[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the April 18 edition of Rocky 99 and Rocky 104.9's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on WRKW-FM (www.rocky99.com) and WRKY-FM (www.rocky1049.com).

Thanks to our guests on this week’s program, Rick, John and Joe of Harrisburg metal rockers Waysted Sylence (www.myspace.com/waystedsylence), for making the long roadtrip in to be part of this week’s show. (Thanks also to Keith Reynolds and The Underground Television for engineering and providing the studio for the interview respectively.) We got acquainted with the band members, learned their story and the stories behind their music and John’s stage antics (such as rolling up metal frying pans and ripping telephone books in half), and heard several recorded tracks from the group. Along the way, we debuted a new song from Absolution, updated “Local Music News,” reviewed (kaj)’s Cold Silence CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner,” and dug a 1991 song by Pittsburgh’s Big Bad Wolf from the archives for a “Local Music Flashback!” It was another action-packed show!

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

SOLEGION – “Lord of All”
SLACKER THEORY – “Shake”
WAYSTED SYLENCE – “We Have Power”
ABSOLUTION – “What Makes Me Strong”
WAYSTED SYLENCE – “Cult of Crimson”
MINDSPINE – “Forgotten You”
WAYSTED SYLENCE – “Annabelle Lee”

HOUR TWO:

WHITE WITCH – “Street Corner Madness”
WAYSTED SYLENCE – “Eye of the Serpent”
(kaj) – “Rise Up”
WAYSTED SYLENCE – “Understand”
BIG BAD WOLF – “Do It for You” (1991, Local Music Flashback)
WAYSTED SYLENCE – “Spirit of the Dark Night”

On our next program, we’ll respect our elders when we present the “Elder Statesmen of Local Music” Special! We’ll put the spotlight on musicians and bands who have been making music on local and regional stages for over a decade! Along the way, we’ll update “Local Music News” and dig into the archive for another “Local Music Flashback.” The “Elder Statesmen of Local Music” Special on the “Homegrown Rocker,” this Sunday night at 8 PM!

Forthcoming guests and specials include:

MAY 2 – THE SUNFLOWER SPECTACLE
MAY 9 – NITEKAST
MAY 23 – MYCENEA WORLEY
MAY 30 – MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL
JUNE 6 – THE HOPE FALLACY
JUNE 13 – “DAY OF ROCK” BENEFIT PREVIEW
JUNE 20 – FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL

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, the online 'zine publication "The Final Cut," 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…

One of the area music scene’s most respected light technicians has passed away. Dave Whipple passed away on Friday at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville at age 50. Dave ran lights for the band Harpo for a number of years, owned and operated his own lighting business, 3-D Lighting, and most recently ran lights for shows at Café 210 in State College.

The Randy Jackson Jazz Band will kick off this year’s Summer Sounds of Jazz concert series at downtown Altoona’s Heritage Plaza. The concerts will begin on Friday night, June 11, and happen twice monthly from 6 to 10 PM. The Randy Jackson Jazz Band will perform the series opener on June 11 and also the scheduled finale on August 27. In between, Tommy Wareham & the Intrigues will perform June 25 and July 23, Euphoria will play on July 9, and Jazz In Your Face will perform on August 13. Admission to all of the concerts is free; however, a legal ID is required to consume alcoholic beverages.

On a related note, the Blair County Community Action Agency will again present their summer concert series at Heritage Plaza, with the first event happening on Wednesday. June 16. There will also be select concerts taking place at Altoona’s Highland Park and Valley View Amphitheater. Admission to all these events is free.

A classic Pittsburgh rock album from the ‘70s is being reissued by a British record label. Diamond Reo’s classic 1976 album Dirty Diamonds is being reissued by England’s Rock Candy Records, a label started by former Kerrang! Magazine writer Derek Oliver. Oliver calls the album “a rediscovered masterpiece,” and commissioned fellow English rock journalist Dave Reynolds to write an essay to accompany the reissue. The album features performances by guitarist Warren King and drummer Rob Johns, two members of Diamond Reo who have passed away during the past year-and-a-half.
_________________

http://pamusician.net