Major acts in Blair county

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thursday Nov 03, 2005

Last week I saw Zak Wylde and Black Label Society in a club with about 800 to 1000 crazy fans. There are several facilities in this area that can host a crowd that size to get national recording acts here. WHY does this not happen here????

We could be getting bands like Gov't Mule, Dickey Betts, Black Label Society, Derrick Trucks, Phil Lesh and Freinds, David Lindley, .....(name your favorite band here)

I am from the Scranton area and when I was there in the 70's, all we did was go to concerts, all around the NE Pa area.

Did this area ever have much of a concert going era? I was disappointed at the turnout for the Rock oldies show with the Guess Who and Rick Derringer and 3 others. The Jaffa was not half sold out. Very disappointing. I that why promoters will not come this way.??

Bit*chenWomen1029 · Post by **Bit*chenWomen1029** » Thursday Nov 03, 2005

well when the guess who were in town my stepdad drove their limo... and they were assholes anyway and dont deserve a fan base!!!

just my opinion.

im not old or anything but i cant remember hearing of too many known bands around altoona.... a few times the jaffa has ricki lee and some other counrty people. i think thats about all i can remember.

Blain · Post by **Blain** » Thursday Nov 03, 2005

Ricky Lee doesn't qualify.

It doesn't happen because nobody is making it happen. For a long time, the Jaffa wouldn't allow a rock or pop act into the building, unless it was a nostalgia show - like the Guess Who. They would allow country but not anything else contemporary.

If somebody thought they could make money, and had a place to bring these national artists into, it would be happening in Altoona.

SavageHeart · Post by **SavageHeart** » Thursday Nov 03, 2005

I remember seeing some good national acts at Sebastianos. Ace Frehley, Overkill, Saigon Kick, Quiet Riot...they all played there and put on awesome shows.

Post by **Jim Price** » Thursday Nov 03, 2005

There are several factors responsible for why we don't see more major names playing in the Altoona area. As far as concert venues, with the exception of this past April's "Spring Megafest" concert with the Guess Who and Rick Derringer, the Jaffa prefers not to book rock concerts, except for occasional oldies shows. Also, even if they would want to, the City of Altoona still has an amusement tax in place that's higher than many other cities, a turnoff for promoters.

City Limits did run a number of national names in the 90's (mostly 80's bands), but Claudio lost his shirt on several of those shows, and has had cold feet about doing them ever since.

I'm hopeful that Blair County Ballpark will try some more shows down the road, based on the success of last year's Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson concert.

And it was hoped that the Blair County Convention Center might do some concert events, but that has become a white elephant run by a bunch of idiots.

All you need to do is look at towns like Indiana and Williamsport - both smaller than Altoona - who have done such acts as Chicago, Jethro Tull, Alice Cooper, Huey Lewis & the News and others just in the past 2-3 years. And they packed their respective theatre venues with these shows. The Mishler once used to do concerts (Elf, with Ronnie James Dio, and Uriah Heep played there in the 70's), you'd think they might have some success bringing some classic names in if somebody in charge there would give it a try. But there again, that damned amusement tax gets in the way...

Post by **Jim Price** » Thursday Nov 03, 2005

By the way, although it was in Cambria and not Blair County - I discovered while delivering the new Pennsylvania Musician magazines at St. Francis University earlier this afternoon that Blessid Union Of Souls was playing at JFK Auditorium tonight (Thursday). I didn't hear or see much advertising of this concert to the general public? Did anyone else know it was going on outside of St. Francis?

Geetarzz · Post by **Geetarzz** » Thursday Nov 03, 2005

Elf played in altoona??? Cool!!!!!!! I spent alot of hard earned money to see DIO 3 times and it was worth every penny. Not Black Sabbath, not Rainbow,.... DIO. Anybody that was there would remember..........

edgecrush2003 · Post by **edgecrush2003** » Thursday Nov 03, 2005

I remember when Overkill played city limits a few times.That was one hell of a show.

Craven Sound · Post by **Craven Sound** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

Jim Price wrote:By the way, although it was in Cambria and not Blair County - I discovered while delivering the new Pennsylvania Musician magazines at St. Francis University earlier this afternoon that Blessid Union Of Souls was playing at JFK Auditorium tonight (Thursday). I didn't hear or see much advertising of this concert to the general public? Did anyone else know it was going on outside of St. Francis?

