I cannot say enough how highly I recommend seeing this talented couple perform. I also encourage talking to them after the show if you can, because Scott and Rosanna are as humble and kind as they are talented. If you do manage to catch Scott and Rosanna live, you’ll not only hear some great music but will learn some valuable lessons along the way.
Read More
Photo courtesy of Base Camp Pictures
A one word summary of this concert? Unforgettable.
On May 21 I had the pleasure of watching Gizelxanath and Ben Barson’s project with the Afro-Yaqui Music Collective at the Pittsburgh Winery. To simply call the event a “concert” would be a misnomer- instead it was a musical journey, blending funk, jazz, hip-hop, rap, African music, Yaqui and Tzotzil-Tzeltal indigenous music from northern Mexico with powerful political messages.
Underlying the entire performance was a huge ensemble which fused traditional Eastern and Western instruments, such as the Chinese Huqin with Pre-Colombian Indigenous flutes and an impressive horn section. The band, spearheaded by Barson, created a thick, energetic pulse that Gizelxanath’s soprano glided over with ease.
The event also showcased a plethora of local artists, poets and rappers from the area. Guests, such as Dan Barson, Mario Quinn, Sister Dana, and Xun Jimenez a local Tzotzil (a Mayan language) speaking rapper, seamlessly mixed a variety of languages with the pulsating music to create a unique listening experience. In addition to the aforementioned rap choir, Barson and Gizelxanath's ensemble included PJ Roduta on drums and Chinese percussion, Ben Rossman on double bass, John Bagnato on guitar, Langston Kelley on saxophones, Emily Cook on bass clarinet, Iyanna Buffaloe on trombone, Mimi Jong on Erhu, Victor Beltran on pre-Columbian flutes, Gabriel Colombo and Lucas Godhino on Brazillian percussion. Together they are the Afro-Yaqui Music Collective.
The central theme of the night was one of liberation and community. Songs spoke about the destruction of ancient cultures, the need to understand one’s roots, and the power of music in building communities.
Both Gizelxanath and Barson talked about their own experiences with music, liberation, and community with me prior to the show.
Gizelxanath, a classically trained soprano, discussed the journey of rediscovering her Yaqui roots. The powerful singer, well-versed in six languages, described the disillusion and disconnects she felt with her roots while studying classical music.
“When I moved to New York I basically sang everything and anything... I did a lot of different genres, but I realized I never did my own indigenous music. Recently, I’ve been lucky to connect with indigenous people and collaborate to make music together”, says Gizelxanath.
Barson, a baritone saxophone maestro in his own right, discussed his own journey of creating communities through music. Barson currently plays with local group The ChopShop, and studied with saxophone player Fred Ho for several years, playing across the globe. Outside music, Barson worked for the Community Empowerment Association, is a board member of Landslide Community Farm, and part of an international network known as Ecosocialist Horizons. He also sees music as having a deep global sociological connection.
“Music allows people to think of themselves past the status quo, beyond the right now”, says Barson.
Barson stressed the importance of fusing genres like jazz, hip-hop with Yaqui and Tzotzil-Tzeltal indigenous music, and the need to continuously push music forward.
“For me, jazz and hip-hop were meant to merge… you’re seeing a whole new generation of artists like Kendrick Lamar and Kamasi Washington doing that now. For us lyrics are just as important, and can express an emboldening message. But we are focused on incorporating indigenous language into our music”.
Both artists emphasized the power music has in uniting people across cultures.
“For me, music is a way we can reverse some of the aspects of cultural displacement”, says Barson.
“We need to create awareness of what’s going on globally and people need to wake up. It takes a lot of effort, but it needs to be done”, says Gizelxanath.
For this husband and wife duo, it’s clear that they are united by their passion of bringing together people for a larger cause through their music.
“We want people to be aware of what’s going on, and the dangerous effects industrial capitalism is having on indigenous people, animals, and the environment” says Gizelxanath.
This show was truly unforgettable. Make sure to check out Barson and Gizelxanath if you have a chance. I promise it will be a new cultural experience unlike any you’ve seen or heard.
Check out a clip of the performance here:
Make sure to follow Ben Barson and his projects at BenBarsonMusic.com.
Joanne De Luca is the mastermind behind Live Music Yoga, a unique event that blends local music and relaxation. She's also an avid music lover, and is dedicated to supporting local artists. FoundSound Music interviewed Joanne to talk about the local music scene and her upcoming events!
1. How are you involved in the local Pittsburgh Music Scene?
I go to a TON of shows. By that, I mean about 2-4 a week. Yep, it’s pretty much the meat of what I do with my free time. Live music keeps a smile on my face at all times and is always a blast when my friends come out to enjoy it with me. Being in the music scene constantly has allowed me the great opportunity to meet and befriend a ton of local musicians as well. It’s so exciting to watch insanely talented local musicians like Max Summerville blow huge crowds away in his band “Wreck Loose”, or see a collaboration with some of Pittsburgh’s most talented musicians come together in the band “Arkesh”. The newest band in Pittsburgh on my radar is “Chalk Dinosaur”. Every time I see John of “Chalk Dinosaur” performing it’s to a bigger crowd than the last and is completely blowing minds every time. When there is so much talent to enjoy right at our fingertips I feel like it’s my duty to spread the word.
2. Can you explain the idea behind Live Music Yoga? 3. What was your inspiration for this event?
I was at a Lotus show with my friend and we both started to cramp up from the amount of dancing we were doing. We went to the back of the venue and started stretching out. It hit us both how cool it would be if we started doing yoga and people just started joining in. Although we didn’t actually do that in the moment, I realized at that I needed to make that a reality. The next morning I was on the phone getting the ball rolling. It’s so exciting to see this idea blossom into a full blown successful event.
3. Why did you decide to hold it at James St.?
I’ve always loved James Street. Kevin Saftner constantly has really fun and unique events going on so I knew the Live Music Yoga would fit right in. When I told Kevin about the idea he was instantly just as jived as I was about it. The upstairs ballroom is the perfect space for this event too. The band and yoga teacher will be set up on the stage so that everyone will be able to see effortlessly. There are also super large windows in the space which will allow the class to be taught in the natural sunlight.
James Street just started offering an incredible brunch menu on Sunday mornings that is out of this world. I figured what better way to spend a Sunday than with friends, grabbing some brunch, Bloody Marys and getting in a really great yoga session while listening to an incredible musician play his soul out.
