Scene Unheard

With a few EPs, a Grammy nomination and several impressive tours and collaborations under his belt, Kevin Garrett is about to release his debut album, "Hoax." With the album just two days away, he told me what it means to him to be from Pittsburgh, and how his roots will ground his future.

Working on his first EP, James Wolff is a PA-bred rockstar in the making. We discussed his music, his year of camping the country and, of course, Pittsburgh. Does Pittsburgh's size pose as a positive or a negative to the local scene in terms of out-of-town show-goers?

Known for their song about Phil Bourque, "The Ol' Two Niner" that is officially licensed by the Pittsburgh Penguins to use in post-game shows, Chip & the Chargeups are a pop punk group from Moon and are here to make an impact. Chip and Maleena clue me in on what it feels like to submit to radio, their rebranding, and the relevant debate about the quantity of venues in this town.

A 4-piece band from Pittsburgh, PA, I sat down with the mind behind Chalk Dinosaur, John O'Hallaron. Their sound changes, or "shapeshifts" all across the board from indie rock to dance and funk, and they're about to release their 17th (!!) work this spring. You can't go wrong with any of their genre shifts, and you definitely won't be bored.

Just weeks ago he was named one of NPR's 2019 Artists to Watch, and he's one of ours. Benji. is a rapper/singer from Homewood, PA with all the gratitude and humility in the tri-state area and powerful stories to tell. In this episode we discussed his first album, his recent national attention, and how he became, or perhaps always was Benji.

Royal Haunts is creating a new world in Pittsburgh. Kicking off the reboot of the podcast, I talked with the producer/singer/songwriter from Hampton, PA about his acoustic roots, new sounds, the electronic stigma in this town, and how he believes the city can begin to really own the sounds it produces on a national scale.

Season 2 overview and Season 1 thank you's. This season will incorporate weekly episodes to be released every Monday.

Joining me for the final episode of Season 1 is the Evening Mix Host of 91.3 WYEP, CIndy Howes. Cindy has been a key player in recognizing and appreciating local music in Pittsburgh. As she prepares for a change in her radio career, we discuss how Pittsburgh holds its own compared to other local scenes and how unique it is as a whole.

I met up with powerhouse guitarist and songwriter Byron Nash of Byron Nash & Plan B. We discussed his impressive music career in Pittsburgh, how he owns being a musician, and the lead up to his role in the upcoming tribute show Pittsburgh Plays McCartney.

Angela Autumn is a singer/songwriter from Zelienople, PA with a folk sound and a country attitude. We discuss her career and working for herself, how her time at Duquesne influenced her music, and embracing the "title" of a full-time musician in a society that still has yet to take that seriously.