First/Last-Speedy Ortiz

"From their start as a full band, Speedy Ortiz found a warm reception in the Bay State’s rock underground, from Boston’s basements to Western Massachusetts’ experimental scene. In March 2012, the band recorded and self-released a two-song single (“Taylor Swift” / “Swim Fan”) with Paul Q. Kolderie (Pixies, Hole) and Justin Pizzoferrato (Chelsea Light Moving, Dinosaur Jr.). Establishing both creative momentum and a fanbase earned through near-constant U.S. touring, they continued with the Sports EP, a loosely conceptual 10” released on Exploding In Sound that June.

Their debut album Major Arcana, named Best New Music by Pitchfork, saw the evolution of Speedy Ortiz from a lo-fi project into a wholly collaborative effort, marked by Darl Ferm’s thick bass lines, drummer Mike Falcone’s boisterous fills, and the counterbalance between guitarist Matt Robidoux’s anti-melodic playing and frontwoman Sadie Dupuis’s angular riffing. The end result is a band able to distill their influences and impulses into something at once dissonant and melodic."

Check out the band on Facebook, Twitter, LiveJournal and BandCamp. The 'snack-rock' quartet has two albums and three EP's under the belt, the latest being "Real Hair" via Carpark Records. You can probably hear most of it live when the band returns to Pittsburgh this Thursday at The Smiling Moose on a bill with local Legs Like Tree Trunks, The Fledgelings and Wicked Chief for the early show. Much thabks to Matt Robidoux (Guitar), Mike Falcone (Drums), Sadie Dupuis (Guitar/Vocals) and Darl Ferm (Bass) for taking a minute to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Matt Robidoux: “Amish Paradise” by ‘Weird’ Al.
Mike Falcone: “Different Light” by The Bangles.
Sadie Dupuis: “Ready to Die” by Notorious B.I.G.
Darl Ferm: The ‘Little Nicky’ Soundtrack.

Your last album bought?
Matt: “3 Listening Events” by Matthew P. Hopkins.
Mike: ''05 Fuck 'Em'” by Lil' B/
Sadie: “Surfing Strange” by Swearin'.
Darl: “Collison” by Ex-Breathers.

Favorite album of all time?
Matt: Ummm…
Mike: “Alien Lanes” by Guided By Voices
Sadie: Aqua's seminal album “Aquarium”.
Darl: “Loveless” by My Bloody Valentine.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Matt: Will Smith “Willenium”.
Mike: Jet “Get Born”.
Sadie: Aqua's seminal album “Aquarium”.
Darl: “Til the Casket Drops” by Clipse (but they are still the best rap group ever).

First concert attended?
Matt: Foreigner at Six Flags New England.
Mike: Waylon Jennings at Oakdale Theater, Wallingford, CT.
Sadie: I went to other concerts with my parents as a kid, but the first that I elected to go to of my own volition was No Doubt at the Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY. Or wait, maybe a Hanson live VH1 taping around the same time.
Darl: Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age at Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA.

Last concert?
Matt: 4th annual Peskeomskut Noisecapades, Turner's Falls, MA.
Mike: Earl Sweatshirt, North Carolina.
Sadie: That we didn't play? Grass Is Green / Ovlov / Palehound / Krill / Trespasser at the Elk's Lodge in Cambridge, MA.
Darl: Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age at Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA.

Favorite concert ever?
Matt: Christian Wolff at Wesleyan University chapel.
Mike: Weezer, The Get-Up Kids & Ozma, Boston/NYC, March 2001.
Sadie: Fat History Month, Florida=Death and Psychic Blood in a weird heatless garage in the dead of winter, 2011.
Darl: Big Boi at the Wesleyan University Spring Fling in 2010.

Least favorite concert?
Matt: This joint in Lake Villa, IL that I played in an old band. We played with Christian rock bands and the club had a "rule" that out of town bands didn't get paid.
Mike: The Vines, Hartford, CT.
Sadie: Third Eye Blind at MIT Spring Festival, 2008.
Darl: When I played at University of Southern Maine with my old band. There's video evidence of us watching TV during the entire set (mostly advertisements for the Speed Racer movie).

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Matt: Yeah! We played at 222 Ormsby two summers ago and it was awesome! I think that space is done though (R.I.P.)... One of my favorite small labels Unread Records is now based there.
Mike: Art Blakey rules.
Sadie: I wish "yinz" was national.
Darl: Black and Yellow.

Thanks, all. Not so fast on the mourning of 222 Ormsby, Matt. From what I hear, they are figuring out logistics and may be putting on shows again at the end of Summer? Finger's crossed.