When Shawn Lacy left Lockhaven for Pittsburgh two years ago, he didn't know what to expect.  Once discovering the city's appreciation for live music, however, he felt right at home.

Lacy, who plays a myriad of instruments, started going to open-mic nights to play his music.

"There are many times where I world write something in the afternoon and turn around and play it at night," he said.  "It's a very good way to get feedback."

Not only was Lacy attending open-mic nights to play his music, but he was also going to listen to other singers and songwriters.

"There are a lot of good songwriters in Pittsburgh", he said.

Songwriters like Howard "Hobby" Weiss.

Weiss shares a similar story with Lacy.  He moved to Pittsburgh from Chicago around the same time Lacy did.  An aspiring musician, Weiss also started playing at various open-mic nights.

Weiss and Lacy were fortunate to meet at an open-mic night.  After meeting, the two got together and started writing songs.

"We do all originals with a few covers tossed in there", Lacy said.

Soon, the two-man band, appropriately named "Shawn and Hobby," started performing at small shows in and around the city.

"We started recording some of those shows and networked through bands we play with," Lacy Said.

Networking paid off, as the band started receiving offers for bigger gigs and developed a fervent fan base.

A few months ago, Shawn and Hobby participated in Froggy Radio's Hometown Country Show.  As a participant, the band was able to professionally record their single, "Lay Me Down."

Once Froggy started playing the single, Shawn and Hobby found their place in the Pittsburgh music scene.

"We gave the single to DJ Mitch at Saddle Ridge and he started playing it," Lacy said.  "It's now one of the most requested songs."

Shawn and Hobby have come a long way since those open-mic nights two years ago.  The band has a steady gig every Wednesday at Fix's in the South Side and is the feature band at The Thunderbird Cafe the last Thursday of every month.

It's an exciting time for the band as they have recently partnered with Pittsburgh-based Boogie Street Guitars, and are planning to record an album and begin a tour across major Midwestern cities in June.

Unlike the current country music trend, Shawn and Hobby prefer playing acoustic sets and look to Johnny Cash, Neil Young and Waylon Jennings for influence.

"Our music's not the pop country style," Lacy said.  "There is real songwriting between the two of us.  We work hard for our sound."

Shawn and Hobby said they feel very much at home in Pittsburgh, but look forward to sharing their music with fans around the country this summer.