HOMEGROWN ROCKER 8/17/14 (VOMA)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the August 17 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 two guests this week, Adam Mundok of Johnstown’s Venue Of Merging Arts (VOMA, www.thevoma.com) and Josh Ensley of Hullabaloo Productions, joining us to discuss the huge band fest VOMA will bring to this year’s Cambria City Ethnic Festival on Labor Day weekend! Adam and Josh gave us the lowdown on all VOMA Ethnic Fest happenings, and we heard numerous songs from bands and performers who will partake in the VOMA festivities; including Fletcher’s Grove, Nick Miller, Habatat, Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, Deaf Scene, Aliver Hall, Flux Capacitor, Moon Hooch and Mixing Numbers With Sounds! Along the way, we updated “Local Music News,” dug into the archive for a 1994 song by Pittsburgh’s Brownie Mary, and reviewed MFG’s Don’t Kill the Moment CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

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

HOUR ONE:

DAVE DISTEFANO – “Get Your Back Off Against the Wall”
MAMA CORN – “Holdin’ Pen”
FLETCHER’S GROVE – “Grapevine”
NICK MILLER – “Mountain Bound”
HABATAT – “Roadwork”
ENDLESS MIKE AND THE BEAGLE CLUB – “Sick Day”
DEAF SCENE – “Rijal”
KEVO CAN’T DANCE – “AM Hannah FM”
WHISKEY RIVER PANHANDLERS – “18 Wheeler”

HOUR TWO:

THE HAWKS BLUES BAND (MAHONEY B & THE BLACKSNAKES) – “Bottom Shelf Woman”
ALIVER HALL – “Chasing the Rain”
MFG – “Neverland”
FLUX CAPACITOR – “Moth”
BROWNIE MARY – “Kool Kat” (1994, Local Music Flashback)
MOON HOOCH – “Low 4”
MIXING NUMBERS WITH SOUNDS – “Haste”

On our next program, we welcome the return of our guest, Johnstown rocker, singer and songwriter Ron Gallucci! Ron has completed his third solo CD, Strength, and will be sharing songs from the new disc with us plus offering insight on his new compositions! 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” and review Blues Evolution’s Inspired CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Upcoming guests and specials include:

SEPT. 7 – MAMA CORN
SEPT. 28 – THE ANTI CORN LEAGUE
OCT. 5 – BORROWED TIME
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…

The area music scene mourns the passing of longtime bass player Phil Kolarczyk, who passed away on August 8 at age 60. Phil was the original bassist of Felix & the Hurricanes, and played with numerous bands through the years, including The Red Arrow, Here We Go Again, Dakota Rose and more. We at the “Homegrown Rocker” offer our heartfelt condolences to Phil’s surviving family, friends and musical associates.

Several noteworthy live music events take place in the area next weekend, with two happening at the Cresson Sportsmen’s Club. On Saturday the 23rd, the second annual Pickin’ for Wishes bluegrass benefit concert will raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation of Western PA, and will feature a full day’s slate of local and regional bluegrass bands starting at noon. Performing this year will be The Roustabouts, Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers, The Hillbilly Gypsies (performing two sets), Mama Corn, Brush Creek and the Allegheny Drifters. Tickets are $10 advance and $15 at the gate, and children ages 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Food and refreshments, arts and crafts vendors and children’s activities will be available.

Then next Sunday the 24th at the Cresson Sportsmen’s Club is the 23rd annual Kids Come First Benefit; End Of Summer Jam, with proceeds helping out Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. That event kicks off at 1 p.m., and will feature music from a variety of performers. Bands and performers taking part in this year’s Kids Come First Benefit include The Backyard Rockers, Rokkandy, Mahoney B & the Blacksnakes, The Jive Turkeys, Driving Sideways, Emberstitch, Mo Yon, Ron Russell and Disorganized Crime. Donation at the gate is $10 per person, with children ages 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Food and refreshments plus prize giveaways will be available.

Flight 19 will provide the music at a post party following a motorcycle run next Saturday the 23rd to help out Veterans For VFW Post 3. The motorcycle run begins and ends at the Duncansville VFW, with registration starting at 10 a.m. and the ride beginning at noon. The post-party with Flight 19 begins at 4 p.m., and will include the music, barbecue chicken dinner, prize giveaways and more. Registration for the ride is $15 per rider, and admission to the post-party for those not wishing to ride is also $15 per person.

And Pittsburgh rockers Big Atlantic achieved a milestone this week, as they were selected by NoiseTrade.com as a “New & Notable” artist. The group is now on the front page of the NoiseTrade website. As part of the milestone, listeners can download Big Atlantic’s self-titled debut album for free with a bonus acoustic version of the song “Motive” from NoiseTrade’s website, www.noisetrade.com. The download will be available on the website’s front page until Tuesday. Big Atlantic will record their new album in September, with an expected release date toward year’s end.

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