I'm on the inside of St. Francis, and I didn't even know.

rreihart · Post by **rreihart** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

Didn't the old Sisco's Canteena have national bands back in the day? I think I remember stories from Jeff (Wallack) about Armored Saint playing there, and I am pretty sure Nuclear Assault played at the Casino in Lakemont long ago. I also have an old Exodus t-shirt from the "Meat Party" tour that has Portage, PA as a date on it. I think I was told that their was some outside venue in Portage that ran nationals?

I am cool with travelling to State College to see nationals, but man, it would be sweet to see nationals here. Actually, a friend of mine and I have kicked around options for this type of thing and thought about looking into acquiring the old Blair Cinema building in Hollidaysburg and turning it into a concert venue, the big thing there though, is parking.

If you look at clubs like Jaxx (Virginia) and I know of another club in Hershey (not the name?) that are located in a strip malls that both run nationals, I think with the number of strip malls around here, why couldn't that work?

Hopefully at some point someone steps up.

Bert|Evil · Post by **Bert|Evil** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

Jim Price wrote:By the way, although it was in Cambria and not Blair County - I discovered while delivering the new Pennsylvania Musician magazines at St. Francis University earlier this afternoon that Blessid Union Of Souls was playing at JFK Auditorium tonight (Thursday). I didn't hear or see much advertising of this concert to the general public? Did anyone else know it was going on outside of St. Francis?

Good point. I know that there have been a lot of cool shows at St. Vincent over the last 7 years, many of which that I learned of after the fact. The few that I went to had a very low amount of people there, so I think that they were only advertised on campus.

YankeeRose · Post by **YankeeRose** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

SavageHeart wrote:I remember seeing some good national acts at Sebastianos. Ace Frehley, Overkill, Saigon Kick, Quiet Riot...they all played there and put on awesome shows.

Saigon Kick, "The Lizard". IMO, kick ass CD.

I was surprised at how empty the Jaffa was for The Guess Who show, too. They may have been jerks, but they were rockin' jerks. I'll never forget seeing the morons who left before the encore...WHY would anyone do such a thing? The last 2 tunes blew us away!

DMFJ03 · Post by **DMFJ03** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

I've played in Blair County.

JayBird · Post by **JayBird** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

Hey JP - you mentioned Indiana. I've seen more national acts in Indiana than any other town (except for maybe Pittsburgh). IUP brings in huge acts and some up and coming acts. Their old policy was to only sale tickets to I-Card holders (IUP students) and if they didn't sale out tickets to students, they would open the remainder to the public. Well, they have since changed that. Once tickets go on sale, they are first come, first serve. However, public tickets are a few bucks more. This Sunday, my g-friend and I will be heading to IUP to see Coheed and Cambria. Tickets were $15 a piece and I know there are three other band, one being a nationally signed band as well. I've seen bands like: Sevendust (twice at IUP), 3 Doors Down, Nonpoint, Fuel, Hootie, Meatloaf (early 90's), Caroline Spine, Our Lady Peace, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Rusted Root, Adam Sandler, The Flaming Lips, The Wallflowers, Helmet, Jewel, Dave Matthews, Vanilla Ice, Biohazard, American Hi-Fi, Sugar Ray, Static-X, Dope, and Audiovent. The only down side to all these show - they are typically only advertised on campus (posters, school paper, word of mouth). IUP rarely ever spends money for radio advertisement. The "Ohio Room/HUB" where most of these bands played holds around 700 people. Fisher Auditorium (bigger bands will play) holds around 2000 people. Most recently IUP has been getting bands in the Field House (gym). Coming this semester will be Simple Plan (Field House) and Chicago (Fisher). Visit www.iup.edu and look under the calendar of events.

Imgrimm01 · Post by **Imgrimm01** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

DMFJ03 wrote:I've played in Blair County.

I've played with my NUTS in Blair County... and well Jae's nuts too !

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

I know that'd I personally rather see a national act in a club or a small theatre than in a large venue.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Friday Nov 04, 2005

Is there any way to get ....." Rockpage Promotions presents ....insert national act here....playing at the Convention Center/or/The Jaffa Mosque/ or /Blair Co. Park/ or The Mishler Theater......with opening bands...insert great local band here"

Could anyone think of a better MC than our own JP?

onetooloud · Post by **onetooloud** » Monday Nov 07, 2005

I did some work at St Francis recently and thought union of souls was going to play at Frankies downstairs at JFK.

