The Professor continued.... & Nash’s “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” The Tommy Roberts then wrapped up the festival’s music. Brian Cleary on electric and acoustic guitar and Nate Cutshall on acoustic guitar and harmonica mixed acoustic folk and blues flavors as they did original songs and a few select covers. They opened with “Sweet Home Chicago,” before introducing a number of originals such as “Kansas City Mud,” “True Heart,” “Train 188,” “Way to Go” and more. The two musicians switched up on instruments to keep things fresh, and their songs and performances were solid. While arriving rains relegated its day-ending fireworks display to a cloud and smoke-enveloped multi-colored thunderstorm, this year’s Central PA 4th Fest still provided two days of live area music to celebrate America’s independence. After my own band, The Backyard Rockers, helped open 4th Fest’s second day on the Centre Stage, I got to witness the rest of the performers on that stage throughout the day and evening. From North Carolina, 16-year-old singer/songwriter Michael Dermott won unanimous audience approval as he performed original songs and favorites. Accompanied by his father, Dave, on cajon, Michael sang originals such as “Find Somebody” and “Beginning to Fall in Love,” plus numbers from Tom Petty, Elvis Presley and Bob Marley as he strummed acoustic guitar and ukulele. Next, Huntingdon’s Reboot mixed up classic and current rock, country and funk hits. Singer/guitarist Josh Crownover, singer/keyboardist/ guitarist Matt Kyle, bassist/singer Brian Smith and drummer Chris Skipper performed favorites from AC/ DC, Poison, Eddie Money, ZZ Top, Bruno Mars, Rascal Flatts and more, with guest Eileen Christman adding violin licks to the set-ending rendition of AC/DC’s “TNT.” State College-based foursome August Winters then followed with a set of mostly punk-driven original alternative rock. Led by singer/guitarist Drew Zimmerman, August Winters performed original tunes plus numbers from Gin Blossoms, The Killers, Good Charlotte and more. OverheaD continued the music with their unique mix of classic and original rock. Some of their highlights included an update of former local band Backstreet Van Gogh’s 1980 song “Catch a New Wave,” and violinist Eileen Christman’s scorching display during the set-ending version of Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Next was Blind Horse Wagon, performing a mixture of folk, Americana, blues and original songs. Featuring singer/guitarist Doug Irwin, upright bassist/ guitarist Bryan Homan, Bill Ritzman on accordion and Sam Spurrier on dobro; Blind Horse Wagon performed several of Doug’s original songs from his ‘The Bridges I Burn’ CD, along with select numbers from Hank Williams, Joe Ely, Chris Knight and Tom Russell. As rains picked up in intensity, ESP performed their set of acoustic classic rock favorites, including numbers from Kansas, Doobie Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Bee Gees, Toto and more. Mysterytrain then led up to the fireworks with their brand of original jam rock. This was my first time seeing them since Dan Klock’s return to the fold. He, keyboardist/singer Gina Riggio, bassist Scott Myers, percussionist Jacob Haqq-Misra and drummer Chuck Bailey mixed old and new original jams, including the expansive “Flow River Flow.” And following the smoky fireworks display, Chris Vipond & the Stanley Street Band ended 4th Fest with their annual street dance. With Tucker Landis filling in for C’Jay Castello on guitar this night, the group performed numerous original songs from their new CD ‘Trinkets & Time Travelers’, along with their unique versions of favorites from Dolly Parton, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Prince and more. After a highly successful five-year run on area stages, Pistol Peg & the Beer Kegs bid farewell early last month with a huge finale at Altoona’s Railroaders Mucontinued on pg. 23...
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Pennsylvania Musician Magazine
August 2016