4. How do you find artists for this event?
This first class was easy; Christan had a previous interest in being part of a live music yoga event after bring inspired by Mike Remple of the band Lotus who had done it at The Catskill Chill music fest one year. When I talked to him about my idea he was on board right away. I’ve also always enjoyed the music he’s been playing with “Sweet Earth” for many years now, so to be able to have him play his side project tunes for the first class is an honor! I think that a class with his ambient songs will be just what the doctor ordered for all of us!
I have already had a few other musicians reach out to me about playing future events and also know many local Pittsburgh musicians that could be perfect for a future class. I’d love for any musicians that are excited about the idea and are interested in contributing reach out to me so we can line something up.
5. If an artist is interested in playing this event, how can they contact you?
Any interested musicians can either message me through the Live Music Yoga Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/livemusicyogaPGH/ or email me at LiveMusicYoga@gmail.comI’m open to the idea of any kind of music that might be cohesive with yoga, so don’t be shy and reach out to me if you’re interested in playing in a future event!
6. How do you think music and yoga are connected?
I believe yoga is all about finding your perfect flow at the same time as keeping your mind focused on the pure elongating movements. I think that adding the right music to yoga practice really aids in finding a smooth transition between the poses. Also, when you’re used to constantly being on the go, it can be hard to stop your mind from constantly thinking about what’s next on the “list” of things to do. Having music playing really helps keep your mind clear and focused on what you’re doing right then and there.
7. Why do you think this event is important to the larger Pittsburgh Music Scene and Community?
Any event that brings people together is important in and of itself. I’ve found a wonderful love for the sense of community Pittsburgh has to offer in the local music scene, and to have the opportunity to strengthen it is tremendous. It’s exciting to be able to introduce the local music community to the local Yoga community. Hopefully this will be a continued growing bond to create an even stronger sense of community throughout Pittsburgh.
To learn more about Joanne and Live Music Yoga check out https://www.facebook.com/events/1698970353674530/
The first Live Music Yoga event will be held on April 10, 2016 at the James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy in the North Side!
What doesn't Dan Styslinger do? As the keyboardist of the Delicious Pastries, Old Soles and Seedy Players, and the mastermind behind the Notable Music podcast, Dan is a force to be reckoned with. FoundSound Music sat down with Dan to talk influences, podcasts, and music.
1. When did you get involved in the Pittsburgh Music Scene?
I've been playing in and around Pittsburgh since I was a kid. My very first gig was opening for the pop punk band Squirtgun at The Rex when I was 13. I started getting more into the scene in 2011 when I joined Delicious Pastries.
2. How are you involved in the Pittsburgh Music Scene now?
I try to keep myself busy by playing in as many bands as possible. As of now I play in 6 bands all around the city and I'm constantly keeping an ear out for new and interesting local music. Since August of last year I've been producing a podcast featuring interviews with local musicians called The Notable Music Podcast (formerly Notable Dudes Podcast)
3. What was your inspiration behind The Notable Music Podcast?
I've always been a huge fan of podcasts and was growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of in depth conversational podcasts focusing on music. I wanted to create something similar to WTF with Marc Maron or You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes but for specifically music.
4. What have been some of your favorite interviews on the podcast?
I hate to sound cliché but I love all of the interviews I've done so far. Pittsburgh has so many interesting and talented creative people and I feel really lucky to be able to do something like this.
5. You have a great knack at naming bands (The Delicious Pastries and Old Soles Seedy Players)- where do you get your inspiration?
I wish I could take credit for Delicious Pastries but that was the brain child of Jesse Ley (drums) and Jonathan Chamberlain (vocals). As many of my friends know, I love word play and I am constantly looking to make cheesy puns and terrible dad jokes. OSSP is just a name that I thought sounded funny and included some dumb puns. It basically means Old Shoes and CD Players.
6. What does the writing process look like for these bands? Are they similar, or different?
With the Pastries, Jesse and Jonathan do most of the writing. They usually come to me with the songs just about done and I might come up with keyboard parts on my own or they'll show me ideas they have in mind for me to play. With Old Soles I'm the primary songwriter but my process isn't very structured when I sit down to write. Normally I'll come up with a progression and a melody will come to me. Once I have the melody I just try to find lyrics that rhythmically fit the melody and phonetically sound pleasing to me.
7. The Delicious Pastries is about to release a new album- can you shed some light on that whole process?
My first show with the band was the record release show for Pretty Please which I didn't really have anything to do with the recording process. This time around I was a little more involved. This record has been four years in the making and I'm so excited for people to hear it.
8. As a piano player and singer, who have been some of your biggest influences?
As I piano player my biggest influence is Ben Folds and also Ben Thornewill from Jukebox the Ghost. When I was about 15 my brother introduced me to the self titled Ben Folds Five album and that same week I played a show with a young Jukebox the Ghost (they were going by The Sunday Mail then). After that I was hooked and knew that I wanted to play piano. Vocally my influences are people like Paul Simon and James Taylor. I like how both of them have soft but powerful voices.
9. What have been some of your favorite shows in Pittsburgh?
Delicious Pastries opened for Kishi Bashi a few years ago and that dude is incredible to watch. Another memorable one was Dawes at the Arts Fest a few years ago.
10. What do you think makes the Pittsburgh Music Scene unique?
The amount of talent per capita is really astonishing. I'm constantly amazed how many creative, unique musicians are out there.
11. Where do you see the Pittsburgh Music Scene heading in the future?
I see big stuff happening in the future for Pittsburgh music. Like I said, there are so many talented artists in the city and its only a matter of time until the national stage takes note.
To learn more about Dan and his work with the Delicious Pastries, Old Soles and Seedy Players, and the Notable Music Podcast check out:
https://www.facebook.com/deliciouspastries/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/Old-Soles-and-Seedy-Players-1667549226794575/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/notablepodcast/?fref=ts
Make sure to come out to the Delicious Pastries' album release show 3/18 at SPIRIT: https://www.facebook.com/events/941918625857474/
Old Soles and Seedy Players will be playing 3/19: https://www.facebook.com/events/521601848019405/
The next Notable Music Podcast will feature Jeff Betten, Brash Teeth, and Arlo Aldo on April 1st!
Ziggy Sawdust is a force to be reckoned with. The man behind "Ziggy Sawdust Productions", and most recently "Project Progress", Ziggy is known for his unique shows and active work within the Pittsburgh Music and Art Scene. FoundSound Music sat down with Ziggy to talk about his work, his music, and Pittsburgh Music Scene.
