First/Last - Seafair

"Consisting of 6 musicians with backgrounds ranging from quick punk rock to classically trained, Seafair has been turning heads all over Ohio since their inception in late 2012. The sharp heavy hitting drumming of Ryan Kelly, the finesse and intensity of guitar and bass player’s Michael Flaherty and Joshua Riehl, the absolute beauty and precision of the cellist and violinist Tara Hanish and Andrea Belding, and the powerful voice, presence and words of frontwoman Chayla Hope makes the Seafair live show a force to reckon with."

Seafair is a chamber-rock band from Cleveland who are diligently working on their soon to be released follow up to the excellent 2015 album The Querencia. They head on down to Pittsburgh on Friday (1/29) for a killer bill at Howlers with local faves Grand Bell and Lone Wolf Club. This is a show you do not want to miss. I want to thank Chayla Hope (Keys/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
I actually purchased two on the same day! One was Squrrel Nut Zippers, and the other was Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Your last album bought?
Shakey Graves And
The War Came.

Favorite album of all time?
This is a tricky one! I'd have to go with Frightened Rabbit Midnight Organ Fight.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Barry Von Luxxury (not that I expected it to be great). It's just hard for me to listen to.

First concert attended?
I have to laugh. I was only 9 and with my mom. Melissa Etheridge.

Last concert?
The Sword. It was fantastic!

Favorite concert ever?
The Tallest Man On Earth at the House Of Blues.

Least favorite concert?
Beck did a show at Bonnaroo. He came out with an acoustic guitar, covered 3 1/2 songs then broke the guitar and left. I don't know what happened to make him do that, but I definitely lost respect for him.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I LOVE the people and the support we get when we play in Pittsburgh. The last time we played out there, I ended up dancing to the other bands with four people I had never met before, but we felt like old friends. It was a stellar time, and I can never wait to play there. I'm grinning just thinking about it!

Thanks, Chayla. Seriously, this is the show of the week in Pittsburgh! Love this lineup. You should be getting ready to dance for sure!

First/Last - Katie Hate

"Katie Hate is a three piece "Punkternative" band who plays a lot bigger then their
numbers would suggest. Their energy and stage presence are becoming legendary already
for such a young band. Katie Hate's music is a combination of musical influences that are mixed in a secret brew of notes, chords, knock out lyrics, and social satire. Their ability to tell a story and keep you moshing is a rarity. This places them in a Genre of their own, thus the term "Punkternative," is born!"

Katie Hate is an up and coming alt-rock band from Pittsburgh who's debut Let's Pretend Again can be heard here. They have a scheduled show at Altar Bar in a few weeks and be sure go out and support these guys. I want to thank Max Theofilis (Guitar/Vocals), Bobby Fello (Bass/Vocals) and Jake Saltzman (Drums) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

 The first album you ever bought?
Max Theofilis: I can't remember.
Bobby Fello: The White Album by The Beatles.
Jake Saltzman: Green Day Nimrod.

Your last album bought?
Max: Magical Mystery Tour The Beatles.
Bobby: V by Wavves.
Jake: L.A. Women by The Doors.

Favorite album of all time?
Max: Thank You, Happy Birthday Cage the Elephant.
Bobby: Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams by 30 Seconds to Mars.
Jake: Green Day American Idiot.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Max: Anything by a shitty artist. Examples: however many seconds of summer, etc.
Jake: Anything by Iggy Azalea.

First concert attended?
Max: Long Time Divided.
Bobby: Green Day.
Jake: Green Day ‘American Idiot Tour’, 2005.

Last concert?
All: Wavves.

Favorite concert ever?
Max & Jake: Sum 41.

Least favorite concert?
Max: Katie Hate, Verona Fair.
Bobby: Never had a bad concert experience, they were all good.
Jake: Got stuck at a country concert it was horrible… Kenny Chesney.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Max: Going to sporting events, especially when I was little, and just being in the city. It's a great, unique and inspiring city, which makes it a very creative and artistic place. Unique historically, geographically, economically and even technologically. It's an old place going through a great renaissance and I'm happy to be here for it.
Bobby: The Pittsburgh music scene was very welcoming and I feel as though everyone in the scene is like my extended family.
Jake: Looking at the city on Mt. Washington at night. We truly have the coolest city.

Thank, fellas. Cool sounds you got going. Looking forward to much more in the years to come.

First/Last - Charlie Hustle & the Grifters

"Charlie Hustle & the Grifters brings together four Pittsburgh musicians under the banner of heady musical synergy. Its members include guitarist Peter Flynn and upright bassist Trish Imbrogno of The Grifters, drummer Dave Varasse from one of Pittsburgh's premier funk bands, the Old E Allstars, and guitarist Patrick Varine. The quartet comes together and forms like Voltron! ... if Voltron consisted of two guitars, upright bass, drums and a fond desire to blend rock, folk and the blues into a gritty, tasty stew."

