Issue 10
From the Editor:
One of the things I love about Pittsburgh is that everyone talks revitilzation. When we start anew, we rebuild, we reevaluate our surroundings. We have talked spring starting for the past issues and when Daylight Saving Time hit we all startd to think of starting anew. We make the move to break the mold, be daring, and be BOLD. You are gonna see more of us in the year to come. New reviews, a podcast and even a web show. We want to break the mold of life in Pittsburgh. We want you to see the hidden gems you never thought of attending. So get ready Pittsburgh. We are.
BOLD Pittsburgh Interested in advertising in BOLD Pittsburgh? We have Media Kits available. We would love to review your restaurant or plug your event! Contact us at BOLDPittsburgh.com We are always looking for contributors and artists to help out.
Contact Us BOLDPittsburgh@gmail.com BOLD Pittsburgh @BoldPgh
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boldpittsburgh.com
BOLD Pittsburgh Contributors
Amanda Narcisi Chief Editor Layout Designer @alnarcisi
Amanda Cooney Co-Editor Writer @spots87
Renee Fisher Writer
Jen Pizzuto Co-Editor Writer @snark_princess
Tim LaVoie Writer @LaVoiePGH
Annie Fowler Co-Editor Writer
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Issue 10 Contents
6-Smokin’ Hot Meet the Smokin’ Betties 9-That’s So Pittsburgh
10-Colleen Vecellio The Grist House artist and cover art.
14-The Yard Local Food with awesome grilled cheese sandwiches. 17-Local Bites Potomac Bakery
18-Brewery Spoonwood Brewing Company 21-Music The Sargent House Tour 25-Music New Releases
26-Beauty Tips A make-over for your lips.
27-Fashion Spring Forward with a chill in the air. 28-Fitness
29-Snark Princess Meet Salad Boy 4
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City
• Smokin’ Betties • That’s So Pittsburgh • Colleen Voccelo BOLD Pittsburgh
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Smokin’ By: Amanda Cooney Photos By: Anna Bender Photography 6
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Unbeknownst to me, the art of burlesque is alive and well here in the Burgh; and I couldn’t be happier about it. There are, in fact, several troupes that perform on a regular basis and countless events held around the city that pays tribute to the centuries old art form. I would give you the whole story of where burlesque originated, but I am not here to give you a history lesson, nor would I do it justice, so go ahead and put your pens and pencils down. I can, however, tell you that burlesque dates back to the 17th century where earlier uses of the term referred to parody and caricatures within the Victorian theater. It later came to be what it is today towards the 1930s and notable performers include Sally Rand, Gypsy Lee Rose, and Lili St. Cyr just to name a few. But that was then and this is now. Hundreds of years later, burlesque is still going strong and several groups in Pittsburgh are keeping it relevant. BOLD Pittsburgh recently got the
chance to sit down with a group named Smokin’ Betties who are keeping the art form alive and bringing modern flair to this extravagant pastime. The Smokin’ Betties are Gigi Coudray, Sueño del Mar, Lucy La Bam, Luna La Crème, Violet Corbeau, Midnight Mame, Dem Dare Eyes, and Scarlet Von Steel. They met about a year ago while taking classes at the Steel City Burlesque Academy taught by the wonderful and talented Macabre Noir and Lita D Vargas. These classes met once a week for about three months and covered everything from makeup, to costumes, and of course, the choreography. It is here where they formed a strong bond and then formed their troupe. Each performer is unique and brings their own flair to the group; however they all share the same devotion and dedication to burlesque and each other. It was easy to feel the sisterhood bond as I walked in the room and we began to discuss the creative process. Like any performance planning and
coordination is everything, darling. Each performance takes time to flourish and perfect before it is seen by the public. The planning process could begin by choosing music and planning costumes, choreography, and makeup based upon the song selection. However, in some cases, the performance could start by the want to incorporate props or costumes and goes on from there. Like any creative process, inspiration can come from anything at any moment. Any way it happens, it is important to the Smokin’ Betties and other burlesque entertainers to research thoroughly so that they know that their idea is completely unique and they don’t run the risk of giving the public something they have seen before. When asked “Why burlesque”, I received different answers, but one common factor was the desire to find a new creative outlet where they could assume a new persona, one who exudes confidence and is a relatable, tangible representation of beauty: “I needed something else to do in life. I saw [burlesque] as a challenge and I needed an artistic outlet.” – Lucy LaBam “I wrote a list of things I thought I would never do and as I did them, I started crossing them off the list” – Midnight Mame “I moved here from Philadelphia and wanted to
do something fun and make new friends. The burlesque community is very welcoming; there is no judgement!” – Gigi Coudray “I was getting out of a relationship at the time and I wanted to try something new.” – Luna La Crème Meetings are held often by the group. It is here where the ladies share ideas for upcoming performances and feedback is given. While they have a lot of fun during these meetings, they are totally serious about giving outstanding performances and therefore professionalism is an important part of the process. Once they feel that they have gotten their routine down, the ladies will get together and film their performances so they can watch themselves and make adjustments if needed. Occasionally performers will take advantage of Open Stage nights at places like the Blue Moon Bar in Lawrenceville to test out their act on the public before the big night. The Smokin’ Betties next performance will be at Club Café in Southside on May 30th 2015. For more information visit SmokinBetties.com, follow them on Twitter @SmokinBetties, and like them on Facebook. The Smokin’ Betties would like to thank Macabre Noir, Lita D Vargas, Lilith De Ville, Countess Von Tella, and Penny Delapoison for inspiring and supporting them for the past year.
