[Jim Price]

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND RECAP 10/30/06

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW @ CRESSON LAKE PLAYHOUSE, CRESSON 10/26/06

With – to quote musical director John Charney – “an autumn crisp in the air” – I decided to kick off my Halloween weekend at Cresson Lake Playhouse’s third annual production of The Rocky Horror Show.

Although I had planned to arrive in time for the opening curtain, I ended up getting lost when the first road entrance to Cresson Lake was blocked off due to roadwork; I made a few wrong turns and had to hit-and-miss my way to Cresson Lake's parking lot, arriving ten minutes into Act One of the performance. Once I was inside "The Barn," though, it didn't take me long to get up to speed on this latest edition of Rocky Horror. Since the Cresson Lake Playhouse began doing Rocky three years ago, the musical flavor of the production has changed every year. This year, the production took on a 50's-era rockabilly/surf flavor. As the production played out, I was more and more impressed by the masterful job done by musical maestro John Charney and his stage bandmates, Scott Jeffries on bass and Mike Davis (Hi-Tyde) on drums. They almost perfectly captured the sound and mood of those old 50's-era B-grade horror flicks, clear down to John's incidental music and spacey sci-fi tones on his guitar – amazing!

Besides the music, the production itself was a lot of fun. The actors and actresses all did convincing jobs in their respective roles, including several other area musicians; Soundrive's Jonathan Rager as "Frank'n'Furter," former Soundrive member Owen Standley as "Brad," and Echoes member Ryan Skiles portraying "Eddie." Ryan also was the director of the production. The mood was playful and loose, with audience members doing the established Rocky Horror callbacks to the stage (translation: organized heckling), and a few funny unexpected heckles as well. And by production's end, the band was playing their 50's-styled read of "Time Warp," while cast members pulled audience members onto the main stage floor to dance along. I didn't escape; and the Barn audience caught a rare JP timewarp sighting...

Again, kudos to Cresson Lake Playhouse for a fun kickoff to my Halloween weekend.

FOOLS ON STOOLS @ PEGGY’S PLACE, MILL CREEK 10/27/06

My former Q94 co-worker, Rick Hamilton, informed me that the Huntingdon County venue where he deejays, Peggy's Place in Mill Creek, was testing the waters with running live bands. Their first live band was playing there this Friday night, Fools On Stools. Never having seen this group before, and curious to check out a new venue, I accepted Rick's invitation to come check both out.

My first impressions of Peggy's Place were favorable. Peggy's is a nice, smaller-sized room, and the clientelle this night were friendly. And bar manager/newly picked Q94 2007 Calendar Girl Sierra scored instant brownie points from me off the bat, bringing a plate of buffalo wings to me soon after I was seated – thanks!

And the band was fun as well. Fools On Stools actually started out as an acoustic side project of Foxxy, and has evolved into a full band entity of its own. Chad Caprio and Bill Ziegler (celebrating Halloween by convincingly masquerading as fried chicken magnate Colonel Sanders this night) played guitars and sang, Stan Orndorf sang and played bass, and Mel Bollinger (who platoons behind the drum kit with Sammy Rozelle, depending on the gig) played drums and sang. Fools On Stools mixed it up, doing fun songs from a variety of sources; including Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs' "Wooly Bully," the Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" and "Dead Flowers," Gaye DeLorme's "Rodeo Song," David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" and more. There were plenty of established favorites performed, such as Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock'n'Roll," Georgia Satellites' "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" and Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music." There were also some very freewheeling and entertaining medleys as well; Fools On Stools somehow managed to fuse together Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," Aerosmith/Tiny Bradshaw's "Train Kept A- Rollin'" and Johnny Rivers' "Secret Agent Man" into a coherent medley, and also musically welded together the Allman Brothers' "One Way Out" and Iron Butterfly's "Innagaddadavida." The group also threw in the Lynyrd Skynyrd medley of "Gimme Three Steps," "What's Your Name" and "Sweet Home Alabama" for good measure. And late in the show, the group welcomed bar manager Sierra and her friend, Jess, to belt out lead voices on Alanis Morisette's "You Oughta Know."

It was a wild musical ride, but Fools On Stools made it all work. The mood was fun and lighthearted, and these guys never took themselves too seriously. Although Stan sang the lion's share of lead voice, all four musicians could carry a tune, and their playing was skillful and on target. By the way, keeping true to their name, Stan and Bill actually were seated on stools.

