Live Blog: Archive

Hi-REZ launch performance

So we’re in the final few days before our first performance in response to the Maxo Vanka murals in Millvale. I thought I would share with you some of the local press that has been circulating and creating buzz for the event and further explaining the project. Also, while there will undoubtedly be many ways to see/hear the event after it has happened, for those of you in town who want to...

Nov 5th

The Paris of Appalachia

So we just finished our mini-tour with Elsinore, but I wanted to backtrack a moment and give a little update on some of AC’s other activities. We continue to be hard at work on new tunes as well as re-vamping our stage set-up and costuming (photos to come!). The rest of the Fall looks packed with shows so there will be ample opportunities to refine/showcase all of these new developments. In...

Sep 8th

Watch

So we had an awesome time playing an 80s cover set a few weeks ago at Arsenal Lanes. The event was organized by DJ Zombo and had five bands playing all New Wave (including his group, Action Cats. Do I smell some rivalry coming on…?). I thought I’d share an overview of our set through a handy playlist. Plus, we had so much fun with these songs, some of them may become a part of our...

Jul 31st

Local Blogs: Take 2

Music blogs that highlight local artists and upcoming shows from both national and local acts are great for everyone—they give music lovers access to tons of information in one location and cut down on the leg work of finding worthy events to go to, as well as give musicians an outlet to gain further attention and get to know other bands that may be compatible partners for upcoming gigs....

Jun 24th

A New Type of Post for the Live Blog!

So I know there has been a long period of radio-silence on the live blog, and I don’t mean to leave you hanging, so I have decided to fill in the blanks that lie between our performances with posts related to a cause near and dear to AC’s heart: our (and other) local, independent music scene. And how might I do that you ask? Well, to start, I thought I would highlight different...

May 17th

Watch

These are a few snapshots of our latest mini-tour, taken in late March. We traveled to D.C., New York, Boston, and New Hampshire, playing shows and visiting some family.

Apr 21st

Garfield Artworks

Four Bands + all different types of set-ups+ 2 1/2 hrs. to play= Crazy January 23, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA So we had what turned into a somewhat hectic evening Saturday night at the Garfield Artworks, as summarized in the math equation above (i’m loving using all different formulas to condense our performances into a bite size package…). The Artworks is already an interesting space...

Jan 29th

Jan 21st

Club Cafe

Pittsburgh, PA January 16, 2010 Atmospheric pop makes dreamtime of a bar hub South Side goes lush, sweet We played Club Cafe for the first time after accepting a kind invitation from locals Sandbox Astronomy. I was excited for the gig because I felt Sandbox’s lush, chamber-pop sound and Bengt and my eccentric creations could compliment each other quite well. It was also a rare occasion...

Jan 21st

WPTS Live Show

Pittsburgh, PA January 13, 2010 First “Live Show” of year how quickly time flies for a record on airwaves We played for the second time for Pitt radio’s (WPTS) “Live Show.” Last year we had a little fun by dragging some of the radio kids into the studio with us, answering some questions and playing a regular set of songs in between. If the files of that set are...

Jan 21st

Watch

Live @ The Treehouse - Columbus, OH - January 3rd, 2010

Jan 8th

The Treehouse

Columbus, OH Saw “Up in the Air,” almost questioned our life choice almost, just almost Bengt and I squeezed in some time to grab some food and a movie before braving freezing temperatures to play at the The Treehouse. The name is quite literal as there is a tree growing in the middle of the stage area (wrapped in lights), giving the space a somewhat surreal atmosphere. I really...

Jan 8th

Jan 7th

Southgate House

Newport, KY (as experienced by Bengt): Tommy Gun Birthsite Wally, You Motherfucker You can’t stop our rock (as experienced by Maura) As Bengt has already written our haiku, i’ve decided to utilize a new writing form (equally short in nature): Next Excursion Wally, Peter- Out, Risk Termination or, in happier tones: Nice Evening With Persons Outstanding Rocking ( /Reggae-ing/Rejoicing)...

Jan 7th

Dec 19th

Howlers Coyote Cafe

August 25, 2009 Pittsburgh, PA Midge, Chet, and the Walls could this line-up be more choice? i think not my friend Translation: So on getting home we got to have some fun with new and old friends and listen to some great music. Midge Crickett honored us with tails of her sister Kitty and the adventures of life with a bi-polar mom, Flotation Walls knocked the socks off of us and everyone around...

Dec 19th

Dec 18th

Score's Bar

August 22, 2009 Detroit, Michigan The last stop of the tour on the road. And I think you can tell via our 5/7/5 organized thoughts… Detroit (as experienced by Bengt): detroit could be fun but It’s a fucking sports bar i want to go home Detroit (as experienced by Maura): pancakes in trailer chit chat on eyes opening i must get my bra Translation: Really, you’re just going...

