Back in 2008 and 2009, City Paper presented a series of local-music showcase concerts under the banner "CP Remixed." The concerts were curated by local music-scene notables, and featured some of the best Pittsburgh acts, from longtime garage rockers The Cynics to an up-and-coming rapper named Wiz Khalifa.
At its best, the series brought together acts that were interesting and entertaining in different ways: My favorite was the show curated by Girl Talk's Gregg Gillis, which threw together Khalifa, the brutal two-piece drums-and-synths outfit Italian Ice, circuit-bending noise scientist Michael Johnsen and DJ Cutups. Obviously the bulk of the crowd was there to see Wiz, but they had their eyes opened by the others.
It's that spirit that CP is hoping to continue with our new music series, Sounding Board. The first edition of the quarterly series takes place next Wed., March 21, at Peter's Pub in Oakland, and features three acts that came into their own in 2011.
Dazzletine, the glam-rock outfit of songwriter Dan Koshute, was featured on our cover last November; the band's debut album is filled with hooky gems. SolSis, profiled in our Local Beat column in November and as our MP3 Monday act of the week in December, is an up-and-coming hip-hop duo that blew me away live last New Year's Eve. Host Skull, written up last September, features longtime local songwriter Dave Bernabo and a rotating cast of others — it's technically his project with Will Dyar, who lives in Santa Fe, N.M.
They're three very different acts, yes — hip hop, avant-pop, glam rock. But they have some things in common: All bring something fresh to the table. All toy with the borders of their respective genres. And all three are unique and engaging as live performers.
The show also serves as a release party for our Music Guide issue, which comes out next week, and features a series of mini-features for aspiring musicians and armchair rockers. The $6 cover entitles attendees to two free drinks from our sponsor, Iron City. We hope you'll join us next week to celebrate local music!
