First/Last-Laura Stevenson

Laura Stevenson

Club Cafe

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Southside

"Some day in the not too distant future, America will dip its corners deeper into the ocean, the waves ever grinding at its shores as tectonic plates shift and sink. The effect of melting icecaps on the beaches of her native Long Island is one of the triggers for Laura Stevenson’s worrying mind, as she struggles with the overwhelming notions of an infinite universe and the imminence of her own death. Obsessive musings on these subjects has led her to describe herself as an “unfunny Woody Allen,” though friends and fans might disagree, finding plenty of humor in her introspective and self-deprecating nature. The repetition of these existential questions is the driving force behind Wheel, an album brimming with life and death in the desperate search for what keeps us turning in the face of doubt, an exercise in coming to terms with the overwhelming beauty that can be found in the lack of an answer."

Check Laura out at her official Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Her latest album, "Wheel", is now out on Don Giovanni Records. She stops in Pittsburgh tomorrow night at with special guests Field Mouse and The Homeless Gospel Choir. My thanks to Laura for taking a few minutes to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Nirvana's “In Utero”. I was in 5th grade. I walked to this music store/headshop called "Prime Cuts" and bought the tape with money I'd saved. It was the only album I owned for that entire year. Until I got “Dookie”.

Your last album bought?
Oh-this one is weird. I bought a record that features a young Shirley Temple reading Disney's "Bambi."

Favorite album of all time?
"Comes a Time" by Neil Young.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Oy-not sure. Probably one of the “NOW” compilations.

First concert attended?
The Grateful Dead. I was a one year-old.

Last concert?
I went to see Swans at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. It was pretty intense.

Favorite concert ever?
I went to see The Strokes and The White Stripes when I was in high school. That was at Bowery as well. It was awesome to see both of them in such a small room. My friend and I bought fake tickets from a jerk up the block from the venue and we were heartbroken but then Albert Hammond Jr. saw us freaking out and he put us on the guestlist AND gave us VIP so we were up in the balcony with all the people with the little jean jackets and the hairdos. It was cool- before that I had only been to big concerts like The Dead or punk shows in VFW halls on Long Island.

Least favorite concert?
I went to a Dave Matthews Band show once. As a young Long Islander that was like, a rite of passage. The audience was full of fratty/sorority folks so it was not my scene but my friends were all going so I went. Anyway, everyone was making fun of Macy Gray, who opened the show. I thought she was the best part.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
When we come to town we usually play at 222 Ormsby. The people that live there are cool as hell.

Thanks, Laura. 222 Ormsby is one of the few venues I haven't been to yet. I have to rectify that this Summer for sure.

First/Last-I am a Sea Creature

I am a Sea Creature

The Smiling Moose

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Southside

"I am a Sea Creature is a Psych-Rock/Dream Pop/Garage Rock band from Pittsburgh PA. We started in 2010 when Ricky and Brandon began pandering around the greater Pittsburgh area, and soon were joined by Alan Bentley on drums. In 2012, Eli Ritchey was added on Bass, and we actually became sort of a real band. Now we are a real band. We have our first full length album coming out this summer called “Beautiful Things.”

Check out the band on Facebook, SoundCloud, YouTube and MySpace. They play the Moose tomorrow night supporting Cheap Girls and Diamond Youth. My thanks to Ricky Petticord (Vocals/Guitar), Brandon DenHoed (Synth/Guitar/Percussion), Alan Bentley (Drums) and Eli Ritchey (Bass) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Ricky Petticord: The first album I ever listened to was David Bowie's "Fame and Fashion." He [Bowie] has since become my spirit animal. The first CD I bought was “Play” by Moby at Best Buy. It’s a great album.
Alan Bentley: "Colors" by Between the Buried and Me. Other than that, I usually just stole it off of Ricky.
Eli Ritchey: "American Idiot" by Green Day. I was twelve years old and thought I was a punk.
Brandon DenHoed: I think  "Every Six Seconds" by Saliva. I was fat and I liked metal \m/

Your last album bought?
Ricky: Umm…I buy a lot of music, it was either "Independent Worm Saloon" by the Butthole Surfers or "Dawg Grass/Dawg Jazz" by David Grisman. One side of the album has a dog with a cowboy hat and the other has the same dog, wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette.
Eli: "Melody AM" from Royksopp.
Alan: "Steal This Record" by the Suicide Machines.
Brandon: DIIV's "Oshin".

