HOMEGROWN ROCKER 5/25/14 (MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the May 25 edition of Rocky 104.9 and Rocky 99's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on WRKY-FM (www.rocky1049.com) and WRKW-FM (www.rocky99.com). The show can also be streamed via either Rocky website, www.rocky1049.com or www.rocky99.com.

We honored “Homegrown Rocker” tradition during this Memorial Day weekend, and presented our annual trek down Local Music Memory Lane! We dug into the archives and brought back musical memories from the area music scene, spotlighting past bands and artists! Each of the past five decades was represented, as we heard from area music juggernauts and crowd favorites, and a few lesser-known area names as well. And we always manage to dig up an interesting curio each year; this year’s was a demo cut from future Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin, Brad Divens and Wrathchild (pre-Wrathchild America) from 1983! And we honored several fallen area musicians during the show’s final 30 minutes. In addition, we reviewed the 2-CD compilation set Now and Then: The State College Music Scene 1968-2012 in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Here is this week's playlist (the year of each track is in parentheses):

HOUR ONE:

BLUE SKYE MOURNING – “Bus People” (1996)
DONNY BURNS AND THE SHARP TURNS – “Bill the Wino” (1991)
TREMOR – “Movin’ On Down the Line” (1975)
FANTASY AIRLIFT – “Green Eyed Lady” (1980)
APOLLOS – “Born to Raze Hell” (1986)
STERLING COOKE FORCE – “She’s Gonna Get You” (1984)
THE FRONT – “Can Do” (1983)
SIDEWALK ROMEO – “Allinda” (1989)
WOOLLY THUMPERS – “Come Closer” (1969)
KINDRED SPIRIT – “Blue Avenue” (1969)

HOUR TWO:

DEAD RECKONING – “Mr. Blonde/Rancor” (1993)
WRATHCHILD – “Danger Us” (1983)
MAN ALIVE – “Take Away” (1994)
MENAGERIE – “Wrong About You” (1981)
MISCONCEIVED – “Why’d Ya Left” (1998)
SOUND DRIVEN – “Antelopium” (2003)

(TRIBUTE TO FALLEN MUSICIANS:)

MIDNIGHT RODEO – “Saturday Night” (2005, Roy Corle)
DAVE BLACKLEDGE – “Your Butt’s Too Fat to Dance Like That” (2006)
BASHFUL – “Monsters” (1988, Ed Miller)
KORRUPTION – “Slash 17” (live) (1997, Steve McCulley)
FAT VINNY & THE WISEGUYS – “Picked the Wrong Day” (2001, Eric “Fat Vinny” Kelly)

On our next program, we will get acquainted with our special guests via phone, Philadelphia-based power trio Modern Colour! We will meet the band members and learn their story, plus hear tracks from their latest self-titled EP! Along the way, we will update “Local Music News,” dig a tune from the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” and review The Big Time’s Dreamers and Believers CD in the “Professor’s CD Corner!” Modern Colour joins us via phone on the “Homegrown Rocker,” next Sunday night!

Upcoming guests and specials include:

JUNE 15 – FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL
JUNE 22 – COVER SONG SPECIAL
JUNE 29 – JARROD BARTOK (SOLEGION)
JULY 20 – CATS IN CONGRESS
AUG. 3 – LOCAL MUSICIANS THEN AND NOW SPECIAL

Bands and artists wanting to submit news items for “Local Music News” may email their news to homegrownrocker@gmail.com (new email address). Indicate “MUSIC NEWS” in the subject heading!

The “Homegrown Rocker” is available for digital download off either Rocky website after each and every show. Just check on either (www.rocky1049.com) or (www.rocky99.com) and download your copy of the show! If you live beyond the signal range of Rocky 104.9 and Rocky 99, you can now download west-central PA’s longest-running local music show!

Also, bands and artists are welcome to add their upcoming shows to the “Homegrown Rocker” event calendar! Go to the “Homegrown Rocker” section of either Rocky website and click on “Events,” and add your shows for free!

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