“The Moat Rats are a group of old friends, who decided to do something productive with their time.”

The Moat Rats is a Pittsburgh area jam rock eight-piece collective that delves into varying styles such as r&b, reggae, jazz, new age, pop, and soul. You can check out their vibe this Friday (3/27) as they take on St. Paddy’s Day at the Oakmont Tavern. I want to thank Karli Blotzer (Vocals) and James Held (Drums) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

• The first album you ever bought?
• Karli Blotzer: Honestly probably …Is a Real Boy Say Anything.
• James Held: AC/DC Back in Black.
• Your last album bought?
• Karli: The Commonheart Grown. Some of the best in Pittsburgh right now no doubt.
• James: Steely Dan Countdown to Ecstasy.
• Favorite album of all time?
• Karli: Toss up between Kid Cudi Man On the Moon: The End of Day and David Byrne & St. Vincent Love This Giant oddly enough.
• James: Dr. Dre The Chronic. I’d be lying if I said anything else.
• Least favorite/most disappointing album?
• Karli: No question Miley Cyrus & her Dead Petz Miley Cyrus but why should I have even expected anything from it in the first place?
• James: Every Pearl Jam album after Ten.
• First concert attended?
• Karli: N*SYNC in ’02, P Diddy was the opener.
• James: Aaron Carter circa 2001.
• Last concert?
• Karli: Deftones in Columbus, OH.
• James: Slightly Stoopid in 2015.
• Favorite concert ever?
• Karli: Say Anything’s …Is a Real Boy 10 year anniversary concert. I went by myself, was crying and sang every word.
• James: Love to see Slightly Stoopid live anytime they’re in town, same with Rebelution, nothing like the vibe at a reggae show.
• Least favorite concert?
• Karli: Do high school choir concerts count? No wait, Kenny Chesney was a nightmare.
• James: I have yet to attend my least favorite concert.
• Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
• Karli: It’s a great place to grow, there’s an amazing sense of community in the music scene which allows the city to become a perfect place to cultivate ideas. I couldn’t ask for a better place to be at this point in my life.
• James: My parents are both musicians along with my twin sister who plays bass for The Moat Rats, and getting to grow up playing music with them around the city has been awesome. Pittsburgh speaks for itself.

Thanks, Karli and James. “Pittsburgh speaks for itself” is one hell of a slogan, James!