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.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 all I do. If I鈥檓 not here, you鈥檒l find me in my studio,鈥� Peter Graigs said prior to welcoming a weekday lunch crowd at the West Pike Street restaurant he鈥檚 operated since 2006. 鈥淚 could be there until 3 or 4 o鈥檆lock in the morning and then start my days again. You get used to it.鈥�
His main musical focus is a band called Sinister鈥檚 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.
鈥淚 write pretty much all the music,鈥� Graigs said. 鈥淲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.鈥�
They met about five years ago as fellow musicians on social media, expressing admiration for each other鈥檚 work.
鈥淗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, 鈥極K, I鈥檓 willing to help out if you want me to try,'鈥� Graigs recalled. 鈥淪o he sent me three songs. All I had was the guitar and his voice on it.鈥�
Ferrari鈥檚 instructions basically were: 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got the green light. Do whatever you want with it.鈥�
And so Graigs began the process of layering in other instruments, something he never had done before with basic tracks recorded by another musician.
鈥淚 was scared like heck,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ecause I didn鈥檛 know if he was going to like it.鈥�
Ferrari did, of course, and the Sinister鈥檚 Army partnership was launched. The band has released two albums, 鈥淪inister鈥� and 鈥淐riminal Race,鈥� and another full-length effort, 鈥淔ollow,鈥� is due out soon. Singles include 鈥淪inister鈥檚 Christmas鈥� and 鈥淲hispering Winds,鈥� the latter with lyrics based on Victor Hugo鈥檚 鈥淭he Hunchback of Notre Dame鈥�:
I walk in the shadows, I stay out of sight
I avoid human contact, I fear for my life
I don鈥檛 speak a word, afraid of what I might say
Persecuted, but I鈥檝e committed no crime
I can鈥檛 go on living this way
Graigs described Sinister Army鈥檚 sound as somewhat comparable to heavy-metal stalwarts Queensr每che, with Ferrari鈥檚 voice reminiscent of Geoff Tate, the band鈥檚 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.
鈥淭ime spent for healing, it made me think a lot: Where am I going from here?鈥� he recalled. 鈥淚 decided to challenge myself, restarting a second life. I figured, what else can I do different?鈥�
Following a friend鈥檚 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.
鈥淔or me to sing like him? Nope,鈥� Graigs claimed, acknowledging: 鈥淚nstrumental music is popular, but it鈥檚 not as popular as having a vocalist.鈥�
Along with their studio work, he and Ferrari play live Sinister鈥檚 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.
鈥淵ou know how they say about musicians, they starve? I didn鈥檛 want to starve,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o this is my backup plan.鈥�
For more information, visit petergraigs.com and www.sinistersarmy.com.