Jim Price
Moderator
Joined: 07 Dec 2002
Posts: 4817
Location: Altoona, PA
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 Posted: Saturday Nov 08, 2008 |
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LABOR DAY WEEK/WEEKEND RECAP 9/2/08 PT. 1
SHARK BITE @ PELLEGRINE'S, ALTOONA 8/25/08
It was again time for Monday wings and Shark Bite madness at Pellegrine’s.
The party was under way with a small but growing crowd as I first arrived towards the end of Shark Bite’s first set. After the in-progress rendition of Live’s “Lightning Crashes,” singer and keyboard man Adam D didn’t waste any time trying to “stump the Professor,” dropping an obscure Saga number for me to figure out. I hadn’t yet quaffed any brew or wings yet, so my mind wasn’t yet ready to deal with such intellectual issues. Adam and Big Jim closed the set with Dr. Hook’s “Cover of the Rolling Stone.”
The audience of wing-eaters and Pelly’s regulars had grown a little more by the time Shark Bite was ready to start their second set. Adam and Jim started with Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” and continued with numbers from Bob Seger, Poison and the Eagles, before special guest singer from the audience Corey helped the group croon Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places.” Adam then attempted another “Stump the Professor” with his lounge-flavored take on Kix’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes;” but with some wings and beer replenishing my brain functions, I figured that one out pretty quickly. The party progressed with tunes from Guns N’Roses, Jimmy Buffett, Buckcherry, Gin Blossoms, Radiohead, Live and Lynyrd Skynyrd; before Adam tried one more time to “Stump the Professor” with a Cheap Trick number. Tunes from the Hollies, Styx, Aldo Nova, Stevie Wonder and more Skynyrd followed, before the pair finished out the night with Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid,” which closed with the Mister Rogers theme.
As expected, it was fun and lighthearted, with Adam and Jim keeping the audience attentive and involved in the proceedings, bantering and encouraging audience response. It was good wings and a good time.
Shark Bite, with special guest Corey on vocals.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS @ RAILROADERS MUSEUM, ALTOONA 8/27/08
The Alive @ Five Summer Concert Series continued at Altoona's Railroaders Museum, this time with a Battle Of The Bands. Five bands would present their musical cases on stage, with audience votes determining the winner, who won the privilege of opening for Loverboy at the Museum Sept. 26.
It had been a soggy, damp day leading up to the Battle, and some light drizzle remained as I arrived at the Railroader’s Museum prior to the event. I was hoping at least a few people would come out to cheer on their favorite bands and see the contestants put their best feet forward. By start time, the drizzle had subsided, and gray overcast skies prevailed over the event.
Opening the battle was Lies, Inc. Lead voice J.D. Hicks, bassist Kent Tonkin, guitarist Jason “Dax” Berardi and drummer Ron Brode stated their case with a set of original tunes. Midway through the set, Kent upped the ante, jokingly suggesting that he and Flight 19 bass man Tim Kelly would settle any ties with an Indian leg wrestling match to decide the outcome. (Tim responded and said he was game for the match if needed.) Lies, Inc. represented well as they performed tunes from their Statistics EP plus some newer numbers, and Greg on the sound board had them sounding clear and powerful.
Apparently aware of Lies, Inc.’s reputation coming in, the Railroaders Museum was taking no chances and this stern warning was visible for all to see.
Kicking off the Battle, Lies, Inc.
J.D. Hicks of Lies, Inc.
Kent Tonkin of Lies, Inc.
Jason “Dax” Berardi of Lies, Inc.
Ron Brode of Lies, Inc.
Dax and Kent of Lies, Inc.
Again, Dax of Lies, Inc.
Again, Kent of Lies, Inc.
Flight 19 took the stage soon after. The “Party Plane” brought their ‘A’ game, performing a selection of originals and classics. They acknowledged the band they were vying to open for, performing Loverboy’s “Turn Me Loose;” they also did numbers by Black Crowes, Kid Rock, Honeymoon Suite and a sharp-sounding version of Styx’s “Too Much Time on My Hands,” highlighted by Phil Steele’s creative keyboard touches. The group also did original numbers such as “Liquid Courage,” “The Game,” “Unlock” and their popular shout-along “Hands.” Flight 19 delivered a strong set, and the growing audience rewarded them with abundant cheers.