1. How did you get involved with the Pittsburgh Music Scene?
I actually came into the Pittsburgh Music Scene by way of the Pittsburgh Art Scene. Back in 2012, I was living in Bedford, Oregon and decided I wasn't really happy there anymore and wanted to move back to Pittsburgh. Initially, I was just thinking of moving back to Pittsburgh and then decided to come back to visit. Whenever I living out on the West Coast, I would come back and go to this place called The Shadow Lounge in East Liberty. It was after going to see live music shows at The Shadow Lounge that the seed was planted in my mind that there was a lot more going on in Pittsburgh then when I had left around 2007. So when I decided to come visit Pittsburgh last time, I decided to take a train all the way back to Pittsburgh. That visit ended up with me staying.
After moving back, I decided to pursue my visual work, which was woodcarving. I started managing a gallery, and from there I began to work with other visual artists, and soon the general field of artists within Pittsburgh. I began to meet a lot more musicians, and began organizing shows. I never stopped and made this decisive choice about organizing shows- it was really just a progression culminating from all my different experiences.
Most importantly, I really try to run shows and do my work with integrity. It's something I found to be lacking in some parts of the Pittsburgh Music Scene, especially with other promoters. There are a lot of good promoters, but there are a few bad ones that can be really damaging to the overall scene.
2. You talked about the ethics of the scene. Do you think ethics and the music scene are connected? Should they be?
There should be some kind of ethical standard with organizing music. For example, if a show is not successful for me, with bands on a bill that I put together, and I take on that responsibility as a promoter, I'm not going to say "sorry guys, I tied your band to my name, but I can't compensate you." I could never do that. If someone is taking on the role of putting together a show, they are getting their name out there by having those bands on that show. So they should always do good by those bands. It's different if you went up to those bands before the show and told them they weren't going to be paid. At least then you're being upfront and everyone's expectations are the same. But no one should be invited to something where it's going to be a negative, losing enterprise for them.
On the other end of the spectrum, I do think it's important that bands put in the time to promote themselves. Especially nowadays, no one will be able to sell your product better than yourself. That's why I always ask the bands that I work with to put in their end of the work as well.
Another place where it's very important ethics are taken into account is with traveling bands that come through Pittsburgh. If a low-level national act comes through Pittsburgh and is treated poorly, the likelihood of them wanting to return becomes less likely. So let's say a band plays "X" venue, don't get treated well, and have a negative experience- they don't want to come back. This ultimately hurts the Pittsburgh scene, and really reflects on the Pittsburgh scene poorly as a whole. It's something that I take really seriously.
3. You started Project Progress, which combines entertainment and social activism. Can you elaborate on that whole project?
Honestly, it was something where I knew I wanted to start a fundraiser for John Fetterman, who I'm a big fan of with his track record in Braddock. I needed a name for the event, and decided on Project Progress. After meditating a bit more on what that meant, I decided to use it as a way to name my events that are meant to promote shows with progressive values. I've done other events in the past that have worked toward a very specific progressive cause. With the name Project Progress, it's a way to brand those kind of events and put them under one common name in order to create recognition for them.
4. How did you come up with the name Ziggy Sawdust?
Ziggy Sawdust was born from an obvious pun on Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. I worked in wood-sculpting, and I went with that as my artist pseudonym. I decided to stick with it in a much more literal way, because I found that the more one removed the ego of self from the equation when working with others, the more it allowed one to focus more on keeping with their ethical standard. It really ensures you don't lose the purpose or the goal of working with people in the process, and personally helps me stay true to my values when working within all my different projects.
5. How do you discover new Pittsburgh music?
Oh, in a bunch of ways. A lot of times people find me. People are always saying, "Hey you should hear this." That's honestly how I find about 60% of my music. A lot of times, I'll put the word out for different causes and the artists find me. Initially, I used to seek out a lot of new things, but nowadays the music really just gets to me.
6. Are there any venues you like to work with specifically?
There are some venues that I really do enjoy working with. Spirit and James St. Gastropub are two of my favorite because of the people who work there, and the quality of the sound. I've never had anyone, guest or performer, who've had bad experiences there. They also are very flexible with their accommodations in terms of capacity, and I can really accommodate any type of show that I want to put on. I'm not saying that there aren't any other venues that can't provide that as well, but those two specifically are great.
Also, I would throw the Rex and The Thunderbird Cafe in there as well. I'm a big supporter of everything Grey Area does, because they have a high standard of they treat the artists they work with, so I just wanted to let people know about that.
7. What advice would you give up-and-coming artists from a promoter's standpoint?
Be mindful of the people around you. That's the kind of thing that's really got me far as an artist and a promoter. One of the main lessons I've learned was how to promote the art of others from opportunities without getting any benefit myself.
For instance, if someone wanted to commission a piece from me, I didn't just do it because I could. If there was an another artist that I thought could better execute the vision of the work, I would just recommend them instead. It's not like I would try to hold that connection hostage and try to get something from the other artist- for me, it was just a way to provide the best experience overall.
That definitely works within music as well. Paying it forward, recommending other bands, and helping them be successful is how you build a strong fabric for the Scene. Sharing a resource is much better than being divisive and holding connections hostile from other people. It's not good business. It's more about working with a benevolent mindset than one that is cut-throat and competitive.
8. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the Pittsburgh Music Scene?
Getting to other markets, and getting meaningful shows in other markets. One of the ways I'm addressing this now is with the Layer Cake Festival. What I'm hoping to do is really expand the Layer Cake Festival to other markets, like Brooklyn, Philly, etc. Depending on the scale of this expansion, what I would really love to do is get 20-30 Pittsburgh acts on board, pay them, and then fill the rest of the lineup with local acts from the respective cities.
That way, there's attendance because of name recognition from all those local acts, and it also gets a lot of attention back to Pittsburgh. From there, we could get those local acts to play shows in Pittsburgh, and make it a way of pooling everyone's resources together. That way we can circumvent the traditional ways of getting exposure, and instead build networks more organically without using hostile power-structures.
9. What do you think makes the Pittsburgh Music Scene unique?
I think the camaraderie is really what distinguishes us. People are always welcoming, and are a lot less pretentious than in other scenes. There's very little egoistical behavior, and people aren't in a competition. I really think that if people work in a cut-throat manner, they'll be self-eliminated, because no one would really want to work with them. They may do well for a while, but their reputation will go to shit and they will factor themselves out.
10. Where do you see the Pittsburgh Music Scene heading in the future?
I think in the next few years you're going to see a lot more Pittsburgh acts getting national recognition. You've seen it in the hip-hop scene a bit with acts like Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa, but you're starting to even see other acts branching out. There are a lot of things where all the connections are being made, and things are starting to happen, so it's really growing. In terms of what I'm all about, I see it is my responsibility to help get local acts out there and really promote their work.
