Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Tory Silver — plus a video debut

Mike Palm TribLive Mon, Dec 8, 2025 • 07:05 AM

Pittsburgh musician Tory Silver and her band. (Eric Stevens)

Getting to make a new album in Los Angeles, with indie rock star Jay Som producing and engineering it, was “huge” for Pittsburgh’s Tory Silver.

“It really felt like we were doing something big and important and just unreal. We crowdfunded for this album, and raised almost $15,000,” Silver said. “It was such an honor to raise that much from our community alone. Really just touching to know that that many people believe in ya and want you to live your dream.”

Two years in the making, the new album, “In Through The Front With Lasers,” is slated for an April release.

“I think the goal was really just to be collaborative,” Silver said. “My bandmates have put so much time, thought and talent into it, and it feels so good to make it with good pals. The record truly wouldn’t be what it is without them.”

The album’s first single, “Dogs,” is dedicated to all dogs.

“There’s a song (‘Sad 2’) by Lomelda about grieving the loss of a dog, and there’s a line that goes, ‘I wish that I could kiss his paws.’ I remember my partner and I both audibly going ‘aww.’ I wanted to write a song about dogs after that because they’re so important in my life and most others’,” Silver said. “Our family dog we’d had since I was a teenager was getting older, so a lot of it was inspired by her, but also by the dogs I have in my life now. The new album as a whole deals with a lot of life’s stressors, but this song is truly the most fleshed out on the album and my favorite. I think it’s because dogs take away most of life’s stress, you know?”

The video, debuting today on TribLive, came together with help from Eric Stevens of Michi Tapes.

“I love the way it came out. It was primarily filmed during our recent pick-up session with Greg Kump at my bandmate Kyle’s house,” Silver said. “I had some other footage I had taped over the years and found footage from online. It’s quirky and simple and the right vibe.”

Silver will open for Jay Som later this week, with her album release show slated for April 11 at Brillobox.

“I really enjoy dancing around. I get really jumpy and into it, and it’s fun,” Silver said. “This is cheesy and has been said a million times before, but I just feel like I can be myself playing for people.”

Silver filled in TribLive on what else we should know about her music:

Musician: Tory Silver

Band members: Tory Silver (songwriter/guitar/vocals); Christian Anderson (bass/backup vocals); Kyle Murphy (drums/vibraphone); Dan Kramer (lead guitar); Marcel Damiano (lead guitar); Eli Weidman (drums); Ross Weidman (drums)

Founding story: I was living in Boston around 2016 and had crowdfunded some money to make a record. I’d never played in a band before — just solo stuff at open mics and small shows. I knew I wanted the record to be a full band, so I reached out to an old friend from college who played drums and posted in a Facebook musician group to find a bassist. The band has gone through so many iterations since then, and now we’re in our biggest form yet with added lead guitar and vibraphone.

For fans of: Jay Som, Katy Kirby, Forth Wanderers, Palehound

Influences: The Beatles, Weezer, Alvvays, Wednesday

Releases: “Slowly” LP, 2022; “Pepper” EP, 2018; “Observere” LP, 2016

Next show: Opening for Jay Som on Dec. 12 at Spirit Hall

How to find them: Silver can be found on Bandcamp and Instagram.

Three other Pittsburgh area bands to check out: I love Heinous Bienfang, Mother of Earl and Christine.

Favorite pizza shop: Driftwood in Lawrenceville — they have an awesome vegan slice.

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Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Tory Silver — plus a video debut

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