Horse or Cycle: who says Pittsburgh doesn't have good bands?!?

Local act Horse or Cycle has a new record out called Flood Season. This post is for all of the labels out there. If you want to hear more, just let me know!!

Two Hearts - Horse or Cycle

P L A Y List - (one)

The snow dumping continues here in the 'Burgh. No worries. I will be off to see Horse or Cycle opening up for dream-popsters, Action Camp, at Howler's tonight (we may have a little more up on that show in posts to come). I was considering staying in, seeing that my co-worker Joe let me borrow his Netflix arrival, The Brown Bunny. I had the pleasure? Yeah, I had the pleasure of seeing that one in a small theater downtown during its limited 2004 US release. I've been fondly recalling the silence of the room during a particularly gripping scene, ahem! Anyway, my viewing companion and good friend, Sarah, strode out of there feeling slightly changed. I remember us both not wanting to admit that we actually liked Vincent Gallo's newest offering. Ah, awkwardness. Ah, memories.

Still lots of big things to come, here at psov. We've got the facebook fan page up and running, and our first 'Follower' (every blog must have its first post, hence, every blog must announce its follower). Thanks, Karen!!

And, finally, thanks to Andrew Duncan over at ZapTown for worlds of support!!

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There's a ton of new music in the banks. I figured it was time to serve up some of the goodies, new and old, that's been splashing the walls.



A little P L A Y List for you...

01' Speed (Rush Ah) - ArpLine
02' Doubt/Hope - Wildbirds & Peacedrums
03' Please Don't Put Me on a Slow Boat to Trowbridge - Hugh Cornwell
04' January Wedding - The Avett Brothers
05' Silver Trembling Hands - The Flaming Lips
06' Last Flowers - Radiohead
07' Kingfisher - Joanna Newsom
08' Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Radar Bros.
09' Cold Milk, Big Bombs - Alan Charing
10' Quiet Little Voices - We Were Promised Jetpacks
11' I've Smoked Too Much - Lawrence Arabia
12' Everyday - Vetiver

Check out Horse or Cycle at MySpace!

Word of the Day

Waiting over an hour to catch the bus home from work in 20-30mph winds blowing wisps of snow is not fun. My roomie was kind enough to put on a pot of coffee back at the apartment for when I would come home. And, I eventually did, some time later. Curry was not happy to be held by me with my fleece jacket wet with snow. The wind chill out there is brutal. But, the Dunkin Donuts coffee is delicious. I've been thawing out ever since.

It's another Monday night in Pittsburgh. Winter storm watch all over Allegheny County. The Hop House will still be there, open and silent. It's free pool night again, folks. I'll be stepping out later for a little nineball. But first, there have been some recent developments in the world of picturestreetsofvienna.

I've recently been contacted by the guys over at ZapTown for a little networking opportunity. More on that as it comes off the wire. I've also twittered a bit with a groovy, up-and-coming band from Portland, Oregon--The Salesmen. Their release Cubicle Rock is in line for a little review coming soon here to psov.

Some concern in the blogger world has risen with the recent fall of great music sites like 'Pop Tarts Suck Toasted', 'I Rock Cleveland', and 'It's A Rap'. I've taken precaution and uploaded a 'sister' psov site at wordpress.com. I'll continue to post here on blogger and upload to wordpress periodically. You can never be too careful...

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The word of the day is 'support'! And, I'm going to throw some of it out there to a few buds I know playing shows in the 'Burgh.

Local four-piece Horse or Cycle has been hitting a few venues locally with some fresh new material that they have been saving up for a promising future full-length release. No word on any date set, but recording sessions have lasted, intermittently, since the beginning of last winter.

They settle nicely in the niche of the new indie folk-rock sound that has been quietly smoldering in Pittsburgh over the last five years. Playing alongside fellow scenesters The Meeting of Important People, Donora, Lohio, Mariage Blanc, and Boca Chica; they've been playing with a little more vim and vigor. There has definitely been a sudden boost in gain on the amplifiers. In sessions, they've incorporated mandolin and acoustic guitars for a little bluegrass infusion with their oft under four-minute compositions. Live, they plug in and sing full on the mic.

I have an old demo given to me by Chris, who handles lead guitar, keyboards, and shares vocal duties with frontman Liam. The songs here are steeped in oldfangled storytelling. Liam's languid baritone recounts tales of disasters and critical moments with a blasé shrug. The organs sound like mating cicadas in the summer, the moog effects channel the sound of wind currents. Each track seems to wrap up without the drag.

Here are two off the demo, check 'em out!

Flood Season
Saxis Virginia

Horse or Cycle at MySpace