HOMEGROWN ROCKER 10/7/12 (JOHN "JT" THOMPSON)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the October 7 edition of Rocky 104.9 and Rocky 99's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 9 to 11 PM during Steelers football season on WRKY-FM (www.rocky1049.com) and WRKW-FM (www.rocky99.com).

This week’s show provided quite the widespread musical journey! First, thanks to our guest this week, Happy Valley-based keyboardist/singer extraordinaire John “JT” Thompson (www.jtblues.com). (Thanks also to The Underground for the use of their studio to record this week’s interview.) John discussed his career, including his stints making music in Louisiana and Georgia, and his life after returning to Centre County nearly a decade ago. We also discussed John’s brand new CD, This Way That Way and heard several diverse tracks from it, with flavors ranging from rocking blues to swing to slow jazz to gospel tones! John also brought a keyboard and played two songs live! We also included a punk rock flavor during the show, as we aired a phone interview with Marky Ramone, the last surviving member of the Ramones; Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg visits the area to perform at Aldo’s Lounge next Sunday night, October 14! Along the way, we debuted a new song by Zupe & Nichols, updated “Local Music News,” dug a 1998 song by State College’s Dunston Ashe from the archive for this week’s “Local Music Flashback,” and reviewed Little Buddy’s Bridgeport Train CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner.”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

BEN DUMM AND THE DEVIANTS – “Shoot from the Hip”
MISS MELANIE AND THE VALLEY RATS – “Slow Down”
JOHN “JT” THOMPSON – “Why Can’t You Be True?”
ZUPE & NICHOLS – “Stomp!”
JOHN “JT” THOMPSON – “Summer in the Wintertime”
DOUG McMINN BLUES BAND – “Stop Twistin’ My Arm”
JOHN “JT” THOMPSON – “Last Night” (performed live on the air)

HOUR TWO:

(MARKY RAMONE INTERVIEW)
THE RAMONES – “Blitzkrieg Bop”
JOHN “JT” THOMPSON – “Just Over That Wall”
LITTLE BUDDY – “You and I”
JOHN “JT” THOMPSON – “Down at Daniel’s” (performed live on the air)
DUNSTON ASHE – “Marie Antoinette” (1998, Local Music Flashback)
JOHN “JT” THOMPSON – “Dance Little Sister Dance”

On our next program, we welcome northern Cambria County-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Alex Ramsdell on the program. We will meet and get acquainted with Alex, hear songs from him, and learn about his band A Dawn Becoming. We will also update “Local Music News,” dig out another “Local Music Flashback” from the archive, and review Fist Fight in the Parking Lot’s self-titled CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!” Alex Ramsdell on the “Homegrown Rocker,” next Sunday night!

Upcoming guests and specials include:

OCT. 21 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS FOOTBALL)
OCT. 28 – DANIEL COLLINS/STATE COLLEGE THEN & NOW
NOV. 4 – TUKURPA
NOV. 11 – PAUL SHIMMEL
NOV. 18 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS FOOTBALL)
NOV. 25 – ACOUSTIC JAM SPECIAL
DEC. 2 – LOOK LEFT
DEC. 23 – CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
DEC. 30 – 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW SPECIAL PT. 1
JAN. 6 – 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW SPECIAL PT. 2
JAN. 13 – INSTRUMENTS DO THE TALKING SPECIAL (ALL INSTRUMENTALS)

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…

Another benefit concert is being organized for next weekend to help out area musician Harry Bleyer following his horrific accident last month. Pellegrine’s in Altoona will present a benefit next Sunday, October 14, with proceeds going toward Bleyer and his family. Bands and performers confirmed to take part thus far include Drop Dead Sarcasm, The Backyard Rockers and Wyld Syde. Bleyer, the drummer for the Lewistown-based band A Beautiful Mess, is currently recovering in an Allentown burn center from second and third degree burns suffered to nearly 80 percent of his body after a propane tank exploded near him inside his Lewistown garage late last month.

A compilation CD project to help Harry Bleyer is also being organized. Bands and performers are donating songs toward the Rockin’ for Recovery CD project, with sales of the disc going toward Bleyer and his family. Groups and artists already confirmed for donating songs to the disc include Represent the Lie (RTL), Johnny Unit, Adrian Blitzer, Ronnie Henry, as well as past bands such as Wiskerbisket, Pure, The Fundamentals, Smak 9 and Bashful.

Misfortune befell a popular Pittsburgh area musician this past week. Pittsburgh blues guitar great Jimmy Adler was assaulted and knocked unconscious Thursday afternoon by unknown assailants while he was walking on Tito Way near Exchange Way in Pittsburgh. Adler suffered contusions and lacerations, and is recuperating at home. Authorities are examining surveillance camera footage of the incident to try to determine the identities of the assailants.