RONNY D., ADAM D. & FRIENDS @ BELMAR HOTEL, ALTOONA 3/9/04
Live music appears to have found a new home in the Altoona area on Tuesday nights, based on this latest installment of Ron Dalansky and Adam D. and friends at the Belmar Hotel.
The musical guests this night were quite a few. Through the course of the evening, Ron and Adam were joined onstage by “Big Jim” Ricotta (who sat in a good portion of the night), Backdraft’s Brian Cupples, Banditos’ Bill Nusom, and his friend, Tony from New York, on guitar.
With these guests, there were bound to be highlights. One was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” with Billy and Tony sitting in; Tony’s guitarwork here was amazing. The following version of Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” was a little rough in taking off at first and smacked into a few windows and power lines; but achieved impressive heights by the time it reached the homestretch. Other highlights included the hybrid lineup of “Big Jim,” Billy, Brian and Adam performing Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath;” Jim, Billy and Ron’s version of James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain;” the Jim and Ron rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Ballad of Curtis Lowe;” and a singalong version of Don McLean’s “American Pie” with Ron, Adam, Jim, Brian, and near song’s end, a member of Altoona’s Sweet Adelines.
Also interesting were Adam’s lounge lizard take on Warrant’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” his solo version of Steely Dan’s “The Royal Scam,” and Ron’s improv version of Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing,” with Adam, Jim and Brian assisting.
Again, it was another fun evening, as Ron, Adam and their guests platooned on and off the stage and mixed it up throughout the night, keeping the music sounding fresh. Obviously these musicians were having fun, as this little jam get-together lasted until well past the scheduled midnight quitting time.
Attendance appears to be steadily growing for Ron and Adam’s Tuesday Belmar jams; this was the best attendance I’ve seen out of the three I’ve taken in thus far. And judging by the musician turnout this night, word must be spreading that there is at least one place in the Altoona area for musicians to get together and jam on a Tuesday night. Hopefully that word will keep on spreading.
Left to right: Tony from New York, Ronny D. and Brian from Backdraft.
More special guest action with Big Jim, Brian Cupples and Bill Nusom.
Adam D.
Big Jim, Ronny D. and Brian Cupples.
Big Jim having fun at the Belmar.
Special guest Brian Cupples of Backdraft.
FELIX & THE HURRICANES @ PETER C’S, ALTOONA 3/11/04
Any plans I had to travel out of town this particular Thursday night went out the window when the news broke that Dick Kos was returning home following a tour of duty keeping the peace in Kosovo. Dick and David Wessels – both area musicians who serve in the 28th Infantry Mechanized Division of the Pennsylvania National Guard – spent much of the past year in Kosovo, and returned to a homecoming celebration earlier in the week. It didn’t take Dick long to strap on his guitar and begin jamming with brother Felix; and word quickly began circulating around the local music community that Dick would be back onstage with Felix & the Hurricanes this Thursday night. I was there!
I arrived at Peter C’s early this night, and had procured a good vantage point. Attendance was surprisingly light in the early going; perhaps more folks were arriving later, or not everybody had yet heard about Dick’s arrival back home.
With Dick onstage and plugged in, the Hurricanes kicked off the night with three new original songs – the Jeff Clapper-sung “Cut That Line” and “Such a Fool,” and a yet-to-be-titled new blues ballad by original sung by lead ‘Cane Felix Kos. The brotherly guitar fireworks then began in earnest, as Felix and Dick cranked out the guitar jams on “Hoochie Koochie Man.” The Hurricanes then shifted into Allman Brothers mode, performing “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Both brothers harmonized dual guitar leads early on, before Dick and Felix fired off crisp and fiery solo leads respectively. It was hard to believe that these two hadn’t been onstage together in the better part of a year – so clean and tight were their harmonies, it was as if Dick had never left town! After the Allmans display, Dick stepped to the microphone and told the Peter C’s audience, “All I can say is, it is goddamn good to be home!” The Hurricanes proceeded with “All Along the Watchtower,” the ‘Canes original songs “Walking a Straight Line” and “Free,” and the Grateful Dead’s “Alabama Getaway;” before Dick stepped up to the lead mic to growl lead voice on what he called a “perverted ‘Spirit in the Sky’” – ZZ Top’s “La Grange.” The song became a platform to launch another Kos brothers free-for-all guitar jam that sent the show into its first intermission.
A few more people began arriving as the night proceeded, including several loyal Hurricaniacs in the house to welcome Dick Kos back home. A mid-sized crowd was gathering as the Hurricanes reconvened with their second set.
