Live from the Pitt

BLEACHERS: Fans Share Stories and Anticipation Amidst Rainy Pittsburgh Weather

Words by Ella Donovan. Photos by Jess Daninhirsch.

Jack Antoff’s Bleachers returned to the city of bridges for an unforgettable night at Stage AE on June 5, 2024. Fans packed into the outdoor side of the venue, buzzing with anticipation and excitement.

Before Bleachers made their entrance, fans of all ages were packed into the pit and relaxing on the lawn. Fans were buzzing with energy, swapping stories of past concerts and eagerly anticipating their favorite songs. With a decorated set on the stage, everyone was also curious to see what the show had in store. Despite the rainy, cloudy day, the crowd’s enthusiasm was unwavering. Their excitement and positive attitude set the stage for an amazing night ahead.

The band opened the show with “I Am Right On Time,” an upbeat yet mellow song, perfect to warm up the crowd. Then, they went straight into their hit “Modern Girl” and had everyone on their feet jumping and dancing along. Couples in the crowd danced and sang to each other, emanating a joyful energy into the venue. With a band of extremely talented multi-instrumentalists, the live version of this song was even better than the recorded version.

The band was very impressive. Each member would switch instruments with another, depending on the song. There were 2 drum kits, which you don’t see often, and two phenomenal saxophone players who completely stole the show. It was hard to take your eyes off of these musicians- they were so in tune with their craft, as if the instrument was an extension of them.

Throughout the show, frontman Jack Antoff had many heart-to-heart moments with the audience, furthering the sense of community that was forming amongst fans. He tried to make the concert-goers a part of the show, consistently interacting with them and getting them to dance or wave their arms to the music. He did a good job at including them- Bleachers did not need to hire any backup singers because the crowd handled the job!

As the show reached its end, they played the crowd-favorite, “I Wanna Get Better,” proving itself to be the best song of the entire performance. The bittersweet joy that came from the crowd through the song was moving, due to the emotional message being conveyed. Antoff told Rolling Stone that “A lot of things on the album, including this song, are about loss… It feels joyous, but for me it’s very desperate.” This was a perfect description for how the crowd seemed to be feeling- joyous, yet desperate.

It was a rainy day at Stage AE, but Bleachers proved they were worth waiting in line for. They had an immense amount of passion and energy, and it radiated through the entire venue. With each song, Bleachers showcased their undeniable talent, promising continued growth and future greatness for the band.

If you ever have the chance to catch Bleachers live, do it!

Words by Ella Donovan. Photos by Jess Daninhirsch. If reposting, please credit @livefromthepitt412 and @daninhirschphotography on Instagram.

Frank Turner: Undefeated at The Roxian 5/28/24

Frank Turner made it to the show this time, after a cancellation a little over a year ago, to play The Roxian.

He was joined by three openers: Singer song writers Micah & Vanessa followed by the absolutely amazing and fun Bridge City Sinners (no they are not from Pittsburgh) and finally Amigo the Devil. Each act brought a different flavor but all complimented each other, getting the crowd pumped up for the main event…

Bringing a set that was heavy on the new tunes from Undefeated but still managed to cover the best of his catalogue. After a run of new tunes, a few tried and true (Get Better, Try This at Home and others) there was an interlude of four acoustic tracks with Frank and his guitar including I Am Disappeared, The Road, The Ballad of Me and My Friends and There She is.

After the acoustic set back came The Sleeping Souls to finish up the 21 track set strong and capping it with four encores including an awesome acoustic version of Undefeated which rolled fast and hard into Recovery, I Still Believe and finally Four Simple Words. What an amazing show from all!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/livefromthepitt/albums/72177720317672080

…Is A Real Boy 20 Year Anniversary | Stage AE 5.8.24

Say Anything is celebrating twenty years of their LP …Is A Real Boy. Released in October of 2005, this album has been on repeat for many. Some tracks on this album have reached over 10 MILLION streams on Spotify. This band has been near and dear to my heart since I first listened to them in high school, so being there for this show was a dream come true.