Here are some helpful costuming tips I received during the time spent with the Betties:
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• The best way to hold your pasties on is with toupee tape • There are tons of great handmade pasties being sold through Etsy (I have spent hours on there looking at them – you should check them out) • Repurposing clothes and accessories from second hand stores is a great way to save money and ensures that your outfit is unique. Gigi highly recommends Suz Pisano for custom costumes. • If you are not comfortable when walking in heels, you could be doing it wrong. If you walk in them like you’re tip-toeing, you won’t look like a drunk girl in Southside on a Friday night – unless of course you are a drunk girl in Southside on a Friday night; then you’re probably doing it right
s ’ t a h T SO
h g r u b s t Pit Only in Pittsburgh can you find a house wrapped in a bow. The Negley-Gwinner-Harter house was wrapped up in November for Shadyside Splendor, a walking tour that benefitted Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The house was built in 1871 and was first owned by William B. Negley. Submitted on Twitter By: Krissy @firstclassKrissy
Have you ever seen something and thought to yourself “that is SO Pittsburgh!” If so, share your story with us – parking chairs, knitted perogies, that guy dahn the street who is a real jagoff – you name it! Send your photos and stories to BOLDPittsburgh@gmail.com. You could be featured in the next issue of BOLD Pittsburgh! BOLD Pittsburgh
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Colleen Vecellio Edited By: Annie Fowler My name is Colleen Vecellio and I am a craft beer lover, an art teacher, and an artist. I am from Bradford, PA, a super small town in Northwestern Pennsylvania. I loved my high school art teacher! I still remember him walking around on tables (he was a little strange but us art teachers tend to be a little crazy) and telling us to open our minds. He really prepared me for college art classes where we learned to stop seeing what we think we see and really look at objects, view them in different lights. He was really the first one that pushed me as an artist and encouraged me to go to college for art. I received an Art History degree from Penn State University and continued my education with an Art Education degree from Kent State University. 1.) How did you get involved with Grist House Brewing? My long-time boyfriend, Kyle Mientkiewicz, who I met at Penn State, started it with his brother-in-law Brian. Kyle and I moved here from Ohio (where he used to work and I went to graduate school) so we could pursue his dream of opening a brewery and brew beer. When Kyle told me about their idea, I still remember being so excited because I was going to be creating artwork for a brewery! I had no idea what was in store or all the hard work
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that would be spent, but I knew it was a turning point and I couldn’t wait to start creating. It is still fun to think up labels and logos. It has been a crazy two years but absolutely amazing and rewarding. I like to bring out the family charm in Grist House Brewing through my art. Everything is made with love and hard work at Grist House, from the beer to the chalkboard art.
2.) What medium do you prefer to work in? It really depends on what I’m creating it for and its purpose. I love the diversity and freedom in paint, but I also love the detail in drawing and colored pencils. If I had a wheel for throwing clay, I’d probably be doing that too. Why limit myself to one medium? As an art teacher, I teach lots of mediums so I love that I’m constantly working with different materials. I also think that different mediums and how you use each of them can provide their own unique visual experiences. I had to take dozens of visual arts classes as a prerequisite for my art education graduate program. This introduced me to all new materials but also educated me on what I love to work with. It is my dream to one day have an art studio with everything in it so I can just walk in and have everything at my fingertips.
