Blog (2022 to present)
October 18, 2024. We were the featured performers at Sunnyhill Live! tonight, a concert series that takes place in the lovely, intimate sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills, near Pittsburgh. The congregation's annual pumpkin sale was going on outside before the show, so we took the opportunity to pick up a few colorful gourds, which we displayed on stage. Folks stayed after the last song to chat and one man born and raised in West Virginia asked us about our duo's name. We explained that, despite being native New Yorkers, we feel connected to the urban hills of Pittsburgh's east end, where we both ended up settling.
-October 8, 2024. We performed at Oktoberfest today, a week-long outdoor event presented by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. The weather was beautiful and Market Square looked very festive, with long tables under a big tent surrounded by vendors selling beer, brats and pretzels. Folks seemed to be enjoying themselves.
October 7, 2024. Performing at Pittsburgh International Airport's airside terminal has become a regular gig for us, which we're very happy. Today, when we finished our cover of Joe Crookston's Good Luck John, a traveler approached us and said the lyrics reminded her of a story she'd heard back home as a child. We asked where home was and she said China. We explained that the song was based on a Taoist tale, and she grinned, realizing why it sounded familiar to her. We emailed Joe later to let him know about the chance encounter and thank him for making music that helps forge connections.
August 21, 2024. With support from the Giant Eagle Foundation, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is presenting free concerts again this summer at The Backyard at 8th & Penn, a fun outdoor space downtown with seating, food trucks, games and playground equipment. We performed there tonight and while most folks listened from lawn chairs, a cute couple took turns pushing each other on a swing, which we found amusing.
August 10, 2024. During our third lunchtime concert presented by the Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership this summer, a man eating lunch at one of the tables nearby put his fork down to give us a thumbs up after every song. That made our day.
June 26, 2024. We spent another afternoon at Pittsburgh International Airport today. From the stage in the middle of the airside terminal, you'd never know how much construction is underway. The area was clean, well ventilated, and bright, as usual.
May 28, 2024. We closed out a month of local appearances with a gig at Construction Junction, a nonprofit building material reuse organization and retailer. In addition to listening to live music, guests at this free, family-friendly event had a chance to make crafts using reusable materials, take guided behind-the-scenes tours of the facility, and learn about efforts to reduce waste in the community.
May 23, 2024. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership brought us back downtown today for another lunchtime concert. This one was in Mellon Square and next to our performance area was a pop up run by a chain restaurant with a chicken in its logo, a funny coincidence since a disproportionate number of our songs happen to mention chickens. After the show, a friendly PDP employee stepped into the role of roadie, which was super helpful. Thanks, Ron!
May 18, 2024. We were among 300+ bands performing at the Millvale Music Festival today, a free event drawing throngs of music lovers. The Garden Stage, for acoustic acts like ours, was powered by the sun.
May 13, 2024. We returned to Market Square today for a lunchtime concert sponsored by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. We’d performed several times there before and were delighted to discover a large covered elevated stage where there used to be a small tent. It was a warm, sunny day so lots of folks were out, including a group of students from a local performing arts public magnet high school nearby.
May 2, 2024. We recorded an episode for the Coda Podcast, presented by The Sonny Pugar Memorial Inc. in partnership with iHeartRadio, and 3WS Radio Pittsburgh 94.5(WWSW-FM). We discussed our musical roots and songwriting process, and the local music scene, with 3WS Radio personality Jonny Hartwell, and Annie Pugar. We also performed a couple of our originals in the studio. The interview will be aired on the iHeartRadio app this summer.
April 17, 2024.When we arrived at Providence Point, a retirement community south of Pittsburgh, we discovered our concert was scheduled at the same time as a demonstration by local firefighters. We wondered about attendance and alarms but neither turned out to be a problem. We had a great crowd and the only sounds that weren’t coming from our PA were responses from our friendly audience and raindrops on the roof during a passing storm.
March 27, 2024. Longwood at Oakmont Music Committee members invited us back for another concert at their retirement community. We have been there many times now and always enjoy catching up with residents there, along with the security guards and van drivers who are so friendly and helpful.
February 15, 2024. It's time for another NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest entry! This year, we chose "Bury Me Green." our original song about being buried in a "bygone way". It's dedicated to the memory of Pete McQuillin, founder of Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, near Pittsburgh. There's no audience vote -- we are just sharing to share : )
January 28, 2024. Carol and Ian host concerts in their super cool house in Pittsburgh from time to time. They know how to create a cozy listening room environment that is ideal for both artists and audiences, so we we were thrilled to be invited to perform there this afternoon. After an hour-long set, folks stuck around for another hour to enjoy soups, sweets, and socializing. It was a wonderful way to spend a blustery winter day.
