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pittsburgh's
independent
music
resource |
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In
just two short years, Cherry Monroe has ascended the
music industry ladder, up from the daily grind of day
jobs and hurried evening practices to a recognizeable
and respected national touring act. Signing in 2004
with Universal Records, these five guys from the Western
PA - Ohio area have built a countrywide following through
hard work, dedication, and extraordinary talent.
Finally back home for a concert at the Hard Rock Café,
we had the opportunity to meet with singer Matt Toka
and drummer Jason Levis, who tell us about... READ
MORE |
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editor's
notes |
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Welcome to our One
Year Anniversary issue!! It’s been a tremendous
twelve months for us and having a chance to enter
our second year with some of the region’s best
acts in these pages is truly an honor. I have dedicated
myself to introducing you to Pittsburgh’s hottest
and most talented acts. There are so many great musicians
in this city! Over the next year, I will keep bringing
them to you. So make sure to pick up an issue every
month to keep up to date with the city’s growing
music culture. This town is finally being recognized
for its talent, and mugZine is here to support its
expansion onto the national stage.
I’d like to introduce our newest columnist -
Chris “Ru-DoGG” RuanE - who will be bringing
us “Drumology 9577” each month. He is
an outstanding drummer for the local hard rock outfit
Mojo Filter, and he’s one of the area’s
finest instructors. Thank you Chris for your work
and support in the new year. I’d also like to
thank George Sabol for bringing us his “Lesson
Lab” every month. He is a well-known and highly
respected guitarist and we are privileged to have
him contribute. Keep up the great work George!
Of course, the magazine has a lot of support and dedication
from many outstanding people who volunteer their time
to keep it going. A big “Thank You” goes
out to Kristin Wagner, Mike Grove and Aaron Bubenheim
for your assistance over the past year. A very special
“Thank You” goes to Barbara Ladner and
Jennifer Fantazier - without your help this could
never happen. And to Raymond Szymanski and Esther
and Ralph Lutz, whose initial support got this venture
off the ground. And most importantly, thank YOU for
picking up and reading music:underground each month.
Your support and love for the local music scene is
greatly appreciated by me and the musicians we cover!
The summer music season is upon us and with that comes
the opportunity to enjoy Pittsburgh’s lush musical
heritage. This is the time of year when bands launch
their tours and supporters make their way to the bars
and clubs to immerse themselves in the entertainment.
I hope you find this magazine a useful tool in preparing
your activities. Please be safe, be courteous, and
have a great time at all the shows this summer!
Rick
Szymanski
Publisher/Editor
music:underground Magazine
rick@mugzine.com
music:underground Magazine
P.O. Box 8280
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
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local
music news |
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Saturday,
May 6, is mugZine’s One Year Anniversary Show.
The Pittsburgh Piledriver Showcase Series One is being
held at RPMs Rock Club in Bridgeville and features four
of the region’s top bands in one easy-to-get-to
location. Come celebrate our birthday with live performances
from MOJO FILTER, THE SCIENCE FICTION IDOLS, BAGHEAD
and THE FORBIDDEN 5. Meet the staff and show your support.
(See ad on page X for details) We’ll see you there!!
THEFT ALERT!!
Equipment was recently stolen
from Gasoline Dion’s practice space on the Southside.
Here’s all that was taken:
- 1992 Fender Japanese HRR Strat
(half black - half seafoam green, maple fretboard, “HUM”
and star stickers)
- Lakland 55-01 5-String Bass
(silver with mint green pick guard)
- Ashdown MAG 400 Bass Head
If you come across these items, please contact the band
asap.
myspace.com/gasolinedion
Adam Evil & The Outside Royalty are packing their
bags and heading to London. Setting their sights on
the England scene, they will be jumping the pond in
June. They will be performing one last show in Pittsburgh
Saturday May 6 at the Rex, with special guests Country
Music Gas Station, Gary Musisko, the What Else and Mandrake
Project.
adam-evil.com
Local britpop quintet Shade is receiving some airtime
over in the U.K. Steve Lamacq, one of Britain’s
most influential DJ’s, gave their single “Forever”
a spin during his BBC6 broadcast. They were also interviewed
for the “Johnny Yeah Show” on Kooba Radio,
Britain’s station devoted to unsigned artists.
shaderocks.com
The Clarks are taking pre-orders for their upcoming
“Still Live” DVD/CD. Recorded over two nights
at Mr. Small’s Theatre, the new release features
live performances of all their great hits, including
“Cigarette,” “Penny On The Floor,”
and “Better Off Without You.” Twenty DVD’s
will be inserted with a silver ticket, an invitation
to a private, intimate show with the band and friends.
Order online at
clarksonline.com
e-mail
news to:
mailbag@mugzine.com
subject: news |
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cd
reviews |
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GOOD
BROTHER EARL
Perfect Tragedy
The
highly anticipated second studio album from Pittsburgh’s
genre-jumping Good Brother Earl is finally here and
is a clear demonstration of the band’s progress
as a solid songwriting team. One song shy of a dozen,
GBE’s Perfect Tragedy is flawless. Jeff Schmutz
displays lyrical focus and a concentration on melody
that is memorable and addicting, sure to have the listener
singing along to hits “Hard to Love,” and
the opener, “Fighting Gravity,” which is
in rotation on WYEP and WDVE.
Combining a country
blues feel with a Neil Young-esque edge on “?
?,” guitarist Paul Fitzsimmons keeps the album
fresh, mixing in off-tempo riffs before launching into
a short, yet forceful solo. Other gems include “6
O'clock News,” and the subtle, semi-acoustic “Cinderella.”
Despite its title, Perfect Tragedy is a masterful
success.
goodbrotherearl.com
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BRAVE
THE FIRE
She Lies... In The
Flower Bed
Brave
The Fire’s 2005 EP She Lies... in the
Flower Bed is a blitzkrieg of aggression in musical
form. Their explosive style is captured admirably on
this their first studio record.
The five-track disc leads off with “Zero, One,”
a heavy, guitar-driven tune with memorable riffs and
surprising lyrical melody, which is all too often lost
in the growls and screams of the genre. Lead vocalist
Steve Nitsch keeps a perceptibility to the lyrics, despite
his rambunctious approach to the mic. The dual guitar
work of Tony Fonzi and Rob Beers create a hectic soundtrack,
blending speed metal picking with harmonizing licks.
Bassist Eddie Humberson and drummer Ash Phyllis add
a tight rhythm to an overall outstanding album. She
Lies... is intense, a metal tour de force.
bravethefire.com |
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DOMICILE
As I Choke On The Ashes
Pittsburgh
is running amok with so many hardcore acts that it’s
getting impossible to tell one from another. Standing
out from the crowd is Domicile. The local thrash metal
band’s 2004 release As I Choke On The Ashes
deceptively leads off with an upbeat chord progression
- reminiscent of early Danzig - before diving headfirst
into the trenches of speed metal on “Selfless
Destroyer.”
Continuing their assault of the drop D power chord on
“Life Comes to a Cold and Crashing End,”
and every track thereafter, lead vocalist Fred Young
mixes his indiscernible growls with equally incomprehensible
screeches. (It’s a damn good thing these CD’s
come with lyrics.) Keeping true to the genre, As
I Choke is riveted with references to death, pain,
dying, and more death. An angry mess of screaming depression.
domicilemetal.com
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