The Battle took a nasty turn early on, as this rabbit was apparently on the short end of an Indian leg wrestling match behind the stage.
Musically arguing their case for opening for Loverboy, Flight 19.
Again, Flight 19.
Brian Thomas of Flight 19.
Scott Imler of Flight 19.
Once again, Flight 19.
Tim Kelly and Scott Imler of Flight 19.
Gray skies and light rain early on didn’t deter at least some folks from attending the Battle Of The Bands.
After another short intermission, the third battle contestant, Spirit Lost, took the stage. Singer Austin Tepsic, guitarists Brian Smith and Joe Harpster, bassist Russ Patterson and drummer Lisa Fazenbaker combined their own brand of hard-hitting originals with select modern and classic rock covers. Their original song arsenal this night included “Misery,” “Alone” and a fast-paced new number whose title I didn’t catch. The group also broke out edgy spins on Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” and Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls,” as well as tunes from Eve 6, Tool and Godsmack.
Spirit Lost fires their shots in the Battle of the Bands.
Brian Smith of Spirit Lost.
Lisa Fazenbaker of Spirit Lost.
Again, Spirit Lost.
Austin Tepsic of Spirit Lost.
Joe Harpster and Russ Patterson of Spirit Lost.
Again, Austin of Spirit Lost.
Up next was something a little different in the battle, as BluesMoon brought a taste of the blues to the evening. Singer Trace Baker, guitarist Scott Bachman, bassist Big Jim, keyboardist Harold Hayford and drummer Andrew Jackson – with two guest dancers shaking their booties on the upper section of the railcar to the left of the stage – mixed up blues and blues-rooted classic rock favorites. Trace’s powerful and soulful pipes were in great form, and the band was on their game as they delivered strong renditions of Buddy Miles’ “Them Changes,” Free’s “All Right Now,” Titus Turner’s “Grits Ain’t Groceries,” Susan Tedeschi’s “Rock Me Right,” a funky spin on the Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post” and Willie Dixon’s “I Just Wanna Make Love to You.” This was boisterous blues and blues-rock done well, and BluesMoon received good response from the Railroaders Museum crowd.
BluesMoon states their case in the Battle.
Trace Baker of BluesMoon.
Scott Bachman of BluesMoon.
Again, BluesMoon.
Dancing to the left of the band on the rail flatcar, the BluesMoon dancers.
Again, Trace of BluesMoon.
Harold Hayford of BluesMoon.
Once again, BluesMoon.
Again, Scott of BluesMoon.
Andrew Jackson of BluesMoon.
From a different angle, Andrew Jackson of BluesMoon.
With any additional rains and drizzle holding off for much of the evening, at least some crowd was in attendance at this Battle, giving the contestants at least some faces to play to.
Closing out the battle was Nitekast. The cast of singer Lily Taylor, guitarist/singer Brandon Scalese, bassist Bobby Boring and drummer Josh Oaks played a varied set of classic rock, providing some unexpected twists and turns along the way. Those twists came in the form of some of the songs Lily belted out her voice to; including some songs not tackled by female singers such as AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock n’Roll)” and Foreigner’s “Juke Box Hero.” Lily’s strongest performance, though, was her powerful display on Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet. Nitekast also did tunes from Alanis Morisette, Cream, ZZ Top, Pat Benatar and at least one original song. During the middle of the set, Scott from In2It Marketing gave away pairs of tickets to both the Loverboy concert and upcoming Clarks concert at the Railroaders Museum. Although the gathered audience had begun to thin out some during their set, Nitekast still received good response from the folks who stuck around until the end.
Closing the Battle, Nitekast.
Bobby Boring of Nitekast.
Lily Taylor of Nitekast.
Again, Nitekast.
Again, Lily of Nitekast.
Again, Bobby of Nitekast.
Josh Oaks of Nitekast.
Once again, Lily Taylor of Nitekast.
One more time, Nitekast.
The battle had drawn to a close. The winner would not be announced until the following afternoon on Q94; when the audience votes had been tallied, Flight 19 won the opening slot with Loverboy. Victorious or not, though, all five bands got to play in front of a crowd of supporters, and this Battle of the Bands provided a nice showcase of local music that likely won all five bands at least a few new fans.