October 27-November 6, 2023. Our first Pacific Northwest Tour was a success, with 8 gigs in 12 days. We started with a concert presented by the Seattle Folklore Society, then headed to Eastern Washington for a show at the Richland Public Library. Next was a private event in Portland followed by concerts at three boutique hotels run by McMenamins. On our way back to Seattle, we did an afternoon concert at the Lake Oswego Public Library and we closed out the tour the following day with an informal, unplugged performance at a co-housing community. The response we got from audience members all over was heartwarming, and the natural beauty was magnificent. A big thank you to Wendy, Warwick, Nina, Scott, Valerie, Chris, Johanna, April, Carey, and Matt who helped make it all happen
October 8, 2023. The Rochester Hills Public Library sits next to a lovely riverfront trail about 25 miles north of Detroit. Its expansive glass windows look out on a beautiful garden, and there is a large multipurpose room with fabulous acoustics, used for monthly concerts and other well-attended events. The programming staff is communicative and helpful. It's a GREAT place to perform and we thoroughly enjoyed our third visit.
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October 7, 2023. While setting up for our afternoon concert at the Cleveland Public Library today, we were struck by the extent to which the stately structure has become a community hub. An exhibit about Langston Hughes lined the hallway next to us, An immersive floral display filled a hall on the ground floor. Brides in gowns, grooms in tuxedos and attendants in matching outfits gathered for photos in the marble staircases. The library provides a lot of employment opportunities, and several teen workers approached us after our show to chat about music and check out our instruments. There was a lot of activity, giving the historic building a good vibe.
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July 17, 2023. We did another concert at the Pittsburgh International Airport today. Due to major construction, the parking spot normally reserved for performers was not available, so we made our way to the regular lot. From there, we proceeded to the Badging Office to pick up our passes, went through security, rode the train to the airside terminal, set up our equipment, and performed for two hours. We had fun interacting with passengers, staff and crew members, as always, but we were wiped out by the time we were done and when we returned to the parking lot, we realized we had no idea where we'd left the car. Wandering up and down rows of vehicles for an hour wasn't particularly entertaining, but it got us thinking about a sequel to our song about a car engine gone missing...
July 12, 2023. The residents of Longwood at Oakmont invited us back for another concert at their local retirement community. It was our sixth appearance and the turnout was heartwarming. We were especially moved by the sweet introduction by the Music Committee Chair, a long time resident whom we have gotten to know well over the years.
July 2, 2023. We did an afternoon show today at The Bridge Music Bar, a venue that opened in Pittsburgh last year. We knew almost everyone who came out and were struck by what an inspiring group of folks had assembled, including:
- a living organ donor who graciously obliged when we asked to see the scar from her recent nephrectomy (kidney removal surgery)
- a professional pianist who is developing a free music theory app that is about to enter the testing phase
- a teenager who dances with a professional ballet company
- an emeritus professor who just retired after 40-years of teaching, research and service and will finally have more time to write songs and perform, another passion of his
- a music enthusiast and generous supporter of the arts who hosts concerts in her home for touring artists from around the world
- a living organ donor who graciously obliged when we asked to see the scar from her recent nephrectomy (kidney removal surgery)
- a professional pianist who is developing a free music theory app that is about to enter the testing phase
- a teenager who dances with a professional ballet company
- an emeritus professor who just retired after 40-years of teaching, research and service and will finally have more time to write songs and perform, another passion of his
- a music enthusiast and generous supporter of the arts who hosts concerts in her home for touring artists from around the world
June 19, 2023. We returned to Providence Point, a retirement community near Pittsburgh, tonight. This time we performed on the patio and quite a few residents came outside to spend the balmy summer evening with us. Two of our original songs were requested by name, which made us very happy.
June 9, 2023. Our neighbors to the east like to party! The Point Breeze Organization hired us to perform at their 6th Annual Wine and Cheese Event last week at the Stephen Hankin Gallery and Studio. It was a beautiful evening so we set up on the patio.
April 24, 2023. Providence Point, a retirement community near Pittsburgh, invited us to perform for residents tonight. It was a beautiful space, the turnout was great, and we had a lot of fun. We especially appreciated how many folks hung around to chat with us after the show.
March 24, 2023. We submitted “Firefly” for the 2023 NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest. There are 6000 entries from across the country, all of which feature an original song (and a desk — contest rules). https://tinydeskcontest.npr.org/2023/browse-2023/?id=3995606
February 22, 2023. We spent the lunch hour with patients and staff at UPMC McKeesport, an acute care community hospital. Our concert was part of Music Smiles, a program of the Sunny Pugar Memorial Inc. that underwrites live performances by local musicians in Pittsburgh-area health facilities. Annie Pugar started the nonprofit in 2006, in memory of her husband, a professional drummer.