Dec 18th

Dec 17th

Elbo Room

August 19, 2009 Chicago, Illinois So for this final leg of the tour, our great excursion to the Mid-West, we’re going to team up and share TWICE the number of haiku. Enjoy. Chicago (as experienced by Bengt): chicago rawks out very famous tall building what? fifteen dollars!? Chicago (as experienced by Maura): this amp hates us both a band romance seems sticky, ease with a non-spouse ...

Dec 17th

Dec 16th

Easton's Point

August 14, 2009 Rhode Island: we dress to impress\ why are you kissing my hand? so, chivalry lives! Translation: There is this fun phenomenon that occurs when you dress up like it’s a formal event and then play tunes in a bar. People aren’t quite sure how to act and it leads to many comical interactions. Including being asked on multiple occasions if you’re married as a...

Dec 16th

Dec 15th

FELT

August 13, 2009 Boston, MA So it has been FOREVER since i have attempted to finish these entries (i moved and now do not have the internet at home, i know, i’m living in the dark ages…) and Bengt has come up with the brilliant idea of summarizing our experiences in the classical, oh so stylish form of haiku. So before we give you your holiday gift of our tour documentary i should...

Dec 15th

Sep 16th

Otto's Shrunken Head

August 12, 2009 New York City So as promised, not all of these entries will be rants. in fact, some of them will be far more straight to the point. like this one. i fear how my sarcasm actually translates over an electronic medium—most likely not quite as tongue and check as i’d like, much more biting then i mean it to be—and as i’m learning that blogging is a fine...

Sep 16th

Sep 7th

The Brewery

August 11, 2009 State College, PA so this was our first stop on a two week tour and definitely a grand welcoming to life on the road—lots of sitting around, meeting a cast of different characters nightly, and sleeping wherever you can gather enough space to stretch out a sheet. The Brewery is a cavernous venue, a bar sitting in the basement of a building that attempts to create warmth...

Sep 7th

Just to make things clear...

So i will return to posting journals about shows, the lastest tour in particular, but i have been sort of fuming about something lately and just feel now is as good a time as any to deviate from my format (who knows, i may deviate forever more…) and utilize this as a real journal of sorts, not just polite commentary. this is all sounding like a precursor to a rant, which it is, and not a...

Aug 27th

Aug 9th

Art All Night

April 25, 2009 Art All Night Pittsburgh, PA The warm weather continued but was not as kind for Saturday’s show. Art All Night is an annual event in Pittsburgh where the community is invited to submit a piece of art to be displayed, without censorship or judgment, for over 24 hours at a different location in the city each year. They also have local music acts perform throughout the evening, and...

Apr 25th

The Bricolage Theater

April 24, 2009 The Bricolage Theater Pittsburgh, PA In what was the start to a crazy weekend, AC had its first foray into the Pittsburgh fine art world by playing at the Bricolage during the downtown-area’s gallery crawl, One Night Stand. Through the aid of Alexi Morrisey, whom we met at the Hazlett’s Open Mic, we were connected with Jeff and Tami, two super nice people running this very cool,...

Apr 24th

Howlers Coyote Cafe

April 21, 2009 Howlers Coyote Café Pittsburgh, PA While I love my ‘Guins (though I leave the actual following of the games to my brother) they foiled us yet again with their winning, leaving many distracted with the play-offs from what was another awesome show. What can you do? I must mention here a thank you to the lovely ladies from work that came out to support in spite of this, you guys are...

Apr 21st

Excuses Bar and Grill

April 17, 2009 Excuses Bar and Grill Pittsburgh, PA Our second time at Excuses, our second false start. The line-up was Bonfire Night (medieval metal music) and us. The Pens were in the playoffs and no band was to set up until the game had concluded. While waiting we did get to spend some quality time with Chuck of BN and a fellow CAPA-ite Mark Howard, who was there to review the show. CAPA (The...

Apr 17th

WPTS Radio

April 15, 2009 WPTS Radio Pittsburgh, PA On a lovely Wednesday evening we high-tailed our gear from Bloomfield to Oakland to play for WPTS’ Live Show. We were a little nervous about how we would be received as our research on the show had produced many sessions of atmospheric electronic music where –gasp- no one talked. If you’ve ever seen us live, you know Bengt and I can be chatty kathys given...

Apr 12th

Show 20 Great Scott

January 3rd, 2008 Great Scott Allston, MA First show of the new year, and our shortest set ever. It was 28 Degrees Taurus’s EP release show, and our last time we would share the stage with them. Both of the other bands were really good (Broken River Prophet, Okay Thursday). We took the stage last on this exceptionally cold night. After just one song (Tonight) we began...

