Pennsylvania Musician Magazine July 2014

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PENNSYLVANIA MUSICIAN MAGAZINE

July, 2014

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PENNSYLVANIA MUSICIAN MAGAZINE

July, 2014

ACROSS THE DESK

By Whitey & Robin Noll

Every month I think that I’m doing ok and I’m going to make it but it seems there is always something to keep me from meeting that deadline. This month it was called a vacation and it put me way behind. Then all my writers got behind as well and that hinders things as well. After 30 years I have a set way of doing things and when the puzzle pieces get all helter skeltered it seems my brain goes that way as well. Almost done... and this issue is jam packed with information for your musical entertainment in the month of July.

White Witch is celebrating 30 years with a huge Witch Fest on July 26th. Jeff knows how to throw a party so be sure to check out all the details.

Gordon Brinton has been working hard and long at getting the first PA Reunion Fest going this year to be held at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. You can enjoy some great bands in a festival setting. Thus far this summer we have been treated to some amazing talent and it seems that it will continue.

York Music Shop has moved. They only moved a few blocks from their previous location and there is more parking and easier access to the store. I’ll be checking it out this month as I deliver and will be taking pictures and doing an interview to find out more about

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York Music Shop. I do know that Jim (owner) appreciates quality and exquisite gear. He is interested in buying your choice instruments that you have collected over the years. He not only deals in guitars but has amps and all the other equipment that professional musicians need.

Michi has released a new CD. She’s a talented musician from the Selinsgrove area that has moved on to Jersey and is making quite a name for herself on the eastern seaboard. She is coming to her hometown on Sunday, July 27th to host a CD Release party at Steaks and Ribs in Selinsgrove. Bret Alexander will be joining her and it is a Free/ All Age show from 6pm to 8pm. It seems many musicians are starting to have earlier shows so note the time.

Whitey is doing well and we had a great vacation at Ocean City, Maryland. Though it was raining here in PA we had mostly sunny skies. Health wise he is doing better than a few years ago. We are both very thankful.

He is still giving guitar lessons. The Pennsylvania Musician Magazine is doing a whole lot better as well. I have decided to keep plugging along as long as you all support it with your ad dollars and pick it up and read it or you can visit our website at www.pamusician.net and read the digital issue, though it does take a while to get it updated. We are very thankful for all of our long time advertisers and we are very thankful to each of you who read each issue. So we will continue with help from our friends and staff. “And there they go...I must hurry and catch up with them for I am their leader.” God Bless each one of you!!

July, 2014

OUT & ABOUT

by RACHEL ROCKS! Wow! June just flew by like a whirlwind of craziness. It was a very fun and very busy month. We went on a week long family vacation with Mom and Dad. It’s the first time in over 30 years of doing the magazine I convinced them to shut down the office and get away for a whole week! We all had a great time, but it’s sad to realize our big vacation is already over for the Summer. With being away for a whole week that wiped two weekends out of my normal “Out and About” shenanigans… but I did still manage to see a few bands this month.

My first adventure was out to Winner’s Circle to see Deezle Church. Winner’s Circle is a great place to go to get your live music fix Wednesdays and Thursdays. They also have free line dancing lessons on Thursday nights starting at 7pm, so you’re almost always guaranteed plenty of people to watch on the dance floor. Sometimes I’m even brave enough to kick my heels up and give it a try! It’s awesome to see Jim Horn back in the lead vocals position. It’s great that he was given the much needed break to help raise his newborn son, and be there to support his wife around the house, but he definitely belongs on stage too! It’s always fun to watch Wade back their holding down the fort on drums. His facial expressions and antics to the songs always make me laugh. I’m glad they were playing on a Thursday night so I could get out there and see them before my month got too crazy.

That weekend I headed out to Johnny Joe’s for Voodoo. I’m glad these guys put another ad in the mag so I know where they are playing. I haven’t seen them in forever and it was great to get my Voodoo fix! Voodoo, in case you didn’t know already, is a Godsmack tribute band that has been together since 2010.

This was the first time I’ve seen them with Joel on vocals, but I know he’s been part of the band for a while. Joel has one heck of a voice! He’s also filled with all kinds of stage antics, so much that one time he wiped out himself and Jay on bass!

Luckily no one was hurt, I wish I would’ve caught that on camera, but I missed it! Steve and Lonnie also have a great stage presence and that really helps make the show even more fun! Johnny Joe’s was packed with all my hard rock lovin’ friends, dancing, head-banging and having a great time. It was a total blast! I’m so glad I made it out to another Voodoo show.

Hopefully I’ll see them again soon! Frayed Nott opened again for Voodoo and I once again missed them. Dave did come up and help sing a song with Voodoo, and it was cool to at least hang out with the guys and show them their Hot Shots in the June issue of the mag. Thanks Frayed Nott for all of your support as well! Check out Voodoo and Frayed Nott’s schedules in this issue and get out there and support some great live music!

The next night I headed out to Double K to see Band of Brothers. Most people know this band as Hired Guns. They unfortunately lost one of their members, Rob Porter, way too soon, to a horrible case of pneumonia back in February. Rob was a big musical influence to many people in the area, and one that will be missed for many years to come. I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for the rest of his band mates, but I think their new band name would make Rob proud. He definitely wouldn’t want to see any of these guys stop playing music, and I’m sure he’s rockin’ out right with them in heaven!

Band of Brothers line up is now Ronnie and Jim Rhoads on guitars and vocals, Mike Morrison on bass, and other instruments, and Jason Betz on drums. It’s awesome to see their fans out supporting them and everyone having a great time. They play a great mix of Top 40 Country, classic rock and even some originals. Do yourself a favor and get out there to see these guys soon!

While we were sitting on the beach at Ocean City Maryland, I couldn’t help but notice I could hear live music playing from my beach chair! The Clarion Hotel right beside ours also has Lenny’s Beach Bar and Grill with live music every night from 4:30 til 10pm. Plus happy hour daily from 4-7pm! Live music and happy hour... PERFECT! The band of the week was On the Edge from Delaware. This band has been around since 1984. Over 30 years of providing live music to the Eastern seaboard and beyond! They have an extremely wide range of music ranging from 60s Motown all the way to the current hits continued on page 1 2 ...

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OUT & ABOUT continued.... like “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. Obviously if these guys got my attention from THE BEACH, they must be good! I’m glad Mom and I threw our gear on and went over to see them for a bit. No matter where I go I can’t stay away from live music for too long!

Once I got home and got settled I headed back out to Double K for Banished for Life. Talk about seasoned musicians..

These guys have been playing area stages since the 70s! Yet they still keep their show hip and happening and keep the fans coming! They did take a break in the late 80s, but they are back and ready to rock! What a great band to come back to after being away. Definitely a great night to let loose and have a good time. I saw video of the part of the night I missed when a whole huge group of ladies traveling around for a Bachelorette party stormed the Double K and the stage, dancing along and

Aaron & Scott with all the pretty ladies. loving the music. The video is now on their Facebook page as proof that it did happen. It almost sounded like a “fish that got away” story from a rockstar until I saw the video. Banished for Life is definitely read to help you rock the night away, get out there and support live music!

A little shout out to Aaron and Scott from Sonic Productions. They were doing the sound and lights for the show. When you truly want to have amazing, top-notch production these are the guys to contact. Sonic Productions have an ad in this issue. Check it out and get your venue or your show some top-notch production! Great job Aaron and Scott, I always know my ears are in good hands when I see you guys behind the boards.

The next band was a surprise. I got home from running some errands with the kids and I could hear live music from my driveway. We decided to follow the great sounds and see where it was coming from. Hoffman Ford was having their annual Community Day and The Uptown Band was entertaining the crowd. The boys and I wound up spending a couple hours at Hoffman Ford. They really put on a great event for the community. Pretty much everything was free: ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, snow cones, bounce houses, the Game Truck, and of course the entertainment! While the boys were being entertained with all the activities I was able to continued on page 1 4 ...