THE SCREAMING DUCKS @ TUSSEY WING FEST, TUSSEY MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT, BOALSBURG 8/28/08
Thus far this summer, I had already done the region’s other two marquee wing-eating events, the Lakemont Park Wing-Offs in Altoona and the Conemaugh Township Fire Dept. Wing Fling in Johnstown. To complete the trifecta, I journeyed to Happy Valley this evening to take in the last Tussey Mountain Wingfest of the season.
I guess the other shoe had to drop sooner or later. The weather had been great pretty much throughout the course of the wing-eating events I had attended up until this night. But rain was the order of this day, and the Tussey Mountain grounds were foggy and soggy as cohort/wheelman Sparky D’Engineer and I arrived. The rains had diminished attendance this night, though, and there was space beneath one of the tents up the hill from the stage; so Sparky and I set up our folding chairs under the tent, and headed up the hill to procure our first round of wings as The Screaming Ducks performed their hearty mixture of classic rock and blues. The group – guest vocalist Ken Volz, guitarist/singers John Cunningham and Andy Tolins, bassist Ronnie Wasco and drummer/singer John “Bubba” Beschler – finished up their set in progress with versions of the Allman Brothers’ “Blue Skys,” the Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night” and Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl.”
With wings 3 for a one-dollar ticket (the cheapest wing price of the region’s three wing-eating events), we were able to sample a variety of different wings from the three entities selling wings this night. First I hit up the Hammermill Bar & Grille from Yeagertown (near Burnham and Lewistown), where I tried three of their mango habanero and Bartley’s BBQ wings. The latter wings tasted like Bartley’s BBQ potato chips, only in chicken wing form. I then hit up Quaker Steak & Lube for three wings of my favorite Quaker Steak flavor, Louisiana Lickers, and three Hillbilly Hot (which weren’t all that hot; I think Quaker Steak & Lube’s wings taste better in the restaurant than at these wing events). One other vendor, a solo guy who I think was testing some new wing flavors with the crowd to possibly use at Quaker Steak & Lube, was selling wings, and I tried three of his Bulldog BBQ (pretty good, bold BBQ flavor) and three of his “Funkalicious” wings (with a coconut flavor).
Soon, The Screaming Ducks returned to brave the elements and entertain the small crowd for a little while longer. With “Bubba” singing lead behind the kit, the group started off with J.J. Cale/Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Call Me the Breeze,” before Ken fronted the group on two Rolling Stones numbers, “Honky Tonk Women” and Gimme Shelter.” After “Bubba” fronted the group on a blues number, Ken led the Ducks as they returned to the Stones’ catalog for “The Last Time,” before fronting the group on one more song, “Roll Over Beethoven,” before he had to leave to perform another gig starting at 10:30. The Ducks played two more songs, with Andy fronting them on Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Tightrope,” and the group finishing with an extended version of the Doors’ “L.A. Woman.”
Despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions, the Screaming Ducks had a good time onstage, and their enthusiasm connected with the audience enough to earn cheers for an encore, which the group honored with the Bubba-sung rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “I Know a Little.”
The Screaming Ducks’ classic rock was good, and the wings were good, making this trip to Tussey fun and worthwhile even if the weather wasn’t all that good.
The Screaming Ducks entertain at the Tussey Wingfest.
Again, The Screaming Ducks.
John Cunningham of The Screaming Ducks.
John “Bubba” Beschler of The Screaming Ducks.
Guest singer Ken Volz of The Screaming Ducks.
Again, John Cunningham of The Screaming Ducks.
Andy Tolins of The Screaming Ducks.
FELIX & THE HURRICANES @ 30 SOMETHING, ALTOONA 8/28/08
After the Tussey Wingfest concluded, I was soon on the road back to Altoona, to check in with Felix & the Hurricanes as they performed their weekly Thursday show at 30 Something.
The ‘Canes had a special guest on the stage this night, as Harold Hayford brought his keyboard and had it set up to perform. This would provide a unique opportunity to hear the Hurricanes with a keyboard.
