SteelDay, an annual event sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), is hosted by its members and partners. A subset of the AISC memberships is comprised of Bender/Rollers, those who specialize in curving steel for the construction industry. Bender/Rollers often join in this event, the industry’s largest educational and networking function. With events occurring all over the country, it’s an opportunity for individuals from various professions to see how the structural steel industry contributes to the built environment.
This year George Wendt of Chicago Metal Rolled Products, an AISC Bender/Roller Associate Member, will be joining Kim Olson of the Steel Tube Institute (STI) and John Tassone of Independence Tube–with all three making presentations on the new ASTM A1085 tubing. George will talk about curving the round, square and rectangular tubing. Afterwards, the attendees will have an opportunity to tour the steel mill at Independence Tube.
This year AISC introduced a new event for Steel Day: STEELapalooza. Individuals who are in the industry and who are also musicians have been asked to submit an original composition they have performed. Ross Allbritton of AISC explains: “We set out to provide the most eclectic, diverse and enjoyable CD we could. Not all songs submitted made the CD. We tried to keep it interesting by including as many different styles as possible. We are proud of this collection and hope that you enjoy it too.”
Chicago Metal’s own project engineer and performing artist, Ken Pecho, was congratulated by AISC for his music’s being selected for the first ever STEELpalooza.
A free CD of his composition, Eveything Moves, along with those of the other winners, will be distributed at all SteelDay events across the country. It will also be made available that day for download from the AISC website.
Here is more information on Ken Pecho, his composition, his music and his links:
Ken Pecho is the bassist for Chicago based jam band Digeometric. He is a graduate alumni of Illinois Institute of Technology and has been working with Chicago Metal Rolled Products in the steel industry for 6 years now. Music has always been a strong foundation in Ken’s life as he started playing the guitar at age 13. As life progressed, Ken was involved in a number of different musical projects such as Barkeepers Friend, Undertone and The Well. Ken discovered his passion for steel during his undergrad years at Eastern Illinois University where he originally attended with a focus on art.
During an introduction to the art program at EIU, Ken was exposed to welding, which was being used in sculpture class. Not a day later, Ken changed his focus to Industrial Technology and never looked back. Soon after graduation, Ken was brought onto the Chicago Metal Rolled Products team as an estimator. During Ken’s first few years with Chicago Metal, he obtained his Master’s Degree in Industrial Technology Operations & Management at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Ken joined Digeometric in February of 2011, and the band has steadily progressed since, playing weekly in Chicago and surrounding Mid-West states.
The formation of Digeometric began early in June of 2010 on the south side of Chicago. Their music can be described as a fusion of genres, combining the best of–and not limited to–Disco, Electronic, Funk, Improvisation, Jazz, Psychedelic, and good old Rock “n” Roll. Digeo, as they are called for short, have been able to greatly impact their audience’s concert experience through emotional influence by way of their instrumental progressive jams. What started out as an open experiment in improvisation slowly progressed into creating music with a strong foundation in which the band is able to break away from–and capture the essence of–the moment by creating jams through spontaneity. Much of Diego’s music can be considered an exchange of melodic phrases spoken over rhythmic grooves speckled with predestined improvisational riffs and syncopated melodious shapes.
Everything Moves was written in January of 2013. The title of the track was inspired by the words of the great American novelist, Ray Bradbury. The piece opens and closes with a warm melody and is filled with intense progressive passages and a smooth funky bridge. The song has to do with confrontation and acceptance. Remember this, that Everything Moves.