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OUT & ABOUT continued... enjoy the band. The Uptown Band was an 8-piece band with an amazing sound. Erich and Jenifer both had amazing voices, and they would switch lead quite frequently. Erich also played multiple instruments throughout the day, including a flute and saxophone. The band had a 3-piece brass ensemble, keys, and of course, bass, guitar, and drums. They had an amazing mix of music to keep everyone in the crowd entertained. I heard they even have a new original CD that is already getting International airplay, so congrats to them! Hoffman Ford had a nice covered area with chairs so you could escape the sun to enjoy the music too. After performing at this event for four hours at 3:30pm they had to quickly pack up so they could get to their next gig and perform another 3-4 hour show. If you see The Uptown Band’s name anywhere get out there and see them for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

Kudos to all of you musicians that play multiple events on the same day! I honestly don’t know how you have the energy to do it. There are so many benefits everywhere where some bands even play double shows for free! I know I greatly appreciated the talent that played my Relay for Life events for me in the past years. I’m not responsible for any Relays this year, but there are still plenty of them going on and plenty of bands that stepped up to help keep the walkers entertained. I always felt bad asking bands to play for free, but when you are truly trying to raise funds for a certain cause, it’s hard to put the money into the entertainment.

The final band of the month was the Colt Wilbur Band at Johnny Joe’s. Johnny Joe’s was absolutely packed. This was also the second gig for the guys this day. Some of their fans even followed them to both shows! That’s how much love and support these guys get. Thanks to you guys for the huge shout out when I arrived. It’s nice to hear how much I’m appreciated once in a while. All of their energy on stage is just crazy! I know if you are a musician in a band you have to love to play music to even be there and do it, but Jason Purcell takes it to a whole new level! His face and his actions are just pure craziness! I heard them play a new original, “Set the World on Fire” and let me tell ya, they definitely set Johnny Joe’s on fire with that one! What a great song. These guys are constantly adding to and changing their set list, and putting on amazing show every time! Check out their schedule in this issue and get out there and party the night away with these guys. It’s always a boot scootin’, head-bangin’ good time!

I also had the honor of sitting down this month with Gun Metal Gray to talk about what the band is up to and listening to their first CD Release “Salvation”. The interview was a lot of fun and interesting to hear all that goes into the process of creating their original music. For more info, make sure and read their Cover Story in this issue.

That’s all the live music to report on for June. Did you hear that Skid Row is coming to Tubby’s on July 25th!! Check out their ad and find out how you can reserve your tickets! This whole issue is filled with amazing bands to see and amazing venues to see them at. Check it out and plan your next month of being “Out and About”… I know I am! Get out there and SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC.. any advice or if ya just want to say Hi, you can e-mail me at RachelRocks@pamusician.net.

Looking for Musicians or want to join a band? Check the classifieds in the hard copy and on line at

www.pamusician.net

Deadline to place a FREE Classified for Musicians Wanted & Musicians Available is the 20th of each preceding month. Email your classified today...

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July, 2014

Nationals continued... with gallery owner Richard Reilly. The band and Reilly performed music from Reilly’s NYC band The Victims. Jet

Dirt Cheap

Silver and Richard Reilly will perform again at HMAC on July 6th with Split Squad and The Bo Deadlys. This show is a must for fans of the NYC 70’s punk scene and bands New York Dolls, Iggy Pop and The Stooges.

National recording artists Foxy Shazam opened their US Tour in Harrisburg! The Gonzo Tour consists of over 40 shows which won’t end until mid-August. Foxy Shazam put on an amazing live show with huge energy. The band is compared to Queen because of its use of theatrics and singer Eric Sean Nally has been called the love child of Freddie Mercury. Their latest album ‘Gonzo’ was recorded live in one room with legendary producer Steve Albini. Albini recorded Nirvana’s release ‘In Utero’. Foxy Shazam have toured with The Darkness, The Strokes, Slash and Hole. Congratulations to promoter Rick Gadd of Fed Live on making this great show happen.

NATIONALS NEWS: Former Smiths frontman Morrissey canceled his Hershey Theatre show (June 19th) and remainder of his US Tour, accusing his opening act (and her “horrendous cold”) as the reason. Morrissey blames catching a respiratory infection from longtime tour mate Kristeen Young. However,

Young, differs claiming she only had an allergy attack. Moz tour manager stated, “For the good of all, Kristeen was asked to step down from the immediate upcoming shows.” No makeup dates were announced.

Casey Kasem, the internationally famous radio broadcaster with the cheerful manner and gentle voice who became the king of the top 40 countdown with a syndicated show that ran for decades, died June 15th. He was 82. Kasem retired in 2009 from “American Top 40” with his signature signoff, “And don’t forget: keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.” Kasem suffered from advanced Parkinson’s disease and a form of dementia.

Placido Domingo will sing before a World Cup final for the sixth time, announcing he will perform at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena on July 11th. The 73-year-old classic musical star had joined Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras to form The Three Tenors. “I always think music and sport are the two great things many people can understand without any need to really speak the language,” said Domingo. He has attended every World Cup final since 1970 with the exception of 1978 in Argentina.

Country music king George Strait capped off the last tour of his career with an epic, star-studded final performance at the billion-dollar stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play, dazzling an audience of nearly 105,000 people with duet after duet with some of the biggest names in country music. The attendance shattered the previous record set by The Rolling Stones at The Louisiana Superdome in 1981. Known for his honky-tonk style, classic interpretation of Western swing and Texas cowboy get-up, Strait, 62, toured for nearly 40 years. He has said he will continue to play the occasional gig. His tour, The Cowboy Rides Away, sold out every show in 45 stadiums and arenas that he played in 31 states. Strait performed for an estimated 1 million fans.

Medical examiner’s say Dave Brockie, the frontman for the heavy metal band GWAR, died of an accidental heroin overdose. Brockie – who went by the stage name Oderus Urungus – was found dead in his Richmond home on March 23rd. He was 50. Brockie’s cause of death was acute heroin toxicity. The Grammy-nominated band GWAR was founded in 1984 and is known for its comically grotesque costumes, stage antics and vulgar lyrics.

Bret Michaels suffered a medical emergency during his concert in New Hampshire. The Poison frontman was three songs into his set when he rushed from the stage. A crew member says Michaels’ blood sugar was extremely low. The singer was diagnosed with diabetes as a child. Michaels returned to the stage, extremely apologetic telling fans he couldn’t continue performing.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have announced a nationwide tour and new album. Their latest effort “Hypnotic Eye” is scheduled for a July 29th release. Steve Winwood will serve as special guest for the tour visiting Holmdel, NJ Sept 11th at PNC Bank Arts Center and Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on September 15th.

UPCOMING SHOWS: Lebowskis Harrisburg G-man July 3rd. Jet Silver Harrisburg HMAC July 6th. Rightstart Harrisburg Abbey Bar July 12th. Bruno Mars Hersheypark Stadium July 12th. Steel Gettysburg Zippers July 12th. Fall Out Boy / Paramore Hersheypark Stadium July 19th. Steel Harrisburg Double K July 26th. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Whitehouse Station NJ July 27th. Ziggy Marley Penn’s Peak July 31st. www.facebook.com/Eric S. Hoffman.

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July, 2014

Gun Metal Gray… The Spirit of Classic Metal with a Modern Edge

By Rachel Rocks Gun Metal Gray is ready to put on a show you won’t forget.

This five piece metal band from Harrisburg, PA has been melting faces and rocking area stages for almost three years and rapidly growing their fan base along the way. John O’Connor on drums, and Nick Wright, on guitar, are the original founding members of the band. They quickly found David Damone for the front man position, and even though they’ve undergone some member changes, their current line up has Christian Koch on guitar, and Myles on bass. They originally started building their fan base by being a cover band playing a lot of your favorite 80s metal music, but with the release of their first EP “Salvation” they are ready to save the world from the decaying world of pop culture music and bring back the spirit of classic metal with a modern edge.