At least a few people were in the house this night, including 30 Something regulars, Hurricaniacs and musicians. Felix, Bob, Jeff and Harold were performing Eric Clapton’s “I’ve Got a Rock’n’Roll Heart” as I arrived. The group continued with renditions of the Allman Brothers’ “Dreams” and Free’s “All Right Now,” before Lauren Johnson stepped up to the microphone to belt out voice on Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” After the Canes’ own “Walking a Straight Line,” the group did Jimi Hendrix’s “Redhouse,” with Harold’s keys giving the sound added depth. The group finished the set with Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” welcoming a guest named Rachel to sing lead; she did a very good job!
During the intermission, I got to speak with someone I hadn’t seen for a while, Heather Mallory. Heather has been confined to a wheelchair since being seriously injured in a car accident in August ’04. But I was glad to learn she’s still fighting, and reported to me that she had some movement in her right leg, and is in the planning stages of her “trash the wheelchair” party once she can walk again.
The Hurricanes returned late to do a brief 3-song final set, performing renditions of “Mustang Sally,” Jonny Lang’s “Rack ‘Em Up” and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “House Is a Rocking.”
The Hurricanes again sounded good, and Harold’s keyboard presence added depth and a different dynamic to the group’s sound. The group fed off the guest keyboard presence with an inspired performance, and the 30 Something crowd fed off of it with constant cheers and response. The Hurricanes left open the possibility of more frequent guest appearances during their Thursday shows, based on the results of Harold Hayford’s presence this night.
With special guest Harold Hayford on keys (left), Felix & the Hurricanes.
Bob Watters of Felix & the Hurricanes.
Harold Hayford.
Jeff Clapper of the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes, with special guest Lauren Johnson.
Again, Jeff Clapper.
Lauren Johnson.
The lead ‘Cane, Felix Kos.
Guest singer Rachel, belting out some Janis Joplin.
FOLKFEST/ETHNIC FESTIVAL WEEKEND, JOHNSTOWN 8/29-8/31/08
One of my favorite weekends of the year had arrived, Labor Day Weekend. It was festival weekend in Johnstown, with Johnstown Folkfest, Cambria City Ethnic Fest, the Log Cabin Arts Festival and the Forest Hills Festival in St. Michael all taking place. As is usually the case, I spent most of my waking hours in the Johnstown vicinity this weekend, taking in the fests and the music associated with them.
FRIDAY NIGHT 8/29:
To avoid the possibility of having to run the board for remotes this Friday night, I reserved this particular Friday as a vacation day early on, and thus was free to attend the first night of Johnstown’s festival weekend. I first headed to downtown Johnstown, quickly found a parking space and made my way to Festival Park to begin my 2008 Johnstown Folkfest experience.
The tone was set quickly when I walked past the Conemaugh Health System stage and happened upon a rehearsal session featuring rock/R&B howler Barrence Whitfield backed by Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics; this rehearsal alone smoked! Barrence, Deke and the Ecco-Fonics ran through the songs they were planning to perform later, as more and more people came in and sat down to watch. Even though it was a rehearsal and the mood was casual and laid-back, the music still kicked butt as Barrence and the Ecco-Fonics performed hot R&B-rooted rock’n’roll, including such tunes as “Big Fat Mama,” “Madhouse,” “King Kong,” “Mama Get the Hammer (Fly’s on the Baby’s Head)” and more. This open rehearsal served two purposes, as the band got its setlist ready for their official performance later that evening, and folks like me experienced an impressive teaser that piqued my interest to see their official performance later.
Even smoking in rehearsals, Barrence Whitfield with Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics.
Barrence, Deke and the Ecco-Fonics.
Deke Dickerson.
From the Land Down Under, John Flynn of Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics.
Barrence Whitfield.
I then headed to the nearby Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield stage, where Johnstown’s Dubmissive was making their first Folkfest appearance. Singer/guitarist Bobby Dub, bassist/singer Joe Sell, drummer Steve Hanik and sax player Marcus Brody performed their unique blend of hard-edged ska, punk, reggae, rock and more. They mixed old and new material, doing songs from their self-titled CD such as “Desperation,” “Driving Away,” “Rebel Song,” “Something to Believe” and more. Their instrumental execution was on target, but Bobby’s vocals weren’t sounding clear in the mix, and I often could not understand what he was saying between songs. A small audience, including a number of the group’s fans, friends and family members, cheered the group on.
