Scott Tady: Astrology Now & Slam Band both deserve a listen; Cheetah Chrome returns

I'll bet Astrology Now band members are mostly Pisces, a zodiac sign associated with being dreamy, imaginative and inspired by intense emotions.

Because that's the kind of music made by Astrology Now, the Pittsburgh-Beaver County indie-pop/psychedelic band with a new release, "See God," available Oct. 28 on Bandcamp.

Jagged guitars and hazy vocal passages characterize the Astrology Now sound on "See God," produced by bassist Nate Campisi from Center Township.

Moon Township native Greg Mastrean writes the songs, which the band accurately describes as "everything from get-to-the-point fuzz rockers, to introspective mental whirlwinds, to romantic expressions of love and beauty."

"See God" goes to streaming sites like Spotify and Apple on Nov. 11

You can catch Astrology Now on Oct. 22 at the Whisper Nest in Millvale, and Nov. 18 for the release party at Spirit in Lawrenceville.

Slam dunk

Horn-infused, slinky funk about an amazing woman — that's what Slam Band & Sam provides on its new single, "But Then I Do," available Oct. 21 on streaming platforms.

The Beaver County-Pittsburgh band celebrates its new release with a "Spooky Single Release Soiree," also next Friday, at Club Cafe on Pittsburgh's South Side, where a Halloween costume contest will be part of the fun.

Featuring Ambridge saxophonist Mark Jackovic, Slam Band & Sam impressed a Beaver Station crowd last January launching the 2022 Cabin Fever Music Series. The group since has added lead vocalist Andre Marocco, from Beaver County's soul-funk maestros Mean Blue Planets.

You'll get a sense of the originality in Slam Band from bassist Mark Ondrey's description of the new single:

"But Then I Do" tells a story of the excitement, anxiety, and chase associated with pursuing a partner," he said. "Scenarios that feel almost certain to find a way to take us back to the drawing board. Confidence turns to doubt. Nervous flirtation provokes exhilaration. Sensual sax lines team up with a tight rhythmic pocket and sultry guitar to set the storyline for a spoony saga."

And who doesn't like a spoony saga?

With Ambridge craft breweries Fermata and Altered Genius helping lead the way for more Pittsburgh bands playing the Beaver Valley, I'd recommend any local bar book Slam Band & Sam, or the aforementioned Astrology Now.

Dead Boys live

Nearly legendary punk band Dead Boys has reunited and will perform Oct. 19 at Jergel's Rhythm Grille.

Peers of the Ramones for a few years in the mid-1970s before burning out, the Cleveland band is fronted by founding guitarist Cheetah Chrome who spent memorable nights in Beaver County with his post-Dead Boys band, The Stilettos.

Chrome had replaced the Stilettos' guitarist Chris Stein who along with bandmate Debbie Harry, had left to form the famed Blondie. In March 1980, the Chrome version of The Stillettos chose Jeree Records in New Brighton to record an album.

While in the valley, the Stilletos did an autograph session at Dr. Doyle's Disc Den in Monaca. That former record store's owner, Kelvin Evans, recalls, "From there, I took them bar hopping; first to the Monaca Silver Bar, which is the Draft House now, then to Morry's Speakeasy (in Rochester Township). I remember the Silencers were playing there that night. From there, we went to Jeree Studios," where The Stilettoes recorded for a number of nights.

Some of the songs recorded in New Brighton didn't get released, Evans said.

"Only a few, on the Stillettos' "Punk Trampoline,'" album," he said. "Wonder if Jeree's has any of the master recordings."

Amazing band

I never claimed my iPhone camera is great.

But Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten never stood still, so I've got nothing but blurry photos of the Irish post-punk band's excellent performance a week ago at Spirit in Lawrenceville.

Excuse me, Upper Lawrenceville, as it's now customary to say.

Fontaines D.C. looked utterly focused, blasting through an hour-long set of propulsive, punkish rock that sounded so urgent, you practically could feel it tugging you forward.

From a darkly lit stage for a jam-packed crowd skewing 20s-ish, the quintet drew from its 2022 U.K. chart-topper "Skinty Fia," and 2020's "A Hero's Death," a Grammy-nominated Best Rock Album that made my year-end Top-10.

More:Tady: Find the good in 2020 with these great albums

Wearing a Trans-Siberian Orchestra T-shirt, Chatten kept a stern countenance, shaking his arms vigorously or raising them in frantic gestures aimed at getting the audience to match his intensity.

"I Don't Belong" epitomized Fontaines D.C.'s dark, moody ethos with a repetitive and hypnotic chorus.

Even the lyrically optimistic "A Hero's Death" title track − laden with sage advice like "Don't get stuck in the past/Say your favorite things at mass/Tell your mother that you love her/And go out of your way for others/Sit beneath a light that suits ya'/And look forward to a brighter future" − brought a tense feeling, given extra fuel by bandmates' cooing the bop-bop-bop-bop-bops with an ominous sound, just like the record.

Carlos O'Connell and Conor Curley (guitars) and Conor Deegan III (bass) mustered crackling, crunchy, wailing string notes you just don't normally hear, particularly on "Televised Mind."

Chatten limited his banter to a quick "Cheers!" after the band pretended to be done. Fans dutifully improvised a long and hearty chant of "Fontaines ... D.C....", and of course, the band returned to the stage for an encore of The Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog" (singer Chatten finally cracked a smile) and the 2019 breakthrough, "Boys in The Better Land."

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If punk rock is one of your things, make sure Fontaines D.C. are on your radar.

Sonny's honor

The annual Rhythms of Life Concert offers its usual stellar lineup Oct. 19 at Linden Grove nightclub in Castle Shannon.

Beaver Valley musicians David Granati, Hermie Granati, Drew Pinchotti and Charlie Barath join Pittsburgh counterparts Bob Banerjee, Matt Barranti, Jason Kendall, Shelley Duff, Byron Nash, Jacquea Mae, Jon Bindley, Soulful Femme and Bastard Bearded Irishmen for a show benefitting “Music Smiles," a program where area musicians raise spirits with performances in area hospitals and health care facilities.

Music Cares was launched in honor of the late Sonny Pugar, a professional drummer and Ambridge native.

Tickets are $20 and $25 at sonnypugar.org

More:Allman Brothers' '71 Pittsburgh concert album released

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver County-PGH bands Astrology Now & Slam Band merit attention