The Professor continued...
guitars, other instruments and accessories and provides them to veterans who are dealing with combat-related issues such as debilitating injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other issues, so that the healing power of music (and playing and creating it) can help them cope. The Altoona chapter of Guitars For Vets presented a day-long event last month at Altoona’s Oak Spring Winery location to collect instrument donations and raise awareness of the organization and what it does. Live music was a part of the day. Performances from Rogan Allen and Chad Patterson kicked off the music. I arrived as Dave Howsare performed, blending classic rock, soul and other favorites. Some of his songs included John Mellencamp’s “Ain’t Even Done With the Night,” Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes,” and his closing Neil Young double-shot featuring an instrumental version of “Like A Hurricane” into “Cinnamon Girl.” Dave also did a Clarks number, breaking out “Someday Maybe,” as he related the story of how he listened to The Clarks’ music during down time while he was stationed in Qatar; he then jokingly said that The Clarks’ music now reminds him of the desert. Next was a group performance involving Guitars For Vets students and instructors. Instructor and event organizer Bill Ferrell was part of this group as they did a variety of numbers, spanning original songs plus vintage rock’n’roll and country songs from Dion, the Righteous Brothers, Elvis, Ricky Van Shelton, Buddy Holly, the Teddy Bears, Woody Guthrie and more. Led by Tim McMillen, The Free Wine Band then closed out the music with their mixture of acoustic rock, blues, country and folk sounds. Tim on lead vocals and guitar, Ken Werner on vocals, guitar and harmonica, and Steve Schilling on dobro performed numbers from John Prine, Neil Young, Rev. Gary Davis, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and more. Tim and Ken shared singing duties, and all three musicians were solid on their instruments. The Guitars For Vets event was very successful, as a number of used guitars, amps and other items were donated (some from as far away as Dubois), and will help out veterans here in the local community. Altoona’s Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society hosted a Toys For Tots benefit event last month, with Kickin’ providing the music. Featuring singer and acoustic guitarist Sean
Osborn, lead guitarist Craig Albright, keyboardist Barry Yeager, sax player Ted Ellis, bassist Kevin Mitchell and drummer Bill Hocherl, Kickin’ stirred up the dance floor and generated good times with their mixture of classic rock and pop hits. This group has come together nicely since their debut this past summer, and sounded sharp on tunes from Billy Joel, Foo Fighters, Romantics, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett, Rolling Stones, Badfinger, Dave Matthews, Bob Seger, Beatles, Queen, Ramones, Foreigner and more. Highlights for me included the array of keyboard effects Barry incorporated during Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” the crowd sing-along take on Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” renditions of Badfinger’s “No Matter What,” Foreigner’s “Urgent,” Hall & Oates’ “Maneater” and more. A good-sized crowd supported the benefit, and Kickin’ kept the dance floor filled and delivered the good time. Austin, Texas-based guitar slinger Eric Tessmer and his band lit up the People’s Natural Gas Park Oilhouse stage in Johnstown in late October. This was an excellent show, with local rockers Midnight Graffiti setting the table with an impressive set. Midnight Graffiti presented a two-singer tandem this night, with Natalie Kurchak and Terri O’Leary displaying and blending their stellar voices on a mix of rock, soul and pop favorites; flanked by the father-and-son tandem of John Kurchak on guitar and John II on bass, Bernie Kralik on guitar, and Jason Williams on drums. Both singers shined often – Natalie lit it up on Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” and the Jefferson Airplane double-shot of “White Rabbit” into “Somebody to Love,” Terri sounded great on Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” and White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” and both captured the Heart harmonies on “Straight On” and “Even It Up.” Midnight Graffiti also heated up the crowd with numbers from the Pretenders, B.B. King, No Doubt, Blondie and more. The Eric Tessmer Band soon brought their blues-rocking firepower to the stage. Eric amazed the house with his guitar fireworks throughout the set, backed by bassist Jason Rathman and drummer Marc Redix. Eric displayed heated and soulful solos, intense Hendrix-like shredding, and even dazzled on the acoustic guitar for several songs during the middle of the set. Some of Eric’s songs were off his latest EP (simply called “EP 2”), such as his extended version of Anders Osborne’s “Love Is Taking continued on next page...
Listen to 105.9 Qwik-Rock’s weekly local music program,
THE HOMEGROWN ROCKER SUNDAYS 8-10 PM You can STREAM the HOMEGROWN ROCKER LIVE on
www.1059QWIKROCK.com! UPCOMING GUESTS AND SPECIALS: DEC. 1 – FAST FORWARD SPECIAL DEC. 15 – JOHN CIMINO (LORDS A LEAPING) DEC. 22 – CHRISTMAS SPECIAL DEC. 29 – 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW SPECIAL To have music aired on the HOMEGROWN ROCKER, submit Broadcast-quality recordings to:
MAGNUM BROADCASTING 100 HIGH STREET PORT MATILDA, PA 16870 Attn: Jim Price/Homegrown Rocker
www.1059QWIKROCK.com!
STERLING KOCH & FREEWAY JAM Toys For Tots Benefit
Strikers Pub 2501 West End Ave. Pottsville
Friday, December 13th, 7:30 to 2:00 PM Admission $5.00 or 1 new, unwrapped toy Featuring:
Gas Station Disco Sterling Koch and Freeway Jam The Evening Social The Hands Resist
Acoustic Classics & Fun... Uniquely covering Great Classic Rock, Folk & Blues from Tom Petty, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Santana, Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones, Steve Earle & more!
EVERY TUESDAY – OPEN MIC NIGHT w/RICH at D’OTTAVIO’S GRAN SASSO, HOLLIDAYSBURG (starts 8pm.) Booking for Winter & 2020 Need Live Acoustic Music for an Upcoming House Party, Reunion Or Other Event? Call Us! 814.330.1883 Email: rd1950@aol.com
FOR BOOKING & INFO: FULL FORCE MUSIC 570-205-1350 P.O. Box 67 Friedensburg, PA 17933 Email: Steelguitar01@hotmail.com December, 2019
THE BACKYARD ROCKERS
VISIT US ON FACEBOOK & ROCKPAGE.NET/BANDS!
Pennsylvania Musician Magazine
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