The Band

“If you combined The Move, The Cure, Captain, Blondie and Alphabeat – you might have created your very own version of Slingshot Genius.”
~ Steve, from The Mag, United Kingdom ~

Scott Canavan 

Slingshot Genius is an original five piece rock band hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Together since December 2008, they’ve tuned in to each other’s talents, creative insights, and eclectic musical influences to generate some of the most dynamic modern alternative music of this era.  Difficult to pigeonhole into one genre, Slingshot Genius strives to make music their own way, whichever way that means.

Erika June Christina Laing

The critics at Status Hat, out of Charlottesville, VA, published in their January 2011 Artszine, “This song (Blur) has surging guitars and intense vocals, and seems as if it’s a soundtrack for an urban adventure.  They chime “in the blur where the skyline meets the sea” as a way for us to look at the ever moving arc of being alive.  The band blends many aspects and style of rock into a fresh and enlivening musical experience.”

Brian Ciarimboli 

Meanwhile, Steve from The Mag, out of the United Kingdom, listened to their first EP ‘Secret No. 7′ and had this to say about the tracks, “‘Shine’ is a bright pop song with lots of vocal harmonies and all-round pop sheen. It has a moody sounding verse that contrasts with the big pop chorus. The guitars jangle and smoke and the vocals shine throughout.  There is a darker sound to ’1989′, with urgent guitars and more angular vocals – and ‘Handgun’ is even more shadowy, with a slow deliberate rhythm and heavy lyricism. The grittier sound of these two songs makes up the majority of this record, ‘Chemistry’ adds some exotic flavours, but continues this thread.  Things change a bit for ‘Paper and Pen’, which has a big funky bass line and loungy beat and ‘Use Me’ has a lighter flavour with a really pleasing bass line and flying guitar licks. The chorus is the brightest since ‘Shine’ and overall this is one of my favourite songs.  ‘Blur’ is another of the darker offerings, but the interesting guitar lines add flickers of interest to the verse and the harmonies in the chorus are good.”

Chris Bell

He added, “Slingshot Genius have got an unusual sound, which sets them apart from other bands.”  Indeed, no band sounds quite like Slingshot Genius, as they take the potential for unique songwriting quite seriously.  As anyone who has seen them on stage will attest, you are just as likely to bounce with the enthusiastic crowd to a song laced with a mellow yet brassy live trombone, as you are to have your neck hair stand on end as you hear shimmery male-female harmonies lain carefully throughout almost every tune.  Take a solid rhythmic foundation, a bassist who, as one avid fan eloquently described, “drives the record like a motherf*****” , mix in two guitarists swirling together bright tones with gritty ones, add an overlay of relatable lyrics carried by a duo of high energy vocals, and pepper in synths, percussive elements, brass, and the occasional musical saw, and you’ve concocted Eau de Slingshot Genius.

Rob Marsili 

Just as their steely home town of Pittsburgh developed a charmingly gruff character as it persisted through times both tough and glorious, so too has this band found itself to be a sound all of their own.  Listen to tracks such as ‘Handgun’, ‘Chemistry’, and ‘Paper & Pen’, off of their latest EP ‘Secret No.7′, and you’ll hear great examples of their dynamics for yourself.

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Past Gigs

November 18th, 2011: @Thunderbird Cafe.  W/Rainstation Zero and Round Black Ghosts

October 29th, 2011: @Howler’s.  Collaboration with band Action Camp to cover fun B-52′s songs!

October 17th, 2011: LIVE ON 88.3FM WRCT RADIO STATION!  Advanced Calculus show

September 30th, 2011: @Mr.Smalls!  Opening for Red Wanting Blue

September 8th, 2011: @Thunderbird Cafe.  W/Dream Job.  CD RELEASE PARTY: THE OPERATIVE CONDITION!!!

July 30th, 2011: @Howler’s.  W/ADMIRAL of Narrow Seas

June 30th, 2011: @Smiling Moose.  Opening for Breaking Laces from Brooklyn

June 28th, 2011: LIVE ON 105.9 THE X RADIO STATION!!!  The Edge of the X Show

June 18th, 2011: @Excuses.  W/The Long Knives, Vox Voronet

June 18th, 2011: @Ribs on the River Festival, Trib Total Media Amphitheater.

May 6th, 2011:  @BBT (Bloomfield Bridge Tavern).  W/Chris O’Donnell, The Long Knives, Vox Voronet

April 2nd, 2011:  @Diesel as part of the Joker Productions Rock Off.

March 3rd, 2011:   @Club Cafe.  Opening for Red Wanting Blue

February 19th,2011:  @Blue Violet Cafe in Rochester, PA.  Battle of the Bands – First place winners!

December 11th, 2010:  @The Rochester Inn, North Hills.  W/Electric Situation

November 19th, 2010:  @Club Cafe.  W/CellFish

October 23rd, 2010:   CD Release party @Smiling Moose. Also one year anniversary party.

September 10th, 2010:  @Houlihans, Robinson

August 21st, 2010:  @The Rochester Inn, North Hills.  W/Electric Situation

May 12, 2010:  @Club Cafe.  W/Michael Conroy, Mo Nelson

March 25, 2010:  @Smiling Moose.

January 29, 2010:  @Bloomfield Bridge Tavern.

December 30, 2009:  @Club Cafe.  Slingshot Acoustic (Scott & Erika)  W/Sick Ridiculous & the Sick Ridiculous

November 12, 2009:  @Club Cafe.

October 23, 2009:  @Harp&Fiddle (First gig)