Without Dick onstage, Felix & the Hurricanes resumed the action with Molly Hatchet’s “Flirtin’ with Disaster,” and followed with John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” and Dr. Hook’s “The Cover of the Rolling Stone.” Dick, now back onstage, sang lead on the Georgia Satellites’ “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.” Dick remained on lead mic to growl lead voice on his own bluesy original song, “Living on a Poor Man’s Pay.” (Here’s my early vote for seeing this song turn up on a Hurricanes album someday, hint, hint.) Then it was the night’s second round of Allman Brothers fireworks, as Dick and Felix again combined for some beautiful guitar lead harmonies on “Jessica,” and Dick and ‘Canes bass man Jeff Clapper exchanged fiery licks on “One Way Out.” The onstage action continued with Blackfoot’s “Train Train,” and fans began to populate the dance floor to party along with the Hurricanes. The uptempo pace of the show continued with Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” Eddie Rabbitt’s “Driving My Life Away,” and Spirit’s “I Got a Line on You.” Felix, Dick and the Hurricanes had one more Allman Brothers display left for this night, “Blue Skys,” which segued into Iron Butterfly’s “Innagaddadavida.”
Not unexpectedly, the Peter C’s crowd didn’t want to see this onstage reunion display end just yet, and called for one more song. The Hurricanes responded with “Free Bird,” with one more heaping dosage of Kos brothers guitar jam meltdown. Hoo-rah!
The night delivered exactly what I had hoped to see; the musical magic of Felix and Dick Kos, back together on the same stage. It was a fun and celebratory night, as Hurricaniacs, Peter C’s staff and patrons welcomed Dick home and marveled at Hurricanes magic. Dick has been a frequent guest at Hurricanes shows since his return, so more Hurricanes fireworks like this night are indeed likely.
Happy to be back home, Dick Kos.
Bob Watters of the Hurricanes.
Jeff Clapper of the Hurricanes.
Two brothers a-jammin’ – Dick and Felix Kos.
Again, Dick Kos.
Again, Dick and Felix Kos.
Dick, Felix & the Hurricanes continue to jam down.
More guitar harmonies with Dick and Felix.
The homecoming celebration continues, Hurricanes style…
Once again, Dick Kos.
The Hurricanes rhythm section of Bob Watters and Jeff Clapper.
Once again, Hurricane Felix.
FORTUNATE ONE (42N81) @ ALDO’S, ALTOONA 3/12/04
Last spring, I wrote about a new group offering a new style and sound in the Altoona area, SingNature & the Sound Brigade. They were the band winners at last year’s Crazy Fest Amateur Talent Show, and I also caught a full set from the group a week later at the Ground Floor Café. The five-piece group offered a unique mixture of original modern R&B, hip-hop and rap. During my May 9 “Weekend Recap,” I offered this advice:
“Pay attention to this band, as they’re the first group to do this vein of music in the area, and could be a groundbreaking force on area stages as they continue to develop and progress.”
Nearly a year later, the group has changed their name to 4-2-N-8-1 (“For-tu-nate-One”); and this night played their first ever over-21 show at Aldo’s. I was curious, and a bit apprehensive as I headed to Aldo’s at around midnight. Aldo’s these days is known more as a metal-geared bar; just how would Fortunate One’s brand of urban-flavored original music go over here?
The answer was clear when I arrived, as a good-sized crowd – much larger than most Fridays – was in attendance to check out Fortunate One. Although most of the audience appeared to be new faces to Aldo’s, most who had followed Fortunate One to Juniata this night, it was still encouraging to see this group’s first over-21 gig receive this much support.
Fortunate One’s presentation was well under way. In front of two colorful painted backdrops, and against a backdrop of electronic beats and rhythms, members of Fortunate One performed various R&B, rap and hip-hop-flavored original songs. For the most part, Fortunate One didn’t perform together as a ‘group,’ but more often as soloists, duets or trios, with the various members mixing it up for each song.
These performances were engaging and intriguing. Many of the songs dealt with boy-girl issues, personal themes, social harmony and getting along with one another. A few of the individual performances came off as a sort of urban-flavored beat poetry recital; such as Duane Civils’ ode to fatherhood, “All I Have.” Other performances bordered on theatric performance art. One song staged a break-up between Chet Denny and Biranda Goodman, with Chet rapping and acting out his accusations and allegations of infidelity against Biranda, and Biranda’s responses. Some songs were straight-ahead raps, while others mixed in modern R&B melodies. The trio of Biranda, Chet and Anthony Harrison ended the evening with the strong R&B ballad, “Time;” all three singers demonstrated clear and powerful voices, and harmonized together nicely.
The audience in attendance this night didn’t come away empty, either. Copies of Fortunate One’s 5-song EP, featuring several of the songs performed this night, were given out to everyone in attendance.
As I said before, Fortunate One again demonstrated something fresh and unique to the area music scene this night. The group has been doing recording in Philadelphia over the past year, and continues to create new compositions. Based on this debut at Aldo’s, it appears that Fortunate One has already begun to develop a strong fan base. That fan base could grow rapidly as more people learn about this group and their unique style and presentation, and the group gets in front of some larger audiences in this area.
