HOMEGROWN ROCKER 8/31/14

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the August 31 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.

This week presented another opportunity to empty the “Homegrown Rocker” mailboxes and explore new recordings that have arrived in recent weeks; thus, we introduced a number of new songs this week! We debuted new tunes from Rake, Mileunder, Steve DiDomenico, Shane Palko, Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, Dirt Cheap, Mr. Critical, Anchors to Anchors, The Great Socio and Rausch! Along the way, we updated “Local Music News,” dug into the archive for a 1998 song by Pittsburgh’s Sho’Nuff, stepped “Across State Lines” to hear music from Nashville indie rockers Fragments Of God, and reviewed Matt Otis & the Sound’s self-titled CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

C. LEE SIMMONDS & LEEJA STARK – “Charming Arms”
POST TRAUMATIK – “Set You Free”
RAKE – “Bloody Shirt on Coney Island”
MILEUNDER – “Ghost Riders”
STEVE DIDOMENICO – “Guilty Innocence”
MYCENEA WORLEY – “9 Lives”
SHANE PALKO – “Back”
WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING – “Bartender” (live)
DIRT CHEAP – “Out of Gasoline”
AFTER THE FALL – “Remember the Time”

HOUR TWO:

SYNESTHESIA – An Irish Heart/Lake of Fire
PROGMIUM – “The Beast Within”
MR. CRITICAL – “Second Chance”
MATT OTIS & THE SOUND – “Down, Down, Down”
ANCHORS TO ANCHORS – “We’re Not Moving”
SHO’NUFF – “Headcheck” (1998, Local Music Flashback)
FRAGMENTS OF GOD – “Starcrossed” (Across State Lines)
THE GREAT SOCIO – “Hurricane”
RAUSCH – “Good Day”

Next week, as the Pittsburgh Steelers officially kick off their 2014 regular season, we move the “Homegrown Rocker” back one hour, from 9 to 11 p.m. for the duration of the Steelers’ season. Joining us in the studio will be Altoona folk and bluegrassers Mama Corn! We will discuss the group’s new CD, Hold That Crooked Line, and hear songs from it! Along the way, we will update “Local Music News,” dig a song by a past area band from the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” and review Mason Porter’s Home for the Harvest CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Upcoming guests and specials include:

SEPT. 21 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS FOOTBALL)
SEPT. 28 – THE ANTI CORN LEAGUE
OCT. 5 – BORROWED TIME
OCT. 12 – XS FOR EYES
NOV. 2 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS FOOTBALL)
OCT. 19 – STAGE HANDS

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

In Local Music News…

Several music festival events top this week’s look at Local Music News…Indiana will host the second annual Northern Appalachian Folk Festival next Friday and Saturday, September 5 and 6. The music will kick off Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. and Saturday morning at 11 a.m., featuring a variety of folk, bluegrass and rock performers. Friday performers include Simple Gifts, Grand Old Ditch, Cornsilk, Tree, Well Strung and Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers. Saturday’s entertainers include Bear Creations, The NewLanders, Mark Tamsula & Richard Withers, Cormorant’s Fancy, Sean Squared, Kim & Reggie Harris, Backstabbing Good People, Trains Moonshine & Jesus, Honey Spine, Shelf Life String Band and the Kalob Griffin Band. Art and food will also be available; admission is free. For more information, visit the website northernappfolkfest.org.

Bluegrass and folk sounds invade Windber Recreation Park next Saturday during the inaugural Bluegrass In the Park festival. The event will start at 11 a.m., and will feature performances from the Paint Creek Pickers, Striped Maple Hollow, Tree, Revised Edition, Whiskey River Panhandlers, Thorn Bush, Mama Corn and Bud’s Collective. Food, refreshments, arts, crafts and children’s activities will also be available. Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Windber Community Building, or admission at the gate is $15. For more information, visit the website www.windberrec.com.

The third annual Thickhead Music Festival will take place next Friday evening at Tussey Mountain Amphitheater near Boalsburg. The festival begins at 5 p.m. Bands performing at this year’s event include Flux Capacitor, The Perkolators and Red Royal. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate, and can be purchased through the website www.tusseymountain.com.

A further revision to the name of the former Hawks Blues Band. The group has shortened their handle from Mahoney B & the Blacksnakes to just The Blacksnakes. The group unveiled the name change last Sunday during the 23rd annual Kids Come First Benefit at the Cresson Sportsmen’s Club.

(Bands and musicians with local music-related news to report on the “Homegrown Rocker” may submit their news items by emailing homegrownrocker@gmail.com.)