If you want to learn more about Ziggy Sawdust and his work, check out:
https://www.facebook.com/ziggysawdustproductions/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/projectprogresspgh/?fref=ts
Jake Stern is a DIY Renaissance man. Along with playing in several bands, Jake is an artist, a booker, and an avid music listener. FoundSound Music got the chance to chat with Jake about music, house shows, and the scene as a whole.
1) How are you involved in the Pittsburgh Music Scene?
I play in Meridian, The Otis Wolves, and Same. I also book DIY shows for touring bands looking to come through town. Besides that, I draw show posters for a lot of gigs that happen in the city, and try to see as much music as I can.
2) What have been some of your favorite shows that you've put on?
Lets see here, a few come to mind.
Back in September I booked a show for my friends Abi Reimold and A Day Without Love from Philly at my house, Bates Hardcore Gym. It was just a beautiful late summer evening, tons of really great people came out, and all of the acts that were on the show really brought something unique to the table. Abi writes these expertly crafted, haunting alt/folk songs, and she played out in the middle of my back deck while all these people gathered around and politely listened. It just felt like a really special evening.
Later on in October, me and my roommate Sam decided to put on a Halloween show at our house cuz we'd always wanted to have one. We booked five local bands to play a cover set of their choice, they ended up being Nirvana, Outkast, The Bee Gees, The Beastie Boys, and My Chemical Romance. As soon as we announced the show, there was this crazy overwhelming response--like almost 400 people RSVP'd within a few weeks, which is pretty unheard of for a Pittsburgh DIY show. Then about a week before the gig, we got a knock on our door from the state police saying that we had to cancel the show--they'd found the public Facebook event and said we were operating as an illegal venue. So, we decided to call it off because the risk of being evicted and arrested didn't seem that appealing to us. Luckily, another house that does DIY shows offered to pick up the gig cuz it was way too good not to happen--when we announced that we had to cancel people were really bummed. Not to mention all the cover bands had put in so much work getting ready to play. So, we publicly cancelled the original Facebook event and secretly got the word out about the venue change, and the evening went off without a hitch. Tons of people showed up and went crazy for all the bands, it was such a fun time even though it was a massive fire hazard. DIY prevails I guess.
3) What advice do you have for someone trying to put on their own house shows?
I'd say that if you're looking to put on some shows, just make sure to be as smart as you can about it. We learned the hard way not to have a public facebook event get out of control. Don't have loud shows go late on weeknights if your neighbors live close. I dunno, there's not much of a rulebook for things like this, haha. Probably above all just don't make promises you can't keep and respect all the members of your household.
4) What have been some of your favorite shows in Pittsburgh? (local or touring)
Last winter I saw The Sidekicks in an Oakland basement called Sharkweek. The house was really cool, it had this tall stage in the basement which was really unique. A lot of people came out and were really going off by the time The Sidekicks played. One kid was crowd surfing and unplugged an extension cord with his feet, cutting all the power in the basement. So that kinda sucked but also totally epitomized the madness that was that evening.
A few years ago Meridian played our first full band show at 222 Ormsby, a now defunct DIY venue that was in an old grocery store. We played with a band from Australia called The Smith Street Band, who were on their first US tour at the time. That night we became incredible friends with them, which served as our introduction to many of their Australian counterparts who I've worked with over the years. Since then, Smith Street have gotten massive, doing huge tours in the US and even bigger ones in Australia. It's just really cool to think about when we met, playing to like 20 of my friends who I had dragged out to a DIY spot up Mount Oliver.
5) Do you a split between the DIY scene and more "professional" venues? If so, how?
Organization and quality of equipment is definitely a big difference. With a lot of DIY shows the sound setup is less than ideal and kind of a pain to get everything necessary together. But that's because these shows are much less of a money-making opportunity than shows at real venues, which exist to pay out a lot more people than just the band on tour. People make sacrifices to make DIY shows happen--someone has to sink in money somewhere down the line to get a PA system, microphones, stands and cables--and chances are it'll just get broken and misused, or people will walk off with stuff here and there just because everything is a lot less regulated than at normal venues. However, these shows have to happen, because most lower level touring bands would eat shit financially and get very little exposure if they were booked at bars and venues every night. DIY shows allow them to tap into a really supportive and musically diverse community in most cities they go to.
6) What is the biggest challenge facing the Pittsburgh Music Scene?
I'm not sure if there are too many right now, I feel pretty confident that Pittsburgh musicians are continuing to make great innovative music, and that promoters are doing a good job at making shows appealing and fun to attend. I do wonder how long it will last, like whether or not integral people in the community will leave the city and if new people will take their place.
7) What do you think makes the Pittsburgh Music Scene unique?
The Pittsburgh music scene is very tightly knit, which is a really cool thing. There's a really great web of promoters and concertgoers that have the best interests of the music scene at heart and are willing to give people contacts or make sacrifices and agreements to make shows happen. Whether it's lending someone a PA system (thanks Nathan) or combining a show, people seem very willing to lend a hand to someone that needs it. I don't know if that really makes us unique, as that kind of seems to be how DIY scenes operate on a fundamental level in most cities, but it's certainly one of the things that I find the most enjoyable and comforting about the Pittsburgh scene.
8) Where do you see the Pittsburgh Music Scene heading in the future?
It doesn't seem like the Pittsburgh scene has gotten lot of exposure on a larger scale in the past, people from other places don't really know about our city and how great of a music community we have here. Word seems to be getting out though--the past year or two have really been exceptional. A lot of bigger shows are happening and coming through town which has been super exciting to be a part of. I think that people will be hearing a lot about this city in the future. And hey, even if that doesn't happen, I'm pretty content having Pittsburgh be this sweet little hidden gem in the midwestern touring circuit.
To learn more about Jake and his work check out: meridianohio.bandcamp.com
theotiswolves.bandcamp.com
Make sure to check the Otis Wolves on 3.8.16 at The Shop: https://www.facebook.com/events/225526254449956/
Photo credit to hugh tyman of hughshows
Randy Jarosz is the man behind Sound Scene Express, a local music outlet dedicated covering the regional scene and supporting live music. Randy can be seen at events across the city, interviewing bands, covering shows, and taking incredible photographs. FoundSound had the opportunity to chat with Randy about Sound Scene, local music, and his love for the Steel City.
