Live shows to liven up summer, loudly

Movies in the park, chubby kids running around Schenley Plaza and a resurgence of the… Movies in the park, chubby kids running around Schenley Plaza and a resurgence of the micro-mini all signify that summer is in full swing. And along with all the humidity and backyard barbecues, the season brings an onslaught of concerts to the greater Pittsburgh area. So whether you’re looking for an intimate acoustic performance or a daylong celebration of pop-punk, the local venues have got you covered.

Mr. Small’s Funhouse, located just north of the city in Millvale, was remodeled from an old church. With a stage in place of the pulpit and “the devil’s music” reverberating off the walls, the venue probably has past parishioners rolling over in their graves.

But, irony aside, the venue boasts an intimacy and friendliness that few others can advertise. On July 26, Catch-22, The Voodoo Glow Skulls and others will rock the stage as part of the Summer of Ska national tour. The Format will drop by on Aug. 3 for a show that — judging by the band’s impassioned sophomore album — nobody can afford to miss. And on Aug. 11, Mae will perform with opening act The Spill Canvas. With an average ticket cost of $12, Mr. Small’s proves that you don’t have to sell your plasma to see great shows.

Pittsburgh’s South Side is home to the Rex Theater, a tiny club located right on East Carson. With a capacity of about 400, things can get a little tight. The upside of this is that the Rex seems to attract underground acts on the rise. Rasputina, a cello-based Goth rock trio, will perform on July 14. Two days later, Aussie Xavier Rudd will grace that same stage. With straightforward lyrics and a masterful command of the didgeridoo, this concert will be unlike anything you’ve seen before.

But enough with the independent scene — what about performers you already know and love? Pittsburgh has two venues for big-name performances: The Chevrolet Amphitheater at Station Square and Pittsburgh’s Post-Gazette Pavilion. The former seems to play host to artists caught somewhere between the underground and superstardom. Ashlee Simpson and Ashley Parker Angel — isn’t it cute? They have the same first name! — will perform there on July 15. On July 18, dance-rock newcomers Panic! At the Disco will perform. This concert was relocated from The Strip’s Club Zoo to accommodate the overwhelming ticket sales, and the quartet’s theatrical flare and audience-ready hooks should certainly impress.

The Chevrolet Amphitheater will host local talent Rusted Root along with impressive opening act Keller Williams on July 30. Williams is known for his masterful manipulation of technology, using onstage recording to bring new meaning to the term “one-man band.” Then on Aug. 5, Dashboard Confessional, Say Anything and Ben Lee will perform. One of these things is not like the others — but maybe the diversity of talent will make for an even more enjoyable show. The next day, Guster will take the stage with its infectious, if unclassifiable, alternative sound. Unfortunately, with bigger names come bigger costs. Concerts at the Chevrolet Amphitheater run from $20 to $40.

And if that’s not enough fame and money for you, there’s always the Post-Gazette Pavilion. The open-air venue is known for drawing huge crowds. The Pavilion itself offers relatively few seats, but the expansive lawn section is ideal for listening with a group of friends. July 14 marks the return of Southern rock as Lynyrd Skynyrd and unlikely openers 3 Doors Down roll into town. Just a day later, the Counting Crows take to the stage with the Goo Goo Dolls in a glorious flashback to the late ’90s.

On July 19, Kelly Clarkson will wow a sold-out crowd as the “American Idol” success story. Kenny Chesney matches that distinction as he closes out the month with a performance on July 30.

The last month of summer belongs to Tom Petty ‘ the Heartbreakers, who will take to the stage on Aug. 16. The Post-Gazette Pavilion was built for a concert like this, a concert during which people will be slightly intoxicated and highly social, as interested in the friends around them as the music in their ears. As a result of this demographic difference, this concert will probably be the Pavilion’s best of the summer.

And now for the festivals. The Vans Warped Tour and OzzFest have both scheduled stops at Post-Gazette this summer, arriving on July 18 and 27, respectively. Mr. Osbourne himself will be joined by System of a Down, Disturbed, Lacuna Coil, Avenged Sevenfold, Hatebreed and Dragonforce on the main stage while 13 others will occupy the side stage. The day-long extravaganza is sure to supply record numbers of black T-shirts, horned fist-pumps and phrases like “Too much metal for one hand.”

On the other side of the mosh pit is the Vans Warped Tour. During its occupation, the Pavilion will house 73 different acts on the main stage, side stage and pieces of plywood strewn about the lawn. Some of the day’s big names include AFI, Alexisonfire, Joan Jett ‘ the Black Hearts, Motion City Soundtrack, Rise Against, Saves the Day, The Early November and Thursday, to name a few. So if you are willing to endure massive crowds, suffocating heat and an uber-commercialized “merch” section for a 30-minute set, mark your calendars.

The downside of the Post-Gazette Pavilion is three-fold. First, it is in Burgettstown, Pa., a hefty 30 miles from Oakland. Second, without pavilion tickets you could find yourself separated from your idols by 100 yards and thousands of people. And finally, the ticket prices border on astronomical. Pavilion seats cost at least $60, and lawn tickets can’t be found for less than $30. But if you decide to overlook the obvious pitfalls, be sure to go with friends. Watching a speck with a tiny guitar loses its appeal before you can finish an $8 beer.

So there you have it, enough concert information to empty your savings over the next few months. Keep in mind while you’re plotting out your live-music wish list that you can find even more events on the Web, in the papers and on flyers all over the city. But be sure to do whatever your taste, budget and free time allow, because the return of classes means responsibility, deadlines and Club Hillman. And for all its perks, the library can’t compare with a mass of sweaty fans screaming along to their favorite songs.