HOMEGROWN ROCKER 10/14/12 (ALEX RAMSDELL/A DAWN BECOMING)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the October 14 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 guest this week, northern Cambria County-based guitarist and singer Alex Ramsdell! After dabbling in acoustic-based projects, Alex recently joined the ranks of northern PA-based hard rockers A Dawn Becoming (http://www.myspace.com/adawnbecoming; we heard recorded songs from A Dawn Becoming and learned about Alex’s role in this project. Along the way, we debuted new songs from Vise Versa, Xs for Eyes, Corelok and Rigel. We also updated “Local Music News,” dug into the archive for a 1998 song by Altoona ska-punks The Big ’Uns for this week’s “Local Music Flashback,” and reviewed Fist Fight in the Parking Lot’s self-titled CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner.”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

SYLEX – “I’m Not Dead”
WHERE THE TRUTH LIES – “Darkness Becomes Her”
A DAWN BECOMING – “Light ‘Em Up”
VISE VERSA – “Hard Habit to Break”
A DAWN BECOMING – “Trails”
XS FOR EYES – “Home”
A DAWN BECOMING – “Through These Eyes”
CORELOK – “Fate of the World”
RIGEL – “A Color I’ll Never Be”

HOUR TWO:

WINE OF NAILS – “Frenzy!”
FAITH IN EXILE – “One False Word”
A DAWN BECOMING – “Consequences”
FIST FIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT – “The Lone Gunman”
A DAWN BECOMING – “It’s Hard to Walk on Water”
THE BIG’UNS – “Pa Chaw” (1998, Local Music Flashback)
A DAWN BECOMING – “Values”
THE WHATLEYS – “Not Without My Friends”
SYNESTHESIA – “Synners and Saints”

The “Homegrown Rocker” gets another day off next Sunday, October 21, due to Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night football, but will return on October 28 with the annual Halloween Special! During this show, we will spotlight area bands and songs tied in with the theme of Halloween! It will be local music trick or treat on the Halloween Special when the “Homegrown Rocker” returns on Sunday night, October 28!

Upcoming guests and specials include:

OCT. 21 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS FOOTBALL)
OCT. 28 – HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
NOV. 4 – TUKURPA
NOV. 11 – PAUL SHIMMEL
NOV. 18 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS FOOTBALL)
NOV. 25 – ACOUSTIC JAM SPECIAL
DEC. 2 – LOOK LEFT
DEC. 23 – CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
DEC. 30 – 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW SPECIAL PT. 1
JAN. 6 – 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW SPECIAL PT. 2
JAN. 13 – INSTRUMENTS DO THE TALKING SPECIAL (ALL INSTRUMENTALS)

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…

Pittsburgh-based pop/punk rockers Gene the Werewolf announced this past week that they have signed a recording deal with international record label Frontier Records, whose roster includes Def Leppard, Journey and Night Ranger. Gene The Werewolf’s debut album, entitled Rock N Roll Animal, will be released on November 23 in Europe, and November 21 in Japan. The group has filmed a video for their first single, called "I Only Wanna Rock N Roll."

Citing band members now residing in different cities with different obligations, Black Coffee has announced that they are taking a long-term hiatus after nearly two years together, and will pursue other musical projects. The group’s final show before the break will be on November 30 at Pittsburgh’s Club Café.

Live music and wrestling come together in Ebensburg on Saturday, Oct. 20, to help a children’s charity. “Rock N Restling” will take place from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Young People’s Community Center in Ebensburg, with proceeds helping out the Bikers Helping Kids Foundation. Bands expected to perform at the event include the Backyard Rockers, Paragon 1 and The Sitch. Phoenix Pro Wrestling will also stage matches during the event. Advance ticket are $12, and can be purchased from members of the bands participating in the event.