It all amounted to a fun night, and made my roadtrip venture into Huntingdon County on this rainy Friday night well worth it. My first experiences with Peggy's Place and Fools On Stools were good ones, and I plan to experience both again in the future!

Fools On Stools, making their debut at Peggy's Place.

Stan Orndorf of Fools On Stools.

This Colonel does guitar right; Bill Ziegler of Fools On Stools.

Staying true to their name, two Fools On Stools, Stan Orndorf and Bill Ziegler.

Mel Bollinger of Fools On Stools.

Once again, Fools On Stools.

With guests Jess and bar manager Sierra singing lead, Fools On Stools.

Jess and Sierra.

Again, Jess, Sierra, and Fools On Stools.

Bar manager (and Q94 2007 Calendar Girl) Sierra poses with Bill "Colonel Sanders" Ziegler (with chicken bucket) and Chad Caprio of Fools On Stools.

RED EYE/FAYTED @ CITY LIMITS, ALTOONA 10/28/06

My Halloween weekend merriment continued this night at City Limits, where the double-bill of Red Eye and Fayted was taking place.

This would be the night that I would unveil my Halloween costume "masterpiece" for 2006. Several ground rules usually apply for an official JP Halloween costume...First, I have to conceive the idea for the costume no sooner than 24 hours before I attend my first Halloween costume party…Second, the costume has to cost less than $20 to put together (I do not rent costumes, nor will I spend humongous amounts of money on a get-up that gets one or two uses and then is history)…Third, it must have some comic value and stand a decent chance of getting some laughs. This year's eventual costume idea met two of the three criteria initially, and eventually, all three. I thought of the idea of Kenny from South Park 24 hours before the first Halloween party I needed it for, and it was humorous and got some laughs. Technically, the costume cost me close to $40 to put together. However, I got a $27 rebate after Halloween, because the red parka I purchased became my new heavy-duty winter coat once Halloween passed (the rubber/plastic mice and rats were attached to the coat with sewing thread, a pair of scissors quickly and cleanly removed the vermin). Since some assembly was required for this costume, I got a bit of a late start attending the show, arriving late during Red Eye's set. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made in order to get a good Halloween laugh.

I arrived in time to see the last four songs of Red Eye's set. The group – Ed Somerville, lead guitarist Paul Miller, rhythm guitarist Tracy Felton, bassist Troy Laney and drummer Bill Hocherl – finished out their set with renditions of Styx's "Blue Collar Man," Ozzy Osbourne's "Dreamer," Rush's "Working Man" and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." At least on these four songs, Red Eye sounded good overall; instrumentally on target to be sure. I detected a little bit of nerves, and the group appeared a little bit tentative; then again, this line-up hasn't logged too much official stage time together yet, so nerves could still be expected. More shows should resolve this; Red Eye obviously has the chops, and I look forward to seeing how this group of seasoned area music vets progresses in the coming months.

Red Eye, making their City Limits debut.

Ed Somerville of Red Eye.

Although there were plenty of Halloween parties happening in the 'Toona this night, there was still a decent contingent of costumed and non-costumed fans in the house at City Limits. At least initially, I was non-costumed.well, it was a heavy red parka, and I didn't feel like steaming in my own personal sauna for most of the night. I'd break out the costume from my car when the time was right (that, as it turned out, would be later in the night, after the onstage costume contest had already happened).

Fayted soon went to work, stirring up the Halloween revelers with their set of good-time rock'n'roll old and new. Opening with Neil Young's "Rocking in the Free World," Fayted quickly had City Limits' dance floor busy with tunes from Better Than Ezra, Sublime, Poison, Collective Soul, Ugly Kid Joe, Beastie Boys, Green Day and more. At least two of Fayted's own tunes, the bluesy "Blame Yourself" and the anthemic "Keep Smilin,'" made appearances. Other musical highlights included guest Eric Morningstar singing lead on Georgia Satellites' "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" and the night-ending rendition of Guns'n'Roses' "Paradise City" (spotting frontman Josh Lockard some relief; Josh was coming off a cold this night and experiencing some vocal strain), and the group's overall tight pace and velocity, as they never gave the City Limits crowd any opportunity or reason to sit down once the party started. There was only one notable break in the action, and it was for a good reason, as Fayted bassman Larry Bishop brought his favorite lady onstage, broke out the ring and proposed to her, to the ooh's and aah's of the crowd. Fortunately, she appeared to respond in the affirmative, which helped escalate the jubilation and energy of the night even further. It was a festive and fun slobberknocker of a Fayted party, full of treats and no tricks this Halloween Saturday night.