1. How did you start Sound Scene Express?
Sound Scene Express was created about two and a half years ago with the idea of creating an all music newspaper. I figured I would put my love of concerts and photography skills to good use. I have two scrap books filled with concert stubs, articles, and memorabilia over a fifteen year period. I stopped keeping up with that around the time I started the blog, so the website is almost an extension of the scrapbooks I started at fifteen!
2. What are your primary responsibilities at S.S.E?
I am photographer, writer, editor, publisher and designer.
3. So is S.S.E. a one-man job? Or do you have a team to help you out?
Sound Scene is 90% me. I get occasional writing and photography help. More volunteers are always welcome!
4. What have been your favorite shows to photograph for S.S.E?
Pittsburgh band Bastard Bearded Irishmen are always fun to cover. They bring so much energy and the songs are great. Deutschtown Music Festival, R.A.N.T. and the Strip District Music Festival are always a blast and remind you just how talented Pittsburgh musicians are. Some recent notable national shows covered were My Morning Jacket, Gary Clark Jr., and Lake Street Dive.
5. S.S.E. has an annual "best of" list- how did that get started, and how are acts judged?
The "best of" list was just a recap of the year with a chance to recognize those who put so much into the local music scene. This year I decided to put together a concert to commemorate the list. Many large cities have music awards, so why not Pittsburgh? This year I have nine categories, four of which were a fan vote, and four were decided by Sound Scene Express with the final award being another fan vote at the concert. The four fan vote categories included: Breakout Band of the Year, Best Local Music Video, Coolest Music event/ Series. Sound Scene Express decided Best LP, Best EP, Best Concert, and Best Single based on countless submissions throughout 2015. Photo of the year will also be decided at the show. I chose to do it this way to get the community involved, but at the same time I didn't want the categories to turn into a popularity contest. The concert will be held February 6th at James Street Gastropub in the ballroom. Bands include Nevada Color, The Commonheart, Balloon Ride Fantasy, and Chase the Monkey, all of which had a huge 2015. Danny Rectenwald of the Bastard Bearded Irishmen will be the guest host.
6. How did you get involved with the Pittsburgh Music Scene?
When Sound Scene Express was created, I had intentions of shooting all the big national touring acts. That didn't quite happen. Having a professional camera and website didn't qualify me as "Press" to some. Content is key and at the time I had very little. I started covering some of the high profile local acts in the area and just fell in love with the scene. Local independent artists are more appreciative to see pictures and read about their show than a touring band. It didn't take long to find out how much talent there is throughout Pittsburgh.
7. What have been some of your favorite concerts in Pittsburgh (both local or touring acts?)
As far as shows I have attended in Pittsburgh, The Rolling Stones (both at Heinz Field and at PNC Park with Pearl Jam) were memorable. AC/DC at Mellon Area in 2009 was also fantastic. In my concert hey-days, I had seen concerts in ten different states including The Doobie Brothers in Hawaii, Crosby Stills Nash & Young at Red Rocks in Colorado, Paul McCartney at the Hollywood Bowl in California, and Michael Jackson at a benefit concert in D.C.
8. What do you think makes the Pittsburgh Music Scene unique?
What's unique about the Pittsburgh Music Scene is that you can name me any genre and I can give you a band that is as good or better than a touring act in the same genre.
9. Where do you see the Pittsburgh Music Scene's future heading?
It will only grow from here! With HughShows monthly TV show featuring local musicians, three all-day music festivals with local bands, record labels like Misra, Get Hip, and Future Oak, and the Sound Scene Express newspaper which launched in January, the future is extremely bright! The list of reasons go far beyond the few I just pointed out!
To learn more about Sound Scene Express, check out their website: http://www.soundsceneexpress.com and follow their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sndsceneexpress/?fref=ts
Check out the Sound Scene Express Best of 2015 show at James St. this Saturday, February 6th! Poster below:
The Spectres are a two-piece Garage Punk act stompin' their way around the Pittsburgh Music Scene. Known for their catchy melodies and energetic live shows, The Spectres are becoming a staple of the Pittsburgh Music Scene. FoundSound Music had the opportunity to talk to guitarist Dan (DS) and drummer/ guitarist James (JT) to talk influences, music, and what lies ahead for this musical powerhouse.
1. How did The Spectres get started?
DS: I had just moved to Pittsburgh for graduate school and was looking to get back into making music. I didn't really know anyone at the time, so I posted an ad on Craigslist with some silly demos and got a few responses. James sent some recordings from his one-man-band and they were really good, so we met at Crazy Mocha and talked about music for a bit. We started writing songs in his apartment soon after.
2. What are some of your biggest influences as a band?
JT: For me it's anything off early Crypt records, Get Hip, Sympathy, and early Rock-n-Roll, Blues.
DS: I wouldn't be playing music without The Ramones. I think they taught me that I could even do it, so they're a really big influence. As a band, we've been recently talking about Lou Reed and how he was an expert at the two-chord song. Recently, we've been challenging ourselves in a similar way, to try to do more with less. Besides that, I agree with James. Also stuff on "In The Red."
3. Being a duo is an interesting choice- what are some ways this limits you, and what are some ways this helps your creativity?
DS: I think it started out of necessity and ended up as a stylistic part of the band. There are limits in the amount of layers we can add to a song (especially because we want our songs to be completely playable live, so we don't really overdub); we can only have two guitar parts and two-part vocal harmonies at most! We are experimenting with using organs and baritone guitars now to diversify our sound a bit, but for the most part we have a limited array of sounds at our disposal. One way I think it helps is that there's only one other person you need to have chemistry with for the song to "click." One of my favorite songs that we've written was polished off in 15 minutes because we were able to feed off of each other's ideas that quickly. I think it also lets us take on opposing/ complementing roles at times; we can take turns playing the pop elements of the song vs. the more strange/dissonant elements, and really establish that dualism. Also, being a two-piece makes it really easy to tour and get to shows!
JT: I like the fact that, in a way, we are deconstructionist- we don't get to hide behind anything when we play, which I think adds to our artistic integrity.
4. How did you come up with the idea to play drums and guitar at the same time?
JT: I didn't really come up with it! Years ago I opened for Hasil Adkins and always loved that stripped down sound. When I got tired of trying to play with other egos, I just started playing by myself.
5. What do you think makes The Spectres unique as a band?
DS: I think our band draws inspiration from a lot of the same source material as other bands we admire, from early R'n'B and rock 'n roll, to doo-wop, punk, pysch, gospel, country, and surf music. The difference between us and other garage bands mainly lies in the proportions of each of these individual elements. It's like in baking how every recipe needs flour, egg, sugar, and butter, but the preparation and quantities of each of these can make many different pastries. Another thing that sets us apart is the difference between James and I in terms of life experiences and how that affects our song writing. I think it's very odd to be a duo where I'm this ex-suburban kind from Long Island and James has lived all over the place, but we both somehow met up in Pittsburgh, which has its own unique story. Our approaches to music are so different- I've done some studies in music theory and he's been writing music for a lot longer than I have, so we each have our own strengths and limitations. In a way, we are always teaching each other. When I listen to our music, I think this weird mesh of two different styles becomes apparent.
