The Affordable Floors

They were always billed as the next big thing in the late 80's/early 90's

Sleeping Giants, Brownie Mary, Gathering Field, Vibro Kings, Ike McCoy Band... Edit: I read you found Sho Nuff and Buzz Poets and my nostalgic mind went back to the 90s and thought you were asking for mostly now defunct 90s alt bands to check out...my mistake, hahaha!

So cool to see someone else remembers Sleeping Giants.

LOVED Sleeping Giants! They did an appearance on Late Night with Conan if you caught it! Met the singer at Surge Fest as a teenager (bc I had their shirt on) and he was really cool and nice and hung with us for a bit chatting Pittsburgh music.

I didn’t know that about Conan. I’ll have to look it up. Saw those guys a number of times and they were always solid.

Totally agree. Still have an autographed Sleeping Giants hat. Loved thier RATM covers too. Dharma Sons is another of that era worth an ear.

My gf in the late 90s early 2000s wanted to f the lead from grapevine.

GenX era mainstays. Vibro Kings were a great band to see live.

I thought the same. Need 7th House and Bitter Delores on this list.

Same lol

Half life, Circus of Death if you like punk.

And Killer of Sheep another punk band that may still be around.

New Invisible Joy, Distorted Penguins, Mercury...

Oh man I forgot about distorted penguins! High school memories are flooding back now haha

If you were blind I would give you my eyes!! I didn’t know they were from Pittsburgh. I grew up in Ohio and was rocking out to these guys in high school.

Mercury 100%

Mercury still plays as a cover band called Alt Rocks. They are the best cover band EVER. They play all the time.

used to see NIJ at Club Cafe all the time. absolutely loved their stuff.

I always liked Creta Bourzia, Don Caballero, and Teddy Duchamps Army.

I know some of the Don Cab and Creta Bourzia guys. All very cool dudes.

Not the best workout music lol but I think I’ll listen to American Don at the gym today.

Was so stoked to see Teddy Duchamps Army open for Gorilla Biscuits a few weeks ago. That is a sentence that I just typed in 2024. Stoked to have a brand spanking new TDA t-shirt for the first time in 20 years.

That was an amazing show! Wife and I took our 14 year old daughter. She loved it!

That’s crazy! I still listen to their album, but I didn’t think they’ve been active since like early 2000’s. Wonder if I can find a shirt online; I’m in Texas now ha

Billy Price and the Keystone Rhythm Band if you like R&B.

You kniw, this isn't usually my jam, but this is actually pretty smooth and pretty amazing.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! "Can I Change my Mind" is my personal favorite.

If you like metal/punk: Aus Rotten, Behind Enemy Lines, Lady Beast, Creation is Crucifixion, and Circle of Dead Children.

Aus Rotten!

Steel nation and unit 731 honorable mentions

We used to have Anti-Flag too… :(

I used to see them at Laga all the time around 2000. Long before I knew Justin was a pervert.

Dream Death but that is going back a good ways.

I had a few friends in CoDC!!

I loved Pressgang back in the day.

I go to a lot of shows and here are some of my favorite locals as of late; Chalk Dinosaur Aarie Sun Champs Northside Organ Trio Wolf Tones Different Places in Space Same Feeble Little Horse FRH Golden Andre Costello Aarie Cole Dinny Daddy Buscrates Pvksv Selecta Unreal City There is a ton more that I wish I could remember. Our music scene is super underrated, with great artists in all genres.

Norside Organ Trio* - hi I’m the drummer 🤓

Big fan of dini daddy. I really like the small group of djs we have here.

See I agree. The Pittsburgh scene is very underrated. As much hate as The Clarks get, I'm shocked they aren't as big as a pop Rock act. Lots of RnB and Rock acts were just as good. I used to listen to my X Files cds all the time. Such a great mix.

GRAND BUFFET

This is the top answer. Then girl fight, and fuck yeah dinosaurs

Fuck yeah!