Fortunate One in action at Aldo’s.
Tony Harrison and Duane Civils of 42N81.
More of Fortunate One’s performance.
Biranda, Chet and Tony of Fortunate One.
814 “ST. PATRICK’S DAY RIOT” w/PIPEBOMBS/REJX/LUCKY/STRIKES/MAD COWS/MARAUDERS @ CASTLE PUB, EBENSBURG 3/13/04
I had this date marked on the calendar from the time it was first announced. It was Riot time! Ebensburg’s Castle Pub was the setting for the annual 814-sponsored St. Patty’s Day Riot – a night of music from various 814-affiliated bands, plus hundreds of wild and crazy fans and abundant beer consumption.
Unlike the past two years, the St. Patty’s Day Riot would unfold on two stages this year instead of one. According to the game plan, bands would stagger their start times between the main upstairs Castle Pub stage, and the downstairs “Dungeon” stage. The opening band, The Pipebombs, had already completed their set on the Dungeon stage as I arrived. The Lucky Strikes were setting up upstairs, while Pittsburgh’s ReJX were doing likewise in the Dungeon. A good-sized crowd was already present, and it would get bigger and crazier as the night progressed. For a little while, there was no music as both bands continued to set up. Eventually, the ReJX were ready to go.
After a fanfare blasted through the P-A, the words of “Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for a musical shotgun-blast to the face from a rock'n'roll machine of dynamic proportions. With supersonic sound and hyper-active speed, we are the ayatolla of rock'n'rolla...the ReeeeeeeeJX!!!” With that, the group unleashed their set of go-for-broke punk-geared rock. This fivesome – including smiling, round-headed mascot Nerdball – was intense, agitated and in-your-face; performing rapidfire assaults such as "Cannonball," "Let's Go Berserk," "Couch Potato" and more. A healthy and Riot-ous crowd cheered, grooved, and cavorted up front to the band, dancing with Nerdball and having a raucous, good time. In all, a charged, fiery and fun set.
The ReJX launch mayhem on the Castle Dungeon stage.
Mascot Nerdball makes his first appearance.
More madness with the ReJX.
Nerdball makes another appearance.
As the ReJX finished, I headed upstairs to try to catch the remainder of the Lucky Strikes’ set, which started shortly after the ReJX did. Unfortunately, I arrived for only the last half of the group’s final song, which finished in a bluesy rockabilly jam, with all four members – plus special guest sax player Terry Owen – going full-tilt on their instruments. What I did hear from this Scranton-based foursome sounded strong, and the rowdy and unanimous cheers of the Castle stagefront fans indicated that I had missed a damned good set. DAMN!
Back to the Dungeon I headed to see the final band on the Castle downstairs stage, The Mad Cows. While they were setting up, I got to speak with several familiar faces from the 814 family, including a few members of long-dormant Ten Sent Wings. Even former Ten Sent Wings drummer Manny Delerme was in town from his current home base of Philadelphia to take in this special night. By the time the Mad Cows were ready to get underway, the Dungeon had a wall-to-wall crowd of fans ready for some “farm-core.”
The Mad Cows delivered, unleashing the beast with their brand of driving, over-the-top "farm-core." From the get-go, these Cows were over-the-top, reckless abandon, go-for-broke energy and excitement as they floored the accelerator pedal and never let up. Frontman/bassist Bucket, guitarists Jesse and Ben, and drummer Josh slammed forth punk-ish tunes from their new CD, Life Sucks, But Who's Trying, and some older assaults as well. The Mad Cows quickly connected with the stagefront crowd, triggering friendly moshing and gang-shout singalongs on nearly every song. The Mad Cows delivered what was probably the most riotous set of this year’s St. Patty’s Day Riot, full of full-force, high-velocity music, flying bodies, copious amounts of beer consumption, high-fives and good times. A wild party of a set.
Jesse and Josh of the Mad Cows.
Josh of the Mad Cows.
Bucket of the Mad Cows.
Jesse of the Mad Cows.
Rowdy stagefront fans help Bucket with gang shout vocals.
An enraged bovine, Bucket of the Mad Cows.
With action now finished in the Dungeon, I headed upstairs for the rest of the Riot. The Marauders were about midway through their set, performing their brand of feverish roots rock. The big surprise for me was that The Marauders were operating as a three-piece this night, with singer/guitarist Ben Dumm, stand-up bass player Chris Lawson and drummer Abe Weber. The group had the Castle Pub upstairs rocking and rolling wildly, as the huge stagefront mass of humanity was celebrating the trio’s mix of new songs and favorites from their Alibi CD. All three musicians were bringing the fire and brimstone on their respective instruments; Ben and Chris were trading off licks on guitar and bass, playing off one another while Abe kept the beat uptempo and jumpin.’ Castle Pub was into The Marauders’ party, and unanimously demanded an encore at set’s end. The Marauders responded with two new songs, the latter entitled “Dead of Night,” and a version of the Stray Cats’ "Rock This Town."