Nick Wright and Christian Koch, their two mind-blowing guitar players, are also the main writers of the band. Gun Metal Gray released their first single, “G\m/G” in 2013. It quickly became a huge crowd favorite and a sing along, or what they like to call “Gang Vocals” at every show! Ultimately “Salvation” is a collaborative effort of the whole band as each song would morph at every practice until it was complete, which didn’t take long at all.

With their fans screaming for more originals at every show, they wanted to come out with some quickly, but also professionally. They started working on “Salvation” in January of 2014 at MDW Productions with the help of Darin Warren, and Mike Washkevich, who mixed and mastered the EP. With their balls to the wall, they knocked it out and had it ready to release on March 29th at their CD Release party at The Strand Capitol in York.

I had the privilege to sit down with all the guys and have our own little listening party of their new EP. It was my first experience sitting down with a band and hearing them discuss the writing process and the logic behind every note. It’s quite interesting watching a band sit back and enjoying their own music without playing it at the same time, although there were plenty of “air instruments” happening around the table. “Salvation” itself was created to show people how they are prepared to bring back the “from your gut/heart ROCK music, the Spirit of classic metal, but with a modern edge”.

Their first song “Doom” is a mini story in itself, portraying a post apocalyptic era. We are in a decaying world of pop culture music.

Music has lost it’s artistic integrity. If you’ve never been to a Gun Metal Gray show, just by listening to “Doom” you can quickly visualize how these guys don’t just play music, they put on a show! You can see the lights, pyrotechnics, and their shredding guitars. They are definitely bringing back ultimate instrumental solos from every member of the band.

“Chains That Bind” is the transcendent part of the album. It’s the stage of the journey when you finally breaking free from everything holding you back. Half way through this track there is a definite change in tempo and even the style of the song, that represents the moment of breaking free. The point when you can’t take it any longer. I can almost guarantee you that by the end of this song you’ll be chanting along, “From the chains that bind you!”

“Salvation” is rising up from the ashes, or finding salvation.

It immediately starts with a killer drum line from John O’ Connor on drums, that will get you rising up right there with them. The lyrics of this song leave plenty of spots where I’m sure their fans are already singing along. The end of the song

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leaves you hanging and helps you realize that this is only the beginning of the new world of music that Gun Metal Gray is bringing you. I hope you’re ready!

“...you never know who’s watching and it’s good to always put 100% into every show!”

Some of you have already proved you are more than ready,

and you want more! Gun Metal Gray has performed in many different venues throughout the mid-state and beyond. They’ve even had the opportunity to play before some national acts.

Their first National Act was Slaughter. They took full advantage of this opportunity and they used this night with an amazing crowd to record their first official music video for their single “G\m/G”. They have quite a few amazing videos on their Gun Metal Gray youtube channel that you can check out for yourself. They also had one of their newest fans, Merlin Miller, from the Discovery Channel show ‘Amish Mafia’, introduce them. Merlin helped draw in even more press and fans to the show. You might be wondering how did a metal band like GMG get to know a guy from the Amish

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community…

One night in 2013, Gun Metal Gray was playing a show at The Ritz in New Holland. It wasn’t a great night as far as their crowd was concerned, but one thing about them is they perform their hearts out no matter if there are 50 people, or 5,000. After the show Merlin Miller and Alan Beiler from ‘Amish Mafia’ came up and introduced themselves. They wanted Gun Metal Gray to play at one of their ‘Hut Parties’. Gun Metal Gray quickly agreed and their business deal quickly turned into a friendship. Merlin and Alan have both been big supporters of Gun Metal Gray ever since. It just goes to prove you never know who’s watching and it’s good to always put 100% into every show!

GMG has also opened up for Stephen Pearcy and Kix. They are getting another opportunity to play at Kix’s Album Release Party on August 16th at the Greencastle American Legion Picnic Grounds. That show is going to be epic! I’m sure Gun Metal Gray will take full advantage of every second. They have a pretty jam packed summer. They will also be opening for Skid Row at Tubby’s on July 25th. They don’t only play the “big” shows, there are plenty of other smaller shows happening too. They play a good amount of charity events. One will be Gettysburg Rocks on August 9th for the 4 Diamonds fund and August 30th for Helping Little Hands. They enjoy playing benefits, they want to make sure people know they are good guys, after all they chose to use the spelling of “Gray” with an A because A stands for America!

They also take advantage of every contest they possibly can. In May of 2014 they were the Top band in the Buffalo Trace Contest, they won a $500 cash prize for having nearly 5,000 shots (or votes). The finals for that contest are in September and they could win $10,000. Get ready to vote to help them win big! They’ve been wanting to play the Philly area, so in May they went down to play a Battle of the Bands contest at The Rusty Nail in Ardmore and won! They will be playing in the finals for that in August at World Café Live. As of press time they are eagerly awaiting the news to see if they will be playing as part of the Warped Tour in Scranton on July 9th. They also have a big announcement to make very soon about a possible international tour in December! Gun Metal Gray is on fire! They have so much going on.

Make sure you like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/GMGband for all of their latest updates and announcements.

Gun Metal Gray wouldn’t be anything without all of the love and support they have from their family, fans, and all the other local bands and venues that have given them the opportunity to perform. A special shout out to all the wives, and Colleen and Gary Wright, for helping them get started and supporting them along the way. Also, to Silvertung from Baltimore, for their great friendship and sharing shows along the way. Last but not least, HUGE thanks to Dean Ghoweri who is a major fan and long-time friend who eventually turned into their official manager allowing Gun Metal Gray to focus all of their efforts on giving their fans their best music and best performances.

One thing for sure is there is more music on its way! They are already talking about recording a full album. They said it best when they said, “The best way to pay tribute to those who paved the road before us is to pave the next section ourselves.”

Don’t forget to ‘Like’ them on facebook at facebook.com/GMGband. You can also check them out on Youtube so you can see what you’ve been missing! To get them booked at your show or venue, give “The Dean” a call at 717877-4433.

July, 2014

PROFESSOR’S

THE

“LIVE REVIEWS”

By Jim Price This has already turned into a travelling warm weather live music season for me, and we’re just entering July! Since last deadline, I have hit the road to see performances in Boalsburg, Bedford, Saxton, Pittsburgh, Patton, the Harrisburg vicinity, and in and around my home base of Altoona. More travels are circled on the calendar; I enjoy this time of year!

One event that brought me to the Harrisburg area last month was Pop Evil’s concert at Tubby’s in Duncannon. Opening the night was York’s Small Town Titans. Now the trio of frontman/bassist Phil Freeman, guitarist Ben Guiles and drummer Jonny Ross; Small Town Titans set the tone with a strong set of mostly original songs. They did several numbers from their “From Fight to Flight” CD such as “The End of the World,” “Line By Line,” “Within the Heart of War” and the acoustic “9 to 5,” and also broke out a rocking take on Lorde’s “Royals.” Baltimore’s Silvertung then fired off driving, hardhitting rock with a focus on tunes off their new CD “Devil’s in the Details” such as “Coming Alive,” “Justify,” “Déjà Vu,” the dark ballad “Never Too Late” and the anthemic “Daddy’s Little Girl.” Silvertung’s delivery was nonstop and pedal-tothe-metal, and continued to fire up the Tubby’s crowd for the acts to follow. Washington, D.C.’s Super Bob then stepped up the turbulence with their set of agitated rap rock. Frontman Matt Santoro, guitarist Adam Smith, bassist Drew Recny and drummer Chris Faircloth combined all-out musical aggression with witty attitude as they performed original tunes like “Rock n Roll,” “Cali,” “Superfly,” “Freak,” “Popstar” and more.

