The Hang-Lows (Dominic Bartolomucci)

Interviews | Apr 16th, 2014

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While the city of Pittsburgh isn’t the first local ska scene that comes to most minds, it has been home to some of the genres greatest bands. The Hang-Lows are one of those bands. They have been making a name for themselves over the past number of years within the Steel City, putting out 2 albums and providing some of the most entertaining shows this side of the Monongahela. We had a chance to ask them a few questions about how they started, pushing the boundaries of music, and what it is like to be a ska band in 2014.

When did the Hang Lows start up and how did the band get together?
The Hang Lows played our first show at a Roller Derby in 2010. It’s a bunch of guys from other bands that I’ve played with forever. I wanted to put a Voltron-like combination or super-misfits together, hence the Hang Lows were born.

The Hang Lows play a brand of ska that is very reminiscent of straight up 3rd Wave. Was this a conscious decision as you formed the band?
Our first album was definitely straight 3rd wave. It’s what we grew up listening to in the 90s and still love, and it was a comfortable place to start musically and get us all on the same page.

Even with the 3rd Wave sounds, there are certain arrangements that are not prototypical ska, are you trying to push the boundaries of what is possible?
With this album, and even more so on the stuff we are working on now, we have come in to our own little strange genre. We have changed lineups a bit, and incorporated some hip-hop/electronic drum elements. Now we are kind of sounding like Portishead gave Bob Marley a handy and the Hang Lows popped out. (Check out Spooky for a good example of the new direction).

Though your music is aesthetically very fun, you have a number of songs with a message or a critique. Where does that come from?
We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and we try not to get preachy in our music, but a huge part of why music is so moving to me are the lyrics. So, in between songs about our own genitalia or getting old, we drop some poignant truth bombs on ya, all unexpected-like. I think it has more effect that way. Actually, that’s a big theme with our music in general, eclectic-ness.

Since most people nowadays have attention spans that measure in nanoseconds, we like to try to go all over the board, musically and lyrically.

You recently released your last full length this past November. What has the response been like?
105.9 the X (Pittsburgh Alternative Radio) and a few other local stations have been playing “Graduation Day” (they are always great to us) and we have gotten a few nice write-ups. Our online fan base has grown quite a bit this last year. We get emails from people all over the planet. I think we are huge in like Swaziland or some place.

What is it like being a ska band in 2014?
I believe it was Frank Drebin who said it best, “It’s like eating a spoonful of Drano; sure, it’ll clean you out, but it’ll leave you hollow inside.” No seriously it’s pretty terrible. You get pigeon-holed as ska and the shows get limited. Yeah we play with all of our childhood idols like the Pietasters, Toasters, Slackers, and all those awesome type people who are still out there rocking, but it’s hard to find a spot in a local scene where fashion seems way more important than musical content.

What does the future hold for the band? More records? Touring?
We are taking it nice and easy. We have no dreams of world domination or being the first band to tour Mars. We just did a cover of the Squidbillies theme song for the next season of the show on Cartoon Network and we are in the studio all the time. We’re half done with a new album and we will be adding a bunch of covers that we have done to our Facebook page for a free listen soon. (Including our version of Bob Marley’s ‘Concrete Jungle’)

Personally, I’m enjoying the studio work and have been doing some music for film and TV. I’d like to get more into that. So yeah, lots of new music coming soon and maybe a little touring.

The future is wide open. The Hang Lows will always be earnest and our musical outlet, a haven for us to ease our souls and dust away the grime of the day, and maybe rock some faces off.

The Hang-Lows Facebook
The Hang-Lows Twitter
The Hang-Lows Bandcamp

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