HOMEGROWN ROCKER 5/1/11 (DAY OF ROCK PREVIEW)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the May 1 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).

Several musicians joined us in the studio this week to preview the forthcoming 5th annual “Day Of Rock” benefit concert for Easter Seals, which takes place on Saturday, May 7 at Hollidaysburg’s Legion Park. Thanks to Randy Wilson (Ganister), Ty Ayers (Hello, Vixen), Scott Bush (NailDriver), Bob Watters (Felix & the Hurricanes), James Musselman (Saving Jake) and Bryan “Zerb” Zerbee (Without Zerb) for previewing the benefit and updating us on their own band happenings, and we featured music from many of these bands along the way. In addition, we debuted new songs from Ron Gallucci, Locked Inside, Ivan Swangren Trio and Chasing The Unknown. We also updated “Local Music News,” dug out a 1997 song by Korruption for this week’s “Local Music Flashback,” and reviewed Halestorm’s ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP in “The Professor’s CD Corner.”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

MINDSPINE – “Forgotten You”
CANDLELIGHT RED – “Closer”
GANISTER – “Saving Grace”
RON GALLUCCI – “Beautiful Girl”
HELLO, VIXEN – “Grandpa’s Medicine”
MONSTER TRACK SUPERGROUP – “Hot Child in the City”
NAILDRIVER – “In God We Trust”
LOCKED INSIDE – “Bastard ‘68”

HOUR TWO:

CHRIS VIPOND & THE STANLEY STREET BAND – “Media Controls the World”
HYBRID ICE – “Shining Star”
FELIX & THE HURRICANES – “Issues”
HALESTORM – “Hunger Strike”
SAVING JAKE – “Candle Light”
KORRUPTION – “Mother” (1997, Local Music Flashback)
GANISTER – “Villain Inside”
IVAN SWANGREN TRIO – “Getaway”
CHASING THE UNKNOWN – “Alone”
FAITH IN EXILE – “One False Word”

On our next program, Chris Vipond & the Stanley Street Band will visit us. We’ll preview some songs from the group’s forthcoming second CD, and update their latest happenings. We’ll also update “Local Music News,” raid the local music archive for another “Local Music Flashback,” and review another local CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner.” Chris Vipond & the Stanley Street Band returns to the “Homegrown Rocker,” next Sunday night!

Upcoming guests and specials include:

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…

Area youth showed off their talents Sunday afternoon at 21st annual Crazy Fest Amateur Youth Talent Show at the Greenwood Firehall in Altoona, and competed for various trophies and awards. Top winners this year included dancer Cianna Stone of Hollidaysburg in the age 8-9 category, guitarist and singer Stevie Moses of Hollidaysburg in the age 10-12 category, magician Bobby Mehawk of Sykesville in the age 15-16 division, and pianist Annette Nagle of Altoona in the age 20-21 class. The age 13-14 bracket ended in a tie between magician Danny Mehawk of Sykesville and dancer Syndi Piner of Altoona. The duos and groups top prize went to Danny and Bobby Mehawk and their magic show, M&M Magic. Winning the band division was a young Altoona power trio called Faceplant. The fan favorite awards, as voted by the audience, went to Julia Willett of Altoona in the girls’ division, and card sharpshooter Dalton Farabaugh of Portage in the boys’ division. Future Star honors went to Stevie Moses for age 12 and under, and to Annette Nagle for age 13 and older; and the most original performer award went to Dalton Farabaugh. In the Outstanding Awards, the Outstanding Variety Act award went to M&M Magic, Outstanding Male Vocalist went to Stevie Moses, Outstanding Female Vocalist went to Julia Willett, Syndi Piner won Outstanding Dancer, and Stevie Moses won Outstanding Musician. Past contestants Nikki Wilkes and Nick Finochio both received Crazy Fest Hall Of Fame Awards. Crazy Fest organizer and host Dennie Huber again wants to thank all the contestants, Jack Servello for providing the sound production, all the sponsors, and everyone who attended this year’s event.

The deadline to submit entries to the 3rd annual Blair County Arts Festival Pop Songwriting Contest is approaching. Entries must be submitted by Friday, May 6. Winners will be selected in two categories; ages 14-18 and adults 19 and older. There is an entry fee of $15. Winners in each category will receive a demo recording session at Data Music Services Recording Studio in Altoona. All contestants get to perform their song entries during the annual Blair County Arts Festival May 21-22 at Penn State Altoona. For more information and an online entry form, visit the Blair County Arts Foundation website, www.mishlertheatre.org.

In a surprise development, Northeastern PA modern rockers Pan.a.ce.a decided to call it quits this past week, ending an 8-year run. The group performed throughout the northeast, and was believed to be closing in on a recording deal at the time of their breakup.

A special benefit show to help out the family of an area musician will happen Saturday night, May 7, at Pellegrine’s. The proceeds will help out the family of The Downfall’s drummer, J.D. Heverly, whose father recently died in a car accident. The bands The Downfall, Rapid Fire, Bring The Rain, Hope Theatre, Threesome and Highway Divide will donate their talents.

An upcoming benefit show will raise funds to help earthquake and tsunami disaster relief efforts in Japan. The Tsunami Benefit will happen on Saturday night, June 4 at 30 Something in Altoona, and will feature performances from False Icons, NailDriver, Samara and On Dying Days. Proceeds will go to Red Cross Disaster Relief to help in the Japan relief efforts.