Matt tempered his sassy vocal bark with a fun side as he led the group on a version of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” and Drew’s bowel movement-inducing bass rumble is among the lowest I’ve ever heard! Then Pop Evil came, saw and immediately conquered the Tubby’s audience with their powerful performance, proudly executing their radio hits and songs off their latest CD, “Onyx”. Backed by the forceful corps of guitarists Davey Grahs and (Pittsburgh native) Nick Fuelling, bassist Matt DeRito and drummer Chachi Riot, singer Leigh Kakaty took charge early and led the group on popular radio tracks like the ballad “Monster You Made,” “Boss’s Daughter,” “Last Man Standing” and the current single “Torn to Pieces.” They also did songs from “Onyx” such as “Goodbye My Friend,” “Sick Sense” and “Behind Closed Doors.” Their execution was tight and exciting, especially Chachi’s go-for-broke action behind the kit. Perhaps the big non-musical highlight happened when Leigh acknowledged a number of underage fans listening outside the venue; he quickly invited two young lady fans in through the backstage entrance to step up on stage. As the audience cheered, he told them they had to quickly leave; but gave them a message as they exited, thanking them for being fans of Pop Evil instead of Justin Bieber. When the Tubby’s crowd demanded an encore, Pop Evil responded with two of their best anthems, “Deal with the Devil” and their hit “Trenches.” This was a great show, and well worth the roadtrip!

Also near the state’s capital, my good friend and cohort, staff photographer Meredith Kaminek, celebrated 17 years in business with an open house celebration last month at her portrait studio in Goldsboro. Live music was again part of Meredith’s open house, with Mileunder and the Backyard Rockers providing the entertainment. Introducing new bassist Riley, Mileunder played their soulful and groove-informed original songs, including favorites like “Spacegirl,” “Nemo” and more. The Backyard Rockers then broke out numbers from The Band, Neil Young, Steve Earle, Old Crow Medicine Show and more; before the group’s hand percussionist sang and performed his first-ever original song on ukulele for the open house host, a happy song about Meredith’s world called “Meredith Avenue.” Then both bands joined forces for a fun afternoon-closing jam session, loosely branded ‘the Mileunder the Backyard Jam.’ (Thanks to Meredith for having us; my bandmates and I eagerly look forward to next year’s party on ‘Meredith Avenue!’)

Following Meredith’s open house event, we finished the evening at the nearby Alpine Inn in Lewisberry, where I caught up with Steel. Still the foursome of frontman Chris Redding, guitarist Aaron Zimmerman, bassist Dave Magaro continued on page 2 0 ...

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The Professor continued... nd drummer Trevis Becker, Steel kept a large Alpine Inn crowd rocking and dancing with their selection of mostly 1970s and ‘80s era hard rock and metal. Chris displayed an excellent soaring voice on numbers like Deep Purple’s “Highway Star,” Iron Maiden’s “Trooper,” “Run to the Hills” and “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and Queensryche’s “I Don’t Believe in Love,” but also tackled Heart on renditions of “Crazy on You” “Barracuda.” Instrumentally Steel is strong as well, with Aaron firing off crisp guitar leads, Trevis providing doublekick thunder behind the kit and Dave’s tight bass lines tying it all together. Steel kept the Alpine Inn crowd in front of the stage for the entire night, and the crowd didn’t want the party to end.

The third annual Striking Chords Against Cancer benefit in late May provided a day-long slate of live music on two stages on the big flatcar at Altoona’s Railroaders Museum to benefit the American Cancer Society. The acoustic stage launched first with Matt Pletcher, who performed a selection of classic and modern rock and country favorites, plus an original song, “Sure Thing”, from his forthcoming solo CD. The Syrins kicked off the electric stage entertainment with a strong set of ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s era rock. Singer/drummer Chris Conrad, guitarists Tom Fronauer II and Mike Furry, and returning bass player Ryan Furry mixed up hits by Greg Kihn Band, Genesis, John Fogerty, the Police, the Byrds, Tommy James and more. They also included a British Invasion section, plus a driving take on the Smithereens’ “Behind the Walls of Sleep”. Travis Singer resumed acoustic stage action with hits from The Band, Philip Phillips, Oasis, Tom Petty and more; and dedicated the Beatles’ “Hide Your Love Away” in memory of a friend felled by cancer. Cranking up the party next on the electric stage was 7th Gear with their variety of mostly female-fronted hits. Singer Ashley Thompson’s voice was in great form as she belted out numbers from Pat Benatar, Veruca Salt, Lita Ford, Pretenders, Heart, Scandal, Blondie and more. Appearing for his third straight year, Jackson Monsour brought a tropical vibe to the acoustic stage with several reggae numbers and original songs.

Flight 19 followed with their lively set of modern, classic rock and more; triggering dancing on the lawn with tunes from

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Volbeat, Black Keys, Toto, Bon Jovi, REO Speedwagon, Joe Walsh and a rocking take on Kiss’ “Beth” to end the set.

Accompanied by Pistol Peg guitarist Joe Scott and Manny Barbazzeni on box drum, Matt Wagner continued the acoustic entertainment with his distinctive takes on modern and classic rock hits. All three musicians displayed great vocal harmonies and fresh arrangements, and Matt and Joe engaged in detailed fretboard interplay on Dave Matthews’ “Two Step”.

For their finale, Matt was joined by his 7-year-old daughter, Kaedyn, who sang lead on the Disney song “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” Shallow Nine then turned up the party with their energized blend of modern rock and pop favorites.

Singer Erika Marino’s voice was in good form; and she, guitarist/singer Mike Fox, guitarist P.J. Kelly, bassist Mitch Neuder and drummer Todd Harshbarger triggered some lawn dancing and grooving with hits from Lady Gaga, Jimmy Eat World, Paula Abdul, Ceelo Green, Neon Trees, Fallout Boy and more. The Backyard Rockers wrapped up the acoustic stage entertainment with their blend of classic rock, country and blues; performing songs from Neil Young, Tom Petty, Steve Earle, Santana, Johnny Cash and more. Chris Vipond and the Stanley Street Band then got their groove on to close out the show, incorporating a wide variety of song material into infectious, almost nonstop grooves. It’s always fun watching the instrumental interaction between guitarist C’Jay Castello and bassist Mike Stanley, riding atop Chris’ Hammond organ groan and Randy Servello’s busy and inventive drumbeats.

Beautiful, sunny weather and the quality entertainment helped make this the most successful Striking Chords Against Cancer benefit yet.

A few days later, country music launched the Railroaders Museum’s annual Alive @ Five Summer Concert Series, with Johnstown-based Johnny and June Carter Cash tribute group Ole 97 and Pistol Peg & the Beer Kegs providing the entertainment. With the low-voiced greeting “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash,” Johnstown’s Man in Black, Randy Hunter, and Ole 97 treated the Railroaders Museum audience to a celebration of Johnny and June Carter Cash and their body of hits. Randy, Charlene Boldin in the June Carter role, guitarist/fiddler Joe Brucker, guitarist Doug Nagy, bassist Andy Heinze and drummer Paul Carpenter performed

PENNSYLVANIA MUSICIAN MAGAZINE

Ole 97 (Johnny Cash tribute) favorites such as “Folsom Prison Blues,” “The Ballad of Ira Hayes,” “Jackson,” “I’ve Been Everywhere,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “I Walk the Line,” “One Piece at a Time” and more.

