Here are pictures from Saturday (May 28), the second night of the kickoff weekend of the PA Roundhouse Rally Summer Series 2022 at Roundhouse Harley-Davidson near Duncansville.
Five bands performed during the entire two-day event, with three performing on Saturday, starting with young Altoona upstarts Sweet Desire. Singer Jordan McCaulley, guitarist Kenton Lewis, bassist Joshua Simpson and drummer Trey Boore root their sound in the late 1960s/early 1970s hard, experimental and psychedelic rock tradition, and demonstrated that angle with their mixture of original songs and cover material. Sweet Desire broke out some familiar favorites from the Rolling Stones, Doors, Beatles, Free, Big Brother & the Holding Company and Led Zeppelin, but also unearthed “Need Some Love” off Rush’s 1974 debut album, and the 1971 Cactus version of Willie Dixon’s “Evil.” Their original songs this day included their title song “Sweet Desire,” “Long Black Train” which led into Trey’s drum solo display, and their set closer “Down Days,” culminating in a wild distortion and feedback-laden finish.
Next was Ages, continuing the classic rock flavor with numbers spanning the 1960s to 1990s. Singer Mike Castine, guitarist Tyler Bryan, and the father-and-son rhythm section of drummer Jerry Naugle and bassist Jacob Naugle kept the rock strong and constant with numbers from Deep Purple, ZZ Top, Doors, Seven Mary Three, Black Sabbath, Ted Nugent, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Black Crowes, White Zombie and more. Ages continued to set the rocking tone of the afternoon as more and more folks arrived at the Roundhouse Rally.
Capping the music was Raleigh, North Carolina-based AC/DC tribute Shoot To Thrill. Demonstrating that “Girls Got Rhythm” (and they did that song), these five women delivered a fun, feisty and fiery display of “thunder from Down Under,” performing many AC/DC favorites. Opening with “Live Wire,” Shoot To Thrill – singer Kara, schoolgirl outfit-clad lead guitarist and “Angus” Susan, rhythm guitarist Wendy, bassist Jai and drummer Katie let loose with numbers from both AC/DC’s Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras; including “Squealer,” “It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock’n’Roll),” “Night Prowler,” “Thunderstruck,” “Have A Drink On Me,” “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You),” “Back in Black,” “Big Balls,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Highway to Hell” and many more. Shoot to Thrill delivered the energy, movement and enthusiasm throughout their set, keeping the crowd fired up and excited. After the group played “Shoot to Thrill,” the crowd demanded more, and Shoot to Thrill quickly returned to finish out the night with “Hells Bells.”
Included here are pictures of all three bands, the Q-crew of “The Professor,” Jim Price and technical overseer Bob, the Moto Motion Stunt Show, a parking lot full of motorcycle thunder, axe-tossing at the Slinger’s Throw House mobile unit, the 2022 Kawasaki Teryx 4 S LE that you can register to win (it will be given away at the end of the Labor Day weekend PA Roundhouse Rally on Saturday, September 3), the crowded plaza and more. Thanks to everyone who attended and was part of the fun!
