Halloween concert event scheduled at the Pittsburgh Playhouse

Written By Carley Bonk

To rock out on Halloween night, Pioneer Records is welcoming students to be a part of its first Rocktoberfest at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, presenting Grandadchilds and Chase and the Barons.

Kylie Koch, a Pioneer Records representative, said the event is the Pioneer Records debut for Chase and the Barons.

“It’s a nice way to introduce them as the newest addition to our record label,” Koch said.

In costume as Robin and his Merry Men, Chase and the Barons will perform songs from all three “Shrek” movies. The band has already received recognition in Pittsburgh after being chosen as the winner of Duquesne Battle of the Bands.

Chase and the Barons includes five musicians: Chase Barron as vocals, Mike Saunders on guitar, Jacob Rieger on bass, Jake Stretch on drums and Tyler Handyside on saxophone.

Chase and the Barons draw on rock and roll influences, such as Led Zeppelin for inspiration in their own music. They also cover songs, not only to improve their skills, but also to have fun.

The heavy blues trio, Grandadchilds, will also be preforming this evening. The band is based out of Pittsburgh and consists of lead vocalist/guitarist John Rushlander, multi-instrumentalist Tyler McLaughlin and percussionist Evan Pearson. The members met through their involvement with the record label.

Samantha Bowes, public relations and marketing apprentice for Pioneer Records, is excited for the opportunity to work with both bands.

“Both artists are jam bands, so we are looking forward to having a great show,” Bowes said.

The stage will have an industrial vibe, with a light show to accompany the music. Standing and sitting room will be available. Costumes are encouraged and Warner Music will be awarding merchandise giveaways throughout the evening.

“We will be giving away two concert tickets to 1975 and Daya, along with a Tegan and Sara album, and much more,” Bowes said.

Since Chase and the Barons’ collaboration with Pioneer Records started, the band has already experienced success.

“Social media is the hardest part. Our mindset has really changed for the better in the past month. Having the Pioneer team really helped get our name out there,” Barron said.

The band has been working hard over the past year to make a name for themselves. This past summer they organized their own hometown music festival, Woodland Ruckus.

“That was definitely our best performance so far,” Barron said. “We planned the whole thing from March-August and it was a huge hit. We had so much fun and the audience was really into the music. We are looking forward to continuing it next year.”

The band has already released one album, “When the Moon Will Sleep,” available on Spotify and CD. They are currently using the reward money from their recent accomplishments to work on their next EP.

Chase Barron is eager for another opportunity to draw in a diverse audience.

“We don’t want to spoil too much of the set, so you’ll have to come and hear for yourself,” Barron said.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for Rocktoberfest, scheduled to run from 7-9 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Each set will be approximately 45 minutes to an hour long. Tickets for Point Park students are free with ID, and general admission for non-students is $5.