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First/Last-Slim Forsythe

August 21, 2013

“Kevin “Slim” Forsythe mosied down from the Bradford county Northern Tier in the seventies to head to Pitt, and hasn’t left his new stompin’ grounds yet – well, not for long anyway. Forsythe now leads a western swing band, but his life reads more like the C&W songs he and the group perform.- Old Mon Music

Check out Slim on Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. As owner and single occupant of the Neid’s Hotel in Lawrenceville, Slim presents a variety of ‘country-tinged’ performances throughout the year. He jumps the Allegheny River Friday night to bring his hoedown stomp to the up and coming place to party, The Park House on the North Shore with Candy Mountain, Scratchy Hutter and Bob Crafton. I want to thank Slim for taking a few to participate in this edition of First/Last.

  • The first album you ever bought?
  • “Music from The Man With No Name”, Hugo Montenegro Orchestra (playin’ all that wonderful Ennio Morricone movie soundtrack stuff from the spaghetti westerns starrin’ Clint Eastwood) c. 1966.
  • Your last album bought?
  • John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. A version of ‘Lush Life’ on that thing that literally made me pull over to the side of the road one night… but I’m probably cherry pickin’ here, I really don’t remember the last album I bought. I bought this one twice anyway… and the second time was just a little while back.
  • Favorite album of all time?
  • “Sergeant Pepper’s…”, The Beatles, 1967. I was 11 years old.
  • Least favorite/most disappointing album?
  • I try not to say negative things about other artists, etc.
  • First concert attended?
  • Judy Collins at St. Bonaventure in Allegany, NY c. 1975. Actually it might’ve been Poco at that same venue a little before that…can’t remember.
  • Last concert?
  • (Might have been) B. B. King and Bobby Blue Bland, Benedum Center, about 10 years ago.
  • Favorite concert ever?
  • I love to see local bands made up of folks I know, when I go out for live music (other than my own shows). I’m not a big fan of large venue shows and rarely go. My favorite “concert” would be somethin’ like the last time I saw The Beagle Brothers anywhere, or Red Hand Paddy at the Harp and Fiddle.
  • Least favorite concert?
  • I try not to say negative things about other artists, etc.
  • Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
  • Places like Nied’s Hotel in Lawrenceville where I reside and where I play frequently. The Rivers. The Allegheny Cemetery where I often walk; a peaceful, beautiful place. The yearly changes in the weather. Nice folks like you, Hugh, and all the things you do to keep local music alive and kickin’ in this great Town. Thanks!

Thanks, Slim. I appreciate the kind words. Love what you are doing over at Nied’s. Keeping the genre current here in Pittsburgh is an amazing thing.