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3.) What/ who do you pull inspiration from? Everything and everyone. I know that sounds cliché but it is true. When I work with my students, I see and hear about their imaginations and ideas and it inspires me to be more childlike in how I view the world and to use my imagination. Why not have a giant hop man in downtown Pittsburgh sharing his wealth of hoppy goodness beer? When I’m driving around Pittsburgh or walking to new places, I see things, people and buildings that inspire ideas. There is so much around us that can inspire us and I think we forget to look for that beauty. I have so many random pictures on my phone of things I see during the day that inspire me to make some form of art, whether it is a reflection from a bridge, a tree on my walk to work, a sign with great typography, a beautiful bird, or a cloud formation that reminds me of a circus. R i g h t now I am creating designs for specific labels or signs so I like that I have a starting point and then let my imagination work from there. It reminds me of an art class project where I am given a prompt and I have to create an engaging artwork that reflects something. 4.) How has Pittsburgh shaped/ influenced your work? I’m not sure yet. I love Pittsburgh and what it has brought into my life. There is so much to discover in Pittsburgh and I definitely think that my art will evolve because of this amazing city but I’m not sure where it will go. I love that Pittsburgh has a hard industrial element that is seen in all the trains, railroads, and bridges but also the soft organic el12 BOLD Pittsburgh
ement seen in our murals, gardens, and rivers. I would love to get more involved with bringing more art into Pittsburgh. I love driving around the city and seeing beautiful murals on walls and I think it would be awesome to do one of them. It is the most amazing feeling to have my students love the murals I painted in the school, and I couldn’t image creating something for everyone in Pittsburgh to see.
5.) Talk a little bit about what you do for Grist, perhaps include something personal like what you most enjoy creating for them and why. I am currently the Tap room manager at Grist but also do all the artwork. I really love to create the new chalkboards every month and I love creating funky hop dudes for any of our merchandise. That is my thing. I like to create different hop men, like the hops you use in beer, but I transform them into cartoon characters. It is so much fun to see people appreciating your art and see it on shirts and in the tap room. Also, I think it is wonderful that our patrons know I do the artwork for Grist House because they will come to me with new ideas for beer labels, signs, or shirt designs. It is great that people want to get involved with the idea process and contribute to my art. I love that we are a family owned and operated brewery and people can make that personal connection to each of us. We like to see ourselves as a place where everyone knows your name, you hang out with great people, eat great food and drink great beers. But what I love most about Grist is behind the scenes and working toward a dream with my closest friends.
Eats
• The Yard • Potomac Bakery • Spoonwood Brewery
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By: Amanda Narcisi “What is that?” The woman next to me says as my dessert was being served. “Because I got high.” I giggled through the name. The name was as ridiculous as the dessert itself. Nutella and banana sandwich deep-fried and covered in marshmallow fluff and powdered sugar. It was amazing. A combination like that, you would think is horrible, but I ate almost every bite. What could possibly precede a dessert like that? How about a choice of twenty some unique grilled cheese sandwiches? How about a great beer list with over forty-five of them on tap? The Yard in Shadyside has such a unique menu that pub food isn’t even a close description. Let’s start with the appetizer I ordered: Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp. Four tiger shrimps wrapped in thinly sliced prosciutto then pan seared with some black salt and hibachi shrimp sauce on the side. I am not usually a sauce person, but I gave the hibachi sauce a try and it was really good. The dish was really good and well presented. The tiger shrimp was placed on a long rectangle plate with the sauce at one end. Like I had mentioned the only thing that could precede a dessert like the “Because I got High” was a grilled cheese from the ridiculously large grilled cheese menu. You may think that grilled cheese is just two slices of bread with some cheese, but that is
far from true while at The Yard. Twenty-four varieties of the awesome sandwich are on the menu. They combine meats and different cheeses to make each sandwich unique and tasty. I recommend trying the Perogies N’At with cheddar, gouda, sautéed onions, sauerkraut, and kielbasa all on two slices of bread grilled and golden. The Perogies N’At came in a close second to my choice for the evening: The Big CheBowski. The Big Che-Bowski is cheddar, smoking rodeo gouda, thick applewood smoked bacon, fried egg, and tomato. It was served with parmesan fries and tomato soup. The sandwich was so unique and amazing; the soup was great and thick not watered down like out of the can taste. I am not a tomato soup person, but I gave it a taste. The fries were delicious and you can have different flavors of them too including, parmesan, old bay, and Cajun. My date enjoyed the “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” which is a grilled cheese that had provolone, cheese whiz, steak, lettuce, tomato, and roasted red pepper. He also enjoyed the parmesan cheese fries. If you are not a grilled cheese person or are looking for a more of a dinner option they have you covered for burgers, flatbreads, and supper. The Mike Byson Burger made from 100% grass-fed bison which is Cajun grilled topped with gorgonzola cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and roasted red pepper. BOLD Pittsburgh 15
