Out & About: Pittsburgh bands rock out at Twin Lakes concert series

Two sets of Pittsburgh rockers played the July 22 date of the Westmoreland Parks and Recreation summer concert series, to the delight of the crowd on the hillside above the Brian T. Rusnock Amphitheater.

The amphitheater, at the Twin Lakes Peach Plaza Expansion Area in Hempfield, is in an acoustical sweet spot, with the music carrying up the hillside, so that vocals are as clear at the top of the hill — and beyond, to the park’s skate park and play area — as they are at the bottom.

First up was Jay Wiley, playing with original members of his former band, The Hawkeyes.

The band reprised their hard-rocking sound that was a favorite of Pittsburgh audiences, earning them regular airtime on radio stations WDVE and WXDX, before splitting in 2021.

Gene the Werewolf hit the stage in a flurry of light and smoke as the sun went down, starting with a call-and-response to the audience.

Formed in 2007 and fronted by Jon Belan, the band has several self-released albums and says its six members are “iconoclasts by virtue of their music, rock ‘n’ roll survivors in thrall to the genre’s power and energy.”

Concert-goers could bring their own picnics or get supper from the Lou Lou’s Smokehouse food truck and a cold one from Unity Brewing.

Four concerts remain in the annual free series on select Saturdays through Sept. 23. The schedule is available at co.westmoreland.pa.us.

Seen: Tom and Annette Rusnock, Shane and Kari Hissem, Mark and Jenny Minter, Mandy Newcomer and J. Falenski, Darlene Allison, Michele Merlino, Nancy Laskoski, Paul Lytle and Teresa Whitacre, Sam Kephart, Briana Reese, Tristan Lucchetti, Rick Cobrando, Joe and Michelle DeLuca, Jessica and Eric Stein, Joe Marconi and Rose Baird.