First/Last-The DuPont Brothers

"Two brothers reunite after years of geographical separation by a fortified collaboration in music. Blending the contemplative winters of the northeast with the solitary beauty of southwestern desert, Sam and Zack DuPont are now coconspirators in a shared passion that runs deep in their family. This Burlington Vermont made duo has hit the ground running since the formation of the group in March of 2013. The brothers have recently shared the stage with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Ben Sollee, Gin Wigmore, Chris Thomas King, Langhorne Slim, Howie Day and The Lone Bellow to name a few. Lush finger-style guitar work is complimented by elegant prose and a vocal blend that could only be matched by blood relation. The sound is Vermont made Folk-Americana."

Check out the brothers at their official Website, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The bros latest collaboration is their debut self-titled effort recorded live in the studio. Check the guys out as they hit Pittsburgh tomorrow night (2/29) at the Thunderbird Cafe with local openers Guests of Guests. I want to thank Zack and Sam DuPont (Guitars/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Zack DuPont: Nirvana, "Nevermind".
Sam DuPont: Eiffel 65, "Europop".

Your last album bought?
Zack: The Wood Brothers, "The Muse".
Sam: Father John Misty, "Fear Fun".

Favorite album of all time?
Zack: Paul Simon, "Rhythm of the Saints".
Sam: Ben Howard, "Every Kingdom".

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Zack: Raffi, "Bananaphone".
Sam: My first solo album that will forever remain nameless.

First concert attended?
Zack: Phish, 1998 at the Spectrum in Philly.
Sam: Talib Kweli and Soulive, 2006 at the Electric Factory in Philly.

Last concert?
Zack and Sam: Michael Chorney and Hollar General at First Night 2014, Burlington, VT. Michael is a dear friend and musical guru.

Favorite concert ever?
Zack: Patrick Watson at Higher Ground in 2012. He's a MUST see!
Sam: Dave Matthews Band at the DMB Caravan Festival in Chicago, 2012.

Least favorite concert?
Zack: Disco Biscuits 2005 at The Electric Factory in Philly. I probably would've enjoyed it if I took ecstasy like all the other attendees.
Sam: Rebelution at the Rialto Theater in 2011. They had sweet, giant, plastic pot plants onstage though...

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
We've never been, but we're really looking forward to breaking a new market and working with the kind folks at The Thunderbird Cafe.

Thanks, fellas. Looking over your answers, it totally confirms why I still appreciate this little questionnaire of mine. I can really get a sense of where you are coming from musically from your 'experiences'.

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

First/Last-The Options

"The Options are a four piece rock band from Pittsburgh. Our songs express a music snapshot from the experiences of four teenagers from the suburbs of Western Pennsylvania."

Check out the band on Facebook, ReverbNation, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, SoundCloud and BandCamp. It's amazing to me the young musical talent that is emerging from Pittsburgh at the moment. This band of high-schoolers released their debut album, "Alright" in 2012 where you can grab it at iTunes and CD Baby. They are working on their sophomore effort to be released shortly. I want to thank Jake Leya (Drums/Keyboards), Zack Leya (Guitars) and Matt Bauman (Bass) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Jake Leya: “Tommy” by The Who.
Zack Leya: To be honest, I don't remember the first album I bought. I just listened to what Jake got.
Matt Bauman: “American Idiot” by Green Day.

Your last album bought?
Jake: “Human After All” by Daft Punk.
Zack: "Internal Exile" by Los Illegals.
Matt: “Lonerism” by Tame Impala.

Favorite album of all time?
Jake: “Quadrophenia” by The Who.
Zack: I'm far too indecisive to narrow it down, but if it helps, my favorite song is ‘Where Eagles Dare’ by The Misfits.
Matt: “Achtung Baby” by U2.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Jake: This is a really tough question. I'm not sure I can answer this one.
Zack: I'm sure there are worse albums out there, but The Offspring's "Days Go By" was hugely disappointing to me.
Matt: “King of Limbs” by Radiohead.

First concert attended?
Jake: I had been to many smaller shows before, but my first big stadium concert was The Who at the Verizon Center in D.C. in 2008.
Zack: My first arena/big venue concert was The Who in 2008.
Matt: Switchfoot.

Last concert?
Jake: Pearl Jam at Consol Energy Center in 2013.
Zack: Small Venue - Meeting of Important People at the Warhol Museum. Big venue - Black Keys at Consol Arena.
Matt: The Flaming Lips.

Favorite concert ever?
Jake: McCartney at Bonnaroo in 2013.
Zack: Rusted Root at Hartwood Acres in 2011.
Matt: Rusted Root.

Least favorite concert?
Jake: This is another difficult question to answer. I guess Canned Heat at Hartwood Acres in 2012 was one of my bigger let-downs.
Zack: I don't think I have a least favorite.
Matt: N/A.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Jake: Now that I live in the city, I've learned that there's always something to do in Pittsburgh, even if it is just walking around and enjoying the environment.
Zack: Pittsburgh is super cool city, but living in the suburbs makes me wish I saw the actual city much more often.
Matt: It’s the best city for its uniqueness. It has the perfect size, location, population and geography to do anything and go somewhere with it if you're good enough. There’s no other city in the entire world like it, and no matter where I go or end up Pittsburgh will always be the home that made it all possible. Also, Primanti Bros sandwiches are the best things besides music, so that’s another plus.

Thanks, fellas. I am seriously impressed at what you are doing at such a young age. It really makes me excited for the future of Pittsburgh music!