For sandwiches I would like to try “The Grilled Yard Walker” with chargrilled chicken breast, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and handmade mayonnaise. The Suppers offer a Pittsburgh favorite with the “Seafood Mac and Cheese” which has spiral pasta, smoked gouda cheese, shrimp and crab meat. Sounds delicious. For the beverage lovers, there are forty-two rotating taps as well as a whiskey menu, wine, mixed cocktails, and even some coffee infused drinks. Even though we went in mid-January I was able to snag a ChruchBrewWorks Pumpkin Stout. That was a real treat to get a pumpkin beer in January. My company enjoyed a Stochasticity Project: Master of Disguise, which he described as just that. It was a taste he hadn’t expected from the color or the description on the menu. We finished up the date with the “Because I got High”; do I really need to mention that awesomeness again? There is Happy Hour Monday through Thursday from 4 PM to 7 PM and on Friday from 5 PM to 7 PM. Happy Hour is one dollar off all drafts; three dollar glasses of house wine; five dollar drinks of the day; and half off snacks and appetizers. Check the website for the rest of the specials. The Yard has daily specials that include a Whiskey and Wine 16 BOLD Pittsburgh
Wednesday with half off bottles of wine and four dollar whiskeys. The food fare for Wednesday is the “Mini Meat and Cheese Board” for five dollars. The fun for this night is team trivia starts at 9 PM. Sunday is dubbed Sunday Funday with five dollar flatbreads and Blue Moon specials from noon to midnight. Just recently added was brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM with bottomless Mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar until 1 PM. The menu for brunch includes “Chicken and Waffles” and a “Backyard Burrito” that has eggs, bacon, peppers, onions, mushrooms, maple mayo, sharp cheddar, flour tortilla and a side of home fries. There are “Johnny Cakes” and “French Toast” on the menu. Brunch at The Yard is a must check out. The Yard also has an area for private party and catering options. In the end, if you are looking for a casual place to have some craft beer and some amazing sandwiches I highly recommend The Yard in Shadyside.
Potomac Bakery
A Local Bite
Take a walk late at night in Dormont and your nose is met with the sweetest smell: donuts. The smell resonates out of Potomac Bakery and makes you know that you will head there in the morning for delicious donuts. Potomac Bakery opened it’s door in 1927. Donuts are not their only specialty; they carry breads, cookies, pies, desserts, and cakes. The brownies are covered with a rich chocoalte frosting and are soft. The cookies are some of your favorites: thumbprints, choclate chip, oatmeal raisin, and peanut butter. Their desserts also include eclairs, cannolis, and lady locks. Pies include favorites like apple,
blueberry, cherry, and key lime. They can also make the seasonal pies like pumpkin and mince meat. For the brides they make wedding cakes to order. They can also do specialty cookies like iced cutouts in the shape of bridal gowns and tuxedos. On this day from the pictures I chose sandwich buns which paired well with some chipped ham and cheese. I also purchased a dozen donuts of various sizes and kinds. Apple Fritters were included in the purchase. Potomac Bakery is a great local bakery that is really delicious. Stop in for some desserts, cookies and some donuts. BOLD Pittsburgh 17
SPOONWOOD BREWING COMPANY
By: Amanda Narcisi
Brew. Taste. Gather. There website describes this huge brewery on Baptist Road. A long, windy road in the middle of Bethel Park leads to one of Pittsburgh’s newest breweries: Spoonwood Brewery. “Handcrafted Beers with Quality, WoodFired Menu Offerings,” boasts the website. When we arrived we were surprised with communal seating and only one large bar. A woman was taking names but couldn’t tell us if there would be a wait or how long. As I was about to turn and leave a server overheard the conversation and showed us to two open seats. The tables were long, high tables and sat about 7-8 people. Therewere a few tables that sat four and they were normal tables. The bar area sat about 20 and was packed full. There are several flat screens, which the hockey game was
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on. There is a patio area, which will open during the warmer seasons. The silos of beer were off in a separate room that we could see through glass. Shortly after being seated we met Dallas our server that started us with some beers because why else come to a brewery. I had decided to start with some samplers. That is when I met Blithe, Astrid, and Bruna. Blithe is Belgian Strong Ale that was smooth. So tasty we had two. Astrid was Belgian Pale Ale and Bruna was a Belgian Porter. We tried all but the Working Class Hero, which is their Cream Ale. For food we started with the pretzel bites from Pittsburgh Pretzel Café and had a side of beer cheese and whole grain mustard. They are a pub favorite and you can’t go wrong with pretzels. Next
