First/Last-Adam Faucett

"Drawing comparisons from Townes Van Zandt to Tim Buckley to Otis Redding, Arkansas born and bred Adam Faucett is most known for his powerful, almost operatic voice and intricate finger-picking. The Arkansas native's sound has been described by The Arkansas Times as "somewhere between Otis Redding's soul shout and Cat Power's swampy poeticism".

Check out Adam at his official Website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I first discovered him and his wonderful music through the fantastic and ongoing Paste 50 States Project. Pittsburgh's own Donora and New Shouts have been a part of the series and if you are even a casual reader of the blog you know how essential both bands are to me. I will be featuring some of my favorite band discoveries from the feature this week and happily begin today with Adam. Hailing from Arkansas, (this week is all about the 'A' states) Adam's latest release is "More Like a Temple" from 2011 but I am told he is currently working on mastering and artwork on his next album which should be out within the next few months. I want to thank Adam for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
The first tape that I fell in love with was a Queen “Greatest Hits”, red collection.

Your last album bought?
  I played a show last week with this band Spirits and the Melchiz Children from Atlanta. Sludgy but clean. I got their first album and it has been riding with me ever since.

Favorite album of all time?
Too many favorites to list ‘em all. I have a number of artists I find myself coming back to a lot. I’ve been listening to the Silver Jews "Bright Flight" for a solid decade now. Same with Sparklehorse "It’s a Wonderful Life". I’m usually not too far from a copy of Velvet Underground’s self-titled album.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
It’s not BY FAR my least favorite album but I needed more out of the first half of “King of Limbs”.

First concert attended?
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

Last concert?
Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth!

Favorite concert ever?
Man, I saw Sonic Youth in Memphis Summer ‘00 on their ‘NYC Ghosts and Flowers’ tour. Played the album straight through. That is my favorite record from that time. It destroyed me. They were opening for Pearl Jam, I was not there for Pearl Jam… damnit. No one but me and my buddy gave a shit it seemed about Sonic Youth. It was dark except some projected subway scenes. Hunched over, playing the most dissonant songs I had heard at that age in front of a thousand confused fans waiting quietly for ‘Jeremy’. Like any true and great art should it scared me. I left there a new person... and feeling bad for PJ.

Least favorite concert?
Not sure but am sure I played it.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I Love Pittsburgh! Never nothing but fun for me. I slept in a helmet that I found at this party because it made sense at the time.  I used to spend a lot of time in West Virginia and we would drive to Pittsburgh just to see what civilization was up to. I have a friend and fellow songwriter that is more or less from Pittsburgh, Nathan Xander now based in NYC and I meet up in Pitt to play a show and catch up almost annually.

Thanks, Adam. Sure am I glad I found you, man. Can't wait for the new stuff! Next time you are in Pittsburgh, ring me up.

First/Last-Blake Hunter

"I grew up in a log cabin built by my father in Batesville, Va, studied music in Boston, started a band with friends from college based out of Charlottesville, Va, Trees on Fire in 2005, and now I live in a barn I converted to a home in which to raise my son.  My debut solo album Skylights I composed and produced with Eric Heigle in New Orleans."

Check Blake out at his official Website, Facebook, and SoundCloud. He has just released his debut single, 'Every Single Piece' as a preview of his upcoming full-length, "Skylights" which will drop this October. I want to thank Blake for taking a few to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Genesis “We Can’t Dance”.

Your last album bought?
Lana Del Ray “Born to Die”.

Favorite album of all time?
How about top 3. Radiohead “Hail to the Thief, Gorillaz “Plastic Beach” and Daniel Lanois “Acadie”. It's really hard to say this for real since I have gone through many phases of music style appreciation. I used to like classic rock a lot when I was young, and then got into the 90’s thing when I was a teenager, plus Dave Matthews was a big deal to me when I was first writing songs (he lived in Charlottesville, VA and played weekly gigs here).

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Not sure, probably some album I don't know the name of, but really most young teeny bopper country singers drive me crazy. I wish they were stranded in a 3rd world country for a year. Otherwise, I am pretty open minded.

First concert attended?
Do you really mean first? Because I was in attendance for my parents shows when I was a baby being passed around the audience because I would always wake up from the cradle side stage... but if you mean in grown up life, it was The Who’s ‘Quadrophenia’ tour, Nissan Pavilion. I was 15 and it was amazing.

Last concert?
Avett Bros., Intelos Wireless Pavilion in Charlottesville.

Favorite concert ever?
Radiohead headlining Bonnaroo '06, from 60 feet away, blew my mind having about 100,000 people behind me. I had to really want it to keep my spot, I was there with my band though we stuck together, tight friends.

Least favorite concert?
Ryan Adams, Paradise Rock Club, Boston. He must have been super wasted because he was a total jerk to the crowd and he was in a grungy punk stage of his music when I was expecting something more along the lines of “Heartbreaker”.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
It seems that you all have a really interesting undergroundy type of music scene. I have a hand full of friends from Pittsburgh who all have a similar vibe I find hard to put into words, but I dig it.

Thanks, Blake. I love that you mentioned Lanois' "Acadie". That was the very first CD I ever bought and man, I still listen that album. Such an underrated gem.