Touch(e)-Downs

Here's a bunch of random Burgh music stuff that's on my radar:

- Tonight is the oft-lamented showdown between the modern sounds Neko Case and Gregg Gillis. But for those of you longing for the rock of yesteryear, Brillobox in Larryville is hosting "That 70's Night" featuring a bunch of bands playing 70's rock.

- The Low Anthem play a YEP Studio Session Tuesday 8/4 at 1pm. It's free to sign up and attend. They play Club Cafe that night.

- There's a bass fishing tournament in town this weekend, too: The Forrest Wood Cup. Don't say Bass Master around the Forrest Wood folks, they get very irked by their lack of notoriety. Apparently, this tourney boasts the biggest kitty in all of pro-fishing - $1 Million Dollars. Anyhow, the weigh-ins on Saturday and Sunday at Mellon Arena (free, I think) each feature pre-weigh-in 4pm concerts by hokey country singers, Darby Ledbetter and Eric Church Sat/Sun respectively. Fishin' and Cunry Music and a chance to win a BOAT?! - HoooWeee.

- Also wanna give a shoutout to the local 'progressive/glam/crunk' party band: The Hood Gang. Their lyrics are sophomoric and the music isn't necessarily good, but goddam! these guys rock a party. I saw them at "Nelson Party 3" last Friday at the Birmingham Bridge Tavern and when I wasn't chugging from the mock Stanley Cup they kept full of tapbeer and passed around for the show's duration, I was rocking. Very hard. Download their track "We Came Here to Party" here. It starts OK. But if you aren't bobbing and grooving by the third or fourth minute, well you may not have a pulse.

- A week's notice: Son Volt at Hartwood FREE next Sunday (8/9). Jay Farrar and the band are touring in support of their new album "American Central Dust". Bring the kids, a (concealed) jug of wine and get your alt-country on at Pittsburgh's most beautiful venue.