When you think of year-end lists, typically shows and albums come to mind. But there can be all sorts of cool moments and movements that make a year special in a music community.
Josh Bakaitus, of Mr. Smalls Presents
Ian Brill’s Vault at Spirit Hall
I absolutely loved seeing shows in Ian Brill’s Vault at Spirit Hall during the Halloween season. Waxahatchee and AJJ were both unique and awesome in that environment!
Meg Fair, CP Music Writer
Code Orange at NXT Takeover
Don’t get me wrong — a Grammy nomination is a big deal, but no moment made me prouder of Pittsburgh HXC than seeing Code Orange as the first live band to perform on a WWE event. The members of Code Orange not only brought the house down kicking off the show with “Bleeding in the Blur,” but also crushed a live version of Aleister Black’s entrance music. It was insane to see the creative energies of a Pittsburgh band on such an international platform. Then. Now. (Code Orange) Forever.
Liss Victory, singer/songwriter
Pittsburgh Songwriters Respond: Good Tunes for Bad Political Times
Immediately after the 2016 election, Pittsburgh-based songwriter Don Strange rallied some of the city’s best musicians to create a compilation of politically charged original music to benefit the ACLU. Recorded, organized and designed by Strange, Pittsburgh Songwriters Respond: Good Tunes for Bad Political Times captures a moment unlike any other in our country, as interpreted by local singers and songwriters. Listen at pghsongwriters.bandcamp.com.
Dhruva Krishna, concert promoter and musician
A Farewell to James Street
[My favorite moment was] the bittersweet one when everyone came together for the last week of James Street, for a final show of support and appreciation for our amazing staff!
