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.
āThatās all I do. If Iām not here, youāll find me in my studio,ā Peter Graigs said prior to welcoming a weekday lunch crowd at the West Pike Street restaurant heās operated since 2006. āI could be there until 3 or 4 oāclock in the morning and then start my days again. You get used to it.ā
His main musical focus is a band called Sinisterās 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.
āI write pretty much all the music,ā Graigs said. āWhen 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.ā
They met about five years ago as fellow musicians on social media, expressing admiration for each otherās work.
āHe started talking to me about his mishaps with studio recording and everything with his songs. I kind of wanted to help, so I said, āOK, Iām willing to help out if you want me to try,'ā Graigs recalled. āSo he sent me three songs. All I had was the guitar and his voice on it.ā
Ferrariās instructions basically were: āYouāve got the green light. Do whatever you want with it.ā
And so Graigs began the process of layering in other instruments, something he never had done before with basic tracks recorded by another musician.
āI was scared like heck,ā he said, ābecause I didnāt know if he was going to like it.ā
Ferrari did, of course, and the Sinisterās Army partnership was launched. The band has released two albums, āSinisterā and āCriminal Race,ā and another full-length effort, āFollow,ā is due out soon. Singles include āSinisterās Christmasā and āWhispering Winds,ā the latter with lyrics based on Victor Hugoās āThe Hunchback of Notre Dameā:
I walk in the shadows, I stay out of sight
I avoid human contact, I fear for my life
I donāt speak a word, afraid of what I might say
Persecuted, but Iāve committed no crime
I canāt go on living this way
Graigs described Sinister Armyās sound as somewhat comparable to heavy-metal stalwarts QueensrĆæche, with Ferrariās voice reminiscent of Geoff Tate, the bandās 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.
āTime spent for healing, it made me think a lot: Where am I going from here?ā he recalled. āI decided to challenge myself, restarting a second life. I figured, what else can I do different?ā
Following a friendās 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.
āFor me to sing like him? Nope,ā Graigs claimed, acknowledging: āInstrumental music is popular, but itās not as popular as having a vocalist.ā
Along with their studio work, he and Ferrari play live Sinisterās 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.
āYou know how they say about musicians, they starve? I didnāt want to starve,ā he said. āSo this is my backup plan.ā
For more information, visit petergraigs.com and www.sinistersarmy.com.