“The four members of YAWN come from the underbelly of Chicago, with roots in neighborhoods like Little Lebanon, Baghdad Row, and Polski Park. Having grown up together both figuratively and literally, their hearts remain embedded in trash but their dreams of success run deeper than the cold waters of Lake Michigan. ‘Happy Tears’ is a transitional piece: part B-Side, part Single. After a series of tours in support of ‘Open Season’, we were anxious to get back to recording. Returning to Chicago, and finding a lovely new home in a recording studio, we got to work shaping songs that have clung to us since summer. The collection of jams – some moody and dark, some bright and upbeat, represents our perspective on the violent ups and downs of touring life…

“What do you do when the guitar you wrote all your songs on gets stolen mid-tour and you’re too practical to run out and jack up your credit? This might not seem like a major problem for most bands, but when you’re the sparse duo of Eternal Summers and you are relying on that Parker Nitefly to compensate for high and low end, you can’t help feeling a bit exposed. After a futile appeal for sponsorship, Nicole Yun experiments with the Fender Telecaster she has on hand. She recognizes that while it cuts like a knife and has a gorgeous high range, it is missing that low edge. Suddenly glad that she and Daniel Cundiff…

Comprised of vocalist/guitarist Angelo Spagnolo, vocalist/keyboardist Mallory Glaser, bassist Robert Lundberg, multi-reedist Steven Lugerner, and drummer Max Jaffe – Brooklyn-based In One Wind has been called “one of the most inventive and satisfying new bands” by David Hadju of The New Republic. The sudden rhythmic & dynamic shifts of their music juxtaposed against simple folk forms creates contrasting musical spaces – a sound that is defined by the instrumentation of all five members…

“When I was twenty-three I had a waking vision of a creature trying to get inside my apartment. At the time I couldn’t tell if it was malevolent and bent on my destruction since it would not speak but only scrabbled at the windows and beat on the walls. Whatever it was, it had wings and was terrifying. All night I piled furniture in front of the door to keep it from getting in, which seemed to work. I should mention that I also had a fever and was taking exotic narcotics to deal with it. The upshot of this episode was that I dropped out of school and began to write songs…

Sons of an Illustrious Father is a four-piece folk/blues/americana/country -inspired rock band from New York that may at a given moment consist of any combination of quadrophonic vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, upright bass, violin, organ, accordion, and drums. Sweet enough to make Tom Waits cry, mean enough …

All of these songs are me, but in a different way, with a different sound,” says Mavis Staples. “The phrasing, the tempos, the arrangements are different, but the messages are the same things I’ve been saying down through the years. They’re about the world today—poverty, jobs, welfare, all of that—and making it feel better through these songs.” With her bold new album, You Are Not Alone, the legendary vocalist adds a remarkable new chapter to an historic career. Staples …

Appearing on Indie Rock Café’s list of Best Songs of 2011 and described as a band to watch, Falling Andes is a 5-piece American indie alternative rock band formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in winter 2011. The group is composed of Dan Peluso (guitar, keyboards, lead vocals), Jordan Wood (keyboards, backing vocals), new addition / chick drummer Toni Crough (percussion), Mike Boyer (lead guitar), and Mike Radage (electric bass). The music of Falling Andes is a comfortable-yet-boundary-pushing fit with the new wave of 80s-inspired throwback but more-meaningful-this-time-around-we-swear synthpop and has…

Thank goodness for Pittsburgh, it’s not a ‘better world’. Nothing says the Steel City like a free outdoor Summer gig with Joe & his band. Even though he’s been kicking around for years, I have pitifully only recently discovered just how much fun one of his concerts can be. Better late than never. Find out for yourself tonight at South Park. My thanks to Joe for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last…

Tall Tall Trees, formed in 2008, is the musical project of multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Mike Savino . Often performing on a home-rigged electric banjo sent through a number of effects pedals and loopers, Savino along with longtime collaborators Mathias Künzli (drums), Kyle Sanna (guitar, keyboard), and Benjamin Campbell…

“There is nothing like the challenges and camaraderie of the road to inspire a songwriter who thrives upon the emotional energy and exhilaration only travel can deliver. Some singers are devoted to the pursuit of perpetual motion, and Langhorne Slim releases his wild soul in ways that come out of the discipline of live performance. The 13 songs that compose Langhorne Slim & The Law’s new The Way We Move are road-tested, rollicking and very rock ‘n’ rolling tunes that the songwriter perfected with his loyal band, and come out of the kind of good times and bad experiences that songwriters of Langhorne’s…

The Highballers have been spinning heads for years with buttery sweet harmonies that meld perfectly with the hard twang of Fender telecasters. The Washington, DC alt country band taps into musicians like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and The Knitters. Singers Victoria Patchen and Kendall Jackson are reminiscent of classic duos Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, and Exene Cervenka and John Doe. The band does not fit into the tame, harmless pop mold fabricated…

Mary Chapin brings her tour to Pittsburgh tonight at the Carnegie Music Hall with special guest Tift Merritt opening. My thanks to Mary Chapin for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last…

Tift and her band return to Pittsburgh tomorrow at the Carnegie Music Hall in Homestead supporting Mary Chapin Carpenter. My thanks to Tift for participating in this edition of First/Last…

Kelly returns to Pittsburgh tonight at Smalls sharing the bill with Neko Case. My thanks to her for taking the time to participate in this edtion of First/Last…

The band hits Pittsburgh this Wednesday at Club Cafe with guests Dan Getkin and the Masters of American Music and Scheabutter. My thanks to frontman Adam Levy for participating in this edition of First/Last….

James returns to Pittsburgh tomorrow, headlining a free show at Hartwood. My thanks to him for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last….

The band stops in Pittsburgh this Monday at the Shadow Lounge with The Lampshades and Eric Oliver on the bill. My thanks to frontman Daniel Scheuerman for taking some time to participate in this edition of First/Last…

I have been ‘unofficially’ shooting shows for WYEP-FM for two years now and I am celebrating this week by bringing you a special series of First/Lasts with the station’s on-air personalities. We conclude today with Brian who is the Production Director for WYEP as well as frequent on-air fill host. My thanks to him for participating in this edition of First/Last…

The band plays Greensburg’s freevoutdoor summer concert series tonight. My thanks to Vocalist/Guitarist/Son James Wilson for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last…

p>I have been ‘unofficially’ shooting shows for WYEP-FM for two years now and I am celebrating this week by bringing you a special series of First/Lasts with the station’s on-air personalities. We continue today with Mike who is the host of the Midday Mix for WYEP as well as being the station’s Music Director (and a certified Beatles nut). My thanks to him for participating in this edition of First/Last…