6. What have been some of your favorite shows to play?
JT: Definitely Bob Log III is up there for me! He is a one-man-band and while he does use a lot of electronics and over-dubbing, it was still a great time to talk to him about time signatures and messing with time in music. Plus I just love slide and finger-picking.
DS: Yeah, Bob Log III was awesome! It was really cool of Manny to take a chance booking us on that, because it was one of our earliest shows! I'd also add the Lexington, KY stop on our last tour! I think the crowd was really into our style and the bartender was super excited we we pulled out a Gories cover.
7. How did you guys get involved in the Pittsburgh Music Scene?
DS: When we started playing music, James hadn't been living in Pittsburgh all that much longer than I had, so we didn't have a lot of connections to go off of. Manny Theiner and Jackson Boytim actually booked a couple of our first shows, which I'm really grateful for, and then other people started hearing about us and asking us to play. I know a couple of people that booked us later on said they first heard of our names from show flyers and such, so those initial shows were pretty important for us. I've also recently started getting into booking shows to help friends out and meet new people, both local and from out of town. It's been fun to get involved in this way, but at the moment I don't have too much free time to book more than one show every month or so.
8. What are some of The Spectres' goals for 2016?
JT: To have as much fun as possible! We really want to branch out and do more with country-surf- and film! For me, the end goal would be to make a soundtrack for a silent Spaghetti Western, so if any film students are reading this, please hit us up! Oh, and to record our second album when we find the time.
DS: We have a lot of new material that we need to get out there. I'd like to play an acoustic set locally sometime doing just country stuff because we haven't shown anyone those songs yet. I'd also like to start planning our next tour for this summer. I think our main goal is to eat more pie at Dean's Dinner and drink more Ale-8-One.
9. What do you think makes the Pittsburgh Music Scene unique?
DS: This question is hard for me because I've only been observing and experiencing these things for the last 2-3 years I've lived here. One thing I've noticed is how diverse the music scene is here for a city of this size. I also think that new bands and new music can spread around very quickly in Pittsburgh because we are a smaller city. One thing that really impresses me about Pittsburgh is our desire to catalog and preserve our past, and that extends to our local music scene. If you watch the three-part documentary series of the Mind Cure Records story on YouTube, you can see the dedication they all have put into releasing these classic Pittsburgh records to a proper audience. Another good example of this is the Building a Better Robot book that the Mr. Roboto Project released a few years back, cataloging their early history before they moved to Garfield.
10. Where do you see the Pittsburgh Music Scene's future heading?
JT: I'm hoping to do see a hillbilly-surf mashup! We need to embrace the coal mining roots of the area and the close proximity to West Virginia.
DS: I'm hoping that within the next few years that Pittsburgh can continue to pull more prominent national acts. I am already seeing things heading in that direction due to some of the awesome people we have booking shows in the city, but there are still a lot of acts that pass us up for Cleveland or Columbus. In general, I'm excited to see our reputation as a local music scene on the rise!
To hear more from The Spectres, check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thespectrespgh/?fref=ts
The Spectres upcoming shows are:
2/6-The Night Gallery with Dollys, Pachyderm, and Necrotizing Fasciitis.
2/19- Station P with Tongue Party, Skeletonized, and Brian Disanto
Jackson Boytim is a well known DIY promoter within the Pittsburgh Music Scene. Best known for working under the moniker, "Fine, I'll Do It Booking", Jackson has established a name for himself in the local scene with his prolific amount of shows. FoundSound sat down with the legend himself to discuss his work, Pittsburgh music, and the DIY scene.
1. How did you get started with booking and working within the DIY scene?
Well, I just kind of started doing it! I was going to a lot of shows because it was something to do, was inexpensive, a way to meet new people, and a space to be free of constraints. I just met a bunch of people doing it by showing up to shows and getting to know local bands. Soon people thought I was a promoter and would ask me how to get onto a show in Pittsburgh, and then I would direct them to my friends who were actually booking.
Eventually, I just said yes to helping people. It started out with me just slotting bands onto existing shows, and then I got into habit of making my own full shows. Usually it started by asking someone if I could use their house or securing some other venue, like Roboto, then getting bands or local acts. My big job during a show now is securing the things needed to get the show running- a PA, getting the money at the door, etc.
2. So how do you find time to do all of this stuff?
It's a lot, honestly. I'm always getting messages of people trying to get onto shows, trying to organize shows, or (god-forbid) bands jumping off shows right before they are scheduled.
Honestly, I have this weird anxiety about finding venues and asking people if I can use their houses and stuff. Another challenge is getting the right combination of bands that will do it, that will mesh, and that will fit the time constraints. The five-band-show used to be the way to go, but now I like the three or four-band show, cause five can be a little much sometimes. Four acts is a good benchmark for me to work around.
3. What does a normal day of booking look like for you?
I wake up at 9:30, don't get out of bed until 11:30. Sometimes I'm working things out, but sometimes I just stare at the ceiling thinking, "oh my god I have so much shit to do." I try to go back to sleep then can't go back to sleep.
But in all seriousness, I do a bit of messaging, catching up on people, making sure shows are locked down, making sure there is art for the show promotions. I do a lot of art for the shows. I get shit off Tumblr or Google to use as the background or I'll use my own mediocre Photoshop skills to get a piece of anime or a picture of a cat to make a flier. Occasionally, I'll outsource the art to cool people.
On a day-of-show I do all this, make sure the show is good to go, then sometimes go out for a walk and try not to look at my phone or deal with the messages sometimes. But then I'll look into my phone and I'll have like eighty messages and I'll be thinking, "Holy Shit, everyone just messaged me back in the same one minute" and try to respond to them.
Then I'll usually get a ride into town, make sure the bands are all loaded into the venue correctly. We usually say doors at 7, and the usual kick-off time is about 8....22? I wanted to say 8:20 but I'll always get a random message asking for the address so I try to make sure those people catch the show. The aim is to get done by 11.