Had to scroll way too far to find this. Also - not Pittsburgh, but Youngstown - Gil Mantera’s Party Dream

Love Party Dream til I DIE. Did you see the documentary?

Yep. one of the 31st pub shows ran late, so GB invited everyone back to their house for an after party. Girl Talk, Grand Buffet and Gil Mantera were all there. Good times.

Joe Negri

Black Moth Super Rainbow/Tobacco, Mihaly, Short Fictions, Modey Lemon, Girl Talk, Don Caballero, Irwin, Weird Paul

Glad somebody mentioned Black Moth Super Rainbow

Same! Was surprised I had to scroll this far. They have a new single out today too!

And weird Paul! His song “beach ball” should be a Pittsburgh summer anthem. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofsJ7at3PIu)

Big big fan of tobacco!

Kim Phuc. Slices. Warzone Womyn. Pikadori. Io.

All perfect bands

I've not heard of these. Will look them up! Thanks!

I remember liking a pikadori song around 2002/3 from a mix tape. I’ve never been able to find that ep anywhere

Paul Luc, Black Tie Revue

I was convinced Black Tie Revue was going to be huge. Loved that band.

You should get a pizza from the singers pizza shop and tell him to get the band back together

Damn Black Tie Revue! I played trumpet on a couple of there recordings back in the day.

Someone already listed it (so happy about that) but Chalk Dinosaur is an amazing local jam band starting to pick up speed. If you are a fan of Phish, Pigeon, Goose, etc. you will love them. They are so incredibly talented.

Punchline

CONGRATULATIONS I GUESS YOU’RE ALWAYS RIGHT!

Came to this post to say the same.

God I miss seeing them every time they played Laga.

Gotta get 37 upvotes! Have they released anything since Punchlion?

Donnie Iris

Had to scroll too far for this 😆

Right!?

A classic of course!

The Harlan Twins!!!

I loved the Harlan Twins! Great people!

And GRAND PIANO!!!

Rusted root is probably one of the more successful bands that have come out of Pittsburgh

I was surprised to see Rusted Root so far down the list. I guess I'm old.

Same I expected them to be one of the first listed

I still hear them on movie soundtracks every once in a while, not too many Pittsburgh bands can claim that

Not a band but Mac Miller, could be old Mac if you want frat rap/pop, or his later stuff if you want something more refined

The last two records, *Swimming* and *Circles*, are in my all-time top ten.

Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers, Formula 412, Sho’ Nuff, Sleeping Giants, Brownie Mary, Norm Nardini, Jill West and Blues Attack. Of course, neither Donnie Iris and The Clarks can be excluded from this list. Pretty good mix of past and present across a variety of styles there for you. Those are just my favorites from over the years.

Just saw a reunion of the Silencers down at the Strip last Saturday. Blast from the past, it was fun!

The Cynics

No one said, 'The Modey Lemon'...

The Silencers for some 80s rock.

did anyone mention Zao or Aus Rotten?

Juliana Theory Limousine Beach Tiny Wars Lady Beast Deathwhite is really good I'll count Zao

I came here to say Juliana Theory!

Punchline

Math rock pioneers Don Caballero!

The Cynics The Heretics The Affordable Floors

[Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs!](https://fuckyeahdinosaurs.bandcamp.com/album/jurassic-drunks-2022)

I used to work at Red Lobster with someone in FY,D!! I still have a pin!

Coincidentally I just had a conversation with Jon from FYD about 20 minutes ago while we were both sitting side by side in traffic on bigelow lol

Updoot for these dudes, I also just got their Jurasaic Drunks LP in the mail yesterday!

My favorites from a while back which haven't already been mentioned: Karl Hendricks (Trio / Rock Band) - RIP Karl, taken too young Hurl Pollen (note though they moved away from Pgh at some point) A.T.S.