Charlene flexed her voice on Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” and Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots,” and Joe demonstrated his fiddle-sawing skills on “Ole 97,” “Orange Blossom Special” and Charlie Daniels’ “The South’s Gonna Do It Again.” Ole 97 also did Cash-flavored original numbers such as “Fruitcake” and “A Whole Lotta Cash”. While Ole 97 represented Johnny Cash and country’s traditional sound, Pistol Peg & the Beer Kegs represented today’s country, triggering dancing and a crowd swell in front of the stage with their mix of popular current country hits. Singer Jill Simanski, singer/guitarist Mark Simanski, lead guitarist Joe Scott, rhythm guitarist Brandon Kane, bassist Justin Brown and drummer Steve Holtz fired up the party with favorites from Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Leann Rimes, Shania Twain, Zac Brown Band, Luke Bryan, Sugarland, Blake Shelton, Garth Brooks and more. Their presentation was tight, and the group kept the music and energy constant to keep the huge Railroaders Museum crowd happy. The Railroaders Museum’s Alive @ Five series continues this month with Metallica tribute Four Horsemen with Half Tempted on July continued on page 2 1 ...

July, 2014

The Professor continued...

11, and Journey tribute Separate Ways with 7th Gear on July 25.

Pleasant, sunny weather helped make the 8th Annual Day Of Rock benefit at the Saxton Sportsmen’s Pavilion a big success, raising much money for Easter Seals of Central PA. Felix & the Hurricanes launched this year’s event with their original rock and blues, including favorites such as “Walking a Straight Line,” “Keep On Rockin’” and “The Lonely One.” The Backyard Rockers followed with their acoustic rock, country and blues. Chris Woodward & Shindiggin’ then triggered the day’s first dancing action with their country sounds. Now armed with new bassist Brianna Sheeder, the group now includes female country hits by Miranda Lambert and others; and Brianna and drummer Zac Grace also did the Kid Rock/Sheryl Crow ballad “Picture”. Root and the Fifths celebrated ‘90s era rock favorites in their set, performing numbers from Goo Goo Dolls, Cracker, Local H, Third Eye Blind, Better Than Ezra, Collective Soul and more. Next was my first look at Lewistown-based rockers JunkHouse, who did a mix of hard rocking favorites from the ‘90s to now. Featuring former Represent the Lie frontman Brent Carolus and bassist Mike Goss, JunkHouse did nice work on numbers from Stone Temple Pilots, Silverchair, Volbeat, Megadeth, Shinedown, Tool and more, plus an original song, “She Don’t Like It”.

Naildriver then brought full-force metal, scorching the Saxton hillside with original power metal and select covers. Lead howler Matt Watson led the group on fierce original numbers like “The Enemy Within,” “Hypocrite’s Anthem” and “Seal the Exits”, and also did numbers from Budgie/Metallica, Pantera, Iron Maiden and Black Label Society. Singer Erika Marino and Shallow Nine reconvened the dance party with their feisty mixture of modern rock and pop favorites. As darkness arrived, Ganister fired up the crowd with their variety of rocking sounds; giving hard-rocking treatments to rock, country and pop favorites alike. Female fans danced alongside band members onstage as Ganister did songs by Pink, Theory Of A Deadman, Orgy, Jason Aldean, Big & Rich, White Zombie, Eddie Money, Black Crowes, Cameo, Nickelback and more.

The Sitch then closed out Day Of Rock with their own fun brand of rocking favorites, including numbers from AC/DC, Ramones, Violent Femmes, Offspring, Black Keys, Weezer and more. Plans are already under way for a bigger and better Day Of Rock in 2015.

A Pittsburgh sojourn last month to catch a Pirate baseball game provided an opportunity to check out the nearby Three Rivers Arts Festival. In addition to multiple arts and crafts vendors, the Arts Festival featured a variety of live music during its 10-day span, with headlining acts such as The Smithereens, Trampled By Turtles, Lucinda Williams and more. I took in part of the performance by Brooklyn-based indie folk rock group Noble Hunter. Normally a four-piece group, Noble Hunter was an acoustic duo this day, featuring singer/guitarist Kevin Garrett and guest upright bass player Anton. They performed songs from Noble Hunter’s self-titled debut CD, and previewed numbers from their forthcoming second disc, being recorded later this year. Their songs touched on personal themes and ambitions; including “House in Santa Barbara,” “Head West” and “If Hope Could Talk”. The duo also did select covers, such as Ray Lamontagne’s “Jolene.”

(Later, the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-0.)

It was 150 years ago when three women went to a Boalsburg cemetery and placed flowers at the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War, setting the precedent for Boalsburg’s claim as “the birthplace of Memorial Day.” Boalsburg celebrated the anniversary with numerous events on Memorial Day, including

a special evening memorial service with governor Tom Corbett in attendance. Live music was a part of the festivities as well, including OverheaD performing outside Boal Mansion. Each member of this group - Kevin Fagley, Eileen Christman, Wendy Hanson, Tom Mallouk and Rick Plut - is multi-talented and shares several duties in OverheaD. The group entertained the Memorial Day audience with a variety of original songs, classic rock and country hits. Their song selection this day included numbers from the Guess Who, Queen, BTO, Beatles, Stray Cats, B-52s, Otis Redding and more. OverheaD also did original songs such as “Say the Word” and “Not Guilty”. Along the way, guest Chris Lee sang and played guitar on several numbers, and Eileen played fiddle on several numbers, including K.T. Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”, John Mellencamp’s “Cherry Bomb” and Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”. OverheaD will again be part of this year’s Central PA 4th Fest near Penn State’s Beaver Stadium on July 4.

One of the rising names in ukulele, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, performed last month at Allegheny Creamery & Crepes in Hollidaysburg, in a show presented by the

Allegheny Ukulele Kollective. The Allegheny Bilge Rats Shanty Choir opened the evening with a short set of swashbuckling sea shanties such as “What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor,” “Blow the Man Down” and the Dave Parryfronted “Hanging Johnny”. Armed with soprano and baritone ukuleles, Danielle Ate the Sandwich (aka Danielle Anderson) introduced a variety of original indie-folk songs, including several from her fourth and latest CD, “Like A King”. Danielle mixed in touches of humor as she explained the inspirations behind each song, from the jealous feelings behind “Some Other Girl” to the human/animal comparisons in “Pet Store” to the societal struggles of “The American Dream” and “The Have Nots”. Danielle also performed two covers, offering versions of the Louie Armstrong-popularized “I Get Ideas” and the Temptations’ “My Girl”. Danielle Ate the Sandwich provided a fun and cheerful performance, and was wellreceived by the outdoor courtyard audience. (No, she did not eat a sandwich, but did enjoy a crepe from the venue.)

With no threats of 18-inch snowfalls to thwart them this time, southern Mississippi’s Rosco Bandana returned to continued on page 2 2 ..

Black Ridge July, 2014

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The Professor continued...

McGarvey’s in late May. Rogan Allen and Nobody’s Heroes provided enthusiastic opening sets, before Rosco Bandana again amazed the McGarvey’s crowd with their multi-flavored musical mix. Singer/guitarist Jason Sanford, singer/keyboardist Emily Sholes, singer/percussionist Jenny Flint, guitarist Patrick Mooney, mandolinist Jackson Weldon, bassist Josh Smith and drummer Patrick McGinley blended elements of rock, country, blues, folk, Americana and worldbeat into a catchy, colorful and exciting mixture. The group did several songs from their “Time to Begin” CD including the delta blues/gospel-flavored single “Woe Is Me,” “El Luna” and “Tender”, introduced newer numbers such as “Take It In”, and offered their inventive arrangement on KC & the Sunshine Band’s “Get Down Tonight”. Rosco Bandana escalated many of the songs into heated climaxes, and their blend of harmonies and shifting instrumental tones kept each song fresh and invigorating. Rosco Bandana again won many new Altoona area fans during this show; they return to McGarvey’s September 26.

Philadelphia-based foursome American Babies paid their first visit to McGarvey’s during Memorial Day weekend.

