HughShows

Saturday Vault

2012-01-28T23:32:00.000-05:00

Meeting Of Important People Brillobox Saturday March 28, 2009 Larryville My favorite album of 2009 and I got the setlist from the CD release show. MOIP never, ever wrote setlists back then. This was the first time I ever saw one on stage. They always played it by ear but for some reason this night Jeff needed the list. It was on his keyboard. My score. It was written on the back of an

First/Last-The Kalob Griffin Band

2012-01-27T21:47:00.002-05:00

Photo courtesy Stella Wiki The Kalob Griffin Band Club Cafe Saturday, February 4, 2012 Southside I consider myself so lucky to be in the very dubious position I am in to be on the receiving end of publicists, record labels, or musician's email lists. I get a ton of requests to showcase a band that's coming through Pittsburgh to maybe preview, shoot or mention the gig. I don't think

Image of the Day-"Funeral Song"

2012-01-26T20:05:00.002-05:00

Greg Dutton Club Cafe Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Southside As much as I dig The Wreckids and as much as I know very little about Jaymay, I wanted to trek out last night for one reason only. I had never seen a solo set by Lohio's main man Greg. He mainly played new tunes (here's hoping some of it will be recorded/released soon!) and although the band's future is somewhat up in the air(

Image of the Day-"I Got High"

2012-01-25T18:02:00.001-05:00

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound Mr. Smalls Funhouse Saturday, January 21, 2012 Millvale This was the second stop of the night and I would have caught first opener Daryl Hance but as I was in line to get into the sold out gig, I realized I left my phone in my car so I had to sludge back through the snow to get it. Yet another hassle to shoot in the pit was resolved in time to catch JC,

Image of the Day-"Wonderful Maker"

2012-01-24T18:32:00.001-05:00

Pet Clinic House Rehearsal January, 17, 2012 Troy Hill The band is preparing to release their debut LP (on vinyl, no less) at The Shop on February 11. They were cool enough to send me a preview and I have been cranking it for over a week now. I wanted to hear this live and it worked out I could 'sit in' on one of their practices. I've said this before, there's nothing like a 'personal'

Image of the Day-"Lost in Love"

2012-01-23T18:15:00.000-05:00

Air Supply Rivers Casino Saturday, January 21, 2012 Northshore As I seemingly went a tad overboard last week gushing about seeing this band, I have to say they met my expectations and then some. This was one hell of a fun show. Maybe because it took place at the casino, there was a 'Vegas-revue' style atmosphere to the show right from the start. The band sounded really good and

First/Last-Mind Fish

2012-01-20T16:00:00.002-05:00

Mind Fish Thunderbird Cafe Friday, January 20, 2012 Larryville Mindfish are a four piece self proclaimed 'Nerd-Rock' band from Toledo, OH. They are releasing their new album 'Watch Out!' this month and are celebrating with a tour that includes a stop at the Thunderbird tonight. Also on the bill are Pittsburgh bands White Like Fire and SleepyV. I want to thank Mind Fish's lead vocalist

Image of the Day-"Pittsburgh is a Christmas Kind of Town"

2012-01-19T15:49:00.002-05:00

Marah Kollar Club Saturday, December 17, 2011 Southside Billed as a 'Marah Hot Metal Christmas', it was a two night stand organized by fans turned friends turned supporters Dr. Mike and Jimmy. The dedication these guys have towards the band is nothing like I have ever seen in music and although the band plays regular gigs in the city, these are always something special indeed. Scroll

First/Last-Air Supply

2012-01-18T16:47:00.000-05:00

Air Supply Rivers Casino Saturday, January 21, 2012 Northshore Wikipedia defines 'guilty pleasure' as...wait...take two. Hi everyone, my name is Hugh T. and, ahem, I am an Air Supply fan. As any music blogger knows, his or her tastes define a lot about what they listen to and write about and eventually who follows their online presence. Admittedly, to be able to sustain some sort of

Image of the Day-"Can't Go Back to Jersey"

2012-01-17T15:51:00.001-05:00

G. Love & Special Sauce Mr. Small's Funhouse Thursday, January 12, 2012 Millvale I was surprised to see that this show sold out. I like my white boy rappin' blues as much as anyone else (well, not really) but filling Smalls on a Thursday night? Dude must be doing something right. Maybe it was the promise of a 'meet-n-greet' to the first 75 fans who bought merch? Why all musicians don't

Kickstarter-MOIP

2012-01-16T12:49:00.000-05:00

Of all the bands I have covered in Pittsburgh, I have easily photographed Meeting of Important People more than any other. Since seeing them for the first time in 2008, they quickly became one of my favorite bands, local or otherwise. Their debut album was my favorite of 2009 and now they working on their third release which is where you, Joe Public music fan, come in. They are going the

First/Last-The Winter Sounds

2012-01-13T16:48:00.002-05:00

The Winter Sounds Brillobox Friday, January 13, 2012 Larryville The Winter Sounds are a band hailing from Nashville and as they seemingly tour constantly, they stop in Pittsburgh tonight for a show at the Brillobox. Supporting them are hometown favs Triggers and Satin Gum. Really can't miss with that line-up. Singer Patrick Keenan and bassist Ellen Angelico also run Vulcan Army

