Review:

Mansions, The Front Bottoms, Bluebird Midwest, Look Out Loretta

The Smiling Moose, Tuesday 1/24

The upstairs room at the Smiling Moose on a Tuesday evening is not the most crowded place in the world. People have work and classes, and not many care to come out to see a show. Those who did come to the venue last Tuesday at around 6:30, though, were in for quite a treat. The dimly-lit little room became the backdrop for a very enthusiastic night of indie-punk music featuring local acts Look Out Loretta and Bluebird Midwest as well as touring headliners The Front Bottoms and Mansions. All-in-all, the show was dynamite.

Upon arrival, there were only maybe 5 other people there. The air smelled faintly of smoke and sweat and there was equipment piled by the stage. By the time the first band, Look Out Loretta, came on, the number of people hadn’t even doubled. The band played a good set full of Wonder Years-style pop punk, complete with strong harmonies and loud guitar playing. The band was a bit stiff at first, but managed to loosen up by the end – by which time there was a decent addition to the crowd.

After they finished and got offstage, one man got up there alone with his acoustic guitar. Tall, awkward-looking, black-haired, and wearing a very interesting black shirt featuring a grizzly bear, the man sat down on a stool and checked his microphone. Roger Harvey, member of local punk rock band White Wives, played an emotionally-charged acoustic set under the name Bluebird Midwest. His solemn voice, reminiscent of Conor Oberst’s, was powerful and soft all at once, floating from melody to melody effortlessly. The songs were powerful, and he even did a cover of Woodie Guthrie’s “Deportee”, a song that Harvey described as “the saddest song ever written.” The crowd clearly enjoyed his set, though by the end everybody seemed to be ready to move around to some faster, more energetic music.

Thankfully, The Front Bottoms were on next and they certainly delivered. For a band with only two members, they really rocked out. Their energy was owed in part to drummer Matt Uychich, who also operated a slew of pre-programmed beats, horn sections, and other various odds and ends on a Macbook perched next to his drumkit – a very interesting addition to the songs that brought a lot of fun to the tunes. Most of the audience at least nodded their heads along to the driving beats, which is a lot to say for a standard concert audience. It seems even the most droll, statue-like crowd members couldn’t resist the Front Bottoms’ punk-pop jams, all of which have fantastic lyrics as well as being packed with ferocity. The band closed with their ridiculously catchy “Maps”, even calling up a second drummer to play a second drum kit for some extra percussive power.

The second drummer turned out to be the drummer for Mansions, the headlining band. Featuring primary member/creative mind Christopher Browder on vocals and guitar as well as a bass player and aforementioned drummer, Mansions spat out an extremely raw and inspired set that showcased some of their best musicianship. The punk rock/emo band also occasionally indulged in some stage banter, such as when they got into a conversation with an audience member about the board game Sorry!, in which they had apparently competed against The Front Bottoms members the night before while hanging out.

“Who won?” asked the audience member.

“They beat us in Sorry!,” replied Browder. “But we beat them in watching The Bachelor.”

“I can’t believe you just brought that up,” said the band’s bass player as she shook her head and smirked.

After bantering and playing a set full of some of their best songs (including the spirited “Seven Years”) while the crowd jumped and cheered, two of the band members left the stage. Christopher Browder remained onstage alone, and closed out the evening with a solo rendition of the snappy, bitter “The Worst Part” from the album New Best Friends. It was the perfect, calmer resolution to a high-octane night in the upstairs room of a South Side bar on a Tuesday night.

You let us know who you liked and here are the results. Thanks for voting!

 The Ears of PJ Best Music Show

What's Good, Point Park? (with Liz Layhew & heather Spirik)

The Ears of PJ Best Talk Show

The WPPJ Morning Show (with Wayne Weil & Nate Zerambo)

The Ears of PJ Best Sports Show

The Last Word (with Kevin Calhoun, Aaron Cooney, Andy Schacht, and Patty Dixon)

The Ears of PJ Best DJ

Kevin Calhoun (host of the Last Word and Point Park Sportsbeat)

The Ears of PJ Best Overall Show

The Last Word (with Kevin Calhoun, Aaron Cooney, Andy Schacht, and Patty Dixon)

The Politician Award 

The Epic Beard Award 

The Amazing Air Axe Award 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!

Best Air Guitarist Staff Pick of Fall 2011: Nick Sperdute

The Insomniac  Award 

The TwitFace Award

The Underdog Award 

The Legendary Title Award 

The Voice of Point Park Award 

The Sidesplitter Award

A Three Way Tie between...