4. Do you get paid at all from doing any of this?
Not really. Sometimes there are really good nights and I'll take five or ten bucks to recoup money I spent on beer or something, but I'm really just trying to repay the locals or touring bands. Sometimes the money stretches, and sometimes it doesn't. One venue that does a really good job at that is Bates Hardcore Gym. The guys there sometimes tell me, "I'll give you twenty bucks to work the door"- and you know, I'll work for it. At some more "established" venues they'll pay you to do things like work the door and whatnot. But the money is not my motivation for doing this.
5. Do you see split a scene between the DIY scene and the non-DIY scene? What do you think those differences are?
I think there definitely is a split, and there are a few differences. One, quality of organization. Not that a DIY can't provide that, but at a lot of these professional venues you'll have someone who is hired to do that. There's just more money in it. DIY, unfortunately, can be conducive to unscrupulous persons sometimes. But DIY centers about helping bands, and getting the touring band paid.
Often times, the sound quality at these non-DIY venues is better because they have the money for it. Sometimes that means you'll get a better show, but sometimes it doesn't. I just feel that some of the artists that play these shows, but not all, can come off as "Wow, we are all so good at our instruments, listen to us play"- and I'm thinking "Yeah guys, this is nice I guess." DIY is definitely a bit more sloppy but that may mean more passion that can develop into something else, or more experiential takes on ideas.
Honestly, I think there is a place for both of them. More people should focus on smoothing over the transition between the two, like giving DIY musicians who are good and polished opportunities to play those more established venues.
6. Have you ever worked with non-DIY promoters and venues on shows?
Sort-of. Insofar as bands that I worked with that are more professional, Nevada Color is one that sticks out. They are good dudes- I recently did a show with them at Roboto and they were great guys about it. Some of the guys have also asked me to place touring bands on shows, which is actually how I met Dragon King, who are really nice people.
7. Do you think the DIY space can be used for all kinds of art? And is that something you see coming up more in the Scene?
I think there are definitely people in the area that are working to incorporate different forms of expressions into the scene. For example, I've tried to sometimes incorporate visual art into my shows and have artists hang their works in spaces where I'm holding shows. I think there is a little bit of a separation sometimes, but I feel like more people need to ask if it's cool to show their work in a space. I think shows in shops are a really cool way to start doing that and add to the ambiance of the event. I think that it's really cool when people can showcase their art and music at the same time. But you need to make sure no one's going to be spiking their PBR through someone's canvas, you know? That's kind of a horror story!
8. Do you believe personal ethics and politics have a place, or should have a place, into the DIY scene?
They all have their places, and can all be used to really help people. First, let me just put a giant qualifier blanket over this entire response: I am straight, white male who's had a fairly privileged existence and allowed to be himself and been afforded some opportunities that may not have been offered to others . But, again, I really think it depends on the context. For example, if you're a band that is a queer, gender non-conforming type band and more outspoken, that have something to say and are using your music to change the discourse of society, than those people absolutely should be doing that and trying to create an ethic within the community that dissuades oppression that hurts people.
Of course, people can always point to examples of individuals being "sensitive" or applying trigger warnings. I think that a lot of people may have a problem with what's being expressed, but the blow-back is that people call them "so PC". But those PC-critics are not allowing people to critique ideas that have roots in things that are problematic or nonsensical. .
The DIY scene is a community, one that has been rocked by allegations toward certain individuals in the past. But we always have to consider those ethical questions, and we should excise people who are toxic in the scene.
9. What do you think makes the Pittsburgh music scene unique?
It has certain elements of things that are unique to it. I think Pennsylvania is geographically really cool tour-wise. Pittsburgh is a choke-point for touring in the Midwest, and has a lot of different influences and sounds regionally and nationally. We also have a lot of different neighborhoods that have their own sounds and styles. We are not the biggest town but we aren't the smallest town, and people by-and-large are pretty friendly here. The downside is we have dumb beer laws.
10. Where do you see the Pittsburgh Music Scene going in the future?
I don't know, I guess people are going to keep making music and it's going to become more democratic in the making.Hopefully there isn't some kind of crackdown on DIY shows, but who knows? I mean we just got marijuana decriminalized. All in all, as long as there are bands, there will always be people wanting to have shows.
To learn more about Jackson and his shows, check out the Fine, I'll Do It Booking Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fineilldoit666/?fref=ts
Taken at Farm Kammalamma
Pierce Marratto is a Promo and Marketing Head, Graphic Designer and Webmaster at Grey Area Productions. Grey Area is a local promotions company known for operating The Rex Theater and bringing a huge variety of artists to our city. Outside Grey Area, Pierce is a talented artist who showcases his work around the city. FoundSound Music sat down with Pierce to talk about his musical history with the Steel City.
1. What are your main responsibilities at Grey Area?
My title is Graphic Designer and Webmaster; this entails doing all kinds of graphic design like posters, calendars, print stuff as well as any web design, like Facebook banners, etc. I also keep all the social media platforms and the website up-to-date. Grey Area is a small company-there's really only four of us- so we all split duties and do production shifts.
2. How did you get started at Grey Area?
That's a pretty long story, so I'll give you the short version! I had been running a company called "Touch Faster" that did a lot of similar things as Grey Area, but also had a media side with photo and video production. In doing those Touch Faster events, I started doing shows at The Rex and through that I got to know Ben and Scott. When the position for graphic designer opened up, we already had a professional and personal relationship, so I jumped on! That was a little over a year ago.
3. So what are the main venues that Grey Area works with?
We completely run The Rex Theater's calendar. Not all the shows are Grey Area shows, but all of them go through us. For smaller shows, we use the Thunderbird Cafe for developmental acts that we are trying to grow on the market. Lately, we've also been working at other venues like Spirit and James St. Gastropub. There are also some plans for a future, larger venue in the works.
4. What kind of artists does Grey Area look for?
Everyone at Grey Area is a music nerd, so we all really listen to everything! I would say we are a boutique promoter and are one of the only promoters in the city that deals with jazz, funk, soul artists. However, we are really open to anything- good music is good music!
5. How did you get involved in the Pittsburgh music scene?
I'm from Pittsburgh, and I started really young. I started playing in bands when I was 14, and played some small kid shows. But I knew right away that this is what I wanted to be doing, and these were the people I wanted to spend my life being around. I moved away for a while to South Florida but I came back around 2009 and fell right back into it. I was always involved on both ends in terms of performing and graphic design. But there came a point that I realized that I wasn't very good at playing music. Whereas I was mediocre at best, everyone else around me was getting really good. So I decided to focus all my energy into what I was really good at- visual art and the other end of the industry.