Making their Folkfest debut, Dubmissive.
Steve Hanik of Dubmissive.
Bobby Dub of Dubmissive.
Marcus Brody of Dubmissive.
Joe Sell of Dubmissive.
Again, Dubmissive.
Marcus, Joe and Bobby of Dubmissive.
I then made my way to the Dodge stage for my first look at the Born Again Floozies. This was an interesting group, with a very unconventional line-up. Joey Welch sings and plays guitar, flanked by Ben Vokits on tuba (providing the bass tones), Charlie Krone on “lead” slide trombone, and a rhythm section comprised of tap-dancer Elizabeth Miliken and Nancy Moore on cymbals and other percussion. Needless to say, the Floozies’ style was eclectic, ranging from folk to blues to ragtime to their own peculiar brand of rock. They did original songs and their own interesting spins on covers, including a folk/ragtime rendering of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” a They Might Be Giants tune, a Bulgarian folk song and more. It was strange, but it worked, and this group did what they did well, keeping the Folkfest audience attentive and captivated.
The Born Again Floozies.
Joey Welch of The Born Again Floozies.
The Floozies’ unique rhythm section, tap-dancer Elizabeth Miliken and Nancy Moore.
The ‘bass’ and ‘lead’ players, Ben Vokits and Charlie Krone of The Born Again Floozies.
Even playing trashcan lids, Nancy Moore of The Born Again Floozies.
Again, The Born Again Floozies.
Again, Joey Welch of The Born Again Floozies.
Charlie Krone of The Born Again Floozies.
Elizabeth, Nancy and Joey of The Born Again Floozies.
My next destination was the AmeriServ stage, where Rusty Gun Revival was performing. The Gunners were actually the middle of a three-band roots music bill on this stage, which kicked off earlier with Pittsburgh’s Beagle Brothers and would close later with The Marauders. This night, Rusty Gun Revival was Marc “L.C. Slim” Prave on acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals, Tom Hipps on percussion and Bill Stetz on upright bass. This was my first chance to see the group with Bill, who represented well, especially at one point when Marc broke a guitar string, and Bill and Tom improvised an impromptu jam to keep folks entertained while the string was replaced. During the half hour I was there, Rusty Gun Revival did a number of their Americana-geared favorites, such as “No More Blues,” “That Girl Is Hot,” “Smoke,” “Honky Tonk Woman,” “Requiem for America,” an Elvis Presley number and more.
Returning to entertain at Johnstown Folkfest, Rusty Gun Revival.
Marc “L.C. Slim” Prave of Rusty Gun Revival.
Bill Stetz of Rusty Gun Revival.
Tom Hipps of Rusty Gun Revival.
 Bugs were in abundance around the stadium lights at nearby Point Stadium.[/color]
At this point, I departed Folkfest, and made my way down the Iron Street Trail to Cambria City to catch some of Cambria City Ethnic Festival. Although I knew Johnstown party favorites Yum were doing their annual street dance at St. Mary’s Church, my destination was Holy Name Lutheran Church, where The Conniptions were performing. I hadn’t seen this group in action in at least 3 years, so I was overdue. The veteran roster of singer/bassist Duaine Detrick, guitarist/singer Dave Meiklejohn and drummer/singer Tom Romanek played a varied range of sounds from the 60’s through 80’s; including a number of songs I had not heard done live in a while, if ever! Some of the songs they did included the Turtles’ “Happy Together,” The Yardbirds’ “For Your Love,” Them’s “Gloria,” Edison Lighthouse’s “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes),” Dick Dale’s surf instrumental “Miserlou,” and The Conniptions’ own original tune, “Boogie Music,” written in 1972! The group also mixed in numbers from ZZ Top, Bruce Springsteen, The Knack, Billy Idol and more.
Duaine Detrick and Dave Meiklejohn of The Conniptions.
Again, Duaine Detrick of The Conniptions.
Tom Romanek of The Conniptions.
Again, Dave Meiklejohn of The Conniptions.
Again, Duaine Detrick.
Once again, Duaine and Dave of The Conniptions.
Yet again, Duaine Detrick.
The Conniptions.
Again, Tom Romanek of The Conniptions.
