By Mike Machosky

So it was hip-hop that finally put Pittsburgh on the musical map, of all things. Who saw that coming?

In a few short years, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller and Girl Talk (OK, the latter leans more toward the electronic dance/mash-up side of things) have made inroads in the national consciousness, without shying away from their hometown roots. Will this continue? Or will the next thing out of Pittsburgh be something else entirely?

Of course, picking the “next big thing” is pretty much impossible. We’re not talking about discovering the next Christina Aguilera, either. The odds of finding that particular needle-in-the-haystack are astronomical, and those kinds of pop stars don’t generally come out of years of paying dues in local clubs.

Music nowadays has become so fragmented that the whole concept of getting “big” is kind of out of date, anyway. You can be a big deal in techno, for instance, and the average punk rocker or hip-hop head will likely remain oblivious to your existence.

Now, it’s both easier to break through and harder. Fans from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection can find you with ease — but the same goes for every other band/performer on the planet. Breaking through the clutter is still a struggle.

Yet, there is plenty of talent percolating in Pittsburgh’s nightclubs, studios, dive bars, garages, basements, dorm rooms and elsewhere, but it isn’t always easy to find. This isn’t meant to be a definitive look — there are plenty of bands/performers in Pittsburgh doing really interesting things. Here are a few of them: