HOMEGROWN ROCKER 4/3/11 (MATT OTIS)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the April 3 edition of Rocky 99 and Rocky 104.9's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on WRKW-FM (www.rocky99.com) and WRKY-FM (www.rocky1049.com).

Thanks to our guest, Bedford-based singer and songwriter Matt Otis (www.mattotismusic.com) and his musical assistants, violinist Cody Hiller and percussionist Jason Blair (also Meghan Wise, who videotaped the interview). We discussed Matt’s music and career to date, and got inside his brand new studio album, Life Love Death. We played songs from the CD, and Matt and his group played three songs live for us.

Near show’s end, we also featured an interview with father-and-son acoustic duo 2nd Street, Jerry and Jared Carnevali. 2nd Street won last year’s inaugural “Battle of the Acoustics” at the City Hotel in Northern Cambria, and we previewed the second annual “Battle,” which takes place over the course of six Thursdays beginning this Thursday night, April 7. The winner of the "Battle" finals on May 12 will be guests on the May 15 edition of the "Homegrown Rocker."

Along the way, we debuted new songs by Midnight Shift and Black Coffee, we dug a 1980 song by State College’s Backseat Van Gogh from the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” and we reviewed Scott Weitzenfeld’s Born an Outsider CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner.”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

FELIX & THE HURRICANES – “Icy You”
THE HOUSE BAND – “Leave It Alone”
MATT OTIS – “Voices”
MIDNIGHT SHIFT – “Back to Her Heart”
MATT OTIS – “Mercy of the Wind” (performed live on the air)
JACKSON MONSOUR – “Better”
MATT OTIS – “Love Inside My Head”

HOUR TWO:

MAXWELL STRAIT – “Babblefish”
BLACK COFFEE – “Working Hard”
MATT OTIS – “Wither Away” (performed live on the air)
SCOTT WEITZENFELD – “Born an Outsider”
MATT OTIS – “The Most Important Thing” (performed live on the air)
BACKSEAT VAN GOGH – “Catch a New Wave” (1980, Local Music Flashback)
MATT OTIS – “The Sea Is Part of Me”
EMILY’S TOYBOX – “Acappella”

On our next program, we welcome Pittsburgh rebel country-rockers East Coast Turnaround! We’ll learn their story and hear songs from their Season In Hell EP, and the group will bring instruments and play a couple of songs live! We’ll also update “Local Music News,” dig into the archive for another “Local Music Flashback,” and review another local CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!” East Coast Turnaround visits the “Homegrown Rocker,” next Sunday night!

Forthcoming guests and specials include:

APRIL 24 – E.V.K.
MAY 1 – DAY OF ROCK PREVIEW
MAY 8 – CHRIS VIPOND & THE STANLEY STREET BAND
MAY 15 – CITY HOTEL “BATTLE OF THE ACOUSTICS” WINNER
MAY 22 – GYPSY CARAVAN
MAY 29 – MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL
JUNE 5 – THE WHATLEYS
JUNE 12 – MINDSPINE
JUNE 19 – FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL
JULY 3 – VISION TO NONE

For regular updates on what is happening on the area music scene, pay a visit to Rockpage (www.rockpage.net). Rockpage features band links, a message board, "Homegrown Rocker" updates, live show and CD reviews in “JP’s Corner," and other local music scene information.

Bands and artists interested in having music aired on "The Homegrown Rocker" are invited to send their broadcast-quality recordings to: WRKY Radio, One Forever Drive, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648; ATTN: Jim Price. Or drop the recordings off at the station during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 9 AM - 5 PM. You can also email me with inquiries about the show at profjp@rocky1049.com.

Jim Price

In Local Music News…

Halestorm has released a new 6-song cover song EP. The new recording, called ReAnimate, features Halestorm redoing songs by Skid Row, Lady GaGa, Temple Of The Dog, Guns N’Roses, Heart and the Beatles. The EP can be purchased through the group’s website, www.halestormrocks.com. Halestorm is continuing to work on song material for their second full-length studio album, to be released later this year.

After being sidelined for over half a year with a severely broken foot and other health issues, popular Clearfield area guitar shredder Chris Kane is ready to return to action. Chris will make his official return to the stage on April 16 with his band The Zoo at Mojo’s in Clearfield.

A new area band expected to hit stages this summer has formed. Hot Damn will feature Trace Baker on lead vocals and guitar, Max Romaine on lead guitar and vocals, Craig Boore on bass and Kevin Carns on drums. The group plans to do dance-friendly rock and funk.

And a date has been announced for the 21st annual Crazy Fest Amateur Youth Talent Show. The event, which encourages youngsters age 21 and younger to perform their talents in front of the friendly and supportive audience for trophies and other prizes, will take place on Sunday, May 1 at 1 PM at the Greenwood Firehall in Altoona. Crazy Fest is open to any type of talent, including dancers, musicians, actors, magicians, or any other form of talent youngsters can present. There is no fee for youngsters to enter the event, but there is a $2 donation at the door for the public to attend, and food sale proceeds benefit the Greenwood Fire Company. For an application to enter Crazy Fest, contact show organizer and host Dennie Huber at (814) 942-2516.