The Slant was an American

experimental An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when ...

psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...

indie Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Gaming *Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies *Indie game, any game (board ...

alternative Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * ''The Alternative'' (film), a 1978 Australian television film * ''The Alternative ...

folk/rock Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers su ...

music group based in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

. The group has received favorable reviews from

National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...

and various other media outlets. The Slant used traditional and non-traditional instruments, as well as various sounds produced by objects not typically classified as musical instruments. These sounds can include desks, doors, suitcases, drawers, nails on chalkboard, cigarboxes, pages fluttering, TV static, forks, hammering of nails, amp pops, firebells, vacuum cleaners, and stairwells.

History

The band had five members - Brad Austin, Zach Dow, Adam Dow, and Mark Zedonek of

Coudersport, Pennsylvania Coudersport is a borough in and the county seat of Potter County, Pennsylvania. It is located approximately east by south of Erie on the Allegheny River. The population was 2,371 at the 2020 census. History The Coudersport and Port Allegany Rail ...

, and Andre Costello of

Ellwood City, Pennsylvania Ellwood City is a borough primarily in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a small district in Beaver County. The population was 7,031 at the 2020 census. Ellwood City lies northwest of Pittsburgh and southeast of New Castle ...

. Formed in 2007, the group has performed in and throughout the eastern United States. Live shows are energetic and feature variations of recorded material and an occasional joke or two. After being featured on

, the group recorded ''The Makings of This House'' (released in 2009) and has performed with artists and groups including

Blind Pilot Blind Pilot is an American indie folk band based in Portland, Oregon, United States. They have released three albums and one EP since 2008. History On July 15, 2008, Blind Pilot released their debut CD '' 3 Rounds and a Sound'' on Expunged Recor ...

Nicholas Megalis Nicholas Benjamin Megalis (born April 8, 1989) is an American visual artist, singer-songwriter, director, and social media personality. He is best known for his videos on Vine. History Megalis was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to ...

, Paleface, Megafaun, Sybris, and many others. The Slant performed annually at the Austin Dam Show: a grassroots folk festival held in

Austin, Pennsylvania Austin is a borough along the Freeman Run (river) in southwestern Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 482 at the 2020 census. History In September 1856, Edward Orramel Austin came to Freeman Run. He fell in love with ...

at the site of the historic

Austin Dam The Austin Dam, also known as the Bayless Dam, was a concrete gravity dam in the Austin, Pennsylvania, area that served the Bayless Pulp and Paper Mill. Built in 1909, it was the largest dam of its type in Pennsylvania at the time. The catast ...

tragedy. Additionally, the group has worked with Advanced Alternative Media with ''The Makings of This House'', reaching new college-age fans across the United States. On 14 June 2010, the band disbanded due to lack of collective cooperation and creative tension amongst members. They played their final show in

on 17 July 2010.

Members

* Mark Zedonek * Zach Dow * Brad Austin * Andre Costello * Adam Dow

Discography

* ''Animanatomy'' (2007) * ''Old North'' (2008) * ''The Makings of This House'' (2009)

References

External links

The Slant Blog -''The Humananimal''

The Slant on YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slant, The Alternative rock groups from Pennsylvania American psychedelic rock music groups