First/Last-Bugs in the Dark

"Brooklyn's Bugs in the Dark was founded in 2007 by Zach Glass on guitar and vocals, Karen Rockower on guitar and vocals and drummer, Julia Lomax. After 2 years of touring and recording 2 EP's, Julia Lomax moved to LA. Richie Crescenti joined BITD on drums and they've been have been writing and playing in the US and Europe."

Check out the band at their official Website, Facebook, MySpace, BandCamp and Twitter. The 'art-rock/sexy-apocalyptic' Brooklyn band's latest release is the "Hang it on the Wall" EP from 2011. I want to thank Zach Glass (Guitar/Vocals) and Karen Rockawer (Guitar/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Zach Glass: Doesn't remember.
Karen Rockower: Same day first purchase. “Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons” double cassette and Debbie Gibson's “Out of the Blue”, also on cassette tape.

Your last album bought?
Zach: Lorde, “Pure Heroine”.
Karen: Little Dragon, “Ritual Union”.

Favorite album of all time?
Zach: The Clash, “London Calling”.
Karen: PJ Harvey, “Dry”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Zach & Karen: Haim.

First concert attended?
Zach: Peter, Paul and Mary.
Karen: Living Color, State College, PA.

Last concert?
Zach: Seasick Mama at a private party.
Karen: Lucious at Brooklyn Bowl.

Favorite concert ever?
Zach: Tom Waits at The Beacon.
Karen: Sonic Youth at North 6^th.

Least favorite concert?
Zach: The National at The Bell House, BK.
Karen: The Cults.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Zach: Pittsburgh is rad. We used to play there with our good friends Phil and Nico from Lakookala who were in Medic Medic at the time. We played the 31st Street Pub and the Bloomfield Tavern I think...
Karen: I love Pittsburgh. I'm originally from central PA, so it's one of my favorite cities. The Pittsburgh people I know don't fuck around. They tell it like it is.

Thanks, guys. I have to agree with you both on that Haim band. Those girls do absolutely nothing for me.

First/Last-Brian Lisik

"Brian Lisik was born and raised in Akron, Ohio - the dour, post-industrial landscape that gave rise to a varied, yet familiarly gritty, music and artscape including the likes of David Allan Coe, Devo, Rachel Roberts, Chrissie Hynde, the Black Keys, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, and Television guitarist Robert Quine. Plans are also in the works for the 2013 release of a career-spanning Lisik documentary film entitled On the Wrong Side Of The Canal, and a live performance video of a July 2012 show at Buzzbin Art and Music Shop in Canton entitled Save Me From My Life. The long stretch between Happiness and Mess has been well documented in press coverage of the latter album, but Lisik was far from idle during that time. A number of live and studio recordings of new songs found their way onto a variety of cd compilations over the six-year span, and Lisik's show schedule has remained consistent - some would say exhausting - with the Happiness tour logging more than 400 stops, both solo and with his band, now affectionately dubbed The Unfortunates."

Check out Brian at his official Website, Facebook, ReverbNation and Twitter. The singer-songwriter's latest release is from 2012 entitled. "The Mess That Money Could Buy". Brian plays out a lot so catch him if you can. I want to thank him for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Waylon Jennings "The Ramblin' Man." At a Grapevine Records on the west side of Akron. With my own lawn-mowing money. I was probably 12 or 13. Then again, there may have been a Chipmunks record before that.

Your last album bought?
It was actually a Christmas present for my drummer, The Dropkick Murphys’ "Signed and Sealed in Blood." But he promised to illegally burn me a copy, so I guess that kind of counts.

Favorite album of all time?
That is a tough one and it changes a lot. I used to write for Scene Magazine in Cleveland and collected a lot of CDs from record labels. But probably the one that has stood the test of time best is Nicole Atkins' "Mondo Amore." A simply brilliant piece of work. Then again, there is Jack White's "Bluderbuss." Decisiveness is not my strong suit.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
This one is easier; "21" from Adele. I guess I expected more Amy Winehouse pathos.

First concert attended?
I think it was either Waylon Jennings at Ponderosa Park in Salem, Ohio, or John Fogerty at Blossom Music Center. But I think the Waylon one was first. I know at the Fogerty show I sat next to a bunch of older guys with nice clothes and nice haircuts who lit up joints as soon as the music started. And I went to the Waylon show with my mother; I think the old men smoking weed came after I stopped going to concerts with my mother.

Last concert?
The debut show of a new group called Brooke Vitale Dixon that includes former Eagles and Crosby Stills Nash and Young drummer Joe Vitale and Don Dixon - who produced REM, The Smithereens, Counting Crows and a bunch of other bands in the 80s and 90s. A guitar player friend of mine from Canton, Eric Brooke, is the rest of the band.

Favorite concert ever?
Best concert, hands down, Jesse Malin at the Beachland Tavern in Cleveland in, I believe, February 2011. But he had also turned in a killer set at the Thunderbird in Pittsburgh in 2010. I go to a lot of Jesse Malin shows.

Least favorite concert?
Probably Maroon 5 at the old Odeon in Cleveland in 2002. I'd interviewed Adam Levine prior to the show and found him insufferably boorish and snobby for a guy touring behind his first record, so I was oddly pleased that the band sucked as bad live as they did on CD. But I did see and meet Gavin Degraw at that show, and he was a great guy and an even better performer.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Not to sound like a brown-noser, but I love Pittsburgh. There seems to be a very healthy live music scene and people really seem to come out and support it. The last time we played in Pittsburgh, we did Howlers with Chet Vincent and the Big Bend, and Grand Piano. It was a Tuesday or Wednesday night I think, and the place was packed and the people were nuts. You don't get that in too many cities anymore.

Thanks, Brian. Not brown-nosing at all. Just telling it like it is here in Pittsburgh.