Touring with Say Anything is Phoenix folk punk act, AJJ. I cannot say enough about this band, I’ve been a huge fan since the release of their album Christmas Island back in 2015. Since then, the band has released a number of different albums and EPs, including last years release Disposable Everything. When AJJ got announced for this tour, I KNEW that I had to be there. The band played songs spanning through almost every era of AJJ. The high energy of their music made for a great opener for the headlining act.

Headlining the show was of course Say Anything from Los Angeles. Celebrating the twenty year anniversary of their album …Is A Real Boy, the band played the entire album straight through. I saw Say Anything at Stage AE indoors the summer after I graduated high school. Shortly after in 2019, the band released LP Oliver Appropriate, and announced a hiatus for the time being. I never thought I’d get another chance to see them live. Now Say Anything has returned, bringing this tour across the country and announcing their ninth studio album …Is Committed, set to release at the end of May 2024.

The band immediately brought the energy, opening with their song “Belt.” This was just the start of things to come, as the crowd almost roared to life as soon as the band took the stage. Lead singer Max Bemis seemed to feed off this energy as the show went on. Once the entire album had been finished, I was curious as to what songs would be played as an encore. Joined on stage by his wife Sherri DuPree, Max played a beautiful rendition of the song “I Want To Know Your Plans.” This lead into their last song of the night “Admit It!” which almost felt like a perfect ending to a perfect night.

Words and Photos by Tom Randall (www.instagram.com/trandallphoto)

Free Throw | Thunderbird Cafe | 3.24.24

Nashville emo band Free Throw headlined an early show last Sunday, March 24 at the Thunderbird Cafe. Doors opened at 4pm with music starting at 5.

Carpool, hailing from Rochester, NY, opened the show with catchy melodies and an infectious, fun energy. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the bass player, who pranced around the stage with a coolness reminiscent of a Guitar Hero character.

Fans of the band Super American came dressed in hot dog costumes to show their support for the opener’s leg of the tour in honor of their song “hot dog.”

Free Throw paid tribute to their fans by playing a healthy mix of new songs as well as older favorites. A hallmark of emo music to me is screaming, which is something singer Cory Castro seems to have mastered over the years. He tastefully uses screaming to add emotion to different sections of songs or to stress the importance of certain words. The crowd came alive during these moments, as if it were an invitation for them to release their emotions too. My favorite part of the set is when the band mentioned it was their drummer Zach’s birthday, and without being prompted the crowd broke out into singing “Happy Birthday.”

The show ended before the sun had even set, with just enough time for anyone wanting to catch Mom Jeans at Stage AE. It was an eventful day for fans of emo music.

Between You & Me | Mahall’s, 3/18/24

Visiting Cleveland, “Oh-hee-oh” from the land down under, Australia’s Between You & Me is currently rocking across North America on the second leg of their Sh!t Yeah tour. This is the group’s first ever US headliner tour and I’ll start here by saying it better not be their last. Along for the ride at Mahall’s was Young Culture, Homesafe, and Cherie Amour. This show was so good I ended up going to see it twice – but we’ll talk about that later.

The show kicked off with Cherie Amour, a nu-punk band from Baltimore, Maryland. I had originally thought that I didn’t know them, but when they started their song “Love’s Not Your Thing” I instantly recognized it but couldn’t figure out where from. Through much research and debate (read: “fighting” with my boyfriend and he went and asked their guitar player), I finally figured out that they were at Pittsburgh’s Four Chord Music Festival two years ago, but I only got to hear their set (not see them) because I was working. Anyway, these guys brought some killer energy to the room and were a really good opener, especially for this crowd.

Homesafe was up next, traveling from Chicago, Illinois (one of my favorite cities) to bless our ears with some cool jams. I definitely didn’t know them ahead of time, but when I saw the lineup I immediately went and saved a handful of their songs so I could know at least some of the words. Totally different vibe live than their recordings but in the best way possible. They were a lot more mellow than I expected from a band on this bill! I really enjoy their song “Save Me” – go check it out!