The Marauders rock down the Castle Pub.
Chris Lawson of The Marauders.
Again, Chris Lawson of The Marauders.
Again, The Marauders at the 814 Riot.
The Marauders and a mass of humanity at the Castle Pub.
One more time, Chris Lawson of The Marauders.
One band was left on this year’s edition of the 814 Riot, the Castle Pub debut of Kung Flude, the newest band venture of Hollidaysburg native John Flude. Kung Flude came together when, following the disintegration of Dragstrip Syndicate, John joined up with Buzzsawyer’s rhythm battery of bassist Vee and drummer Matt Tarpley. From the get-go, John took control of this show, quickly pushing his own presentation and the band into overdrive with their brand of blistering, punk-driven rock. John raged as he introduced the song "I Control Your Rock'n'Roll," before introducing Kung Flude’s unique sideshow attraction. In the best kung fu tradition, John started doing a martial arts demonstration, having band and audience members hold Styrofoam ‘boards’ as he split them with his head. The stagefront mass of humanity ate it up, cheering wildly as John performed each martial arts move. Musically, the melee continued with "Weapon Face," the wild audience participation anthem “Everybody Join Hands,” a blistering version of Greg Kihn's "Break Up Song" and more. Kung Flude was appropriately slamming, and the Castle Pub stagefront was a sea of partying fans, sweat and beer. Once again, the 814 Riot had achieved its full meltdown.
John Flude of Kung Flude.
Matt Tarpley of Kung Flude.
Kung Flude and the stagefront fans.
John Flude of Kung Flude addresses his minion.
Once again, John Flude of Kung Flude.
Again, Matt Tarpley of Kung Flude.
And so ended another St. Patty’s Riot. Six bands came, saw, rocked, conquered, and set the stage for consumption of mass quantities of brew. (One band that was scheduled to participate, the Electric Hips, had too close an encounter with Bambi en route from Maryland, rendering their van incapable of further travel.) Having once hosted this party before, Castle Pub was ready this year, and didn’t run out of beer. It was a rocking, high-energy party from start to end, with maximum rock’n’roll and minimum problems. Everybody came, saw, rocked, and enjoyed the evening. Hats off to 814 main man Dan Rugh for another successful 814 Riot, and I’ll again be looking forward to this event next year to help get my St. Patrick’s Day celebration off on the right foot.
BACKSTREET LAW @ PELLEGRINE’S, ALTOONA 3/14/04
Backstreet Law provided music to finish out the weekend with at Pellegrine’s. It had been a couple of months since Backstreet Law’s last Pelly’s visit, so I was there to see what was new.
I arrived around midnight-ish, and a good crowd was on hand. The group was just finishing up their second set with two Metallica tunes, “Enter Sandman” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”
During set break, I got to speak with drummer Choke, who filled me in on the latest Backstreet Law happenings. The group is gearing up to unleash a new full-length CD later in the year, and will soon issue a 3-song EP sampler with sponsors Jagermeister. The group also will be second stage performers at this year's Rolling Rock Town Fair, returning to the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds in Latrobe July 31.
Soon Backstreet Law returned to the stage for the nightcap. After hard-hitting favorites from Cold and Drowning Pool resumed the action, the group performed the title track to their CD, Hollow. The group then launched into an 80’s hit/dance medley, featuring portions of tunes from Violent Femmes, Michael Jackson, Vanilla Ice and Madonna. Backstreet Law then shifted into classic rock mode for the next medley, fusing together tunes from the Steve Miller Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and George Thorogood. Singer Goody then introduced a new original song, “Frustrated,” an ode to the music business and how frustrating it can be trying to succeed in it. The group then ended the set on a metallic note with bassist Jamie Morral growling out the vocal lead on Pantera’s “Walk.” When Pellegrine’s demanded the encore, Backstreet Law responded with their own unique metallic take on Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville.”
Backstreet Law laid down the law with their usual tightness and firepower. The group’s immense sound system enabled Choke’s bass drum to thunder like a nuclear warhead, and Jamie Morral’s bass rumble to induce bowel movements. The group rocked hard where it needed to, and kept the party upbeat and lighthearted as the mood dictated. It was another solid outing for Backstreet Law, effectively slamming the lid on another weekend at Pellegrine’s.
Backstreet Law has another party going…
Jeremy Edge of Backstreet Law, demonstrating some beer bottle slide.
Backstreet Law with a bunch of Pellegrine’s females onstage.
Jeremy Edge of Backstreet Law with several ladies onstage.
Goody and the ladies, whooping it up at Pellegrine’s.
