Giant’s Causeway push the boundaries of funk on their new release "Stokin’ The Heat." The song “Snackapotamus” takes an honest look at self-identity, dreams, and challenges and lands on the idea that, in the end, it’s all about love and music.
Mark and Harrison from Giant's Causeway recently spoke with WYEP's Joey Spehar.
What’s your musical history up to this point?
After six years of amalgamation, each band member's diverse background has formed Giant's Causeway’s sound. Mark Jackovic (saxophone) is classically trained, providing a strong foundation in theory and composition. Mark Ondrey (we call him Fark), our bass player, is entirely self-taught. Harrison (Vocals) with his background in musical theater, brings a dynamic sense of performance and storytelling. Nick Bello (Drums) grew up in the underground metal and rock scene, and Tony Bello (Guitar) is also completely self-taught with a background in metal but brings more of a blues/ funk/ riff-based composition to our overall sound.
Despite those differences, we all share a serious passion for music, and that’s what brought us together. We started out just jamming for fun, trying to create funky, feel-good vibes. Pretty quickly, we connected with The Vault Recording Studio and ended up signing to their artist label.
Some of our favorite moments so far have been playing live on WDVE’s Randy Baumann Show, opening for Average White Band, and hitting festivals like Millvale Music Festival, Picklesburgh, and the Pittsburgh Arts Festival.
Harrison joined the band late 2022 and we hit the studio to finish recording our debut EP. "Stokin' The Heat" is a 20 minute funk rock banger that celebrates the good times while acknowledging that life isn't always a party, and sometimes all you can do is dance the night away.
How do you describe your sound?
Our group has very different musical tastes; We’re metal heads, Phish fanatics, and classical jazz cats. We describe our sound as funk rock, but our upcoming unrecorded tracks are pushing those boundaries with heavier, almost metal-like breakdowns and spacey, jammy bridges. While we draw from a wide range of inspirations, we try to assemble it all into a nice, catchy, funky package. Music transcends time, unifies language and manifests culture; Giant’s Causeway aims to speak the common tongue.
Tell us more about the song "Snackapotamus." What inspired you to write it and what does it mean to you?
‘Snackapotamus’ is actually the first song our band ever wrote in 2019, and 5 years later it's finally been released! That’s how long the recording process can sometimes take! It’s rooted in absolute funk with a slapping bass. Our vocalist, Harrison, absolutely loves harmonies (gee, could you guess?), and he and producer, Bob McCutcheon, had an absolute blast just stacking harmonies all day.
The lyrics of 'Snackapotamus’ and the EP resonate an honest look at self-identity, new experiences, dreams, goals, and the hard times we all face but, in the end, realizing that love and music are the answers. The name is a rather silly inside joke that our bass player, Mark, is like a hungry hippo who loves snacks, so he became the Snackapotamus. There is a line, ‘Love with all your might, that’s my appetite,’ which also reflects that we are hungry hippos snacking on love and music. It’s all a bit light and silly.”
What was the first album that really changed your life? -
Harrison: I mean, the FIRST album? When I was a kid, the first ones that really changed it for me were "The Black Parade" and "American Idiot." This whole EP, again, is an honest look inward, and the theme is that love and music are the answers. Throughout the EP, there are several lyrical references to other songs and artists that influenced me musically and personally. In ‘Snackapotamus’ specifically in the second verse, I am searching for meaning and answers with the lyrics ‘Praying for deliverance’ (I was raised Catholic, lol). “Then I found an Evil Friend and found salvation in a song singing ‘Everybody’s got something to hide, and you know I live with mine.” This is a reference to Portugal. The Man’s 2013 album, "Evil Friends," and the song ‘Someday Believers.’ I searched for answers and found them in music, which is my gospel and my medicine. "Evil Friends" is probably my favorite album of all time and sums up a lot of my beliefs and attitudes.
Who are some other Pittsburgh artists you think more people should listen to? -
Paging Dr. Moon, The Yeggs, Zack Keim, Roger Humphries, The Stonethrowers, The Borstal Boys, The Sun Champs, Different Places in Space, Aurora Jazz Fusion & Back Alley Sound.
Any other super interesting things about you we should know? -
Mark Jackovic is endorsed by the mouthpiece company Theo Wanne and is an Eastman Performing Artist playing the 52nd Street Saxophone Models.
The band has won several oyster eating contests.
Giant’s Causeway are:
Harrison Wayne – Vocals
Mark Jackovic – Saxophone
Tony Bello - Guitar
Mark Ondrey – Bass
Nick Bello - Drums
