I pull up to a storage facility's gate at 5:30 pm. I open my window to the 6 degree wind and punch in the code for the gate and it shakes open. I drive past the rows of storage units until I see one with a big white van. After parking my bulky Acura on the narrow, snow covered pavement, I walk up to the van to see the face of The Hawkeyes, Jay Wiley.
I've been hanging out with Jay Wiley of The Hawkeyes for about a week now and I understand why everyone I've talked to about him have said he's "the hardest working man in Pittsburgh". I first heard this uttered when filming a production meeting for The Hawkeyes' upcoming album. "Jay Wiley, hardest working man in the business" said Sean McDonald, Jay's producer. I thought that was just Sean kissing ass. He's not going to say "biggest piece of shit out there", right? Sean kept saying it.
Jay is packing the van in preparation to go to Indiana, PA to perform at the Brown Hotel -- a cornerstone of live music in Indiana. We shake hands and I attempt to help him pack the van. "There's a way to do it. Everyone has a different way. Everyone is wrong. This is how you pack a fucking van". I stand on the inside of the heated storage facility as Jay packs the van. We talk about what he wants to see in the video, he tells me war stories about his time on the road -- with a record label and without. Good conversation.
From behind the van, a bearded man walks up and greets Jay. This is Brian, the bass player. I introduce myself and Brian helps Jay with the last of the stuff for the van. This is surreal to me. I get to hang out with a band as they go on the road -- even if "on the road" just means going to Indiana, an hour away. Brian is easy to talk to, but also really quiet at the same time. I was also the new guy so maybe he just didn't have much to say to me. We went back and forth a bit until we all packed up and got in the van to go get Colin, the drummer.
After sitting in traffic for about half an hour, we get to Colin's house in Etna. We see him running across the street as we stop outside and he slides the door open. I introduce myself to Colin and we hit the road. Our conversation in the car centered around video games, the band, and creepy internet videos we've seen. We've seen a good bit of horrible videos, collectively. Colin is also a firefighter and desk clerk at a government agency as well as a drummer. He recounts some of the horrors he's seen in the field. "Fucked up shit, man".
We get to Indiana and the main street is lit up like --- well --- a Christmas tree. Each building is lined with strings of lights and reeves on all of the lamp posts. Pulling up to the Brown Hotel, we see the fourth member, Mike, standing outside, waiting for us. I've been hearing about Mike the whole car ride (but don't tell him that). Introduction, and into the Brown.
The first band, Coastal Remedy, were high energy. They also had 4 members and mostly played covers. They had a cover of "Bartering Lines" by Ryan Adams that was absolutely incredible. These kids could play. The energy in the Brown Hotel was high. Beer was flowing and jams were playing.
The energy from Coastal Remedy was a perfect stage with what was about to come next. The Hawkeyes were awesome. Colin pounding away on the drums, Mike shredding away, Brian killing the bass, and Jay performing his ass off. The crowd was not prepared for the amount of rock n' roll that was being served to them. The crowd was yelling and throwing up rock fists. It's not a terribly big venue, about the average size of a bar.
While filming The Hawkeyes, I captured their faces. The intensity and passion behind these guys is absolutely incredible. They love this shit. They all had work tomorrow morning. Early. That wasn't going to stop them from playing their asses off tonight. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy. I dig people who dig things, and these guys dig music. Seeing that kind of love gave me happiness and assured me that I was in the right place, doing the right job.
After their set, between the applause and people literally screaming "Rock 'n' Roll!", Jay and I got a chance to chop it up. He bought me a beer -- never draft. Draft beers give you headaches the next day according to the band leader. A theory I'd like to test out with this band. Jay and I are talking as the owner of the hotel goes to the microphone. "I'd like to thank Jay Wiley for putting this show together for our benefit. It really means a lot to us. Thanks Jay". More applause. Holy shit. I realized that The Hawkeyes aren't getting paid for this gig. All of the proceeds are going to the hotel. This is fucking love. Love for music, for community and for the Brown Hotel.
In my experiences starting Muzaik and speaking to all of the artists I have spoken to, getting to know Jay and The Hawkeyes has easily been the most rewarding -- inspirational, even. The group interacts well and really like each other. After some warming up, they treated me like their own. It was an awesome experience to get to know these guys.
After their set, we stuck around for a few more songs by the next band and headed out around 11:30. Nothing bonds people together like riding in a van, smelling farts and listening to music. We got back to the storage facility -- after dropping Colin off -- at around 1:30. We unpacked the van and I told Jay that I was going to succeed him in his title of "hardest working man in the industry". "Good luck. I'm not slowing down." he told me. He has a show every night this week. Love for music is what keeps him alive. That love is a pilot light inside of him that fuels every aspect of his being. That love has turned into work ethic -- which is an impressive work ethic. Jay Wiley is the manifestation of "the grind". Powerful shit.
