtown Music Festival this year. Donations will be accepted on site and at this link. This is a 21+ event.
From the organizers:
Wigle Whiskey has offered us an opportunity to host a fundraiser at their awesome Barrelhouse on Spring Garden Ave. We
will have live performances from Chet Vincent & The Big Bend, Devin Moses & The Saved, and Wreck Loose. La Palapa, Mexican Gourmet Kitchen will be serving up some great food. Admission is free, but we are asking for donations. All proceeds go to help pay this year’s bands. Last year we were able to pay around $100 to each of our 130 bands, this year’s list is already up to 178, which means we are already about $5000 behind. Please come help us out and enjoy a very fun evening.
Please go out and help #SupportPGHMusic
There are always shows happening in Pittsburgh over the weekend that are worthy of your attention and may not be widely advertised in our traditional media outlets. Please go out to #SupportPGHMusic!
Friday April 22, 2016
– Earth Day Rising!
– Jeremy Caywood Earth Day CD Release Show
– Open Book: Brooke Annibale
– I’m Against It: A Tribute to the Ramones
– Melinda Colaizzi
– Tough Old Bird w/Grant Street Grifters & Union Rye at Howlers, Pittsburgh
– Late Show at The Funhouse with Lone Wolf Club and Different Places in SPACE!
Saturday, April 23, 2016
– Bowling For Bernie – An All Ages Bowling and Live Music Fundraiser
– The Show at The Rex
– Spooky Action Space Captain at Roboto!
– Fanfare Ciocarlia “Kings of the Balkan Brass”
– Project Progress II: The Clarks for Fetterman
– Chris Vipond and the Stanley Street Band Album Release w/ Wreck Loose & The Keep it Downs
– Bottle Rat / Crisis In America / The Danzas – Saturday Night Live Rock and Roll!
– Moondogs Presents Bill Toms and Hard Rain
– Brahctopus Live at East Vandergrift Polish Club
– ATS CD Release Revival Show ft The Working Poor and Weird Paul Band
– Evening with theCAUSE at Sq Hill Sports Bar
– The H-Bones to the rescue!
– ‘Live like a suicide’ Misaligned Mind @ Hollywood Lanes
– Fair Play: What if the Music stopped?
– Try The Pie, Great Hart, Swampwalk and Dinosoul at Black Forge Coffee
– Pink Painful/The Park Plan/Rake
I am thrilled to reveal the next round of bands added to the already bangin’ lineup for the 2016 Layer Cake Festival.
Taking place across multiple venues in Pittsburgh on Friday and Saturday, June 3 & 4, 2016, the festival, which like it’s previous inaugural version last October, features musical performances along with visual artists producing on-site and is once again being set up by Ziggy Sawdust Productions.
All bands are excited to be a part of this festival, which reenforces tha amazing and growing diverse music and arts scene in Pittsburgh.
Matt Bean (Drums) from alt-grungsters There You Are, “We have always chose & supported the DIY route for everything we have done. It only makes sense to support the DIY scene and Layer Cake’s commitment for shining light on all things great about Pittsburgh’s music & art.”
Druva Krishna (Guitar/Drums) for the bluegrass folk-pop outfit Dhruva Krishna and The Family Band, “I’m incredibly excited to be performing at the festival. Layer Cake showcases the best local music and is an awesome time all around – I feel honored to be playing this year. You can catch me performing with. I’ll see you there!”
Marcin Jaroszewicz (Drums) for indie jangle punksters Mud Guppies, “We are really excited to music-make and body-shake with all of you!
Layered Cake Fest is going to be a great time, we are really happy to be a part of it! Catch yinz there!”
Michael Berger (Bass) for space-jam funksters The Clock Reads, “We are very excited to return to Layer Cake. We had a fantastic experience in October and can’t wait to do it again in June. We hope to continue our relationship with the Layer Cake (and the Pittsburgh) community, and everyone who is involved in putting events like these together.
Below you will find the two previous band announcements. Tickets for the fun go on sale May 1st. Snag them here.
Art All Night 2016 takes place this weekend (4/23-24) in Lawrenceville at Arsenal Terminal and the 19th annual edition promises to be bigger and better. Billed as ‘no fees, no censorship, no juries’ this DIY exhibit is just that. Amongst the visual art, interactive art and family-friendly activities is the musical performances that run continuously from 4 pm Saturday to Noon Sunday.
This is a free event.
Check out the musical schedule below.
Music: “Coffee House” Stage (From 4pm – 11:30pm on Saturday) We’ll have 15 performers representing Pittsburgh‘s open mics, coffeehouses, clubs, and award-winning singer/songwriters
Time Performer(s)
A colorful collection of dance bands and folk music ensembles from the Pittsburgh area
Time Group
Time Group
The 4th Annual Deutschtown Music Festival takes place on Friday and Saturday, July 8 & 9, 2016 on the Northside of Pittsburgh across multiple venues and stages.
Daylight events will be family friendly and all of the festival is absolutely free. Among balloon artists, face painters, food trucks, various vendors and a plethora of other activities, the main focus is the live musical performances and with 180+ bands confirmed and even more to come, this will be the biggest year yet for this amazing community event.
Today I am thrilled to reveal the band lineup for this year. As new stages are procured, I will be adding more information such as specific venue lineups and times so watch this blog in the weeks heading up to the fest.
…and more to be announced.
“Carving out a name for themselves with electrifying live performances, they bring one of the most unique, raw sounds to the Americana/roots music scene. Incorporating upright bass, banjo, acoustic guitar and violin, the ghost of traditional American folk music lives in their palette. But the melodies, the harmonies and the lyrics are something else entirely. Drawing on aspects of everything from 0ld-time recordings to 1960’s R&B, the music is crafted to serve the songs. With fast-growing audiences singing along at live shows, it’s easy to tell the primary focus is on song.”
