Hello Everyone,
Here is the recap of the May 21 edition of “The Homegrown Rocker,” which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on Q94 Classic Rock (www.q94classicrock.com), and from 10 PM to midnight on 107.1 and 101.3 Jack FM (www.1071jack.fm)!
Thanks to this week’s guests – Matthew Cain, John Peacefire and Sascha Frost of Altoona-based indie rock adventurers Crazed Visions (crazedvisions.bandcamp.com/album/love-war) – for visiting us! We learned about Crazed Visions and their unique musical visions, and got inside their creative processes and live show, plus aired tracks from the group’s latest album, Love War! We also debuted new songs by Phase Materia, Lucid Yooth & the Cubensis Lenses and the Nick Miller Project, updated “Local Music News,” dug out a 2003 number from Greencastle alternative rockers Josa Step for this week’s “Local Music Flashback,” and reviewed the latest album by Sascha Frost’s creative alter ego Memory Collector, Fear Dreams, in “The Professor’s CD Corner!” (For those who missed the program, a four-part podcast of this show is available for listening or download from Q94’s website, www.q94classicrock.com. Click on “The Professor’s Classroom,” and then scroll down to “Homegrown Rocker Podcast” and look for the four show segments marked with the date, 052123.)
Here is this week’s playlist:
HOUR ONE:
DEREK WOODS BAND – “Happiness”
NEON HOTEL – “Unknown Mystery”
CRAZED VISIONS – “Circle Back Around”
PHASE MATERIA – “Physical Energy”
CRAZED VISIONS – “Origins”
LUCID YOOTH & THE CUBENSIS LENSES – “Double Rainbow” (live at Mass N The Grass Festival, August 2022)
CRAZED VISIONS – “The Highway of Life”
ALYSSA HANKEY – “Hard Road”
HOUR TWO:
THE NICK MILLER PROJECT – “Dance of the Silkies” (live)
JOHN PEACEFIRE – “NDAA”
CRAZED VISIONS – “Wild Things”
MEMORY COLLECTOR w/GINA LEE – “Addicted”
CRAZED VISIONS – “Death Mask”
JOSA STEP – “Lacerta” (2003, Local Music Flashback)
CRAZED VISIONS – “Us”
Since our next program happens on Memorial Day Weekend, you would be wise to deduce that our next program will be the annual “Homegrown Rocker” Memorial Day Special! As always, we will present our annual trek down “Local Music Memory Lane,” hearing two hours’ worth of songs by past area bands and artists! Hear numbers from the likes of The Front, Nitro, Sideshow Bob, Sidewalk Romeo, Guardian, Badwrench, Tommi-Gunn and many more! Your show host will probably find some undiscovered area music scene song curios to share as well! And we’ll remember some of the area musicians who are no longer with us by sharing their musical creations! Hear the “Homegrown Rocker” this Sunday night (May 28) on Q94 Classic Rock – 94.3 FM and online at www.q94classicrock.com, and on 107.1 and 101.3 Jack FM, online at www.1071jack.fm!
Upcoming guests and specials:
JUNE 11 – LONE CROW REBELLION
JUNE 18 – FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL
JULY 9 – WELL STRUNG
JULY 16 – COVER SONG SPECIAL
JULY 30 – DAVE MAYERSKY (UPSTAGE FESTIVAL PREVIEW)
AUG. 6 – SINGER-SONGWRITER SPECIAL
AUG. 20 – LOCAL MUSIC LIVE IN CONCERT SPECIAL
(All dates are subject to changes as circumstances warrant.)
Bands and artists wanting to submit news items for “Local Music News” may email their news to homegrownrocker@gmail.com. Indicate “MUSIC NEWS” in the subject heading!
Bands and artists interested in having music aired on the show are invited to send their broadcast-quality recordings to: The Homegrown Rocker, 2513 6th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 (ATTN: Jim Price). You can also email digital song files or inquiries about the show to homegrownrocker@gmail.com. And bands and musicians interested in being guests on the program can email their interest to homegrownrocker@gmail.com as well!
Jim Price
In Local Music News…
In a surprise development, it was announced on Friday that Philipsburg live music venue the LaunchPad is closing its doors. According to its owner and founder, Shawn Inlow, it became increasingly difficult to financially sustain the venue. Shawn started the LaunchPad during the COVID-19 lockdown, establishing it first as a practice venue for his band, StoneMan, and then opening the room up to other area performers. The venue quickly became a favorite for area music fans because of its atmosphere and décor. In addition to StoneMan, The LaunchPad also hosted such bands as The Megan McGarry Trio, to The Tussey Mountain Moonshiners, Mid-State Select, On The Mend, Callanish, The Jaded Lips, The PennSOULvanians, Mr. Pocket, The Extra Miles, T.V. Blonde and Phish tribute iSH. Shawn has left the door open to the possibility of a new LaunchPad down the road.
The EdenFest fundraiser event will take place next Saturday (May 27) at the Cambria County Fair Grounds in Ebensburg, to raise funds to help aspiring young area ballet dancer Eden Marines with her tuition as she enters a five-week intensive program at Boston Ballet later this summer. The event kicks off at noon, and will feature performances from the bands Emmy & the Geriatrics, The Ben Dumm 3, Havoc, The Heathen Parade and solo performer Joe Caroff, with DJ Dizz spinning music as well. There will also be a basket raffle and food concessions as well. Donation at the gate will be $10 per person.
The Reservoir Park Fest will take place on Saturday, June 3 at Reservoir Park in Tyrone. Kicking off at 1 p.m., the free event will feature an afternoon of live music from area bands and performers; including Little Jimmy Melon Baller, James Grove, D.M.T., The BSXpress, SidePiece, Neon Hotel and Tois. No alcohol will be permitted or served at this event.
The band lineup has been announced for the annual Vets Fest, which takes place on Sunday, August 13 outside at the Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society in Altoona. Taking the stage will be The Stiffs, Bone Jacked, Sweet Desire and XM. Proceeds from Vets Fest will benefit all veterans in the Blair County area via the Vietnam Veterans of America, Blair County Chapter 967.
Area country performer Zac Grace has announced that he and his band will be performers during Bret Michaels’ Party Gras event, part of the Hollywood Outdoor Concert Series on Saturday, August 26 at the Hollywood Casino in Grantville, Zac will be one of several local openers before performances by Bret Michaels, Warrant and more.
The Johnstown-based rock band Orange Fire recently announced that Reggie Heffner has joined the group as their new female lead singer.
That’s a look at “Local Music News.” Bands and artists with news items to report on the program may email their information to homegrownrocker@gmail.com.