Favorite album of all time?
Ricky: This is very difficult. I'm going to disagree with myself on this later but it would have to be “Hit to Death in the Future Head” by The Flaming Lips, “Diamond Dogs” by David Bowie, Yuck's Self Titled or “Where You Been” by Dinosaur Jr. These albums never leave my car. I work at a record store, and every time I go to put a CD in the mix, I can’t find what exactly I want to listen to. I guess that’s why I play music, because my favorite album is in my head.
Alan: I've got to go with the classic album "Nevermind" by Nirvana. Nothing can top it.
Brandon: I'm digging on Shlohmo and his "Bad Vibes" album. It’s the closest thing to sleep I get, and I highly recommend it.
Eli: It has to be “Doolittle” by the Pixies. Beautiful and simple, it just never gets old.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
All: “Gossamer” by Passion Pit. Passion Pit used to be so rad. Now they're all "wah wah wah girls."

First concert attended?
Brandon: Mayhem Fest. It was pretty intense. I saw Marilyn Manson and Trivium.
Alan: I saw Sonic Youth with my parents when I was about ten years old.
Ricky: I saw The Monkees at some state fair when I was a toddler and I wanted to go home because was tired. I regret that decision.
Eli: I saw Taking Back Sunday in the 7th grade, say what you want their still pretty kick ass.

Last concert?
Brandon & Ricky: We saw Oberhofer with White Like Fire at Garfield Artworks the other day. Brad Oberhofer is such a sweet dude. We made it a party.
Alan: I saw MGMT and Big Boi at Penn State a few weekends ago. Brand New was playing too, but unfortunately we didn't make it up there in time.
Eli: The Flaming Lips and Black Keys.

Favorite concert ever?
Eli: Bomb the Music Industry at 222 Ormbsy. It was the best $7 I've ever spent, and the coolest fucking place in Pittsburgh.
Ricky: Probably The Flaming Lips at Consol Energy Center. They are my absolute favorite band, and they played a cover of ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie. After the song ended, I shouted "I love you Wayne", and he told me that he loves too into his Copperphone microphone. I have a Copperphone too, making the moment even more spiritual.
Alan & Brandon: Yeasayer at Mr. Small’s last summer.

Least favorite concert?
All: The Wanted in Morgantown. Don't ask us how we got there.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Eli: Hanging out with Supla and Joao from the Brothers of Brazil. We played a show with them at Smiling Moose then hung out at my house and heard stories about Amy Winehouse and Snoop Dogg.
Alan: Well, I don't have a favorite experience from Pittsburgh, but I have an experience. Before I am a Sea Creature's very first show, I almost flipped my parent's mini van over Ricky's hill trying to back it into his drive way.  Thankfully that didn't happen, but I still never told them.  Sorry, mom.
Brandon: Before I am a Sea Creature was even a thing, Ricky and I would bring snares, brass, and acoustic stuff to public places and just go have a ball. We actually spent an entire day in a shed in the Robinson Mall. Safe to say, that's where it all began.
Ricky: I grew up in an old neighborhood in Robinson outside of Pittsburgh, and my sister was friends with a dude named Jeff Betten, who now has an amazing band called Western Pennsylvania. He was still in high school when we met, and he played in a band called Jeff Betts and the Neverminds. He was the coolest guy ever (and still is), and he is one of the big reasons I wanted to get into music. He used to sit on my porch and teach me Modest Mouse songs and then push me on a tire swing. Since then, Jeff has really guided me through Pittsburgh and through music in general.

Thanks, fellas. I'm right with you Ricky on all good things Jeff Betten. Solid dude, right there!

First/Last-Mutts

Mutts

The Smiling Moose

Friday, May 17, 2013

Southside

"My name is Mike. Bob and I started this band over some beers in Gainesville, Florida, after playing a gig with Company of Thieves in 2009. It was on a tour opening for Plain White T's, and so we escaped after our set to a bar across the street, whose jukebox fortunately featured several Tom Waits records. The bartender was a huge fan. Bob and I didn't really know each other well yet, having been hired hands in a band together for just a few months at that point. So we talked music. We loved a lot of the same music. Honest songs, raw recordings, no studio bullshit. Tom Waits, Elliot Smith, Nirvana... more. We decided to record music together. Soon after that decision, we called Chris Faller to see if he wanted to play drums. Bob and Chris knew each other from playing in Chicago bands for years - Hush Sound, Wax on Radio, and others. I knew Chris because when I moved to Chicago after quitting my job as an auditor in Cleveland, I lived on a couch at the I.V. Lab."

