Megan Paullet has been in a groove with creating connections with her fans. Her recent single, \u201cI Just Wanna Stay Home,\u201d is a fun dance pop homage to not going out. She\u2019s been impressing crowds all over Pittsburgh, from Picklesburgh to Pens games. Her exciting live shows feature a full band with a horn section.<\/p>\n
Over a phone interview, I talked with Megan about touring, songwriting, playing Picklesburgh, and putting her dog in her music reel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Band members: Megan Paullet (Vocals, Piano, Guitar), Antonio Pagano (Guitar), Heyd Reyes (Bass), Brendan Kennelty (Drums), Herbie Hunkele (Trumpet), Joey Caporali (Saxophone), David Vevers (Trombone). Featured on \u201cI Just Wanna Stay Home\u201d: Justin Klunk (Saxophone), Chris Volpini (Bass), Jamie Peck (Producer).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Starting Out<\/p>\n
Josh: When did you start singing and performing?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Megan: I didn\u2019t really start to get into performing until the end of high school. I used to have really bad stage fright when I was younger. I kind of had to get over the whole stage fright thing if I wanted to be involved in theater, and that\u2019s what allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. I joined my first band when I was in college.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Touring<\/p>\n
Josh: You went on tour last year. How was it?<\/p>\n
M: I did, yeah. I went on my first solo tour out west. Last year I played over 200 shows in 14 states and four countries, so it was the biggest year that I\u2019ve had so far.<\/p>\n
Playing Live<\/p>\n
Josh: I saw you play at the Pittsburgh Winery. That was an incredible set.<\/p>\n
M: Thank you.<\/p>\n
Josh: What\u2019s it like playing with a full horn section?\u00a0<\/p>\n
M:\u00a0 Oh my gosh, it\u2019s incredible. I have always been a big fan of very full sounds. You know, Herbie Hunkele on trumpet, we\u2019ve got David Vevers on trombone, Joey Caporali on sax. They have a great chemistry among themselves. That allows for the band as a whole unit to have that chemistry as well. I spent a really long time trying to find it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Josh: So can people expect a lot of dancing at a Megan Paullet show?<\/p>\n
M: (Laughs) Yeah. It\u2019s very groove forward. I might be a little biased, but I find that it\u2019s hard not to move to the sets.<\/p>\n
Performing National Anthems at Pens games<\/p>\n Josh: You perform a lot of national anthems, from Pens games to the Washington Wizards. How does that feel each time?<\/p>\n M: Oh my gosh, I didn\u2019t expect to get into that as much as I am. I had the opportunity to work with the Penguins for the first time a couple of years ago. Then I got the call from the Washington Wizards, and they were like, \u2018Can you come down and do this?\u2019 And then on tour last year I got a call to sing the anthem at Cheyenne\u2019s Frontier Days in Wyoming, which is like the largest outdoor rodeo in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n Josh: Maybe one day you\u2019ll sing at the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n M:\u00a0 You know, that would be super cool.\u00a0<\/p>\n Playing Picklesburgh<\/p>\n Josh: What\u2019s it like playing Picklesburgh?<\/p>\n M: It\u2019s probably one of my favorites to play. This past year was our third time. I talked with a woman who was visiting from Washington state, and she was like, \u2018I just had to come for the pickle festival.\u2019 When else would we have the chance to connect with people from the other side of the country? Flyspace Productions were great to work with.\u00a0<\/p>\n Josh: Do you partake in all the pickles when you\u2019re there?<\/p>\n M: (Laughs) I do, yeah. I\u2019m not as big of a pickle connoisseur as some people, but it\u2019s fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n Original Songs<\/p>\n Josh: Your song \u201cClosure,\u201d is very vulnerable. Do you always go to the piano when you start your songwriting?<\/p>\n M: It really depends. I actually started writing \u201cClosure\u201d when I was in my car. I was driving and recording voice notes on my phone. And when I got to the piano, I wrote things out.<\/p>\n Josh: Were you surprised with how much it took off? I think it resonated with a lot of people.