Third on the bill was Young Culture from Albany, New York. I’ve been a pretty big fan of Young Culture for a couple years now and this was my second time seeing them live. I think wearing my YC hoodie may have helped, but these guys are always so sweet to their fans and love to hang out and chat before & after the show. Their set was definitely a favorite, with the whole room screaming the entire time and nonstop crowd surfers. I’m not sure of their history of shows in Cleveland but assuming the proximity to New York, I’m going to take a wild guess that a lot of the people here were early fans and have been following the band for a while. After their set I even heard about some people who were following them for most of the tour… crazy, who would do that?? (apparently I would do that)

During the changeover I somehow made my way to the front row to photograph the first 3 songs and let me tell you, that experience was unforgettable. You know when you’ve waited a really long time for something and then the time finally comes? I can’t say 2 years was a “really” long time, but it’s longer than I’ve had to wait to see most of my favorite bands (perks of the genres I like) so waiting 2 years for BYAM was a lot!

They started their set with “Dakota” which was honestly genius to get the crowd going. I thought for sure this would be their last song so to open with it was wild! They continued on with a good mix of songs from their albums, and even played an unreleased song called “Kill My Vibe,” that just came out this week. Another unexpected twist that I probably should have known at this point, but during the quiet part of “Deadbeat” Jake came out into the crowd and started a wall of death and I didn’t even drop my camera during it!! They closed with another favorite, “Butterflies,” and then had “Goldfish” as their encore.

I left the show thinking I felt complete, until that post-concert depressy hit and I knew something had to be done. My sister lives in Philly, and by some miracle the BYAM Philly show lined up perfectly with her plans to come visit family for the holiday weekend, and thus a plan was born. I’ll spare the details here but let’s just say that one week after seeing this show in Cleveland, I was in Philadelphia seeing it all over again. Only this time, there was a barricade at the front and a few low hanging support beams above us. I wonder if you know where I’m going with this…

Lots of crowd surfing, moshing, and overall fun times. Bassy did a shoey. Yes it was gross. The wildest part? The same part of “Deadbeat” came around and I was wondering how Jake was going to get out into the crowd. No big wall this time – he (allegedly) jumped into the crowd, surfed a little, and then climbed up onto the support beam and continued singing.

I never underestimated them, but I definitely wasn’t expecting that.

Needless to say, both Between You & Me shows that I attended during their Sh!t Yeah tour were insane. Tons of energy, nonstop fun. Even my sister, who had never heard of any of these bands and had never been to a show like this before, left laughing and joking about how silly crowd surfing and moshing is. That’s right, BYAM can even get the boygenius and Noah Kahan girlie to enjoy a pop punk show.

So, do I recommend going to catch any of their remaining shows? Shit yeah.

To view more photos from the show, click on the album below. Photos & article by MEGAN MCGINNIS.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/livefromthepitt/albums/72177720315952736

The Deathless Tour with Set It Off | Roxian Theater 3.20.24

Tampa rockers Set It Off hit the road early this year with some friends in tow. The band has been around for almost 20 years, starting back in 2008. The Roxian Theater in McKees Rocks was the destination on March 20th, 2024.

The show was kicked off by DeathByRomy from LA. The band brought unmatched energy to start the night off proper. This was my first time hearing of this group, but I definitely enjoyed their set.

The second band of the night was metalcore band Crown The Empire from Dallas. I was a HUGE Crown The Empire fan in high school, so it was awesome getting to see them live for the first time. The band even brought out some older tracks, which the fans all went crazy for.

This brought us to the headliner Set It Off. Their set kicked off with a short countdown before the band came out on stage, catching the attention of the entire venue. The band came onto the stage to thunderous applause and cheers as they began ripping through different tracks. The energy from this group was incredible, and I loved seeing how the roped the crowd into the fun.

