Scott Tady: Tiny Wars to rock Beaver; Darlington actress gets apocalyptic

Trains have whooshed by there for 125 years, so Beaver Station Cultural & Event Center should be up for the challenge of hosting Tiny Wars on March 25.

Though the propulsive, full-throttle force of Tiny Wars might rattle a window or two, as the emerging Pittsburgh rock band makes its Beaver Valley debut as part of the station's Cabin Fever Music Series.

Switzerland native Sue Pedrazzi, fronts Tiny Wars, which has two guitarists including Abby Krizner a longtime Pittsburgh area favorite, for her work in bands like Fist Fight in The Parking Lot and Motorpsychos, and as program director/deejay on alternative-rock station 105.9-The X.

"We just want to say how much we look forward to playing in Beaver for the first time and sharing our New Wave of Pittsburgh Heavy Pop," the quintet collectively said via email. " We are a band that thrives on vibes − creating them, absorbing them for inspiration, and sharing experiences of true connection with our audience. We love to feed off the energy and people present, whether it is in a neon lit grimy rock and roll club or on a monumental premiere soundstage. Performing at Beaver's historic train station will be a totally new setting to create something special in the moment with our songs. So, we promise our usual fun and energy as well as all the passion and drama in contrast, plus Susan will be using this distinctive stage to share some very candid and special stories behind some of the songs. It will be a performance unlike any we've done so far. We are so grateful to be appearing and can't wait to meet everyone."

The double-billed Beaver Station concert boasts a strong lead-off act, Ashley Marina, who dazzled NBC viewers in 2020 as a 12-year-old contestant on "America's Got Talent," and a year later earned a standing ovation at New York's legendary Apollo Theater for a rendition of Adele's "All I Ask."

"I will be performing a full acoustic set accompanying myself on guitar and keyboard. A lot of original music and some covers as well," Marina, a Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School student, said. "I am working on several new original songs and hoping to release the first one sometime in April, but if you come to Beaver Station you might just get to hear it first. I also have a new cover dropping on all streaming services March 17 and the official video on March 24."

Marina, of Kennedy Township, last played Beaver County at December's Fire & Ice Festival in New Brighton. In our email interviews, she has demonstrated poise, professionalism and dedication ― on top of that powerhouse voice ― that's convinced me "America's Got Talent" won't be the last time we see her sing on national TV.

Reserve a seat for her and Tiny Wars at beaverstation.org. Each $34 ticket provides complimentary, serve-yourself adult beverages before and during the show, plus fun socializing with fellow live music lovers in that cool train station setting.

"I am looking forward to the honor of performing at such a historic venue," Marina said.  "I watched fireworks from the Heritage Museum parking lot next door a few times when I was little, and it is so pretty around it. I love Beaver. My dad and uncle grew up in Brighton Township and both graduated from Beaver High School and my grandparents still live there so it's really nice to be able to share my music in Beaver. Also, opening for Tiny Wars is exciting even though they play a different genre of music than myself. I was able to see them when I performed at the Women Who Rock Benefit Concert at Stage AE in October and they totally rock so fans are in for a treat there. "

She's right. I witnessed that Stage AE show and lobbied for Beaver Station to book Tiny Wars and Marina.

Darlington actress gets post-apocalyptic

A woman searches for her son across a ruined future world in "Evenfall," a post-apocalyptic YouTube series starring Darlington woman Sarah Carleton.

Carleton shot one scene at the Hoover Dam, playing the role of Claire whose journey to reunite with her son, stolen from her by mysterious forces, puts her in an alliance with a drifter named Reg and other survivors facingever-increasing dangers in the year 2071.

Having won two film festival awards, including Best Apocalyptic Film at the End of Days Festival, the seventh and final episode of "Evenfall" debuts Monday. Episodes run about 23 minutes, and you can catch up with the series at youtube.com/maplefilms.

There are coincidental similarities to HBO's "The Last of Us," such as in episode three where an unexpected survivalist proves decent kindness can exist in a world ravaged by plague and totalitarianism.

"It’s a post-apocalyptic drama, but it’s also a romance, a western, a thriller and a sci-fi action adventure." Dustin Lee, writer-director, said.

Carleton impresses with her portrayal of a tough, determined survivor who still has a light of compassion that shines.

Eerily, the very first scene, shot in Ohio, depicts Carleton's character discovering a contaminated creek. That scene was shot before the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine near her hometown.

"It has been rather disconcerting how things have popped up in life and in the areas around us after we have filmed that relate to the story," she said. "So, the creek being contaminated feels so strangely ominous."

Carleton has worked with Pittsburgh theatre companies such as Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks, and Jumping Jack Theater, which performed at the Pittsburgh Children's Festival.

More:Broadway shows headed to Pittsburgh

Ghost Hounds new one

From Charlie Rich to Ludacris, musical artists have extolled the virtues of romantic partners who are sweet and gentle in public but get wild behind closed doors.

A woman like that gets celebrated in “Dirty Angel," the smoking new song by local blues-rockers Ghost Hounds.

"'Dirty Angel is a high-octane, high-energy song that is one of our favorite cuts to play from our new album that will be released this summer," Ghost Hounds guitarist Johnny Baab said. "We tracked this live to really capture the raw energy happening in the moment. It felt like the right move to lead with this as our first single as an appetizer for what’s to come.”

Baab and Ghost Hounds founder Thomas Tull, co-writer of '“Dirty Angel,” exchange fiery guitar licks atop singer Tré Nation’s hearty vocals. Bassist Bennett Miller and drummer Blaise Lanzetta supply the thunder, with keyboard flourishes from Beaver County's own Joe Munroe powering the spirited ending.

The Sewickley-based band, which toured the U.S. and Europe with the Rolling Stones, shot an accompanying video.

“For the visual, we knew we wanted something that felt unique and would lend itself to the mood of the song, so we filmed it in a majestic horse arena outside of L.A. on a cold and rainy night," Baab said.

More:Jim Messina talks hits, Loggins and tour headed here

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

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Tiny Wars to rock Beaver; Darlington actress gets apocalyptic