we decided to order the red pizza with pancetta and pepperoni. Every dish is made in the brick oven. The pizzas were delicious, however, they are personal sized so only expect four slices. We wanted to try more dishes so we next got the chorizo medallions, which are grilled Spanish sausage, arugula and walnut pesto, and shaved Parmesan. The presentation of the chorizo medallions was beautiful. The last dish I tried was the Hog Heaven: hickory smoked bacon, white cheddar, Dijon mustard, bacon onion jam, parmesan crusted Texas toast, and beer brined pickles on the side. The beer paired perfectly with all the flavors. Throughout the courses we tried the In the Black, an American stout and Scofflaw; an American strong ale. All the beers were exceptionally good and I high-
was no way to tell me how long I would wait. If you serve food and you are going to act like a restaurant and take my name for seating then you should have an idea when you will seat me and where. I wasn’t so turned off by that then by the attitude I received when I asked how long the wait would be. I was even more shocked to hear the attitude was from a owner. I was later told that they are trying to figure out how to do seating more organized. I can understand that has to be confusing to the servers. Not to mention if your seated and the server doesn’t see you right away you are going to turn off customers with wait times. It needs some organizing. Despite having mixed emotions about my visit I will give them another shot during the summer. I do encourage you to go and get a growler and enjoy the beer. It is after all a Brewery.
ly suggest a growler. Spoonwood is a good place to gather with friends, snack on some food, and try some great beer. I suggest the Blithe and the Hog Heaven. I have been reviewing countless eateries and bars for BOLD for a while now and I always waited until they were open for awhile before I tried them for the kinks need to be worked out of every business. I enjoyed the beer; the guy behind the brewing is awesome. The service from Dallas was Grade A and it was great to chat with him that night. The atmosphere was neat. The big open space did make for a lot of noise, but I think summer out on the deck will take that away. I did not like that they had no time range for seating. I get the brewpub idea and the food is just snacking food, but there was no need to take my name down if there
VISIT: Spoonwood Brewing Company 5981 Baptist Road Bethel Park, PA 15236 412-833-0333 www.spoonwoodbrewing.com Wed & Thur: 4:00-10:00 PM Fri & Sat: 11:30 AM-11:00 PM Sun 11:30 AM-10:00 PM
Live
• Music • Beauty • Fitness • Fashion • Snark
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The Sargent House Tour
By Tim LaVoie
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The Sargent House Records tour rolled through Pittsburgh this past November, sending off the Garfield Artworks in fitting fashion. Three of Sargent House’s most exciting acts composed the line-up; with up-and-comers Mylets and Emma Ruth Rundle supporting the indie-math-rock innovators, TTNG (f.k.a. This Town Needs Guns). The dynamic, diverse lineup of last year’s Sargent House Tour reflects the growing clout and quality of the artists on that label. Twenty year-old mad genius Henry Kohen, who performs as Mylets, started the night with a virtuoso solo performance. Kohen rains a disarming onslaught of looping guitar lines on the listener, forming what NPR referred to as “oneman-band wizardry.” Mylets’ debut LP, Arizona, comes out via Sargent House on April 21, 2015. Kohen explained Arizona “has been a process of two years writing, and finally a year of recording. It’s a very concise, short album, but every single moment, every note means something really special to me. I’m really, really happy with the album.” Having opened for TTNG previously, Mylets’ maniacal style was already known and appreciated by much of the crowd on hand. Kohen claimed, “I’m trying to overdo it.” He feels like he’s “definitely” still improving technically - “I hope to never not be improving. I think that being satisfied with where you are is the quickest way to let yourself and others down.” Until April 21, listeners can find Mylets’ industrial, mesmeric Arizona album-opener, “Trembling 22 BOLD Pittsburgh
Hands”, online. Opener Emma Ruth Rundle balances numerous different artistic projects. A member of ambient, post-rock bands Marriages and Red Sparowes, as well as the alt-folk indie band, the Nocturnes; Rundle achieved new heights with her first solo record, Some Heavy Ocean. Released in May 2014, by Sargent House, Some Heavy Ocean displays a maturity and clear artistic vision rarely heard on a debut. But Some Heavy Ocean is not really a debut, as Rundle, a respected player in the Los Angeles scene, has toiled and honed her craft with the truly great collaborative work she’s been a part of in recent years. Rundle described the difference in the creative processes of her evolving musical output. “Marriages is very much a collaborative effort. The three of us write together. There have been a couple of times where I’ve brought in a song that’s finished but it doesn’t really work. Marriages really is the confluence of us coming together and working off of each other’s ideas. So it is quite different. The solo stuff is what I write when I’m by myself playing guitar.” She sees her solo work as both limiting and freeing. “I don’t tour with a band, so it means that I can play whatever I want. I can change the set list every night, I can change the song structure. It’s always a surprise to me what’s going to happen.” The maudlin, yet oftentimes cathartic Some Heavy Ocean takes the trademark swirls that seem to always surround her work, and wraps them around introspective lyrics and
