VENUE HIGHLIGHTS
There are tons of venues in Pittsburgh, each with their own quirks and strengths and communities. In honor of City Paper‘s Music Issue, here are just a few venues of interest to get you hungry to do some exploring yourself.
Smiling Moose
1306 E. Carson St., South Side
smiling-moose.com
This venue is one of the few all-ages capable spots in the city, and it plays host to a super wide variety of music. I’ve seen everything from pop punk to hardcore to indie rock to hip hop in its second-floor room, and each time it was an intimate experience. Bonus: It also has the best food of any venue in the city.
Cattivo
146 44th St., Lawrenceville
cattivopgh.com
The downstairs room at Cattivo and its smaller room upstairs offer two different experiences, making it a great place to show-hop if you’re in that kind of mood when there are two gigs going at once. Cattivo is another venue that keeps an eclectic calendar, so look out for everything from black metal to power pop.
The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls
400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale
mrsmalls.com
If you’re a big fan of saying, “I saw this band back when …,” get acquainted with the Funhouse at Mr. Smalls. Mr. Smalls’ large room has long been regarded as a crucial space for touring acts from Run the Jewels to Hatebreed to of Montreal and beyond, but its smaller upstairs room frequently hosts mid–level acts that are on the come up.
The Mr. Roboto Project
5106 Penn Ave., Bloomfield
therobotoproject.com
This board-operated and member-run space is dry and all-ages, making it a unicorn in a sea of boozy, 21+ restricted venues. It’s an excellent place to see bands before they make it big, and it’s also been host to some incredibly intimate shows with big bands (e.g. a VERY sold out Andrew W.K. solo show). It’s a great place to hang out if you’re looking to be a part of the DIY community, and a good way to get your foot in the door if you’re a youngster and don’t know where to start.
Rex Theater
1602 E. Carson St., South Side
rextheater.net
Rex Theater’s cavernous room and smart booking make it a great place to experience shows. From Code Orange’s Forever release show, to the wild energy of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, to Moth story slams, it’s a room for making memories. The theater also commits to showcasing local artists, a major plus for such a large room.
Club Cafe
56-58 E. Carson St., South Side
clubcafelive.com
If you’re looking for a speakeasy feel and a personal connection with your musicians, Club Cafe is a nice choice. It’s an escape from the general trash fire that is East Carson Street and feels comfortable and intimate whether you’re seeing alt-country or folk or math rock.
Rock Room
1054 Herron Ave., Polish Hill
412-683-4418
This is the place to see the grimy, gritty, freak-oriented punk rock, noise, post-punk, etc. It’s not a space for the faint of heart, but it’s also always full of energy, and the shows are often booked by active members of the punk community. And while you’re there, get yourself a pizza boat for 50 cents.
Babyland + The Glitter Box Theater
460 Melwood Ave., Oakland
bloomcraft.space
The Bloomcraft building in Oakland is a magical land of artistic and community collaboration, and its two venues are great examples of that. The Glitter Box Theater inside and the Babyland Garage around back are places to see shows that center community issues or groups in the community that can be neglected or underrepresented elsewhere.
A LIST OF LOCAL RECORD SHOPS
Attic Record Store
513 Grant Ave., Millvale
This record store holds a special place in my heart, as I bought my first record for my collection here (a used copy of Best Coast’s Crazy For You). With knowledgeable owners and a unique collection, it’s worth the jaunt down 28.
Cruel Noise Records
3138 Dobson St., Polish Hill
This record store is my favorite in the city, and it’s not just because there’s usually a dog there to pet. The cassette collection is superb, the local bin is full of goodies and there’s always conversation to be had—the kind of record store that feels like a second home.
Dave’s Music Mine
1210 E. Carson St., South Side
Dorsey’s Record Shop
7614 Frankstown Ave., Homewood
Get Hip Recordings
1800 Columbus Ave., North Side
This Pittsburgh-based record label opened a brick-and-mortar store in which you can pick up goodies from their catalog. It’s also a great place to catch a show, but you can head over to pick up some records even when there isn’t live music happening.
Jerry’s Records
2136 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill
It’s easy to spend literal hours, even days exploring the stacks in Jerry’s magical store. There’s a record in there for literally every taste, and if you’re hunting down some vintage treasures you’re most likely to find them here.
Juke Records
4526 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield
Juke Records is stocked to the gill with lots of great records of the classics and current shining stars. Although a nerdy thing to say, the organization in here is pristine and the local section is lovely. They also showcase local musicians live in store, and that is always a treat!
Rather Ripped Records
754 Brookline Blvd., Brookline
Skull Records
635 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown
Up Beat Records
801 Penn Ave., Wilkinsburg
Vinyl Remains
2911 Glenmore Ave., Dormont
This article appears in Jun 20-26, 2018.
