First/Last-Luke McGowan

Luke McGowan is a Pittsburgh based 'indie psych pop anti-folkster'. Definitely my kind of music. I want to thank him for taking a few to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
I think the first album I ever bought was a Monkees' “Greatest Hits” disc. I know for a fact that the first album I ever had was “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles.

Your last album bought?
I got a few albums from Unifaun Records before it went out of business. I think I got “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra doing highlights from Wagner's “Der Ring”, and a John Denver “Greatest Hits”.

Favorite album of all time?
Either “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” by Neutral Milk Hotel or “The Monitor” by Titus Andronicus. I really like the whole concept album... concept. Both bands really know how to layer instruments and noises well.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I had super high expectations for The Front Bottoms “Talon of the Hawk” LP, especially after their self-titled, but I really only got into one or two songs off of it.

First concert attended?
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on their ‘Magic’ tour. I went with my dad. It was great.

Last concert?
Well, Say Anything was the headliner, but I went to see The Front Bottoms on their most recent tour.

Favorite concert ever?
Either Neutral Milk Hotel with Elf Power in May at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland or Titus Andronicus with Roger Harvey and the Wildlife and Baked at Cattivo in Lawrenceville. A super cool thing about the NMH show was when Elf Power dedicated a cover of ‘Jumping Fences’ by The Olivia Tremor Control to the late Bill Doss.

Least favorite concert?
I felt really weird when I saw Titus Andronicus open up for Lucero. All of the Lucero fans stood still and drank cheap beer through Titus Andronicus and all I wanted to do was dance. The only times I have a bad time at a concert is when everyone wants to stand still.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I really like the community. It's the only city that I've been to where you can say hello to a stranger on the street. I grew up and Shaler and then made the huge move across the river to Lawrenceville. I like the sense of community. Everyone has a relative or something in Shaler that has moved to Bloomfield or Lawrenceville to get away from the suburbs. Everyone in Lawrenceville knows someone who went to settle down in Shaler. As far as the music scene goes, it is awesome and super welcoming.

Thanks, Luke. Turns out my dad took to to a Springsteen show for one of my first concerts. Granted it was 27 years before yours...

First/Last-Leanne Kingwell

"She bought her first guitar in high school and formed her first band while earning a degree in Graphic Arts at University. Thus began a decade-long odyssey of constant live gigs that honed her performance and song-writing skills and took Leanne from small Underground venues to Centre Stage Stadium shows."

Leanne Kingwell is an Australian hard rocker who latest album is entitled "Choking on Halos". Dubbed 'the Queen of Aussie rock', she recently released the acclaimed video for the title song and I really want to thank her for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
A rock compilation called “FULL BOAR” that I bought with my Christmas money when I was 8 because it came with this wicked  poster of a nasty looking punk Pigs Head wearing Ray-Bans… Ray-Bans became my signature eyewear for quite some time. The poster disappeared mysteriously from my bedroom wall one day. (Mum had hated it from the moment she saw it.) I was pretty upset so she replaced it with a "My Little Pony" poster. This damaged me for life.

Your last album bought?
Verdi and Mozart “Greatest Hits” compilations. Needed the de-stress. Working two time zones recording in L.A. was taking a toll. It's a proven fact their music has all sorts of soothing, therapeutic effects on body and brain. I'll be first in line for tix when they tour.

Favorite album of all time?
Pink Floyd's "The Wall". Simply the best public psychoanalysis session ever.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Without a doubt, Keith Richard's solo album. WTF were you thinking, Keef?

First concert attended?
David Bowie ‘Glass Spider Tour’.

Last concert?
30 Seconds to Mars, Gibson Amphitheatre, L.A. It was great to see a show in that famous venue before they pulled it down.

Favorite concert ever?
Nirvana, at The Palace in my neighbourhood. They were yet to break big in Australia. Still playing smaller venues and building the buzz. Seeing them at The Palace was like Nirvana were playing our local pub. Unforgettable.

