BACKYARD ROCKER 5/25/08 (MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the May 25 edition of Q94's weekly local music program, "The Backyard Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM.

We honored Memorial Day tradition this week with our annual three-hour trek down Local Music Memory Lane. The Memorial Day Special edition of the “Backyard Rocker” spotlighted past bands that used to grace the area music scene, some dating as far back as the 60’s. As always, there were a few surprises, including a song from Q94/WRTA newsman Craig Schaffer’s 1979 band project Skywatcher, never-before aired footage of prominent late 70’s Altoona hard rockers Piranha, and more. Along with featuring songs by the groups, we also updated listeners on what the band members are currently doing. And during the program’s third hour, we paid homage to some of the area musicians we have lost over the years.

Here is this week's playlist. The year of each song is listed in parentheses, and during the third hour, the name of the departed musician is listed with the year of the song).

HOUR ONE:

HYBRID ICE - "Magdelene" (1982)
CUT THE MUSTARD - "Raven Black Hair" (1983)
PIRANHA - "White Lady" (1977)
WINDFLOWER - "Sapphire" (1975)
NITRO - "Night Owl" (1982)
THIN ICE - "Hard Time" (1989)
THE BEAUS OF BEETHOVEN - "It's Too Late" (1966)
KINDRED SPIRIT - "Blue Avenue" (1969)
THE RAGE - "All the Young Dudes" (1982)
SIDEWALK ROMEO - "On a Snow White Night" (1989)

HOUR TWO:

THE HOUSEPETS - "Hot Lover" (1985)
XENO - "Here to Stay" (1986)
SKYWATCHER - "More Today, Than 100 Days Before" (1979)
BLACK DIAMOND - "Lose It" (1978)
TREMOR - "Movin' On Down the Line" (1975)
WICKED TRUTH - "Take a Chance" (1975)
CROSSOVER - "Copperhead Road" (1995)
BLUE SKYE MOURNING - "Bus People" (1996)
THE SHARKS - "Backs Against the Wall" (1984)
THE FRONT - "Girl Like You" (1983)

HOUR THREE:

QUEEN BEE & THE BLUE HORNET BAND - "What Have I Done Wrong" (live) (1997, "Queen Bee" Tonya Browne)
U.S. HOUSE BAND - "T-Bone Shuffle" (live) (1997, Jim Rossi)
JOHN BAKER - "River Road" (1999)
INFUSED - "Who Stole the Sun" (2004, Ed Longo)
NORMAN NARDINI & THE TIGERS - "Nothin' to Lose" (live) (1981, Nason Gieg, Paul Shook)
PETEY GETS AROUND - "Choke and Roll" (1997, David Learn)
BLACK ANGEL - "Black Angel" (1985, Barry Russell)
RAPID FIRE - "The Green Manalishi" (live) (1986, Jeff Wallack)
ORIGINAL SOUL PROJECT - "Let It Go" (1999, Jason Zarecky)

Next Sunday night, our guests in the studio will be members of the Williamsport-based rock band Sarah Fleck & the Palpitations! We’ll meet the band members and learn the group’s story to date, and hear songs from their debut CD Blue Jeans & Daydreams; and lucky listeners will have chances to win a copy! We’ll also hear songs from other area bands and artists, update Local Music News, review JustMegan’s CD I Get What I Want in “The Professor’s CD Corner,” and qualify some lucky listeners for Q94’s Harley as well! Sarah Fleck & the Palpitations visit the “Backyard Rocker,” next Sunday night!

Forthcoming guests and specials include:

JUNE 8 - Evelyn's Ashes
JUNE 15 - Father's Day Special
JUNE 22 - Rise Phoenix Rise
JUNE 29 - Rockabilly Junction
JULY 6 - G211

The "Backyard Rocker" is happy to announce its continued partnership with "The Underground TV," the local/regional music television show airing on WATM ABC 23 Friday mornings at 1:30 AM and on WWPC Fox 8 Sunday mornings at 1:30 AM. Check out "The Underground" as it features different unsigned local and regional bands every week; and watch for "Backyard Rocker" updates on the show each week as well! Their new television season is under way!

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, "Backyard Rocker" updates, the online 'zine publication "The Final Cut," and other local music scene information.

Bands and artists interested in having music aired on "The Backyard Rocker" are invited to send their broadcast-quality recordings to: WBXQ Radio, 2513 6th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601; ATTN: Jim Price. Or drop the recordings off at the station during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 9 AM - 5 PM.

Q94’s “Backyard Rocker” has been introducing listeners to the region’s best musical talent for over ten years, and we plan to do it for many more. Help guarantee the program’s future, and consider becoming an advertising sponsor of the “Backyard Rocker.” If your business involves music, a “Backyard Rocker” sponsorship can get your message in front of listeners interested in music. To inquire about becoming a sponsor of the “Backyard Rocker,” call Diane Boslet during regular business hours at (814) 943-6112, or email diane@wbxq.com.

Jim Price