Rachel is a friend of mine and is in the running to win a cool poster contest. I am asking my readers to help her out. She is a fellow Pittsburgh blogger and is a fantastic photographer to boot. As of this writing, she is a close second place to win a trip to see The Avett Brothers this weekend. It's easy to vote. Details here on her blog. Thanks in advance.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Your vote needed
Rachel is a friend of mine and is in the running to win a cool poster contest. I am asking my readers to help her out. She is a fellow Pittsburgh blogger and is a fantastic photographer to boot. As of this writing, she is a close second place to win a trip to see The Avett Brothers this weekend. It's easy to vote. Details here on her blog. Thanks in advance.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Image Of The Day-"Papillon"
The Radar BrothersMr. Smalls Funhouse
Sunday October 3, 2010
Millvale
With this show I have whittled down my 'bucket list' of bands to see before I kick to five (go ahead and try to guess them). I am actually seeing another one of those bands next month! Anyway, I have been a huge fan of these guys since I first heard their album 'The Fallen Leaf Pages' streaming on Merge Records website. I eventually picked up their entire catalog and have been dying for them to play here in Pittsburgh since. That's five long years but it was all worth it, even though they played the perfunctory opener (read:brief) set. Through personnel changes, the constant has been songwriter/vocalist Jim Putnam. His music has been compared to Pink Floyd, Neil Young, and The Beach Boys. I can't disagree too much with that only to say that he is unique in his own way and I appreciate everything he puts out.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
First/Last-Weird Paul
Weird PaulThunderbird Cafe
Monday October 11, 2010
Larryville
Criminally, I have only seen Weird Paul perform once. He does have the distinction to be the very first musician I ever photographed with my SLR camera, so he has that going for him. He has been a constant music presence in the city for many years and has a solo spot tomorrow supporting Joe Jack Talcum of The Dead Milkmen fame. I am really excited that he took the time to participate in this special Sunday edition of First/Last.
The first album you ever bought?
The first album I remember buying was “Weird Al” Yankovic's "Dare to be Stupid" when I was 14. That was the first music that really "spoke" to me, made me want to write songs. I'd always wanted to be a comedian but couldn't figure out how to go about it. I think “Weird Al” showed me the way. I listened to very little "popular" music before I was 13, other than my parents' Beatles records (and they didn't own anything from Rubber Soul on!)
Your last album bought?
About a week ago, I bought "The Marx Brothers: The Original Voice Tracks from Their Greatest Movies". I think I first starting watching the Marx Brothers when I was around 9. They were always on TV. I watched a lot of Abbott and Costello, Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin and Bob Hope. But the Marx Brothers were my favorite, because their humor was so fast paced and absurd. My favorite parts were when there'd be total chaos on the screen. Definitely a huge influence on me.
Favorite album of all time?
Having to think about this, I realized I don't really still listen to a lot of music that I used to listen to all the time. But the albums that I used to constantly listen to over and over and that I could still listen to now would be the first Devo album and the first Ramones album. I would actually go as far as to say I learned to play the guitar to that Ramones' album, I was already playing guitar before I got it, but once I bought it, I would play along to the whole thing every day. I'm self-taught and that was my "practice".
Least favorite/most disappointing album?
The one that immediately comes to mind is "Total Devo". That came out in 1988 and I had everything they put out up to then and loved it all. I was so psyched to get that, got it the week it came out. There wasn't a single song on there that I liked. I tried to like it, because I wanted to and after all, I'd bought it. But it wasn't the same kind of music as before. There was very little that was interesting about it! I just got their new album "Something for Everyone", most of which is very enjoyable and fun to listen to.
First concert attended?
My dad took me to see “Weird Al” Yankovic in 1985. It was the Dare to Be Stupid Tour and I had a front row seat. It was the only concert I attended up until 1988 when I saw Henry Rollins and then a few months later, The Ramones. After that, I started seeing lots of stuff, as I started performing myself.
Last concert?
The last concert that I went to (where I was not performing) was a few weeks ago when I saw Shonen Knife at the 31st Street Pub. I was really excited because they've been one of my favorite bands for over 20 years and I never had the chance to see them before. I didn't think I would ever see them live actually, so it was really special. Made me feel like a teenager again.
Favorite concert ever?
I would have to go with Mark Mallman. I opened for him twice, amazing performer and fantastic songwriter. He's actually attempting a world's record this very weekend, playing an original composition live that lasts for 78 hours!
Least favorite concert?
I try to find something to enjoy about every band I see. Sometimes it's not easy! I think the worst thing I ever saw was Jane's Addiction in 1988. They were opening for The Ramones and I had never heard of them. I thought they were awful. The audience hated them too, especially when they started a grueling cover of "L.A. Woman". They actually got booed off the stage. I have never liked anything I've heard from that band.
Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I've been performing here for 22 years now. I've seen a lot of bands come and go, some of which I wish I could have seen more of. I think my favorite times were around 1990 and 2001. So many great bands playing all the time, great bands coming to Pittsburgh to play. Now it seems a lot of national touring acts skip Pittsburgh, which is understandable. I've never felt really "in" with the Pittsburgh scene, I've felt like an outsider most of the time. But I've been called an "outsider artist", so I guess that makes sense. I just keep doing what I do, I'm not really interested in what is "cool" right now!
The first album I remember buying was “Weird Al” Yankovic's "Dare to be Stupid" when I was 14. That was the first music that really "spoke" to me, made me want to write songs. I'd always wanted to be a comedian but couldn't figure out how to go about it. I think “Weird Al” showed me the way. I listened to very little "popular" music before I was 13, other than my parents' Beatles records (and they didn't own anything from Rubber Soul on!)
