Pat Finnerty

Finnerty spent his early life in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-17 |title=Scranton musician Pat Finnerty got Dave Grohl to sing and chat with him on Instagram |url=https://nepascene.com/2020/08/scranton-musician-pat-finnerty-got-dave-grohl-sing-chat-instagram/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=NEPA Scene |language=en-US}} He began playing live music in bands at the age of 16, Finnerty has said in the past that he was inspired to start playing by acts like Weezer, Ween, and Nirvana. Finnerty later attended Temple University.{{Cite web |title=Excellent article from the (Scranton PA) sunday-Times about being a local musician |url=https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/excellent-article-from-the-scranton-pa-sunday-times-about-being-a-local-musician.1237494/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=The Gear Page |date=March 24, 2013 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Wilding |first=Patrice |date=2013-03-23 |title=Musicians on a mission |work=The Scranton Times-Tribune |url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/lifestyles/musicians-on-a-mission/article_0df5a2e6-0fd9-5738-a37b-1dedfd8d4c1c.html |access-date=2020-06-09}} By 2010, Finnerty lived in West Philadelphia, where he still resided {{as of|August 2020|lc=yes}}.

Finnerty has been based in Philadelphia since about 2010 (he currently resides in West Philadelphia).{{Cite news |last=DeLuca |first=Dan |date=2022-08-10 |title=3 new live music venues by Avram Hornik will energize Philly nightlife |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |url=https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/philadelphia-live-music-venues-indie-concerts-20220820.html |access-date=2022-08-10}} His musical projects have included Okay Paddy, And The Moneynotes, Heavy Blonde,{{Cite web |last=Lello |first=Michael |date=2014-02-18 |title=Heavy Blonde: 'Your Not Going to Get the Same Thing' |url=http://highway81revisited.com/heavy-blonde-youre-not-going-to-get-the-same-thing/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Highway 81 Revisited |language=en-US}} The Tom Petty Appreciation Band, and Pat Finnerty and the Full Band.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-27 |title=WXPN to air weeklong celebration of MTV's 40th birthday |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/mtv-wxpn-radio-music-video-tv-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=PhillyVoice |language=english}}{{Cite news |last=Zenyatta |first=Eugene |date=2021-08-21 |title=Bringing the Sass |work=Philadelphia Weekly |url=https://philadelphiaweekly.com/bringing-the-sass/ |access-date=2021-08-21}}{{Cite news |last=Beck |first=Tom |date=2018-10-24 |title=Tom Petty's legacy lives on at Johnny Brenda's |work=Star News Philly |url=https://starnewsphilly.com/2018/10/24/tom-pettys-legacy-lives-on-at-johnny-brendas/ |access-date=2020-09-09}} In 2015, The Lid, a rock opera by Pat Finnerty, had a three-night run at the Underground Arts theater.{{Cite news |last=Colavita |first=Michael |date=2015-12-03 |title=Breakup the Monotony of the Norm w/Pat Finnerty and the Full Band at Ortlieb's Dec. 3 |work=The Deli |url=http://m-philly.thedelimagazine.com/category/bands/pat-finnerty |access-date=2022-09-07}}{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Tyler |date=2015-08-25 |title=BRAT Productions to Stage THE LID During Fringe Arts Festival |work=BroadwayWorld |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/philadelphia/article/BRAT-Productions-to-Stage-THE-LID-During-Fringe-Arts-Festival-20150825 |access-date=2022-09-09}} Finnerty has also taken on gigs as a sideman guitarist, such as performing onstage with members of Dr. Dog and touring as a guitarist with Strand of Oaks.{{Cite news |last=Fennell |first=Sean |date=2021-09-18 |title=Strand of Oaks makes an emotional return to the XPNFest River Stage |work=WXPN |url=https://xpn.org/2021/09/18/strand-of-oaks-xpnfest/ |access-date=2022-09-09}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-05-05 |title=We All Get Together: As Strand Of Oaks Hits The Road, We Look Back At One Of Our Favorite Shows From Last Year |url=https://magnetmagazine.com/2022/05/05/we-all-get-together-as-strand-of-oaks-hits-the-road-we-look-back-at-one-of-our-favorite-shows-from-last-year/ |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Magnet Magazine |language=en-US}}

