Vets Filed Concerts, Penn Alto...

FretBored · Post by **FretBored** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Anyone on this board old enough to remember bands at the Penn Alto Hotel downtown Altoona or The concerts they had at Vets Field on 24th St.

I think it was in the early 70s. Any memories?

If so did anyone play thoses gigs..... Or, am I gettin really old?

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Forces played one at Vets field in (I believe) 1977.

Before that, I remember a few at Vets Field after walkathons.

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Oh OK, I do remember a funny story (told to me second-hand)...one time there was a Chuck Berry show at the Vets Field and you know how Andy Warhol said "everyone will be famous for 15 minutes"? Well, I heard that Hymie Shulmann was on stage sing My Ding-A-Ling with Chuck Berry! God love Hymie...

FretBored · Post by **FretBored** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Don't poke fun.... Hymie is our lead singer

And by the way he has had, I'm sure, more than his 15 minutes... in Altoona anyway.

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

fretbored I would never poke fun at Hymie, not my intention at all. He is a legend in this town, and yes, that is the irony of it..he most certainly has had more than 15 minutes of fame around here. And now that I think of it, his last name is Nanticoke not Shulman, right? Boy, I haven't seen Hymie around for a LONG time. Now I'm worried...

FretBored · Post by **FretBored** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Just Jokin' here too.

But I do remember some fun times at Vets field.

slink · Post by **slink** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Yeah! I played the Penn Alto, I don't remember witch band I was in then. Did you play there?

My favorite memory was Blue Ash , the stage was dark the bass player was standing up behind his amp but you couldn't see him. The band started with Alice Cooper - Under My Wheels when they hit the first note their lights came on and the bass player jumped to the stage( their timing was right on) quite an entrance.

FretBored · Post by **FretBored** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

No I never played there but I do remember Blue Ash.... I liked that band .... Have to file it in the mental musical archives..

FretBored · Post by **FretBored** » Thursday Dec 01, 2005

Found this link on Blue Ash.

http://www.answers.com/topic/blue-ash-band

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Friday Dec 02, 2005

I can remember a few private party shows at the Penn Alto that I played
when I was with "The Edge" back in the 80's before the place changed.
We did have fun there!

Post by **Jim Price** » Friday Dec 02, 2005

FretBored wrote:

Found this link on Blue Ash.

Thanks for posting that link. I linked to the official Blue Ash website, and did some reading up. I remembered hearing about Blue Ash when I was growing up; and instantly remembered the chorus to the tune "Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her)," which used to get airplay on WFBG-AM back in the day (1973). (I still have the old WFBG "Hit Power" playlists with that tune listed!) I was ready to buy the Around Again collection, but it's currently not available from their record label.

I never got to check out any Penn Alto shows; that was from before I started checking out the local scene (mid 80's).

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Friday Dec 02, 2005

I remember Blue Ash from the Hollidaysburg YMCA shows...they used Orange Amps.

Another H-Burg YMCA band that I saw was a little known band called UFO.

We H-burg bad kids used to hang out on Allegheny Street in front of the old Sugar Bowl before they started handing out $111 fines for loitering. One day, UFO showed up and they all ordered the Sugar Bowl's finest bean soup. That night at the Y, they were in skin wigs for what was possibly one of the best shows I ever saw.

FretBored · Post by **FretBored** » Friday Dec 02, 2005

Jim,

I must be getting as old as dirt... The Penn Alto concerts I went to where probably late 60s or early 70s.

I was at the Jaffa looking at christmas trees and noticed Vets Filed in the back. It would be fantastic to have a Spring concert there. They used to last all day long. Like a mini-Woodstock for Altoona.

Wonder who could set up something like that.

313 · Post by **313** » Friday Dec 02, 2005

lonewolf wrote:I remember Blue Ash from the Hollidaysburg YMCA shows...they used Orange Amps.

Another H-Burg YMCA band that I saw was a little known band called UFO.

We H-burg bad kids used to hang out on Allegheny Street in front of the old Sugar Bowl before they started handing out $111 fines for loitering. One day, UFO showed up and they all ordered the Sugar Bowl's finest bean soup. That night at the Y, they were in skin wigs for what was possibly one of the best shows I ever saw.

Are you talking about the same ufo I'm thinking of - Schenker/Mogg ?? If so, WOW! I had no idea they ever played around here.

I think some local bands like Piranha, Wicked Truth, Tyrant, & Black Diamond used to play the Penn Alto too.

FBooth · Post by **FBooth** » Friday Dec 02, 2005

I remember going to a concert at Vets field in the early 70's. I'm ashamed to say it was a Tammy Wynette concert. The only reason I mention it is that someone else on the board was there too! Fes up now!

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Saturday Dec 03, 2005

313 wrote:
lonewolf wrote:I remember Blue Ash from the Hollidaysburg YMCA shows...they used Orange Amps.

Another H-Burg YMCA band that I saw was a little known band called UFO.

We H-burg bad kids used to hang out on Allegheny Street in front of the old Sugar Bowl before they started handing out $111 fines for loitering. One day, UFO showed up and they all ordered the Sugar Bowl's finest bean soup. That night at the Y, they were in skin wigs for what was possibly one of the best shows I ever saw.
Are you talking about the same ufo I'm thinking of - Schenker/Mogg ?? If so, WOW! I had no idea they ever played around here.

I think some local bands like Piranha, Wicked Truth, Tyrant, & Black Diamond used to play the Penn Alto too.

It was UFO with Mogg, Parker, Way and Mick Bolton--Schenker wasn't there yet and they were completely unknown at the time. This was around 72 or 73 on their 1st low-level east coast tour, before Phenomenon.

BTW, I play Rock Bottom in my LoneWolf solo act. I have decided to start booking again in the new year.

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Monday Dec 05, 2005

Guilty, it was me who was with FBooth but, even worse, wasn't it Tanya Tucker, NOT Tammy Wynette? Why were we even there when we otherwise listened to Alice Cooper & KISS? I think your brother had free tickets...

313 · Post by **313** » Wednesday Dec 07, 2005

lonewolf wrote: It was UFO with Mogg, Parker, Way and Mick Bolton--Schenker wasn't there yet and they were completely unknown at the time. This was around 72 or 73 on their 1st low-level east coast tour, before Phenomenon.

BTW, I play Rock Bottom in my LoneWolf solo act. I have decided to start booking again in the new year.

Very cool story Lonewolf. I would never have guessed they played a local show here. Even if it was pre-Schenker, the Bolton-era stuff is pretty good although trememdously different than their later work.

I plan to come see your LoneWolf act, and look forward to hearing "Rock Bottom"!