HOMEGROWN ROCKER 8/3/14 (LOCAL MUSICIANS THEN & NOW SPEC

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the August 3 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.

This week, we brought back a special we first did four years ago under a different name. When we first did the “Fast Forward Special” in 2010, the premise was to play back-to-back song double-shots spotlighting bands or musicians from early and then recently in their careers. That was the theme of our “Local Musicians Then and Now Special,” as we started with a song from early in the career of an area band or musician, and followed it up with a more recent track from the same performer! Some of our double-shots showed a drastic change of styles between the two songs, such as John Stevens’ early metal rock days in Thin Ice transitioning into his current bluegrass work with Mama Corn. Others featured lengthy time gaps, with the 35-year gap between Norman Nardini’s Diamond Reo track and more recent solo tune! Along the way, we debuted new songs from Halestorm and MFG, updated “Local Music News” and reviewed Mama Corn’s Hold That Crooked Line CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Here is this week's playlist (with spotlighted musicians and years in parentheses):

HOUR ONE:

INSIDE OUT – “Can’t Stop a One Way Ride” (1993)
INSIDE OUT – “Inside Of Me” (2014)
HALESTORM – “The Children” (2001)
HALESTORM – “Dissident Aggressor” (2014)
BACKSTREET LAW – “Bored” (Jeremy Edge, Jamie Morral; 1997)
CANDLELIGHT RED – “Demons” (Jeremy Edge, Jamie Morral; 2013)
FELIX & THE HURRICANES – “Way Behind” (live) (1997)
FELIX & THE HURRICANES – “My Strength and Courage” (2013)
THE FRONT – “Girls Talk” (Bobby Gates, John McKelvey; 1983)
MFG – “Party Time” (Bobby Gates, John McKelvey; 2014)

HOUR TWO:

NITRO – “Magic” (1982)
NITRO – “Uranium” (2013)
THIN ICE – “Born to Rock” (John Stevens, 1985)
MAMA CORN – “Another Couple Days” (John Stevens, 2014)
ONE NIGHT STAND – “Cool 6” (Tony Mollick, 1990)
JIVE TURKEYS – “Trudy” (Tony Mollick, 2014)
THE STERLING COOKE FORCE – “Force of Habit” (Sterling Koch, 1986)
STERLING KOCH – “Wrong Side of the Blues” (2013)
DIAMOND REO – “Boys Will Be Boys” (Norman Nardini, 1976)
NORMAN NARDINI – “Ain’t It Amazing” (2011)

On our next program, it’s again time to empty the “Homegrown Rocker” mailboxes and see what has arrived in recent weeks! We will debut lots of new music, including new songs from Matt Otis & The Sound, Biscuit Jam and more! Along the way, we will update “Local Music News,” dig a song by a past area band from the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” step “Across State Lines” to check out music from an indie band or artist from out of state, and review Band Burrage’s Heal CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Upcoming guests and specials include:

AUG. 17 – V.O.M.A. (CAMBRIA CITY ETHNIC FESTIVAL PREVIEW)
AUG. 24 – RON GALLUCCI
SEPT. 7 – MAMA CORN
SEPT. 28 – THE ANTI CORN LEAGUE
OCT. 19 – STAGE HANDS

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…

Some developments regarding PA-based national recording and touring group Candlelight Red. The group reported this week that singer Ryan Hoke has decided to part ways with Candlelight Red for career and family reasons. The group had been working on touring plans with another national headliner for spring and summer. According to guitarist Jeremy Edge, the group’s future is uncertain at this point, and they will be evaluating whether they can move forward.

Popular Lehigh Valley-based power punk/pop band Sandlot Heroes has decided to go their separate ways, according to an announcement made on the group’s Facebook page early last month. The split is on friendly terms, and the band members are moving on to new projects. Guitarist Chris Morrison and drummer Ans Gibson are now playing with The Tragic Thrills, and singer/guitarist Dan Kastelnik is starting a new project.

A member of area Americana-punk group Nobody’s Heroes is part of a punk-rock-meets-classical music project that has issued a vinyl album. Pedal steel player Joey Lenze and eleven other musicians perform on the album Mexiko: A Punk Rock Symphony. That vinyl album was officially launched with a release event on Friday night at Urban Outfitters in State College.

And a preliminary band lineup has been set for this year’s Kids Come First Benefit concert. The concert takes place on Sunday, August 24 starting at 1 p.m. at the Cresson Sportsmen’s Club to raise money for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Bands confirmed so far include Driving Sideways, Emberstitch, The Jive Turkeys, Rokkandy and the Backyard Rockers, plus acoustic performers Mo Yon and Ron Russell. Additional names will be announced. Donation is $10 per person at the gate, and children 12 and under get in for free if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Food and refreshments will be available.

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