I have to admit, I was disappointed in this show. Their latest album is a top ten contender for me and my expectations were maybe too high for that reason. Several things marred this performance for me, first and foremost is that the band just didn't seem to be into it, despite the fact that Kevin came out and announced that he and Brendan were celebrating recent birthdays. Could they have been hung over? Last time they played here, Brendan was jumping all over the stage. This night he was a zombie. Four songs in, Lisa Lobsinger came out and sucked whatever minuscule life was left in the room to bring the performance to a dead stop. The other off thing was the room. I love the Byham. I just don't think it's suited for a rock show. Some people want to dance, some want to sit. This isn't the venue to accommodate for both. Maybe I am a bit too harsh but I was hoping for a stellar show and did not get one by a long shot. They were good, not great. More photoshere.
I didn't know anything about this band before this session and both my wife and I were blown away by their story. Many bands complain about lousy food or stinky vans while touring and these guys have dealt with losing family and friends in their home country. It sometimes takes a little perspective to understand how much most of us have here to appreciate it more. What's so remarkable is their music is just so joyous. First time I have seen audience members wanting to boogie so bad. The simple power of music is awesome. More photos here and here. The set will be up soon here.
So did you realize that the World Championship of pinball is held in an old warehouse every year in Carnegie? Yeah, I didn't either until I stumbled upon this event through a few different sources. I certainly had no idea what to expect but quickly found out this was serious business for the contestants. You can get all kinds of info in the above links but just being there as a spectator, I have to say it was a blast. The annual event is open to the public and I didn't realize in playing a few games how my childhood memories of spending countless hours (and quarters) in the neighborhood arcade came flooding back. I totally recommend visiting next year because remarkably the place is only open during the four days of the tournament.
I was really psyched to see this show because I have never seen them live before. The first time I had ever even heard of the band was when they were going to open for Guided By Voices at Rosebud in 2001. Unfortunately, the concert was cancelled and for some reason or another, I could never make any of their shows here since then. I have to say that they were incredible. What really struck me was that the sound was extremely loud and equally as clear. I cannot remember a more perfect 'sounding' show as this one. Add to the fact that they are all killer musicians backing Jim James voice and it easily turned out to be one of the best shows of the year for me. More photos here.
Jon plays keyboards in The Chad Sipes Stereo. He has another band in Pittsburgh called ATLAS and he just sent me a tune called 'At The Water's Edge' from their debut EP, which arrives in October. Along with his buddy and fellow band member Mike, they were cool enough to participate in this, the finale of our week-long extravaganza known as First/Last.
The first album you ever bought?
Jon: Don Henley's "The End of the Innocence". My aunt turned me on to The Eagles when I was a young kid and my mom wouldn't let me buy a Gun's and Roses album so this was the next best thing.
Mike: System of a Down's Toxicity. I was eleven, and I don't think that at that time I realized music could be "different".
Your last album bought?
Jon: I bought a CD from a new local band Paul and Athena. I also recently bought She and Him's Volume 2. I love everything M. Ward does.
Mike: MUSE's "Resistance". Muse is one of my biggest influences. Perhaps this album didn't deliver on all fronts, but still a fantastic effort, as always.
Favorite album of all time?
Jon: OK Computer.
Mike: Hail to the Thief.
Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Jon: I really tried to get into Ben Kweller's latest album Changing Horses, I'm a big fan of B.K. I guess I
was just let down by this one.
Mike: In recent memory? Probably the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "It's Blitz". I guess it just felt like a big shot in the dark to me.
First concert attended?
Jon: There was this bagel shop that use to host music, the bands were Focal Point, Pensive, and Seasons in the Field.
Mike: I think I was 12 or 13, Reel Big Fish with The Tossers at Club Zoo.
Last concert?
Jon: Lohio and The Books.
Mike: Lightning Bolt at Belvedere's.
Favorite concert ever?
Jon: At the Drive-in and The Rhythm of Black Lines - Club Laga August 2000.
Mike: The Locust and Daughters at Club Stratus.
Least favorite concert?
Jon: The Hymns at The Red and The Black.
Mike: Any and every Battle of The Bands ever.
Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Jon: Pizza Sola is the saving grace of the city.
Mike: Too many.
Thanks guys. I see we have a couple of Radiohead fans in the band. Nice. Let me know when the EP drops.
Here we go again. Three days, three giveaways! Pretty sweet. Thanks to Corey, I have a pair of tickets to give away to the band's show on Sunday. This is no ordinary event. For the past year, Corey has been writing and recording a song every week and blogging the results. The concert is a celebration of the completion of the project. He's invited some friends to partake and should be a surprising and amazing time. To enter, email me at hughshows@comcast.net with 'Project 52' in the subject line. Supply the name you want for the folks at will call the night of the show good for two passes.
Corey was cool enough to take some time out from his endeavors and participate in this edition of the ongoing love fest I call First/Last.
The first album you ever bought?
Man that hurts. I'd love to tell you it was something really cool, but it's not. Now the first album I ever owned, that was Thriller, but that was given to me by my Mom's co-worker who knew I was into music. It was a dubbed cassette. Early music piracy! No, my first album purchase was by 70's and 80's rock giants of the Christian Rock genre, Petra. The album was called "Beat the System" and looking back on it now was equal parts embarrassing and surprisingly good. The songwriting was great for what it was and the singer-dude could really wail. I was really young and most of my access to music at that time was the small-town pop radio station, so a lot of Duran Duran and Phil Collins, but a kid like me wasn't 'supposed' to be buying secular music. That didn't last long, and my family gradually distanced ourselves from that scene, but it was an influence none the less.
Your last album bought?