Driftwood is an Americana folk rock band from Binghamton, NY who are touring behind their latest effort, Live at Grassroots 2014. They return to Pittsburgh this Saturday (4/16) with River Whyless at the New Hazlett Theater on the Northside. This will be a fantastic show in an equally fantastic venue. I want to thank Dan Forsyth (Guitar/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
Thanks, Dan. Pittsburgh loves you back, man. Should be a wonderful night on Saturday.
“Crowding around a single microphone, their show is as fun to watch as it is to hear, and often begs the question, how has no one lost an eye from a collision with the fiddle bow? The smiles on the faces of the band are obvious displays of the joy and excitement they feel when performing and the audience shares in the fun. With effortlessly executed transitions, the pacing between the softer and more vigorous numbers constantly has fans on the edge of their seats.”
The Barefoot Movement is an Americana acoustic trio from Nashville, TN who are in the midst of a tour that brings them to Pittsburgh this Thursday (4/14) at the Thunderbird Cafe with blog friends Charlie Hustle & The Grifters. You can get a preview of their soon to be released album Live in L.A which will be available next month. I want to thank Noah Wall (Fiddle/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
The first album you ever bought?
The first one I can remember purchasing on my own was Jewel’s Pieces of You. I had parents who were big music lovers though, so it seemed like there were always new records around.
Your last album bought?
I got a bunch of stuff for Christmas. Funk #49 by the James Gang. A few film score soundtracks like Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Silverado. And I think some Ozzy Osbourne. I have wide ranging musical interests!
Favorite album of all time?
Oh boy, such a hard question. I would have to go with Pink Floyd’s The Wall, only because it affected me so much and I come back to it all the time. I feel like I would say something else if you asked me on a different day! But this is a great one, every day, so I guess it’s a good choice.
First concert attended?
I think I was about a year old and my folks took me to see the bluegrass greats The Seldom Scene. But the first one I remember is Hootie and the Blowfish when I was in the second grade!
Last concert?
We always get to see concerts on the road, if we’re opening for someone, or they’re opening for us. Or we play a festival and we get to check out some of the other acts. And even when we’re home, I have so many friends in the industry, it’s not quite as much of an event as it would be for someone who only sees live shows once in a while. I think the last one I saw was an Easter celebration featuring a bunch of musician friends of mine and with David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheco headlining.
Before that, I saw my amazingly talented friend Ed Snodderly, who produced The Barefoot Movement’s first record, at the Station Inn in Nashville. And before that I saw The Preservation Hall Jazz Band at their home venue in New Orleans. That was such an awesome show. Hands down, one of my favorite musical experiences ever as a spectator.
Favorite concert ever?
I think it’s hard to beat when I saw Roger Waters “The Wall” because it’s obviously one of my favorite records but it also was an amazing production. It’s really fun to see your all time heroes like that. It’s so worth it to go while you have the chance. I got to see the Eagles up close last year, and that was an amazing show. I’m so happy I got that opportunity since
Glenn Frey passed away this year. I also think there’s something special about seeing your favorite current artist when they’re at the height of their popularity. Don’t laugh, but I saw Limp Bizkit from the seventh row when I was in the sixth grade. I was absolutely obsessed with them. They were my “boy-band.” I was with my Mom and and my siblings and it was one of the most fun, memorable nights of my life.
Least favorite concert?
Probably one of ours! Seriously though, I don’t remember bad shows, same as records. They must be blocked from my brain through some kind of coping mechanism. Thank goodness.
Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I have fond memories of Pittsburgh. We’ve had some days off there from time to time, and we’ve gotten the chance to see some of the sights like the Warhol Museum and that football stadium that was blown up in Batman! We’ve had our share of pierogies and we’ve eaten at the original Primanti Brothers! We can’t wait to come back.
Thanks, Noah. I have to agree with you on The Wall. Such a formative album in my youth as well. I am certain you heard the bluegrass version from Luther Wright & The Wrongs.
For it’s fourth year, the wildly successful Deutschtown Music Festival is expanding. Along with an all day event on Saturday, July 9th, 2016 there will be a Friday evening component featuring 24 musical acts across three venues. The organizers are anticipation this lineup to grow as more venues are announced for Friday night.
James Street Gastropub will be hosting bands and songwriters in it’s upstairs ballroom and in the ground level restaurant.
Two other venues, The Recovery Room (affectionately referred to as Huszar) and Scratch Food & Beverage will be hopping with live music from 6pm – 1am. As with all Saturday events, admission is absolutely free! Check out the line up below and mark your calendars now.
“There is a large & unique cinematic soundscape found within their music. Paper Lights’ highly anticipated album named Caverns released in November 2013 and featured multiple percussive elements. Their single off the album, The Cave, gained worldwide attention which has included film and commercial placements including Coca-Cola, Boeing, MTV, ESPN, Chick-fil-a and Outdoor Magazine. Their third album, We Are Arrows, released in early 2015. While the band took some time off from the road, they have been hard at work in the studio once again, planning to release their first full-length album, Great Escapes, in early 2016.”
Paper Lights is an alternative/pop band from Atlanta, GA formed by songwriter Dan Snyder (Keyboards/Programming/Vocals). Currently on tour behind their fantastic new album Great Escapes, the band hits up Pittsburgh at Snake Hill this Thursday (4/7). It is an as intimate venue as you can get so do not miss it! I want to thank Dan for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
Thanks, Dan. Really nice album, man. Should be a sweet show Thursday!