[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the October 8 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. The “Backyard Rocker” is brought to you by the U.S. Army. Visit their website, www.goarmy.com, and call the Altoona Recruiting Station at (814) 944-2592.

This week, we presented the sixth edition of the “Acoustic Jam Special.” We invited several area musicians into the studio to perform acoustic songs individually, and then allowed them all to jam on some common songs together. Thanks to Ron Dalansky and Jim Ricotta of Half Tempted, Adam D (marking the first time a keyboard was involved in this special), and John Stevens (who provided the sound board and produced) for weathering the early technical snafus and coming up with some good live performances during the course of the show.

We also updated Local Music News, and reviewed Just Megan’s debut album, Blue Avenue, in “The Professor’s CD Corner.” (The review can be viewed in the “Backyard Rocker” section of the message board area on Q94’s website, www.wbxq.com.) We also debuted new songs from Joint Effort, Days Before Tomorrow and Stealing The Return.

Here is this week’s playlist:

HOUR ONE:

NORMAN NARDINI – “Love Dog”
JACKSON MONSOUR – “Everybody Needs Love”
JOINT EFFORT – “Time for Change”
GRADE E – “Post-Civilized”
RON & JIM (HALF TEMPTED) – “Behind Blue Eyes” (performed live on the air)
RON & JIM (HALF TEMPTED) – “Signs” (performed live on the air)
DAYS BEFORE TOMORROW – “Wrong”
THE FLAME SKY – “The Price You Pay”
ADAM D & JIM RICOTTA – “Wide World” (performed live on the air)
ADAM D – “Come As You Are” (performed live on the air)

HOUR TWO:

STEALING THE RETURN – “Idle Eyes”
SPOONCHATTER – “Rudy”
JOHN STEVENS – “The Hot Song” (performed live on the air)
ADAM D & JIM RICOTTA – “I Alone” (performed live on the air)
JUST MEGAN – “My Nemesis”
ALL STAR JAM – “Crossroads” (performed live on the air)
ADAM D – “Hemorrhage” (performed live on the air)
BILL FERRELL – “Spinnin’ My Wheels”
ALL STAR JAM – “Hotel California” (performed live on the air)

Next Sunday night, we’ll examine the increasing popularity of blues and roots music on the “Blues and Roots Special.” In the past few years, traditional music forms and music influences by roots music forms have become more and more popular on area stages. We’ll hear music from bands and artists who specialize in blues, roots rock, Americana, folk, country, and hybrids of roots music styles. We’ll also air some comments from area musicians about how the blues and roots sounds influenced their own musical styles. It’s the “Blues and Roots Special” on the “Backyard Rocker,” next Sunday night!

Forthcoming guests and specials include:

OCT. 29 – Halloween Special/Underground Television Season Kickoff Special
NOV. 19 – Good For Nothing
DEC. 3 – John Charney
DEC. 10 – Sterling Koch
DEC. 17 – Fat Vinny & the Wiseguys
DEC. 24 – Christmas Special
DEC. 31 – 2006 Year In Review Special

The “Backyard Rocker” is happy to announce its continued partnership with “The Underground TV,” the new local/regional music television show airing on WWCP-TV Fox 8 Saturday evenings at 6 PM, and now early Monday mornings at 1 AM on WATM ABC 23. Check out “The Underground” as it features different unsigned local and regional bands every week; and watch for “Backyard Rocker” updates on the show each week as well!

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, "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, 1417 12th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601; 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 eight 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…

The Fifth Annual Kevin Dare Memorial Scholarship Benefit Concert will take place on Thursday, Oct. 26, at Café 210 West in State College. The benefit concert honors the memory of Penn State student-athlete Kevin Dare, who died in February, 2002 while competing in the pole vault at the Big Ten Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championships in Minneapolis. All proceeds raised will go towards the Kevin Dare Memorial Scholarship Fund. The benefit concert will begin at 8 PM, and will feature performances by Natalie, JR, & Band, Lemon Soul, Ted McCloskey & the HiFi’s, and Johnny Arrowhead. For more information about the benefit, please visit www.kevindare.com.

The local heavy metal band Choking Faith is set to release their brand new CD. The disc, called Thru The Ashes, is being released on Altoona-based indie label Heartless Mockery Records. The official CD release party will take place this coming Friday (Friday the 13th), at Aldo’s in Altoona.

The York-based metal band Ninetail has found their new keyboard player, to replace departing keyboardist Jerad Gohn. Former Survival Theory/Tear at the Sky keyboardist Greg Weber will take over the position in mid-November. Jerad’s final show with Ninetail will happen on November 5, when Ninetail opens for Mushroomhead at the Crocodile Rock Café in Allentown.

The Pennsylvania Citizens Awareness Group (PACAG), the organization formed last winter to affect positive change in legislation pertaining to live musical entertainment, is looking to expand their regional scope and increase awareness of their efforts to get noise provisions of the state’s Liquor Code changed. At the organization’s latest meeting this past week, the PACAG decided on an initiative to form localized committees in problem areas where live music venues seem to be most targeted. Legislators representing those areas will be contacted regarding the issue and PACAG’s interest in legislation to change the Liquor Code noise provisions. Efforts to begin local PACAG committees in Blair and Clearfield Counties are under way, and meetings of those forming committees will soon be announced. For more information about the PACAG and its efforts, visit the website www.pacag.org.
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