Finnerty joined YouTube in 2009. By the early 2020s, Finnerty's viral online content and musical performances had made him a renowned singer-guitarist in the Philadelphia music scene.{{Cite news |last=Vettese |first=John |date=2021-08-06 |title=Pat Finnerty and the Full Band bring the rock of the 80s to XPN Studio for Free at Noon |work=WXPN |url=https://xpn.org/2021/08/06/pat-finnerty-and-the-full-band-free-at-noon/ |access-date=2022-09-07}} Toward the end of 2023, he had over 166,000 subscribers and over 7.74 million total views.{{Cite web |title=Pat Finnerty - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/hududhsskso/about |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=www.youtube.com}}

Finnerty is known to use social-media platforms to release original song recordings. In 2014, he released the humorous songs "Raggae Dog" and "Raggae Dog II: Reflection" via YouTube.{{Cite web |last=Lello |first=Michael |date=2014-07-02 |title=Exclusive: "Raggae Dogg II: Reflection" |url=http://highway81revisited.com/exclusive-reggae-dog-ii-reflection/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Highway 81 Revisited |language=en-US}}

His social-media channels gained national acclaim in May 2020 when he posted videos online of his band performing live, rooftop concerts in Philadelphia that complied with COVID-19 social-distancing measures and that supported Black Lives Matter.{{Cite web |title=Pat Finnerty |url=https://first-avenue.com/performer/pat-finnerty/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=First Avenue |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Faulk |first=Steven M. |date=2020-06-10 |title=Rooftop concert supports Black Lives Matter |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |url=https://www.inquirer.com/life/rooftop-concert-20200610.html |access-date=2020-09-08}}{{Cite news |last=Titlow |first=John Paul |date=2020-08-13 |title=How Live Music Is Coping, And What The Near Future Will Bring |work=National Public Radio |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/13/901796934/how-live-music-is-coping-and-what-the-near-future-will-bring |access-date=2020-08-13}}

On the Instagram platform, Finnerty's presence is branded as "The Pat Finnerty Show". In August 2020, Finnerty staged a 24-hour Instagram livestream event referred to as "Grohlathon"{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Nick |date=2020-08-18 |title=Watch Dave Grohl surprise fan as he joins 'Grohlathon' and plays drums |work=NME |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/dave-grohl-surprise-fan-as-he-joins-grohlathon-and-plays-drums-2731212 |access-date=2020-08-18}}{{Cite news |last=Tan |first=Emily |date=2020-08-18 |title=Dave Grohl Plays Drums On Superfan's 'Grohlathon' |work=SPIN.com |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/08/dave-grohl-joins-superfans-grohlathon-plays-drums/ |access-date=2020-08-18}} in an attempt to get the attention of Foo Fighters' front man Dave Grohl.{{Cite news |last=Schaffner |first=Lauryn |date=2020-08-17 |title=Watch Dave Grohl Join Fan's 'Grohlathon' Live Stream, Play Drums |work=Loudwire |url=https://loudwire.com/dave-grohl-pat-finnerty-live-stream-grohlathon/ |access-date=2022-09-18}} At the nine-hour mark of his stream, to the surprise of Finnerty, Grohl joined via chat while hosting a dinner party with his friends. Grohl and Finnerty chatted for several minutes, and Grohl played part of the Dire Straits' song, "Money for Nothing", at the request of Finnerty.{{Cite magazine |last=Hudak |first=Joseph |date=2020-08-17 |title=How a 'F-cking Nobody' From Philly Got Dave Grohl to Jam With Him on Instagram Live |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dave-grohl-instagram-jam-pat-finnerty-1045214/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Mamo |first=Heran |date=2020-08-18 |title=Dave Grohl Made a Superfan's Dream Come True by Crashing His 'Grohlathon' Livestream Jam Session |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/dave-grohl-crashes-superfan-grohlathon-livestream-9436434/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Lello |first=Michael |date=2020-08-17 |title=Pat Finnerty Got Grohl: 'I knew he'd be into it' |work=Highway 81 Revisited |url=http://highway81revisited.com/pat-finnerty-got-grohl/ |access-date=2020-08-17}}