First/Last-Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter

2012-01-11T20:36:00.001-05:00

Admittedly, I was only vaguely familiar with Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter and their music. What really made me stand up and notice the band was the release their fourth full length album, Marble Son, this past August. I describe it as dark, psychedelic twang. Right up my alley. It's an amazing album full of terrific music anchored by Jesse's haunting vocals. The band toured hard this

Image of the Day-"Too Dramatic"

2012-01-10T17:44:00.001-05:00

Ra Ra Riot Carnegie Lecture Hall Saturday, December 17, 2012 Oakland I love being at a show and recognizing a song that the band is playing from someplace deep in my memory. I cannot tell you where I heard the tune before but it becomes instantly familiar. That was the case as Ra Ra Riot performed their third song of the night. I never saw them play and I don't know their music all

Image of the Day-"Wave Pool"

2012-01-09T17:02:00.002-05:00

1,2,3 Carnegie Lecture Hall Saturday, December 17, 2012 Oakland Only the second time I have seen the band but have been digging their debut release for awhile so it's always nice to hear live arrangements of familiar tunes. Strange venue for the band though. The austerity of lecture hall has the audience 'sitting on their hands' for every show I have seen there. The band seemed a bit

Hope in the face of a tragedy

2012-01-05T16:08:00.001-05:00

Bielanko Fire Fund Raiser As a longtime fan of the band Marah, I was saddened to hear of the devastating house fire yesterday of guitarist Serge Bielanko and his young family. I never met his wife Monica in person, but have been internet 'friends' with her for years through social media sites. The good news is that they and their children escaped unharmed. A fellow blogger has set up a

Image of the Day-"Later 2011"

2012-01-02T09:14:00.000-05:00

Colonizing the Cosmos Donora First Night Saturday, December 31, 2011 Downtown As I have done for the past several years, I close out the musical year Downtown with WYEP's artists of the year. Can't think of a better way to celebrate.

Best of 2011-Show of the Year # 1 - Good Night, States

2011-12-30T15:28:00.000-05:00

Good Night, States House Show Saturday, October 8, 2011 Crafton It's very difficult to explain to someone the power that music can have over you. Some will look at this 'pick' and wonder how in the world it could be my favorite show of the several dozens I have seen this year. Simply put, they opened the set with a request of mine that literally had me on the verge of tears. It

Best of 2011-Show of the Year # 2 - Big Hurry

2011-12-29T09:48:00.002-05:00

Big Hurry Brillobox Friday, January 28, 2011 Larryville The band released my favorite local music this year in two fantastic EPs, Gets Me Low and Sink or Swim. Either of the two release gigs in January and October could have made this list. I am choosing the earlier show not because it was better, but as I was standing amongst the sold out crowd, I realized that everything I ever want out

Best of 2011-Show of the Year # 3 - The Baseball Project

2011-12-28T09:49:00.000-05:00

The Baseball Project Three Rivers Arts Festival Point State Park Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Downtown As if openers J Roddy Watson & The Business wasn't good enough to be on this year-end shortlist, The Baseball Project ambled on stage and 'hit it out of the park'! As I previously stated, during the show, I was really surprised to be enjoying it as much as I was. This band has always been the

Best of 2011-Show of the Year # 3 - J Roddy Walston and the Business

2011-12-28T08:44:00.000-05:00

J Roddy Walston & The Business Three Rivers Arts Festival Point State Park Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Downtown This entire night, opener and headliner, was such a surprise to me that it had to make the year end list. I heard a little noise about this band, mainly from the not so subtle adulation of my man Scott Mervis. I was knocked over by the band's first song, blistering out of

Best of 2011-Show of the Year # 4 - The Music Tapes

2011-12-27T16:31:00.001-05:00

The Music Tapes The New Hazlett Theater Thursday, September 15, 2011 Northside Julian Koster's indie cred is permanently cemented with his involvement in the band Neutral Milk Hotel. His current project The Music Tapes has been around for awhile, incorporating Koster's immediately identifiable 'singing saw' on most tunes. They were opening for fellow Elephant 6 cohorts Olivia Tremor

Best of 2011-Show of the Year # 5 - Those Darlins

2011-12-26T19:09:00.001-05:00

Those Darlins Brillobox Friday, June 17, 2011 Larryville As I previously mentioned, this show was such a surprise to me AND to the band. There is an indescribable energy, that very rarely happens at shows, where the band and audience are in some sort of cosmic sync. This show had it in spades. I dug the album for sure but the feeling in the room was unexpected and as the band definitely

Best of 2011-Odds N Ends

2011-12-23T20:51:00.000-05:00

This has been one amazing year for me. First off, music photography is my hobby. Don't get me wrong, I take it very seriously but it's in no way my 'real' job. That notion was blurred as I look back at the number of times I went out to shoot a band this year. To be in the remarkable position that I could request to 'get in the pit' at almost any concert I wanted made it way too tempting to

Best of 2011-Album of the Year # 1 - The Beach Boys

2011-12-23T12:02:00.002-05:00

The Beach Boys The SMiLE Sessions Capitol Records November Favorite song: SMiLE Backing Vocals Montage I have to be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of The Beach Boys. Sure they had some classic singles and their contribution to popular music was undeniable, it's just that I always felt they were sort of 'vanilla'. I grew up with psychedelic rock which was to surf music in the late