Article Contributed by Patrick Bruener
Published on March 1, 2016
<p>In the last few years Pittsburgh’s live music scene has been revitalized, especially for jam band lovers. Some recent notable visits include <strong>The String Cheese Incident</strong>, <strong>STS9</strong>, <strong>Umphrey’s McGee</strong>, <strong>Widespread Panic,</strong> <strong>Twiddle</strong>, <strong>Tauk</strong>, and <strong>Aqueous, </strong>to name a few. Out of this has influence come Pittsburgh’s own premier jam/psychedelic funk band, a group of young and talented musicians who call themselves <strong><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/theclockreads”>The Clock Reads</a>. </strong>In a refreshing way the group has brought Pittsburgh to the jam world, rather than the jam world coming to Pittsburgh. Over the past two years band members <strong>John O’Brien </strong>(guitar)<strong>, Aidan Epstein </strong>(keyboard/organ), <strong>Michael Berger </strong>(Bass),<strong> Steve Ippolito </strong>(Drums)<strong>, </strong>and<strong> Jason Greenlaw </strong>(guitar)<strong>, </strong>have dedicated and progressed their talents in the Steel City and are now catching the eyes and ears of jam lovers across the country.</p>
<p><img alt=”” src=”/sites/default/files/images/DSC_8787.jpg” style=”width: 640px; height: 960px;” title=”Steve Ippolito | The Clock Reads” />On Saturday, February 20<sup>th</sup>, 2016 the group performed their second anniversary show; a headlining gig through <strong>Grey Area Productions</strong> hosted by <strong>The Thunderbird Café</strong>. The show highlighted the musical progression and newfound professionalism of the group. The five-piece started as a group of college students at <strong>The University of Pittsburgh</strong>, playing basement parties and small local clubs like <strong>Uncle Jimmy’s Bar</strong> and <strong>Pub I.G. </strong>After about a year of perfecting covers from Phish and The Grateful Dead, along with a handful of originals, The Clock Reads have evolved to play nearly entire original sets known for lengthy improvisational sections with highly energetic peaks. The second anniversary show, on 2/20, was no exception and proved to Pittsburgh that <strong>The Clock Reads </strong>has plenty to offer live music lovers both in and outside of their hometown.</p>
<p><img alt=”” src=”/sites/default/files/images/DSC_8800.jpg” style=”width: 616px; height: 410px;” title=”Aidan Epstein | The Clock Reads” />Local band <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/chillentband”><strong>Chillent </strong></a>opened the gig with an impressive performance full of jazzy guitar licks and harmonic saxophone. Next <strong>The Clock Reads</strong> came out, opening the set with a noodling jam into a new original song <strong>Hampton’s In</strong>. A highlight of the show came early on when members of <strong>Chillent</strong> returned to the stage for a funky super-jam of <strong>Jaco Pastorius’ </strong>tune<strong> The Chicken. </strong>Next came Son of Juan and the bluegrass inspired original <strong>Goin’ Down</strong> featuring Alex Epstein, Aidan Epstein’s father, on fiddle. <strong>El Gato Del Fuego</strong> with a beautiful tease of <strong>Vince Guaraldi’s Linus & Lucy</strong> led into <strong>Clockwork</strong>, followed by a cover of <strong>Ween’s</strong> <strong>Bananas and Blow</strong> dedicated to <strong>Alex Kantner</strong> and <strong>Ben Penigar</strong>. The show concluded with a cover of <strong>Steely Dan’s The Fez</strong> and a classic <strong>Clock Reads</strong> original, <strong>The Ragoo</strong>.</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen=”” frameborder=”0″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUABROES6VI” width=”600″></iframe></p>
<p><strong>The Clock Reads</strong> have a number of shows coming up in both the <strong>Pittsburgh</strong> and <strong>Philadelphia</strong> areas, as well as an upcoming appearance at <strong>Mad Tea Party Jam</strong> in June. Furthermore the band has been working in the studio on an all-original album to be released this spring. For more information, recordings, and upcoming gigs check out The Clock Reads’ website at <a href=”http://www.theclockreads.band/”>http://www.theclockreads.band/</a>.</p>
<p><strong><img alt=”” src=”/sites/default/files/images/DSC_8846.jpg” style=”width: 616px; height: 410px;” title=”The Clock Reads | Saturday, February 20th, 2016″ />SETLIST:</strong></p>
<p>Jam > Hampton’s In, Ferdayz’d > DD, The Chicken[1], Son of Juan, Going Down[2], Spumoni Bomba > El Gato del Fuego[3], Clockwork, Bananas and Blow[4], The Fez[5], The Ragoo</p>
<p><strong>KEY:</strong></p>
<p>[1] Jaco Pastorius; With members of Chillent (Harmonica, Sax, Guitar) [2] With Aidan’s dad (Alex) on fiddle [3] Contained Linus and Lucy (Charlie Brown) tease [4] Ween [5] Steely Dan</p>
