Posted By Alex Gordon on Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 1:35 PM

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Photo courtesy of Matt Dayak

Each week, we post a song from a local artist online for free. This week, it’s the closing track from The Velcro Shoes’ new album All That You Are (album release show at Brillobox on August 12). “Times Are Different” is a smart, percussion-driven track from this indie-rock four piece, that only clocks in at a little over four minutes but feels unexpectedly epic. Stream or download “Times Are Different” below.

Tags: The Velcro Shoes , Times Are Different , All That You Are , Brillobox , FFW>> , Audio , Image

Posted By Charlie Deitch on Fri, Jul 28, 2017 at 3:35 PM

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John Zandig

Throughout the history of professional wrestling, what a performer can do on the mic is often just as important as what they do in the ring. Each afternoon, Smark Attack will highlight a wrestling promo that shows off the best, and sometimes the worst, in pro wrestling microphone work.

And we're not just looking for classic promos. If you're a local wrestler or if you've always wanted to be a pro wrestler and want to show off your mic skills send your best promo: 45 seconds or less to info@pghcitypaper.com. If we end up running it on the blog, we'll give you a City Paper t-shirt.

Tags: CZW , John Zandig , Necrobutcher , Tournament of Death , Smark Attack , Image , Video

Posted By Charlie Deitch on Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 4:11 PM

Terry Funk

Throughout the history of professional wrestling, what a performer can do on the mic is often just as important as what they do in the ring. Each afternoon, Smark Attack will highlight a wrestling promo that shows off the best, and sometimes the worst, in pro wrestling microphone work.

And we're not just looking for classic promos. If you're a local wrestler or if you've always wanted to be a pro wrestler and want to show off your mic skills send your best promo: 45 seconds or less to info@pghcitypaper.com. If we end up running it on the blog, we'll give you a City Paper t-shirt.

Tags: Terry Funk , CWF , Jerry Lawler , Bruce Walkup , Memphis , Smark Attack , Image , Video

Posted By Meg Fair on Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 3:28 PM

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WWE

Pops and Botches will be a weekly roundup of the WWE happenings on Monday Night RAW, Smackdown Live, 205 Live and NXT as told by me, Meg. I’ll break it down by pops (good things) and botches (clear misses) for each show. These are obviously my opinions, most of which I log live while watching these shows.

Tags: WWE , Raw , Smackdown , NXT , 205 Live , John Cena , Velveteen Dream , Sasha Banks , Charlotte Flair , Nigel , Big Cass , Enzo , Emma , Jinder Mahal , Ember Moon , Shinsuke Nakamura , Dean Ambrose , Seth Rollins , Chris Jericho , Smark Attack , Image , Video

Posted By Ryan Deto on Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 12:34 PM

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Josh Shapiro

Since President Donald Trump took office, immigration enforcement has dramatically changed, especially the work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. In January, Trump changed President Barack Obama’s priorities on immigration enforcement (which targeted serious criminals and repeat offenders), so that immigrants can now be detained merely for being arrested for committing a criminal offense (like disorderly conduct), even if they are not charged or sentenced.

As a result, detainment of immigrants is up nationally and undocumented immigrants across the country, including those in Pittsburgh, are terrified that their families will be separated. A recent New Yorker article even highlights one longtime ICE officer who struggles to cope with the escalated enforcement. Additionally, illegal border crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2017 are down significantly compared to the same time period as last year (although this could be part of a eight-year decline). ICE also tweeted out in March, “DACA is not a protected legal status, but active DACA recipients are typically a lower level of enforcement priority.” (DACA, or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is an Obama executive action that protects undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children and provides them access to work permits.)

Tags: Josh Shapiro , Donald Trump , DACA , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , New Yorker , Pennsylvania , Pittsburgh , PolitiCrap , Image

Posted By Charlie Deitch on Wed, Jul 26, 2017 at 4:17 PM

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Chyna (left)

Throughout the history of professional wrestling, what a performer can do on the mic is often just as important as what they do in the ring. Each afternoon, Smark Attack will highlight a wrestling promo that shows off the best, and sometimes the worst, in pro wrestling microphone work.

And we're not just looking for classic promos. If you're a local wrestler or if you've always wanted to be a pro wrestler and want to show off your mic skills send your best promo: 45 seconds or less to info@pghcitypaper.com. If we end up running it on the blog, we'll give you a City Paper t-shirt.

Tags: Chyna , WWE , WWF , Triple H , Chris Jericho , Intercontinental Champion , Joanie Laurer , Smark Attack , Image , Video

Posted By Eli Enis on Wed, Jul 26, 2017 at 1:28 PM

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Photo courtesy of C.J. Harvey

Mannequin Pussy’s Romantic is an absolute rush. At just 17 minutes, it’s one of the most frantic, anxious, shreddiest, most cathartic and most arresting punk records in recent memory. Not a single track cracks three minutes, most are under two, and the longer ones are sonic riptides that jostle themselves back and forth, swelling and soothing unpredictably. Hardcore-punk blasts like “Everything,” “Meatslave One” and “Ten” are performed with such ferocity that Marisa Dabice’s lyrics are virtually indiscernible amongst the cacophonous distortion and avalanche-like drumming.

Tags: Mannequin Pussy , Marisa Dabice , Romantic , Thanasi Paul , Primavera , FFW>> , Image , Video

Posted By Rebecca Addison on Wed, Jul 26, 2017 at 10:11 AM

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CP photo by Rebecca Addison

Controller Chelsa Wagner at press conference

According to an audit by the Allegheny County Controller's office, the Allegheny County Health Department still hasn't taken appropriate action to address high lead levels in county and Pittsburgh drinking water.

The audit, released yesterday, examined at how the county health department monitors and responds to elevated lead levels in water. It reiterates concerns from an earlier audit released last year where the controller's office said the health department was not taking measures to inform residents about lead risks in local water.

"I can say and I'm sorry to say what was found is much the same lack of action and denial of responsibility as in our first review," Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner said at a July 25 press conference.

Tags: Karen Hacker , Chelsa Wagner , Marc Edwards , Bill Peduto , Pittsburgh City Council , Allegheny County Health Department , lead , water , Flint , Image

Posted By Ryan Deto on Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 2:08 PM

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CP photo by Ryan Deto

North Hills constituents speaking out against state Rep. Mike Turzai at a July 25 rally

On July 22, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Marshall) convened a rare weekend session with the Republican caucus of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Turzai tried to sell his proposal to fill this year’s $2 billion budget deficit, which he suggested the state do by borrowing $1.5 billion, and cutting subsidies to recycling, farmland-preservation and highway-beautification programs. But the 121 members of the Republican caucus, which holds a 39-seat majority over state House Democrats, rejected the idea.

Tags: Mike Turzai , Tom Wolf , Linda Bishop , Erin Kramer , John Sutter , Emily Skopov , Marcellus Shale Coalition , One Pennsylvania , Northland Public Library , McCandless Police , PolitiCrap , Image

Posted By Alex Gordon on Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 12:12 PM

Photo courtesy of Chris Cassela

Here it is: a playlist featuring all of the artists in the music section of tomorrow's issue. In it, we're covering music from Hurray For The Riff Raff, Melvins, Piebald, moon baby and more. Listen up!

Tags: Hurray for the Riff Raff , Listen Up , Melvins , moon baby , Zenizen , Nikki Lane , Mennequin Pussy , T-Rextasy , Chuck Mosley , FFW>> , Image