The Vics are an indie rock band originally formed at Cal U, and now residing in Pittsburgh. They have 4 new singles coming out over the coming months, with the first out on this Friday. Dancing on the line of the old and the new, with originality in hand, lies Pittsburgh-based quartet: The Vics. Playing regularly, The Vics are a contagiously energetic avenue of nouveau indie rock littered with classic blues overtones. The group met in late 2015 attending California University of Pennsylvania. Shortly after, they merged into the Pittsburgh the music scene through their self-released EP Sparrow
and self-titled album in 2017. The Vics are now in the studio working on their next project capturing the same excitement and energy reciprocated back to them during shows. @thevicsofficial IG, @thevics FB, @thevicsband Twitter
Brady Novotny is a guitar virtuoso who blends flamenco, classical, jazz and world music elements into his music. He is also a licensed sex therapist in town.
Brady Novotny started playing the guitar at the age of 10. Determined to be a world class guitarist, he left his first guitar lesson with his instructor telling him basically to give it up now. Thus he was introduced to criticism and disappointment early in his endeavor. Nevertheless, Brady heard a guitar player that would motivate him to push all that aside and re-energrize his passion to continue; that guitar player was Randy Rhoads. Brady soon fell in love with classical and melodic guitar playing. Brady practiced restlessly learning everything from classical pieces, melodic and virtuosic solos from 80’s guitar heroes, to jazz fusion.
Brady loved the guitar, and truly, that has been his passion. He attended Berklee College of Music for a little time. At the age of 19, he was asked to teach summer guitar workshop at Duquesne University. As life often happens, however, Brady got burned out and went back to school and received his masters in Psychology. Yep, that’s right — Psychology. But the passion is back and stronger than ever, plus it never hurts to have some money!
Brady set out to do an instrumental project that would have his listeners singing the haunting melodies while holding their attention by uniquely placed guitar virtuosity and dynamic rhythms creating a fusion of rock, flamenco, and jazz. His love for a variety of musical styles led him to study under many teachers in his life. Brady started out playing Classical guitar at the age of 10. Ever since then, Brady has had a strong affection for nylon string guitar sound. Ultimately, this led him to study Flamenco guitar. He immediately fell in love with the passion, virtuosity and rhythm of this style. The shred of the 80’s was one of his main influences and guilty pleasures, while Jazz was a big influence on Brady’s chordal choices and song color.
Brady has a wide range of experience in the music business. His experience ranges from the Pittsburgh rock scene to national tours. He has worked as a Pittsburgh session guitarist, Worship leader, and guitarist at several mega churches. He has also taught guitar at clinics and universities.
His 2019 release with MTS Management Group/MTS Records is “Passions Collide” featuring the lead single, “Redemption’s Cry.” The song, featuring a hauntingly beautiful vocal from Brady’s wife, Jennifer, is currently charting on the Airplay Today national radio charts.
www.facebook.com/bradynovotnymusic
www.instagram.com/bradynovotnyoffical
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQMG6bjBHNLH2uxumRx1IyQ
John Vento leads the Nied’s Hotel Band, as well as being in The Businessmen. His new album is also the soundtrack to a musical being performed at The Oaks theater. He was recently a Billboard Magazine Emerging Artist and a Top 20 iTunes chart artist. www.johnvento.com
John Vento is often called a chameleon in the Pittsburgh music scene; and, while his critics may use the term as a pejorative, Vento views it as a compliment. He understands that they’re motivated by the frustration of their inability to lock him into a specific musical style. After all, the front man for the high-energy, hard-rockin’ bands, The Businessmen, and the Nied’s Hotel Band, is also known for his introspective, brooding solo recordings.
Rather than a drawback, however, Vento considers such diversity to be among his strengths; and his fans agree. They relish sharing his tumultuous trek toward achieving his artistic vision, which he accomplishes by channeling a blend of eclectic influences through his own, raw emotions.
Helping to engineer the roller coaster ride is a stout core of collaborators, including John Randall Fox, Buddy Hall, Tim Hadley, and Frank Ferraro, along with renowned playwright/lyricist, Amy Hartman. Many members of this crew have been with him for more than a decade; and it’s easy to understand why, as Vento consistently showers them with appreciation and accolades. Though a one-of-a-kind performer, he professes a great distaste for the word, “solo,” insisting that, “Without my collaborators, I would not have accomplished anything.”
That’s no surprise to those who know him, as he truly is a humble, loving, and grateful person, who treasures his family and friends. Certainly, that comes across, loud and clear, in his honest, from-the-heart songs; and that, undoubtedly, is another quality which endears him to his fans. As he puts it, “If just one person is touched in some small way by one of my songs, that’s the greatest reward that I could receive.”
Of course, it’s purely logical that Vento would find a great following in this town. His steely resistance to categorization is the very essence and backbone of Pittsburgh. Built by a veritable melting pot of blue-collar workers, the once-gritty city has risen from the slag heap, through the smoke and haze, to become a sparkling, spectacular hub of culture and learning. Yet, it remains true to its deeply-forged identity.
John’s 2019 MTS release is “Love, Lust and Other Wreckage.” His single, “Rainbows And Lightning” reached the Top 20 on iTunes Canada charts, receiving national and international airplay and charting. John is a January 2019 Billboard Magazine Emerging Artist.
https://www.facebook.com/johnventomusic