Pittsburgh musicians elevate their voices from the stage to save lots of native venues information

December 30th – Musicians communicate through songs. They feed on the energy of live performances.

Many have not performed live for months because of the pandemic.

That hasn’t stopped them from making new music when they return to Pittsburgh.

There is a tune to be heard that will help the local music industry feel the love.

Musicians from western Pennsylvania recorded “SOS 2020,” a song inspired by the Save Our Stages movement to help the tough music venues. It’s a mix of rock, punk and heavy metal.

“There are so many musicians who sit at home and just want to go back and perform,” said Bob McCutcheon, owner of Vault Recording Studio on Neville Island. “They’re trying to get a song or album out for now because they usually promote and roll out the music during personal performances.”

Eric Rodger of the band Royal Honey wrote the song to share his frustration and concern about the Pittsburgh music venues, performers, promoters and staff affected by the pandemic.

The Save Our Stages Act, passed by Congress earlier this week, will help provide grants to local venues, promoters and booking agents affected by an aid law. However, according to McCutcheon, more assistance is needed.

“These venues were the first to close and will be the last to open,” said McCutcheon. “The Save Our Stages Act will help, but it won’t solve the problem. We want to raise awareness that help is still needed.”

The song and music video are scheduled for January 8th via iTunes and streaming on major platforms. The proceeds go to the National Independent Venue Association.

The association’s mission is to maintain independent venues and sponsors in the United States. The Giving Back Fund will oversee the process of obtaining grants from an emergency fund.

Venues, organizers and booking agents can join the association and apply for money.

A corresponding amount of up to $ 2,000 will be made available from the Pittsburgh Foundation’s Ryan McCutcheon Rhythm19 Fund.

In September 2017, McCutcheon’s 19-year-old son Ryan was killed in a car accident in Ohio Township when he was returning to Robert Morris University, where he was a sophomore. The fund was set up by his family to keep his spirit alive through music.

There are over 60 musicians from 27 bands who donated their time to the new song.

Groups with ties to Alle Kiski Valley and Westmoreland County include The Redlines, A Common Crown, Black Ridge, and Skell. Bill Domiano, who created the website for the song Build the Scene, is from Vandergrift and lives in Leechburg.

“This is an important group that does not have a strong voice individually, but collectively,” said McCutcheon.

He said Pittsburgh lost at least 10 stages and many more have been temporarily closed due to covid restrictions.

It is difficult for musicians to make money just selling streaming songs. They need live performances, said McCutcheon and Rodger.

“There’s nothing like a song coming out with an audience of 200 or more,” said McCutcheon. “Musicians feed the energy of the audience and the audience reacts.”

The money available through the Save Our Stages Act will bring some relief, Rodger said. He adds that there is a glimmer of hope starting with the launch of some personal outdoor shows this summer or fall.

The concern is that 90% of local music venue owners are in significant financial trouble and there is a possibility of a more permanent shutdown, Rodger said.

“I wanted to do something that will be put into action to help people now,” said Rodger, who got the idea while looking at a calendar in the mirror and noting that the 2020 reflection contains ‘SOS’.

That made him hum what he calls “a cheesy tune for me”.

“That’s awful,” I thought to myself, “he said of the melody.” Please forget that! “

But he couldn’t get the repeating words out of his head. He sang to McCutcheon who thought it was a great idea and pretty much every band who asked her said yes.

“There is no better feeling in this world than hearing an idea coming out of your head right now through the speakers,” Rodger said. “We had rock bands, punk bands and metal bands. We had national people with local connections. More importantly, we had a music community that was all working for the same thing … to help our venues, promoters, sound engineers and stage staff … all of them economically depressed. “

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make music

Here is the lineup of the artists involved in the recording of “SOS 2020”, a song inspired by the Save Our Stages movement to help with difficult music events.

Music and lyrics: Eric Rodger

Producer: Anthony “Rocky” Lamonde

Recorded and mixed: Bob McCutcheon, The Vault Recording Studio

Drums: Eric Rodger

Bass: Mike Ekis

Organ: Hermie Granati

Guitars: Dave Buzard, David Granati, Dave Musick, Eric Rodger, Jim Dofka, Keith Nelson, Vinnie Q.

Singers / bands

13 SAINTS / WE COME FROM SPACE

Dave Buzard – lead guitar

A common crown

Jen Craven – vocals

Steve Craven – backing vocals

Kyle Matovcik – backing vocals

Jay Snider – backing vocals

Matt Ferrante – backing vocals

BLACK RIDGE

Paul Guerrini – vocals

Paul Cha – backing vocals

Tony Lassick – backing vocals

BORSTAL BOYS

Mark Ponsonby – vocals

Rocky Lamonde – producer

Vinny Q – guitar

Joe Pelesky – backing vocals

BUCKCHERRY

Keith Nelson – lead guitar

CHIP & THE CHARGE UPS

Chip Dominick – vocals

Maleena Dominick – vocals

TWO

JJ Mason – vocals

Eric Rodger – backing vocals

DOFKA

Jim Dofka – lead guitar

DOMENIC FUSCA

Domenic Fusca – vocals

ENDING SPECIES

Chris Allen – vocals

Collin Farren – backing vocals

Jesse Farren – backing vocals

HELIOS

Tim Aymar – vocals

Jack Buckholt – backing vocals

Eric Rymers – backing vocals

Jeff Loy – backing vocals

HOMICIDE BLACK / HALF WHEEL

Sean Nestor – vocals

Jazz Byers – backing vocals

JOHNNY AND THE RAZORBLADES

John Stoecker – vocals

MIDDLE FINGER

Justin Palencsar – vocals

Charlie Hughes – backing vocals

Kyle Stubbs – backing vocals

MURDER FOR GIRLS

Tammy Wallace – vocals

Michele Dunlap – vocals

Jonathan Bagamery – backing vocals

ORANGE MAMMOTH / EGOMYTH

Darren Hammel – backing vocals

RED STRINGS

Sean Estep – backing vocals

ROYAL HONEY

Bobby Collins – vocals

Angelo Amantea – backing vocals

Dave Musick – lead guitar and backing vocals

Eric Rodger – drums, guitar and backing vocals

RUSTED ROOT

Liz Berlin – vocals

Patrick Norman – vocals

SKELL

Mike Ekis – bass

STONE COLD KILLER

Nate Offutt – vocals

Curtis Botzer – backing vocals

Dave Keber – backing vocals

THE CHEATS

Todd Porter – vocals

Kyle Stubbs – backing vocals

THE DIRTY LOWDOWN

Abe Balestra – vocals

THE GRANATI BROTHERS

David Granati – guitar

Hermie Granati – organ

THE LEGENDARY HUCKLEBUCKS

Ted Boyko – vocals

THE REDLINES

Brian Seese – vocals

Jason Lizzi – backing vocals

Tony Vinski – backing vocals

THE SHELVES SWEET

Ryan Moore – backing vocals

Lee backing backing vocals

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a contributor to the Tribune Review. You can contact JoAnne at 724-853-5062, jharrop@triblive.com, or on Twitter.

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