Jan 3rd

Show 19 TT the Bears Place

Dec. 5th, 2007 TT The Bears Place Cambridge, MA our last show we actually played in with 28 degrees taurus and our 2nd time at TTs in less than a month. The line-up was the wild business, plumerai, and 28 degrees with action camp finishing up. we didn’t really get to know the wild business well, they played their set of kinks/who inspired rock and seemed to get the...

Dec 5th

Show 18 TT the Bears Place

Nov. 13th, 2007 TT The Bears Place Cambridge, MA our 2nd show at TTs, a fun yet somewhat awkward night. drama insued early when fellow purveyors of the scene outed a bandmate as under 21 at the most inopportune of moments—right in front of the door girl, said person’s fake i.d. in hand. while legality is important, loyalty (and a bit of communication) trumps...

Nov 13th

Show 17 O'Brien's Pub

October 25th, 2007 O’Briens Pub Allston, MA This was our first big move into the “Allston Rock City” scene. We were in direction competion with a Red Sox playoff game on tv, but the crowd still very cool to us. All the bands were pretty hip, we covered “Paint It Black” by the Rolling Stones. ~Bengt

Oct 25th

Show 16 The Sad Cafe

September 8th, 2007 The Sad Cafe Plaistow, NH The Sad Cafe made both Bengt and I realize that our set is a bit more adult and bar ready then we ever knew. A Christian Community center that also provides family-friendly rock shows, no swearing, sexually suggestive material, or drugs/alcohol allowed. We’re hardly rock stars, but this was still a bit of a squeeze. what makes up...

Sep 8th

Show 15 Lucky Dog Music Hall

August 26th, 2007 Lucky Dog Music Hall Worcester , MA Making our way almost into september was our second show at the lucky dog in worchester. We had the task of going on first, always a mixed bag. However, with the headliner being an 80s cover band, we at least got to revel in a little (extra) dress up and some new covers (God forgive me, I don’t remember them). Things went...

Aug 26th

Show 14 TT the Bears Place

August 19th, 2007 TT The Bears Place Cambridge, MA Again returning to August days of yore, we had an awesome time at TT’s for our homecoming to boston and the kick-off of a new year of music. After an initial damper in the evening of being asked by the doorwoman, as I was lugging in equipment, if I was the girlfriend of someone in a band and then her being uppity when I calmly...

Aug 19th

Show 13 Howler's Coyote Cafe

August 8th, 2007 Howler’s Coyote Cafe Pittsburgh, PA Media: Live at Howlers EP So i’ve fallen horribly behind in basically everything in life, but it’s time to renew our little tradition of journal entries about shows. So from way way long ago, in the lovely month of August, let us remember Action Camp’s much hailed return to the ‘Burgh. We played yet...

Aug 8th

Show 12 Howler's Coyote Cafe

August 5th, 2007 Howler’s Coyote Cafe Pittsburgh, PA hey there lovelies, so sunday, fresh off of our fun at dakota’s, we got to play an open mic at howler’s, our new home away from home (bar-wise i guess). we played with an eccentric line up: derica, a crossdresser in from cleveland who plays mean steel guitar blues (all in a skirt no less), isaac merz and the...

Aug 5th

Show 11 - Milvale, PA

August 4th, 2007 Dakota’s Resturaunt Milvale, PA so we learned of an opportunity to play while still on the road to the ‘burgh. Papa Jacob (my dear old dad) was playing a show with one of his 3 groups, the randall troy band, at dakota’s, right outside the city, and offered to have us play in between their sets. being as stage-hungry and attentioning seeking as we...

Aug 5th

Show 10 - Charlton, MA

June 30th, 2007 Moonstruck Cafe Charlton, MA We pretty much played for my family and Maura’s boyfriend. Not a big deal, but fun none the less. We ended up playing with no mics and a little casio keyboard for leads and drums instead of the bigger rig. Like most sets where we play too long, it ended in a series of half assed cover songs. Setlist: Three Best I can Do Enjoy the...

Jul 1st

Show 9 - Worcester, MA

June 29th, 2007 Lucky Dog Music Hall Worcester, MA Overall a good night. The Lucky Dog brought us some family, some old friends, some technical difficulties, and some sexy burlesque stripping. We went on a bit late due to some unforeseen issues and cut our set short as a result. We got a few rises out of the crowd, notably drunk people screaming along to our cover of Enjoy the...

Jun 30th

Show 8 - Brighton, MA

May 21st, 2007 Herrell’s Ice Cream Brighton, MA Overall, the show sucked for us so those who didn’t attend did not miss much. Technical issues and ego problems with another act had us in a pretty bad mood by the time we hit the stage. You can’t win them all I guess. - Bengt

May 22nd