DUCK DOWN BOULEVARD @ YESTERDAY’S PARTY, EBENSBURG 12/7/07
In a rare instance, I did something I normally never do on this Friday night. After snow fell on area roads during a good part of the day, I still did a roadtrip up the mountain to Ebensburg this night (the temperature had actually warmed up past the freezing mark and the roads were just wet). My destination was Yesterday’s Party, to catch the first area visit of new Harrisburg party rockers Duck Down Boulevard.
Duck Down Boulevard was just finishing up their first set when I arrived. Despite the wintry weather earlier in the day, a mid-sized crowd graced Y-P, including a contingent of teachers from the Glendale School District. Also likely cutting into the attendance was that the Castle Pub had reopened this weekend, and that Go Go Gadjet was performing there this night.
Featuring lead singer/guitarist Shadow, lead guitarist Mikey K (ex-Booty Camp), bassist Joey G and drummer Ray (ex-Juiced); Duck Down Boulevard soon started off their second set with Buckcherry’s ever-popular “Crazy Bitch.” As the group’s set unfolded, they offered a hard-rocking party blending classic and current favorites. This set featured numbers from Violent Femmes, Kiss, Ted Nugent, Green Day, AC/DC, Beastie Boys, Cheap Trick, the Black Crowes and more. A few dancers appeared on the dance floor from time to time, including a 21st birthday celebrant named Sara and her contingent.
Duck Down Boulevard kicked off their nightcap set with the Ramones double-shot of “Blitzkrieg Bop” and “I Wanna Be Sedated;” and continued with AC/DC’s “TNT” and Poison’s “Talk Dirty to Me,” which steadily brought more action to the Y-P dance floor. The floor stayed busy for the rest of the set, as Duck Down Boulevard played numbers from Rebel Yell, Local H, Rage Against the Machine and more.
Duck Down Boulevard was solid overall. The group was instrumentally together, and frontman Shadow showed a good voice and a friendly personality up front. The group kept the music constant and the mood fun, and were rewarded with an increasingly busy dance floor as the night went along. Although they didn’t have a packed house, Duck Down Boulevard seemed to please the people who where in attendance this night. With more shows coming up in this neck of the woods, this group will have some opportunities to expand the local fan base they started building this night.
Duck Down Boulevard triggers some dance floor action at Yesterday’s Party.
Again, Duck Down Boulevard.
From a different angle, Duck Down Boulevard.
Mikey K. of Duck Down Boulevard.
Again, Mikey K. of Duck Down Boulevard.
More Duck Down Boulevard.
Joey G. of Duck Down Boulevard. Joey would exit the group soon after this show.
Shadow of Duck Down Boulevard.
Ray of Duck Down Boulevard.
Joey G. and Shadow of Duck Down Boulevard.
Once again, Mikey K. of Duck Down Boulevard.
Once again, Shadow.
With a dance floor participant seated in front of the stage, Duck Down Boulevard.
Again, Ray of Duck Down Boulevard.
TOYS FOR TOTS BENEFIT @ ALDO’S, ALTOONA 12/8/07
Two weeks after City Limits hosted the Pennsylvania Musician Toys for Tots benefit, Aldo’s staged their third annual Toys for Tots benefit show this night. As is usually the case, the Aldo’s show took on a heavier rocking flavor with its cast of bands.
Cambria County’s Twisted and Used launched the evening, performing a set of original hardcore-flavored metal. They offered a unique slant with the co-ed lead vocalist duo of Drew Baney and Mandy Mesaros. Eric Smay plays bass, Casey Surap and Mike McDannell play guitars, and Bret Berkhimer plays drums. Twisted and Used displayed all-out ferocity and force with dense rhythms, roaring guitars and the tortured vocal howls of Drew and Mandy as they did assaults such as “Soldier of War,” “Shattered Dreams” and more.
Drew Baney of Twisted and Used.
Mandy Mesaros and Drew Baney of Twisted and Used.
A large crowd was in the house to support this benefit, and I noted several Rockpagers among the audience members. Hawk, undercoverjoe, Naga, DirtySanchez and Chell were all representing.
Next up was the much-anticipated debut of Altoona’s Naildriver. This group marked the return of former Saucemonster singer Floyd Hunter to the live stage, as well as former Grimm guitarist Scott Botteicher. Dan Mullan plays bass, and Randy Sciarrillo plays drums. Naildriver introduced a rigid and powerful brand of melody-geared heavy rock in the vein of Black Label Society; performing an all-original set. The group opened with their title song “Naildriver,” and did other originals such as “Throw the Switch,” the outspoken “No Tolerance” and “We the People,” “Divided We Fall” and more. As he was in Saucemonster, Floyd was out front and taking it to the audience, while Scott delivered some incredible guitar shredding along the way. The Aldo’s crowd roared approval, and Naildriver’s debut was clearly a well-received one.
Making their debut, Naildriver.
Floyd Hunter of Naildriver.
Scott Botteicher of Naildriver.
Dan Mullan of Naildriver.
Again, Scott Botteicher of Naildriver.
Once again, Naildriver.