Charlie Hustle & the Grifters are a jam/blues band from Pittsburgh who are part of a cool event coming up on Saturday (1/23). at The Oaks Theater in Oakmont. Get on your dancin' shoes and find out all the info here. I want to thank Patrick Varine (Guitar/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
For me, this goes all the way back to cassette tapes, and I'm honestly not sure. I remember the first compact disc I bought with my own money: the edited version of Cypress Hill's 1993 Black Sunday album, which was not only missing "A to the K," but changed the title of "When the Sh*t Goes Down" to "When the Ship Goes Down"!

Your last album bought?
Run the Jewels 2, by Run the Jewels (El-P & Killer Mike).

Favorite album of all time?
Probably a three-way tie between the Grateful Dead's Europe '72, The Allman Brothers' Live at the Fillmore East and Redman's Dare iz a Darkside.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
After loving the first Moby Grape LP and reading about their leader singer Skip Spence, I bought his solo album, Oar... not good.

First concert attended?
I'm loathe to even admit this, but my parents dragged me to a Brooks & Dunn concert at Star Lake Amphitheatre when I was in middle school. And thus began my lifelong hatred of all post-1981 country music.

Last concert?
Kyle Lawson Band, Jan. 2015 at Thunderbird Cafe (now that I have a 3-year-old, the wife and I don't get to nearly as many shows as we'd like!)

Favorite concert ever?
Phil Lesh & Friends, April 2001, at the Palumbo Center. That version of P&F (Lesh, Rob Baracco, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring and John Molo) was the most ass-kicking band I've ever seen. They could do anything.

Least favorite concert?
Brooks & Dunn (see "first concert").

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Most of my favorite Pittsburgh experiences involve the arts and culture scene: running from one exhibit to the next at the museums as a kid; wandering around the Three Rivers Arts Festival taking in all the sights, sounds and smells; going to plays and musicals with my parents at Pittsburgh Public Theater... the depth of creativity in this city never fails to impress me.

Thanks, Patrick. Saturday sounds real fun, man. I can't imagine anyone sitting at their table for too long!

First/Last - Blue Clutch

"Hailing originally from central Pennsylvania, Sarah Halter, the front woman, guitarist, and lead songwriter of Blue Clutch, has been playing guitar and singing since the age of sixteen, studying and incorporating various styles of music including folk, acoustic rock, heavy metal, and bluegrass. Current Blue Clutch members consist of Sarah Halter, Lia Silverbeams, and Alisa Jacobson. The upcoming debut EP, Little Grave Digger, will contain original songs bringing unique artistry and power to the Pittsburgh music scene. Heavy acoustic rhythms, minor keys, melodic guitar melodies, as well as empowering, penetrating lyrics reflecting on some of the darker undertones of this life will be found on the first EP and during live performances."

Blue Clutch is a new alternative rock band from Pittsburgh lead by Sarah Halter (Guitar/Vocals). The band is prepping their debut EP to be released soon and have a trio of shows lined up for next month. I want to thank Sarah for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
The first album I remember buying at the store when I was younger was Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park. I loved their sound at the time because they had some of the edgier tunes on the radio.

Your last album bought?
The last album (or I guess in this case it is technically an EP) I bought was Liss Victory's most recently released EP called The Low Lights Make Me Love You.

Favorite album of all time?
This is a really difficult question, but one of my favorite albums of all time is Fallen by Evanescence. It was truly inspiring to hear such a talented female musician front a superbly-talented band even though they went mainstream in the rock and even the pop worlds.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I don't really have one. All of the albums I've listened to in the past are usually due to some particular interest with the band/performer or one of their songs. If I choose to commit time to listen to an entire album, I probably already like the artist or what they have done in some way.

First concert attended?
I think it was Gloria Estefan, but I don't remember the year, and I was very young. My parents took me along.

Last concert?
I've been saving my pennies, so I have not going to hardly any big concerts as of recently. However, I have frequented a few of the local venues to support the local scene. One of the more recent group shows I've went to was the October Girlie Show at Hambone's. It was a fortuitous choice to attend this show and become involved with The Girlie Show: Pittsburgh Edition because now I am the new host of this event.

Favorite concert ever?
Evanescence at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, PA circa 2007.

Least favorite concert?
Yellowcard at the Bryce Jordan Center, circa 2005. 

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
So far some of my greatest memories in Pittsburgh generally have to do with getting established in the music community. I moved here in July of 2014, knew pretty much no one, and then started hitting every open mic to meet people and continue to build my music performance experience. Now I have an EP coming out this year, have formed a band, and have learned so much about myself as a musician, music itself, and the industry in only six months. Of course, there is still loads of work to be done, but I am really looking forward to what all is ahead here.

Thanks, Sarah. May I be one of the first to publicly welcome you to the scene! Looking forward to hearing the new music.