These guys are awesome. Great music and great people. They treat people you would expect good people to treat people. I'll be continuing to work with The Hawkeyes, and I can't wait to do so.
I've been hanging out with Jay Wiley of The Hawkeyes for about a week now and I understand why everyone I've talked to about him have said he's "the hardest working man in Pittsburgh". I first heard this uttered when filming a production meeting for The Hawkeyes' upcoming album. "Jay Wiley, hardest working man in the business" said Sean McDonald, Jay's producer. I thought that was just Sean kissing ass. He's not going to say "biggest piece of shit out there", right? Sean kept saying it.
Jay is packing the van in preparation to go to Indiana, PA to perform at the Brown Hotel -- a cornerstone of live music in Indiana. We shake hands and I attempt to help him pack the van. "There's a way to do it. Everyone has a different way. Everyone is wrong. This is how you pack a fucking van". I stand on the inside of the heated storage facility as Jay packs the van. We talk about what he wants to see in the video, he tells me war stories about his time on the road -- with a record label and without. Good conversation.
From behind the van, a bearded man walks up and greets Jay. This is Brian, the bass player. I introduce myself and Brian helps Jay with the last of the stuff for the van. This is surreal to me. I get to hang out with a band as they go on the road -- even if "on the road" just means going to Indiana, an hour away. Brian is easy to talk to, but also really quiet at the same time. I was also the new guy so maybe he just didn't have much to say to me. We went back and forth a bit until we all packed up and got in the van to go get Colin, the drummer.
After sitting in traffic for about half an hour, we get to Colin's house in Etna. We see him running across the street as we stop outside and he slides the door open. I introduce myself to Colin and we hit the road. Our conversation in the car centered around video games, the band, and creepy internet videos we've seen. We've seen a good bit of horrible videos, collectively. Colin is also a firefighter and desk clerk at a government agency as well as a drummer. He recounts some of the horrors he's seen in the field. "Fucked up shit, man".
We get to Indiana and the main street is lit up like --- well --- a Christmas tree. Each building is lined with strings of lights and reeves on all of the lamp posts. Pulling up to the Brown Hotel, we see the fourth member, Mike, standing outside, waiting for us. I've been hearing about Mike the whole car ride (but don't tell him that). Introduction, and into the Brown.
The first band, Coastal Remedy, were high energy. They also had 4 members and mostly played covers. They had a cover of "Bartering Lines" by Ryan Adams that was absolutely incredible. These kids could play. The energy in the Brown Hotel was high. Beer was flowing and jams were playing.
The energy from Coastal Remedy was a perfect stage with what was about to come next. The Hawkeyes were awesome. Colin pounding away on the drums, Mike shredding away, Brian killing the bass, and Jay performing his ass off. The crowd was not prepared for the amount of rock n' roll that was being served to them. The crowd was yelling and throwing up rock fists. It's not a terribly big venue, about the average size of a bar.
While filming The Hawkeyes, I captured their faces. The intensity and passion behind these guys is absolutely incredible. They love this shit. They all had work tomorrow morning. Early. That wasn't going to stop them from playing their asses off tonight. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy. I dig people who dig things, and these guys dig music. Seeing that kind of love gave me happiness and assured me that I was in the right place, doing the right job.After their set, between the applause and people literally screaming "Rock 'n' Roll!", Jay and I got a chance to chop it up. He bought me a beer -- never draft. Draft beers give you headaches the next day according to the band leader. A theory I'd like to test out with this band. Jay and I are talking as the owner of the hotel goes to the microphone. "I'd like to thank Jay Wiley for putting this show together for our benefit. It really means a lot to us. Thanks Jay". More applause. Holy shit. I realized that The Hawkeyes aren't getting paid for this gig. All of the proceeds are going to the hotel. This is fucking love. Love for music, for community and for the Brown Hotel.
In my experiences starting Muzaik and speaking to all of the artists I have spoken to, getting to know Jay and The Hawkeyes has easily been the most rewarding -- inspirational, even. The group interacts well and really like each other. After some warming up, they treated me like their own. It was an awesome experience to get to know these guys.After their set, we stuck around for a few more songs by the next band and headed out around 11:30. Nothing bonds people together like riding in a van, smelling farts and listening to music. We got back to the storage facility -- after dropping Colin off -- at around 1:30. We unpacked the van and I told Jay that I was going to succeed him in his title of "hardest working man in the industry". "Good luck. I'm not slowing down." he told me. He has a show every night this week. Love for music is what keeps him alive. That love is a pilot light inside of him that fuels every aspect of his being. That love has turned into work ethic -- which is an impressive work ethic. Jay Wiley is the manifestation of "the grind". Powerful shit.
These guys are awesome. Great music and great people. They treat people you would expect good people to treat people. I'll be continuing to work with The Hawkeyes, and I can't wait to do so.
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