First/Last-'The Essentials' Radar Bros.

"Radar Brothers return with Eight, a very special new release only available on LP and digital beginning January 29. Featuring an expanded band of brothers including Stevie Treichel and Be Hussey from The Illustrated Garden as well as new members Dan Iead (formerly of The Broken West) on guitar/pedal steel, Brian Cleary on keyboards and Ethan Walter on piano and synthesizers. Between the two keyboards and Iead and Putnam's guitars, the band orchestrates a swirling fervor that glides over Treichel and Hussey's rhythmic aggressions. The band called the record Eight (being their eighth), and it may well be Radar Brothers' darkest, hardest rocking, most psychedelic, and yet most intensely personal album to date. From Putnam's tribute to Joni Mitchell's cover art (The Hissing of Summer Lawns) to the surreal, picturesque lyrics to the unidentifiable textures and sounds that pour from your speakers like liquid paintings, this may also be the band's most visual album to date. So forget everything that you know or have ever thought about Radar Brothers. From the very start, Eight explodes with newness and bold, otherworldly jaunts. While paying tribute to their past on several songs, the band retains its swagger in this new territory throughout the rest."

Check out the band at their official Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They have always been a very favorite of mine and they have recently released the appropriately titled, "Eight", from Merge Records which is just as fantastic as the previous seven. They embark on a Summer tour tomorrow that hopefully will expand to include the Northeast on a second leg. I want to thank Biggest Brother Jim Putnam for taking a few minutes to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, The Beatles.

Your last album bought?
‘Tron’ soundtrack, Daft Punk.

Favorite album of all time?
Dennis Wilson, “Pacific Ocean Blue”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
The new Phoenix record, whatever it's called.

First concert attended?
The Cars ‘Panorama’ tour.

Last concert?
Soundgarden.

Favorite concert ever?
Ray Charles, Ventura Concert Theater with my dad.

Least favorite concert?
Any festival I'm at with fun. Playing.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Very pretty, dark gothic American city. Every time I roll into Pittsburgh, I feel like I'm in the black forest of Germany or something. Very unique place!

Thanks so much, Jim. It means a lot to me you playing along. Come back to Pittsburgh, we'd love to have you.

First/Last-Ben Valasek and The Growlers

 Ben Valasek and The Growlers

Club Cafe

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Southside

"Now, take his musical resume and combine it with three seasoned musicians (Michael Starr, Ron Leard, and Zach Wolfe), who are influenced by The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin and The Grateful Dead, and lock them in a hunting camp for three days with four carloads of recording equipment, and you get the debut album ,"Time Waits for No One", by Ben Valasek and the Growlers.
After receiving widespread attention for his previous solo album, "Under the Peach Tree", Ben Valasek has spent the last two years writing, gigging endlessly, and assembling the Growlers. When these guys aren't kayaking or brewing beer, they are playing music to audiences everywhere and gaining attention for their sound. This sound is now available to take home with the release of "Time Waits for No One" on June 1, 2013."

Check out the band at their official Website, Facebook, ReverbNation, and MySpace. They hit Club Cafe for tomorrow night's early show for the release of their new CD, "Time Waits for No One", with special guest Mark Dignam. My thanks to Ben for taking a few minutes to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
I can’t truly answer that but can tell you that I grew up at the end of the album era and the beginning of the cassette tape era. This was also the time when siblings still shared bedrooms. Looking down from the top bunkbed, I can remember seeing the following albums under our record player that my older brother and I owned: The Police, Men at Work, Metallica, ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic, etc….those were some good days.

Your last album bought?
Other than a lot of local music, I don’t buy a lot of other stuff. The last true album I bought was from Brandi Carlile. That chick has a great grittiness to her voice in addition to a tender quality that can captivate you very quickly.

Favorite album of all time?
Hmmmmm….that’s a loaded question. I would answer this based on what album affected me the most personally. There’s an album called “The American” by Martin Sexton that probably influenced me the most as a singer. For some reason, that CD demonstrated to me the true power a single voice can make without a ton of instrumentation.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Can’t answer that one because I only buy stuff that I like…..haha.

First concert attended?
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 88/89….right after the AJ Palumbo Center opened.  My best friend’s older brother took us down because we weren’t old enough to drive……pretty wild that he is still singing some of the same tunes and packing places.

Last concert?
Preservation Hall Jazz Band…..great show…..true talent and class.

Favorite concert ever?
I’m not sure why I went or how I got tickets because I wasn’t even a fan, but I wound up at a Hall and Oates concert at Star Lake probably 20 some years ago. It was a stripped down show with minimal instrumentation. To this day, I’m not a huge fan of Hall and Oates, but that concert impacted me profoundly. I remember leaving that show and thinking that a few guys and a few instruments sounded so pure and captivated so many people. I can’t say it was the best concert, but it made me look at music differently.

Least favorite concert?
Put it this way, if you have to dance and put on a huge stage production the entire show, it’s probably not my cup of tea. I appreciate shows where the music and the musicians can stand alone, whether that be a solo acoustic musician or a heavy metal band. I just want to see people play music without the circus side show.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is a pretty cool place based on the people that have made it that way. The small pockets of ethnic backgrounds truly make the city a cultural melting pot of art, food, and work. As a musician and fan of music, there are more concerts coming in and out of the city every night now than ever. You can catch a different national/regional act in addition to your local shows daily because of some of the new venues that have opened. Now, the city has to develop a reputation for music outside of the area.

