MUSIC: Meeting of Important People Release New Album with Kickstarter Campaign

Meeting of Important People

Meeting of Important People (MOIP) is set to release a new album, but first it needs to be recorded!  To do this, they are seeking the support of their fellow fans and community with the Kickerstarter Campaign. The campaign allows the community to donate money towards the recording, mixing, mastering, and production of the album.  In return, there are a plethora of interesting rewards depending on your pledge level - such as a personalized Valentine's Day song, a fish stick dinner, music video memorabilia, and of course a copy of the album.

The album -- which is nameless as of now, but the band is thinking something somewhat of a "fake Flaming Lips title" like "My Ears Are Having a Heart Attack" -- is said to be their most mature work yet.  MOIP started out about 5 years ago as somewhat of a "joke band" -- which included current lead man Josh Verbanets, Matt Miller, and Jeremy Diehl -- they had a very garage-band sound, but in 2007 things got serious when bassist Aaron Bubenheim joined.  According to Verbanets, Aaron wasn't originally a bassist, but he mastered it and "became an amazing musician."  Now, the band has figured out how to sound more dynamic and has graduated from its garage rock days into a new "percussive, textured, and groove-like sound mixed with a little 90's rock." 

When MOIP was just starting out, their lyrics were songs written years ago by Verbanets that talked mostly about a youthful, weird suburban life. This new album promises a more adult-like tone; songs about love, community and friends.  Their Pittsburgh fan-base plays a huge role in MOIP's history.  Their shows are always jam packed with friendly faces ready to have a good time! MOIP holds very strong friendships with other local bands such as Lohio, Donora, Delicious Pastries, Nik & The Central Plains, and Boca Chica.  The pairing of any of these local bands with MOIP is a recipe for an amazing, fun, energetic show.

"It's the best community for local music," says Verbanets.  He commented on how the bands are all very different sound-wise, but its the focusing on songs rather than style that's more important.  Lately, MOIP has been playing with the new and upcoming local band The Whiskey Holler.  "They're the youngest hardest working band around," says Verbanets.  MOIP will be playing a show this Saturday (Feb 4th)  with Boca Chica at the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville. 

SUPPORT  MOIP in the Kickstarter Campaign - who doesn't want their own love song?
LISTEN & LEARN about MOIP - check out their other albums and read more about them.
LIKE MOIP on Facebook - because we all could use more friends! 

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ART: Wildcard presents SUPERS***S: Art from the Staff of The Andy Warhol Museum

SUPERS***S

During the 60's, Andy Warhol made hundreds of films, screen tests, and other forms of art with the help of his entourage made up of glamor girls, starving artists, poets, models, actors, and drag queens - a unique clique of people he called his "Superstars." Though these Superstars were a less than aristocratic or ultra-famous group of people, they were certainly very unique from the other and fabulous in their own way. Andy and his group of Superstars created a whole movement known as "Pop." As the sixties ended, Andy and his Superstars parted ways one by one and left their footprint in art history, forever.

Warhol and some of the Superstars

 Now, most of Warhol's work and clues as to what life was like when he and the Superstars took over the art world in 60's, is all neatly organized and chronologically ordered at The Andy Warhol Museum. Known as one of the biggest tourist attractions Pittsburgh has to offer, the museum is home to seven floors of Warhol's work and also includes work by modern artists that are conducive to what Warhol had done during his life.  I had the pleasure of working as a Gallery Attendant (GA - as we call them) at the museum for a little over 2 years. While working there I met the most interesting group of people I've ever known. Each of them had a unique "something" about them, all so talented,creative and quite fashionable.  We were a group of about 10 - 15 people all hired to appreciate, communicate, and protect Warhol's work and then by night, artists ourselves.  Some of us paint, some collage, some screen print, others photograph, and some of us just observe and record. 

SUPERS***S show at Wildcard

What better way to express the parallelism between the GAs and the Superstars, than an art show featuring work by the GAs? The show opened last week at Wildcard in Lawrenceville, titled SUPERS***S, so not to be mistaken with the actual Superstars and left for a little naughty interpretation.  SUPERS***S features art by Warhol Gallery Attendants (and past GAs): Adrienne Rozzi, Joel Brown, Matthew Robinson, Erin Phillips, Ryan Emmett, Katie Watson, and Kathleen Guzowski.

Curator Elliot McNally

Wildcard focuses on art by local artists and crafters.  Not only does it act as a great gallery space, but it also sells stationary, clothing, bags, jewelery, trinkets, gift wrapping supplies and interesting baubles.

Photographer Matthew Robinson

Screen printer and artist Adrienne Rozzi.

......and her amazing shoes!

Surrealist collager Joel Brown

Collages by Joel Brown

A good crowd for the opening!

Artist Erin Phillips

Artist Kathleen Guzowski

Wildcard is located at 4209 Butler St. Come see the SUPERS***S gallery and this amazing shop!

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