Saturday, June 30, 2012

First/Last-Savoir Adore

Saturday, June 30, 2012
Millvale
"On “Dreamers,” the dance-laden lullaby and lead single from Savoir Adore’s new album Our Nature, Paul Hammer and Deidre Muro invite listeners into a magical dream world.  Such worlds are nothing new to the fantasy pop duo, who inadvertently became a fixture of Brooklyn’s indie scene as the result of a dare. In 2007, as disheartened solo artists, they whimsically retreated out of the city to a rural studio with two rules: “48 hours.  No acoustic guitars.” They returned with The Adventures of Mr. Pumpernickel and The Girl with Animals in Her Throat (Cantora), a concept-driven EP set in a fairy tale land that narrates the tragedy of Gloria and her unrequited love. On 2009’s full length In The Wooded Forest (Cantora), they expounded on the EP’s mythical landscape. But where Savoir Adore’s previous releases have surveyed these worlds at a distance, Our Nature zooms in, putting our inner landscapes and relationships at the core of every track.  In that vein, the recordings themselves are intentionally more crisp, aurally expansive and intriguing."

The band brings their nature to Smalls tonight on a bill with Jukebox the Ghost and Bright Moments. My sincere thanks to Paul and Deidre for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Paul Hammer: Weezer, “Blue Album”.
Deidre Muro: Mariah Care, “Music Box”.

Your last album bought?
Paul: Red House Painters, “Songs for a Blue Guitar”.
Deidre: Alan Lomax, “An Alan Lomax Compilation”.

Favorite album of all time?
Paul: Ryan Adams, "Heartbreaker".
Deidre: Beach Boys, "Pet Sounds".

Most disappointing album?
Paul: Radiohead, “Hail to the Thief”.
Deidre: Jack White, “Blunderbuss” (I wanted more shredding).

First concert attended?
Paul: Either Saves the Day at Lupo's in Rhode Island or Dave Matthews Band at Giants Stadium. Can't remember!
Deidre: Backstreet Boys at Nassau Coliseum.

Last concert?
Paul & Deidre: Starlight Girls.

Favorite concert ever?
Paul: Cut Copy in London, 2005.
Deidre: Jack White in Austin, TX at the Third Man Rolling Record Store (6 ft. away).

Least favorite concert?
Paul & Deidre: Interpol at Radio City (terrible sound in the balcony).

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Paul & Deidre: A few very late nights at Ritter's, and the most lost we've ever gotten anywhere, ever…construction, 2008.

Thanks, guys. Construction woes in Pittsburgh??? Who'da thunk?

Friday, June 29, 2012

First/Last-Silencio

Photo courtesy Benny Pinto

Saturday, June 30, 2012
Southside

"This Pittsburgh collective has been inspired from the dark and sometimes quirky films of David Lynch to not only re-create the timeless soundtracks of his films, but to also compose original music based on the direct influence of Angelo Badalamenti's noir-jazz vignettes."

 The group is having it's CD release gig tomorrow night at Club Cafe. My thanks to guitarist Kirk Salopek for participating in this edition of First/Last.

 
The first album you ever bought?
Depeche Mode, “People Are People”.

Your last album bought?
The War On Drugs, “Slave Ambient”.

Favorite album of all time?
I do not have a favorite album.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Pink Floyd, “The Final Cut”.

First concert attended?
Social Distortion at The Electric Banana in 1988? I think?

Last concert?
The Twilight Singers.

Favorite concert ever?
The Damned or Camper Van Beethoven, I can’t decide.

Least favorite concert?
Stone Temple Pilots.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Eating a burger at Tessaro’s…Mmmm.

Thanks, Kirk. The project sounds extremely interesting. By the way, my favorite concert ever was also Camper Van Beethoven. Metropol '89 perhaps?

Thursday, June 28, 2012

First/Last-Still Flyin'

Photo courtesy 230 Publicity

Thursday, June 28, 2012
Garfield

"San Francisco’s favorite hammjammers Still Flyin' spent 2011 hard at work writing their sophomore album, On A Bedroom Wall, which is slated for release May 22, 2012 via Ernest Jenning Record Co. Still Flyin' have been redefining indie-pop since 2004, drawing inspiration from classic pop songwriting and great times with great friends. Led by Sean Rawls of Masters of the Hemisphere, 2009's much loved Never Gonna Touch the Ground established the band's fun-loving credo, and saw them touring the world, with a little help in their live show from the likes of Isobel Knowles (Architecture in Helsinki), Mark Monnone (Lucksmiths), Josephine Olausson (Love is All), Gary Olson (Ladybug Transistor) and Yoshi Nakamoto (Aisler Set). The band supported the release with show-stopping sets at SXSW, The Great Escape and All Tomorrow's Parties (curated by Pavement)."

