Local musicians jump into political fray
Shortly after the election of Donald Trump, Pittsburgh songwriter Don Strange, of Strange Monsters, decided to rally the local music community to make an album of “politically charged original music” to benefit the American Civil Liberties Union.
The result is “Pittsburgh Songwriters Respond: Good Tunes for Bad Political Times,” a compilation featuring songs by Chet Vincent, Molly Alphabet, André Costello and the Cool Minors, Swampwalk, Jeremy Caywood, Liss Victory, DRU, Amy Mmhmm and Strange Monsters.
It runs the gamut from “dystopian anthems” to tongue-in-cheek songs to “up yours” send-offs.
“So many of the people I knew who were having these [visceral] reactions were songwriters and musicians,” Strange noted in a statement. “This is a way we can mobilize and do something worthwhile.”
Victory noted, “The 2016 election stole my voice. I felt artistically drained, yet desperate to take action. This project brought inspiration back into my life.”
The release show will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at Cattivo, 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. Admission is $10 and so is the limited edition CD with a download card.
ROCK AGAINST TRUMPISM
A.T.S., one of Pittsburgh’s longest-running post-punk bands and one that’s no stranger to activism, is launching Rock Against Trumpism First Friday Benefit Concerts, an ongoing series “to last four years or till impeachment.”
The first show will be at the Funhouse at Mr. Smalls in Millvale on Friday with A.T.S., Raised by Wolves, Love Letters and Qlitterati, emceed by Jen Saffron. It begins at 9 p.m. Donation are $5.
Rock Against Trumpism shows will commence in different venues with a variety of bands, artists, emcees, rappers, activists and comedians, with proceeds benefiting homeless shelters, mountaintop coal divestment, immigrants rights and arts organizations.
The second show is slated for May 5 at the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern with A.T.S., Meet the Beatless, Junk Fingers, The Homisides and more. Acts are being solicited for future First Fridays.
This is semi-familiar territory for A.T.S. frontman Evan Knauer, who recalls doing Rock Against Reagan shows in Market Square with his band Da Shunts and others like Carsickness and Actual Size back in the early ’80s when he was 18.
He declares of Trump, “He’s going to mess things up even more.”
A.T.S. has worked up some new songs about the current administration, including bassist Mike Marcinko’s “Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions” and, from guitarist Steve Seel, who has been added as a permanent member of the A.T.S. cabinet, “Sean Spicer, the Dictionary Dicer.”
Details at the A.T.S. Facebook page and search “Rock Against Trump” on Facebook.
TRIPSBURGH PSYCH
Pittsburgh’s Very Own, a new quarterly series curated by the music blog Tripsburgh, takes place at Mr. Smalls Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday with a showcase of five psych-rock bands: Misaligned Mind, wwoman, delicious pastries, NOX BOYS and The Garment District.
Tickets are $10 advance; $12 day of show; ticketweb.com.
NEW CONCERTS
Stage AE has added three concerts to the spring/summer schedule. Tickets for all three go on sale Friday via ticketmaster.com.
• Foster The People will play the North Shore venue (indoors) on June 4 (doors open at 7 p.m.). Tickets are $35.
• Atlanta rapper/singer Russ will play an indoor show on June 11 (doors open at 6 p.m.). Tickets are $29.50 advance/$33 day of show.
• Echo & The Bunnymen and Violent Femmes will pair up for an outdoor show on July 17 (doors open at 6 p.m.). Tickets are $37.50 advance/$40 day of show. Also announced this week: • Hurray for the Riff Raff at Mr. Smalls, Millvale, July 31.
• Conor Oberst at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, Munhall, Sept. 15.
• X (40th Anniversary Tour) at the Rex Theater, South Side, Sept. 25.
Full details at our Concerts page: www.post-gazette.com/concerts.