[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the August 22 edition of Q94's weekly local music program, "The Backyard Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on WBRX 94.3 and WBXQ 94.7.

This week, we saluted some of the many talented guitar players we grow here in the Keystone State, on the “Guitar Heroes of Local Music Special.” We featured rising young guitar players like Electric Blue’s Jim Tangeman, seasoned west-central PA guitar veterans like Felix Kos of the Hurricanes, John McKelvey and Jeff Wallach, and even some talented string-benders from other parts of the state such as Pittsburgh’s Mike Palone and Alex Demos (from Whiskey High/Skell and Stronghold respectively) and eastern PA’s Sterling Koch (from V.I.H.). As noted at the top of the program, there’s no way to possibly fit all of this state’s talented guitar players into a two-hour show. So if your favorite guitar player wasn’t featured this time around, don’t despair, there will be more “Guitar Heroes” specials in the future! For anyone who loves guitar solos, this was a two-hour feast!

We also checked on local music news, and reviewed Stronghold’s debut CD, “Portals of Illusion,” on The Professor’s CD Corner.”

Here is this week’s playlist (with the featured guitar player in parentheses):

HOUR ONE:

R.C. YETTER & RIVIERA PARADISE (R.C. Yetter) – “Red House”
NORMAN NARDINI – “Rock and Roll City”
ELECTRIC BLUE (Jim Tangeman) – “Born Under a Bad Sign”
ROADKILL (Sean McCracken) – “Lost in the Woods”
THE GRIMM (Kirk Tonkin) – “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”
WINE OF NAILS (John Charney) – “Arms of Morpheus”
QUEEN BEE & THE BLUE HORNET BAND (Mark Ross) – “Fools Fall in Love”

HOUR TWO:

THE FRONT (John McKelvey) – “Can Do/Hard Light” (1983, Local Music Flashback)
PENSIVE FEAR (Tom Brown) – “Unlock the Door (To My Mind)”
STRONGHOLD (Alex Demos) – “Power Rises”
THE FLAME SKY (Jason Feathers) – “Stormy Monday”
FELIX & THE HURRICANES (Felix Kos) – “Lenny”
RAPID FIRE (Jeff Wallach) – “Black Star” (1985, Local Music Flashback)
WHISKEY HIGH (Mike Palone) – “Busted”
V.I.H. (Sterling Koch) – “I’ve Never Been to Seminary”

This Sunday night, we’re doing something we haven’t done in a long time on the show – nothing! With no guests or specials scheduled, we’ll be debuting lots of new music we’ve received over the past several weeks, as well as breaking out some area bands and artists we haven’t played on the show in a while. There will be local music news and the Professor’s CD Corner, and there might be a few other surprises in store. It will be maximum local and regional music this Sunday night on the “Backyard Rocker!”

Other forthcoming guests and specials include:

SEPT. 12 – Vs. The Earth
SEPT. 19 – White Witch
SEPT. 26 – “The Underground” Preview Special
OCT. 3 – Acoustic Jam Special
OCT. 10 – Herbie
OCT. 24 – Project Twelve (34)
OCT. 31 – Halloween Special
NOV. 7 – Michael Reich
DEC. 12 – Fat Vinny & the Wiseguys
DEC. 19 – Christmas Special
DEC. 26 – Year in Review Special

Listen soon for a major announcement, as the “Backyard Rocker” gets ready to partner with another new force that will promote local and regional music starting this fall!

For regular updates on what is happening on the area music scene, pay a visit to Rockpage (www.rockpage.org). Rockpage features band links, a message board, "Backyard 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 Backyard Rocker" are invited to send their broadcast-quality recordings to: WBXQ Radio, 4000 5th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602; ATTN: Jim Price. Or drop the recordings off at the station during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 9 AM - 5 PM.

Q94’s “Backyard Rocker” has been introducing listeners to the region’s best musical talent for over six years, and we plan to do it for many more. Help guarantee the program’s future, and consider becoming an advertising sponsor of the “Backyard Rocker.” If your business involves music, a “Backyard Rocker” sponsorship can get your message in front of listeners interested in music. To inquire about becoming a sponsor of the “Backyard Rocker,” call Diane Boslet during regular business hours at (814) 944-9320, or email diane@wbxq.com.

Jim Price

In local music news…

Third Standard has found their new drummer. Steve Holtz from Altoona will officially make his stage debut with the group starting in November. Third Standard’s current drummer, Manny Barbazzeni, play his final show with the group Oct. 23.

Another band bites the dust…After six years and two CD's, Harrisburg-based heavy rockers Adrian Blitzer have announced their farewell from regional stages. The group performed their final show this past weekend.

From the ashes of two former Harrisburg-based bands arises a new group. A Broken Union is a new five-piece group featuring three former members of Ethergy, and former No Refill frontman Vitu Chiwaka. The group will make their official stage debut in December, and plans to issue a debut EP early next year.

And if you are out and checking out live music in the next few weeks, you may see a petition being distributed by a number of area bands and musicians. The petition requests a change in the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Code to set a fixed decibel limit for sound to be heard outside licensed establishments. If the change is made, musicians and venues can then adhere to that limit so they are not violating noise laws. At present, licensed establishment owners can be fined for any loudspeaker heard outside the door of their business, as arbitrarily judged too loud by any member of state law enforcement. The petition was started following several area live music venues receiving citations for noise rule violations in recent weeks.
_________________

http://pamusician.net