First/Last-Love Letters

The Love Letters an a Pittsburgh indie-pop band that just so happening to be releasing a double 7" on Saturday night (that's four songs for those of you counting at home).  Read all about it with some local media love here and here. My thanks to Mike Shanley (Bass) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Three Dog Night “Cyan” (not their best effort).

Your last album bought?
Max Roach/Clifford Brown “In Concert”.

Favorite album of all time?
Minutemen “Double Nickels on the Dime”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Bon Iver self-titled.

First concert attended?
Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, Stanley Theater, 1981.

Last concert?
If you count club gigs, the Thoth Trio at Thunderbird (12/2/14).

Favorite concert ever?
Patti Smith, Metropol, summer of 2000.

Least favorite concert?
Thurston Moore doing free improv at Rodef Shalom Temple, 1997.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I've lived here all my life. Where do I begin? All those trips to record stores, many of which are no longer around. Numerous shows at the Electric Banana. Taking members of both Camper Van Beethoven and Big Dipper to the O for fries (on 2 separate occasions). Seeing the Bats (post-Michael Chabon) and realizing that you could wear glasses and denim and not need to spike your hair to play an all ages show at the Banana. Hanging out with jazz legend Cecil Taylor in the Hilton downtown.

Thanks, Mike. Damn, you've been around the scene a respectfully long time. Talk about a different era. Have a great show, man.

First/Last-Pearl and the Beard

"Brooklyn trio Pearl and the Beard passionately intertwine three distinct voices amidst a powerfully delicate orchestra of cello, guitars, keyboard, bells, and percussion, offering songs that speak to joy and sorrow, love and loss. The breadth of their songwriting and genre-defying sound is reflected in the vast variety of other artists with whom they've shared the stage, most notably Ani DiFranco, Matt & Kim, Ingrid Michaelson, DeVotchKa, Lucius, Laura Marling, The Drums, and The Lumineers."

Pearl and the Beard are an indie pop band from Brooklyn who are currently on tour with blog faves Wild Child. They both hit Pittsburgh this Friday (1/30) at The Rex and I want to thank 2/3 of the band in Jeremy Lloyd-Styles (Guitar/Percussion/Vocals) and Emily Hope Price (Cello/Keyboards/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Jeremy Lloyd-Styles: I think it was "Rapping for Jesus". I was very young and raised in a very religious household.
Emily Hope Price: I never bought albums until I was a little older - I recorded most of my favorite music from the radio and put it on a mixed tape. I was a super fancy techie: even when I was little. But, for my first purchase...? I don't actually remember - it might have been New Kids On the Block... or Paula Abdul. But I mainly listened to my dad's record collection, which was eclectic and wonderful.

Your last album bought?
Jeremy: Roberta Flack – “First Take” on dollar bin vinyl.
Emily: Alan Lomax: “Gaelic Songs of Scotland: Women At Work In the Western Isles”.

Favorite album of all time?
Jeremy: Three way tie: Weezer-“Blue Album”, Oasis “What's the Story (Morning Glory)” and Radiohead “OK Computer”.
Emily: This is tough. Michael Jackson: “Thriller” - keeps the hits comin'.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Jeremy: Done terribly recorded bootleg of a Weezer concert I bought in high school.
Emily: I don't get disappointed as I set my expectations super low - lots of stuff is great if you expect less! ;)

First concert attended?
Jeremy: The Winans.
Emily: (Non classical) Catherine Wheel opening for Belly.

Last concert?
Jeremy: The one I played last night in Durham.
Emily: You Won't at Rockwood Music Hall.

Favorite concert ever?
Jeremy: Death Cab for Cutie at the Wiltern in LA.
Emily: Coldplay at Red Rocks in 2003.