The band will be playing Pittsburgh tonight. My thanks to Sean Rawls for participating in this edition of First/Last.

 
The first album you ever bought?
The “Back to the Future” soundtrack.

Your last album bought?
Cleaners From Venus box set.

Favorite album of all time?
REM, “Murmur”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
REM, “Out of Time”.

First concert attended?
Lollapalooza '94 at Lakewood Amphitheater in Atlanta.

Last concert?
Wave Pictures at the Rickshaw in San Francisco.

Favorite concert ever?
Go-Betweens at Slim's in San Francisco.

Least favorite concert?
Too many to name.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Secretly beautiful city.  We like those sandwiches with french fries and cole slaw in them.

Thanks, Sean. I just love San Francisco. Spent my honeymoon there and I have been dying to go back ever since.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

First/Last-Bright Moments


Saturday, June 30, 2012
Millvale

"Kelly Pratt is Bright Moments. He's the guy up at night by himself, stitching songs together in his New York City apartment all winter. There's a special art to making an album in the spare seconds that the rest of a regular life can't quite reach. Recorded track-by-track-by-track with Pratt on most of the instruments in his apartment studio during the New York City winter of 2010, this slow-motion musicianship became Natives (Luaka Bop)."

 

Kelly brings his Bright Moments to Smalls this Saturday opening for Jukebox The Ghost. With Savoir Adore on the bill, this is should be a great night. My gratitiude to Kelly for participating in this edition of First/Last.


The first album you ever bought?
The first album I remember having is “Thriller”. I think I was probably more fascinated with the video than the music, but that has definitely changed over the years.

Your last album bought?
Probably the new Beach House album.

Favorite album of all time?
I try to answer this a different way every time, since I have so many favorites. So today I will go with Miles Davis/Gil Evans’ "Sketches of Spain." A masterpiece for both musicians, and a record that only gets better on subsequent listens.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Probably some modern country album. But let's just say it's a tie for the last five U2 records.

First concert attended?
I attended dozens of band and orchestra concerts as a kid. But the first big rock show I saw was the Eagles on the “Hell Freezes Over” Tour.

Last concert?
We just played a show the other day at Mercury Lounge with two great bands, Jinja Safari and Landlady. It's really great to share a bill with other bands you enjoy.

Favorite concert ever?
I saw Dolly Parton last summer. I probably couldn't say it was my favorite concert ever, but it was up there. She sounded incredible. She sang several songs a cappella and several with just her accompanying herself on autoharp. Some people are famous for the wrong reason, but not Dolly.

Least favorite concert?
Another tough one. There have been many disappointments over the years. But it's funny that it's way harder to think of really bad shows/albums than good ones. Let's go with Paul McCartney at Coachella in 2009.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I haven't spent too much time in Pittsburgh. Last time I was there I went to the Warhol Museum and was late to soundcheck because I couldn't pull myself away. The times I've been there have been very nice though!

 

Thanks, Kelly. My first show was The Eagles too, only 15 years earlier. My dad made me leave during "All Night Long".

 

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

First/Last-Turning Violet Violet

 Photo courtesy Elena Dimi

Turning Violet Violet
Friday, June 29, 2012
Southside

"Turning Violet Violet has graduated from an emerging pop rock outfit into a fixture in the Philadelphia indie music scene. It’s been a busy year for the band. They sharpened their live edge playing with Glasvegas, East Hundred, Oh Land, Mr. Dream, and many others all over the east coast. After spending months writing and recording, TvV is touring throughout 2012 to promote their latest independent release, Double Cure."

The returns to Pittsburgh this Friday, playing the late show at Club Cafe with special guest The Zou. My thanks to Sarah Gulish (Keys, Lead Vocals), Jeff Scott (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Eric Daelhousen (Bass, World's Weakest Man) and Brandon Gulish (Drummer, Strongest Man Alive) for participating in this edition of First/Last.


The first album you ever bought?
Sarah Gulish: Ghoti Hook, “Banana Man”.
Jeff Scott: U2, “The Joshua Tree”.
Eric Daelhousen: MxPx, “Pokinatcha”.
Brandon Gulish: Aerosmith, “Big Ones”.