Check out the band's official Website, Facebook, Twitter, BandCamp, SoundCloud, Last.fm, iTunes, Vimeo, Flickr and YouTube. They roll into town tonight for the early show at the Moose in support of their latest album "Object Permanence". My thanks to Mike Maimone (Keys/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
On vinyl, either “Plastic Ono Band” by John Lennon or “Little Criminals” by Randy Newman. I got my turntable around the time we were writing “Object Permanence”,and I think these two albums really shaped my songwriting at that time.

Your last album bought?
Well, I went into a record store last week, found Leon Russell's self titled and Stevie Wonder's “Fulfillingness' First Finale”, brought them to the register, and my debit card was declined. So those were the last albums I tried to buy. It's been awhile since I've been able to afford to purchase music, with the touring and the new album out.

Favorite album of all time?
This is an impossible question to answer. Top Five in no particular order: Tom Waits, “Bone Machine”/Led Zeppelin “Physical Graffiti”/Notorious BIG “Life After Death”/Weezer “Blue Album”/The Beatles “Revolver”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Fall Out Boy, “Save Rock and Roll”, unless they're being ironic with that title.

First concert attended?
New Kids on the Block, dragged there by my older sister when I was about 8.

Last concert?
Probably Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings at the Vic Theatre in Chicago.

Favorite concert ever?
We got to open for Murder by Death at the High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI earlier this year. Sold out crowd, and it was amazing that so many showed up early to catch our set - and then we got to watch those guys play.

Least favorite concert?
I can't say... pleading the 5th on this one!

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Growing up in the Cleveland area, I was conditioned to dislike Pittsburgh based solely on the Browns/Steelers rivalry. That said, I've had the pleasure of touring through the Steel City several times in various bands and have grown to love it very much. I have a few friends from high school and college who've moved there, and have made some musician pals in town, so it's always a blast to visit. On one tour we played Mr. Small's and hung out at a nearby bar - can't recall the name but there was excellent pizza and the beers were flowing until close. Looking forward to the first Mutts show in town!

Thanks, Mike. I am loving this boozy after-hours vibe you guys got going. See you tonight.

First/Last-Shannon Labrie

Shannon Labrie

The Center of Harmony Opera Hall

Friday, May 17, 2013

Harmony

"On Shannon Labrie’s debut album Just Be Honest, she kicks off the proceedings by staring down her demons and admonishing her biggest fears with “Secret,” a retro-R&B influenced song laced with vibrant horns. The young songwriter comes by her fears honestly, battling a serious (and ongoing) illness at age 9 and losing her father at 14. She grew up fast, at first rebelling, then spending several years on a curious solo journey across the country studying philosophy, theology and writing songs before settling into Nashville’s thriving independent music scene.

Adept on the piano and guitar, the singer/songwriter says she was “raised on James Taylor and Lauren Hill.” Music Connection named her as one of the “Best Unsigned Artists of 2012” and she was featured alongside Brooke Waggoner, Matthew Perryman Jones and others on the Nashville Indie Spotlight, a digital sampler available exclusively on iTunes."

Check out Shannon at her official Website, Facebook and Twitter. She has released her debut, "Just Be Honest" on Zodlounge and performs tomorrow night in Harmony, PA. My thanks to her for taking a few to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
The Fugees, "The Score" on cassette tape.

Your last album bought?
John Mayer, "Born and Raised."

Favorite album of all time?
Hardest question ever. I have three. "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill", Bruce Hornsby’s "The Way It Is" and James Taylor’s "One Man Band".

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I guess Creed's 3rd album, "Weathered," was pretty disappointing.

First concert attended?
James Taylor with my Dad in Omaha, NE.

Last concert?
K.S. Rhoads at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN.

Favorite concert ever?
MUSE in Washington D.C.

Least favorite concert?
I don't think I've ever been to a disappointing show. I saw Sheryl Crow (who I love) live once. She was good but she was no MUSE!

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I've never been to "The Steel City," before but I'm really, really looking forward to driving over all 446 bridges.

Thanks, Shannon. 446 bridges? Suck it, Venice! To be honest, as a lifelong resident, it really only seems like 445.