Thanks, Ben. Also, thanks so much for the new CD, man. Been digging it, big time!

First/Last-'The Essentials' Gospel Gossip

"Gospel Gossip are a beautiful mess of noise and emotion. The trio's loud, fragile pop songs have earwormed into discriminating listeners' psyches for years now. Following a three-year lag, Gospel Gossip return with their best work yet, a self-titled LP that references where they've been and where things are going. While the soaring guitars and insidious melodies remain, these songs peel back a layer of feedback to reveal a nod to classic pop songwriting previously buried on earlier records. The sad beauty true to Galaxie 500, Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young is on full tilt here. Gospel Gossip's new record finds them more mature, honest, and once more clutching great songs aimed at the heavens."

Check out the 'jangle-popgazers' at Facebook, BandCamp, Twitter and Tumblr. This band has been a favorite of mine since they blew me away at the New American Music Union Festival back in the Summer of 2008. They were the first band to play the 'College Stage' at 10 a.m. and I thought then and still think now they were the best. I have been following them ever since and even though my wish of a return trip to Pittsburgh hasn't materialized as of yet, they have been releasing great music, including their latest, "Gospel Gossip", this past March. I want to thank M. Oliver Moltaji (Drums/Guitar/Piano) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
My first album was Oasis, “What's the Story Morning Glory?” back in 1995.

Your last album bought?
Tamaryn, “Tender New Signs”.

Favorite album of all time?
It's a toss-up between Velvet Underground 2nd Self-Titled and Eno, “Another Green World”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Gospel Gossip, “Sing Into My Mouth”.

First concert attended?
I don't remember all too well, but it was either The Dismemberment Plan or Built To Spill at The Metro in Chicago.

Last concert?
Chris Cohen at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis.

Favorite concert ever?
Seeing Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees at Turf Club in St. Paul last year for sure!

Least favorite concert?
I wouldn't say it was absolutely terrible because I enjoyed myself and got a kick out of the show. But Jesus & Mary Chain were unbelievably terrible at First Ave last time they came through. Jim Reid was totally self-aware of it to and wouldn't hesitate to point it out. I'm sure over time I will think of it as my favorite concert ever.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
We haven't been through Pittsburgh since we played the American Eagle Festival well over five years ago. We had such a great time, and I remember thinking it was very eye-catching…reminded me of a bigger Minneapolis or Milwaukee.

Thank, Ollie. Five years IS way too long. Please come back and play. In fact, I wouldn't mind if you played "Sing Into My Mouth" all the way through! I love that album!

First/Last-Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk

Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk

The Smiling Moose

Friday, May 31, 2013

Southside

"In a world where the gift of simply appreciating music seems to have been lost, it takes something extraordinary to capture the heart and the attention of listeners. Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk do just that. From captivating folk-pop melodies to an authentic and energetic performance, you’ll get drawn in to the music and won’t be letting go anytime soon."

Check out the band at their official Website, Facebook, MySpace, Blog and Twitter. They are touring behind the latest release, "Over Land and Sea", from Wanderer Records and hit the Moose for tomorrow night's early show on a bill with Amber Lane. My thanks to Lauren Mann (Piano/Ukelele/Lead Vocals) herself for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
This will be embarrassing! I don't specifically remember, but it was probably a Christian contemporary artist...probably the four-female-singers-fronted band Point of Grace.

Your last album bought?
“Home” by Mike Mains and the Branches.

Favorite album of all time?
This is hard, but I think it would have to be “The Everglow” by the band Mae because it's probably been my most played album for years and it never gets old.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
When I was in high school I was really into Death Cab for Cutie and I went to the music store and asked if they knew of any other bands that sounded like them. The guy gave me a Straylight Run album, and it was nothing like Death Cab and not the kind of music I generally enjoy. I tried to like it, but I was fairly disappointed.

First concert attended?
I remember my first local show in Calgary, it was with a band I was friends with and a bunch of hardcore bands. It was funny because I didn't really know those kind of shows existed, and then a little while later I was playing those kind of shows.

Last concert?
We got to see the band Mutemath in Rhode Island. It was incredible!

Favorite concert ever?
Really any concert that makes me want to never stop writing music is my favourite. But if I had to pick one, it would probably be seeing Eisley at a small club in Indianapolis. They're one of my favourite bands and seeing them play live was a great memory.

Least favorite concert?
One time at Warped Tour I was waiting to see The Classic Crime, and on the adjacent stage was Katy Perry. I only caught a few songs, and for her last song she played her famous ‘I Kissed a Girl’. Even though that wasn't a full concert, that was my least favourite.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I've only been to Pittsburgh once and after our show we went to the famous Primanti Brothers Restaurant and had their amazing sandwiches. We are excited to go back!

Thanks, Lauren. Isn't it funny how a record store clerk's rec's for a similar artist can be WAY off? That has happened to me a few times as well.