Improvisational, jam-styled rock is this group’s forte; American Babies demonstrated inventive, colorful grooves with a lot of variation and versatility. Singer/guitarist Tom Hamilton, keyboardist Adam Flicker, bassist Marc Friedman and drummer Dave Butler crafted intriguing musical journeys throughout the show, with songs intensifying, taking unexpected tempo, style shifts and side journeys. Tom sounded strong on the vocal end, and Adam’s keyboard muscle often came in whenever things got quiet and quickly made its presence felt. Most of American Babies’ grooves were original, but they did venture into an inventive take on the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence” in the later stages of their performance. American Babies won a number of new fans during their first Altoona sojourn; expect a return to McGarvey’s in the fall and give them a listen!

Blairsville-based quintet Black Ridge made their first visit to McGarvey’s stage early last month. Featuring singer/guitarist Paul Chakot, guitarist Matt Bortz, sax player Alec Zander Redd, bassist Cody Lemmon and drummer Jake LeJeune, Black Ridge performed a gritty mixture of classic rock and original songs. I liked their song selection, which included many numbers not often heard on live stages. Black Ridge broke out renditions of Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That,” Guess Who’s “American Woman,” Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour,” CCR’s “Lodi,” the Beatles’ “Helter Skelter,” Bob Seger’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” and more; as well as original songs like “Chocolate Hair,” “New World” and “Down the Road.” Their presentation was loose and relaxed, as they improvised solos and rode each song to heated peaks.

Black Ridge provides a fresh, invigorating show and approach, and are worth looking out for on area stages.

Mysterytrain keeps on chugging along, even though its main conductor is still out of action for a few more months. The four-piece edition of Mysterytrain generated happy grooves at Shaw’s Bar on Memorial Day weekend. Percussionist Jacob Haqq-Misra, keyboardist Gina Riggio, drummer Chuck Bailey and new bassman Wes “Stagger Lee” Fahringer delivered what one casual observer described as “peoplefriendly, happy music” before a near packed house. The mood was upbeat and positive, and Mysterytrain rode that mood with new compositions and several established favorites such as “Flow River Flow,” “Overgrow,” “Send Me a Smile” and “Sway.” Jacob fired it up on the percussion and vibrophone, and Gina’s keyboard work sounded sparkling and bright. Guest Rich Edmundson joined in on acoustic guitar and vocals during the last set, even freestyling a version of “Feelin’ Alright”. ‘Train “Conductor”, Dan Klock is reportedly doing well during his hiatus and is working on new songs. Based on this night, it looks like Dan can hit the ground running once he returns from the break.

Bedford’s Borrowed Time continues to write new songs toward their seventh CD. Some of those songs were on display when half of the group - singers/guitarists Chad Patterson and Michael Clapper - performed acoustic at Bad Boyz Bistro in Bedford in late May. The pair mixed older and newer songs; introducing new rock and blues-geared numbers such as “Long Dark Highway”, “Mississippi Man”, “Livin’ Alone and Singin’ the Blues”, “You’re Bad News” and more. Perhaps their most continued on page 2 3 ....

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July, 2014

PA Musician Magazine CD Reviews THE BIG TIME “DREAMERS AND BELIEVERS” (no label) Since forming in 2009, Altoona-based foursome The Big Time has evolved and honed their brand of energetic power pop/rock, along the way earning support slots with All Time Low, Mayday Parade, Hit The Lights and more. Their latest CD, “Dreamers and Believers”, captures the group’s explosive blend of punk-infused adrenaline and precision melodies. Erupting rhythms from drummer Aaron Porta and bassist Dylan Auerbeck fuel The Big Time’s harddriving melodies; underscoring the guitar roar of Brandon Porta and frontman Derek Mrdjenovich.

Most of the disc’s eight songs offer hard-hitting odes to the ins and outs of love; the beginning and ending tracks, “Take It to the Floor” and the title song “Dreamers and Believers” are more hopeful in tone, while “Done With It” and the milder “Sick and Tired” lean toward throwing in the towel. “The Drive” offers words of devotion, while “All for You” and “Hard to Get” grow weary of head games and relationship nonsense. The Big Time offers an acoustic update of “Stay Strong,” a somber tribute to a lost loved one. The songs are sharp and to the point, and the group’s melodies are catchy and concise.

Mrdjenovich’s voice is strong and drives each song forward, and he effectively varies the intensity for the task at hand on each song. Paul Leavitt’s production and mix are busy, leaving no dead spaces or lulls in the action. The melodies are served, while the group’s edge is sharp throughout. The Big Time sounds tight and polished on “Dreamers and Believers”, and the group’s steady progress displayed here suggests that they may be ready for the big time in short order. (The CD can be obtained through the website www.thebigtime.bigcartel.com.)

THUNDER VEST - “THUNDER VEST” (no label) Five buddies bonded by booze and rock’n’roll, Pittsburgh’s Thunder Vest formed two years ago to generate two- and three-chord shout-along punk-rocking anthems. Their self-titled debut CD delivers high-octane, punk-fueled rock’n’roll excitement over eleven tracks; as Thunder Vest blends simple, infectious melodies, gangshout choruses, and relatable, often funny lyrics. Fastfiring rhythms from drummer Captain Shingles and bassist Phil Irvest couple with the dual snarling guitar tandem of Stevie Novocain and Neil to set the boisterous backdrops for frontman Scott Terzolino’s witty and sassy words. Thunder Vest greets listeners on their disc-leading title track “T-H-U-N-D-E-R VEST!” with suggested uses for the disc (even romantic settings), before “It’s All About Me” follows a more self-centered theme. “Look Ma” proudly shows parents what their kids have become, while “Rad Girls” 24

celebrates ladies at punk shows. Thunder Vest also celebrates smoking women on “Cigarette Girl,” and the joys of full-figured gals on “Fat Chicks.” Libation is also part of Thunder Vest’s equation, as they savor PBR on the drinking anthem “Piss and Vinegar.” The group also offers two covers; their spin on New Bomb Turks’ “Automatic Teller” and the adrenalin-rush disc-closing edition of the Hellacopters’ “Riot on the Rocks,” capped with some furious harmonica wailing. The tempo is fast and go-for-broke, but the execution is tight and on target.

Terzolino knows his turf here, and his cadence is clear and keeps with the pace. The action is constant, and just like the group’s live shows, never a dull moment. Mixed and mastered by Eric Wrecker, the disc sounds full and clear, and Thunder Vest’s sharp edge is constant and cutting. Thunder Vest offers short, sweet, to-the-point and fun punk rock on their debut; a disc that will quicken the pulse, and may cause acceleration in vehicles if listened to while driving. (The disc can be obtained through Thunder Vest’s Bandcamp page, www.thundervest.bandcamp.com.)

RETRO ROCKET - “RETRO ROCKET” (no label) Formed in northeastern PA in 2006, Retro Rocket establishes their multi-flavored musical turf on their selftitled CD. Featuring Mike Chafin on vocals and various stringed instruments, Jessica Illuzzi on vocals, guitar and piano, bassist Chuck Artim and drummer Jim Davis; Retro Rocket introduces a sound that blends elements of Americana, folk rock, country and - consistent with their name - retro-flavored pop over their disc’s hefty 17 tracks. With Mike and Jessica sharing lead singing duties, Retro Rocket displays a knack for hook-driven melodies and relatable, easy-to-digest lyrics dealing with life, love and the ways of the world. The disc opens up with a tear-in-beer old-school country flavor, as Jessica laments sudden solitude on a rendition of “Lonesome Blues.” She sings the more country and folk-geared numbers on the disc; exploring her Pennsylvania roots on the rustic “Pennsyltucky Wings,” fantasizing about a new source of income on “Money Tree,” and crooning the vocal on a folksy read of Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” one of the album’s four remakes. Retro Rocket frequently taps into late ‘60s/early ‘70s folk and pop rock vibes, displayed on such numbers as “One Way Love,” “Jessie” and “One Time Girl.” The group also kicks it into a rowdier early ‘70s Rolling Stones vein with “Bouncy Girl.” The performances are solid throughout the disc; both Mike and Jessica display clear and distinctive voices, and the group’s arrangements and instrumental execution are fresh and tasteful. Self-produced by Mike, the disc sounds clear and vibrant; there is some slight fluctuation between volume levels on tracks through the disc, but for the most part this is a consistent listen. Retro Rocket successfully marries Americana and retro pop flavors on their debut, offering an impressive calling card that welcomes new listeners into their world, and establishing PENNSYLVANIA MUSICIAN MAGAZINE

a broad-based musical foundation to expand upon. (The disc can be obtained through the group’s Facebook page.)

