Music
Press
Thursday, December 07, 2006
By John Hayes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A capsule look at Pittsburgh bands making news.
JAY WILEY
Background: Finalist at Tuesday's Fall Acoustic Challenge, songwriter and lead singer of Alisium, winner of the 2004 Graffiti Rock Challenge.
"We never recorded our prize album for winning that," said Wiley. "I never knew why [the band] didn't want to go to the studio and claim our prize. That was one of the reasons I quit."
The band: Jay Wiley, guitar, harp and vocals; Tom Milnes, lead guitar; Tim Lengel, slide guitar; Jeff Wiley, bass (part-time bassist Tom Vogel); Don Cameron, keyboard; Harold Laderer, drums.
The vibe: "I love The Black Crowes," says Wiley. "It's maybe my favorite band. You hear musicians saying they grew up with The Beatles and The Stones -- I grew up with The Black Crowes, Oasis and Pearl Jam. We like that classic sound with a modern touch. Music to me is like breathing. I try to challenge myself with music in that vein, but not push myself over the limit to where I start overanalyzing and it comes out unnaturally."
The performance: "You gotta connect with the audience. The key is, don't try -- you just go out and do it. I just do my natural thing. I really love what I'm doing. I want people to know I'm not up there just making a buck. It doesn't matter if it's for free. I want to convey that spirit as best I can."
The CD: Wiley's first album, "November," was coproduced by Hollis Greathouse and the Jay Wiley Band at Audible Images.
The songs: " 'Jokerman' is autobiographical," says Wiley. "There's so much that's expected of you when you get out of college. I'm at the stage of life when you go to Christmas dinner to see your family and the first thing they ask is 'How's your career,' and you say, well, I'm just working in the music business and I have a $9-an-hour job. They see signing with a major label and touring the country as a level of success they can understand. So the lyrics are just, I may not be what you want me to be but I'm putting my heart and soul in it.
" 'Holy Rose' I wrote about my grandmother. She's one of the most special people in the world, she's too nice sometimes. It's all the great moments I've had with her. I just wanted to appreciate all she's done for me. And 'Whole World on Your Side' is about a friend in the old band. It's something anybody can relate to -- dealing with someone who always has to be right. The line 'The whole would is on your side' is sort of said in jest because nobody can disagree with you."
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Discography
2006 CD - "November"
-Track 1 "Jokerman" is currently receiving airplay on the Pittsburgh radio station 91.3 WYEP
Photos
Bio
Jay Wiley and music have been together since his beginning. Even at the young age of four he was listening to albums like Bringin' it All Back Home by Bob Dylan, and Harvest by Neil Young. Jay assimilates the cold hard human tones of albums like these, along with the rocket fire enthusiasm of The Stones and The Black Crowes, into his own songwriting style and his performances. Fronting the local Pittsburgh band Alisium for three years, Jay was writing songs and gaining valuable recording experience. With an arsenal of tunes that kept the audience and judges jumping toward the stage, Alisium claimed First Place at The Graffiti Rock Challenge. Jay soon realized, however, that his focus needed to change. So, he embarked on a solo career in late 2004. Jay refined and polished his overall appeal while fronting a new band aptly titled the Jay Wiley Band. As he continues to develop as a professional songwriter, he is enhancing this solo effort by effortlessly playing as much as possible. And with a sound that blends the days of classic rock with just enough modern touch, Jay's music begs for credibility. Jay realizes he has a long road to "success", but he has the desire and the tools to take him there. Jay's debut CD "November" is now available at shows and online. The album was recorded at Audible Images Studios of Pittsburgh PA with the help of Grammy winning engineer/co-operator Jay Dudt, engineer /co-operator Hollis Greathouse and engineer Tommy Carraher. Jay Wiley and the Jay Wiley Band have played at such venues in Washington D.C.: Capitol Hill (for American Cancer Society's Celebration on the Hill 2006);
in Pittsburgh: Hard Rock Cafe, Club Cafe, the Rex Theatre, Mr. Smalls Theatre, Chevrolet Ampitheatre (2nd stage), Post-Gazette Pavillion (2nd stage), Hartwood Acres, Market Square, Birmingham Bridge Tavern, PD's Pub, Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, Thursday's, and Moondog's;
in Ohio and North PA: Cedar's, Plaza Cafe, Coconut Grove, Quaker Steak and Lube, the 26, Otter's Pub, the Keystone
The Jay Wiley Band has also played at several college towns such as Washington and Jefferson, Penn St., Allegheny College, Slippery Rock U., U. of Pittsburgh, and Yougstown St.
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