Image of the Day-HughShows 10.2 with The Harlan Twins

 The Harlan Twins at The Wilderness Recording Studio presents HughShows Live @ Eide's on Saturday, February 8th, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

HughShows 10.2

The Wilderness Recording Studio presents HughShows Live @ Eide's 10.2

Saturday, February 8, 2014
2-5 PM
Eide's Entertainment 3rd Floor Stage
1121 Penn Avenue in the Strip

A free monthly family-friendly Pittsburgh concert series featuring:

The Chad Sipes Stereo (Rock) 2pm
http://www.chadsipes.com/

Western Pennsylvania (Country) 3pm
http://western-pennsylvania.com/

The Harlan Twins (Yinzer Pastoral) 4pm
https://www.facebook.com/theharlantwins

presented by The Wilderness Recording Studio
http://thejbirdstudio.com/

If you are attending, please consider bringing a new school supply item (listed below) for the Homeless Children's Education Fund's GEAR FOR GRADES BACKPACK DRIVE.
http://www.homelessfund.org/gearsforgrades.html

-Pencils/Pens
-Pocket Folders
-Spiral Notebooks
-Small Boxes Crayons
-Washable Markers
-Glue Sticks
-Colored Pencils
-Pencil Pouches
-Small Scissors
-Rulers
-Erasers
-Pencil Sharpeners
-Binders
-Flash Drives
-Small Tissue Packs

#HughShowsX

Image of the Day-"Run From The City"

Purling Hiss

The Harlan Twins

Mr. Smalls Funhouse

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Millvale

 

Opening for Dr. Dog, two very different bands. Any reader of this blog knows my long time endearment to the Harlan's laid back blues rock vibe. Purling Hiss on the other hand came out wailing and screeching, not bad at all mind you,  just a little out of sorts with the other bands on the bill.

Image of the Day-"Born Free"

The Harlan Twins

Machine Age Studios

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Polish Hill

As the band record their second album, I will hopefully be popping by the studio at times to give yinz guys an account of the progress. Yesterday when I was there, Greg was laying down some organ/piano parts on a couple songs and although not the best opportunity to take pictures, it's always cool to be hanging out listening to how the songs take shape.

Image of the Day-"Get Gone"

The Harlan Twins
Brillobox
Friday, July 29, 2011
Larryville

First time seeing the band with the new line-up. Have to gush and say they sounded so great. It was also Carrie's 'Dirty Thirty' at midnight. Hard to believe that when she was born, I already knew my wife for two years!

Image of the Day-"Canine Teeth"

James Hart
The Park House
Friday, March 18, 2011
Northside

Not many musicians have what it takes to be able to tear me away from the end of the awesome concert I was enjoying down the street at the Warhol (more on that show soon). James Hart is one of them. Playing a rare solo 'wooden' set he proved I made the right choice in not missing it. He provided the perfect vibe to sipping a beer and letting a long work week wind to a close. Thanks buddy.

First/Last-James Hart & Carrie Battle

The Harlan Twins/Harlan Duo

Rex Theater
Friday November 12, 2010
Southside

Bands For Bread Benefit
Gooski's
Saturday November 13, 2010
Polish Hill

I recently made a mix made up of all Pittsburgh bands for a friend of mine to 'turn' him on to the incredible music scene we are lucky enough to have here. Out of about 18 tunes, he said to me that he was really digging the disc but that one song by the 'Harlans' was just killer. He loved how it just exploded mid-song. Yep, that's pretty much what hooked me to.
The band is opening for Vetiver this Friday, which I guarantee will turn out to be great night.
The next night, there will be the debut of The Harlan Duo, James and Carrie acoustic, for a benefit show, which IMO sounds just as awesome. They were both cool enough to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?

James Hart: Was probably either Soul Asylum-Grave Dancers Union or Boyz II Men-Cooleyhighharmony.

Carrie Battle: Michael Jackson- Dangerous.

Your last album bought?

James: The Goodnight Loving Supper Club? I also geeked out when I was in Chicago and bought a copy of My Morning Jacket's Chocolate and Ice EP on vinyl, which I've had for years on my hard drive...

Carrie: Silver Jews-American Water.

Favorite album of all time?

James: I'm a recalcitrant record nerd, so I had to provide a list: Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, Belle & Sebastian If You're Feeling Sinister, Neutral Milk Hotel Airplane Over the Sea, Nina Simone High Priestess of Soul, The Band Music From Big Pink, Tom Rush Blues and Ballads, Allman Bros. Fillmore East, Pharoah Sanders Karma, all of the Mick Taylor era Stones records, any Bob Dylan up to and including Blonde On Blonde, Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Fairport Convention What We Did On Our Holidays, the live Neko Case record...All records that I feel like if I had not buried myself in at one point or another I would be a significantly different person.

Carrie: Oh geez, I have to give you a few too, sorry. The Basement Tapes-Bob Dylan and The Band, Brighten the Corners-Pavement, Loaded--The Velvet Underground, Part 1 Lola vs. Powerman-The Kinks, Cosmo's Factory-Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Graceland-Paul Simon.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?

James: The reaction I had the first time I heard Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was like Pete Seeger at Newport, but I changed my mind after a couple of dozen pouty listens. Z by My Morning Jacket is still a disappointment to me; I can understand why Jim James made that record, and in some ways it's pretty sweet, but I’ll always be pissed that I never got to listen to "It Still Moves: Part 2".

