First/Last - Boy Wonders

Boy Wonders is the moniker of lo-fi indie popster Derek January. He just released a sweet three song self-titled EP which you can snag over at BandCamp. I want to thank Derek for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Red Hot Chili Peppers' One Hot Minute and a live Nirvana album.

Your last album bought?
DIIV Is the Is Are. Gonna be dope seeing them at Spirit in May.

Favorite album of all time?
Nowhere by Ride. I'm actually very good friends with the bass player's son.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
It takes a lot for me to really not like something for some reason. I guess I always try to pick out the good things even if it may not necessarily be a "good album." Maybe Wu-Tang Clan's Wu-Tang Forever. It's not a "bad" album, but 36 Chambers was so groundbreaking in hip hop that it's hard to not view the follow-up as a bit of a disappointment.

First concert attended?
Metallica in 1997. I was twelve years old. It was the first time I recall smelling weed.

Last concert?
Disappears at the Warhol museum. They played Bowie's Low in it's entirety. Was sike.

Favorite concert ever?
Gotta be Paul McCartney. I'm a huge Beatles fan. So naturally I cried like a baby the minute he walked on stage.

Least favorite concert?
Not an easy question because I've been to a lot of concerts and can't really remember one where I've had a bad time.

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I also play guitar in Devin Moses & The Saved, and we are fortunate enough to play lots of cool shows and over the last year have kind of become part of this little scene of bands. So I've met a lot of interesting people and made a lot of new friends, simply because of a shared appreciation for music and creation. It's a good feeling.

Thanks, Derek. Love the EP.  I have to say, you seem very normal. I guess that 'Devin Moses Effect' hasn't really kicked in yet?

HughShows TV Episode 1 with Bastard Bearded Irishmen and Randy Jarosz

First/Last - The Banner Days

"The Banner Days is an old saying that means a time to remember and celebrate. When we started writing together, we immediately clicked. As these songs have taken shape one thing has become clear: This project, this catalog of songs and this experience are going to be something special."

The Banner Days is a soulful folk duo from Seattle, WA who stop in Pittsburgh for the first time on this upcoming Monday evening (3/14) at one of my favorite places to see a show, the extremely hospitable Snake Hill. Touring behind their fantastic record Hand Me a Hymnal, the two are making their Pittsburgh live debut. I want to thank Beth Whitney (Banjo/Vocals) and Bradford Loomis (Guitar/Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Beth: It was a single cassette of Skee-Lo "I Wish." I know it by heart.
Bradford: Alice in Chains Dirt. Such a tragic record!

Your last album bought?
Beth: The Wonderlands: Darkness by Jon Foreman.
Bradford: Dori Freeman Still A Child.

Favorite album of all time?
Beth: One Moment More by Mindy Smith.
Bradford: Strict Joy by the Swell Season.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Beth: Ha-ha. Knowing how much work goes into an album, I just can't offer this award to anyone.
Bradford: Beth nailed it. My favorite is when I don't like a record initially and then it just grows on me. Sometimes we just aren’t in a space to truly hear something.

First concert attended?
Beth: Dixie Chicks at the Tacoma Dome. I designed a t-shirt for it that read "Dixie Chick #4".
Bradford: Ha! I took my first real girlfriend to a Janet Jackson concert because Janet was her favorite.

Last concert?
Beth: A local artist named Kate Lynne Logan at The Triple Door in Seattle.
Bradford: Brandi Carlile and the Cousins. So dang good!

Favorite concert ever?
Beth: Tough call! Maybe Brett Dennen. I opened for him at a local cafe and he just took the house down. Ingrid Michaelson is up there too.
Bradford: Easy. The Swell Season. Most amazing dynamics. Such passion!

Least favorite concert?
Beth: I can't really connect when there is an obvious ego present or it feels like noise for the sake of noise.
Bradford: My wife bought me tickets to see Glen Hansard for my birthday, and I ended up getting really sick. So she took a friend instead. So many of my friends posted pictures, video and raved about the show. It was the worst!

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?

Beth: It's a pretty blank slate! Can't wait to experience it.
Bradford: I have never had the pleasure of experiencing Pittsburgh. This is the first time!

Thanks, Beth and Bradford. So glad you are making a stop in Pittsburgh. The folks at Snake Hill are the best!

First/Last - Loop Line

"Luke lives in Phoenix. Paul lives in Minneapolis. We make music together with the help of the internet."

Loop Line is an alternative rock duo who just released their latest catchy as hell EP called Wakes. Using the power of the web to produce the music as the two members live in different cities, the result is a seamless blend of power pop and anthemic rock. I want to thank Paul Winkels and Luke Slisz for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Paul: Some weird compilation of classic rock live performances, featuring the likes of "Horse with No Name" by America and "That's All" by Genesis.
Luke: The self-titled album by The Presidents of the United States of America. The ‘Weird Al’ album with “Gump” might have been the second.

Your last album bought?
Paul: Listening on a paid streaming service is kind of buying, isn't it? The most recent new album I've listened to all the way through is Bowie's Blackstar. But if you're talking going-in-to-a-record-store-and-buying-an-album, then it would be the self-titled album by Black Tambourine.
Luke: Never Bloom by Suspicious Beasts. I stream a lot of music too, but I was guilted into buying the album after noticing how criminally low their Spotify play count was.

Favorite album of all time?
Paul: I always come back to Pet Sounds. Always blown away.
Luke: London Calling by the Clash. Also always blown away.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Paul: Most albums these days, you get a pretty good idea of what they are like before they are ever out, but I'd go with Daisy by Brand New. Even though I quite like it now, it was not what I was expecting, so my initial reaction was not positive.
Luke: Beck’s Mutations. That was when I learned that artists don’t make the same album over and over again, and I didn’t know how to process that information as a tween. I’m still always slightly disappointed when I listen to it, even though I appreciate it more now.

First concert attended?
Paul: Def Leppard!!!
Luke: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coming Out of Their Shells Tour. I’m pretty sure that was the first concert every kid my age in my hometown attended.

Last concert?
Paul: It was almost Def Leppard, but it was WAY too expensive. Instead, it was Weezer at Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis.
Luke: Panda Bear here in Phoenix.

Favorite concert ever?
Paul: The Rentals/Ozma at First Avenue. Or the Police, because hey, it was The Police.
Luke: When I lived in Japan, I used to go to this tiny rock club where these crazy, unknown bands would play. It was always half empty, but the bands played like their careers depended on it every night. It’s impossible to pick a favorite, but all of the shows there were incredible experiences.

Least favorite concert?
Paul: Coincidentally, the last show I went to: Weezer at Basilica Block Party. For some reason they refuse to play Pinkerton songs in Minnesota. And then they ended like 15 minutes early in what was billed as an hour long. Could have at least thrown us “El Scorcho”.
Luke: Probably the last Warped Tour I went to, years ago. Huge, outdoor music festivals are just the antithesis of what I look for in a concert experience.


Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Paul: I used to collect baseball cards as a kid, and I really liked the old Pirates jerseys and logo. And those hats!
Luke: I’ve never been to Pittsburgh, but two of my best friends are from there, so it must be a pretty cool city if they are any indication.

Thanks, fellas. I feel the obvious Weezer love in your music and was wondering if you had any favorable things to say about their latter post-Blue/Pinkerton releases as it is almost a given that musicians dislike those albums?