First/Last-Vikesh Kapoor

"Following a spur-of-the-moment cross-country trip with a pair of fiery European girls, Vikesh Kapoor left school for a brief yet inspiring stint as a mason’s apprentice. The America he had previously known resided narrowly between his childhood home in rural Pennsylvania and the New England university he left home for. Alongside his parents’ own immigrant struggles, these experiences quickly witnessed Kapoor to the scope of the American dream. A few years later, Kapoor performed at Howard Zinn’s memorial service in Boston, in front of Zinn’s family and colleagues (including Noam Chomsky). Roused by Zinn’s lifelong battle against class/race injustice, Kapoor spent the next two years in Portland, Oregon working on his full-length debut record. The Ballad Of Willy Robbins, a concept album loosely based on a newspaper article, chronicles the brutal but hopeful story of a working class man who slowly loses everything: ambitions, health, family and shelter. It’s a worker’s tale, less specific to the blue-collar life as it is about anyone struggling to make something of themselves."

Check out Vikesh at his official Website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Vikesh returns to Pittsburgh on Wednesday at Garfield Artworks to celebrate his latest album release, "The Ballad of Willy Robbins" via Mama Bird Recording Co. sharing the bill with Saintseneca and Advance Base (ex-Casiotone for the Painfully Alone). My thanks to Vikesh for taking a few to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
“Kriss Kross” S/T on cassette.

Your last album bought?
La Luz "It's Alive".

Favorite album of all time?
“Another Side of Bob Dylan”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
None to speak of.

First concert attended?
Collective Soul '93 (Lock Haven, PA).

Last concert?
Barna Howard, Landmark Saloon (Portland, OR).

Favorite concert ever?
Angel Olsen at Arcade Theater in Cottage Grove, OR or Girls at Great Scott in Boston, MA.

Least favorite concert?
None to speak of.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Images of Pittsburgh filled my head subconsciously when writing the songs for this debut album. Excited to finally be here to sing them.

Thanks, Vikesh. Turns out Adam Selzer, who produced your latest album, happens to be one of my all-time favorite songwriters!