Macseal & Ben Quad

Pittsburgh got a midweek pick-me-up on Wednesday, September 16 when Macseal and Ben Quad co-headlined a killer show with more energy than you could imagine.

For a Wednesday night, Thunderbird Café and Music Hall was filled with movement, noise, and loads of excitement. Nobody in the room was standing still for too long. People were crowd surfing, moshing, and had their hands in the air. Each band of the night felt like one big family sharing the stage and jumping into each other’s sets to create a space of loving each other’s presence and music. The crowd definitely felt this energy and translated it throughout the night. 

Pittsburgh locals Short Fiction kicked the night off with energy and good music. Aren’t We Amphibians followed, turning things up a notch and getting the crowd screaming, jumping, and getting ready for what was next.

Ben Quad finally took the stage and kept that momentum going. With insane guitar skills and powerful vocals, it was hard not to get pulled into the music. The room was filled of moving bodies and twinkling fingers as the crowd soaked in what was happing in front of them. 

Closing out the night, this New York rock band managed to keep the energy high. Macseal brought the crowd into their world and made the room glow brighter. The music came together beautifully with each layer contributing to their sound. One of my personal favorites of the night was “Harry,” a song inspired by no other than Harry Styles. As they sang this, a drawing of the man himself was held into the crowd— because what’s better than a rock show with a little Harry Styles appreciation?

This is absolutely a show I was not going to miss out on! From start to finish, the lineup of the night was filled with some of the most talented, energetic, and supportive artists. Pittsburgh definitely got lucky on September 16!