Steven Soloway grew up in San Francisco and moved to Tucson in 2000. He spends his days as the office manager for the Loft Cinema. He has played guitar in a number of local bands, including Monster Pussy. You'll be able to catch Monster Pussy at the Boxing Gym (1080 N. Contzen Ave.) at 8 p.m., Friday, April 23 (with Feel Free and Standard Deviance), and at Plush at 9:30 p.m., Thursday April 29 (with Seashell Radio and The Shondes).
What was the first concert you ever saw?
My first concert was in 1995 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif. It was one of those all-day concerts sponsored by the local rock radio station. I saw Adam Ant, Belly, Duran Duran, Elastica, Chris Isaak, Mike Watt, Sublime ... and, um, Bush.
What are you listening to these days?
Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Rust Never Sleeps; Lou Reed, Street Hassle; Big Star, Keep an Eye on the Sky; The Fugs, The Fugs First Album; John Cale, Vintage Violence; the Vampyros Lesbos Sexadelic Dance Party soundtrack.
What was the first album you owned?
I'm pretty sure it was Nirvana, Nevermind, on cassette.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?
I do not understand why everyone loves Radiohead so much. They are so overrated!
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
Traveling Wilburys.
Musically speaking, what is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Female jazz vocalists: Blossom Dearie, Nina Simone, Anita O'Day and Dinah Washington.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
Lou Reed, Metal Machine Music.
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
When I was 17, I saw Thurston Moore perform an hour-long noise set in San Francisco ... He incorporated both punk-rock and free-jazz aesthetics into his playing that I have maintained in my thinking and playing of music.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground and Nico.