<\/p>\n M:\u00a0 Yeah, I guess. You never know how people are gonna respond to anything that you put out into the world. Being vulnerable with people gives them the courage to be vulnerable. And sometimes, that\u2019s all someone really needs. A space where they feel that their experiences are valid, that their feelings are valid, that they\u2019re heard, that they\u2019re seen and what they\u2019re going through. Whether that\u2019s, you know, the end of a relationship or the loss of a loved one.<\/p>\n Josh: Your recent single \u201cI Just Wanna Stay Home\u201d is such a catchy song. I\u2019ve had it stuck in my head.<\/p>\n M: (laughs) Oh yeah it\u2019s so funny, I was on a cruise contract with another band and got stuck at the airport. I spent like nine or ten hours in the airport just thinking about how much I wanted to be at home. I just started writing it down. I was just kind of humming to myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n Josh: (laughs) So many people can relate to it.<\/p>\n M: There\u2019s so many songs that are about going out. There\u2019s no anthem for introverts out there\u2014people who just wanna stay at home and drink hot chocolate on the couch or, you know, have a glass of wine. I figured I would write the introvert anthem.<\/p>\n Josh: Have you played it live yet?<\/p>\n M: Oh yes, it\u2019s a crowd favorite. It\u2019s so much fun. I would say between that and the theme from The Magic School Bus are probably our two most popular tunes. The Magic School Bus theme has a special place in my heart just because that was one of my favorite shows when I was growing up.\u00a0<\/p>\n Josh: You have an eclectic taste in music. Did you grow up with your parents introducing you to that kind of music?<\/p>\n M: My dad is who I owe all of my musical influences to. He played anything and everything: Frank Zappa, Frank Sinatra, Blue Oyster Cult, Janis Joplin, The Black Keys. My dad is the reason that I am the musician that I am today. I owe everything to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n Josh: The Black Keys are playing Stage AE in August. I can\u2019t wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n M: Yes, I am hopeful that I can be there for that.<\/p>\n Josh: You should open for them.<\/p>\n M: That would be super cool. If you guys are reading this article, let\u2019s chat.<\/p>\n Putting her dog in her music reel<\/p>\n Josh: Is that your dog in the music reel for \u201cI Just Wanna Stay Home\u201d?<\/p>\n M: (Laughs) Yes. That was a very happy accident. I had to unexpectedly take Zuko with me and I was like, \u2018All right, let\u2019s see what I can get done in an hour.\u2019 Everybody\u2019s like, \u2018Where\u2019s the full video of your dog?\u2019 And I\u2019m like, \u2018I didn\u2019t make a full video.\u2019<\/p>\n What\u2019s next?<\/p>\n Josh: So what\u2019s coming up?<\/p>\n M: The new single is coming up at the end of March. We are slated to release an EP at the beginning of the summer. There\u2019s just a lot of really cool things happening for the band this year. A lot of momentum that we\u2019re kind of riding after a very busy end of the year. So I\u2019m just really excited to see where things continue to go.<\/p>\n Josh: Are you looking forward to spring?<\/p>\n M: (Laughs) Oh yes, I got a kayak last summer. I\u2019m waiting for the weather to warm up so I can take my kayak out on the river and see if Zuko\u2019s a fan of the water. Just being out in nature feels like a breath of fresh air, literally.<\/p>\n For the latest on Megan\u2019s upcoming shows and new music, visit her website<\/a> and keep up with her on Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>!<\/p>\n Check out last month\u2019s band of the month article here!<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.<\/p>\n \t\tTags: \t\t\t\t Josh has been writing for Made in PGH since 2018, where he writes about upcoming events. He\u2019s a Point Park University graduate and teaches high school English. In his free time you\u2019ll find him playing guitar and writing new songs.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImage via Megan Paullet<\/a><\/p>\n
Image via Megan Paullet<\/a><\/p>\n
Image via Megan Paullet<\/a><\/p>\n
Image via Megan Paullet<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t412<\/a>, Artist<\/a>, band<\/a>, best of pgh<\/a>, best of pittsburgh<\/a>, Events<\/a>, live music<\/a>, local artist<\/a>, local band<\/a>, Music<\/a>, pgh<\/a>, pgh made<\/a>, Pittsburgh<\/a>, Pittsburgh events<\/a>\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773169506_492_255f67bc0f8e70a386fb35af964aa8dd1302fbbc2b203de94b9ded439c80efc7.jpeg\")
\n\t\tJosh McCann<\/a><\/p>\n
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