Least favorite concert?
Um…. the one where my guitar got left behind at a venue by lead guitarist of my band, who was carrying it around as a spare. He got drunk. Left the gig. Hadn't realised he'd left it there till I asked him where it was 2 weeks later. Moral of the story, never lend your Axe to a dick-head. He'll never love it like you do. Do I still sound angry?

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?

I've never been there but I'm sure it's a wonderful place.

Thanks, Leanne. Hi from the other side of the globe! Can I be the first to claim the album title, "Never Lend Your Axe to a Dick-Head"!?!

First/Last-Arum Rae

"Arum Rae, formerly known as White Dress, is a modern day siren based in Brooklyn, by way of Austin, TX. Arum’s music and her voice is here to inspire… it is honest at its core so that you can do with it what you please, with no regrets. Everything Arum has lived through and all of the songs that have been born from it, are not meant to impress. They are meant to lead. Her ability to transcend styles allows the music to complement country, resurrect the soul, feel the blues, and ruin then re-invent rock, through her deeply rooted foundation as a singer-songwriter."

Arum Rae is a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn who stops in Pittsburgh tonight to play the Hard Rock Cafe in support of her latest EP, "Warranted Queen". I want to thank her for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
"Forever Your Girl" Paula Abdul.

Your last album bought?
Common "Nobody's Smiling".

Favorite album of all time?
Don't think I can answer that.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Hmmm… I’m trying to think of an actor or baseball player who decided to try music...

First concert attended?
Lauryn Hill / Outkast.

Last concert?
Aretha Franklin.

Favorite concert ever?
Gary Clark JR. playing doing the ACL taping in Austin TX several years ago. I heard God that night.

Least favorite concert?
Swedish metal band Watain who throws pig or goat blood on the audience at each show.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I don't believe I've ever been to Pittsburgh but I remember the Steelers used to beat the Broncos all the time when I was growing up... is that true?

Thanks, Arum. I really don't know for sure but yeah, the Steelers spanking the Broncos over and over sounds about right.

First/Last-John Velghe & The Prodigal Sons

"Over the course of his 15 year career, John Velghe has established himself as a particularly conscientious and talented tender of the rock and roll flame. The Independence, Missouri born musician/songwriter has played with several noteworthy bands, but it is his latest work, with the Prodigal Sons, which has given him a big enough vehicle for his ambitious vocal reach and vista-vision poetry. John Lennon and Chuck Berry lie at that core, but the guitars, horns and supportive backing vocals in this band allow Velghe to seamlessly blend other pieces of the greater rock story—from Sun to Stax to 2 Tone and Twin Tone. Organ Donor Blues is the perfect album for such a big sound. It’s both a record for rock’s true believers and a bare-knuckled face off with reality."

John Velghe is an 'alt-country' songwriter from Kansas City, Missouri who's latest album is entitled "Organ Donor Blues" which features Alejandro Escoveda on the title track. The tour which brings him to Pittsburgh tomorrow afternoon at the funky Leaf and Bean in the Strip is a motorcycle only trek to raise awareness for Organ Donation.

The first album you ever bought?
The first record I bought was a 45 of ‘Maybelline’ by Chuck Berry. But the first LP I bought with my own money was Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America” on an account of a crush I had in grade school.

Your last album bought?
“Midnight Souvenirs” by Peter Wolf. I was a little late to this party, it came out in 2014. It’s a great record.

Favorite album of all time?
It’s a tie between the two albums I find myself coming back to all the time: Big Star’s “#1 Record“ or Alejandro Escovedo’s “A Man Under the Influence”.  I think Chris Stamey brings out the best in Alejandro, and Jim Dickinson brought out the best in everyone.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I have thousands of albums, and I’ve bought a few clams. But only one has the distinction of being returned to the label. I actually mailed a Dashboard Confessional album back to Vagrant Records. I told them I didn’t want a refund, that I openly acknowledged the mistake I made in buying it, if only they’d admit the mistake they made in releasing it.

First concert attended?
I think it was The Kinks at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, KS for their “The Road” tour.