Your last album bought?
Sarah: The Roots, “How I Got Over”.
Jeff: Fleet Foxes, “Helplessness Blues”.
Eric: Dillinger Escape Plan, “Ireworks”.
Brandon: Dr. Dog, “Be the Void”.

Favorite album of all time?
Sarah: This changes a lot for me. The one album I always come back to no matter what is Vladimir Ashkenazy playing Rachmaninoff Concertos with the London Symphony.
Jeff: The Beatles, “Abbey Road”.
Eric: As Cities Burn, “Come Now Sleep”.
Brandon: The Clash, “London Calling”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Sarah: Probably something I don't own...for good reason.
Jeff: __________________.
Eric: Norma Jean , “The Anti Mother”.
Brandon: Weezer, “Make Believe”.

First concert attended?
Sarah: DC Talk at Susquehanna Bank Center in 1997.
Jeff: Dave Matthews’ Band, “Crash” tour in 1996.
Eric: MxPx/Ghoti Hook.
Brandon: In Jr. High I played at a battle of the bands at Our Lady Fatima in Hopewell, PA. We covered Rancid's ‘Ruby Soho’. I saw someone throw fire crackers in the mosh pit.  It was a pretty big day for me.

Last concert?
Sarah: Little Big League at The Church a couple weeks ago.
Jeff: Radiohead, “King of Limbs” tour in 2012.
Eric: Thrice/Animals As Leaders.
Brandon: Little Big League in Philadelphia.

Favorite concert ever?
Sarah: I’m embarrassed to say that it was probably Styx at the Mann Center circa 2007. I wasn't a fan before that show and had to work the concert. Their stage show and overall musicianship was so compelling, it was ridiculous.
Jeff: Sufjan Stevens, “Illinois” tour in 2006.
Eric: The Thrice/Brand New/mewithoutyou tour.
Brandon: It just happened but possibly seeing The Beach Boys during their current 50th Anniversary Tour.

Least favorite concert?
Sarah: Kings of Leon, 2009-ish at the Vet. I don't know what else to say. I was miserable.
Jeff: Aerosmith, “Nine Lives” tour in 1997.
Eric: Dead Poetic concert after their hiatus. Their singer sounded like he didn't hit a single note.
Brandon: Hoobastank at Metropol in Pittsburgh. Not a lot of underage shows back then.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Sarah: I love Pittsburgh…partially because Brandon is from there and partially because it's such a great city. There's such a family vibe to the city overall. I love the hills and the diversity AND Pittsburgh has been great to us every time we've played there.
Jeff: The thing I like most about Pittsburgh so far is that it's not flat.
Eric: I love going to Kennywood Park.
Brandon: I'm the only guy in the band from the Pittsburgh area (Ambridge), so I have a ton of thoughts, but will narrow it down to one. Bringing people who have never been to the city through the Fort Pitt Tunnels ranks pretty high. It's the moment where people realize how unique a city Pittsburgh is.


Thanks, guys. With a Pittsburgher amongst your midst, you must be doing something right!

Monday, June 25, 2012

First/Last-Enter The Haggis

 Image courtesy Think Press

Friday, June 29, 2012
Southside

"Brian Buchanan almost died on White Lake. The singer-fiddler-keyboardist for Enter The Haggis went out into the middle of the lake to finish up some lyrics during the recording of the band’s sixth studio album, the aptly named Whitelake, and tipped the canoe half a kilometer from shore. The ice had melted only a week before, and he was fully clothed and without a life jacket. Remarkably, he managed to swim the canoe to the far side of the lake but faced the added challenge of a three-kilometer walk, shivering through the dark woods on the way back to the band’s cottage / recording studio. “If I’d died, there’s no doubt it would have been called a suicide,” laughs Brian, tentatively. “I had just finished recording the vocals for a song called “The Flood”, which talks about life being out of control and water rising up around you.” Thankfully, the 29-year-old from Guelph, Ontario survived to tell the tale as the band releases its anticipated new album, the follow-up to 2008’s Gutter Anthems, which hit #2 on the iTunes World Music charts."