Least favorite concert?
Jeremy: Some KROQ free punk concert with Blink 182, MxPx, Homegrown, and Sprung Monkey because my friends and I almost got crushed to death in pit when everyone fell.
Emily: See least disappointing album.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Jeremy: Pittsburgh is home to my favorite football team: the Steelers. My great uncle played for them when they wore leather helmets.
Emily: I have lived in Pittsburgh before! I attended CMU for my master's degree in Cello Performance. I lived in Bloomfield and would often walk to/from school with my cello - it was HEAVY. In terms of a "favorite album", when I finally got a car and didn't have to take the 54C everywhere, the only tape I had in my car was Bjork's album “Debut”. It is still one of my all-time favorite albums and takes me back to driving around Pittsburgh and CMU campus instantly. I love Pittsburgh - it is still one of my favorite places to visit.

Thanks, guys. Love both of your Pittsburgh connections. Bloomfield to CMU walking with a cello, Emily? Jeez that's a haul.

First/Last-Douglas Lowell Blevins

Douglas Lowell Blevins is a Pittsburgh based singer songwriter who mixes blues, folk and Americana to create original music in the vein of Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes and JJ Grey. Check out his latest release, the beautiful "Cruel Variations" EP as I want to thank him for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
The first time I remember going to a music store specifically to buy something I wanted was when my parents bought me "Revolver" by The Beatles on cassette around Christmas 1990. I was nine and hearing The Beatles for the first time had turned my world upside down. Pittsburgh radio station 96.9 had decided to do a 36-hour Beatles-only program over Christmas that year, and I sat by the radio capturing it onto cassettes the whole time. My dad decided that I needed to own “Revolver”, and of course he was right.

Your last album bought?
I picked up the "Leave It Alone / Buried Alive" 45 by the Harlan Twins and the "Black Mark" LP by Host Skull from Wild Kindness Records online. Both are great!

Favorite album of all time?
Tough to decide, but Derek & the Dominos' "Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs," The Beatles' "Revolver," and The Black Crowes' "The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion" are always battling it out for first place.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I don't really have a least favorite one, since I get rid of anything I can't connect with, or ignore it altogether. Most disappointing would have to be "Live at Fillmore West" by Aretha Franklin, because I've bought two different used LPs of it, both flawless looking, and both do the classic "broken record" skip... during the same song. It's a musically stunning album though, no disappointment there.

First concert attended?
Keith Richards & The X-pensive Winos, with Soul Asylum, at the Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, February 1993. I was not quite twelve years old, and felt like I'd walked into another dimension. Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum ran around their entire stage space during a solo on one song, and I figured it was the most "rock & roll" thing ever. Then Keith & the Winos walked onstage, and were most definitely the most "rock & roll" thing ever.

Last concert?
Charlie Parr. The man does not disappoint. Possibly the most honest, straight-from-the-heart folk/blues you'll ever experience.

Favorite concert ever?
The Black Crowes at the Palumbo Center, 11/6/96, showed me as a teenager what live music was all about. It also helped that I had a front row seat. Sleater-Kinney in Cleveland, fall of 2002, is also really difficult to top. Standing just a few feet away from Carrie Brownstein in full force will leave an impression.

Least favorite concert?
I once played a show at DV8 Espresso Bar in Greensburg, PA, circa 2004, which was supposed to be with two other acts. When I arrived, one of the other musicians took one look at me and said, "You probably should play first. Because I'm really good." I went first, because arguing that logic is impossible. I didn't play too well, but every gig is a learning experience, right? Then the arrogant guy played, and drove every person in the shop away by messing up every song and stopping, then saying "just kidding!" or "never mind." The last act decided to play in the parking lot, meaning none of the friends they brought helped out the venue by purchasing anything. It was way too much ego for one show. DV8 is a really nice coffee shop though, and a nice space to play in.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I love this city. Pittsburgh is a wonderful place to be, full of down-to-earth people proud of our history and excited for our future. Musically, there's an enormous wealth of talent across all genres here, and plenty of nice venues to experience it all in. It's a great place to be!

