“Both of us born and raised in Pittsburgh, have been making music together for about 7 years through various projects. Fire Safe Cigarettes was started after being unable to find reliable band mates, but wanting a way to make music that we were 100 percent happy with. We started experimenting with various effects, instruments, and recording techniques, and eventually we found a sound that we are both extremely happy with and are excited to expand on… .a smorgasbord of non fire safe cigarettes, booze, and dreams of socialism.”

Fire Safe Cigarettes is a brand spanking new local indie folk rock duo who take their cue from such diverse acts as The Libertines and Jefferson Airplane. They recently released their debut EP entitled Honey Overflow and can be seen playing out and about Pittsburgh, I want to thank George Gardner (Guitar/Mandolin/Backing Vocals) and Kevin Kiley (Bass/Banjo/Lead Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

• The first album you ever bought?
• George Gardner: The Who Greatest Hits.
• Kevin: Alice Cooper Greatest Hits from CD Warehouse
• Your last album bought?
• George: Crosby Stills Nash and Young So Far.
• Kevin: Courtney Barnett (birthday present for George).
• Favorite album of all time?
• George: The Doors (Self-Titled Album).
• The Doors had such a profound influence on me. I probably heard a couple songs on WDVE and became obsessed, and they really are what got me interested in music.
• Kevin: Blood on the Tracks.
• Least favorite/most disappointing album?
• George: Any newer Green Day stuff. Not to steal Kevin’s answer, but Dookie was the album that got me into punk rock, and all of their most recent stuff has been so disappointing to my inner Sid Vicious.
• Kevin: Uno, Dos and Tre.
• First concert attended?
• George: I got dragged along as a child, to accompany my sister to see The Spice Girls.
• Kevin: Los Lonely Boys.
• Last concert?
• George: Best Coast. Bethany kicked some ass.
• Kevin: The Dead and Co.
• Favorite concert ever?
• George: The Grateful Dead and Company. We went to see them this past summer, it was truly amazing. Not only did they play for hours, but John Mayer was an absolutely phenomenal fit.
• Kevin: Riot Fest, 2014.
• Least favorite concert?
• George: Lynyrd Skynyrd.
• Kevin: Beatles tribute band.
• Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
• George: When you get out of Pittsburgh, and go somewhere like Chicago or New York, you really appreciate the small town vibe that Pittsburgh has. The music scene is pretty tight knit, and there are a ton of local venues where you could see any genre that you want on pretty much any given night. I like the working class ethic, intertwined with the overall progressive vibe that the people of this city have to offer.
• Kevin: I like that it continues to reinvent yourself.
• Thanks, fellas. I was at that Dead and Co. show, too. Were you the ones wearing a tie-dye? I thought I saw you in the crowd at one point…