6. What have been some of your favorite concerts in Pittsburgh?
Let me narrow down to recently just to make it a bit easier on myself. Tama Impala blew me away last year. Turkuaz played at The Rex Theater and they always put on an incredible show. Sufjan Stevens was the closest I've been to being brought to tears by live music: it was earth-shatteringly beautiful.
7. What local bands would you recommend?
This is a tough one because I love a lot of the locals these days plus a lot of them are friends so I don't want to play favorites. That said, I will just stick to some of the newer acts I have been into. Ok...been a big fan of Spacefish and The John Trumaine show on the psychedelic side of things. Also The Clock Reads, The Bleil Brothers, and the various projects that you are involved in (editor's note: Eastend Mile and Dhruva Krishna and The Family Band) are all holding it down on the jam/funk/soul tip. And of course the myriad of bands that are connected to both Ziggy Sawdust and Jeff Betten (Misra Records). There are a lot, but individually and together Ziggy and Jeff are doing great things for the local music community and the bands that work with them seem to be flourishing because of that.
8. What do you think makes the Pittsburgh Music Scene unique?
One of the things the haters have right is that we are a smaller market city- we will never have a warehouse party randomly like you might have in New York City. But what the haters don't understand is that we are a different kind of intimate market. The artists here are all supportive and helpful for each other. In other music scenes, it's cutthroat. Here, there is so much camaraderie among artists. Also, the people who do come out to shows are real fans. They are there to support. But, I really do think we are on the upswing. I think a lot of people moved away but came back, and brought a lot of energy to make things happen.
9. Where do you see the Pittsburgh Music Scene going?
I would love to see it continue on its upward trajectory. If you look at recent music history, I think the best comparison would be Athens, Georgia when R.E.M. was coming up. Smaller, working-class with a lot of people dedicated to it- but eventually it fizzled out. I'm hoping it doesn't fizzle out here. I think Pittsburgh is going through a mini-Renaissance right now, and it's great! Across the board people are opening and doing new things here.
To find out more about Grey Area Productions and their shows, check out: Greyareaprod.com follow them at facebook.com/greyareapgh and @Greyareapgh on both Twitter and Instagram
To find out more about Pierce and his work, check out: Marrattoart.work, follow him at facebook.com/pierce.marratto and @Piercemarratto on both Twitter and Instagram.
Josh Bakaitus is the Vice President of Drusky Entertainment, which has been named Pittsburgh's Best Concert Promoter three years in a row. Josh has been making headlines in the local scene with his involvement in Drusky Entertainment and the Strip District Music Festival. FoundSound Music interviewed Josh to learn more about the man who is dedicated to putting Pittsburgh on the map.
1. How did you get involved in the Pittsburgh music scene?
Back in the year 2000 I ran a local music website called PittBands.com. Although I was too young to really go to shows or involve myself in the local music scene, this is what really started it all. From there, I began networking with bands and started promoting shows in the city limits in about 2003. In 2005, I stopped promoting shows in my hometown and moved everything to Pittsburgh.
2. What are your primary responsibilities at Drusky Entertainment?
Primarily I book shows, but everybody within the company has a lot of different responsibilities. We're actually a pretty small company, so we all pitch in anywhere we can. I book shows, design our posters, deal with marketing, production, show settlements and also oversee the whole operation with my partner Brian. It's tiresome at times but I enjoy it very much.
3. How do you find and connect with local bands?
Various ways! I have a large database of active and inactive local bands. Most of the time I have local bands in mind when I'm booking a show; when that doesn't work out I send out alerts to our local bands. In addition, I frequently scan Bandcamp and Soundcloud for good local music.
4. Are there any local bands in particular that people should check out?
Oh man, there are so many local bands right now that are great and on the way up! But, if I were to mention a couple in particular, I really like what Cid is doing. They have a this IDGAF attitude and just play the songs they want. I like that. Eternal Sleep are also one of those bands coming up nationally but are from Pittsburgh.
5. What are some of your favorite shows (both nationally and local) that you've seen in Pittsburgh?
That's a tough one; I've seen a lot of shows over the years. I'd say honestly that the most powerful shows for me happened when I was younger. I remember every single moment of when Thursday played Roboto supporting their album "Full Collapse" back in 2003. They opened up with Piebald. That was a really special show for me. I really like July Talk from Canada. One of the best live bands I've ever seen. Do yourself a favor and go to their live show the next time they're in town.
6. Where do you envision the Pittsburgh music scene going in the future?
It's been on the rise since since 2010. As long as there remains a stage for youthful artists to express their emotions and to share their music, there will continue to be a local scene on the rise. More all ages shows to fuel us all! With events like the Strip District Music Festival, Deutschtown Music Festival, Skull Fest, and R.A.N.T.popping up, more people will come to the city and be exposed to local musicians. These events are great shows for people who are interested in the local music scene but cannot go to every single show. Pittsburgh's local music scene is strong right now. For people who say we have a bad local music scene, they really need to educate themselves on what's actually happening right now. They need to go to more shows and listen to a wider variety of music.
7. So how did the Strip District Music Festival start?
Although the idea of doing a neighborhood-wide festival was something I've considered for a few years, it was not clear to me until last year that then was the time and the Strip District would be the place. I was trying to fill sparse winter dates at Altar Bar when the idea of bringing Pittsburgh to the entire neighborhood rather than just to the club crossed my mind. From there it happened pretty quickly and organically.
8. What's new about the Strip District Music Festival this year?
What's different this year is that we're programmed nearly double the amount of bands and venues than 2015. We've introduced more genres for a wider range of music fans as well as a comedy / podcast stage at Maggie's Farm Rum Room.
9. What are some of your hopes for the Strip District Music Festival in the future?
Most importantly, my main agenda is for it to maintain the local aesthetic. I want this event to be a driving force for the local music scene in Pittsburgh. Beyond the attendance numbers, I look at this event and think to myself; "How is this impacting Pittsburgh?," "Is this inspiring people to play music," & "Is this something that anybody who lives here would find enjoyment in?" If I can maintain those elements, I look at this as a successful venture.
10. What do you think makes the Pittsburgh music scene unique?
It's certainly helps that Pittsburgh music community is actually rather small (but thriving). Everybody knows everybody and there is a strong sense of comradery among all musicians here. I find it rare where musicians are not supporting and enthusiastic about peers releasing new albums, going to their shows and just generally supporting each other.
To find out about Drusky Entertainment's upcoming shows, check our their website: http://www.druskyentertainment.com/
To learn more about the Strip District Music Festival, and the full lineup check out the Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/events/888264744583346/
Keep Up With FoundSound
What We're Listening To
@FoundSoundLive