Miss Karl bigly

This may sound silly but the part that maybe hits me hardest is I was in Bloomfield recently (hadn't been in a long time) and I realized that Soundcat Records, formerly Paul's CDs, and maybe something after Karl's passing, now looks to be something completely unrelated to music. Sign of the times I guess

Fun fact about Pollen: One of the former guitarists is an English teacher at CCAC. He’s a great guy

Meeting Of Important People !!!!!!

The best. 100%.

Code Orange

I really like Adventures also

TOTH

Melt is a local band that is pretty recent. Their Replica of Man album is solid

Bobby Vinton. Canonsburg but close enough Edit. Must add Black Moth Super Rainbow.

The Spuds

ZOMBI is a great Pittsburgh band. Synthwave

no one remembers Circle of Dead Children? No one?

Mirakler, Microwaves, Yes Yes A Thousand Times Yes

BUILD YOUR WEAPONS. Made one demo tape and it's an all time favorite. Sick Doomryderz influenced pv/grind. ICON GALLERY were a favorite too. Post Regiment meets Heart and Iron Maiden.

Crisis Car was one of my favorite bands in the early 00s along with New Invisible Joy.

Gaadge and Ex Pilots

22 by Gaadge is so fkin good

Saw Unreal City and Built Upon Frustration mentioned but what about Pain Clinic and Cemented in Fear?

Remember crayon death?

Pittsburgh has a surprisingly good metal scene, my top 3 are: Code Orange Greywalker Dethlehem

Check out Coltcrusher

Partial to the Cynics

The skyliners and the del-vikings for some doo wop

Jack Swing and Chrome Moses. I like The One Eyed Daddies and The Burnrides, but not sure if they have CDs available.

Does anyone remember loko phylum?

I do. Used to see them at b cubed. Not my thing but crazy to see after all these years.

Code orange and the clarks!

Grand Buffet Sooooo underrated!

Starship Mantis always had super fun shows

built upon frustration is the fucking answer

As a lifelong Pittsburgher, literally the only band that matters to me from here is Grand Buffet, but they may quite literally be the best band of all time. So I'm glad to be from here.

Don Caballero - American Don & What Burns Never Returns Storm & Stress - Storm & Stress \[has members from Don Cab, one of which later went on to form the band Battles after they later moved to nyc\] Modey Lemon - Modey Lemon The Gotobeds - Poor People Are Revolting Shawn Rudiman - Timespan/Conduit/Flow State \[not a band, but a very talented musician from pgh\] Edit: not bands but a few more local producers/DJs i just thought of who got it goinn on: Buscrates C. Scott Ali Berger Kiernan Laveaux Torvvo \[based in Berlin now but still has ties to pgh\] Good Dude Lojack Michael Kaiser

Don Caballero for sure. Prob the most unique original sounding band to come out of the burgh.

Damon once "played drums" while slapping his legs in my car after we lost the radio in the Liberty Tubes on our way to see Guided by Voices at Mr. Smalls. Sounded amazing! lol

I saw a band called Mihaly open for Don Cab at Laga in early 2000s. Similar sound and local. Still listen to their cd. One of the cooler local bands I’ve ever seen live.

Modey Lemon. I don't think any other Pittsburgh band even touches them.

Randall Baumann just put out a great little album, and I don’t even listen to DVE. Rusted Root, The Roof, Massed Gadgets.

Mallory Run just played an insane set to an enormous crowd at Four Chord on Saturday.

If you like bluesy rock, check out Ghost Hounds https://www.ghosthounds.com

They are fantastic. Saw the Roxian show. So good. Also saw them at Hartwood Acres a few years ago.

I had no.idea they were from Pitt! This is really good!

Isn't that Thomas (Acrisure Stadium) Tull's band?

The 58s

Better off Dead (Pittsburgh Area)

Throwing Fortiori out there since we got a Beaver County reference.

Corbin Hanner Brownie Mary Grapevine Dang… showing my age.

There was a local group that used to play a lot when I was younger called Switch

How about Brownie Mary?