I then returned to Folkfest to catch The Marauders’ performance. A good-sized crowd was looking on as singer/guitarist Ben Dumm, upright bass player Chris Lawson and drummer Abe Weber drilled their fiery punk-fueled rockabilly and roots-rock sounds. Over their two sets, The Marauders did many of their favorites, including “Midnight Rhythm,” “Kill Pop Radio,” “Johnny Don’t Like It (When You Call Him Elvis),” “She Put a Curse on Me,” “New Tattoo” and the Brian Setzer-penned “We Are The Marauders.” The group did several songs from their newly-released CD Dial M for Marauder, including “Late Night Livin,’” “Dead of Night,” “Roadkill,” “Juvenile Frustration” and more. And the group did a few select cover songs, including Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town,” their own roots-rock flavored spin on Blondie’s “Dreaming,” and for the night-ending encore, The Misfits’ “Astrozombies.” The Marauders kept it charged throughout, and kept the fans cheering to the end.
Ben Dumm of The Marauders.
The Marauders, rocking and rolling at Johnstown Folkfest.
Chris Lawson and Abe Weber of The Marauders.
Again, The Marauders.
Ben Dumm jams atop Chris Lawson’s upright bass.
Once again, Chris Lawson of The Marauders.
This brought the first night of my all-Johnstown weekend to a close. I headed back over the mountain to catch a few hours of sleep, and then back on the road for more!
SATURDAY 8/30:
One of the names I had most wanted to check out at this year’s Folkfest was Stacie Collins, whose music I had heard on her Myspace page. A few eyewitnesses gave her Friday night Folkfest set rave reviews, and she was up early on Saturday afternoon, so I was on the road back to Johnstown quickly this day to see what her performance was about.
It didn’t take me along after arriving at the Dodge stage to be pretty quickly blown away by Stacie Collins and her band. Performing a rowdy brand of country, blues and rock, Stacie belted out sassy voice and wailed fiery harmonica. Her backing band was the current edition of Jason and the Scorchers minus Jason; including Warner Hodges on lead guitar, her husband Allen Collins on bass, and a drummer named Vinnie. Stacie and the band played it full tilt, doing songs from Stacie’s latest CD, The Lucky Spot, plus earlier material and a few surprises, including the set-ending rendition of AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top,” with Stacie replacing the bagpipes with her own hot harp solo! She demonstrated an excellent and expressive voice, not only on the rowdy numbers, but even on the ballad “Sorryville.” Warner Hodges delivered constantly stinging guitar work and was always on the move, often flipping his guitar around his back as he played. It made for an exciting display for the entire set, and I was impressed enough by it all that I plopped down some greenbacks for Stacie’s CD afterward.
Warner Hodges of the Scorchers, backing Stacie Collins.
Stacie Collins.
Warner Hodges and Stacie Collins.
Stacie Collins, backed by the Scorchers.
Again, Stacie Collins.
Again, Warner Hodges and Stacie Collins.
Once again, Stacie Collins.
Stacie and Allen Collins.
Once again, Warner Hodges.
Wailing on the harmonica, Stacie Collins.
One more time, Warner Hodges and Stacie Collins.
I then headed to the Conemaugh Health System stage to see Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Fonics. This time without Barrence Whitfield (they would perform with him later in the afternoon), the group performed their own trademark brand of rockabilly and honky tonk. Deke sang and played guitar, flanked by John Flynn on upright bass and Chris Sprague on drums. The group mixed original songs and select remakes, including numbers from Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and more. Deke and the Ecco-Fonics were all-around entertaining, displaying constant skills on their instruments, and having fun with the audience along the way. At one point, Deke staged a dance contest among some of the youngsters in the audience; one little guy started doing a running routine around two of the tent support poles, with Deke jumping off stage with guitar in hand and running with him! Midway through the performance, Deke broke out his trademark double-necked guitar and played it, setting the stage for another highlight later on. Before the song “Can’t See the Forest for the Trees,” Deke referenced Born Again Floozies’ performance earlier in the afternoon, and remarked about the group’s interesting and varied instrumentation. During the song, Deke and his band showed the audience their own versatility, with Deke bringing Chris up from behind the drum kit to play one the lower bass neck of his double-neck guitar, while Deke himself played the upper neck and John did his own tap dance rhythms! It didn’t end there, though; the group proceeded to do their own version of ‘musical chairs,’ with John moving over to play the double-neck guitar and Chris playing the upright bass; this prompted Deke to jokingly remark, “Chris is not only a drummer, he’s also a musician!” Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Fonics not only dazzled with their musicianship; they also were entertainers, and their set provided yet another highlight to my Folkfest experience.