Carrie: With the exception of Paul Simon, pretty much anything the great musicians from the 1960's and 70's did in the 80's. Blech.

First concert attended?

James: I saw The Eagles on the Hell Freezes Over tour when I was 11(?). We were impossibly close to the stage because my folks know somebody that knows Joe Walsh... (just to either recover - or entirely negate - my "scene cred", this was closely followed by The Grateful Dead on Garcia's last tour).

Carrie: Paul McCartney’s world tour 1990, Civic Arena. I was nine when my parents took me to this. I still have the t shirt.

Last concert?

James: I just saw Tom Rush (the guy that wrote "No Regrets") with my dad. He’s an effortless performer and amazing interpreter of songs - he recorded tunes by James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and Jackson Browne before anyone else, including them and his melding of the sounds of folk blues and Child Ballads is still the most thoughtful attempt to do so. (And so f-ing sad sometimes).

Carrie: PAVEMENT AT THE MANN IN PHILLY IN SEPTEMBER!

Favorite concert ever?

James: I’m forced by false modesty to exclude any that I was a part of, so: The time I saw Dr. Dog open for My Morning Jacket was pretty amazing, as was the first time I saw The Drive-By Truckers. Almost any Centipede E'est show is incredible... maybe the house party in Squirrel Hill where Jim Lingo faced off with an angry cop in the middle of a Midnight Snake set?

Carrie: PAVEMENT AT THE MANN IN PHILLY IN SEPTEMBER. I was also at that Dr. Dog/ My Morning Jacket show and would rate it up there too. I didn't know James then and probably made fun of the puffy ponytail he had at the time to the friend I was with.

Least favorite concert?

James: I saw a lot of really bad jam band shows in my college years, when I "trafficked in that currency". (Ekoostik Hookah and some bluegrass-carny mash-up bullshit that had a guy painting live both immediately spring to mind...)

Carrie: Dave Matthews- 8th grade with my dad and cousin. But 8th grade is a time for forgivable low points, right?

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?

James: I love it whole-y. It's been my home since I was born - first by necessity, then by choice. I love it's topography and the way that the hills and rivers effect the culture and feel of the town; no other place I’ve lived in has the same close-knit neighborhood feel, mixed with the "fluidity of scene" that you can find here...

Carrie: The Pittsburgh music scene is freaking awesome, and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of it. Besides the amazing and unique sounds that come from all the bands involved, everyone is so supportive of each other. Some of the best moments of my life are ones where I have been on a stage with friends from other bands doing sing-alongs to a room packed with other good friends. People want to have memorable fun when they go out, and I’m so happy to be a part of a scene that provides GOOD TIMES. Also besides the music scene Pittsburgh is just an all around amazing city. Most livable? Sure is.

Thanks a lot guys. FWIW-my first concert was The Eagles as well and I like to think I still have my cred. And to have Sir Paul as your first is definitively worth bragging about.

Image Of The Day-"These Are The Days"

The Harlan Twins
A Fair in the Park
Mellon Park
Saturday September 11, 2010
Shadyside

I really do love this band. It's no accident that the first thing you see visiting this blog is a photo of them. Even though I've seen them play in daylight before, it's still so strange to see them rock out in front of sober people, me (and them) included. They are working on new material and I guarantee it's gonna be sweet!

Image Of The Day-"I Can't Be Blue In Bloomfield"

The Harlan Twins
Friday October 30, 2009
Howler's Coyote Cafe
Bloomfield

The Harlan Twins are synonymous with Bloomfield. It was great to finally see them play Howler's. When this band is in their element (which it seems to be any place performing live) they cannot be beat for good times rock and roll fun.

Image Of The Day-"After Hours"

The Harlan Twins
Sunday November 8, 2009
Carnegie Library Main Branch
Oakland

I think The Harlan Twins are awesome. They, to me, are THE definition of a yinzer band. Believe me, that's a great thing. They wear their Pittsburgh pride on their collective sleeve with no remorse at all. I have only seen them play three times but since I am constantly listening to their debut record, I feel I have seen them dozens more. In fact, I am hoping I catch their set tonight supporting Lohio's EP release at the Brillobox. This was an uber cool acoustic set that let the band's true musicianship and heartfelt vibe shine through. Even a busted bridge on Jules bass couldn't stop them. Way to go! I have an electric set review from their homebase of Howler's coming soon.

Image of the Day-"Greensleeves/Silver Bells"

Silver & Gold
w/James Hart, Carrie Battle, Paul Zyla, and Hallie Pritts
WYEP Holiday Hootenanny
WYEP-FM Studios
Thursday December 18, 2008
Southside

Since I have been focusing on Harlan Twins the last few days I decided to dig back a few months for these pics. Beautiful renditions of these yuletide standards.

Image of the Day-"Can't Be Blue In Bloomfield"

Harlan Twins

WYEP Studios
Thursday February 19, 2009
Southside

I am hoping this band releases some music this year. As of this writing they have one date coming up. I regret to say I will be running around that night hitting The Warhol and later at the CD release show for Meeting Of Important People but I am positive I'll see them play soon enough.