A Break from the 'Burgh: Los Angeles

My final stop on spring break is Los Angeles where I will be spending an entire week. Amid the sun and palm trees lies a HUGE music scene. The first interesting event that caught my eye was iPod night at the Liquid Kitty. Every Wednesday night, you can bring your iPod in and play DJ for 20 minutes. If the crowd thinks you've done a good job, you get a free drink. Liquid Kitty has different daily events every week, like iPod Wednesdays, along with concerts on the weekends.

Liquid Kitty has no cover charge on any night and is located on Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. For more information on the club and a list of events, visit Liquid Kitty's website.

**Photo Credit: Omar Omar on Flickr

A Break from the 'Burgh: Las Vegas

Since I am on Spring Break until March 6th, I'm going to take a little break from the Pittsburgh music scene and offer information on the places I'm traveling. First stop Las Vegas for the weekend!

Las Vegas is absolutely PACKED with different things to do and different artists are always passing through Sin City. The major feature for this weekend seems to be Garth Brooks. His shows are listed multiple times on one Vegas page I found. Garth will be in Vegas February 25th, 26th and 27th. Garth is performing a series of concerts one weekend a month from now until August. For more info on Garth, visit his website.

Mariah Carey is also performing this weekend in Las Vegas. She performs on Friday 27th at the Colosseum. For more info on Mariah visit her website.

There are countless other music events going on this weekend, but it would take up WAY too much space to list even a quarter of them! For info on the Vegas music scene, visit these websites:

• Yahoo Upcoming Events, Las Vegas
• Jazz Las Vegas

**Photo Credit: Atlantys Travel

Weekend Shows at Rex

Here's an early look at this weekend's shows at Rex Theater. Rex is located on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh's Southside.

• Friday 2/26: Larry Keel & Natural Bridge with Greensky Bluegrass. Doors open at 7:00pm and the show starts at 8:30pm. Tickets are $15
• Saturday 2/27: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave with Boogie Hustlers. Doors open at 6:00pm and the show starts at 9:00pm. Tickets are $15

For tickets and information about the venue, visit Rex's website.

To learn more about the bands, visit their websites:

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge- Mountain music

Greensky Bluegrass- Bluegrass

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave- Jazz, Funk Rock

Boogie Hustlers- Jazz, Funk, Soul and similar genres

**Photo Credit: Mattron on Flickr

Rusted Root

Rusted Root was formed in Pittsburgh in the early '90s by singer/guitarist Michael Glabicki. They self released their first album Cruel Sun in 1992 and joined Mercury Records in 1994 producing their album When I Woke. They continued releasing albums on a fairly regular basis until 2003. Their album Stereo Rodeo is their first album in almost seven years and was released in May of 2009.

Since the release of Stereo Rodeo, the band has toured throughout 2009 and is continuing into the summer of 2010. Rusted Root will be coming to Pittsburgh on March 12 on the Gateway Clipper Majestic. Tickets are on sale now and are $25 for general admission. To get tickets go to Rusted Root's website, Facebook page, or MySpace page.

Check out one of Rusted Root's hits, "Send Me On My Way"

"New" 100.7 Review

Pittsburgh's 100.7 is classified as an adult contemporary station, but is now mixing in Top 40 songs since it merged with B94. Star 100.7 prides it self on playing a variety of music from the 80s, 90s, and the present. The music played on the station is more soft rock and pop kinds of music now with a sprinkle of the faster tempo music that was on B94. The Top 40 music seems to be finding its place along with the DJs that made the move.

Bubba, who moved to 100.7 when K-Rock moved onto 93.7, is back on the morning show with co-hosts JR and Shelly. The three still work well together and I have always been a fan of Bubba, so I'm glad he decided to make the transition. Melanie Taylor, who was on B94's morning show with Buckhead and Bubba, is now flying solo middays on 100.7. I was not a fan of Melanie when she was with the boys on B94, but I found I enjoy listening to her much more now that she has her own show.

If you haven't already given it a try, listen to 100.7 here. It takes a little getting used to the slightly slower pace, but it's still worth the listen.

If you don't like the station, listen to Pittsburgh's 96.1 here.

Weekend Shows at Diesel

Here's a look at this weekend's shows at Diesel located on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh's Southside:

• Saturday 2/20: Fountain Infinity with Vin Mariani, Undermine the Common, and Soul Pilot. Doors open at 5:00 pm

• Sunday 2/21: St. Vincent with Wildbirds and Peacedrums. Doors open at 6:00 pm

For information on prices, tickets, etc. visit Diesel's website here

**Photo Credit: RMUphotos on flickr

Lyrics Quiz

How well do you know these lyrics?

