BLIND JONNY DEATH @ THE HITCHING POST, ALTOONA 11/30/05
Another relatively light Wednesday evening workload at the ol’ radio station enabled me to head to the Hitching Post to partake in the latest hellbound hayride highjinks of Blind Jonny Death.
Slim, Red and Tom were wrapping up their second set as I arrived, storming in their own unique fashion on “Land Of The Navajo.”
A mid-sized crowd populated the Post, and they appeared to be enjoying the Americana party thus far.
Blind Jonny Death soon returned for their nightcap set. After their first two numbers, they introduced a new original number, the honky-tonkish “Step It Up and Go,” which brought one couple up to the stagefront dance floor area. The group then dedicated “Tell It To Me” from Old Crow Medicine Show to the Wood-n-Strings/Texas Toast contingent in the house. From their Git Down On The Farm CD, the trio did “That Girl Is Hot,” with Slim announcing that the song would appear on a compilation album being issued by Atlanta-based Shuteye Records in early 2006. Blind Jonny Death then performed Big Bill Broonzy’s “Long Tall Mama” and Social Distortion’s “Ball and Chain,” before taking Elvis’ “Devil In Disguise” on a wild hellbound hayride. Next was Johnny Cash’s “Cry Cry Cry” and Hank Sr.’s “Hey Good Lookin,’” before the set ended with Traveling Wilburys’ “End Of The Line.”
Given the raucous response given to Blind Jonny Death by the Hitching Post crowd thus far, I figured that an encore was almost automatic. Hell, one woman even stepped atop the main bar to dance! But at the end of the set, the crowd clammed up and didn’t hoot and holler for an encore, and after a few moments, Blind Jonny Death began to dismantle their gear…show over. Altoona, you’ve got to DEMAND your encore if you want the band to play longer, it’s not an automatic thing!
Nonetheless, this was still a good time, with Blind Jonny Death’s brand of feisty roots sounds making it well worth my stopping off at the Hitching Post to check out.
FELIX & THE HURRICANES @ PETER C’S, ALTOONA 12/1/05
Although the previous Thursday’s “Turkey Night Jam” had been billed as the final show at Peter C’s, venue main man Big John decided afterward to do one additional “final show” this Thursday night with Felix & the Hurricanes; this one dedicated to the hardcore Hurricaniacs and Peter C’s regulars. Unfortunately, shortly after arriving at Peter C’s this night, I learned that Big John was not around to enjoy the evening, having been hospitalized earlier in the day due to a lung-related problem (he would make a full recovery).
The Hurricanes had some guests on the stage this night; Felix Kos’ brother, Dick Kos, and Backdraft/.00 Buck guitar man Brian Cupples. The group was firing away with Stan Lewis/Pat Travers’ “Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights),” before toning it down for Dr. Hook’s “Cover of the Rolling Stone.” Then a surprise, as the Hurricanes did one of Brian’s original tunes, the reggae-flavored “No Problem.” At this point, Scream drum man Kevin Siegel entered the house, prompting Hurricanes drum man Bob Watters to exclaim, “I’m glad you’re here, I gotta piss!” After Kevin assumed the drum throne, the Hurricanes started into a blazing rendition of “Stormy Monday,” highlighted by scorching consecutive guitar solo displays from Brian, Dick and Felix. An Allman Brothers-based jam session between the musicians ensued, culminating in “Whipping Post” to close the set.
Although Big John was in the hospital and the crowd wasn’t nearly as large as the Turkey Night Jam the Thursday before, Felix & the Hurricanes were playing with an added sense of fire and urgency this night. They obviously realized it was probably the last time they would ever perform on the Peter C’s stage, and they were going to make it count.
The group returned for one more abbreviated set to finish out the night, but they made it count! The set featured all of two songs, both Blackfoot classics – “Train Train” and “Highway Song.” It was pure Hurricanes fire and brimstone all the way, with all five players going full tilt. As “Highway Song” entered its homestretch, the Kos brothers gave it one last fiery guitar jam on the Peter C’s stage – it was smoking, and it was memorable!
Although Peter C’s was still several weeks away from their final closure due to delays in the transfer of their liquor license; with the Hurricanes embarking on their annual tour of the state’s prisons through the rest of December and taking January off for vacation, this would be their last Thursday hoorah on Peter C’s stage. Their fiery performance made it special.
In what would be their last go-round on Peter C’s stage, Felix & the Hurricanes with Dick Kos and Brian Cupples.
Gracing the Peter C’s stage one last time, the Kos brothers, Dick and Felix.
“Hurricane” Bob Watters of Felix & the Hurricanes.
Lead Hurricane Felix Kos.
Jeff Clapper of Felix & the Hurricanes with Brian Cupples.
Once again, Dick and Felix Kos.
Once again, Hurricane Bob.
Again, Dick and Felix Kos.
Into the waning moments of the Hurricanes’ final night at Peter C’s, Bob, Jeff and Brian.
Raining fire and brimstone from their guitars, Dick and Felix.
Once again, Hurricane Bob.