(VARIOUS ARTISTS) - NOW AND THEN: THE STATE COLLEGE MUSIC SCENE 1968-2012 (Apache Records) With its transient student population, the State College area has hosted many talented and diverse musical acts over the years and up to the present day. State Collegebased indie record label Apache Records undertook the mission of celebrating Happy Valley’s rich musical heritage with “Now and Then: The State College Music Scene 1968-2012,” a twodisc set celebrating area music from 1968 to now. Proceeds from sales of the set go to Happy Valley Cares, which helps child abuse victims. The first disc, “Then,” celebrates State College music from 1968 to 1990. The oldest representation is from 1968, the Woolly Thumpers’ playful folk-rock number “Come Closer.” Some of State College’s most legendary band names are represented on this half of the set; including Menagerie’s “Wrong About You,” Cartoon’s “In My Dreams Tonight,” Backseat Van Gogh’s timely 1980 pop anthem “Catch a New Wave,” Tahoka Freeway’s “Light Rain,” Code: Blue’s spirited “(You’re So Busy),” Queen Bee & the Blue Hornet Band’s “Take Your Lies Home to Mama,” Sideshow Bob’s “As She Says” and more. The “Now” disc, of course, spans 1990 to present (2012, the year this set was issued). A few of the acts here have since folded, such as the popular Sona and their 2001 track “Birdsong” and Katsu’s 2001 song “Walkaway.” But many current State College and area performers represent, such as Felix & the Hurricanes with “Grow,” Ted McCloskey’s “Dancing As Fast As I Can,” Triple A Blues Band’s “Call Home Blues,” My Hero Zero’s “Make Some Noise,” The Nightcrawlers’ “Place in the Dark,” Mama Corn’s “Fallen Leaves,” Harold Taddy’s “Buon Giorno,” Pure Cane Sugar’s “My Favorite Song” and others. Produced by Daniel Collins and mastered by Bill Filer at Audible Images Recording, “Now and Then” sounds consistent throughout, with the best quality brought out of the older recordings, some which were originally issued through prehistoric analog media such as vinyl records and tape. A little more background information on the performers - especially the older groups - might have made this set more complete; but as is, “Now and Then” still captures a nice chunk of State College area music past and present, and offers a good crash course in the Happy Valley music scene’s heritage to those curious in exploring where it has been and where it is now. (The compilation can be purchased through Apache Records’ website, www.apachemusic.net.)

All CDs reviewed in July by Jim Price Send your CDs for review to:

JIM PRICE 1104 S Catherine St. Altoona, PA 16602 July, 2014

CLASSIFIED NOTES BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS

WANTED: WE PAY CASH for used guitars, amps, effects, etc!!! Call Matt at Creter Guitar Shop, Jonestown at 717-865FOR RENT: Indoor 3677. We also do guitar spaces available for bands repairs and have a variety seeking places to practice. of lessons available.

Located in Marysville. Call Earl at 717-379-2168.

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WANTED: Vintage guitars, basses, amps, banjos, etc. Fender, Gibson, Martin, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, etc.

Top dollar paid! Call Player’s Exchange at 717975-2385 or stop by and see us at 225 S. Third St. Lemoyne, PA. Email: bslotus@aol.com.

THE BEST VALUE FOR YOUR RECORDING DOLLAR: Celebrating our 29th year in business. Pro Tools, HD3/Accel, 192k Interface, 2 inch 24 track analog, 16 channels of API outboard mic pres, Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute kit, SWR 7 GK bass amps,

Marshall half stack, Fender twin & Bassman guitar amps, Hammond B-3, Yamaha C7 grand piano.

Authorized Pro Tool dealers.

CD/DVD duplication on site 3 CCC Video Services. 5.1 surround mixing. $300 per d a y. www.datamusicsvcs.com, Altoona PA. Phone 814-944-2406.

RIGHT COAST RECORDING: State of the art vintage recording environment with years of experience and a long list of satisfied customers. www.rightcoastrecording.c om Phone 717-560-1530. continued on pg 2 7 ...

July, 2014

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WANTED TO BUY: Piano sheet music. Call 717-250-4798.

DRUM LESSONS: with Jeremy Hummel now at 3 Locations: Selinsgrove Home Studio, Dale’s Drum Shop (Harrisburg), and The Perfect 5th (Mechanicsburg). Jeremy is the original drummer for platinum selling artist Breaking Benjamin. He has over 15 years experience as an educator, professional musician and is a regular contributor to “Modern Drummer” magazine.

Call 570-898-0800 to get started.

FOR LEASE: 5 bunk sleeper Mercedes-Benz Sprinter available for lease. Will be coming to Pennsylvania & Ohio area Spring/Summer of 2014.

Please visit: www.cartertransport.shutt

July, 2014

erfly.com, www.facebook.com/busm anagement or email: sprinterbandvan@gmail.c om for questions. (8/14) FOR SALE: Music Store, complete stock and displays.

M o e ’ st Everything Muse 825 Ann Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.Call 570-223-6900 shop or 570-350-2962 cell.

FAMOUS CUTS: Are you a talented hairstylist?

Tired of only making a small percentage of your services? Well, make a change for the better and call Jerry at Famous Cuts in Lemoyne. You can make your own hours, and earn high commission on everything you do. Call Jerry today!! 717-7615050.

sound at your next show?

Call Jerry Martin at Control Freak Sound! Pro gear, pro attitude. You’ll sound so good, you just may start your own fan club! 717-465-8120

WANTED: ARTIST to sponsor.

This deal includes one of my guitars as well as maintenance on your other instruments. To be considered for this sponsorship you must be a working musician (band) playing a minimum of 8 gigs per month over the past year and have future bookings showing this to be a continuing schedule.

At least 50% of your show must be performed with an acoustic guitar. Musical genre is not important.

Would prefer someone playing the northeast circuit but will consider artists playing in larger local markets. Anyone interested should contact me. Please post and share this anyplace you think would be appropriate.

Brian Howard Guitars 717-566-9883 www.brianhowardguitars. com

EQUIPMENT

FOR SALE: FOR SALE: Antique Victorian Packard Pump Parlor organ and stool.

Circa 1888, solid walnut, mint conditon, still plays.Call Debbie 717761-1162. continued on pg 2 8 ...

CONTROL FREAK SOUND. Want top-notch

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OR SALE: JBL, 2025 bass bins, $400; 300etek, 100w lead head, $500; (4) 10” cab. $100. All in excellent condition. Will return calls, 717-6302394.

FOR SALE::Carvin bass rig less than 5 months old,barely used.BX700

head,(2) BR210 cabinets.$600 570-4127614 FOR SALE: Spector legend 5 string bass.All new hardware and preamp installed.Pictures available upon request.$375 570412-7614.

FOR SALE: Peavey LB1200 par 64 midi and dmx controled lights with gels, 2 bars with 4 lights each. work great $250.00 Ph. 717-248-8739 email: superstarr@hot-shot.com FOR SALE:Hammond Proline 860 Leslie, With foot pre-amp and leslie 11 pin cable, All in great condition! $600.00 Phone

717-248-8739 Email: superstarr@hot-shot.com FOR SALE: Compressor/limiters.

Aphex 720 Dominator II, DBX 266XL,Drawmer 241L. Leave message.

