First/Last-Beat Cancer Benefit with Shannon Curfman

 "Sponsored by Pittsburgh City Paper, ABK Music, The Hard Rock Cafe, and Glimmer of Hope, the event will raise funds in support of a new integrative breast cancer oncology center called “A Home for Hope.” “A Home for Hope” will be built within UPMC’s existing Hillman Cancer Center of Pittsburgh. The center, a joint project from Glimmer of Hope and UPMC, will offer holistic, innovative treatment options for young women fighting breast cancer in Western Pennsylvania."

Beat Cancer Pittsburgh is this Thursday, September 4th at the Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh in Station Square. This show has an incredible singer-songwriter line-up, in one of my favorite locations in the city and benefits a great cause. It's a no-brainer, folks. Grab your tickets here.
Blues rocker and headliner Shannon Curfman will close the night and I want to thank her for taking a few minutes to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?

I bought Rory Block's "When A Woman Gets The Blues" and Ani DiFranco's "Dilate" at the same time. They have both stood the test of time for me.

Your last album bought?

The last new music I bought was Sia's whole catalog. She dances to the beat of her own drum and it's so great to see that actually pan out in such an extraordinary way for an artist that has been busting her butt for a very long time.

Favorite album of all time?

Yikes. What a hard question. Zeppelin will always win out for me but Nikka Costa's "Everybody Got Their Something," is my favorite album of the last 20 years.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?

I can't answer this question specifically but I will say I get absolutely terrified when my favorite artists come out with a new CD. I get really bummed out when what I've been waiting for, for what is sometimes years, ends up being less than favorable.

First concert attended?

My first concert was the Marie Osmond and The Oak Ridge Boy's Christmas Spectacular at the Fargo Dome in North Dakota. Top that! :)

Last concert?

I've been on a big, local Minneapolis music kick so I've challenged myself to leave the comfort of my home while I have some time off from touring and try and go out to experience live music at least once every ten days. I live half an hour outside of town and I'm a homebody so this seems to prove harder than it really should. Anyway, the last big show (about a thousand person venue) I went to was a Greazy Meal reunion show which is an incredible, original funk band that consists of very accomplished national side musicians from Prince, Jonny Lang and more and big record producers. They remind me a lot of Sly & The Family Stone.

Favorite concert ever?

Jeff Beck always brings me to tears. I don't know what it is with that guy but as he gets older he seems to be really simplifying his playing and allowing more space and those are the moments that seem to move me most.

Least favorite concert?

Oy.. there have been loads but I'm not going to be the one to throw anyone under the bus!

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh has one of the best audiences in the world. There is an appreciation for music there that seems to have started to lack in some other parts of the country. My favorite, deeply personal memory of Pittsburgh will always be me secretly getting my first sonogram of my daughter there while on tour seven years ago.

Thanks, Shannon. Wow, what an awesome Pittsburgh memory! That is so sweet.