The guitar firestorm continues with Dick and Felix.
One last time on the Peter C’s stage, Dick and Felix.
TOYS FOR TOTS BENEFIT w/SUICIDE SWITCH/CHOKING FAITH/SECOND OFFENSE @ ALDO’S, ALTOONA 12/2/05
Christmas season was now well under way, and this night, three of Altoona’s heaviest-hitting bands were doing their part to help out some needy area families and children. Suicide Switch, Choking Faith and Second Offense were joining forces to raise toys and monies for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys For Tots program. This night also featured a CD-release party for a new compilation album, Tribute To Misfits, featuring two of the groups, Suicide Switch and Second Offense.
I arrived too late to witness Suicide Switch’s opening set, but eyewitness accounts confirmed that it was appropriately brutal and punishing. I arrived just before Choking Faith took the stage; a mid-sized crowd of metal fans was in the house, along with several U.S. Marine Corps representatives.
Soon Choking Faith was under way. Lead throat Jason Mittan, guitarist Dan Miller, bassist Steve Seymore and drummer Joe Richards blasted forth their brand of caustic metal, including a retooled version of their older original tune “Porno Tongue” (which loses the half-spoken intro from the EP version), newer originals such as “Resurrection Of Faith,” and savage renditions of Motley Crue’s “Shout At the Devil” and Slayer’s “South Of Heaven.” Along the way, black confetti could be seen sprinkling down on the Aldo’s environs. Jason reprised his role as one of the area’s most feral voices, while Dan, Steve and Joe backed him with a monstrous wall of metal sound. Choking Faith built momentum as they went along, and had a healthy throng of fans before them on Aldo’s stagefront floor by the time they reached the set’s last song, “Freedom In A Body Bag.” The crowd demanded one more, and Choking Faith responded with their jagged-edged read of Skid Row’s “Youth Gone Wild,” with Suicide Switch frontman Cheeze assisting on vocals.
Jason Mittan and Dan Miller of Choking Faith.
Jason Mittan of Choking Faith.
Joe Richards of Choking Faith.
Dan Miller and Jason Mittan of Choking Faith.
Dan Miller of Choking Faith.
Delivering metal to the stagefront fans, Choking Faith.
It was a hard-rocking, hard-drinking crowd at Aldo’s this night. I noted one hardy imbiber emptying the contents of his innards into the porcelain god in Aldo’s men’s room, and had to chuckle when a Marine Corps representative – in full uniform – had to sidestep the inebriated worshipper to access the stall area himself. (The drunk himself was eventually extricated from the Aldo’s premises by his friends and Aldo’s security.) Meanwhile, the crowd had grown to a good size during Choking Faith’s set. There were some interesting individuals in this crowd, including one woman leading another woman around on a leash!
Soon, Second Offense was ready to deliver their set. Frontman Myke Long, guitarist Brian Faychak, bassist Jes Mattern and drummer Wally Fiedor fired up their brand of torrid metalcore, showcasing new and old originals. The group stormed through such numbers as “Tranquil Skies,” “Gluttony,” “Tyranny,” “All That We Are,” “Vanity,” “Emotions Fatal,” “Greed,” “Saline,” “Envy” and “Wrath.” In the middle of the set, Second Offense performed the Misfits song they covered on the new Tribute To Misfits compilation CD, “She;” they also did a version of Hatebreed’s “Last Breath.” Second Offense’s performance was appropriately jagged and agitated, with Myke roaring out his lyrics like a grizzly bear being sodomized with a hot soldering iron. Myke, Brian and Jes were constantly in motion and on the attack, stalking the stagefront like predators on the hunt. The group was feeding off the energy and enthusiasm of the stagefront crowd, who themselves were venting pent-up aggression to the music. Second Offense sounded and looked focused and intense; their energy and enthusiasm selling their brand of monstrously heavy sounds.
This turned out to be a very successful evening of heavy rock for a good cause. The bands and crowd brought their ‘A’ game, and the crowd’s generosity amounted in a good chunk of toys and change being generated for Toys For Tots. In all, puking drunk notwithstanding, a good night.
Before Second Offense takes the stage, a U.S. Marine Corps representative takes a moment to thank the bands and crowd for the support of Toys For Tots.
Second Offense lights it up on Aldo’s stage.
Again, Second Offense.
Brian Faychak of Second Offense.
Myke Long of Second Offense.
Jes Mattern of Second Offense.
Wally Fiedor of Second Offense.
Again, Brian Faychak of Second Offense.
Again, Jes Mattern of Second Offense.
In the midst of their merciless onslaught, Second Offense.
Stagefront fans look on as Second Offense tears it up on Aldo’s stage.
Venting full rage from atop a chair, Myke Long of Second Offense.
HOUSE OF CAIN/HEXHED @ CITY LIMITS, ALTOONA 12/3/05
I was still in the mood for metal this Saturday night, and with heavy sounds happening less than a five-minute drive from my home, I was at City Limits to check out the twin bill of House Of Cain and Hexhed.