610-488-0914.

FOR SALE: Microphones. (2) AKG C391’s Sold as a pair only.

Mics include clips and

cables. Leave message.

610-488-0914.

FOR SALE: Multitrack recorders. Tascam. (3) DA-88’s, (1) DA-38 and (1)RC-848. Includes sync cables w/balanced snakes, rack cases and remote control stand. Leave message. 610-488-0914.

ProCo CB-1. Leave message 610-488-0914 FOR SALE: Record video of your band from the stage or Front of Housesound board. Attach any camera to these unique CAMERA MOUNTS. 610-488-0914

FOR SALE: Multi effects processors: t.c.electronics M5000 w/digitaloptions.

Ensoniq DP/4. Lexicon LXP-5 w/MRC. Leave message 610-488-0914

FOR SALE: 19960’s Kay blues, jazz hollow body electric guitar. Cecked Sunburst finish, $300 firm or will consider trade of equal value. Call Steve 717-379-8010.

FOR SALE: DI boxes.

Countryman Type 85 and

FOR SALE: Epiphone Dot 335 solid body continued on pg. 2 9 ...

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electric guitar. Beautiful finish in blond with hardshell case and Fender Deluxe 900 amplifier with cover, $450 firm. Call 717379-8010.

FOR SALE: BCRich Beast Guitar & molded case, 2001 Limited Edition body-art collection “BORIS” 24-fret neck, 2humbucker pickups $300.

5snyder64@comcast.net or 717-542-5351.

FOR SALE: Pair Yamaha S115V & Peavey TLS-5 speakers, QSC RMX2450 & Numark amps, monitors, pa/monitor processor, inear system, speaker cords.

5snyder64@comcast.net or 717-542-5351.

FOR SALE: GallienKruger 700RB with Hartke XL Series 4.5 Bass Module $625, call 610-898-4133.

FOR SALE: Carvin bass

July, 2014

cabinets, (2) BR 210 $250 a piece, BR 410 $300.All cabinets brand new. 570412-7614.

FOR SALE: Tascam 380 24 track recording board with V.O. meters, $500.

717-627-4800.

FOR SALE: Mastering cassette recorders like new, $35 to $35 each. 717-6274800.

MUSICIANS WANTED: WANTED:Guitarist and keyboardist to comlete E l v i s Tribute Band.

Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg shows and Booking Agent.

Need dedication and pro attitude. Call for set list A.S.A.P. 717-701-3302.

WA N T E D : Female vocalist for traditional

country band. Lead and bacgroundowrk, playing an instrument would be a plus. Serious and mature only. A modern day June Carter Cash would be nice.

Scranton, Wilkes Barre area. Practice in Lake Ariel, PA on Saturday evenings. Call Daave 570352-4697.

WA N T E D : Rhythm Guitarist for all original band. We play original rock/ hard rock. Must have equipment, transportation, and experience.

Practice is the Lewisburg area. 717-712-2008 or 717418-0020.

WANTED:G u i t a r i s t / Singer / Writer looking for bassist, d r u m m e r, keyboardist to support original debut album.

Rock/Blues styles. All MUST sing. No problems or issues. Wilkes-Barre area. Call John 570- 2873954. continued on pg. 2 9 ...

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WANTED: Musicians for an all in one cover, tribute, original band in Norristown, PA. Call Danny: 610-290-3492 or email: reditude2005@yahoo.com WA N T E D : Working band, playing classic, radio rock needs a lead guitar player with vocals.

Can provide current song list and details. Call 717460-3515.

WA N T E D : Guitarist looking for a keyboardist and drummer for original music. Influences are Steven Wilson’s “Grace for Drowning” and Pink Floyd’s “Meddle”. Call or text 484-300-7693.

WANTED: Lead Vocalist and bassist for a new project. Looking to do 70’s and 80’s guitar rock.

Must have stage experience. Please send info, vid clips, audio samples to: drumkerr@yahoo.com WANTED: Pro drummer wanted for touring pro

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band.

Contact hotguitar@yahoo.com.

570-982-2133.

WANTED: Band looking for Rhythm guitarist/lead to complete current line up. Concrete minded band. Older music to cover simple phone screet to recieve green light.

717-303-4211.

WANTED: Metal band, Car Wreck Syndrome needs bassist and lead guitarist. Can get gigs, pro gear, transportation a must. Pittsburgh area. 412841-6756.

WA N T E D : Hardcore Punk Vocalist Newly formed, 80’s style kick ass punk band needs a singer, influenced by Poison Idea, early Bad Brains, DK’s, Dwarves etc. We have 15 orig songs so far, that are going to blow the doors off everything, no filler.

We have much experience .We just need some good vocals to compliment our tunes. Practice 1-2 times a week. Age unimportant as we are 20s-40s. We

practice close to the Lancaster/ Berks border, just a few mins off rt.222. email chobrecords@gmail.com or text 717-824-0568.

WANTED: Musicians.

Guitarist/Singer/Writer looking for bassist, drummer, keyboardist to support original debut album. Rock/Blues styles.

All MUST sing. No problems or issues.

Wilkes-Barre area. Call John 570-287-3954.

WANTED: Seeking Bass man for female Fronted Blues Band: Lil’ Pittie and Da Blues Dogs are Looking for a Talented Bass Man. We just started Booking. We Practice in Duncannon, Sundays 2-5.

Email: fine_artist2002@yahoo.co m WANTED: Hired Guns/ Contract Killers PA/ MD/ NJ/ NY Working band in need of experienced fill in guitar player(s) with pro Gear, shredding ability, and transportation for upcoming gigs. Can be M/F, Old School/ New

School. Current needed to solve temporary situation, but a possibly a permanent position! Compensation for you time. You Play-We Pay! Contact Blair findmerighthere@hotmail. com WANTED: Rhythm guitarist wanted for all original band. We play original rock/ hard rock.

Must have equipment, transportation, and experience. Practice is the Lewisburg area. www.tukurpa.com 717712-2008 or 717-4180020.

WANTED: Musicians for an all in one cover, tribute, original band in Norristown, PA. Call Danny: 610-290-3492 or email: reditude2005@yahoo.com .

WANTED: Working band, playing classic, radio rock needs a lead guitar player with vocals.

Can provide current song list and details. Call 717460-3515.

Send your classifed to: Rnoll@pamusician.net

PENNSYLVANIA MUSICIAN MAGAZINE

MUSICIAN AVAILABLE: AVAILABLE: Harrisburg area acoustic upright and electric bass player, singer/ songwriter looking to add to a duo or other.

Enjoy country, bluegrass, folk or acoustic rock.

Enjoy what I’m doing but miss the really strong harmony. Looking to be your third part for covers and originals. Call Mike 717-565-0539 or email BigStringPKR@aol. com AVAILABLE: Rhythm Guitarist looking to join fun group playing 80’s style rock. Some originals too. State College area.

Early 40’s. Call anytime.

814-342-9123.

AVAILABLE:Experience d professional drummer, well versed in both modern and classic rock as well as metal and some progressive, seeks somewhat established band with an emphasis on melody, hooks and good

songs be it covers or originals. Please no time wasters...my time is valuable and yours should be too. Pro gear, play to win attitude and can play to a click track for studio work if necessary. Serious inquiries should contact Don at 570-449-1933 AVAILABLE: Professional rock drummer in Altoona area for established working band. 30+ years, Covers, Originals, and Studio, most recent: Half Tempted, Hy-Tyde. Call Erik @ 814-381-5312.

AVAILABLE: Bassist / strong lead and harmony vocals; Also play guitar and have originals: Available for working band or musical situation in Wilkes-Barre / Scranton area. Call David 570-8992272.

AVAILABLE: Female vocalist looking to start rock band in Lancaster County. Musicians ages40-60, genre 1960’s-today.

Experienced and dedicated only need apply. 717-6824987

July, 2014