First/Last-Pictorials

"Portland, Oregon-based post-punk-indie-pop-dance act Pictorials are celebrating the release of their debut EP, Learning, on the band's own Deja View Records.  Comprised of Morgan Nicholson on vocals and guitar, Mike Moreau on bass, keys, and vocals, and Nate Otani on drums and keys, the trio recorded their debut with engineer and producer Dylan Magierek, of Badman Recording Co., at Type Foundry Studios. Combining post-punk elements with more modern dance-oriented rhythms, Pictorials is a fine fit next to many of yesterday's Creation, Factory, and Rough Trade releases their sound recalls."

 

Brand new music people! The band has a sort of Pittsburgh connection as you will read below, and I have been really diggin' the just released "Learning" EP. My thanks to guitarist Morgan Nicholson for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

 

 

The first album you ever bought?
Morgan: The ‘Batman Forever’ soundtrack. ‘KISSED BY A ROSE'!!!!

Your last album bought?
Morgan: Black Moth Super Rainbow, “Cobra Juicy” (PGH luv, yo), Helvetia ,”Nothing in Rambling” (This album fucking RULES!!!).

Favorite album of all time?
Morgan: Narrowing it down to one is too hard. Albums that changed the way I listen to music: TheMisfits,”Static Age”, Wire, “Pink Flag”, Bob Dylan, “The Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan”, The Strokes, “Is This It”, Slowdive, “Souvlaki”, Felt, “Forever Breathes the Lonely Word”, My Bloody Valentine, “Loveless” + “Isn’t Anything”, Joy Division, “Unknown Pleasures”, NOFX, “Punk in Drublic”.
Individual songs: ‘You Can Make me Feel Bad’ by Arthur Russell, ‘When I’m With You”’ by Sparks, ‘Emma’s House’ by Field Mice, ‘Everything Flows’ by Teenage Fanclub, ‘Dream Baby Dream’ by Suicide, ‘Smells like Content’ by The Books.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Morgan: Lady Gaga’s “Fame Monster”. I wanted to believe this was the answer, but it just isn’t…

First concert attended?
Morgan: God Speed,1995 at Yacolt, WA Middle School. (NOT Godspeed You Black Emperor! It was a Christian rock band. Those dudes ruled when I was 7).

Last concert?
Morgan: Modern Lives RIP show at Rontoms. Our guitarist and drummer played in this band. It was their last show ; (

Favorite concert ever?
Morgan: My Bloody Valentine, San Francisco, 2008.

Least favorite concert?
Morgan: Pictorials st Beauty Bar, PDX, Oct. 2011.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Morgan: Pittsburgh, dare I say, has some similarities to where I grew up in Portland. It is a super chill place with a lot of bridges, upcoming youth culture and fantastic food. Unfortunately, I was only there for a day, which was at the end of a silly tour I did with Pittsburgh’s Black Moth Super Rainbow some years ago and it ended there. We had one really good meal and I hung out with Tom’s cat on his floor.

 

Thanks, Morgan. Let's consider you an honorary Pittsburgher right now, bro!