Video of the Day-1,2,3

Pittsburgh faves 1,2,3 have just released a wonderfully creepy video for their equally creepy song, 'Darkly Through The Valley.'

Happy Halloween!

First/Last-My Tulpa

 "Tulpa - A materialized thought that has taken physical form.

When you're sick of all the other stuff that's out there, stop by to listen to music made by some unemployed goofballs."

My Tulpa is the moniker of folk-punk DIY multi-instrumentalist TJ Boudreau. Hailing from Baltimore, My Tulpa just released his debut album, "Daymares" via Tallbed Records. Much thanks to TJ for taking a few to participate in this edition of First/Last.

 

The first album you ever bought?
With my own money? It was “Doolittle” by The Pixies.

Your last album bought?
“Electric Warrior” by T-Rex.

Favorite album of all time?
I don’t have a favorite but one I’ve been listening to a lot recently is “6 Feet Beneath the Moon” by King Krule.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
“WZRD” by Kid Cudi, it’s just all around a very disappointing album.

First concert attended?
Green Day in 2004.

Last concert?
I went to see this band Skull Theft last night from Baltimore. Their energy was amazing.

Favorite concert ever?
When I saw Jeff Beck a few years ago, his guitar playing just blew me away.

Least favorite concert?
Probably when I saw Sum 41, they sounded terrible and my friend got into a fight with this guy who was 5 years older than us.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?

I’ve only been to Pittsburgh once to see KISS and I didn’t get to see much of the city but what I did see I thought was pretty rad, and I thought it was cool how you have to drive through a mountain to get into the city from the highway.

Thanks, TJ. Wait, you came all the way to Pittsburgh to see a KISS show? They don't play Baltimore?

First/Last-Coastal Remedy

"Coastal Remedy is an up and coming band out of Indiana, Pennsylvania. We are four aspiring musicians combined from different projects to create something truly unique. Max Bizousky (lead vocals and guitar) joined with Dylan Murphy (drums), Adam Hess (lead guitar) and Matt Snyder (bass). We recently released our sophomore album To the World featuring 14 original. We released our debut self-titled album Coastal Remedy on December 29th, 2012, featuring 11 originals and Luke Stultz on Keyboard."

Coastal Remedy is an Alt-Rock band from Indiana, PA. Their latest release, "To The World" dropped last month and you can catch them Nov. 8th at the Indiana Theater opening for The Clarks. I want to thank Matt Snyder (Bass) 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 maybe “Stadium Arcadium” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers when I was like 14. I listened to it in its entirety three times through on day I bought it (keep in mind it’s a 28 song double album) and it is what truly inspired me to play bass.

Your last album bought?
After acquiring my turntable, I buy albums like no tomorrow. The latest LP that I purchased was The New Pornographers new album titled “Brill Bruisers” on white vinyl with multicolor streaks through it. Not only does it look awesome but I also dig the new material as much as I did the songs on “Electric Version”. Like many artists these days, it kinda has a throw back 80’s sound to it. I highly recommend it.

Favorite album of all time?
This is the hardest question I have ever been asked. I am going to have to say it’s split between Kings of Leon’s 2007 release “Because of Times” or Radiohead’s “Ok Computer”. I don’t listen to random songs from an artist; I listen to their albums from beginning to end.  Both of these albums are very well structured and I think they are nearly perfect.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I am going to have to say that I am very disappointed with The Whigs 4th and 5th albums, “Modern Creation” and “Enjoy the Company”. This is a band that was brought to me by my band mates when they saw them tour with Kings of Leon. I never listened to their first album, but their albums “Mission Control” and “In the Dark” were so innovative and fresh for rock ‘n’ roll. The newest albums just didn’t live up to them and sounded to me like they ran out of creativity.

First concert attended?
Like many people my age in the Pittsburgh Area, the first concert that I actually remember going to was The Clarks. It is an honor to now being sharing the stage with them when they play in Indiana.