Your last album bought?
About a week ago, I bought "The Marx Brothers: The Original Voice Tracks from Their Greatest Movies". I think I first starting watching the Marx Brothers when I was around 9. They were always on TV. I watched a lot of Abbott and Costello, Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin and Bob Hope. But the Marx Brothers were my favorite, because their humor was so fast paced and absurd. My favorite parts were when there'd be total chaos on the screen. Definitely a huge influence on me.
Favorite album of all time?
Having to think about this, I realized I don't really still listen to a lot of music that I used to listen to all the time. But the albums that I used to constantly listen to over and over and that I could still listen to now would be the first Devo album and the first Ramones album. I would actually go as far as to say I learned to play the guitar to that Ramones' album, I was already playing guitar before I got it, but once I bought it, I would play along to the whole thing every day. I'm self-taught and that was my "practice".
Least favorite/most disappointing album?
The one that immediately comes to mind is "Total Devo". That came out in 1988 and I had everything they put out up to then and loved it all. I was so psyched to get that, got it the week it came out. There wasn't a single song on there that I liked. I tried to like it, because I wanted to and after all, I'd bought it. But it wasn't the same kind of music as before. There was very little that was interesting about it! I just got their new album "Something for Everyone", most of which is very enjoyable and fun to listen to.
First concert attended?
My dad took me to see “Weird Al” Yankovic in 1985. It was the Dare to Be Stupid Tour and I had a front row seat. It was the only concert I attended up until 1988 when I saw Henry Rollins and then a few months later, The Ramones. After that, I started seeing lots of stuff, as I started performing myself.
Last concert?
The last concert that I went to (where I was not performing) was a few weeks ago when I saw Shonen Knife at the 31st Street Pub. I was really excited because they've been one of my favorite bands for over 20 years and I never had the chance to see them before. I didn't think I would ever see them live actually, so it was really special. Made me feel like a teenager again.
Favorite concert ever?
I would have to go with Mark Mallman. I opened for him twice, amazing performer and fantastic songwriter. He's actually attempting a world's record this very weekend, playing an original composition live that lasts for 78 hours!
Least favorite concert?
I try to find something to enjoy about every band I see. Sometimes it's not easy! I think the worst thing I ever saw was Jane's Addiction in 1988. They were opening for The Ramones and I had never heard of them. I thought they were awful. The audience hated them too, especially when they started a grueling cover of "L.A. Woman". They actually got booed off the stage. I have never liked anything I've heard from that band.
Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I've been performing here for 22 years now. I've seen a lot of bands come and go, some of which I wish I could have seen more of. I think my favorite times were around 1990 and 2001. So many great bands playing all the time, great bands coming to Pittsburgh to play. Now it seems a lot of national touring acts skip Pittsburgh, which is understandable. I've never felt really "in" with the Pittsburgh scene, I've felt like an outsider most of the time. But I've been called an "outsider artist", so I guess that makes sense. I just keep doing what I do, I'm not really interested in what is "cool" right now!
Thanks WP. That Mark Mallman marathon is so interesting. Also, let me be honest in saying please keep doing your thing your way. In fact, what you do trancends 'cool'.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Image Of The Day-"Cardinal Song"
The NationalCarnegie Music Hall
Saturday September 26, 2010
Homestead
I was on assignment for WYEP and probably wouldn't have been there without that excuse. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate this band, I just don't particularly like them. I have tried several times to discover what a lot of other people seem to enjoy about them but so far, nothing. Their fans REALLY love them, which is cool and all, just don't count me among them. They mentioned from the stage that they played in a little club (Club Cafe, that is) in Pittsburgh before they graduated to larger halls and if I did catch them way back when, maybe I would be into them more? I dunno. I got to file this band (along with Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, and Vampire Weekend) in the category of "I don't get it?" More photos here.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Image Of The Day-"Vera"
Roger WatersThe Wall Live
Consol Energy Center
Sunday September 26, 2010
Uptown
I am an unabashedly, unapologetic Roger Waters fanboy geek to the extreme. Growing up I destroyed two cassette copies of The Final Cut, The Wall, and The Pros And Cons Of Hitchhiking each by listening to them constantly (thanks Columbia Records, for your crappy product BTW). I have seen him live several times beginning in 1987 during the Radio KAOS tour. As my musical tastes have naturally grown over the years, I will always have a soft spot for everything Floyd. He still ranks as one of my top 5 favorite songwriters to this day. I had the chance to 'meet' the guy as his plane landed for the night's show and we had the opportunity to get one item signed. My Sophie's Choice moment came and I decided on my favorite Pink Floyd picture ever. As for the show, my expectations were exceeded tenfold. The sound and visuals were absolutely stunning. As evidenced, I didn't score a photo pass for the show, which was kind of a blessing because I was there as a fan and was able to enjoy it that much more. Excuse the less than professional cellphone and point and shoot photos. More shaky pics here.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Image Of The Day-"Family Tree"
LohioLiquid Sundays
Jay Verno Studios
Sunday September 12, 2010
Southside
Lohio is wrapping up their very first ever cross-Midwest-extravaganza-tour tonight (Sunday 10/3) with yet another CD release show at Brillobox. Their tourmates and brethren in all things music Donora are also playing and I am confident that after a few weeks on the road together, this will be one tight as hell show. The release is a new EP entitled Family Tree and I had the pleasure of hearing some of it live at the last Liquid Sundays. I have to say I get worried when a band loses and replaces multiple members over time but with the anchor Greg has with Liz, I just love the direction that the band is going in.
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