BACKYARD ROCKER 6/13/04 (MILLENNIUM MUSIC CONFERENCE PREVIEW

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the June 13 edition of Q94's weekly local music program, "The Backyard Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on WBRX 94.3 and WBXQ 94.7.

This week was the first of two specials the “Backyard Rocker” devotes to the annual Millennium Music Conference. This year’s Conference, the 8th annual, takes place June 24-27 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Harrisburg, and will feature 3 days of clinics, panels and seminars; along with keynote speakers, a trade show, and some 300 different bands and artists converging on Harrisburg to showcase their music. During our preview of Millennium, we featured music from a number of the showcasing bands and musicians, and also aired a conversation with Conference organizer John Harris about this year’s event. For more information about this year’s Millennium event, visit the web site www.musicconference.net. (We will air a special program recapping the Conference on July 4.)

Also along the way, we checked on local music news. And it was the final Harley Qualification Weekend (before Q94 gives away a Harley-Davidson Night Train motorcycle and mini-Harley next Saturday at Altoona's Lakemont Park), so we qualified two more lucky listeners during this week's program.

This week’s playlist:

HOUR ONE:

DARCIE MINER BAND – “Falling Apart”
MICHAEL REICH – “2nd Street (Hey Hey)”
VS. THE EARTH (NEVERMOURE) – “Friend Zone”
NEGATIVE SPACE – “Best Kept Secret”
K8 – “Orion”
HANNAH BINGMAN – “Please Leave”
BRENE WILSON – “Anytime Anyway”
KIWI – “Reap What You Sow”
THE JELLYBRICKS – “All Fired Up”
SPITSHINE – “Far From Home”
AXUM – “Fable”

HOUR TWO:

BACKSTREET LAW – “Frustrated”
CLOUD PARTY – “Tears In Rain”
LUCID FLY – “Center of My Space”
CONDITION K – “Laceration”
THE MAYAN FACTOR – “Warflower”
THE FALLOUT – “Say Goodnight”
MOTORPSYCHOS – “Insane”
SPINEBELT – “Lotus Under Glass”
ETHERGY – “Watch Me”
LOCRIAN – “Take Away”
HOLIS – “Song of the Sage”

This Sunday night, in honor of Father’s Day, we will air the second annual “Fathers & Sons/Daughters of Local Music Special.” We will focus on area music dads (and a few moms), and their music-making children, and check out some generational local music connections. The “Fathers & Sons/Daughters of Local Music Special,” this Sunday night on the “Backyard Rocker!”

Other forthcoming guests and specials include:

JUNE 27 – The Rudys
JULY 4 – Millenium Music Conference Recap Special
JULY 11 – Spitshine
JULY 18 – Gypsy & the Crazymoon
JULY 25 – Fast Forward Special
AUG. 8 – Cover Song Special
AUG. 22 – Guitar Heroes of Local Rock Special
SEPT. 5 – Calendar Girl Special
SEPT. 19 – White Witch
OCT. 3 – Acoustic Jam Special
NOV. 7 – Michael Reich
DEC. 12 – Fat Vinny & the Wiseguys

For regular updates on what is happening on the area music scene, pay a visit to Rockpage (www.rockpage.org). 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, 4000 5th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602; 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 six 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) 944-9320, or email diane@wbxq.com.

Jim Price

In local music news this week:

The name game tops our look at local music news. After first deciding upon the name ‘A Divine Tragedy,’ the area band formerly known as Stept On announced another name change this past week. The group is now called ‘In.’ In made their official debut onstage this past weekend in the Altoona area.

And the band formerly known as Halestorm…is again going by the name Halestorm. After briefly changing their handle to ‘Method of Seduction,’ the group has decided to stick with the name Halestorm after all. The ‘Method of Seduction’ name may be used for singer Lzzy Hale’s and guitarist Joe Hottinger’s acoustic side project.

And in a surprise announcement, singer Eric Voeghtly suddenly announced this past week that he is leaving Johnstown metal rockers Deviance, citing musical differences. The announcement comes only a few weeks after Deviance had released their debut CD, Contagion. No word yet on whether Deviance will seek a replacement.