Finnerty became well known for his video series What Makes This Song Stink, a spoof of YouTuber Rick Beato's series "What Makes This Song Great?", where he analyzes the musical concepts in popular songs and offers social commentary about the song's lyrics and commercial appeal.{{Cite web |last=Thrower |first=Sean |date=2021-06-03 |title=What Makes Pat Finnerty's "What Makes This Song Stink" Series Great |url=https://guitarramble.com/2021/06/03/what-makes-pat-finnertys-what-makes-this-song-stink-series-great/ |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=Guitar Ramble}} The series has reviewed "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down, "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock, "Beverly Hills" by Weezer, "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train, multiple songs by Lenny Kravitz, "Dani California" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Emo Girl" by Machine Gun Kelly, "Try That In A Small Town" by Jason Aldean and "Lonely Road" by Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll. {{Cite news |last=Janci |first=Janelle |date=2022-08-28 |title=Meet Pat Finnerty, the YouTuber who explains why some songs just stink |work=Lancaster Online |url=https://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/meet-pat-finnerty-the-youtuber-who-explains-why-some-songs-just-stink-unscripted/article_7411aac0-23f7-11ed-81a3-3fe67750e2f7.html |access-date=2022-09-06}}{{Citation |title=What Makes This Song Stink Ep. 8 - Jason Aldean "Try That in a Small Town" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeJXF55HXRI |access-date=2023-12-19 |language=en}} Finnerty also releases "Little Stinkers", which are shorter videos than the approximately 45-minute videos of the main series including songs by artists such as Nickelback, Walker Hayes & Monster Truck. In 2022, Finnerty adapted the What Makes This Song Stink series as a podcast.{{Cite news |title=Podcast News Bites: NPR, Starburns Audio, New York Public Radio |work=Inside Radio |url=https://www.insideradio.com/podcastnewsdaily/podcast-news-bites-npr-starburns-audio-new-york-public-radio/article_92d83164-0c3b-11ed-a5fc-176e45a1e753.html |access-date=2022-07-26}}{{Cite web |last=Douglas |first=Stephen |date=2022-12-28 |title=Things We Loved in 2022: Pat Finnerty |url=https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/2022-best-of-list-tv-music-movies-01gm4prcvwjh |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=The Big Lead}}

Finnerty's videos are characterized by his niche humor, social interaction with people on the street and running gags, such as shouting out "Beato!" after mentioning music theory concepts.{{Cite web |last=Ufberg |first=Max |date=2022-11-22 |title=Meet the YouTuber who struck it big by breaking down the songs he hates |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90814928/meet-the-youtuber-who-struck-it-big-by-breaking-down-the-songs-he-hates |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Fast Company}}

In April 2021, Finnerty's critical review video of the Weezer song "Beverly Hills" helped popularize the term, "The Weezer Conversation", about the complicated relationship fans of the band Weezer have with how the band's songwriting and album development have progressed over the band's tenure.{{Cite news |last=Brow |first=Jason |date=2021-10-06 |title=Weezer's New Albums: What To Know About The Four New Records From The Rock Band |work=Hollywood Life |url=https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/weezer-new-album-4531605/ |access-date=2023-01-01}}

Finnerty is good friends with members of rock band Dr. Dog and to support his critical review video of Train's "Hey, Soul Sister", he convinced the band to release a cover of "Here Comes the Hotstepper" by reggae singer Ini Kamoze.{{Cite web |last=Watkis |first=Jr |date=2022-04-10 |title=Here Comes The Hotstepper Featured In Sonic The Hedgehog 2 |url=https://worldmusicviews.com/here-comes-the-hotstepper-featured-in-sonic-the-hedgehog-2/ |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=World Music Views |language=en-US}}

Finnerty founded August is Falling, a pop-punk, emo-style music project.{{Cite web |last=Belghast |date=2022-08-05 |title=Pat Finnerty Rocks |url=https://aggronaut.com/2022/08/05/pat-finnerty-rocks/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Tales of the Aggronaut |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-30 |title=What Makes This Song Stink "Emo Girl" BIG UPDATE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w41S3d6f-FY |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=YouTube}} Finnerty wrote{{Cite web |title=August is Falling |url=https://genius.com/August-is-falling-mad-this-summer-lyrics |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=Genius.com}} the songs and played guitars and sang vocals, and Eric Slick played drums,{{Cite web |last=Slick |first=Eric |date=2022-08-31 |title=the secrets out. i played drums on the new AUGUST IS FALLING. |url=https://twitter.com/ericslickmusic/status/1565021583093239810 |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Twitter |language=en}} on the band's The Simple Plan EP that was released independently in 2022. Lyrics of the songs on the EP take aim at the popular music industry, internet culture, and the state of the emo movement.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-04 |title=August is Falling - The Simple Plan EP |url=https://exitmusik.fr/august-is-falling-the-simple-plan-ep/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=EXITMUSIK |language=fr-FR}} The EP's fifth song track, "August is Falling", was mixed by acclaimed music producer Butch Walker.{{Cite web |title=Mysterious Pop-Punk Band August Is Falling Releases Self-titled Single, Announces Debut EP |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/mysterious_pop-punk_band_august_is_falling_releases_self-titled_single_announces_debut_ep.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=Ultimate Guitar |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Grassick |first=Mark |date=2022-09-05 |title=August Is Falling: Meet the internet's hottest new emo band |url=https://discover.ticketmaster.co.uk/music/august-is-falling-news-54790/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=Ticketmaster UK |language=en}}

