The night is a benefit for WhyHunger. WhyHunger is a leader in building the movement to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment.

Damaged Pies
Established 1987 Pittsburgh, Pa.
Since its' inception, Damaged Pies has played and recorded at some of the most legendary venues in world. From CBGB's in New York City to the Whisky a-go-go in L.A., from Liverpool's Cavern to Sun Studio in Memphis to Trident Studios in London, from Farm Aid Eve in Hershey to Damaged Pies Day in Pittsburgh, from Toronto to Philly, from Athens to Boston, from Wrigley Field to Three Rivers Stadium from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco to the Wheeling Jamboree to Nashville and all points in between, Damaged Pies has been one of rock and roll's most durable and well traveled acts.

Damaged Pies new CD, Popalectric is available worldwide on I-Tunes, Amazon, CD Baby and Napster just to name a few.

Same Circus:
Same Circus is part concert film, part documentary that traces the history of the should be seminal Damaged Pies. Through interviews, concert footage, TV clips, videos and rehearsal footage, director Justin Rainier tells the story of the band on the occasion of their 25th anniversary concert on Damaged Pies Day in their hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa in August of 2011. To fully appreciate the movie a little background is helpful. Since the band's inception there have been over thirty members strew throughout various line-ups. The Damaged Pies have been everything from a six piece pop band to a four piece hard rock band to a four piece experimental band to a three piece garage rock band to a solo acoustic act. The only constant over this quarter of a century has been co-founding member guitarist, singer, songwriter Steve Bodner, and the story does focus on this journey through footage, photos and stories. The film features the line-up of original singer and keyboardist Billy Laspin, original drummer Mark Pintea, vocalist Margie Michel Pintea, bassist Jim "Shag" McCabe, guitarist Dave Warren and Bodner on guitar and vocals. This is the line-up that reunited for the anniversary show, but be sure to watch the ending credits to see some of the line-ups not featured in the movie.

The story is one of Bodner's stubborn persistence at carrying the Damaged Pies flag through all different configurations and styles. During this time period Damaged Pies has also achieved the reputation of being B-List rock and roll Zeligs, retracing the path of some their heroes in a sort of bucket list like quest. Damaged Pies has played and recorded at some of the most legendary venues in the world, from the birthplace of rock and roll and Elvis and Roy Orbison at Sun Studio in Memphis to Trident Studios in London where Elton John, David Bowie, Genesis, Queen, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones recorded, to clubs like Liverpool's Cavern, The Whisky a go go in Hollywood, home of the Doors and Van Halen, to CBGBs in New York the birth of the American punk scene, to Wrigley Field in Chicago, to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. This is nicely illustrated through interviews and photos and live footage in one of the movie's nicest little moments.
The movie also features singer songwriter Heidi Jacobs who opens the show and joins the band on stage. Heidi is a great talent and also a very funny performer which sets the tone for a lot of the semi serious moments to follow. The story is told with great humor and warmth from Heidi's Katherine Hepburn impersonation to Laspin's lyrical improvisation, to some very memorable song introductions. Not to be lost in all of the one liners, and flashbacks of 90's hair styles is the music. Both Heidi and the Pies sets are filled with some really good original songs. The Pies line-up is an amalgamation of several periods and it is interesting to hear these musicians of varying styles come together to play selections from throughout the Pies career. Jacobs also lends a great deal of energy joining the band for much of the second half of their set.

This is a little story of some big dreams, some big disappointments, some big determination and eventually the bigger picture of finding a place to let all of this co-exist together. The story of the Damaged Pies is not an uncommon one among bands that fly just outside the radar, but it is unique in that throughout all of it they have managed to stay friends and make some really good music.
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Charlie Hustle & the Grifters brings together five Pittsburgh musicians under the banner of heady musical synergy. Its members include fingerstyle guitarist Peter Flynn and upright bassist Trish Imbrogno of The Grifters, electric guitarist Kyle Lawson and drummer Dave Varasse from one of Pittsburgh's premier funk bands, the Old E Allstars, and acoustic guitarist Patrick Varine. The quintet comes together and forms like Voltron!...if Voltron consisted of three guitars, upright bass, drums and a strong desire to blend folk, rock and the blues into a gritty, tasty stew. show less