Last concert?
I recently saw Band of Skulls when they came through town. That band is absolutely killer live and every song of theirs is a hit. It was a great show.

Favorite concert ever?
The best concert I have ever seen is when I saw Mutemath at the Altar Bar. This band is one of my all-time favorites. Between the tons of confetti raining down, light up marching band drums, the awesome musicianship, and the fact that the singer spends more time surfing/in the crowd than on stage, you can’t help but feel the energy. You can’t be bored at one of their shows.  Plus they have a giant light up mattress that they use to surf on top of the crowd. I highly recommend everyone go see them if they decide to come back to Pittsburgh.

Least favorite concert?
I usually try to be supportive of every artist that I see live. However, I have to say that I was very disappointed by The Black Keys when I saw them.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is really turning into a great music scene. Everyone and their mother has a band or is doing the singer/songwriter thing. We owe all of our success to our fans and the people that we have met along the way. We have an excess of people who honestly want to see us be successful and just want to help out which we all genuinely appreciate. The Pittsburgh Area music scene feels like a real community where people actually work together and try to get along with each other.

Thanks, Matt. Awesome that your fellow 'Indianaonites' are taking you under their wing. Those guys have always been way cool.

Image of the Day-The Van Allen Belt CD Release

The Van Allen Belt Album Release at Brillobox on Friday, September 26, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA.

First/Last-J Fernandez

"Having migrated to Chicago for a job with the Rand McNally map company in the early aughts, J, or Justin, spent his following years playing in friends’ projects in Chicago’s active DIY scene. In his own time, he was mapping out out a series of personal recordings in his rudimentary home studio, it was these recordings that would develop into the first EP, Olympic Village.

Though somewhat crudely recorded (the lively Puerto Rican festivals of his adopted Humboldt Park neighborhood made cause for some creative EQ tinkering), that EP and its follow-up, No Luck, both showed undeniable songwriting prowess, and were released by Chicago-based labels Teen River and Lake Paradise. The resulting response that ensued from these releases earned diverse comparisons ranging from Stereolab to Syd Barrett to a young Robyn Hitchcock, while also earning some gentle jibes from his peers asking if he ever left his apartment after having been labeled a “bedroom pop artist.”

J Fernandez plays Pittsburgh Monday night (10/27) at Gooski's, touring behind his latest effort, the fantastic EP "Memorize Now". I want to thank Justin for taking a few minutes to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Nirvana “In Utero”.

Your last album bought?
Laetitia Sadier “Something Shines”.

Favorite album of all time?
I don’t want to say it’s the one and only favorite album. But Can’s “Tago Mago” is definitely one I keep coming back to.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Also don’t have a least favorite album. There’s a lot of good and bad music around.

First concert attended?
My dad took me to see the Rolling Stones – Voodoo Lounge tour. I think Bryan Adams was the opening act.

Last concert?
Last “concert” was Magnetic Fields at the Vic in Chicago. Last show was probably one that I played.

Favorite concert ever?
I’ve seen Yo La Tengo a few times. Pretty much any of their shows.

Least favorite concert?
When I was maybe ten years old, my cousin took me to a Boys II Men concert.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
If I decide to leave Chicago, I’ll move to Pittsburgh.

Thanks, Justin. I also saw the Stones' Voodoo Lounge tour. I got kicked out of the stadium for being too intoxicated. Ah... good times.

First/Last-The Quick & Easy Boys

"On their fourth full-length, Portland, Oregon-based psychedelic rock/melodic-pop outfit The Quick & Easy Boys make a record you can shake your hips and move your feet to, all courtesy of Los Lobos keyboardist/horn player and producer Steve Berlin. Berlin recorded Follow Us Overboard at Modest Mouse mastermind Isaac Brock's private studio, where Modest Mouse has been recording their next record for the past two years; The Quick & Easy Boys the first outside band to record there."