The band has been around for what seems to me forever. They return to Pittsburgh for the early show at Club Cafe this Friday with special Guest The Weathered Road. My thanks to frontman Brian Buchanan for participating in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
I'm not entirely sure what the first album I purchased with my own money was. To be honest, it was probably a fiddle album, Ed Gyurki or Al Czerny or something. When I developed an interest in popular music, one of my older cousins took me to Sam The Record Man in Toronto and told me to pick out three albums (with the help of his own personal bias, of course). I got “Gish”, by The Smashing Pumpkins; “Aenima”, by Tool and “The Bends” by Radiohead. I guess his advice was worth something, as they're still three of my absolute favorite albums.

Your last album bought?
I get a lot of music. I think the last thing I bought on iTunes was an album by a band called First Aid Kit. It's called "The Lion's Roar", and it's fantastic. I'm also really digging the new album from Of Monsters And Men.

Favorite album of all time?
“OK Computer”. There are a dozen others I could say with equal confidence on any given day, but today that's the one.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Interesting, I've never been asked that. I think I'd have to say The Smashing Pumpkins' last album “Zeitgeist”. It's sort of a personal grudge though. They were such a huge part of my formative musical years, and they wrote so many amazing songs. I guess I was really hopeful that their first new album in years would be great, and it really isn't. There's nothing more frustrating than being disappointed by one of your favorite bands.

First concert attended?
Two answers. The first rock concert I attended was Richard Marx. Yes, let that sink in for a minute. My father brought me with him to the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. I barely remember it.

The first concert that I went to of my own volition was very different, it was a triple bill with Veruca Salt, P.J. Harvey and Live (on their Throwing Copper tour). To this day I remember the feeling of hearing the opening notes of ‘The Dam At Otter Creek’ and getting full-body goosebumps. Every time I step on stage I hope that some moment in our show will do that to someone in the audience.

Last concert?
We played at Merlefest down in North Carolina a couple weeks ago. We only played Friday, but we stuck around to watch some fantastic bands and artists on Saturday, including what may have been Doc Watson's last live performance before he passed. The highlight of the weekend for me was watching Chris Thile and The Punch Brothers absolutely DESTROY the audience during a blistering hour-long set. It was definitely one of the best live performances I've ever seen. To give you some perspective, they followed Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and were followed by Tedeschi/Trucks Band, and I think they blew both acts off the stage. It was humbling.

Favorite concert ever?
Wow, that's really hard. Just a few weeks ago I had the chance to see Hey Rosetta play in a tiny club in Dublin, Ireland. I was sitting in the second row, dead center and about five feet from the stage. That was an incredible show.
I'd probably have to say it was Radiohead at Molson Park back in 2000. They were and still are my favorite band, and they were touring “Kid A” and “OK Computer”. They closed with ‘Street Spirit’, and about 25,000 people sang it at the top of their lungs, outdoors on a beautiful June night and I was swaying arm in arm with a girl I'd just started dating and who I was stupidly in love with. That's pretty hard to beat.

Least favorite concert?
Also a tough one, and again I'm going to give two answers. I saw Billy Corgan's band Zwan play in Toronto on their only tour, and the sound was so terrible. The bass was literally causing people to puke, and at least one person passed out. I just got so annoyed TRYING to enjoy the show, and the fault lay with the band (the bass player had two 8x10 bass cabinets, and they were firmly at eleven). I'm pretty forgiving, but that was not a pleasant experience at all.
My other answer isn't really a fair one, but it was Creed's set at Edgefest years ago (north of Toronto). It's not that they played badly. To their credit, they sounded exactly like Creed…which I guess they have a right to do. The thing is, they followed a Canadian band called The Tea Party, who are so musically complex and adventurous, and they played such a unique and virtuosic set full of Canadian alt/rock staples. I guess the contrast just wasn't flattering for Creed. I know it's a little trendy to hate on glory-rock bands like Creed, but I don't actually hate them. I just didn't want to see wind machines and pyrotechnics right after a band that didn't need gimmicks to impress.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I wish I knew Pittsburgh better as a city. I can say that I was pulling for the Penguins both years they made the finals, and we Torontonians love Colby Armstrong (who also played for the Wilkes-Barre Penguins). I'm brushing up on my local dialect, but I think I'm still using y'uns incorrectly.
Pennsylvania will always hold a soft spot for us though, as we played our first ever show outside of Canada at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire years ago. It's always a thrill to come back, especially now that we've known some of our PA fans for a decade or more! Ok, now I feel really old.

