Staff picks: finding the city’s best music venues
By TPN Staff
May 31, 2016
Pittsburgh attracts a variety of bands and musicians — from acts touring on a global scale to the nearby talent of its thriving independent music scene. We know you’ve heard about Queen Bey and the Biebs making stops in the Steel City this summer, but living in a mid-sized city means even your f...
Real Estate let its beach party get a little ‘wild’ at the Altar Bar
By Jack Trainor / Staff Writer
October 6, 2014
Fans of the band Real Estate know exactly what to expect from the New Jersey alt-rockers by now — a chilled-out beach party. Real Estate brought its beach-bum vibes to the Rust Belt last Wednesday at the Altar Bar in its shy, tight-lipped manner. But newly added keyboardist Matt Kallman and drummer ...
Pitt Musician Spotlight: The Balcony Scene takes Altar Bar
By Elizabeth Rakow / For The Pitt News
September 16, 2014
A Google search of “The Balcony Scene” will likely result in anything from Pierce the Veil lyrics to “Romeo and Juliet” references. But after a bit of scrolling, you’ll run into an up-and-coming Pittsburgh band currently making its way through several local venues and breaking into the sce...
Pittsburgh’s large performance spaces draw diverse lineup
By Stephanie Roman / Staff Writer
May 28, 2014
Mr. Small’s Funhouse400 Lincoln Ave.MillvaleMr. Small’s more than makes up for its quaint size with an awesome, earsplitting PA sound system. Shows are often filled to bursting at a 650-person capacity, and it can get cramped and hot inside, especially when the metal, hardcore and thrash bands get...
G-Eazy tears through setlist at sold-out Altar Bar show
By Sheldon Satenstein /Assistant Visual Editor
March 31, 2014
Dressed in black from head to toe with his signature slicked-back hair, rapper G-Eazy put a local twist on the wardrobe that has given him the nickname “The James Dean of Hip-Hop” by donning a Pirates jersey on top of his sharp attire. Born Gerald Earl Gillum in Oakland, Calif., the 24-year-old G...
Bruiser Brigade: Danny Brown goes hard at Altar Bar
By Sheldon Satenstein / Assistant Visual Editor
September 30, 2013
The line to get inside the Altar Bar stretched a block down Penn Avenue before turning a sharp corner and continuing down 16th Street as hundreds of fans stood outside the venue in anticipation of the “2 High 2 Die” tour headlined by Action Bronson and Detroit native Danny Brown. Among those wai...
STRFKR puts on delightfully oddball performance at Altar Bar
By John Lavanga / A&E Editor
September 4, 2013
If STRFKR’s performance at Altar Bar on Tuesday night had ended halfway through, it would have been a success. A large pixelated display behind the band flashed artful visuals of multicolored pyramids and whorls that accompanied their appealing blend of synthesizers and live instruments perfectly ...