If that was the case I don't think more than about 200 bodies would fit in there.

Mistress_DB · Post by **Mistress_DB** » Monday Nov 07, 2005

Another issue, And I'm sure JP could possibly back me up on this, is that alot of the acts from back in the day still wanna charge like it's 1985.

Bret Michaels is doing a club tour right now. His asking price? 8 grand. Up front before even 1 ticket is sold.

Tom Keifer won't do a Cinderella show for less than 10 grand.

I don't know if there's any clubs in the area that have that kind of cash laying around. Granted the above is just 2 examples of what some ppl charge to put on a show. I'm sure not every band is that expensive but it is yet another factor in why booking a national act is very hard to do.

ASB10 · Post by **ASB10** » Monday Nov 07, 2005

I have to agree with Jaybird on this one....IUP does an astonishing job bringing in national acts, and I was amused because I had seen many of those listed.....my new little hometown (also a university town) of Clarion has had a habit of bringing in strong national acts for years as well, as I have had the opporunity to see: Donnie Iris, Eddie Money, Damn Yankees (my first concert ever at age 11), Rusted Root, The Clarks, Blessed Union of Souls, Fuel, Lit, Garbage, Everclear, .38 Special, and coming on Nov. 18 (I got my tix already) Our Lady Peace w/ Theory of a Deadman

Of course we only benefit because of universities, but it's good enough for me, at least I don't have any qualms with national acts never coming to my area......

AtoMikEnRtiA · Post by **AtoMikEnRtiA** » Monday Nov 07, 2005

ASB10 wrote:I have to agree with Jaybird on this one....IUP does an astonishing job bringing in national acts, and I was amused because I had seen many of those listed.....my new little hometown (also a university town) of Clarion has had a habit of bringing in strong national acts for years as well, as I have had the opporunity to see: Donnie Iris, Eddie Money, Damn Yankees (my first concert ever at age 11), Rusted Root, The Clarks, Blessed Union of Souls, Fuel, Lit, Garbage, Everclear, .38 Special, and coming on Nov. 18 (I got my tix already) Our Lady Peace w/ Theory of a Deadman

Of course we only benefit because of universities, but it's good enough for me, at least I don't have any qualms with national acts never coming to my area......

no fucking way. our lady peace and theory of a deadman on the 18th? ah fuck - where do i get tix?

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Monday Nov 07, 2005

Bit*chenWomen1029 wrote:well when the guess who were in town my stepdad drove their limo... and they were assholes anyway and dont deserve a fan base!!!

just my opinion.

im not old or anything but i cant remember hearing of too many known bands around altoona.... a few times the jaffa has ricki lee and some other counrty people. i think thats about all i can remember.

I can't believe Ricky Lee was even mentioned! I agree with you there Blain! I wouldn't even call him a 'local celebrity'!

ASB10 · Post by **ASB10** » Monday Nov 07, 2005

Hey....ATOMIKNERTIA.....you can get tix at the Gemmel Information Desk at CUP.....or call (814) 393-2704....might be close to sold out, as the Gemmel Center only holds 1000, and they were getting close to capacity on Thursday when I got my tix.....good luck....

AtoMikEnRtiA · Post by **AtoMikEnRtiA** » Monday Nov 07, 2005

ASB10 wrote:Hey....ATOMIKNERTIA.....you can get tix at the Gemmel Information Desk at CUP.....or call (814) 393-2704....might be close to sold out, as the Gemmel Center only holds 1000, and they were getting close to capacity on Thursday when I got my tix.....good luck....

hey thanks. i love theory of a deadman - saw them in february at crowbar w/ Breaking Benjamin and the Exies (you wanna see a brutal show - go see the exies) after a damn snowstorm - but i'd kill to drive 5 hours to clarion to see theory of a deadman again - i mean we have a show in du bois the next nite so i could just find a damn place to crash and i got friends who go to clarion so i may be set.. thanks man

Starr · Post by **Starr** » Monday Nov 07, 2005

Yeah, IUP does offer a lot of good bands. If I'm not mistaken, Lock Haven?? and maybe UPJ? One of those housed They Might Be Giants and I was in heaven...couldn't go, but it was awesome to know that.