Photos and Words by Tom Randall (www.instagram.com/trandallphoto)

Lip Citic at Elsewhere in Brooklyn with opening acts, Prize & AFK – February 22, 2024

On a rainy Thursday night, New York local band Lip Critic played a sold out show at Elsewhere in Brooklyn. With a packed room, the night was full of non-stop dancing and a mosh pit constantly moving. This up and coming band is a mix right in the middle of hardcore punk and dance-funk. Throughout the night the crowd only stopped moving while they were turning around sets. Along with two other new york openers, AFK and Prize, the night was filled with mesmerizing underground punk sounds and hip hop bops. If you are looking for new music to get moving to, these three bands are some to check out! Photos in Flickr gallery linked below

https://www.flickr.com/photos/197708269@N07/albums/72177720315426267

Photos and words by Madalyn Schaller, if reposting please credit @madalyns.photos and @livefromthepitt412

Turnover & Friends

This past Sunday March 10th, Turnover brought their tour to Pittsburgh PA, at Spirit. The night was a mesmerizing display of Alternative/Indie rock. Turnovers seamless blend of dreamy melodies and introspective lyrics created an atmosphere that captured the audience from start to finish. Ive personally been wanting to see Turnover live for a few years now and its safe to say they definitely did not let me down. Usually I tend to take a lot more photos, but I found myself getting lost in the music. With tracks spanning their discography from fan favorites like “Dizzy on the Comedown” to newer releases, Turnover showcased their evolution as musicians. The crowd swayed and sang along, fully immersed in the ethereal sonic landscape crafted by the band.

Turnover was accompanied by the energetic performances of supporting acts Drook and MSPAINT Band. They provided a night of celebration of diverse musical talent. Brooks dynamic set injected bursts of energy into the venue right from the start. The lead singer of Brook was full of life jumping in the crowd and sliding on stage. Brook definitely knew how to work the crowd. MSPAINT Band further elevated the atmosphere but took it to another level. They definitely had some hardcore fans in the house screaming along to the lyrics while creating a mosh pit. Overall the concert was filled with excitement and together, the three acts delivered a memorable Sunday night for the audience! This was my first time attending a concert at Spirit and Im glad it was for a Turnover show. Highly recommend attending a show at Spirit and also catching a future Turnover show if you get the chance.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/livefromthepitt/albums/72177720315401982

Cold War Kids | San Francisco | January 31, 2024

Cold War Kids kicked off their new tour in San Francisco at The Fillmore to a packed house. Their 10th studio album was released in November 2023, and they played songs off all of them.

The weather in the Bay Area was at a news worthy level of bad, yet that didn’t stop fans from making the trek to see this band. I personally passed two different major accidents on my way to see this show, but it was 100% worth it. Cold War Kids are clearly veterans of live shows and fully engaged with their audience

Deadlands at Preserving Underground

On January 20th Deadlands headlined at Preserving Underground for their second tour. They had support from Befell, For Those In Question, and Convictions (not photographed).

Befell kicked off the show with some of the most impressive shredding I’ve ever seen, which made the crowd go crazy. Their entire set was full of circle pits, headbanging, and cheering for the raw talent before everyone. Without having a single dull moment, the band set the tone for the night, making everyone fully aware of just how inside this show was going to be.

For Those In Question took the stage next, who aren’t as heavy as Befell but still easily got the audience to enjoy their set just as much, if not more. The female fronted band was full of energy and even managed to get their first ever circle pit started. They played several incredible songs, including “Rust”, which was definitely the crowd’s favorite.

As soon as the lights went off for Deadlands’ set, the room was filled with cheering and applause. They played several fan favorites including “Crushed”, “Black Hole”, “Final Judgement”, and their latest single “House Of Cards”. They also played covers of A.N.T Farm’s “Calling All The Monsters, Pierce The Veil’s “King For A Day” and Bring Me The Horizon’s “Can You Feel My Heart”. The band easily got the crowd screaming along with them and never had a single dull moment. At one point lead singer Kasey Karlsen was asked to crowd surf, and she promised that during their final song she would. She lived up to that, and entrusted the crowd as she crowdsurfed during “Crushed”, the song right before their encore. Deadlands is one of the most entertaining bands to see live in the scene and is a must see anytime they’re in town.