The Da Vinci Award

The Iron Man Award (Most Dedicated)

The Rookie Award

The OnAir Award (Best Overall Show)

Best Overall Show Staff Pick of Fall 2011: The WPPJ Morning Show (with Wayne Weil, Nate Zerambo, and Guest Vincent Valentine from the Broadway Hit "Defending the Caveman")

The David J. Fabilli Award 

Best DJ Staff Pick of Fall 2011: Nick Sperdute

The 670 Award 

Best Music Show Staff Pick of Fall 2011: The Most Indietastic Show (with Kelsey Kahla & John Bursick)

The Pioneer Award 

Best Sports Show Staff Pick of Fall 2011: The Last Word (with Kevin Calhoun, Aaron Cooney, and Andy Schacht)

The Linguistic Excellence Award

Best Talk Show Staff Pick of Fall 2011: The WPPJ Morning Show (with Wayne Weil & Nate Zerambo)

It has been a great semester bringing you the latest in all things Point Park Sports here are Point Park Sportsbeat.

On last week’s show Kevin Calhoun was back to talk Point Park Sports with Matt Desmond.

The guys started out by discussing Point Park Men’s Basketball and the road ahead. They broke down T.J. Heatherington (who leads NAIA Division II in points per game) and the game winning shot he hit to defeat Fisher College. The team is currently 7-5 on the season and do not play again until early January.

The next topic up for discussion was the Point Park Women’s Basketball Team and their road ahead. The team had just won an 80-56 contest over Fisher and Kevin and Matt focused on Ashley Campbell who was making her season debut after being on the Point Park Volleyball team during the fall sports season. Campbell led scorers with 11 points in the game. Currently the team stands at 5-4 on the season and next play tomorrow against Carnegie Mellon University.

All in all the fall sports season was a great one.

The volleyball team finished 36-6 and made it to nationals for the first time in their history. Their matches in the Student Center were the first to be played on campus by a sports team, and helped raise awareness for Point Park sports. The team will lose only two seniors and will largely return led by AMC Player of the Year Lindsey Oberacker as well as right side hitter Brittany Lhota, All-AMC setter Tayler Pugliese and a defense which includes Amanda Ardinger, M.J Gillooly and libero Alyssa Hall.

The men’s soccer team finished 12-5-1 good enough for first in the conference. Their ability to host the AMC Tournament was great in helping to establish an identity for Point Park sports. Among those expected back are midfielder Alex Sala who has made his mark with consistent play, and Lucas Silva and Wendelin Hobel who led the team in goals and assists.

The women’s soccer team finished 4-15 but performed better than their record indicates. They made the playoffs in Head Coach Mark Platt’s second year and their future looks very bright. The team will lose senior Lauren Evans but otherwise return all of their starters who were either freshmen or sophomores. These include Kristina Stammer, Kileigh Williams and goalkeeper Anna Shaw.

While both cross country teams lost their lead runners to injury early in the year, it allowed for Keri Rouse and Dylan Grunn to become leaders on this team, something which should continue in fall 2012.

Lastly, both the men’s and women’s golf teams experienced several milestones. For the women, they achieved their best team score ever, and in their last tournament, October 15^th in Grove City, the team won their first ever tournament. The team from top to bottom made great contributions, but freshmen Caroline Collins consistently scored lowest for the team. For the men, it was a great season and they won a 36 hole tournament in Mount Union which took place September 25^th and 26^th.  Austin Elder was the leader of the team and won two tournaments.

All in all, it was a great fall sports season and it was great to get to make WPPJ history by having the first ever all Point Park sports radio show. We hope you enjoyed tuning in each week to get your Point Park sports fix and hope that you tune in again next semester. Thanks so much for your support.

The members of Anti-Flag raised their middle fingers high on the stage of Mr. Smalls Theatre.

None of their arms trembles or shook as they flipped off not the audience members, but rather the oppressive government present in modern society. Lead singer Justin Sane shouted the words to the song “F*** Police Brutality,” and certainly it hit home for a lot of people, in the wake of recent aggression toward the Occupy protests.

The audience mimicked the band’s profane gestures and the whole room was a middle-finger fest. Only at a punk rock show could such a thing be considered good, but indeed it was. The moment was powerful and uniting for a group of people who often felt downtrodden and outcast, and is very telling of the concert overall. Anti-Flag put on a highly energetic show and, along with the fantastic lineup of opening bands, cemented November 26th, 2011, as an amazing night for punk.

The show began with local band Mace Ballard. This pop-punk act played a very tight set that sounded great, however they could have used a bit more stage presence. They mostly just stood still or at least stayed at the same part of the stage. Still, their music was great for an opener, and their NOFX cover was a great touch.