February 6, 2023. The Pittsburgh International Airport Arts Performance Program has added a second afternoon of live music each week, and we were the first band to fill the new slot today. We’ve been musical ambassadors there before and get a kick out of the whole experience: VIP parking, security passes, special transport for our instruments and gear, the stage at the top of the escalators in the center of the airside terminal, arriving and departing passengers stopping to listen for a few minutes or waving or smiling as they pass by, bags in tow. We included songs with references to Pittsburgh landmarks, and one traveler took a selfie in front of the sign with our band’s name.
January 28, 2023. We did another live interview on the Saturday Light Brigade radio program this morning, with host Larry Berger. We appreciated the opportunity to promote our new CD as well as a concert tonight at SongSpace at First Unitarian. Openers Louie Castle and Madeline and Friends (band mates, Liv and Nolan) joined us in the studio, along with SongSpace Director Brian Junker. It was cozy in there! By the end of the hour, we emerged with even more admiration for the other artists (interview archived here). The audience for the SongSpace show was notably intergenerational, thanks to many young people who came out to support Louie, Madeline, Liv and Nolan. A highlight for us was when these four talented musicians returned to the stage to join us for the closing song.
October 22-23, 2022. We were back on the road this weekend, after a long hiatus, for a mini-tour in Michigan. Interestingly, in addition to friendly humans, the audiences at both of our shows included very special dogs. At the Flint Folk Music Society, a women was accompanied by her guide dog who, we learned, had been trained by inmates through a program operating in several states. And at the East Lansing Public Library, a man and his dog attended our concert before heading over to the children's section to give youngsters a chance to practice reading in front of friendly canines.
August 27, 2022. Lots of folks came out for the Squirrel Hill Night Market this evening, presented by Uncover Squirrel Hill, I Made It! Market, and the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition. We got there early to listen to musicians ahead of us in the lineup, including a talented young singer-songwriter and a high-energy band made up of students and staff from nearby Sunburst School of Music.
August 6, 2022. The Backyard, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's new performance space in the middle of downtown, is fabulous! We got very lucky with the weather tonight and we had a great crowd. Check it out if you're in the area! There's outdoor patio furniture, new landscaping featuring EcoGrass, lawn games, public art, food trucks, and a great lineup of performers, all free, throughout the summer.
August 5, 2022. We spent another evening at the Cranberry Township Farmers Market and managed to get through half of our set list before lightening forced the market to close early. Thanks to a very strategic parking decision (of questionable legality), we were able to get all of our instruments and sound equipment back into the car before the downpour began. It was a close call! Thanks to the market staff for making a very timely call.
June 11, 2022. We played at a Bat Mitzvah reception today, a first for us. The event took place outdoors in a beautiful garden adjacent to a gorgeous synagogue in Squirrel Hill, under blue skies. Guests made us feel very welcome, including a middle schooler who gave us a shout out on Instagram.
June 5, 2022. This photo is legit, friends. We did an hour-long set on the main stage at the Three Rivers Arts Festival today. No squatting or disguises. And no rain! A few hours later, Sierra Hull stood in the same spot, captivating the crowd with her mando prowess and charm. We'll be processing all of it for a while. Thank you, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, for giving us such a big break, and Hollowood Sound and Fly Space Productions for making sure it all ran smoothly!
May 18, 2022. We provided entertainment before and after a dinner hosted by the PA Environmental Council tonight. In between, we got to know several friendly rock climbers seated at our table. We'd never met any of them before but discovered we know some of the same folks. That's a Pittsburgh thing. Often no more than two degrees of separation.
March 15, 2022. Our entry for this year's NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest is up! We found a sunny spot, took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and recorded "Dharma Jane," our original song with an embedded Buddhist chant. Om mani padme hum.
March 9, 2022. We enjoyed another evening with members of the Music Committee and about 100 other residents at Longwood at Oakmont, a retirement community near Pittsburgh. These folks always treat us well. More than a dozen listeners hung around to chat after the show, and Charlie, a retired pediatrician in his 80s, volunteered to be our roadie, helping us carry instruments and equipment back to the car.
February 8, 2022. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust knows how to put on a show. From the publicity to the health and safety measures to the professional light and sound and load in/our assistance, they had everything covered for our gig at the Greer Cabaret Theater downtown. There was even a shower in the dressing room! As locals, we didn't need that but we appreciated the thought given to artists' comfort, including those traveling long distances to perform here.