HOMEGROWN ROCKER 12/21/08 (CHRISTMAS SPECIAL)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the Dec. 21 edition of Rocky 104.9's new weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 9 to 11 PM during Pittsburgh Steelers football season. (The show will air from 8 to 10 PM after the Steelers' season concludes.)

This week was our annual Christmas Special, where we spotlighted Christmas tunes from local and regional bands and artists! We featured area musicians’ original Christmas tunes, as well as their spins on time-tested Christmas classics; and debuted new Christmas numbers from Chris Whitmer and Don Hughes. We also thank our guests during this year’s special, John Cimino and Michael Hughes from Clearfield Christmas band project Lords A Leaping, for sharing insight on the group and their just-released third album, Lords A Leaping Volume III. We heard numerous songs from the CD, and gave away Lords A Leaping prize packs to lucky listeners featuring all three Lords A Leaping albums! We also reviewed Pastor Brad and Friends’ new Christmas CD, Heavenly Shred, in “The Professor’s CD Corner.”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

TONY HARLAN – “Jingle This”
THE JELLYBRICKS – “Father Christmas”
LORDS A LEAPING – “Forty Foot Santa”
THE RED LETTER BAND – “Angels We Have Heard on High”
LORDS A LEAPING – “What Child Is This”
B.E. TAYLOR – “We Three Kings”
LORDS A LEAPING – “Silent Prayer”
CHRIS WHITMER – “Tannenbaum”

HOUR TWO:

DON HUGHES – “Christmas Medley”
KENNY MURDICK – “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
LORDS A LEAPING – “All I Want”
PASTOR BRAD AND FRIENDS – “Joy to the World”
LORDS A LEAPING – “Is This Christmas?”
TONY PERRY – “We Don’t Talk About the Baby”
LORDS A LEAPING – “Another Day Closer”
EMILY’S TOYBOX – “Oh Holy Night”
LORDS A LEAPING – “The Christmas Song”

Next Sunday night, we close out 2008 with the special 3-hour “2008 Year In Review Special!” Beginning with January, we’ll work our way through the entire past year, recounting the news, events, band break-ups, shake-ups and make-ups, special shows and more that transpired on the area music scene during 2008. And we’ll feature plenty of music from bands and artists who impacted the area’s music scene in the past year. The 3-hour “2008 Year In Review Special” on the “Homegrown Rocker,” next Sunday night!

Forthcoming guests and specials include:

JAN. 18 – XHIBITION
FEB. 1 – SUPER BOWL WIDOW’S SPECIAL (THE LADIES OF LOCAL MUSIC)
FEB. 8 – JOHN CIMINO (THUNDERBOX)
FEB. 15 – COVER SONG SPECIAL
FEB. 22 – MILLENNIUM MUSIC CONFERENCE RECAP SPECIAL

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, the online 'zine publication "The Final Cut," 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