The Quick & Easy Boys are a power rock trio from Portland, Oregon who's latest release is entitled "Follow Us Overboard". I want to thank Sean Badders (Bass/Lead Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
When I was in 4th or 5th grade I bought my first two albums at the same time: Naughty By Nature's "19naughty3" and Anthrax's "Attack of the Killer B's". Looking back it seems kind of a weird mix, but I think Anthrax did a track with Public Enemy on that album which is probably what sold me. The song ‘Starting Up a Posse’ was mind blowing for a 9-year-old. It went from country to metal and was filled with so much good profanity. I later learned they did it in response to the PMRC being assholes -- I did a 100 page research project on the PMRC and profane lyrics in college -- as the song is very unlike everything else I heard from them.

Your last album bought?
The last album I bought was Future Islands' "Singles". Awesome, awesome synth-pop. All the songs are really catchy and nice, if you're into that kind of music.

Favorite album of all time?
Very tough question, but my answer today is "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys. Brian Wilson is a musical beast and you hear new instruments and parts every time you listen. Carl Wilson's vocals are so soaring and just have that trademark sound. We play it a lot in the van and after every listen I end up with the whole album stuck in my head for like a week. Random snippets of lyrics or music will just pop in my head at any given time, which can be pretty rough when you're trying to sleep. I will also use this opportunity to publicly state The Quick & Easy Boys' hatred of Mike Love.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I'm having a hard time thinking of any album that I genuinely don't like, but I'll go ahead and say I probably wouldn't like late '80's/early '90's Richard Marx albums, or any Richard Marx albums for that matter.

First concert attended?
My parent's brought me to a show at the Oregon Zoo when I was 9 or 10. I don't remember the band but Jerry Garcia came out and sat in with them. I thought it was so bizarre the way all the people were dancing, and at one point my then 4 year-old cousin ran down to the front of the stage and my friend and I had to go find her. The hippies were so scary and bizarre to us, and I remember they grabbed my friend's hands and danced with him. I love the Grateful Dead now, but at the time those hippies scared me. They still do...

Last concert?
It's hard to get to see concerts because we gig so much when most good shows are happening, and I'm totally drawing a blank on it... The last event I saw was Neil deGrasse Tyson do a speaking-concert/lecture which was pretty awesome. We have a little down time before our next tour in November so next week I'm actually going to see Jungle on Thursday in Portland and Phish on Friday in Eugene. I'm not the biggest Phish fan, but I do dig them and I haven't seen them in 10 years, and it's happening at this brand new, crazy Nike-money basketball stadium at the University of Oregon (which is where we went to school and started the band) so it's kind of a sentimental show for me. Stoked for both but for totally different reasons.

Favorite concert ever?
This is a question that can change on any day for a million reasons, but I'm going to go with the first time I saw Lady Gaga. I went by myself, got blackout drunk and danced like a maniac with my shirt off. People were giving me food because I was in such bad shape. I don't remember much but I know I had a great time.

Least favorite concert?
The least favorite show I've seen was Modest Mouse in 2000/2001 in Eugene, OR at the WOW Hall. I was/am/will be a Modest Mouse fan and I love all their albums, but it was such a mellow show I remember standing there thinking "I could be laying in my living room listening to the albums and it would be more exciting than this." Hopefully this isn't taken in bad form as we used Isaac's studio and instruments to record our new album, but it just didn't seem like a particularly inspired performance. Compared to how lively/exciting they can be.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
We played Pittsburgh once like 6 years ago. It was our first time on the east coast and we played a spot called the Black Cat Cafe or something like that. The show was unexceptional, but the streets were all closed around it for a huge Italian street festival going on. It was massive and at the time I had never seen such Italian pride in one place. We had some amazing food and it was a great people watching experience -- so many characters.

Thanks, Sean. Hmmm... not sure if we have a Black Cat Cafe, here. If there was an Italian Fest, you are probably talking about Bloomfield... Howler's Coyote Cafe, perhaps?