I think my favorite part about living in Pittsburgh and keeping up with the music scene here is making annual year end lists of my favorite local music (if you’re curious, here are my 2009 and 2010 lists). I used to take the Steel City’s music scene for granted (especially during college) and assumed every other moderately sized metropolitan area in the region had a similar, or possibly larger, independent music community. But, after three years of really listening to (and subsequently analyzing) tons of music that was in some way, shape, or form born and bred in Pittsburgh, I’m pretty damn confident our music scene can stack up with any other city’s in America.
Just from looking at and listening to the music featured on the list below, it’s evident there is no singular Pittsburgh “sound.” Whether its the indie rock being played at the Brillobox and Mr. Small’s, the underground punk of The Shop, 222 Ormsby, and Mr. Roboto, the shredding metal at the 31st Street Pub and the Smiling Moose, the hip-hop of the Shadow Lounge and Z Lounge, or the electronic music mecca of the VIA Festival, I think we can all agree Pittsburgh’s music scene is currently flourishing. With that in mind, The Top Steel City Tracks of 2011 is my attempt to capture all the disparate sounds of Pittsburgh into one, condensed, twenty song list, with no ranking hierarchy or further explanation.
Also, if you think I missed something (and I most certainly did) please feel free to blow up the comment section with links to music, upcoming shows, or videos. Check the list after the jump.
1,2,3 – “Work”
The 58′s – “Outta My Mind”
B-Free Da Misfit – “Kewn”
Big Hurry – “Gets Me Low”
Big Snow Big Thaw – “Brackish Water”
Boaz – “Do It For Ya”
Boca Chica – “Afternoon Tea”
The Cynics – “I Need More”
Dazzletine – “Skin Period”
Donora – “Boom Boom”
Ennui – “Coconino”
Good Sport – “Pushover”
Legs Like Tree Trunks – “Pushover”
Mac Miller – “Donald Trump”
Majeure – “Solar Flare”
New Shouts – “Hung On You”
Shade – “Waves”
Sistered – “God Save the Child Brides”
White Wives – “Spinning Wheels”
Wise Blood – “Nosferatu”
Nice list. Much of it is new to me, looking forward to checking it out!
So the Ennui song from 2010, that was on the 2010 list is somehow on the 2011 list as well?
Yes, the single for “Coconino” was released late 2010, but the the album it was on Formation of Tides was released in March 2011, so it was technically “eligible” for both lists, and I like the song so much I couldn’t help but include it again.
I can look at this list and with confidence day you know nothing about the pgh music scene..
Hahaha, okay, fair enough. Do you have any suggestions? That’s why I put this sentence in the post: “Also, if you think I missed something (and I most certainly did) please feel free to blow up the comment section with links to music, upcoming shows, or videos.”
Being a member of the Pittsburgh music scene and one of the bands listed i can say with confidence that this is a pretty good list. It is representative of many of the circles and genres that make this city’s indie/underground scene so awesome. Also, it’s subjective so nobody’s list will match this one. No list is entirely comprehensive.
Couple of other good songs from this year:
The Long Time Darlings – Downtown Sugar
Horse or Cycle – Compatibilism
And just about anything from Allies, Dazzletine or Big Snow Big Thaw.
Cheers and Happy New Year
Thanks for your support of the Pittsburgh music scene. It’s great to see someone that takes their own time to give some print and acknowledgement to what is going on here.
Bowman, I love the list and the site. Nice work bud.