Philadelphia punk band The Holy Mess played next, and what they lacked in technical skill they made up for in pure explosive energy. They played somewhat sloppily, partially owed to their level of intoxication, but their fiery songs and fun state banter made their set highly enjoyable.

The third band, Cancer Bats, traveled all the way to Pittsburgh from Toronto, Canada in order to play their heavy, sludge metal-esque hardcore punk and make the whole audience mosh. And mosh, they did. The crowd went insane as the Cancer Bats’ music erupted from behind the haze of the smoke machine.

“I wanna see that rainbow mohawk cut someone in half!” said the Bats’ lead singer, Liam Cormier, during their set. Cormier’s stage presence was a force to be reckoned with as he crouched at the front of the stage and screamed into the microphone like there was no tomorrow. All in all, when it comes to opening bands, the Cancer Bats took the cake in getting the audience to move.

The final act to go on before Anti-Flag seemed to take the best of every other opener and combine it into one set. Indie-punk experts The Menzingers dominated the stage with ease; they played their songs tightly, they had a dynamic stage presence, and the audience loved it. Their well-rounded performance did a great job of getting everybody pumped for the headliner, and of course their music itself is wonderful.

Before Anti-Flag went onstage, Justin Sane and two other people came onstage to talk about the dangers of ‘fracking’, or hydraulic fracturing, which is a method of extracting oil and natural gas that causes great harm to the environment. The two members of the anti-fracking initiative, who Sane introduced, briefly explained their purpose and encouraged the audience to take copies of the free pamphlet they had made to explain their cause. While this was an odd interlude to have at a concert, it made sense due to the progressive tendencies of the punk genre. The crowd seemed to honestly care about the cause, and people could be seen going to grab some pamphlets from the back. The message was very much worth the brief interruption in the music.

Finally, Anti-Flag came onstage to an ocean of cheering punks. This is what everyone had come to see, and the band did not disappoint. They played all of their popular angry protest songs, including the fiery hit “Turncoat,” and the audience never stopped moshing. The group even dedicated a song to the Occupy movement, called “The Economy Is Suffering, Let It Die”, from their newest album The People Or The Gun. This sentiment even further built upon the emotions invoked by their middle-finger-flinging song about police brutality.

Overall, the band’s set was explosive and a great end to a night of high-octane moshing and headbanging. It was angry and fiery, as punk is usually expected to be… but above all it captured something that people often forget punk rock should be: fun.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool. ]]> http://wppjradio.pointparkjournalism.com/featured/fall-2011-listeners-choice-awards/feed 3 http://wppjradio.pointparkjournalism.com/featured/point-park-campus-news http://wppjradio.pointparkjournalism.com/featured/point-park-campus-news#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:38:42 +0000 Coral Pragier http://wppjradio.pointparkjournalism.com/?p=2528 Continue reading]]>

_{CAMPUS NEWS 12/5 – 12/11}

_{Meal Plans}

_{Current Meal Plans end on December 17th. Any unused flex dollars will carry over to the spring term. If you would like to change your meal plan for next semester, you can visit Food Services on the Second Floor of Lawrence Hall.}

_{BSU Soul Food Social}

_{Point Park’s Black Student Union is having their annual Soul Food Social on Friday, December 9th from 7 – 10 pm in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom. The mission of the social is to connect the university community by highlighting the way African Americans come together over the holiday season and spend time with loved ones.  The theme for this year is diversity, due to so many non-African Americans wishing and becoming members of BSU. Entertainment from Bruce Jones and K Chase Patterson as the speaker are just some of what is on the agenda. Dinner will include such favorites as friend chicken and Mac and Cheese. Tickets for students are $10 and guest tickets are $20. For more information, contact Ciera J. Onley at (215)459-3824 or at cieraj.onley@gmail.com.}

_{Spring Invoice}

_{Spring invoices for 2012 are now available on Point Web. If your invoice reflects a Spring balance due, please remit payment in full or make official payment arrangements by December 15. Payment plan options are available at www.pointpark.edu/paymentplans.}

_{Alternative Spring Break}

_{The Offices of Student Activities and Commuter Affairs are sponsoring this year’s alternative spring break. The trip is from March 4th to the 10th to Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, to help build homes with Habitat for Humanity. The cost is will be $400, covering airfare, transportation, meals, registration fees, and sightseeing costs. Applications will be due Monday, December 5th by 4pm. For more information, contact JW Tabacchi at (412)392-4793 or at jtabacchi@pointpark.edu}

_{$2.00 Subs}

_{For the month of December, Subway is offering their six inch cold cut or meatball subs for $2.00. So change up your dining experience and instead of eating at the RDF for the night, check out Subway.}

