Tag Archives: Pittsburgh

Upcoming Shows: GHOST, Mastodon, Opeth

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This news update is brought to you today by the department of IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME!

So you might remember a while back when I was whining about the fact that Ghost, having recently cancelled a U.S. tour, announced that they’d be returning to this country, and hitting several major cities but none that are near me.

Then I proceeded to whine some more, at every opportunity I could.  Mostly on Facebook.  Especially when some jerk a highly-esteemed fellow blogger bragged about seeing the show up in his corner of the country.  Well, obviously the band have been paying attention and they got sick and tired of my nonstop whining.  Because lo and behold, yesterday they put out an official announcement:

Children of America,

As whispered about these last weeks, we are in fact returning to haunt your vast lands again in April and May, together with Mastodon and Opeth.
Go to http://ghost-official.com/ to see the dates

Malicious wishes

/Papa Emeritus 1 and his Nameless Ghouls

The news gets better, because this tour is making a stop in Pittsburgh — on 15 April at Stage AE.  It appears that Mastodon and Opeth are alternating dates for headlining, and on this particular date it seems that Mastodon will be the one on top.  Not that it matters, because I wouldn’t mind seeing either one of them.  Hit the link above to see the full list, or just check it out right here, beyond the jump.

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Upcoming Shows: GWAR, Dying Fetus, Behemoth

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Well, folks, here’s a pretty cool surprise that showed up in my inbox this weekend. I get updates at least once a week from Pittsburgh-based promoters Opus One Productions, but since they deal in events that range literally all across the musical spectrum, the majority of the information they contain usually is not of any interest to me. This time, however, the update pertains exclusively to metal shows, and (as you can tell from that headline) it includes some pretty huge names in the metal world, all coming to Pittsburgh!

All three shows — a co-headline of Dying Fetus and The Faceless in early March, GWAR on Saint Patrick’s Day, and Behemoth in mid-April — are taking place at Mr. Small’s Theatre in Millvale (just a few miles northeast of the city on Rt. 28). If you haven’t been there before, I’d highly recommend catching a show there. It has been converted from an old church, and has a lot of the original architectural features including a real high cathedral ceiling; I don’t know if that’s the reason why, but in any case, the place has pretty great acoustics. Plus, it’s got a pretty intimate feel to it (only holds a few hundred people) but at the same time it’s big enough that you usually don’t feel too claustrophobic (for all-ages or 18+ shows, there is a wooden half-wall barrier that separates the bar from the rest of the floor area; I usually end up hanging out behind here, since you can get a great view of the stage but it’s usually not too crowded).

After the jump, catch all the details of the events. If you aren’t local to Pittsburgh, take heart in knowing that all of these great bands are currently touring the U.S.; check out their Facebook pages or websites (most of which are linked in the information below) to find the full tourdates and see if there is also a show in your area. If you live outside the U.S., then piss off! You surely have awesome tours and festivals in your area all the time! Let me savor the thought of having these few visit my city, this time.

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Congratulations: Code Orange Kids Sign with Deathwish Inc.

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Some more big news out of the Pittsburgh music scene exploded onto the internet yesterday, as Deathwish Inc. announced its signing of local hardcore up-and-comers Code Orange Kids.

Code Orange Kids join the DW Family, on tour now, new album later in 2012
Deathwish are proud to welcome Code Orange Kids to our affiliated family.

Fresh out of high school and with an average age of 18 years old, Pennsylvania’s Code Orange Kids remind us off our own embryonic days in the aggressive music scene. They do things their way, creatively cutting their own path through it all. Unconcerned with the direction of other artists, their brand of gritty hardcore/punk is simply refreshing to hear. Merging cryptic melody, dirty hardcore power, and intense dirges into their own uniquely inspired sound.

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More News About Shows (In Pittsburgh, This Time) – Part 2, Dethlehem

Posted by valleyofsteel on

As I said in the last post, after spending yesterday talking about shows that I will never get a chance to see, it’s time for some updates for the local (Pittsburgh) area. If you live somewhere else, NOW YOU CAN SEE HOW IT FEELS!!, but also, hopefully you’ll learn about a couple bands that might tickle your fancy.

 

The second of today’s two updates features Dethlehem, who will lay siege to Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore in a little under a month (Saturday, 18 February 2012). Continue reading →

More News About Shows (In Pittsburgh, This Time) – Part 1, Ernie and the Berts

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Okay, after spending yesterday talking about shows that I will never get a chance to see, it’s time for some updates for the local (Pittsburgh) area. If you live somewhere else, NOW YOU CAN SEE HOW IT FEELS!!, but also, hopefully you’ll learn about a couple bands that might tickle your fancy.

 

First of all, next Saturday (4 February 2012), “sleazy muppet rock” band Ernie and the Berts will be making their first live appearance of 2012 at Altar Bar in Pittsburgh’s Strip District area, as one of the opening acts for Greek-American Punks Barb Wire Dolls.

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Upcoming Shows – Don’t Miss Molasses Barge!

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Pittsburgh’s own Molasses Barge is kind of a recent discovery for me.  I had become aware of them a while back by virtue of the fact that singer Brian ‘Butch’ Balich is also the frontman for the fucking awesome Pennsylvanian doom band Argus.  But, I hadn’t actually heard them until this August when I saw them open up for Pentagram.

In a clear case of truth-in-advertising, Molasses Barge sound just like how something with such a name should sound.  The main thing that struck me as I witnessed this sludgey beast in action was the setup drummer Wayne Massey was using.  He seemed to have all the drum and cymbal hardware adjusted to the lowest possible height, so that it was all barely above the level of his throne.  In this way, he constantly seemed to be hunched over the kit, throwing everything he had into a downward motion as he struck each beat.  While it seems this would take a lot out of a person – in fact, before the second song began, Massey had already cast aside the t-shirt he’d begun the set with, and also by this time he was looking as though he might have benefitted from a jug of water like the one Butch was constantly taking swigs from between sections of vocals – nevertheless the technique was very effective in laying down a thundrously driving rhythm underneath the rest of the band.

Guitarists Justin Gizzi and Ken Houser mainly hung off to their respective sides of the stage, out of the spotlight, but their combined crunchy riffs and melodic soloing built a substantial wall of noise that more than made their presence felt.  And Butch sort of bounced around the area between the two guitarists,with an imposing presence and also very impressive singing; meanwhile, occupying whatever real estate the vocalist had vacated at any given moment, Amy Bianco sort of meandered through the middle of it all, offering up basslines that similarly filled the empty sonic space between the others.

Of course, I can say all the words in the world describing the show these folks put on, but nothing would help you envision the experience as much as an actual video of the event.  Well fortunately, some kind soul recorded the show I saw, and then made it available on Youtube for all who had missed it.

Part One | Part Two

Anyway, now you pretty much know all you need to know, in order to know that you need to get out there and see this band live, as soon as possible!  And you are in luck, because over the next few weeks you’ll have not one, but TWO opportunities to do so – as long as you are fortunate enough to be within driving distance of the greater Pittsburgh area.  See below for descriptions and details for each of the upcoming shows.

Molasses Barge on Facebook

You might also be interested in:
Molasses Barge – Jewels (download)
Argus – Boldly Stride the Doomed (CD | download)

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