Last concert?
The last proper Concert (with a capital “C”) I saw (as opposed to a show in a club) was Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS. Sharon and the band just put bands a third their age to shame. Next week I’ll see the Replacements in Minneapolis at the Midway Stadium.

Favorite concert ever?
Probably that Sharon Jones concert; the joy and vitality and absence of pretense, how much she genuinely cares for her audience, it was all life affirming and reminded me that the audience is why you perform music. Leave your pretentiousness in the van/bus.

Least favorite concert?
Any concert where the performer is doing it for themselves and not the audience is a letdown. Luckily we live in a time where that reputation will precede you, so when I get wind of those I just don’t go to the show.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?

I love Western Pennsylvania. In previous tours I’ve not had a chance to stop in Pittsburgh so I’m looking forward to it. Tom Breiding, who’s gracious enough to host me, is doing some great things with the United Mine Workers union and helping restore healthcare to their retired members. I just think it’s important for musicians to engage in their community beyond selling them records and playing shows, so from that perspective, my impression of the music community there is a good one.

Thanks, John. I really dig the venue you are playing at. I also dig the concept of the tour you are on as well.

First/Last-Summer Underground

"Grant Carey and Chrissy Sandman began making music as Summer Underground during the summer of 2011 in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Retreating back home after a year of college, the duo recorded their first album, Beneath This City, in their basements and living rooms. Recorded on a macbook with a single microphone, the album was created through trial and error."

Summer Underground is a folk duo originally from Pittsburgh but is now based in New York City. They have a Kickstarter campaign which ends next week to help make their latest album "Honeycomb". I have been a huge fan of these two for a couple of years now and have been patiently waiting until they were ready to be on the blog. I want to finally be able to thank multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Grant Carey and Chrissy Sandman for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Grant Carey: Third Eye Blind's self-titled album.
Chrissy Sandman: Dixie Chicks' “Taking The Long Way”.

Last album bought?
Grant: “Tallahassee” by The Mountain Goats.
Chrissy: “The Moon Rang Like A Bell” by Hundred Waters.

Favorite album of all time?
Grant: Tie between “Boxer” by The National and “Born to Run”.
Chrissy: “Begin to Hope” by Regina Spektor or “Seven Swans” by Sufjan Stevens.

Least favorite album?
Grant: I was expecting more from “Battle Born” by The Killers.
Chrissy: Regina is my girl but I was a little disappointed by how produced “Far” was compared to her more performative earlier albums.

First concert attended?
Grant: My dad is a huge KISS fan so he took me to a show at the Post-Gazette Pavilion when I was nine. Full face make up and everything.
Chrissy: My dad also took me to my first show at the Post-Gazette Pavilion - John Mayer was opening for Sheryl Crow.

Last concert?
Grant & Chrissy: We both actually just went to go see Def Leppard open for KISS in Pittsburgh with Grant's family. Earlier this summer we went to see Andrew Bird in Central Park... quite the contrast!

Favorite concert ever?
Grant: Springsteen.
Chrissy: Most recently, Tycho - amazing beachy visuals were perfectly paired with the music. Sufjan Steven's ‘Age of Adz’ tour where he dressed like a futuristic astronaut and released neon balloons from the ceiling was also great.

Least favorite concert?
Grant: I saw Styx after a Pirates' Game at PNC Park and it was pretty goofy.
Chrissy: Feist getting rained out after one song at Governor's Ball was a bummer. The whole island was a swamp.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Grant & Chrissy: We have spent many fond memories driving in Grant's beat up green van over the many bridges and under the many underpasses in downtown Pittsburgh. For us Pittsburgh has always been home - we met in high school in the South Hills, and have returned here every summer to record  new music. From sneaking around in the South Side as teenagers (we thought we were cool), to food shopping in the Strip, to holding our first jobs (Chrissy worked at the Science Center, Grant at Eleven).... We love the Burgh!

Thanks, guys. How long has it been since I wanted you on the blog? (Answer: Christmas 2012!) So thrilled you are finally on it.