It's Halloween party mayhem with Fayted at City Limits.

Ron Horton and Larry Bishop of Fayted.

It wasn't a trick, but a treat...Larry Bishop of Fayted popped the question and the ring, and is rewarded with a hug and a kiss.

Fayted's Halloween craziness continues.

From atop the speakers, Josh Lockard of Fayted.

The contestants in the Halloween costume contest at City Limits.

More costumed craziness onstage at City Limits.

Larry Bishop's future bride sports an arresting policewoman outfit onstage at City Limits.

Kenny from South Park makes his Halloween weekend debut.

FELIX & THE HURRICANES HALLOWEEN BLUES CRUISE @ LAKE RAYSTOWN 10/29/06

On the last Sunday in October, it was wild times on the choppy seas of Lake Raystown, as the good ship Felix (err...The Proud Mary) took on the lake, with a bunch of costumed crazies on board. Although the Hurricanes had presented fall foliage Blues Cruises before, this was the first ever Halloween edition.

Although the weather forecast was for a chilly day on the lake, the inaugural Halloween Blues Cruise was still a sellout, and a large contingent of costumed and non-costumed Hurricaniacs populated the designated pavilion area for the pre-Cruise picnic festivities as Big Jim “Polamalu” Ricotta, Sparky D’Engineer and yours truly, Kenny from South Park arrived. We feasted on some quality cuisine prior to the voyage, courtesy of chef Brian.

Soon it was time to drive over to the boarding dock to climb aboard the boat and begin the Cruise. And while my new red “They Killed Kenny” parka was heavy and cumbersome to wear indoors at City Limits the night before, it was just the perfect garment to be wearing out in the chilly Lake Raystown air this afternoon, especially once the sun started to set and the temperature began to drop! Within minutes, the Proud Mary was populated with an oddball assortment of costumed crazies, ranging from a Cat In The Hat to two large beer bottles, a Penn State cheerleader with facial hair, Angus Young of AC/DC, radio shock jock Howard Stern (actually Big Jim, we thought he looked more like Stern than Troy Polamalu) and more. Imagine what passers-by driving along Route 994 probably thought when they saw the Proud Mary from the highway; they probably feared that there had been an escape from the nearby local mental ward!

I somehow managed to leave my notepad and pen locked up back in my car, so the exact Hurricanes setlist for this Blues Cruise was lost at sea this day. Suffice it to say, the ‘Canes’ mix of classic rock and blues and original tunes was as strongly performed as ever. One guest performed with the Hurricanes this day, as Generation Gap frontman Brian Elliott sang lead during the group’s rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.”

Some pictures from the debauchery...


The party ship Felix prepares to leave dock.

With the Blues Cruise under way, Felix & the Hurricanes.

Felix & the Hurricanes take on the high seas...

Hurricane Bob, making whoopee behind the drum kit.

The Hurricanes and their 'Caniacs mostly had the entire lake to themselves. This was the only other boat we saw during the cruise.

Hurricanes, Halloween revelers and fall foliage on Lake Raystown...it doesn't get much better than this!

Brian Elliott from Generation Gap sings lead during Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man."

Again, Felix & the Hurricanes with guest singer Brian Elliott.

A Blues Brother loses his hat to the high seas of Lake Raystown.

Again, the Blues Brothers.

The Halloween Blues Cruise festivities continue aboard the Proud Mary.

Michelle and Brian, enjoying the Hurricanes' Halloween Blues Cruise.

A number of celebrities were aboard the Blues Cruise. Angus Young of AC/DC was among the Blues Cruise revelers this day.

Noted radio shock jock Howard Stern also made the journey. Unfortunately, Howard couldn't talk any of his half-naked porn star guests into joining him.

The Hurricanes promised beer on board, and here, they delivered it!

Elated over the Nittany Lions' win over Purdue on Saturday, this Penn State cheerleader celebrated by riding the Blues Cruise.

Not everybody was having fun on this Blues Cruise. "They killed Kenny, the bXXXtards!" (and I really have to stop shaving with Jif Extra Crunchy.)

The Cat In The Hat stands behind the Penn State cheerleader. Actually, Kenny from South Park could have used the Cat's help in dispatching some of those rats.

More Hurricaniac costumed craziness aboard the Proud Mary.

Having seen enough of the lunatics on the top deck, Hurricane Bob suddenly threatened to jump overboard. Calmer heads prevailed, though, and the distraught Hurricanes drummer was convinced not to end it all...