pearly acoustic guitars. In one short record she evokes the witchy goodness of slower Fleetwood Mac, the artistic daring of Björk, and the indie-rock chops of EMA’s incredible Past Life Martyred Saints. Rundle explained, “On the record we used a lot of recording techniques, a lot of different instrumentation, but the songs were written in close proximity. So I think it made sense going into recording as a single cohesive idea.” Her woozy, intimate, set before TTNG indicates more excitement ahead for Emma Ruth Rundle. A massive tour with Marriages will consume most of her 2015, but it seems likely that her personal, yet shadowy solo project will provide listeners with her most interesting and satisfying work. Now in its second decade, Oxford, England’s TTNG bear the torch for European, jazz influenced indie rock. TTNG’s sound has progressed into an amalgam of adroit riffage similar to the almost academic works of Battles. With a dose of distortion, the acrobatic guitar work could find a comfortable home on Dillinger Escape Plan album. TTNG’s audience continues to grow as the band keeps more than one foot in the comforting indie-rock base of American classics like the Wrens and American Football. Guitarist Tim Collins acknowledged their unique sound limits the band in ways. “You get known for a particular sound. There’s a lot of writing about our 2-handed tapping, but there’s really only a hump of songs with tapping. It’s mostly fingerpicking. On the last album there’s
only one song with tapping and it’s one that we never actually play. People have a certain expectation of how we sound, but we’re more concerned now with writing good songs and not being drawn into making things complicated just because there is the technical proficiency that’s expected from us.” The band’s lighthearted approach gives it the freedom to both understand, and work around the confines imposed by critics and fans alike. Tim offered that “it’s fair for some people to think that technical music is somehow less immediately accessible, so they may think ‘oh, those guys are just showing off’ - So, that’s understandable. But we just write what we want and try to be happy with what we’re doing.” That “last album” is 2013’s wonderfully meandering 13.0.0.0.0 - a record that expanded TTNG’s fan base far beyond the music geeks carrying around advanced jazz drumming magazines on the bus. Bassist/ singer Henry Tremain keeps a realistic, thankful outlook of the band’s growing popularity. He admits, “Success always surprising. We just write music at home and it’s crazy to have anyone who knows it - let alone halfway around the world to have people to come and play to.” Fans clamored over TTNG’s second trip to Pittsburgh in as many years. From Tim Collins’ first dizzying trip around his fretboard, the standing room only crowd hypnotically swayed side-to-side in rhythmless uniformity and sang along with every word despite the dearth of traditional verse/chorus offerings. Drummer Chris BOLD Pittsburgh 23
still think people can enjoy our songs if they’re not worried about time signature switches and guitar technique or anything like that.” All members agreed that the “technical v. pop” paradigm is a false divide. “You can be both,” Tim continued, “ technique for me is like vocab in a language. You learn it so that you are able to express easier. There are bands around that are just technique, and I find them pretty unlistenable because there’s nothing to engage with really, just a lot of crazy stuff happening. I need that emotional connection.”
Collins noted that they were thrilled with the tour up to the Pittsburgh date; “All of the shows have been awesome. [Expectations] change with every return to a town and with the tour itself as this is our first proper headlining tour. The Sargent House tour has been awesome though because most people go to see every band.” The band’s popularity state-side is nothing new. Tremain explained, “We certainly appeal more to American culture than we do in England. We do a lot better out here than we do at home. Whether that’s based on our music being based on American bands, who knows? The bands we like to listen to are from the States. The ‘math-indie’ sound never really happened at home. It’s happening now, but it’s still just starting to take off.” Confronted with the label of the ultimate “musician’s band,” Tim Collins shrugged off the lazy characterization as a compliment, while refusing to let it define the band. “We don’t really write for anyone apart from ourselves. But yeah, we think it’s great that people who are really into their own instruments can listen to our music and get something out of it. But if they’re not musicians I hope we still have some appeal. We
That intense, honest emotional connection with long-time fans was as brightly apparent as TTNG’s olympic musical dexterity. To those approaching the band for the first time, Tim Collins advised, “Have patience. It’s not an immediately easy thing to listen to for some people. It might sound a bit overwhelming and too busy. All we can ask is for someone to give it more than just a quick listen.” As Chris and Henry laughed behind Tim, he added with a grin, “If you like it, that’s cool. If you don’t like it after a good listen . . . well, we’re happy with it and that’s enough for us.”
