Told her “music has sunlight in it,” Bridgette Perdue blends soulful vocals with a vibrant piano to create a fun, innovative twist on pop/R&B music, reminiscent of Sara Bareilles or Alicia Keys. Her upbeat style and independent voice has enamored audiences from Los Angeles to New York City, and in her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA (August Wilson Center, Kelly Strayhorn Theatre), she has headlined her own shows and opened for national recording acts. Perdue’s newly released album

“When a wild long-haired punk meets a quiet songstress with an acoustic guitar, they usually turn the other way. Bloody Diamonds are the exception. With heavy riffs and wailing, powerful vocals, Toronto’s goth-tinged dark rock band Bloody Diamonds are a four-piece rock n’ roll monster. Fronted by vocalist Sara Elizabeth and guitarist Jake Seaward the two bring together the gloom of early Black Sabbath and the modern feel of Band of Skulls, delivering a hard-hitting rock show with intensely dynamic vocals. One minute Elizabeth is soft and sweet, the next she’s foaming at the mouth, unleashing a menacing,
gritty howl. Her soulful, haunting voice and unhinged stage presence has been compared to singers such as Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, and Alison Mosshart.”…

“Music was always a part of Dan’s life growing up even before his passion was realized. His father was a lifelong working musician. As a kid, Dan and his brother spent their time goofing off and running around at their dad’s shows and used to tease him for singing off-key. It wasn’t until a teenage injury sidelined his athletics that Dan picked up one of his Dad’s guitars and taught himself to play. With that, came a new appreciation for music and a realization of what his Dad did. What was once thought to be off-key was actually in perfect harmony.”…

“Dot Dash travelled 300 miles south to Fidelitorium Studios just outside Winston-Salem, North Carolina where, with the legendary Mitch Easter producing, the 10-track Earthquakes & Tidal Waves was recorded. Although perhaps best known for his production work on R.E.M.’s first three records, Chronic Town, Murmur, and Reckoning, plus the band’s original indie 7”, Easter — who added a guitar lead to Earthquakes & Tidal Waves’ album-opening “The Winter of Discontent” and played piano on album closer “Sleep, Sleep” — has been a pivotal figure in melodic, left-of-center, guitar-based music for nearly 35 years, both with his own band, Let’s Active, and as a producer of bands such as The dB’s, Superchunk, Dinosaur Jr., Wilco, Pavement, and Ride, to name just a few.”…

“We started out meeting over reading that text And you had that full-length mirror at the foot of your bed
So every time I lifted your shirt over your head you said,”Oh, are you watching my back?”…

As with a lot of great bands, when you really listen to Big Quiet, you understand the depth of its attendant members’ music fanship. These three know their source material, whether it’s Athens, GA, in 1982, Scotland in 1988, or New York right now. The Brooklyn trio’s knowledge of indie rock and post-punk history is real, and they’ll talk your ear off about it if you ever ask…

“We are a Cleveland Band that has a very original sound with lead stylings of electric mandolin, bouzouki, and guitar. With female lead vocals, a groovy bassist, keys, and drums, our sound mixes down into something most people find fresh and distinctive. We have been told we sound like Blondie, The Rolling Stones, The Talking Heads, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Aimee Mann, Skyler Stonestreet, the Cars, and the list goes on. People can hear parts of many different artists but can’t pin us down to a distinct sound besides Indie Rock.”…

Anchored by the sound of funk and soul masters including James Brown, Otis Redding, and Prince, SugarBad creates an uplifting sound spearheaded by the velveteen voice of Lisa Ramey. Unlike most typical funk-soul acts, SugarBad has all the intensity of a rock band, featuring anthemic vocals and horns, a powerful rhythm section, and funky guitar and organ based grooves. With beginnings as an instrumental house band at 169 Bar, SugarBad quickly evolved into a staple of the New York soul scene…

“While bands often spend their early days discovering their musical directions and vying for visibility, the story of Vancouver’s Dear Rouge is something unique and almost unheard of in Canada. The band is led by husband and wife duo Drew and Danielle McTaggart. Between the two of them, they carry years of touring and recording with multiple bands and different musical ventures. Drew and Danielle met in these days of initial musical exploration. Both driven by a passion to create energetic music with a creative backbone, they formed Dear Rouge and their debut EP Heads Up Watch Out.”…

“Wings for Armor’s emotion fueled lyrics accompanied by intense, heartfelt musical arrangements and crashing percussion characterize the sonic experience that drummer Christy and singer/guitarist Murph strive to create during their energetic live shows. Whether its themes such as anger and depression or those of alienation and transcendence, the subjects explored on Wings For Armor’s debut self-released 14 track album, “Chasing And Being Chased” create what many in their fan base have defined as ‘a soundtrack for real life’ due to the way the stripped-down revelations encompassed in their brand of experimental rock reveal the universals of the human experience.”…

Jacksonville Florida has its list of noteworthy artists and musicians like any city does, however if you manage to dig a bit deeper you’ll find an entire thriving ecosystem of bands like when you used to turn over a stones behind your elementary school when you were a kid…

“The members of KHeeS have been making music around the Pittsburgh area for the better part of the last decade, and members were an integral part of a mostly-faded Beaver County scene around the early 2000’s. Featuring ex-members of The Vacancy and Burning West, KHeeS came together last year with the goal of writing and playing energetic songs that remain emotionally moving. Since forming, the band has been playing around Pittsburgh pretty often and building a foothold in the
emerging Pittsburgh grunge scene.” – PITTPUNK…

Along with hosting a stage at the incredible Deutschtown Music Festival (much more on that soon), I am so excited to curate the stage at the fabulous Thunderbird Cafe…

“Blending together what music means to its members, Narrow/Arrow is a vibrant and visceral 3 piece band whose dynamics, playing style, and presence represent a fresh start in the music scene.”…

Of course, the quickest comparison one will make to the Howlin’ Brothers is Old Crow Medicine Show. They are the only other contemporary act to really ‘make it’ while putting out music in tribute to this dusty period of Americana. While that is a pretty easy bridge to build, the most interesting aspects of HOWL come from the ways in which this group deviates from the calculation. This is Old Crow Medicine Show for people that like a little more sweat on the microphone; the Delta Holler Funk, if you will…

Lucid Lung is an experimental pop band from Pittsburgh/State College who released their self-titled debut recently. I want to thank Tyler Haas and Patrick Coyle for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last…

“The Nied’s Hotel Band is a powerhouse recording and performing rock-n-roll band from Pittsburgh, PA. (USA). NHB delivers the hardworking, blue collar, muscle that has made Pittsburgh a legendary rock-n-roll city. The band includes some of the best-known and respected players in the region, including singer John Vento (who is, perhaps, the hardest-working front man around), guitarists Tim Hadley and Jim McCullough, plus keyboardist Fred Delu and sax man Ed Jonnet, who last joined forces in the 70’s as members of Pittsburgh’s most beloved rock/soul band – The Rhythm Kings. Newest members Frank DeCarolis (bass) and Bob Fetherlin (drums) complete a stellar Lineup.”…

“Bridge City Hustle is the collaboration of four talented and innovative musicians, songwriters, and producers that are redefining soul in Brooklyn, NY. They’re quickly gaining a large following in the Northeast with their high-energy, virtuosic live performances built upon Johnny Burgos’s soaring vocals and the rhythm section’s heavy-yet funky groove.”…