Deke Dickerson.
Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics.
John Flynn of Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics.
Breaking out his classic double-necked guitar, Deke Dickerson.
Again, Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics.
Again, Deke Dickerson.
Yet again, Deke Dickerson.
Drummer Chris Sprague sits in to play Deke Dickerson’s guitar.
Chris and Deke both work the double-necked guitar.
It’s musical chairs, Deke Dickerson style.
The musicians swap positions again.
After this set, I returned to the Dodge stage to check out Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks. Known for his stint on XM Satellite Radio, appearances on MTV, B flicks and more, Webb Wilder was the centerpiece here, as he and his Beatnecks performed roots music, rockabilly and honky tonk; blending original songs and select remakes. Webb offered witty thoughts on his music with the audience along the way; he was clearly a personality in addition to being a musician. Some of his song selection included such numbers as “The Rest (Can Take Care of Itself),” “Down on the Farm,” “Tough It Out;” plus renditions of Big Joe Williams’ “Baby Please Don’t Go,” the Rolling Stones’ “Jumping Jack Flash” and more.
Webb Wilder.
Webb Wilder’s guitarist.
Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks.
Again, Webb Wilder.
Webb Wilder’s bassist.
One more time, Webb Wilder.
From here, I returned to the Conemaugh Health System stage to see Barrence Whitfield, backed by Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics. I had been blown away by the rehearsal the previous evening, now the real deal! This set was just as rousing, as Barrence displayed a wild and soulful howl often reminiscent of Little Richard, and he and Deke & the Ecco-Fonics clearly had fun as they built momentum with their setlist. As I arrived, they were finishing up a tune called “Georgia Slop,” before the musicians tackled a song they had not rehearsed, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell On You.” This was spontaneous and fun, with Barrence delivering his best voodoo growl, at one point riding one gravelly note for a lengthy duration before Deke came over and playfully did a Heimlich maneuver to jar Barrence loose from the note. They then followed with Leroy Washington’s “Wild Cherry” and “King Kong,” before Barrence introduced “Walking with Barrence,” during which his merchandise guy tossed T-shirts and women’s tank tops out to the crowd. Next was his song “Long Green” with its Kingmen “Louie Louie” sound, followed by “Stop Twisting My Arm” and the tune I got a kick out of the night before, “Mama Get the Hammer (Fly’s on the Baby’s Head).” The Folkfest audience quickly demanded an encore when this song came to a close, and after a few moments, Barrence and Deke & the Ecco-Fonics returned to their instruments and did the combination of “Good Rockin’ Tonight” into “Sweet Home Chicago.” As expected, this was a fun performance, as these musicians rode each song to its energetic peak, even stretching a few songs out to keep the fun ride going.
Barrence Whitfield, backed by Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics.
Several audience members kick up their heels with Barrence, Deke and the Ecco-Fonics.
Barrence Whitfield – this man can howl!
Again, Barrence Whitfield.
Deke Dickerson renders assistance when Barrence Whitfield gets stuck on a note.
Once again, Barrence Whitfield.
One more time, Barrence Whitfield.
If there was a single definitive headliner at this year’s Johnstown Folkfest, it had to be Jason and the Scorchers, who were reuniting onstage here at Folkfest for their only U.S. tour dates in several years. One of the founding forces of the alt-country movement in the 80’s, Jason and the Scorchers were bringing their high-powered blend of country twang and punk dynamics to Folkfest. Lead singer, guitarist, namesake and group founder Jason Ringenberg, lead guitarist and co-founding member Warner Hodges, bassist Albert Collins and Vinnie on drums played numerous songs from the group’s 80’s albums; including “My Heart Still Stands with You,” “Shop It Around,” “Crashin’ Down,” “Golden Ball and Chain,” their rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Absolutely Sweet Marie” (from their debut EP), “Harvest Moon” and more. Along the way, the group welcomed some special guests onstage; including fellow Nashville performer Arty Hill, who helped with backing vocals on “Blanket of Sorrow;” and Stacie Collins, contributing fiery voice and harp on “200 Proof Lovin’” and “Little Sister.” Jason and the Scorchers’ set rode at a constant high from start to end, and the Johnstown crowd was clearly savoring this opportunity to witness a rare reunion performance. At set’s end, the crowd quickly demanded more, and Jason and the Scorchers returned to deliver a fast and powerful read of John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads.”