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José González Vestiges & Claws; Mute Records
Albums of the Month
without its high points, the collection as a whole is uneven and never feels quite as good as it could have been given the Diaz twins’ ambition and background. But at just 20, the Diazs have years for their sound to grow into the breadth of their ideas. Ibeyi still merits multiple listens just to hear Lisa beautifully sing in the redolent Yoruba tongue. Stand-out tracks - “Behind the Curtain”, “Oya” Grade: B-
The Swedish folk singer ends his 8-year absence with a modest, but ultimately evocative, satisfying record. Humming layers of finger-picked nylon-stringed acoustic guitars wander beneath González’s comforting, almost whispered vocals. Those who hoped for more blatant de- Mount Eerie velopment from his prior work will be disap- Sauna; P. W. Elverum & Sun Ltd. pointed. But those looking for some Nick Drakeesque warmth and thoughtful lyrics will find more than enough to celebrate on the graceful Vestiges & Claws. Stand-out tracks - “Every Age”, “Open Book”, “With the Ink of a Ghost” Grade: B+ Ibeyi Ibeyi; XL Recordings
Ibeyi is the self-titled debut album from 20 yearold French twin sisters of Cuban descent. They sing in both English and the West African language, Yoruba. The daughters of Buena Vista Social Club percussionist, Anga Diaz, their sound varies in influence from Afro-Cuban, American R&B and jazz, and French electro. Though not
As Mount Eerie, and previously as The Microphones, experimental songwriter Phil Elverum has provided listeners with bizarre, at times meditative, at times disorienting, but always intimate records since the mid-1990s. Full of Elverum’s poetic and hushed nature-inspired lyrics, Sauna and its slow, buzzing organs and lazily strummed acoustic guitars offers many comforting moments. These only last until the inevitable, but always surprising, abrupt transition into loud squeals of feedback and crunching, distorted guitars. No one else sounds like this. Sauna is a masterfully odd and complicated mess; a mess that is 2015’s most intriguing release to date. An essential listen. Stand-out tracks - “Sauna”, “Boat”, “Youth”, “Pumpkin” Grade: A BOLD Pittsburgh 25
Beauty By: Renee Fisher
Your heating bill probably isn’t the only thing to have suffered through February’s artic blast - single digit temps and dry air take a hit on your skin too. Chapped lips are a particular problem after a hard winter. The skin on your lips is the thinnest on the body; they’re also one of your few skin areas that doesn’t have sweat glands, both reasons why they dry out so easily. But never fear - Rejuvenating your lips can be achieved in two easy steps! First, exfoliate away the dead, flakey skin. You can buy lip scrubs at beauty outlets like Ulta and Sephora, but you can mix up an all- natural one at home, too. Whip coconut oil and a drop of vanilla extract with electric beaters. Then just add granulated sugar and scrub away! This scrub tastes like cupcakes and if you accidentally swallow some it’s all edible anyway! Just make sure to add the sugar right before you use it, otherwise it will dissolve into the oil. After your lips are smoothed out, moisturizer them with a thick lip butter at bedtime or a lighter lip balm during the day. We love Nivea, eos, and Burt’s Bees. Old fashioned petroleum jelly or Chap Stick does the trick, too. The only thing left to do is pucker up!
Fashion By: Renee Fisher
In Pittsburgh, spring fever comes long before spring weather. When you’re itching to pull your sundresses out of the back of your closet, western PA responds with April snow flurries. That doesn’t mean you have to stick to your winter wardrobe, though. We break down how to protect yourself from the elements and rock spring fashion at the same time. Put your black Uggs back in storage, and put on eye catching boots to make your way through spring slush. Hunter rain boots come in fun colors like sky blue and deep violet. Or try Doc Martens with floral patterns. Subbing out drab outerwear applies to coats and jackets, too. On 40 degree spring days, a bright yellow coat is just the thing to warm you up on the inside and out. Layers are key for donning your new outfits before mid May. Throw a cardigan over a short sleeved blouse, or wear leggings under a flowy skirt. Don’t forget accessories to add a sunny touch to a wintery day. Pastel or neon nails, pink lipgloss, and colorful chunky jewelry will all put some “spring” in your step!
