Twin Tigers? As Tall As Lions? Minus the Bear? At first I thought the lions, tigers and bears thing was a coincidence but I guess the name of the tour is the Lions Tigers and Bears tour. That’s pretty cheesy but luckily that insignificant little point didn’t bode the outcome of the show itself since an argument could easily be made that this event was the best thing going on in Pittsburgh on Friday, November 20th. Seriously, who the hell really cares about “Light Up Night” anyway? There are lights every day and, in this city, fireworks about every other day. So, for those of you who missed out, here’s a synopsis of your missed opportunity.

Diesel Club Lounge is located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Southside, the city’s most popular destination for bars, nightclubs, and concerts. The small neon-lit club has been most attractive more punk-rock acts in the past, but Sunday night’s show featured three bands that define the term successful working band: Thrice, The Dear Hunter, and Polar Bear Club. Each of the trio of acts on the stage have stretched their talent, as well as their fans expectations, to the next level, and they kicked off their nationwide run together right here in Pittsburgh.

The team of Dustin Kensrue, Teppei Teranishi, Eddie Breckenridge, and Riley Breckenridge don’t care too much for dramatic entrances. At least they didn’t in Pittsburgh on Sunday anyway. The Californian quartet known as Thrice didn’t waste any time with pre-set antics before slamming their way through a non-stop 80 minute performance on Diesel’s tiny stage. The capacity-audience, many of which had waited outside the doors of the venue for several hours prior to the show, sang along to nearly every word of all the tunes, new and old, throughout the night. The band, although having just played a slew of shows in the past week or so, seemed refreshed, vibrant, and motivated to put on a stellar performance for our steel city, and that’s exactly what they did.