HOMEGROWN ROCKER 9/7/14 (MAMA CORN)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the September 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 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.

Thanks to this week’s guests, Altoona bluegrass favorites Mama Corn (www.mamacornbluegrass.com), for a fun interview and joyride! We found out all about Mama Corn’s new CD, Hold That Crooked Line, heard songs from the disc, and the Mama Corn gang brought instruments and jammed some numbers live for us as well! Along the way, we debuted new songs from Angry Johnny Stangry & His CRS Band, Whiskey River Panhandlers and the Sterling Koch Trio, updated “Local Music News,” dug into the archive for a 2004 song by Mama Corn dobro/harp man Johnny Stevens’ former project Sidestep for this week’s “Local Music Flashback,” stepped “Across State Lines” to hear music from Morgantown, WV bluegrass favorites the Hillbilly Gypsies, and reviewed Mason Porter’s Home for the Harvest CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

NOBODY’S HEROES – “Seize the Day”
BISCUIT JAM – “Rock and Roll”
MAMA CORN – “Someday Knock on Wood” (performed live on the air)
ANGRY JOHNNY STANGRY & HIS CRS BAND – “Born to Be True”
MAMA CORN – “The Hanging of Alfred Andrews”
WHISKEY RIVER PANHANDLERS – “Lill’”
MAMA CORN – “Poor Ellen Smith” (performed live on the air)
MAMA CORN – “Red Arrow Train” (performed live on the air)

HOUR TWO:

FELIX & THE HURRICANES – “Rise River Rise”
COLEBROOK ROAD – “Both Sides of the Line”
MAMA CORN – “About a Minute Ago” (performed live on the air)
MASON PORTER – “Home for the Harvest”
MAMA CORN – “Old Whiskey Still”
SIDESTEP – “Sidesteppin’” (2004, Local Music Flashback)
MAMA CORN – “Smoked Country Jam” (performed live on the air)
THE HILLBILLY GYPSIES – “Cotton Eyed Joe” (Across State Lines)
STERLING KOCH TRIO – “Oh Well”

Next week, with no guests scheduled, we’ll again catch up on new recordings that have arrived in the “Homegrown Rocker” mailboxes in recent weeks! We’ll debut some new tunes, update “Local Music News,” dig a song by a past area band from the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” and review The Anti Corn League’s twin-CD’s Womb I and Womb II 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
OCT. 19 – STAGE HANDS
NOV. 2 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS FOOTBALL)
NOV. 9 – ADAM ERNST
NOV. 16 – JASON McINTYRE & JUNIOR TUTWILER

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…

The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective is bringing two more established ukulele names to Penn State Altoona this Thursday evening for workshops and a concert. Internationally touring ukulele musicians Sarah Maisel & Craig Chee will present two 45-minute workshops followed by a half-hour concert Thursday evening at the Slep Student Center at Penn State Altoona. Joining them will be special guest and Hollidaysburg native Colin Coleman. The workshops begin at 6:30 p.m., with the concert starting at approximately 8:30 p.m. Admission for the workshops and concert is $25 in advance, $35 at the door, while concert only admission at the door is $10.

In local recording news, area musical adventurers Wine Of Nails have officially released the hardcopy CD version of their 2013 album WONk Thyself. The CD can now be purchased online through CDBaby.com.

Johnstown-based folk and bluegrass performers Striped Maple Hollow have issued their self-titled debut CD.

Altoona area singer and songwriter Matt Pletcher is set to release his first CD. The ten-song album, Sure Thing, will be officially unveiled with a CD-release event at Altoona’s 4D’s Lounge on Saturday, October 4. Matt and his band, The PDX, will perform with Ty Ayers opening. That show starts at 9:30 p.m.

The area music scene mourned the unexpected passing last weekend of Darryl Carter. Darryl played guitar in several band projects over the years, including Euphoria, Anthony Stauffer & the Holy Smoke (later Holy Smoke Blues) and Quintessence. He was known for his guitar skills on the stage, but also for his upbeat and supportive personality off the stage.

And the “Homegrown Rocker” sends get well wishes to “Harmonica Dave” Baird of the Backyard Rockers, who will be logging some hospital time this week. Here’s to a full and speedy recovery.

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