Weekend Show Update 1/20

It's another weekend of local acts here in Pittsburgh...check it out!

Chet Vincent and the Big Bend
with City Dwelling Nature Seekers and The Slow Reel
Friday, January 20 @ Brillobox
10 pm

Falling Andes
Friday, January 20 @ Club Cafe
10 pm

Bill Toms and Hard Rain
Saturday, January 21 @ Moondog's Pub
10 pm

Jill West Bringing the Blues to Memphis

Jill West and the Blues Attack brought the house down last night at Moondog's Pub one last time before heading to Memphis. The group will be representing Pittsburgh in the International Blues Challenge, a contest they came close to winning (3rd place) in 2005.

"That's pretty good for a local girl just singin' the blues," West said in her husky tone.

The Blues Attack leaves in two weeks for the competition that takes place Feb 1- 4. At last night's show, the president of the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania Jonnye Weber introduced Jill and the gang with more than positive words.

"We're so proud of her," Weber told the crowd as they cheered, drinks in hand and with their glasses in the air. "She's the ultimate consummate performer."

The group sent themselves off in style, rocking both traditional and southern-style blues with their songs such as "Voodoo Woman" and "Beggin' Song." The Blues Attack plans to bring that same powerhouse vibe to Memphis to take home the trophy. If it all fails, at least they still have their fan base, which, according to West, is small but mighty and loyal.

"I do this for me but my favorite thing is when people keep coming back," West said. "You can't beat that."

Weekend Show Update 1/13

I don't know if it's just me, but 2012 is looking to be an awesome year for local concerts. Already, this weekend is bringing a slew of them! Free up your calendars!

Saturday, Jan 14
Keller Williams at Mr. Smalls 9pm
Dream Job at Gooski's 9pm
Jill West and the Blues Attack at Moondog's 8pm

Sunday, Jan 15
The Whiskey Holler and others at the Thunderbird Cafe at 8pm


This is just the second week of the year, folks, and it's going to get even better. Coming to town soon will be One World Tribe, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds and many more!

Rusted Root is hitting the road!

Your favorite band from the Burgh is hitting the road! The group announced their Fortunate Freaks Tour yesterday with dates listed at venues around the country. Most importantly, though, is their show in Butler, Pa on February 18. Don't forget to buy your tickets and come ready to dance!

Check out their Facebook page note for all dates.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/rusted-root/fortunate-freaks-tour-announcement/10150671081089018

Preach, Love and Music

Erie native keeps good vibes alive in the Steel City
By: Chelsey Engel

Walking down Penn Avenue on a dreary, cold night, I heard the beat of the bongos emitting from beyond the walls of the tapas bar, Seviche. Within just a few moments, I could tell the gray mood the weather created would soon be transformed into one of color. That’s just the energy Preach Freedom exudes- one of vibrance, one of life and one of cool enthusiasm. And, of course, talent.

In a white, tribal-inspired shirt and two, lonesome dreadlocks hanging from beneath his woven hat, Preach Freedom looked at home sitting behind his bongo drum. Behind him hung vintage, Cuban-esque paintings, adding to the very Latin feel of the evening. Of course, Preach was the main contribution to the ambience, joined by Puerto Rican turned Pittsburgh singer Geña and Rusted Root guitarist Colter Harper. The trio filled the bar with their African and Caribbean beats, a far cry from what is commonly known of Preach’s hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. The musician is tearing down those typecasts, however, as he explores the music world, which for him and so many other artists, began in the church.

“If you went to church, you had to sing in a choir,” Preach states, hands casually folded on the dimly-lit table in Seviche. “But to be honest, I came up in church before they let secular music in.”

Luckily enough for Preach, however, his family’s love for music allowed him to be introduced to the greats, such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Marvin Gaye. To Preach, going against discrimination doesn’t end with race or gender, but continues with music as well. His list of influences ranges from gospel to country, from reggae to rock. It is obvious that there are no boundaries separating Preach from enjoyable tunes.

“To me, there are two types of music: good and bad,” Preach claims.

What’s bad, one might ask?

“Anything that don’t make my booty move,” Preach states matter-of-factly. “Good music has a message and agitates the grave.”

Preach Freedom and Friends

Friday night felt like a night in Puerto Rico and 1970's New York all at the same time. Preach Freedom and Machete rocked the house with their unique Latin and soulful vibes along with many special guests including Colter Harper and Phat Man Dee. Their sounds are a refreshing change of pace in the bore of life and you can always count on them to put a smile on your face.

Here's a short video of Preach performing alongside Gena of Machete Friday night at Frankie and Georgie's in Squirrel Hill. Check back soon for links to the full length articles I wrote about both Preach and Gena for Steel City Entertainment!

Preach Freedom and Friends from Chelsey Engel on Vimeo.

Sister Sparrow featured in NY's Daily News

Get ready to shake your tail feathers!

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds has been tearing up local clubs since 2008 with its rollicking blend of soul, funk and backwoods Americana rock ’n’ roll, which draws even indifferent hipsters onto the dance floor.

But with a slew of gigs wrapping up their seven-week tour (including Brooklyn Bowl on Friday) and a new album dropping in February, the buzz around this nine-piece powerhouse is reaching fever pitch.

“Sometimes I have to pinch myself. . . . Am I a professional musician? Really? Did I somehow pull that off?” says sultry frontwoman Arleigh Kincheloe, 24, who remembers decamping from the Catskills to Brooklyn with her brother Jackson when she was just 19.

The pint-sized singer packs a voice that shakes the rafters, while her brother shreds the harmonica — which they’ve dubbed “the Mississippi saxophone.”

After the requisite “starving-artist years” waiting tables and sitting in with other bands, the duo’s turning point came after they teamed up with their cousin, drummer Bram Kincheloe, who brought the rest of the flock (including a four-piece horn section, bass and lead guitar) into the fold.

“From the first rehearsal, we felt the chemistry,” says Kincheloe — which is vital when nine musicians are crammed into a used Ramada Inn van for a cross-country tour.

“My language has definitely deteriorated very fast,” laughs the band’s sole sister, “but they’ve also made me very patient . . . because you have to be, to deal with eight boys and the dirty things they talk about all day.”

The band revels in ruffling feathers and getting down during their celebrated live shows.

“This is not high-class, wearing-suits stuff,” says Kincheloe with a smirk. “We're getting really sweaty. I’m dancing my ass off. This is rock ’n’ roll.”

Their stage act was honed by a five-month residency that Rockwood Music Hall granted the group in 2009 after the band won over the lower East Side venue with its first public show.

“We owe it all to them,” says Kincheloe. “They took a chance on us . . . and that really catapulted us from a good idea into something that’s now so tight and well-rehearsed.”

They recorded their self-titled debut album that year in one 12-hour stint at Modern Vintage.

“We look back now, and we’re like, ‘Wow, that was a shotgun album,’ ” she laughs. “But it’s a great snapshot of who we were at the time.”

They’ve spread their wings on the upcoming “Pound of Dirt” under Modern Vintage Recordings, which they recorded whenever they returned home from shows on the road.

Read more at the original posting by NY's Daily News.