First/Last-Quilt

"It’s not uncommon to form a band while in college, and that is exactly what Quilt did. Its primary members, Shane Butler and Anna Fox Rochinski (as well as Taylor Mcvay—who plays on much of the record, but has since left the band amicably) were all visual art students at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, but bonded over their mutual love of weird, experimental jams and classic pop harmonies. John Andrews joined the band as drummer after opening for every Quilt show on tour in 2009. Butler grew up in a “spiritual community with a lot of musical chanting” and Rochinski was “doing classical singing in choirs that had a lot of crazy harmonies. There’s a lot of repetitive, almost mantra stuff in our songs,” she adds. Quilt is a band with strong roots that formed at the apex of the point in your life when you’re thinking about your own art and what it all means. Then you grow up. You get married, you get a real job, life gets in the way of your art. But the support structure of the band is strong, and they powered through. This self-titled debut full length is the result."

Check out the band on Facebook, BandCamp, Twitter and Tumblr. The 'psych-folk' trio very recently released their sophomore album "Held in Splendor" via Mexican Summer and celebrate by hitting Brillo tonight with local fellow weirdos Shakey Shrines and Butterbirds. I want to thank Anna Rochinski (Guitar/Organ/Vocals), Shane Butler (Guitar/Vocals) and John Andrews (Drums/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Anna Rochinski: Hmm, probably a Beatles album.
Shane Butler: Third Eye Blind on cassette was my first music purchase with my own money in the 3rd grade.
My first LP was a Meat Puppets double LP when I was in early high school.
John Andrews: I think it was the “Yellow Submarine”, but I’m not sure. That was a long time ago. Sometimes I forget what I had for breakfast in the morning.

Your last album bought?
Anna: Like, actually purchased and paid money for? I got some cool Talking Heads and Connie Francis cassettes recently.
Shane: Last records I bought were a recording of a Balinese chant and a collection of Sacred Harp / Shape Note singing at Deep Thoughts in JP.
John: Geoff and Maria Muldaur “Sweet Potatoes”. I got it from BOHO record gallery in Lancaster, PA. The title track is a pretty magical tune.

Favorite album of all time?
Anna: I don't think I have one!
Shane: Well, this is contestable, but I've found myself listening to “Tattv-Guna-Mala Number Two” by Tirath Singh Nirmala, a collection of Rajhastani Gypsy songs titled “Musafir” and “The Velvet Underground and Nico” quite a bit in the last few years.
John: Pretty hard question for anyone to answer, but I would say “The Maureeny Wishful Album”. It was Jimmy Page's folk band in '68. Everyone should know it, but no one does.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Anna: I don't think I have one of these, either!
Shane: “Who Let The Dogs Out” by Baha Men, besides the single all the other songs blew the big one.
John: If I don’t like them, I turn ‘em off!!!!

First concert attended?
Anna: The first concert I ever went to on purpose out of my own free will was to see Aerosmith on New Year’s Eve in 1998 when I was 11 years old. My mom came with me. It was amazing. I didn't know about 'opening bands', and Candlebox was opening and I was really confused when I first got there because they didn't look or sound at all like Aerosmith.
Shane: First real show I remember going to was a show of 31G bands in North Philly when I was sixteen. The bill was Chinese Stars, Moving Units, and Kill Me Tomorrow.
John: Hanson. 1998. My chakra exploded.

Last concert?
Anna: The last big concert I went to without being a performer in the concert was to see Tame Impala last Spring in Boston. The last "show" I went to was to see The Fedavees and Bobb Trimble play in Cambridge a few months ago.
Shane: Last concert was a show we played with Daniel Bachman and Ryley Walker at the Fairfield Chapel in Oberlin, OH.
John: I saw Black Sabbath play 2 days ago, and I coincidentally had seats next to one of my friends that i didn't even know was going to the concert. I also tailgated for the first time and had a jello shot.

Favorite concert ever?
Anna: Oh jeez. I mean, that Aerosmith one was insane because it was my FIRST concert. It only happens once, you know? Ha-ha. My second concert was also a really big deal, seeing Fiona Apple when I was 12.
Shane: Again, contestable -- but the first time I ever saw this band A Faun and a Pan Flute from Atlanta was pretty memorable. Also, the last time I saw Mike Bruno & The Black Magic Family was very memorable.
John: Michael Hurley played in an old barn in Lancaster, PA. We all sat on bales of hay and there were Amish girls there.

Least favorite concert?
Anna: Hah. Umm... I don't know, I usually go to see bands that I really like.
Shane: One time, when I was in high-school, I went to go see Donovan play and for some reason I got so bored with him telling stories that I left in the middle to go skateboard outside. And I love Donovan. He played a good ‘Riki Tiki Tavi’ but I just couldn't wait for the Hurdy Gurdy at the time; I'm glad I've cultivated patience on some level since then. I love Hurdy Gurdy.
John: I usually sneak outta them if I don't like ‘em.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Anna: I'm looking forward to playing there again, because last time the sound at the show was so bad that we had to stop in the middle of a song because of all the feedback. This time will be much better, I promise.
Shane: One time my friend Benjamin peed in a sink in Pittsburgh.
John: Go Penguins!!!!!!

Thanks, guys. I have been a serious hardcore fan since I heard your stuff and can't wait to see you play.


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