The combination of both American Authors and Royal Teeth is what I always envisioned a perfect summer show for me to be. A lot of energy, great songs and an amazing sound throughout. The show wasn't a sellout, but the both bands played their sets like they were playing to a sold out larger venue.
First up was American Authors. They started out their with the goal of setting the audience rocking and never one in their 6-song set did they let up the pace. They kept the small, but very lively crowd going and enjoying themselves. They played their two most known songs, the songs with singles out currently, "Believer" and "Best Day of My Life" and all their upcoming songs to be on their EP/LP releases later this year were great as well. Unfortunately, I don't know them well enough to give you a set list, I can only tell you I can't wait to hear those songs again.
Royal Teeth didn't let up the pace of energy and excitement. How do you not achieve that when confetti is blasted into the crowd right away? I loved their entire set and it's a really solid set list at this point for a Headliner. It builds and comes back down and definitely crescendos into an amazing finale. I loved how well the setlist was mixed with songs from their current EP and their upcoming LP. Royal Teeth has definitely worked out their set list to really incorporate the crowd into it and make them clap, toss around balloons and just easily have an incredible amount of fun at their show. Happily enough, the crowd was very much into it for an encore. Everything I could have wanted from this show, I got that night at Stage AE.
For Pittsburgh being a new market, they played the hell out of the show and if you weren't there the first time to see this show, I cannot implore you enough to come around and see this show again when Royal Teeth comes back to Pittsburgh. Especially if you're a fan, you NEED to see them live. It's so amazing and they're all so warm and personable after the show when you meet them by the Merch table. This applies to American Authors, too. Both bands absolutely want to meet you whether you're a new fan or old. So an already great night is capped off with a moment after the show with the bands.
All in all, this is not just fan hyperbole, both bands are fantastic if you love anything on AltNation, or just really fun great music. The bands themselves are amazing and great people, the show they put on is top notch and they are absolutely great to meet and talk to after the show. How can you go wrong? You just can't. So wherever you are, if they play near you, GO! You won't regret it and you can thank me later.