Dear Snarky,
By: Jen Pizzuto
I’m just gonna tell it. One of my favorite party tricks is the ability to beguile and fascinate listeners who dare to request a dramatic re-telling of my most outlandish and bodacious dating stories. It’s especially entertaining after I’ve had a few glasses of merlot and I start doing impressions. An all-star contender for “Worst Date Ever” has now become a frequent request, a legend within my circle of friends. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to...the “Salad Guy.” I don’t remember how I ended up on a date with Salad Guy. We met for a cozy dinner at the Crow’s Nest in Sharpsburg, a comfortable restaurant that is conveniently situated on the banks of the Allegheny River. It had great potential for romance. It has an amazing view of the river and enjoys an intimate, if slightly dated, atmosphere. He definitely scored points for location. He’d brought flowers and held doors for me. Let’s be real - I was sparkly pink putty in this guy’s hands. We hadn’t even had dinner yet and he’d almost won the night. Almost. And then he started talking. The convo was a special kind of pain, indeed. It was like sitting in a dentist’s chair, trying to contribute to a discussion while having a tooth filled. After a few failed attempts at igniting some chitchat, I took a deep breath (and a long gulp of whiskey ginger) and went for it. “So...tell me about yourself.” I know that sounds like an interview question, but it was all I had. He’d shot down all of my attempts at conversation so far with oneword responses. I silently dared him to slither out of an open ended question. He lit up like a candle; he was clearly his own favorite topic. “What do you want to know? I guess I’ll start at the beginning.” “How very ‘David Copperfield’ of you, “ I laughed. He looked confused. “What does David Copperfield have to do with this? I don’t do magic tricks.” It was my turn to be confused for a moment. “Not the magician. I was referring to the Charles Dickens novel. That’s kind of how it begins. I’m a literature nerd,” I said, taking another very long gulp of my drink. “Well, I’m not familiar with modern authors that nobody reads. Are you a hipster or something?” Charles Dickens is a “modern author” and I’m a hipster. A hipster. I wanted to punch him and scream about how much I hate the all of the music on pitchfork. com. I took another bite of my grilled chicken salad, instead. “Hey,” he said suddenly. “Can I try your salad?”
“Umm, ok.” I almost added, “you’re paying for it, anyway” but I was still too stunned by my newly attained hipster status to unleash the snark. He plucked a chunk of my salad with his fingers and dipped it into my balsamic dressing. After raving about its deliciousness (with his mouth full and spraying bits of salad in my direction), he asked for another bite. And another. He took pieces of his dinner and dipped them into my salad. “Do you want anymore of that,” he asked between mouthfuls. “Not now, “ I said, trying to hide the disgust in my voice. For the record, I love a guy with a healthy appetite. I’m a champion eater and I hate to be the only person who’s chowing down. But this...it was just weird. I don’t share food with anyone, and especially not on the first date. Salad Guy not only finished his dinner, but mine, as well (and I’d only had a few bites). Dinner apparently sparked Salad Guy’s interest in conversation. He literally started at the beginning of his life by detailing the hospital in which he was born, the day and hour of his birth, and continued through toddlerhood, providing colorful narrative about his potty training years. By the time we reached his first grade talent show, I wanted out. I considered pulling a fire alarm somewhere or making a dramatic escape by jumping into the Allegheny and swimming for my life. It seemed like weeks later, but the check finally arrived. He sighed and picked up it. I wasn’t about to fake reach for it; he owed this dinner to me for the pain and suffering I had endured. Salad Guy started to wave the check around like flag, commenting on “how long” it was. He wanted me to see the total of the bill and practically stapled it to my face. (To be fair, he may have had issues with size and length. Thankfully, I’ll never really know.) I told him that I was going to the restroom but made a mad dash for the parking lot, instead. I had date ditched. I’d never thought myself capable of doing such a thing, but then again, I’d never realized my hipster tendencies, either. And this newly-minted hipster was starving since he’d devoured all of my dinner. Also, the thought of enduring the puberty chapter of his biography caused me to break into a cold sweat. Salad Guy never contacted me again, so I suppose this sad tale has a happy ending. The moral of the story: pre-screen first dates more thoroughly and know where all of the restaurant exits are located, in case of date ditch. You’re welcome. Have a bad date story to share? Tweet Snarky: @snark_princess or contact BOLD Pittsburgh on Facebook.