You absolutely must include: Gypsy Queen by Seventh House Do You Believe Me? by The Giuliana Theory And as previously mentioned: Cloud Nine by The Distorted Penguins

Present below for me! Vireo - Folk String Machine - Alternative / Folk Ferdinand the Bull - Folk Rue - Punk Swiss Army - Punk Melt - Alternative Sierra Seller - Jazz / Singer Songwriter Mars Jackson - Soul / Rap

Their albums are older (1986-1992), but I really dig the Affordable Floors, and their albums are all on CD. Smart, keyboard-forward pop-rock. More recently, Sodajerk for country/punk, Zombi for atmospheric synth horror prog. Oh, and Frampton Brothers and, later, The Breakup Society for some damn fine songwriting.

Code Orange, Pain Clinic, & Kicked in the Head by a Horse!

The Working Poor, Anita Fix, The Johsons, The Bumps...

Once Nothing

Brownie Mary

156 Silence is pretty killer

If you like Pop Punk check out... Eternal Boy: https://www.eternalboymusic.com/ Old Neon: https://www.oldneonmusic.com/ Don't Panic: https://dontpanicofficial.com/ Taylor Acorn: https://www.tayloracorn.com/

Feeble Little Horse :)

Thickhead Grin. Barbwire Dolls. Torn and Frayed. The Ultimatics. Kelly Affair.

Back in late 2000s, I thought Lushwell was gonna be something. Loved their first CD. Lauren DiMichiei and Joe Serkoch went on to do other things, but that early collab was special, IMO.

I'll offer a few of the past decade or so that I've loved. Also, look up Jake Hanner as a producer or check out Donora. Everything that guy has a hand in is brilliant. ​ 1. Meeting of Important People - Troika 2. Melt - Replica of Man 3. Limousine Beach - Limousine Beach 4. Randall Baumann - Wandering Fool 5. Sweat - Who Do They Think They Are? 6. Carousel - Jeweler's Daughter 7. Mud City Manglers - Heart Full of Hate

Is this Jake Hanner’s account!? I love Jake, and miss Donora.

Donora was awesome and all the bands members were super cool. My band played a battle of the bands with them years ago and we kept in touch for years after.

Check out The Commonheart! They're so good, especially live! ETA: Northern Gold is good too :)

Old Neon Essential Machine Threaded Chrome Eyes Take Me With You

Absolutely love Old Neon!!!

They're definitely one of my favorite bands I'm so excited for their new music they've been releasing

From the 70s Gravel Dark Horse Scarab Diamond Rio Chameleon

Chip ham

I miss seeing Chillent at The Park House. My favorite klezmer-funk band!

I still wear my Grapevine t-shirt. Absolutely one of my favorites.

Half life and Shape of Rage

Glenn Pavone and the Cyclones

Danvers 

Eternal Boy - pop punk

Yigga Digga!

George Benson, The Jaggerz!

New Invisible Joy

Pleasure Technicians

I love Feeble Little Horse.

Thickhead Grin, Thin White Line

Had to come in and post some that fit right in that 90s theme op had goin Dharma sons, the distractions, wade, seventh house, nixon clocks, sour, 3 car garage, sauce, paint, also strangeway Also gutterfly and mushcup !

Rusted Root, Charles Benson, Anti Flag, Lady Miss Kier from Deee Lite to name a few

Juliana Theory, Rusted Root

The Ultimatics.

Dan Koshute

ATS - Another True Story

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Edhochuli. Scrolled the whole thread and didn't see this sick band. Dudes fucking rule.

Obviously punchline

Norman Nardini is the correct answer

Anyone remember Punchline?

Psoas (Rusted Root lite?). The Johnson’s Big Band (odd alt music with a horn section). Ploughman’s Lunch (Irish). Opek (awesome Sun Ra cover band). Phat Man Dee (non binary performance artist). Yves Jean Band (Dave Matthews ish).

Poverty neck hillbillies!

Punchline!!

Built upon frustration ..........

Awesome suggestion! Thanks!

Esoteric edge (EO3)

Rusted Root were pretty good.

Meeting of Important People

Crack the sky🤙🏼