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Radio Poll

I know I'm beating the B94 issue to death, but I promise it will end soon. Take this poll and let me know your opinion on the Pittsburgh radio scene.

RIP B94

Yesterday, February 14 marked the end of B94's broadcasting. The station seemed to be having fun with the combination of songs played all weekend. In one 20 minute drive I heard Crazy Train, an old Lenny Kravitz song, an old Dave Matthews Band song, a country song, and The Pittsburgh Polka. I enjoyed listening to the random combinations, but as the night wore on, the songs were looped and B94 faded away at 5:30 this morning. I have yet to listen to 100.7 since the merger, but I'll give it a week and then decide if I want to stick with it or not. Give the "new" 100.7 a chance and listen here.

Owl City and a weekend away

This weekend I ventured back to my home town of Indiana PA, and unfortunately missed the Owl City concert at IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania). In another unfortunate event, this show was toward the end of Owl City's U.S. portion of the tour and is on its way to Europe on February 17th. Owl City will be back in the States on March 30th starting with a show in Boise Idaho. The huge hit "Fireflies" launched Owl City into the music world and its other music is very good as well. To hold yourselves over until they return, check out Owl City's music and other information here.

**Photo Credit: carlosjtj on flickr

Weekend Shows at Club Cafe

Even though the majority of Pittsburgh is buried, there are still a number of shows still planned for the rest of the week. Here's a look at the shows being held at Club Cafe this weekend:

• Thursday 2/11 Joe Firstman 7:00pm
• Friday 2/12 Garrison Starr/Natalia Zukerman 7:00pm
• Friday 2/12 The Incline 10:30pm
• Saturday 2/13 Pete Bush and the Hoi Polloi 10:30pm

For information on Club Cafe and other upcoming shows click here.

**Photo Credit: local.myspace.com

Bye-bye B94

Even though my generation is drifting away from the radio, many people I know are sad to see B94 go...again. B94 left us once before in 2004 and returned in 2007 saying they were back for good, unfortunately the station is leaving us seemingly for good. The station is merging with 100.7 and a few of the DJs will be moving over also. Bubba will be joining JR and Shelley in the mornings and Melanie Taylor will be on the air mid-day.

B94 first went on the air in April of 1981 and the first song played was Billy Joel's "You May be Right." The station went off the air in 2004 and was replaced by a Rock station. B94 made it's triumphant return in 2007 with Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back." The station leaves us once again being replaced by a sports station titled The Fan. The change takes place at 5:30am on February 15th. The last full day to listen will be February 14th.

Who knows, maybe The Fan will have the same fate as the last station and B94 will return to us once again. Will you try out 100.7 or switch to 96.1 or another station?

Identity X

Pittsburgh band Identity X has a number of upcoming shows in different spots around the 'Burgh. The shows are small acoustic performances at different Hot Topic locations and one full set show at Altar Bar.

The band formed in 2003 and it's music is classified as Rock/Alternative/Metal. I happened upon this band after going to see Rent last weekend, weird right? Well, lead singer David Toole is currently cast as Roger, one of the male leads in Rent. The program said he was in a band, he had a good voice, I checked it out, and decided the band was pretty awesome. Check out one of their shows, or visit their myspace to check out some of their music!

Identity X Music

Shows:

2/11 7:00pm Hot Topic at Robinson Mall

2/18 7:00pm Hot Topic at Century Three Mall

2/23 7:00pm Hot Topic at Ross Park Mall

3/3 7:00pm Hot Topic at Pittsburgh Mills Mall

3/6 5:00pm Altar Bar

**Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Grammy Results: Beyonce and Taylor Swift set records

I am pleased to announce that Taylor Swift did not sweep the Grammys!! While Swift received her well deserved Country categories, the only mainstream category she won was album of the year. She set a record being the youngest to win album of the year beating Alanis Morissette who was 21 when she won the award in 1996. Taylor Swift won 4 out of the 8 awards she was nominated for. Beyonce also set a record by winning 6 awards, the most won by a female artist. Beyonce won 6 out of the 10 awards she was nominated for. I am also pleased to announce that Kings of Leon, who I was hoping would beat out Swift for record of the year, succeeded in winning 3 awards. Jason Mraz, another favorite and contender with Swift, won both awards he was nominated for.

Did your favorites win the awards they deserved? Find out on the complete list of winners.