HOMEGROWN ROCKER 11/20/11 (UNDERCOVER)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the November 20 edition of Rocky 104.9 and Rocky 99's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 9 to 11 PM during Steelers football season on WRKY-FM (www.rocky1049.com) and WRKW-FM (www.rocky99.com).

Thanks to our guests this week, western PA-based party rockers Undercover (http://www.starvingartistentertainment.com). We met the band members and learned their story, and heard several recorded tracks from them. Plus Undercover – formerly known as Justin Hale – brought acoustic instruments and performed several tunes live for us as well! Along the way, we debuted new songs by Michi, Borrowed Time and The Blue Hornet Band. We also updated “Local Music News,” dug a 1995 song from Pittsburgh’s Retaliation from the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” and reviewed Chris Vipond and the Stanley Street Band’s Tupelo Tree CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner.”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

DAVE DISTEFANO – “Light the Fya Get Down”
UNDERCOVER – “Guitar Man”
MICHI – “Give It All”
UNDERCOVER – “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” (performed live on the air)
BORROWED TIME – “Swamp Man”
UNDERCOVER – “Let It Go”
THE BLUE HORNET BAND – “Mixed-Up Morning Blues”

HOUR TWO:

CANDLELIGHT RED – “Closer”
GANISTER – “Villain Inside”
UNDERCOVER – “Hey” (performed live on the air)
CHRIS VIPOND & THE STANLEY STREET BAND – “Escape”
UNDERCOVER – “White Rabbit” (performed live on the air)
UNDERCOVER – “California Dreamin’” (performed live on the air)
RETALIATION – “Only Child” (1995, Local Music Flashback)
UNDERCOVER – “Last Call”
LOVEBETTIE – “Are You Out There”

The Steelers/Chiefs NFL Sunday night game pre-empts the “Homegrown Rocker” on November 27. But when the show returns on December 4, our guests in the studio will be Jason Straw and Greg Hatch of The Embalmed. We’ll get the skinny on The Embalmed’s new CD, Make the Children Listen, and hear tracks from it! Along the way, we will update “Local Music News,” dig into the archive for yet another “Local Music Flashback,” and review Dethlehem’s The Ghorusalem Codex Vol. 2: Of Magick & Tyranny CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!” The Embalmed take the spotlight on the “Homegrown Rocker,” Sunday night, December 4 at 9 PM!

Forthcoming guests and specials include:

DEC. 11 – REPRESENT THE LIE
DEC. 25 – CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
JAN. 1 – 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW SPECIAL PT. I
JAN. 8 – 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW SPECIAL PT. 2
JAN. 15 – CAESER PINK & THE IMPERIAL ORGY

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, live show and CD reviews in “JP’s Corner," 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

In Local Music News…

Absolution is looking for a new guitarist to replace Jay Green, who is leaving the band. Green will play show dates with the band through early December. Interested prospective replacements may contact Absolution through their Facebook page or the website www.noabsolution.com.

With Indiana-based blues rockers Four Day Crawl currently on hiatus, guitarists Jimmy Roach and Joe Roach have started a new project called the Jukehouse Bombers. Also featuring Troy Laney on bass and Mark Kephart on drums, the Jukehouse Bombers perform a blend of classic blues and R&B. The group made their onstage debut last month at Madhatters in St. Boniface.

A special benefit and tribute show to help out the surviving children of an area musician will take place Saturday night, November 26 at Ace’s Lounge in Johnstown. The Coors Light Music Fest will celebrate the life and career of bassist Chris Holsopple, who passed away earlier this year. The show will start at 8 p.m., and feature reunion performances of several of Chris’ former bands; including Bonedigger, fAil, Primer Lime, Pivot, Yum, and Ground Resonance. Donation at the door is $5, and proceeds will go to a trust fund established for Chris’ children.

The line-up has been finalized for the two-day Toys for Tots benefit concert happening early next month at 30 Something. The benefit will happen on Saturday night, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 at 30 Something. The Saturday night show will begin at 10 p.m., and feature performances from Represent The Lie, NailDriver and Lies Inc. The
Sunday show will begin at 2 p.m., and feature performances from Mysterytrain, Chuck Mason & Blue Reality, E.V.K., Felix & the Hurricanes, Ambush, Backlash, Aunt Lisa’s Bone and Saving Jake. Donation for both days is either a $5 cash donation, or a toy of equal or greater value, with proceeds helping the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program to help out needy area children and families this upcoming holiday season.