Thanks, Douglas. Too much ego for a coffee shop? Love it! Please message me the name of that douche...

First/Last-Vacancy

"From an early age, I found myself gravitating towards music. I was fascinated by film scores and would always try to listen closely while I watched movies. I’ll never forget the first time I saw The Truman Show or Requiem for a Dream. To me, the music in those films elevated the emotions of the plot and created a visual and aural synergy. When I started writing music, it only seemed natural to follow this cinematic style. I like the idea of music not being constrained by words, allowing a unique interpretation to be formed by whoever is listening. That’s not to say I’m opposed to lyrics though, and I can’t imagine a musical world that is entirely instrumental. It’s all about the desired objective an artist is trying to achieve through their work.

Moving to Pittsburgh in the summer of 2011 was a turning point for me musically. I found myself really excited to be living in a city for the first time, immersed in a world of dynamic architecture, glowing lights, and sounds of traffic echoing against tall buildings. Despite living in an urban environment, my strongest influence has always been nature. Music, like nature, is full of colors, textures, and patterns, and my goal is to bring as much of the natural world as I can into music. Most importantly, I want my music to be meaningful and positive."

Vacancy is a Pittsburgh based 'electronic, ambient, alternative, instrumental' project from Dustin Suppy. His latest EP "Daydream" is released today and I want to thank him for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
I think it was the soundtrack to ‘The Truman Show’ by Philip Glass and Burkhard Dallwitz. I got into film music at an early age. I listened to a lot of other music too, but it was mostly stuff that my older brothers had lying around the house (Weezer, Nirvana, etc.). I borrowed from them a lot, so when it came time to actually buy music I was buying stuff that wasn’t present in the house.

Your last album bought?
Sea Wolf’s Kickstarter funded album called “Song Spells”. I really like it. There isn’t any extravagant production, just a lot of well-crafted music. It’s always refreshing to hear music that is sincere.

Favorite album of all time?
“In Rainbows” by Radiohead. One time I was driving alone from Pennsylvania to Florida, and I drove all the way listening to only this CD on repeat. When I hit Georgia, a tropical storm had moved in and I was forced to drive at only 40mph. It was an exhausting road trip, but listening to ‘House of Cards’ in the pouring rain after 16 hours of straight driving was somehow really soothing. It put me in a comfortable trance. ‘Nude’ and ‘Videotape’ are two of my favorite songs.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Recently I’d say I was most let down by Iron and Wine’s album “Ghost on Ghost”. It just didn’t go in the direction I hoped it would, and the whole thing seemed emotionally flat to me. There are a couple songs I liked from it, but overall it was disappointing.

First concert attended?
I think it was Incubus during their ‘Morning View’ tour in 1999/2000.

Last concert?
Olafur Arnalds playing the New Hazlett theater.

Favorite concert ever?
Olafur Arnalds playing the Midtown Scholar bookstore in Harrisburg. This guy puts on a fantastic live show. What made it amazing was how he made use of the venue. The show was in a really cool used bookstore, and he had visuals accompanying his music that were projected onto the bookshelves. The combination of the music and projections created a dreamy atmosphere that was perfect for the ambient style of music. The effect was really spellbinding.

Least favorite concert?
I saw 30 Seconds to Mars at the TLA in Philly when I was 17. Which shouldn’t really warrant further explanation, but aside from being a lousy show, I got kicked in the head by a crowd surfer. I flew into the person in front of me and instantly felt blood running down my face. A security guard handed me a towel and I had to fight my way through the crowd to the exit. No stitches at least, so that’s one positive thing to take from it.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I love the Pittsburgh winter. It’s gripping and scenic. Plus I never feel guilty about being holed up in my attic working on songs for hours at a time. It’s probably my most productive season.

Thanks, Dustin. Stitches or not, a bleeding head was the least of your worries... 30 Seconds to Mars? Now that is disappointing.