I've never been to a show at the Beehive before.  In fact, the Hive just started holding big name shows.  Prior to the Hive turning into a bar/concert venue, it was simply a theatre that would show B-movies and other cult classics.

I was a bit skeptical about the show being all ages, because I don't remember seeing any advertisements where a show wasn't over 21, but all that changed once I got there.  Walking up to the door with five other people, the guy selling tickets commented, "I need your I.D.  If you're under 21, buy your ticket here and walk around to the side."

Walk around to the side?  Anyone who knows the Beehive, knows that you can't really walk "to the side" because there is another business connected to the Beehive, and if you walk to the side of that business...you're on the street.  So, I took it all in stride...and strided to the "side".

Here's a tip.  If you are told to walk to the side of the Beehive, go to the corner, walk up the street there, and keep going all the way to the alley.  Look to your left, down a set of stairs.  There's the side door.  It also doubles as the under 21 door.  I enter, give the guy my ticket, and away I go.  "Wow...the Beehive looks like shit," I thought.  I had been inside once before, and that was to see the documentary movie, Kurt and Courtney.

The inside is exactly the same, but with a stage that would be in your high school.  (actually, it resembles the Ambridge High stage).  To the upper right, is one sound stage area.  The stage looks pretty nice.  It replaces the screen that was there before.

The floor isn't very big.  It's surrounded by old movie theatre seats which are propped up against either the wall or the fenced in drinking area.  The fenced in drinking area?  Well....that's another story.  I really don't know how to describe it, but the fence doesn't look too sturdy.  Inside there's a bar.  Um...the area isn't really any defined shape...it's just kinda there.  I don't know if I'd want to drink at the Beehive.  Oh...and just like Club Laga, they don't let alcohol out of the fenced area.  That's understandable.

So, the show.  It's 8 p.m. and I thought the show was supposed to start at either 7 or 7:30 at the latest.  Perhaps the promoter was waiting for more people.  Currently...there are about 28 people in the house...give or take a few.  No...wait...take a few because some of them are in the opening bands...and many of them are roadies.  More people should be here.  I feel bad for Superdrag.

Superdrag has it kinda rough.  They got dropped from their label, Elektra after their second album didn't go anywhere.  They just released The Valley of Dying Stars on an indie label...and I really don't know how it's selling.  It's an amazing album, I'll say that much.  Hopefully they've had a better turn out at the other shows.  Perhaps it's the weather keeping people away.

New Invisible Joy takes the stage.  They look extremely familiar.  EXTREMELY familiar.  I've seen them live somewhere before.  They were very good...they seemed so comfortable on the stage.  Their lead singer has a great voice.  Very nice.  It takes a lot for a local act to impress me because the Pittsburgh scene sucks.  They impressed me.  I signed WPPJ up for their mailing list.  SPAM away!

Joe, Marc's Brother came on second.  I didn't know what to expect from these guys.  They were quirky..."Hi.  We're Joe, Marc's Brother, and we sound like this."  Their first song was very, very, very happy.  As was their second song.  I was actually smiling because they reminded me of Harvey Danger mixed with Ben Folds Five and Phish.  Very good set.  Although, their happy songs are much better than their somber ones.  I picked up their album.  It's called Around the Year With...

Superdrag came on about 9 p.m. and they opened with Keep It Close To Me off their new album.  They followed up with a two hour set which included stuff from all of their albums, and most of the stuff off Valley of Dying Stars.  They took requests...probably because there were like a total of 40 people there by the time they went on stage.  They did not play "Sucked Out", but that's ok.  I really wish I had a complete set list, but they were doing it on a whim, and at the present time, I don't own all their albums, so it's a bit hard for me to compile a list.

All in all, it was a great show.  The Beehive isn't too bad for shows...however the sound guy in the back of the floor kept coming up and checking to see if everything was ok.  That was a bit odd, but...whatever it takes I guess.  The Beehive does have security...but no one guarding the stage, and no barriers because the damn stage is so high.  Many people had cameras and I saw a couple kids bootlegging the show.  The only people who were checked at the door were people with bags.  But, it's not like it was a full cavity search.

For more info on shows at the Beehive, check  Pollstar

For more info on the bands...

 Superdrag
 Joe, Marc's Brother
 New Invisible Joy