HOMEGROWN ROCKER 10/12/14 (Xs FOR EYES)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the October 12 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 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 guests this week, Altoona-based punk rockers Xs For Eyes (http://www.stereokiller.com/xsforeyes, for a high-velocity show! We learned about the group, and heard songs from their just-released self-titled CD! Along the way, we debuted new songs from The Company You Keep, Vatic, Bastard Bearded Irishmen and Hatred Rising; we also updated “Local Music News,” dug a 2004 song from The Mad Cows from the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” and reviewed Wrath Of Typhon’s Speak from the Fire CD in this week’s “Professor’s CD Corner!”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

CATS IN CONGRESS – “Radioactive Love”
THE WHATLEYS – “Whiskey and Failure”
Xs FOR EYES – “Up All Night”
REVENGE MEMORIAL – “Dying Breed”
Xs FOR EYES – “All Away”
THE COMPANY YOU KEEP – “Selectively Remember the Alamo”
Xs FOR EYES – “Bullets”
THUNDER VEST – “Cigarette Girl”
VATIC – “Cavity” 87EC
HATE GRENADE – “Vendetta”

HOUR TWO:

LUCKY LAD GREEN – “Bar Fight”
BASTARD BEARDED IRISHMEN – “Whiskey, Rum, Bourbon, Beer”
Xs FOR EYES – “Don’t Let Go”
WRATH OF TYPHON – “Graverobber”
Xs FOR EYES – “Under Flames”
THE MAD COWS – “Bloody Sleeve” (2004, Local Music Flashback)
Xs FOR EYES – “Not the One”
ANCHORS TO ANCHORS – “We’re Not Moving”
HATRED RISING – “Life (Let It Go)”

Next week, we will be joined by Brandon Locher and western PA-based experimental music project Stage Hands! We’ll learn about this project, and hear recorded tracks from them! We’ll also update “Local Music News,” dig a song by a past area band from the archive for a “Local Music Flashback,” and review Ted McCloskey’s Sea Foam Green CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Upcoming guests and specials include:

OCT. 26 – HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
NOV. 2 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS FOOTBALL)
NOV. 9 – ADAM ERNST
NOV. 16 – JASON McINTYRE & JUNIOR TUTWILER
NOV. 23 – LUKE PFISTER
DEC. 7 – ARIELLE DANAN
DEC. 14 – STERLING KOCH (TRIO)
DEC. 21 – CHRISTMAS 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…

Reunited Pittsburgh group The Gathering Field has issued a new studio album, their first in 13 years. The disc, Wild Journey, is The Gathering Field’s first studio album since 2001. The group will perform on November 8 at The Club at Stage AE in Pittsburgh.

Williamsport-based heavy metal rockers 44Mag are embarking on a 14-date European tour in December. The tour will include show dates in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and more. To raise funds for their travels, 44Mag has instituted a fundraising campaign on the public funding site Indiegogo. Any fans interested in donating toward the cause can do so by visiting www.indiegogo.com and look up “44Mag Europe or Bust.”

A date has been announced for the Cresson American Legion’s fifth annual Toys for Tots benefit show and toy drive. That show will happen on Saturday night, November 15 at the Cresson American Legion starting at 5 p.m. Performing at this year’s benefit will be The Rattlers, Without Warning, Strings Radio and Locked and Loaded. Donation at the door will be $8 per person or $15 per couple.

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