As the sun begins to set, the party on board Lake Raystown continues.

Hats off to the Hurricanes for doing it again, throwing a party for their fans on board the Proud Mary at Lake Raystown. Also hats off to chef Brian for the excellent Blues Cruise cuisine before and after the cruise – including chili, halushki, pierogies, stir fry rice, hamburgers, hotdogs, and lots more! The first Halloween Blues Cruise was a very successful one, and provided a great late fall day on Lake Raystown. My thumbs up and hopes for a sequel next year!

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW @ THE BREWERY, STATE COLLEGE 10/29/06

After leaving Lake Raystown, I decided to head to State College to check out a second local production of The Rocky Horror Show taking place this Halloween season, courtesy of Mad Muse Productions at The Brewery.

Directed by “The Mad Muse” Lori Howsare (who directed the first Cresson Lake Playhouse production of Rocky Horror), this edition of Rocky was markedly different than the one I had seen at Cresson Lake three nights before. First, the setting was a bar instead of a theater; how would a drinking bar crowd react to Rocky, and how would beer impact callbacks and audience interaction? And secondly, the musical flavor of this Rocky was punk rock, with a stage band featuring members of The Deuces and Uncle Travelling Matt.

Although the dynamics and musical flavor of this Rocky were different, it was still an entertaining and fun production. This edition of Rocky took on a faster, more energetic pace; and in the intimate setting of a bar atmosphere, the audience cheers and callbacks took on rowdier tones (even though the rank and file Brewery audience didn’t seem as familiar with some of the callbacks as the Cresson Lake audience was). The band – Greg "Mudzo" Mudzinski of Uncle Traveling Matt on bass and The Deuces’ Joey Lenze and Erik Krieg on guitars and Matt Floravit on drums – delivered the punkish acid burn edge to Rocky Horror canons like “The Time Warp,” “Floor Show” and more. The Rocky cast did a good job as well, with Bret Sarlouis convincingly reprising his role as “Frank’n’Furter” (he portrayed this character in the first Cresson Lake Rocky production). Musicians in this cast included Wentletrap members Matt Wentle as “Rocky” and Dusty Walizer as “Riff Raff.”

Although beer was flowing, the crowd was good-natured and cheered on the Rocky performers, and at least for the inaugural first night run, the staging of Rocky Horro in a bar setting was a success. And for me, it was interesting to view two completely different translations of Rocky Horror, and be able to note comparisons and contrasts between the two versions. It definitely provided a different highlight to my Halloween weekend.

Several Transylvanians strut during Mad Muse Productions' presentation of The Rocky Horror Show at The Brewery.

Again, some Transylvanians sing along with "Eddie" (on right) during The Rocky Horror Show.

Bret Sarlouis as "Frank'n'Furter."

Cast and band members onstage in the waning moments of The Rocky Horror Show.

AGONY HILL @ PELLEGRINE’S, ALTOONA 10/29/06

Timing was key this night for me. With The Brewery production of Rocky Horror concluding by 11 PM, I was quickly out the door and on the road back to Altoona, so I could arrive at Pellegrine’s and don my Kenny outfit for Pellegrine’s annual Halloween costume contest. This year, New York’s Agony Hill hosted Pelly’s Halloween bash.

I arrived just shy of the end of Agony Hill's second set, which they finished with a version of Nena's "99 Redballoons." The costume contest was next.

I lost. Didn't even place. Somebody disguised as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre assailant won. Oh well, the rubber rats would come off of the outfit the next day, and I would still have a new parka for the cold winter months.

Back to the music...Agony Hill's final set got a little later start and was thus abbreviated. But the band rocked it out nicely with uptempo favorites from Bowling For Soup, Green Day, Good Charlotte, The Clash, House Of Pain, and one of their own original tunes, "Enough." A nice-sized crowd of the costumed and non-costumed occupied the dance floor in front of the stage, enjoying the final minutes of Halloween weekend merriment. In all, a good time.


Agony Hill rocks the Halloween crowd at Pellegrine's.

Eric Bleiler of Agony Hill.

Guitarist Spam of Agony Hill.

Kenny from South Park; the agony would soon be over, and the rats would not be gnawing at his neck any more.

California hippy Natalie, emceeing the costume contest.

The eventual costume contest winner, from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, preparing to show his appreciation by carving up the band.

JP's HAIKU

Two Rocky Horrors
One rockabilly, one punk
Both decadent fun!
_________________

http://pamusician.net

[Jim Price]

...
_________________

http://pamusician.net