Canonsburg restaurateur doubles as multi-instrumental musician
Peter Graigs performs in the playing both of his custom Proton guitars.
Keith Ferrari
"Criminal Race," Sinister's Army second album, was released in 2019. Peter Graigs designs the band's cover art.
Peter Graigs plays a Proton in his studio.
Customers of the Gyro Place in Canonsburg may be surprised to know the guy serving their tzatziki with pita also plays endorsement-worthy guitar, along with an assortment of other instruments.
无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 all I do. If I无毛视频檓 not here, you无毛视频檒l find me in my studio,无毛视频� Peter Graigs said prior to welcoming a weekday lunch crowd at the West Pike Street restaurant he无毛视频檚 operated since 2006. 无毛视频淚 could be there until 3 or 4 o无毛视频檆lock in the morning and then start my days again. You get used to it.无毛视频�
His main musical focus is a band called Sinister无毛视频檚 Army that has one other member, singer-guitarist Keith Ferrari of Albuquerque, N.M. Technology allows them not only to collaborate remotely, but to develop a full ensemble sound through multitrack recording.
无毛视频淚 write pretty much all the music,无毛视频� Graigs said. 无毛视频淲hen he has ideas, he sends me his vocals and rhythm guitar, and from there I build the drum parts, the bass parts, add my own lead guitar.无毛视频�
They met about five years ago as fellow musicians on social media, expressing admiration for each other无毛视频檚 work.
无毛视频淗e started talking to me about his mishaps with studio recording and everything with his songs. I kind of wanted to help, so I said, 无毛视频極K, I无毛视频檓 willing to help out if you want me to try,'无毛视频� Graigs recalled. 无毛视频淪o he sent me three songs. All I had was the guitar and his voice on it.无毛视频�
Ferrari无毛视频檚 instructions basically were: 无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檝e got the green light. Do whatever you want with it.无毛视频�
And so Graigs began the process of layering in other instruments, something he never had done before with basic tracks recorded by another musician.
无毛视频淚 was scared like heck,无毛视频� he said, 无毛视频渂ecause I didn无毛视频檛 know if he was going to like it.无毛视频�
Ferrari did, of course, and the Sinister无毛视频檚 Army partnership was launched. The band has released two albums, 无毛视频淪inister无毛视频� and 无毛视频淐riminal Race,无毛视频� and another full-length effort, 无毛视频淔ollow,无毛视频� is due out soon. Singles include 无毛视频淪inister无毛视频檚 Christmas无毛视频� and 无毛视频淲hispering Winds,无毛视频� the latter with lyrics based on Victor Hugo无毛视频檚 无毛视频淭he Hunchback of Notre Dame无毛视频�:
I walk in the shadows, I stay out of sight
I avoid human contact, I fear for my life
I don无毛视频檛 speak a word, afraid of what I might say
Persecuted, but I无毛视频檝e committed no crime
I can无毛视频檛 go on living this way
Graigs described Sinister Army无毛视频檚 sound as somewhat comparable to heavy-metal stalwarts Queensr每che, with Ferrari无毛视频檚 voice reminiscent of Geoff Tate, the band无毛视频檚 original singer.
On the instrumental side, Graigs integrates some European and Middle East styles, especially with his distinctively fluid lead guitar. In fact, he is endorsed by Proton Guitar Co., which also counts Journey co-founder Neal Schon among its customers.
Starting as a teenager, Graigs primarily played bass guitar in bands around his native Montreal. In 2001, he suffered a parachuting accident.
无毛视频淭ime spent for healing, it made me think a lot: Where am I going from here?无毛视频� he recalled. 无毛视频淚 decided to challenge myself, restarting a second life. I figured, what else can I do different?无毛视频�
Following a friend无毛视频檚 advice, he moved to the Pittsburgh area, eventually establishing permanent residence. Not knowing any musicians in the region, he built a studio to create his own recordings, sans vocals until he met Ferrari.
无毛视频淔or me to sing like him? Nope,无毛视频� Graigs claimed, acknowledging: 无毛视频淚nstrumental music is popular, but it无毛视频檚 not as popular as having a vocalist.无毛视频�
Along with their studio work, he and Ferrari play live Sinister无毛视频檚 Army shows, hiring other musicians to complement them. For example, a gig at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles featured Chris Hager, formerly of Ratt, as second guitar player and Tony Franklin, a member of the Firm with Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers, on bass.
Back in Canonsburg, Graigs continues to run his restaurant.
无毛视频淵ou know how they say about musicians, they starve? I didn无毛视频檛 want to starve,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淪o this is my backup plan.无毛视频�
For more information, visit petergraigs.com and www.sinistersarmy.com.