House Of Cain was under way as I entered City Limits, and it was fitting that the group’s very next song was my favorite of their original songs to date, the badass “Emissary.” Frontman/guitarist Jason Straw, bassist Dan Little and drummer Mikey Wax played a number of their razor-edged metallic original songs, including “667,” “Blood Song,” “Death Threats and Sh*tlists,” “Sawed Off,” a new number called “Lights Out,” “Made to Suffer,” “Wargasm,” “Dehumanized” and “Final Insult.” I was again impressed by House Of Cain’s ability to concoct sinister and concise metal grooves, along with their sharp, precision execution of those grooves. A good portion of the mid-sized City Limits crowd was apparently into House Of Cain’s sounds as well, as a number of people were up in front of the stage to take the set in.
Jason Straw of House Of Cain.
Mikey Wax of House Of Cain.
House Of Cain opens the evening at City Limits.
Dan Little of House Of Cain.
Once again, House Of Cain.
Among the attendees of this night’s show were “the Mosai,” ‘Sinister Minister’ Dave Moses and better half Marina, along with freshly-shorn Underground Television host/mastermind Chris Peters – hell, with the new haircut, Chris looked like a tattooed Abe Lincoln! Chris’s co-host, Kathy, was in the house and in a rowdy mood. Also in attendance were remnants from a wild and crazy Sheetz Christmas party. It was that time of year!
After the changeover intermission and out of a foggy, ethereal introduction, Hexhed kicked off their set. Although I caught their set a few weeks before at the Pennsylvania Musician/Q94 Toys For Tots Benefit, I was curious to get a more complete picture of what Hexhed brought to the stage. Singer/guitarist Steve Danfelt, guitarist Chris Silva, bassist Greg Hatch and drummer Rob Bonsell performed a hard-hitting mixture of current and 80’s rock. The group’s first set featured songs from Chevelle, Nickelback and more; and to close out the set, an impressive Tool medley that fused together portions of “Aenima,” “Stinkfist,” “Lateralus,” “Sober” and “Forty Six and 2.”
The nightcap set featured more of a current/80’s mixture, including renditions of Taproot’s “Poem,” Avenged Sevenfold’s “Bat Country,” Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love A Bad Name,” Flock Of Seagulls’ “I Ran,” Dead Or Alive’s “You Spin Me (Like A Record),” Genesis’ “Land Of Confusion,” Drowning Pool’s “Step Up,” Ill Niño’s “How Can I Live” and In Flames’ “Only for the Weak.”
Hexhed’s performance during both sets was powerful and bristling, as the group attacked their material with a bone-jarring rigidity and intensity. This even applied to the group’s 80’s material; during Hexhed’s version of “You Spin Me,” one stagefront fan could be heard remarking, “If only the 80’s had actually sounded like this!” Steve battled problems with his guitar amplifier in the second set’s latter stages, but both he and Hexhed still did an impressive job and kept fans riveted in front of the stage for the duration.
It turned out to be a good evening of hard-hitting local rock; and both House Of Cain and Hexhed made good arguments in favor of devoting more time to see both in the future.
Hexhed unleashes the beast at City Limits.
Again, Hexhed.
Greg Hatch of Hexhed.
Steve Danfelt of Hexhed.
Rob Bonsell of Hexhed.
Chris Silva of Hexhed.
Again, RobTheDrummer.
Again, Steve Danfelt of Hexhed.
Once again, Hexhed.
Again, Chris Silva of Hexhed.
One more time, Rob Bonsell of Hexhed.
This is Aric, one of the survivors of a Sheetz Christmas party earlier in the evening. Somehow, he wound up doing jello-shot duty for City Limits’ wait staff this night.
Once again, Aric, celebrating the holiday season while Hexhed rocks.
Apparently, I had been misbehaving this night, as Underground TV hostess Kathy disciplines me.
Kathy was misbehaving, too, until somebody else grabbed control of the situation.
IN @ PELLEGRINE’S, ALTOONA 12/4/05
A late night of “Backyard Rocker” duty meant a late arrival at Pellegrine’s for yours truly; but I did arrive in time to catch at least a few songs from In.
Singer Greg Locke, guitarist Matt Day, bassist Adam Zimmer and drummer Josh Hetrick were well into their final set of the evening as I entered Pelly’s, and had the dance floor party well in hand. The dance floor crowd was jumping and grooving to In’s energized renditions of Big & Rich’s “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go,” Weezer’s “Beverly Hills,” Motley Crue’s “Dr. Feelgood,” a hip-hop medley, and Depeche Mode/Marilyn Manson’s “Personal Jesus” to end the set. Pelly’s dance floor crowd wasn’t done partying just yet and demanded more, so In continued on with Living Colour’s “Cult Of Personality.” This still wasn’t enough to satisfy this rowdy bunch, so In tamed the masses with yet a second encore, Danzig’s “Mother” to close out the night.
I didn’t get to see a whole lot, but I did see enough to confirm that it was another good rowdy In-styled blowout to end the weekend, and all was again well on a Sunday night.
