First/Last-The Grisly Hand

"Since 2009, The Grisly Hand has been winning over audiences and critics in Kansas City. And now, with its second EP on the shelves, the band has a little more experience, and a lot more momentum. Though rooted in the Midwest, this is the kind of act that’s bound to resonate anywhere it lands. Call it country, rock, Americana, or any other moniker. What’s important is that it’s real and it sounds great. The Grisly Hand conjures visions of the familiar while remaining refreshing and original. Their appeal isn’t limited to the Midwest, but it’s undeniably part of their identity. With their latest EP, Western Ave, The Grisly Hand has shown that their unique style is a work in progress. Their sound evolves and takes on new traits, but it maintains the same backbone that has won the band fans and accolades for the last three years."

Check out the band at their official Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, BandCamp and Instagram. In today's installment highlighting the Paste 50 States Project we head back to Missouri with The Grisly Hand. Their latest album is appropriately entitled "Country Singles" and I want to thank Mike Stover (Steel Guitar) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Ace Frehley's solo album. Still have it.

Your last album bought?
Trick question. If you mean "what physical product did you last purchase with your own money, in an actual record store?", I guess it'd be Calexico's “Spiritoso”. If you mean "what cool new release are you streaming from the ether on your digital device?", I'd say “Colored Emotions” by Night Moves.

Favorite album of all time?
If I'm speaking for the band as a whole (a fool's errand), I'd have to say Neko Case's “Fox Confessor Brings The Flood” or “Floater Rising” by Gary Floater.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
It's not an album, but... when I read online last year that Paul McCartney was replacing Kurt Cobain in Nirvana, I thought "This is the perfect solution to Kurt Cobain being dead!" Then I found out that Paul wasn't really joining Nirvana, and that they just got together for a movie that Grohl was making. They spent one day writing and recording a song, and... turns out!... it wasn't very good.

First concert attended?
A band called "Free Fall" played at my elementary school (I grew up out in rural Missouri, out in the sticks). They played Van Halen covers and had a creepy, quasi-Christian vibe. The following year the same dudes came back but they were called "Freedom Jam". They were still creepy and they still sucked.

Last concert?
Jeeze, I can't remember. Good grief. I'm a pretty busy guy. [Lead vocalist] Lauren went to see Beyoncé a few weeks ago. I bet it was rad.

Favorite concert ever?
Morphine & Sixteen Horsepower, at the Folly Theater in Kansas City. Mark Sandman gave me funny feelings 'down there.'

Least favorite concert?
Probably one of mine...

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
When I was a kid, the Steelers were my favorite football team. I liked their helmets. That's all I got.

Thanks, Mike. 'Freedom Jam'! Well, turn it up, man...

First/Last-Silent Party

"Silent Party are a new band from London consisting of singer Mike Goward, guitatist Chris Douch, bassist Dan Blatchford and drummer Luke Graham. Since forming the band have been busy writing and recording, honing their signature sound that combines sonic intensity with classic pop sensibility. Jealousy, bitterness and paranoia pervade the itchy and schizophrenic 'Taxidermist'."

Check out the band on Facebook, SoundCloud and YouTube. They have recently released their debut single, "Taxidermist", and I want to thank Michael Goward (Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
The first album i bought was a wrestling album in which ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage performed a rap, I loved it. The first proper album I bought was Blur, “Modern Life is Rubbish”.

Your last album bought?
I just started collecting vinyl so I’ve been going a little crazy rec”ently. This weekend I bought  Blondie’s “Parallel Lines”, Kid Creole and The Coconuts’s Off The Coast of Me” and most importantly, Meatloaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” (It was only a quid!)

Favorite album of all time?
The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds”, Spiritualized “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space”, Super Furry Animals’ “Radiator”, The Flaming Lips’ “Soft Bulletin”, Nick Cave’s “The Good Son”... there's so many!

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
“Chinese Democracy” was pretty bad, wasn't it!

First concert attended?
My mum was a big Jam and Style Council fan so she took us to a festival Paul Weller was playing at when I was 11. I saw loads of britpop bands someone tried to sell me drugs and I think we took a picnic, it was frightening and exhilarating.

Last concert?
I saw Aluna George recently.

Favorite concert ever?
Chris and I from the band have seen Brian Wilson a couple of times in the past few years and it just doesn't get much better. Watching a couple of hours of all the great music he wrote is actually quite emotional.

Least favorite concert?
Our least favourite gig we ever played was at a charity gig in Bristol. The gig was fine but we had been booked into a hostel that night and when me and Luke our drummer arrived back at the hostel a frightening man threatened to kill us if we got close to his bunk bed. We slept in the car.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?

William Pitt, the bloke that Pittsburgh is named after is from down the road from me and one of the classes at mine and Chris' school was named after him.

Thanks, Mike. I love discovering new music. You definitely got that Pittsburgh connection, buddy!

First/Last-Paint Fumes

"Modern rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t get much trashier, dirtier or more frantic than Charlotte, N.C.’s Paint Fumes. These guys seem to live the results of huffing their name, spewing reckless rowdiness with a dizzying fury from every song. Uck Life is the garage-rock-rooted band’s debut LP, and it’s a balls-to-the-wall explosion of energetic grit and grime. Frontman Elijah von Cramon’s shouts and howls are too fiery to decipher, and paired with the frenetic riffs and drummer Josh Johnson’s relentless fast-paced pounding the sound threatens to blast out your eardrums even at low volume."

