Spitbite’s first seven-inch record is 100% local, from the recording (Very Tight Recordings in Sharpsburg) to the pressing (Hellbender Vinyl in Lawrenceville) to the artwork (two original paintings by local artist Adam C. Rousseau).

The heavy rock band’s A-side is “Final Form,” which is dedicated to the band’s trans friends and family members, while the B-side is “The Bond.”

”(‘The Bond’) was inspired by reading about the California redwoods that fell to the recent wildfires, after surviving normal fires for centuries,” guitarist/singer Daryl Shawn said. “There are also references to the indigenous American peoples, who also lived on this continent for hundreds and hundreds of years in balance with the land. We feel strongly about the effects of human-made climate change and hope that a better trajectory can be found.”

The band will play a single release show on Feb. 13 at Government Center, and they’re fans of many of the area’s smaller venues.

“The experience of generating sound in the presence of others is the whole point of the band in many ways,” Shawn said. “That connection, and catharsis, is essential. We love any place that will have us. But special shout-outs to the community-minded, non-commercial spaces like 222 Ormsby, Green Beacon Gallery and Roboto.”

Besides the seven-inch, the band, which only performs original music, has more than enough songs for an album, with hopes to get into the studio later in the year.

Shawn also offered a few mysteries about the band:

“One of us is a professional chef who has appeared with Gordon Ramsay; one of us studied jazz composition at Berklee, and one of us handles dead bodies for a living,” he said.

Shawn filled in TribLive on what else to know about Spitbite:

Band: Spitbite

Band members: Daryl Shawn (guitar/singing); Pat Herron (bass); Jesse Tranfo (drums)

Founding story: In April 2023, Jesse and I began playing together, though we didn’t settle on a permanent bassist until finding Pat through a Craigslist ad in January of 2024. Our first show was at 222 Ormsby on May 24, 2024.

Origin of band’s name: The word comes from “spitbite aquatint”, a painting technique. It was appealing for its apparent self-contradiction and visceral suggestion.

For fans of: Young Widows, Hum, Red Fang, Hüsker Dü, Mastodon and The Replacements

Influences: We are all passionate music hounds. Tastes in the band run from black metal to bluegrass. One of us loves Phil Collins, though the others respectfully dissent.

Releases: “Final Form”/”The Bond” seven-inch single to be released Feb. 13, 2026; three digital singles available on all streaming platforms and Bandcamp

Next show: Release party, Feb. 13 at Government Center with Action Camp and Threaded

How to find them: Spitbite can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Bandcamp and their website.

Three other Pittsburgh area bands to check out:Mother Elizabeth Thorne; The Long Hunt; Funerals

Favorite pizza shop: Woodfired, on Highland in East Liberty

 

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