Neostem is a loud, rock band band from Pittsburgh that produces the rustic sounds that embodies the working class town in which they call home as evidenced on their latest release, Return to Sender from March of 2020. I want to thank Rob Marsili (Drums/Percussion) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
The first album you ever bought?
Motley Crue – Shout at the Devil. The album that changed my life! Was a game changer.
Your last album bought?
Sacred Reich – Awakening. Solid thrash album.
Favorite album of all time?
LIVE – Throwing Copper. Top to bottom, a perfect album.
Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Metallica – St. Anger. As a drummer, HATED the snare sound and the songs were lackluster. Huge disappointment as a Metallica fan. I gave it away to a friend the next day.
First concert attended?
Barry Manilow. Parents took my sister, brother and me to the Civic Arena, and not trying to be funny, third song in, I fell asleep.
Last concert?
Y&T at the Crafthouse. Finally got to see them live and it was a memorable “last” concert before all Hell broke loose this past year with Covid.
Favorite concert ever?
Pink Floyd, Division Bell Tour at Three Rivers Stadium. Nothing will come close to that show. The sound, visuals, atmosphere. It was spectacular!
Least favorite concert?
I have walked out on two shows in my life. Motley Crue’s 1994 tour and the Counting Crows’ Recovering the Satellites tour at the Palumbo Center. Uninspiring and forgettable performances.
Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a lot of great musicians that we’ve met and played with. It’s a diverse group of all genres and if you look hard enough, you will find someone or a group of musicians that shares your musical outlook and goals. NEOSTEM have played some really memorable shows, whether it’s 95 degrees in the shade or 30 degrees where we could see our breath. You have to be able to adapt because you never know what obstacles you will be given. I think we have done quite well, whether we are sharing a bill with a thrash band or a rockabilly band. We can play with anyone!
Thanks, Rob. That Division Bell show was great but I will always remember the crazy party waiting in the stadium line all night for tickets to go on sale. When the box office opened in the morning, half the people waiting were still sleeping and people just arrived and walked up to the front of the line. It was a beautiful, chaotic mess.
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