“Piano driven garage rock pop from Pittsburgh.”

Check out the band at Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp. The band just dropped it’s debut recording, “Well“, last week. I want to thank Max Sommerville (Piano/Vocals), Nathan Zoob (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Dave Busch (Bass/Backing Vocals) and Derek Krystek (Drums/Backing Vocals) for taking a few to participate in this edition of First/Last.

• The first album you ever bought?
• Max Sommerville: Linkin Park “Hybrid Theory”.
• Nathan Zoob: “Tommy”, by The Who.
• Dave Busch: Metallica ”Ride the Lighting”.
• Derek Krystek: “Stunt” Barenaked Ladies.
• Your last album bought?
• Max: Ryan Adams “Jacksonville City Nights”.
• Zoob: ‘Man of La Mancha Original Broadway Cast Recording’ (it was for a thing. You know what, fuck it, that’s some good shit right there).
• Dave: Alt-J “An Awesome Wave”.
• Derek: “Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust” Sigur Rós.
• Favorite album of all time?
• Max: Rickie Lee Jones “Rickie Lee Jones”.
• Zoob: “Tommy”.
• Dave: Mars Volta “Deloused in the Comatorium”.
• Derek: “Age of Adz” Sufjan Stevens.
• Least favorite/most disappointing album?
• Max: Lil Wayne – The Carter 4.
• Zoob: Hard to say–probably “It’s Hard” by The Who. Boy that was disappointing.
• Dave: The last MGMT album.
• Derek: “No World for Tomorrow” Coheed and Cambria.
• First concert attended?
• Max: Sting.
• Zoob: The Who at Madison Square Garden in 2000. I’m sensing a theme.
• Dave: Live w/ opener Luscious Jackson.
• Derek: Rush, 1996.
• Last concert?
• Max: St.Vincent and David Byrne.
• Zoob: Father John Misty.
• Dave: Alt–J.
• Derek: Mewithoutyou.
• Favorite concert ever?
• Max: Elvis Costello.
• Zoob: I like a lot of different shows for different reasons. I saw Simon & Garfunkel in 2003 which I never thought I’d get to see. They were amazing. Likewise with Jeff Mangum just recently. I was also blown away by St. Vincent and Grizzly Bear, both of whom taught me more about guitar tone than I realized I had left to learn.
• Dave: Seeing a West African influenced band with all traditional instruments at Ortliebs in West Philly.
• Derek: The Receiving End of Sirens.
• Least favorite concert?
• Max: Bob Dylan.
• Zoob: I’ve seen some dogs, but why name names?
• Dave: Coheed & Cambria, IUP, Ohio Room.
• Derek: Third Eye Blind – Stage AE.
• Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
• Max: I love the history in Pittsburgh. When I think of the city I think of tradition and the warmth of people getting together.
• Zoob: I’m an immigrant to this town. I grew up in NYC and moved here for school. The scene in Pittsburgh is so nurturing and so full of undiscovered gems–I don’t think I’ll ever be able to pay back the debt I owe to the many musicians who treated me like family when they had no reason to. I came here a snob, but I found a home.
• Dave: Pittsburgh is one of the most vibrant places for arts and music. I’ve been to many cities and have never seen such a place with diversity like the ‘burgh. A fond memory I have of Pittsburgh is sitting atop the West End Overlook with good friends being overwhelmed with the intensity of the rivers, city scape and thoughts of gratitude about where I am.
• Derek: The University of Pittsburgh basement show (literally underground) music scene held the best experiences of my musical life. I remember one night after finishing a set around midnight, the entire basement turned in to a jam session dance marathon. I stayed behind the drums as a number of local musical talents took turns switching from guitar bass and keys and we jammed hard for at least 3 hours. The mass of friends, party goers and fellow musicians danced, jumped, clapped and chanted without a worry in the world! I’ll never forget the those nights, being immersed in music.

Thanks, fellas. I am totally diggin’ the album. Can’t wait to see you play soon.