Pitt Music Spotlight: Joe Krafczynski balances philosophy, ‘oddrock’

The band Red Hook Winery began long before they could enjoy their first bottle of wine together.

Vocalist and guitarist Kian McCollum, lead guitarist Joe Krafczynski and bassist Tom Luketich met and began performing music together in third-grade choir. Years later, as seniors in high school, the trio hooked up with drummer Steve Archer and keyboardist and vocalist Kara Laus for their first gig at a school talent show. They’ve been refining their difficult-to-categorize sound ever since.

“We’ve jokingly thrown around that we are creatures of oddrock, which is a totally made-up genre,” said Krafczynski, a Pitt senior studying history and philosophy, of the band’s style.  

Instead of resorting to other pre-existing genre names, he said that, “If you took The Beatles, Tower of Power, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Delicate Steve and Regina Spektor and put them together, you would get us, I suppose.”

Krafczynski says the band plans to stick together after college, if it seems natural to them.  

“I think, at some level, we all want to keep doing this and be able to pay the bills with it … as long as we all stay reasonably close and it still feels right,” he said.  

For now, the band is simply looking ahead to recording its next EP and a single of one of its new songs, “Tunnel of Love.”

Favorite Oakland pizza shop: Antoon’s

Biggest musical inspiration: either Dr. Dog or The Beatles

Favorite movie with “The Rock”: Keyser Soze! (“The Usual Suspects”)

Favorite Pittsburgh venue: Hard Rock Cafe

Favorite place to go for inspiration: into a pair of beautiful blue eyes

Academic building you’d hold a concert in: the bridge between Lawrence Hall and Towers Patio