Spencer plays around town in various groups, playing primarily funk, jazz, and rock music, but enjoys all genres. His musical pursuits have led him to study Jazz Guitar at Duquesne University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Guitar Performance. Spencer’s first musical instruments were the viola and clarinet, but as he discovered rock n’ roll he began to develop his own musical taste and started playing guitar around age 12. Musician I Would Most Like to Meet: Lyle Lovett Humor Influences: The Smothers Brothers, Christopher Guest, Tina Fey, Robert Mondaviįavorite Beer: Can’t beat a good California cabernet or a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Some Favorite Bands & Musical Influences: The British Invasion bands and the US bands that answered them, the Southern California singer/songwriters, The Sophisticated Ladiesįirst Car: A Ford Pinto. Main Live Gear: Martin D-18V, Lowden 0-25, Flatiron mandolin, Fishman Loudbox Artist I didn’t win, but I still sing it once in a while! Back in Pittsburgh in the early 90s, she hung around the store so much that she was put to work!įirst Live Performance: I sang Ragtime Cowboy Joe at a talent show when I was about 8. Their self-titled CD (she was sad that they didn’t press an actual LP!) met with critical acclaim, but still The Beatles paid no notice. On the heels of buying her first Martin guitar from Carl at Pittsburgh Guitars in Bloomfield (many years later!), she took off for Los Angeles where in 1989 she was signed to Vanguard Records with Andy Robinson and their folk-pop band, Different World. It was plastic, and wouldn’t stay in tune, so she cried until her mom took it back and brought home the yellow Stella. But Dancing Gnome is our “local bar.”įavorite Food: Grilled flesh, sushi, but I never met a pizza I didn’t like, either.ĭesperately wanting to be a Beatle, Betsy gave up the trombone and got her first guitar when she was 8 years old. Musicians I Would Most Like to Meet: Billy Gibbons, Keith Richards, Neil Youngįirst Concert: Humble Pie/REO Speedwagon, Civic Arena ‘74įirst Car: $600 Mazda Hatchback with 160,000 miles on it.įavorite Beer: Too many to list. Sonic Youth, Zeppelin, the Stones (Everything up to “Some Girls”), Sabbath (“The first 4 LPs are perfect”), Bowie (“everything up to “Scary Monsters”), Mott the Hoople, the Velvets, John Coltrane Quartet, Neil Young (on electric guitar), Sex Pistols, the Ramones, the Clash. Live Rig: Gibson Les Paul Special with P-90’s ,Marshcaster Tele, Gibson EB-3 or Rick 4001įavorite Bands: Too Many to count. Even though he’s a child of punk rock, Sam has studied guitar with the likes of Ernie Hawkins, John Renbourn, Woody Mann and John Cephus. Fascinated by instruments, Sam plays guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, some drums and keyboards and records music in his spare time. But Sam often refers to the Monkees, with their TV show being his first musical memories, as his “gateway drug to rock and roll.” In 8th grade Sam decided to learn guitar, and “borrowed” his first instrument, a Harmony Stella acoustic, from his Junior High music department. Play The Kevin Bacon Game: Nick Nolte shopped at Pittsburgh Guitars, Nick Nolte is in Cape Fear with Robert DeNiro, Robert DeNiro is in Sleepers with Kevin BaconĪlthough he doesn’t remember it, Sam’s parents told him he saw the Beatles play on the Sullivan Show at age 5. Who Would Play Him in a Movie : Rick Springfield! Lol! Humor Influences : Monty Python, King Of Queens, The Office, Austin Powers, Peter Sellers Musician would most like to Meet : Jimmy Pageįirst Concert : Aerosmith with Golden Earingįirst Car : 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix. Main Live Rig : `58 Gibson Les Paul Historic Reissue through Vox AC15įavorite Bands : Oh so many, but a couple on the list are: Beatles, Zeppelin, Badfinger, Tom Petty, XTC, Tommy Keene, The Jam, Crowded House, World Party, Marty Wilson-Piper, Miles Davis, The Kinks, Neil Young, Big Star, Grip Weeds, Syd Barrett, Roky Erickson, Wilco, The Byrds, Beck, Jeff Beck, Rush….it’s a long list! Let me go through my record collection. I was wrong…I DID buy both at Pittsburgh Guitars! Thought that it would be cool to turn the amp to 10. First Live Gig : Carrick High Talent Show-I played my ’76 Les Paul through an Ampeg V4 full stack.
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