Thanks, Brian. I love how your answers convey the sheer joy and excitement music can have over someone. And never say y'uns...say yinz! Your Pittsburgh cred will go up tenfold.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

First/Last-Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires


"The title of LEE BAINS III AND THE GLORY FIRES’ debut album comes from Bains mishearing an old hymn as a child. In the soft accents of his elders around Birmingham, Alabama, “There is a balm in Gilead” sounded a lot like “There is a bomb.” It fits, really. The Glory Fires learned to construct music in the churches of their childhoods, and learned to destroy it in the punk clubs of their youths. As much Wilson Pickett as Fugazi, as much the Stooges as the Allman Brothers, Birmingham, Alabama’s Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires have brought radical rock’n'roll to bear on their own experience and their own place. On ‘THERE IS A BOMB IN GILEAD,’ they deconstruct the music of the Deep South, strip it down and reassemble it, to make a righteous ruckus that sits at the vanguard of the vernacular."

The band's debut is really kicking my ass this summer and I just had to extend an invitation to Lee to participate in this edition of First/Last.

 
The first album you ever bought?
The first tape I bought with my own money was Muddy Waters' 'The Real Folk Blues,' and the first CD I bought with my own money was Jimi Hendrix, 'Live at Woodstock.' Shortly after that, I bought my first LP at a garage sale, just because I liked the cover art. Joe Cocker's 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen.'

Your last album bought?
My last trip to the record store resulted in The Police's self-titled album, and Charlie Daniels' first album (prior to "Charlie Daniels Band"). I'd never been crazy about The Police, but I heard that first album in its entirety recently and was blown away. It has some pretty amazing writing, and that scrappy sound that only a killer three-piece can pull off. My daddy and I listened to Charlie Daniels a lot growing up, but this first record is really weird, without a hit on it. Billy Cox from Band of Gypsys plays bass on it, and there was clearly some strong acid being passed around.

Favorite album of all time?
Whew. Big Star's three albums regularly overtake one another as my favorite. 'Eat a Peach' by the Allman Brothers. 'Hey Jude' by Wilson Pickett. 'Bealtitude' by Staple Singers. 'Let It Be' by The Replacements. 'Exile on Main Street' by the Stones. 'Raw Power' by the Stooges. 'Flyin' Shoes' by Townes Van Zandt. 'Velvet Underground and Nico.' 'Aquemini' by Outkast. 'No Division' by Hot Water Music. 'Reinventing Axl Rose' by Against Me! 'Rocket to Russia' by the Ramones. Crooked Fingers S/T. 'Super Tight' by UGK. The Dexateens' 'Red Dust Rising.' 'Leon Russell and the Shelter People.' The Old 97's 'Wreck Your Life.' (I just saw Rhett Miller did an interview.) Drive-By Truckers' 'Dirty South.' Jack Oblivian's 'Saturday Night, Part 2.'

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I'm sure the worst is yet to come.

First concert attended?
My daddy and I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers within two days of one another when I was 12. The day in between the two shows was July 4th. I don't remember which show was first, but I do remember that I felt pretty dadgum American by the end of it.

Last concert?
I think the last show I saw that we weren't playing ourselves was to see the Drive-By Truckers in Atlanta. It was my first time seeing my buddy Matt play bass with them.

Favorite concert ever?
There are several shows I list as my all-time favorites, but seeing Against Me! on tour for their first album in Birmingham's all-ages venue with 50 other sweaty, hollering kids was way up there.

Least favorite concert?
When that first Sun Kil Moon album came out, 'Ghosts of the Great Highway,' I listened to it all the time. My current girlfriend and I made out for the first time listening to it. It was, at the time, my favorite album, and I had a pretty intense connection to those songs. But then I went to see the show in New York, and this really private, delicate music was being played quietly to a big, loud room packed with a bunch of drunk, yammering yuppies. It was like the Mona Lisa was being displayed in the infield at Talladega, or something. I just left halfway through.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Well, I've never been to Pittsburgh, I'm sad to say, but Birmingham used to be called the Pittsburgh of the South, and I love Birmingham. So, if Pittsburgh is like the Birmingham of the North, then I think I'd probably like it a lot, too. Our guitar player Matt actually lived up there for a little while, and regularly mentions the Italian neighborhood he lived near and y'all's tendency to say "n'at." Shamefully, that's about all I can say about Pittsburgh. I also did a book report one time on Roberto Clemente.

Thanks so much, Lee. Really loving the album and looking forward to a Pittsburgh gig in the hopefully near future.