HOMEGROWN ROCKER 4/27/14 (MATT OTIS)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the April 27 edition of Rocky 104.9 and Rocky 99's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on WRKY-FM (www.rocky1049.com) and WRKW-FM (www.rocky99.com). The show can also be streamed via either Rocky website, www.rocky1049.com or www.rocky99.com.

Thanks to our guest this week, Bedford-based singer/songwriter Matt Otis (http://www.mattotismusic.com), for a fun and insightful discussion! Matt has a busy summer season lined up, including his first-ever festival event, May Daze, happening May 31 at the Wills Mountain Concert Grounds in southern Bedford County, plus some cross-country traveling and recording! We heard tracks from Matt’s most recent album Life Love Death, and Matt performed three songs live for us as well! Along the way, we debuted new songs from The Syncopated Keys, Ben Eberhart and Unhurried Ways, updated “Local Music News,” dug a 1995 song by Runaway Train from the archive for this week’s “Local Music Flashback,” and we reviewed The Strayers’ self-titled CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

THE BADLEES – “Hindsightseeing”
THE BADLEES – “Fear of Falling”
MATT OTIS – “Voices”
NOBODY’S HEROES – “Moonshine”
MATT OTIS – “Home” (performed live on the air)
THE SYNCOPATED KEYS – “Always the Same”
MATT OTIS – “Love Inside My Head”
BEN EBERHART – “What’s Is Name”

HOUR TWO:

NATE MYERS – “Breathe”
NORMAN NARDINI – “Work Like a Dog”
MATT OTIS – “Where Are You Now?” (performed live on the air)
THE STRAYERS – “Sometimes the Sometimes”
MATT OTIS – “Down Down Down” (performed live on the air)
RUNAWAY TRAIN – “Fistful of Dreams” (1995, Local Music Flashback)
MATT OTIS – “The Most Important Thing”
STRAIT & MILLER – “Palm of Her Hand”
UNHURRIED WAYS – “I Feel So Lonely”

On our next program, we’ll catch up with a guest who has not been on the show in many moons, Rhyne McCormick! Since his last visit seven years ago, Rhyne has gotten engaged and formed a new band project with his fiancée, Collien, called RyCo. He and Collien will perform a song or two or three, and we’ll hear some of his recorded work as well! Along the way, we will update “Local Music News,” dig into the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” and review Miss Melanie and the Valley Rats’ You’re All I Got CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Upcoming guests and specials include:

MAY 11 – PAINTED BY MILLIONS
MAY 18 – PROGMIUM
MAY 25 – MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL
JUNE 1 – MODERN COLOUR
JUNE 15 – FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL
JUNE 22 – COVER SONG SPECIAL
AUG. 3 – LOCAL MUSICIANS THEN AND NOW SPECIAL

Bands and artists wanting to submit news items for “Local Music News” may email their news to homegrownrocker@gmail.com (new email address). Indicate “MUSIC NEWS” in the subject heading!

The “Homegrown Rocker” is available for digital download off either Rocky website after each and every show. Just check on either (www.rocky1049.com) or (www.rocky99.com) and download your copy of the show! If you live beyond the signal range of Rocky 104.9 and Rocky 99, you can now download west-central PA’s longest-running local music show!

Also, bands and artists are welcome to add their upcoming shows to the “Homegrown Rocker” event calendar! Go to the “Homegrown Rocker” section of either Rocky website and click on “Events,” and add your shows for free!

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…

Organized and hosted by local entertainer Dennie Huber, the 24th annual Crazy Fest Amateur Youth Talent Show took place earlier this afternoon at the Greenwood Firehall in Altoona, and again gave area youngsters the opportunity to showcase their talents for plaques, trophies and other prizes before a friendly and supportive audience. Here are the first place and other top winners from this year’s Crazy Fest, mostly as determined by a panel of judges made up of former Crazy Fest contestants…In the ages 7-9 group, dancer Olivia Confer of Altoona took top honors. In the 10-year-old division, singer Layna Henry won with her a cappella rendition of “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” The 11-year-old division ended in a first-place tie between dancer Pamela Lantz and guitarist Dylan McNeely. In the ages 12-13 group, it was the moves of dancer Clint Curfman of Roaring Spring that captured top honors. In the ages 14 and 15 group, singer Shannon Barnes of Hollidaysburg captured first place. In the ages 16 and 17 group, dancers Mackenzie Counterman and Cindy Piner of Altoona tied for top honors. And in the ages 18 to 21 bracket, singer D’Jay Dunio of Altoona took first place. In the duo category, Layna Henry and Tiana McCabe captured first place. In the group division, the Singing Dunio Family took top honors. In the Fan Favorite awards, as determined by audience votes, Olivia Confer won the female Fan Favorite award, while D’Jay Dunio won the male Fan Favorite award. In the Future Star awards, Layna Henry won in the ages 13-and-under bracket, while Cindy Piner captured the 14-and-older Future Star honors. In the Crazy Fest Outstanding Awards, guitarist Ty Fowler of Gallitzin won the Outstanding male musician award, while Altoona-based violinist Christina Evans took the Outstanding female musician award. The Outstanding Dancer/ awards went to Clint Curfman in the ages 13-and-under class, and to Mackenzie Counterman in the ages 14-and-older class. The Outstanding Male Vocalist award went to D’Jay Dunio, while the Outstanding Female Vocalist award was given to Shannon Barnes. The duo “The Cup Girls” won the Outstanding Variety Act award. And Most Original Performance award honors went to the duo of Layna Henry and Tiana McCabe. On behalf of organizer and host Dennie Huber, thanks to ALL the contestants for sharing talents with the audience! Thanks also to the families, friends and other audience members in attendance for supporting Crazy Fest! Hats off again to Jack Servello for running sound, all the sponsors who ran ads in the Crazy Fest program and otherwise supported the event, the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company for providing the facility, and Pastor Barb and company for providing pizza and hot dogs on short notice! Dennie Huber reminded everyone that next year marks a quarter century of Crazy Fest, and if he is able to do it next year, everybody is invited to be a part of it once again.

(Bands and musicians with local music-related news to report on the “Homegrown Rocker” may submit their news items by emailing homegrownrocker@gmail.com.)