A running gag on Finnerty's social media channels was that he hoped to earn enough money from The Simple Plan EP to purchase a hot tub.{{Cite news |last=Raible |first=Allan |date=2022-12-28 |title=Review: 50 best albums of 2022 |work=Good Morning America |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/review-50-best-albums-2022-95172844 |access-date=2023-01-01}} As of December 2023, he has achieved his goal of acquiring a hot tub, in the form of an inflatable non-permanent Hot Tub in the confines of his garage.

• Hunk (2004){{Cite web |title=Hunk, by Okay Paddy |url=https://okaypaddy.bandcamp.com/album/hunk |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=BandCamp |language=en}}
• Snow Tracks (2016){{Cite web |last=Lello |first=Michael |date=2013-11-25 |title='Snow Tracks' Preview: Okay Paddy |url=http://highway81revisited.com/snow-tracks-preview-okay-paddy/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Highway 81 Revisited |language=en-US}}

• This Year We Hunt (2007){{Cite web |title=Pat Finnerty Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pat-finnerty-mn0002109199 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}
• New Cornicopia (2008){{Cite news |date=2009-04-28 |title=With new EP on the way, And The Moneynotes are raising their profile |work=Times Leader |url=https://www.timesleader.com/archive/1267780/with-new-ep-on-the-way-and-the-moneynotes-are-raising-their-profile |access-date=2022-09-10}}
• On The Town, on The Vine (2009)

• "The Weezer Conversation" (2014){{Cite web |title=Pat Finnerty and the Full Band |url=https://patfinnerty.bandcamp.com/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=BandCamp |language=en}}
• The Lid (2018 digital release)
• "Lake House" (2020)
• "Tough Gig" (2020)
• "Rest of It" (2022)

• Pat Finnerty, "Reggae Dog" and "Reggae Dog II: Reflection" (2014)
• Heavy Blonde, compilation of 11 song tracks (2015)
• Tortured Agony, "Dead Man Trail" (2021){{Citation |title=Tortured Agony - Dead Man Trail (Chords) |url=https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/tortured-agony/dead-man-trail-chords-4309463 |publisher=Ultimate Guitar |language=en |access-date=2022-09-19}}
• August is Falling, The Simple Plan EP (2022)

• Toby Leaman, Military Applications (2022)—lead guitar{{Cite web |last=Vettese |first=John |date=2022-10-24 |title=Toby Leaman's solo debut finds the Dr. Dog bassist in top form |url=https://xpn.org/2022/10/24/toby-leaman-dr-dog-solo-debut/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=WXPN |language=en}}

• Machine Gun Kelly (musician)
• Dr. Dog
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• August Is Falling
• Lenny Kravitz
• Ini Kamoze
• 3 Doors Down
• Rick Beato

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/user/hududhsskso/ Pat Finnerty - YouTube]
• [https://patfinnerty.bandcamp.com/ Band Camp]
• [https://www.augustisfalling.com/ August is Falling]
• [https://livesessions.npr.org/artists/pat-finnerty-and-the-full-band Pat Finnerty and the Full Band - NPR Live Sessions]

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Category:21st-century American guitarists

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:American male guitarists

Category:Living people

Category:American music YouTubers

Category:Musicians from Scranton, Pennsylvania

Category:Musicians from Philadelphia

Category:American male songwriters

Category:1980 births

Category:American rock songwriters

Category:YouTubers from Philadelphia

Category:Guitarists from Pennsylvania