Last Saturday the Karl Hendricks Trio played a show with a great band from Denton, Tx called Tre Orsi. I bought their record Devices + Emblems. It's really awesome, and I think they dropped a few off at Paul's CD's. They're like a more rocked-out version of bands like Seam, The New Year, and Bedhead.
Favorite album of all time?
That's probably a moving target and something I haven't really had to think about. I don't know. A couple that come to mind right off hand are Sebadoh's Bakesale, Guided by Voices' Under the Bushes Under the Stars, and Silkworm's Libertine... and I could go on and on.
Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Again, from the top of my head, Pavement's Terror Twilight, was a pretty big downer at the time.
First concert attended?
Pass.
Last concert?
Last one that I wasn't playing was Yo La Tengo at Hartwood Acres. We took my 3 year old and he LOVED it. He was really into the concept of encores and now he and I will play Yo La Tengo concert where he's Georgia and he plays his drum set and I'm Ira and I play guitar. We get through a minute and a half of "Tom Courtenay" and then he announces that we're finished, waits for my wife to clap, and then we run to the kitchen to plot our encore... and so on. It's awesome.
Favorite concert ever?
That's another tough one. Back in the 90’s Hovland got to play a lot of really good shows, and I have great memories of playing with various local rock greats and some of my favorite touring bands of the time. One that comes right to mind, though I don't know if I really appreciated how great of a show it was at the time, was getting to see the Karl Hendricks Trio, Hurl, and Silkworm all in one show at a place that used to be called Luciano's in Uptown.
Least favorite concert?
Eh, I don't know. I got hit with a pretty heavy dose of electricity at an old sketchy gallery on the Southside to the point where it wasn't fun at all.
Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Oh man, I don't know. I love Pittsburgh. I've been here nearly 15 years, which is crazy to think about in itself. It's the people and the neighborhoods, and so on... it's all been said before. I've had both really great and not-so-great experiences with the music scene here. I've certainly made my share of mistakes. But I've gotten to meet and play with some amazing musicians who are also great people. The drummers in this town, man! I'm just glad to have been a part of it all and I look forward to getting back out and playing shows again. I hope more local folks get a chance to check out the blog and the song-a-week project. It's pretty unique and it's a lot of music, but I think the songs really stand on their own.
Thanks Corey. Cool story about your kid appreciating an encore! Train 'em while their young. Also, I am guessing your first show was New Kids On The Block??? Have fun on Sunday.
First off, courtesy of the band, I have two tickets to give away for their show this weekend with local heroes Meeting Of Important People and All Tiny Creatures from WI at Brillobox. To enter, email me at hughshows@comcast.net with the subject line 'Mariage Blanc' and the name for the folks at will call the night of the show good for two passes. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by Saturday afternoon. Good luck.
Songwriters Matt and Josh sing and play guitar in the band and were kind enough to participate in the continuing week-long celebration of a little number I like to call First/Last.
The first album you ever bought?
Matt: If memory serves correct I believe it was 1,039 / Smoothed Out
Slappy Hours by Green Day
Josh: Full length album kind of slips my mind - I know the first CD I
ever purchased was the Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single. I had
a taped copy of Nevermind, but wanted to hear the b-side "Even In His
Youth".
Your last album bought?
Matt: The Suburbs by Arcade Fire. Great record.
Josh: A bit fuzzy, but I'm guessing it was also The Suburbs by Arcade Fire.
Favorite album of all time?
Matt: This is an impossible question to answer, there are too many
albums I love.
Josh: I don't know how anyone can answer this. I've got "XO" tattooed
on my left wrist, so let's just go with that.
Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Matt: Not sure about least favorite, but I remember in 7th or 8th
grade I bought Sean Lennon's "Into the Sun" and was completely let
down because it didn't sound like The Beatles. "Friendly Fire" was
pretty decent though so he and I are square now.
Josh: Every Weezer album after Pinkerton.
First concert attended?
Matt: No Doubt, strangely enough. I was young, don't judge me.
Josh: David Bowie with Nine Inch Nails at (what was then called) Starlake Ampitheather in 1995(?) - with my mom.
Last concert?
Matt: Last local concert was Harlan Twins at Gooskis. Last big
concert was St. Vincent in February. I would also love to catch The
National this month at CarnegieMusic Hall.
Josh: Harlan Twins at Gooskis - they did a great cover of Pavement's
"Range Life".
Favorite concert ever?
Matt: Probably either that St. Vincent show or Built to Spill in
2006. They were both really fun shows.
Josh: My Bloody Valentine at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago - or -
St. Vincent at Diesel.
Least favorite concert?
Matt: Aerosmith in 2002. My sister got free tickets for some reason
and I had nothing better to do (although looking back on it, that
seems debatable now). The only perk of this show was that Run DMC
opened and I got to see Jam-Master Jay perform. He was murdered about
two months later, sadly.
Josh: No fault of the band, but the Old 97s at the park in Oakland was a drag. That's the type of band I want to see at a bar, couple
whiskeys deep - not at a park with children.
Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Matt: Pittsburgh has been very good to us as a band. There's a nice
scene going on now where pretty much all the bands know each other,
and most of them are friends with each other as well. Bands make an
effort to go out to other people's shows and support the local scene,
which is really great to see. I don't really have anything negative
to say about Pittsburgh at all, I've been having a blast.
Josh: Pittsburgh is great. I grew up here, so every now and again I
get an urge to pack my bags, but I definitely could not afford to have
what I have here, elsewhere.
Thanks fellas. Bummed I missed that St. Vincent show at Diesel this year. She was fantastic at The Warhol in 2008. Also, it's funny you mention XO Josh. I am on a HARD Elliott Smith kick as of late.
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