Jason Ringenberg of Jason and the Scorchers with guest Arty Hill.
Jason and the Scorchers.
Warner Hodges of Jason and the Scorchers.
Warner Hodges and Jason Ringenberg.
Again, Jason Ringenberg of Jason and the Scorchers.
Once again, Jason Ringenberg.
Guest Stacie Collins joins Jason and the Scorchers.
There was definitely a predominant rural flavor to this year’s Folkfest, and the next performer I saw at the AmeriServ stage, Amy LeVere, also dabbled in Americana and country-geared sounds. Demonstrating a whispery voice as she worked a large upright bass, Amy and her band (a guitarist and drummer) played a varied selection of styles, including gentle country and honky tonk, blues, jazz, and even touches of rock and funk. They sounded comfortable and competent on all of it, and Amy offered an interesting contrast as she sang gently but commanded the strings on the bass, which was taller than she was.
Amy LeVere (left) and her band.
Amy’s guitar player.
Amy LeVere.
Once again, Amy LeVere.
After watching a few songs, I proceeded to the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield stage to catch what I could of Del Castillo’s set. This group turned out to be one of my favorites from this year’s Folkfest. I arrived in time to hear only one more song to close the set, but this group made it count! Del Castillo blended Latin sounds with rock, with a unique slant. As the group started into their last song, brothers Rick and Mark Del Castillo went to town on their dual nylon-string classical guitars, soloing, blending and dueling back and forth for displays I could best describe as flamenco shredding! Both brothers soon came down off the stage and brought their instruments into the stagefront audience, letting the audience witness their guitar mastery up close! I stood and watched in awe, I had never heard anything like this before! Although I missed most of their performance this night, Del Castillo’s display on this song was enough to put their Sunday performance high on my list of priorities when I returned the next day!
Del Castillo.
Rick and Mark Del Castillo.
Mark Del Castillo.
Mark Del Castillo and Albert Besteiro of Del Castillo.
Coming out into the audience to display their guitar talents, Mark and Rick Del Castillo.
Mike Zeoli of Del Castillo.
Once again, Del Castillo.
No Johnstown Folkfest is complete without zydeco, and I next headed to the Dodge stage to witness the annual Folkfest zydeco party, courtesy of Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, returning for their second consecutive year. A huge crowd was already in front of the stage as this party had just gotten underway, and it was a PARTY! People grooving and jumping up and down, as Dwayne and his band brought furious zydeco and R&B sounds. They mixed original songs with Louisiana-flavored send-ups of classics; some of the tunes along the way included “Won’t You Please Come Home” from Dwayne’s next CD, a roaring rendition of “Jambalaya” into “Iko Iko,” the Rolling Stones’ “Beast of Burden,” and the stormy showstopper version of “Hey Joe,” which incorporated a snippet of “Voodoo Chile” in midsong. These guys were all on fire, with Dwayne screeing away lead solos on his accordion like there was no tomorrow, and frequently engaging his washboard player, Alex McDonald, in heated musical exchanges both on and off the stage! The rest of the Hellraisers were cranking as well, and kept the musical fireworks and excitement at a constant high through the entire set. It was the perfect zydeco blowout to close a Saturday night at Folkfest!
Dwayne Dopsie.
One of numerous duels between Dwayne Dopsie and his washboard player, Alex McDonald.
Again, Dwayne Dopsie.
Dwayne Dopsie’s saxophone player.
Glenn Sam of Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers.
A large crowd parties down as Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers continue their Louisiana celebration.
Once again, Dwayne Dopsie.
Dwayne Dopsie’s guitarist.
Yet again, Dwayne Dopsie.
Dwayne and Alex take their duel out into the crowd.
More Dwayne Dopsie.
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