Cloaca Melodia

The Oaks Theater, Pittsburgh, PA..... It was the final installment of WYEP's Neighborhood Concert Series. A really great show. Nashville's Riccio impressed with versions of her tracks like "Sweet," "For Me It's You," "Whiplash," and her terrific new single "Wildfire Season." She was performing in a trio configuration, backed by drums and bass, and while she started the show with three songs on acoustic guitar, Jobi swapped that out for an electric for the rest of her performance. She played some new songs from a forthcoming album, and mentioned that her bass player has performed on her new material but was newly on the road with her.  Buffalo Rose put in an energetic set to start the night, inspiring a handful of people from the crowd to get up and dance in front of the stage. In addition to their own songs, they did their sultry cover of "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" from Cake.   Jobi Riccio and her band Jobi Riccio shredding a...

Schenley Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA.... The 25th annual WYEP Summer Music Festival.     sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!

Cadence Clubhouse, Allison Park, PA.... This was the second in WYEP's Neighborhood Concert Series. Kashus Culpepper and Clover County were stripped down and introspective and Snacktime was a bundle of energy. Almost as soon as they began performing the area in front of the stage was populated with dancing kids, and then adults began to join in on the fun. Snacktime bringing the energy!

Crafthouse Stage and Grill , Baldwin, PA   The first of WYEP's Neighborhood Concert Series. I had never been to the venue before, one that was part bowling alley (thankfully in a fully separate sonic space), but it was a full crowd and a good spirit. The performances were enjoyable by both artists.  

PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA....   Green Day's The Saviors Tour, in which they played all of Dookie and the American Idiot albums in sequence. (Probably not the best choice, as it severely constrained the setlist order and was not ideal for a stadium concert.) Rancid was probably my pick for the best all-around performance of the day, although the Linda Lindas were a lot of fun. Green Day had some great song performances but their set was a little bloated and lacking the loopy spontaneity I remember from seeing them in 1998 . Smashing Pumpkins was OK, but just like when I saw them in 2000 , I was left with a "good, but" vibe. I liked some of it. But when Corgan inexplicably brought out professional wrestlers from his wrestling promotion company-- well, big sigh. One of the most remarkable moments of the concert didn't involve a live performance. Immediately prior to Green Day taking the stage, they play Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" over the sound system and...

Allegheny RiverTrail Park, Pittsburgh, PA ...   A fun night out in a beautiful location with enjoyable music!    

Schenley Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA ... The 25th annual WYEP Summer Music Festival.     Middle Kids setlist: Philosophy Dramamine Highlands Salt Eyes R U 4 Me? Mistake Go to Sleep on Me The Blessings Your Side, Forever Edge of Town Bootleg Firecracker Stacking Chairs Cellophane (Brain) Never Start  Jade Bird setlist: Uh Huh Good at It Good Woman Something American C'est La Vie Now Is the Time Edge of Seventeen Headstart Save Your Tears Lottery Wish You Well Jet Black I Get No Joy 

Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA....       A very pleasant night. About a quarter of the dudes in attendance had the exact same look: bushy beards, glasses, trucker hat. Modest Mouse setlist : Heart Cooks Brain What People Are Made Of Spitting Venom Out of Gas The Stars Are Projectors Third Side of the Moon Fuck Your Acid Trip Wooden Soldiers King Rat [unknown, possibly new song] Satin in a Coffin The World at Large Float On Teeth Like God's Shoeshine Satellite Skin Fire It Up [verrry long encore break] Cowboy Dan A Forest Ocean Breathes Salty Black Cadillacs Night on the Sun Cat Power setlist: Say/Great Expectations (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction Good Woman Unhate Manhattan White Mustang Cross Bones Style/Nude as the News Metal Heart The Greatest The Moon Wanderer Sea of Love It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels Mr. Tambourine Man

City Winery, Pittsburgh, PA.... EXTC is basically an XTC cover band, made somewhat legit due to the presence of former XTC drummer Terry Chambers. The show was a lot of fun, especially hearing any XTC songs performed live with a whiff of authenticity.  

Byham Theater, Pittsburgh, PA....   This was WYEP's 50th anniversary concert. Shawn and KT performed together for the entire show in an intimate and enjoyable journey through both artists' careers. Lots of witty storytelling between songs.     Setlist: Psycho Killer Dear Shadow Trouble Other Side of the World Polaroids (Still A) Weirdo Crazy The Boys of Summer Cry Like an Angel Black Horse and the Cherry Tree Sunny Came Home Turned a Light On Suicide Alley Through the Dark If I Were Brave Suddenly I See [encore break] Words May You Never  

Pittsburgh Winery, Pittsburgh, PA .... A good night out with some friends to hear some great music. The band hit some of their great songs like "I Feel So Good" and some choice covers like Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" and "Birdhouse in Your Soul" from They Might Be Giants.    

Schenley Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA....     sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!

Royal Oak Theater, Royal Oak, MI.... This show was a lot of fun. We were watching from the Projection Room of this former movie theater, which has been converted to a VIP experience (and highly recommended!). Lovejoy was great. Spilly Cave was very good (they should be ready to break out after they get a few more years under their belt). Crywank was entertaining but not essential. Lovejoy setlist : Call Me What You Like Taunt Consequences Model Buses Warsaw Cause for Concern It's Golden Hour Somewhere Perfume Sex Sells Scum One Day The Fall [encore break] Portrait of a Blank Slate Concrete

PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA.... This show was originally scheduled for 6/28/2022, then postponed to June 2022, then postponed to this date. It was the longest duration between scheduled date and actual date in my experience, with 1,021 days from ticket purchase to show date. Ringo stills brings the energy. He's 82 as of this show and running around onstage (even doing jumping jacks at one point!). Tons of fun, and Edgar Winter was a revelation. I had never seen him live before, and his contributions were terrific. It was interesting to see Hamish Stuart backing Ringo after seeing him in Paul McCartney's band in 1989 (see here and here ).    Setlist: Matchbox It Don't Come Easy What Goes On Free Ride (led by Edgar Winter) Rosanna (led by Steve Lukather) Pick Up the Pieces (led by Hamish Stuart) Down Under (led by Colin Hay) Boys I'm the Greatest Yellow Submarine Cut the Cake (led by Hamish Stuart) Frankenstein (led by Edgar Winter) Octopus's Garden Back Off ...