During the following intermission, I noted Hawk and Undercoverjoe conversing in front of the stage. It dawned on me that we were probably witnessing the first Presidential debate of the 2008 election year, even though none of the candidates were in attendance!
Chapter 5 was next, and citing drummer Bill Mort’s ailing back, performed just a brief 4-song set featuring tunes from their new A Great Day to Die CD.
Tim Mort of Chapter 5.
Again, Tim Mort and Chapter 5.
Choking Faith closed the night with their scorched-earth brand of scathing metal. Singer Jason Mittan again displayed one of the fiercest metal roars in the Keystone State, fronting Choking Faith through punishing original assaults such as “Porno Tongue,” “Wait” and “Oblivion;” along with new songs such as “The Devil Is My Shepherd,” “Six” and “My Bloody Valentine.” The show ended with members of Chapter 5 and fans joining Choking Faith onstage for a rowdy edition of Skid Row’s “Youth Gone Wild.”
Here is footage from Choking Faith’s performance:
http://www.rockpage.net/users/jprice/video/MOV00224.MPG
Jason Mittan of Choking Faith.
Again, Jason Mittan of Choking Faith. Hey Sanchez, pay attention!!!
With a second singer, Adam, helping out on vocals, Choking Faith.
Again; Jason, Adam and Choking Faith.
Joe Richards of Choking Faith.
Again, Jason of Choking Faith.
Steve Seymore of Choking Faith.
Dan Miller of Choking Faith.
Again going full-vent, Jason of Choking Faith.
With Suicide Switch frontman Cheeze and other guests joining in onstage, Choking Faith.
Fans look on as Jason and Choking Faith deliver the metal.
More metal maelstrom with Choking Faith.
Youth Gone Wild! Choking Faith keeps rocking the house.
Tom Noel and Cheeze helping out on vocals.
The gang’s all onstage with Jason and Choking Faith.
One more time, Choking Faith and friends.
Cheeze, celebrating Toys for Tots and Corona.
It was a good night of hard-hitting rock that raised $600 and a nice boxload of toys for needy area families. Hats off again to all the bands that donated their services, and everybody who showed up to support the effort.
FLIGHT 19 @ PELLEGRINE’S, ALTOONA 12/9/07
I finished up the weekend again at Pellegrine’s, this night boarding the “party plane” as Flight 19 took to the skies over Pelly’s stage. This night would mark my first look at the band after they added long-absent area keyboard vet Phil Steele to their flight crew. And on the other side of the building, it would mark my first look at the third Die Hard movie, courtesy of Guv’nor Jesse’s DVD of the week.
I arrived near the end of the group’s second set, and heard them perform their popular and rowdy original anthem “Hands,” as well as versions of Ian Hunter/Great White’s “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and AC/DC’s “Shoot to Thrill” to close the set.
Flight 19’s nightcap set was an unusual one. The group did what they reliably do, rocking the house with favorites from the 70’s to present. The songlist during this set included AC’DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock’n’Roll),” Kiss’ “I Was Made for Loving You,” the funk/disco medley featuring the Commodores’ “Brick House,” Ohio Players’ “Love Rollercoaster,” Tone Loc’s “Wild Thing,” The Gap Band’s “You Dropped the Bomb on Me” and Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax,” and more. As the group finished Maroon 5’s “Harder to Breathe” and started into Buckcherry’s “Crazy Bitch,” a bearded individual wearing a Mennonite-styled hat stepped up to the stage and flipped the bird at singer Brian Thomas, maintaining his position with finger outstretched for most of the duration of the song. I initially thought that this guy was probably some friend of the band who was fooling around, but I later learned that he wasn’t! Apparently this was another “Freak night” at Pelly’s! Light man Bob Cannistraci then joined the group onstage to help growl out Drowning Pool’s “Bodies,” before the Party Plane landed for the evening with the Limp Bizkit take on “Faith.”
New addition Phil seemed to fit in well with Flight 19 this night. His keys added depth and flavor to the group’s sound, and meshed well with guitarists John McKelvey and Scott Imler, bassist Tim Kelly and drummer Darrin Hand. Flight 19 kept the party moving, triggering dance floor action in spite of the mean-spirited guy in the Mennonite lid.
The expanded crew of the “Party Plane” still delivers the goods, and it will be interesting to see how this band progresses with their new addition in the next few months.
The newest member of the “Party Plane’s” flight crew, Phil Steele.
Flight 19 rocks Pellegrine’s.
John McKelvey and Brian Thomas of Flight 19.
Phil Steele and John McKelvey of Flight 19.
Again, Brian Thomas of Flight 19.
Again, Flight 19.
Again, John McKelvey of Flight 19.
Again, Flight 19.
Tim Kelly of Flight 19.
Mennonite approved? Flight 19.
Again, Phil Steele of Flight 19.
Light man Bob Cannistraci joins Flight 19 onstage.
Brian Thomas and Scott Imler of Flight 19.
Tim Kelly of Flight 19.
Phil Steele and Bob Cannistraci of Flight 19.
JP’s HAIKU
Flight 19 Pelly’s
Weird “Party Plane” passenger
Mean Mennonite guy