Check out the band on Facebook, and BandCamp. Continuing our travels through the musical landscape of the USA courtesy of the Paste 50 States Project, we head to North Carolina to check out Paint Fumes. You like your RAWK with a dose of  'nasty, garage, punk mess'? Check these dudes out. I want to thank Elijah Von Cramon (Guitar/Vocals), Brett Whittlesey (Guitars) and Josh Johnson (Drums) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Elijah Von Cramon: Snoop Doggy Dogg “Doggystyle”.
Brett Whittlesey: Michael Jackson's “HIStory” album when I was 10 or so. Strange record.
Josh Johnson: The Exploited “Live" on cassette.

Your last album bought?
Elijah: Germs “G.I.”.
Brett: “The Marble Index” by Nico.
Josh: NWA “Straight Outta Compton".

Favorite album of all time?
Elijah: That is tough, but one of them is definitely The Gun Club “Fire of Love”.
Brett: My 'gun to the head' answer would have to be “Funhouse” by The Stooges.
Josh: Don't have a favorite but have tons I like a lot. Been rocking the Hell Shovel record a bunch. Also the new Bloodshot Bill. And the NWA.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Elijah: Paint Fumes “Uck Life”. Ha-ha just kidding, I really have no clue.
Brett: A particular album doesn't come to mind, but modern country music must come from hell.
Josh: Probably every shitty grunge/alternative crap that came out in the 90's. I hate that stuff.

First concert attended?
Elijah: Grateful Dead when I was like 2 or 3.
Brett: Bob Dylan in a big concert arena.
Josh: First show was some local bands and Fugazi. I was like 12 or 13.  My first big arena concert was Metallica. So lame. Ha-ha.

Last concert?
Elijah: My last "concert" was New York Dolls. The last show I went to was Dino's Boys.
Brett: Elijah and I saw Dino's Boys at Strange House in Charlotte. We know them from Atlanta, great band.
Josh: My last show I saw was down the street at the outpost. Can't remember the names of the bands. I was super tired and went home early.

Favorite concert ever?
Elijah: Norton Fest.
Brett: Maybe the first ever show we played with Acid Baby Jesus in Elijah's basement. We played and then ABJ tried to tear the building down by the foundation. It was wild stuff.
Josh: Hmmmm. I would say the last King Khan BBQ show I saw a few months back. Arish was in a great mood and everyone thought he was on acid. And Mark punched a guy in the face on stage. Ha-ha, good times. And those guys are the best!

Least favorite concert?
Elijah: Maybe the New York Dolls one because THEY had to open up fucking Poison and Mötley Crüe... that's just wrong it should be the other way around.
Brett: Bob Dylan in a big concert arena. Not what he used to be.
Josh: I had a girlfriend one time and she bought us tickets to this all girl folk thing.  I didn't like it at all.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Elijah: Never been but I think we will be playing there in October!
Brett: Very much looking forward to going!
Josh: I haven't been to Pittsburgh in forever.  Although I can say my first visit there was insanely fun. I almost got arrested for shitting in public and me and this dude huffed drugs and drank then stole a parking meter and tried to break it open by throwing it off a building. We also fried up some deer meat in an alley.  No lie. Weird couple of days. Also it is the home of one of my favorite DJs Mad Mike!!! He used to rip off the labels on his 45's so no one new all the rad surf and frantic boogaloo he would spin. Norton Records has put out some of his compilations. They are great!

Thanks, fellas. Pittsburgh in October? Cool beans. See you soon.

First/Last-We Are Temporary

"We Are Temporary, the wired and weird brainchild of Brooklyn’s Mark Roberts, is as much the result of a musical obsession as a philosophical one. His debut EP Afterthoughts oscillates between musical violence and frailty, lyrical defensiveness and vitriol, bursts of optimism and crushing nihilism.  First conceived in a small studio in New Zealand, this recording was shaped over the course of five tumultuous years, and nearly met it’s end in a Brooklyn emergency room."

Check out the band at their official Website, Facebook, SoundCloud, Twitter, BandCamp and Instagram. The band (AKA Mark Roberts) have just released the "Afterthoughts EP" via Stars and Letters Records which you can grab digitally for free here. Described as "...exploring the space between darkwave, goth, and dreampop", this band is for fans of Trust, Crystal Castles, Xiu Xiu, Skinny Puppy,M83, Salem and Sacred Bones. Sometimes I like to get a 'little dark' on the blog and I want to thank Mark for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

 

The first album you ever bought?
The first four CDs I got for Christmas were Nirvana "Nevermind", Pixies "Surfer Rosa", some Peter Gabriel record, and Metallica's "Black Album". Before that I owned a few Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, and Skinny Puppy tapes my babysitter turned me on to.

Your last album bought?
Prurient's "Bermuda Drain" on blue vinyl.

Favorite album of all time?
It's a three-way tie between Pixies "Surfer Rosa", Nirvana "Nevermind", and Skinny Puppy "Last Rights".

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Every single Skinny Puppy studio album since "Last Rights".

First concert attended?
Metallica "Black Album" tour with Suicidal Tendencies and Alice In Chains in Germany. My buddy and I bought brand new jeans jackets, cut off the sleeves, and patched them up in the weeks before the show. We were roughly 13 and didn't know shit. Best day ever.

Last concert?
Prism House, Adventures, and Ladytron (DJ set) at Glasslands in Brooklyn last week.

Favorite concert ever?
Yikes. That's a tough one... there are so many: seeing Deine Lakaien live in 1994, Sigur Ros in 2002, Yonsi in 2011, M83 in 2012.

Least favorite concert?
Not sure I have a least favorite one.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I played a live-to-air on one of the college radio stations in Pittsburgh in 2009 with my old band, The Enright House. We had the most amazing breakfast somewhere.

Thanks, Mark. I have to admit, I am not the biggest expert on your genre of music but I can certainly appreciate what you do, man.