_{Honors Program Toy Drive}

_{Point Park’s Honors Program is participating in a Holiday Toy Drive for The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers. The group is a service for families of children with developmental concerns. The collection is going on now through Friday, December 9th. You can drop off donations in the Honors Program Office on the 4th floor of Lawrence Hall. The Honors Program has a list of suggested items to be donated due to the children’s needs. For more information or a copy of the suggested donation list, email the Honors Program at honorsprogram@pointpark.edu}

_{The Works and Imagination of Marvin Hamlisch}

_{Point Park’s Conservatory of Performing Arts is proud to welcome legendary artist Marvin Hamlisch on Tuesday, December 13th.  Hamlisch is Point Park’s Distinguished Master Artist in Residence this year. Some of Hamlisch’s success includes winning three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, and three Golden Globes. Hamlisch will be speaking about his work and creative process at 4 pm on the 13th in Rockwell Theater at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Tickets are complimentary, but reservations are required to attend. RSVP to Anthony Dennis at (412)392-8114 or at adennis@pointpark.edu by Tuesday, December 6th.}

_{The Jazz Nutcracker}

_{Point Park’s Conservatory Dance Company presents The Jazz Nutcracker on December 9th to the 11th and the 16th to the 18th in the Rockwell Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. This is not your father’s Nutcracker; it’s sexier and jazzier than any version ever seen before. Make sure to check it out before going home for winter break. Tickets start at $18 dollars and students can get free tickets an hour before the show, if seats are available. For more information, check out the Playhouse’s website at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com}

_{Twelfth Night}

_{Point Park’s Conservatory Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night from December 9th to the 18th at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Perhaps Shakespeare’s most festive comedy, Twelfth Night features debauchery, trickery and general marauding by a colorful crew of miscreants, this time around set in the 1920s in the Hamptons. Tickets start at $18 dollars and students can get free tickets an hour before the show, if seats are available. There will also be a “Pay What You Will” performance on Saturday, December 10th at 2 pm. For more information, check out the Playhouse’s website at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com}

_{Club  Activities Delayed}

_{Due to a late distribution of funds, clubs had a rough start to the semester. Former United Student Government President Michael Potoczny stated that the inability to hold events in September has caused clubs to be unable to attract new students. And some clubs leaders have even had to use their own money to make events happen. Funding for student organizations comes from the student activity fee, of which a portion is then given to USG to distribute to clubs. This semester, USG did not receive the money until September 26th. It then took until mid-October to distribute the funds. The first month of the semester is the best time to hold events, but due to allocation and distribution issues, no clubs were able to do so. USG is pushing for clubs to fundraise before they receive their allocated money, in order for the club to be self-sufficient. So if clubs want to have events within the first two months of the fall semester, they need to be able to fundraise the year before in preparation for the next year. For more information, contact USG at usg@pointpark.edu}

_{Shuttle Services}

_{The Point Park Shuttles will have a reduced service during finals week. Shuttles will stop running on Sunday, December 18th. They will pick back up on a limited schedule for rehearsals from January 10th to the 15th. For limited and reduced services, this means that there will be two to four trips per day, and specific timing has not yet been determined. There will also be shuttles offered to the Pittsburgh International Airport. For winter break, shuttles will depart from Point Park at 6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, and 4 pm. The shuttle to the airport requires a ticket for $15 and is only to get to the airport. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, December 9th by 2pm at the Office of Student Activities on the 1st floor of the Student Center.}

_{The Skate Date}

_{Campus Activities Board is sponsoring a Point Park skate night at The Rink at PPG Place on Thursday, December 8 from 6 to 10 pm. For just a dollar, you get skating, skate rental, and hot chocolate. Guests can also attend for five dollars. You can sign up during the week at the Student Activities Office on the 1st floor of the Student Center. And if you forget to sign up early, you can always sign up that evening. Just make sure you have your Point Park id. For more information, email CAB at cab@pointpark.edu}

_{Pittsburgh Plunge}

_{The Sporting Life floor of Lawrence Hall is participating in the 2011 Pittsburgh Polar Bear Plunge on Sunday, December 11th from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. The event supports the Special Olympics. Each plunger must raise $50 dollars in order to plunge and receive an event shirt and the pride of helping special needs children. So far, the floor has been able to raise almost $400. In order to attend, email Tom Walk at tgwalk@pointpark.edu}

_{Got Consent? Christmas Party}

_{Point Park Got Consent is hosting the First Annual Christmas Mocktail Party on Wednesday, December 7th from 7 to 9 in the Lawrence Hall Lobby. Enjoy red, white and green mocktails while listening to Christmas tunes provided by WPPJ radio.}