I’m not sure how, but we’re already staring down the barrel of April LOL. Warmer temps are here…then they’re not…but they’re back again, I think, maybe, which makes me look forward to and excited for outdoor music. Of course, that also means I have to start mowing grass again, so I suppose it’s a bit of a trade off. March was a great month of music, full of friends at all of them…so let’s get to it.
My first trip out was over the creek(s) and through the woods to one of my favorite places, Shermans Creek Inn, to see my buddy Jake Rollins and see how he’s grown since I last got to see him play. The Creek has started having solo acoustic acts play Sundays for the brunch crowd, and I’d say it’s a pretty good idea as the place was much more full than I expected for a Sunday morning. Jake was wandering throughout the bar area entertaining a great crowd, belting out songs like Brown Eyed Girl, Let It Be, Piano Man, Ain’t No Sunshine and a ton more with a great voice that had no trouble carrying through the entire bar unassisted. Jake will be playing this upcoming weekend at the CPMHOF’s Youth Music Showcase at Millersville University. This is an awesome event supporting the very future of our local music scene…and it’s free to attend: HINT, HINT!
A few days later was the 7th annual CPMA’s and Induction ceremony for the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall Of Fame. I love this event as I get to see so many of the artists that I have seen and photographed over the years, chat them up a bit, and just enjoy an evening celebrating our music scene. Congratulations again to Bandy Studio on taking home this year’s Best Photographer award, as well as all the other nominees and award winners of the evening!
The following weekend was one that I look forward to every year now, at the beautiful Englewood: 2 Nights Of The Badlees. I’ll start by talking about the bands that opened up each night. Opening up the first night was my pals, The Jellybricks. Coming off their recent triple award winning CPMA evening (congrats again guys!), the guys hit the stage and damn near took flight with the energy they brought along with them. Whipping out songs like Monday’s Never, Dreaming in Stereo, and still my favorite song of theirs Age Of Stupid…they even ended their set with a cover of Baba O ‘Riley which Pete Palladino joined them for. The opener on night two was my friends (I’m sensing a theme here LOL) in Hot Wing Jones. The guys don’t get out to play live a whole lot lately, but they are celebrating 25 years together with their new EP (available on all streaming platforms) with one of the best titles I’ve heard in a while: “Whiskey, Lyin’ & Other Pour Decisions”. They played a number of songs off the new EP for the first time live with a great sort of classic/southern rock vibe mixed with some occasional funk and blues. This is definitely an EP worth listening to! Headlining both evenings, as mentioned, was The incredible Badlees. They’re really a band that, in this area, needs no introduction but they were still introduced each evening by CPMHOF President Todd Bedard and Executive Director Brandon Valentine. Pete and the guys put on an impressive and explosive show over both nights. Watching them play and how their fans react and interact with the show, it’s not hard to see why The Badlees were inducted in to the Central PA Music Hall Of Fame in 2021. I love that, even though I see them both nights, each night is a different experience with new setlists and it’s own energy. They brought out a number of guests to play with them including Bret’s daughter Harlow, The Jellybricks, and Logan Bedard who played drums for Locomotive Breath. They may have mentioned a new album is currently in the works, so that’s definitely something to look forward to!
The following weekend: Wendy, Sir Preston (needed two assistants LOL) and I headed over to New Cumberland with a few friends and family for the town’s Third Annual St Paddy’s Day street celebration. Tons of food trucks and vendors, lots of drink vendors, and a nice stage set up in the middle of the street for a whole afternoon of live music made for a great day. I didn’t get to catch every single band unfortunately, but the ones I did see were great. Slick Willie covered decades of rock and country tunes. The Very Few is a new band full of central PA music royalty: Amy SImplson, Mark Showers, Joe Mohn Jr, Craig Kelley & Mike Boarman…there were a lot of CPMA winners and inductees on that stage playing everything from “Yacht-Rock” style tunes (Steely Dan for the WIN!) to AC/DC. I had the honor of hanging out with them a few weeks ago to do a promo shoot and was very excited to see them play out…and I wasn’t disappointed. Definitely one that should be on your list to see in the future. Electric Love is a tribute band for The Music Of The Cult, first time seeing them but I really enjoyed their set and will hopefully catch them again. Shea Quinn came out with a few friends and crushed it playing a number of Sharks tunes as well as some great covers. This was a very well done St Patties Day event that I look forward to seeing in future years for sure.
My last trip out for the month was just two nights ago, headed over to Mickey’s Black Box at the invitation of my friends in Solar Federation. Now in their tenth year of playing tribute to the music of Rush, this was my second time seeing them play now and it really was something special. I’m not sure what it was about this show, but it just struck me as more emotional and personal as each song moved from one to the next. Songs that I grew up listening to like Red Barchetta, Subdivisions, as well as deeper cuts and even some Rush tunes that the original band has never even played live. One moment that sticks out to me was the closing song for the first set, Limelight. This is one of my all time favorite songs…not just favorite Rush tune, but of all time. I can’t really point to what it is about this particular song that engages me the way it does, but it was awesome standing at the back of the crowd, closing my eyes, and just letting it wash over me. Solar Federation truly does an incredible job of paying tribute to Rush, and their fan base is absolute proof of that.
So there it is, my month of music through my eyes and ears. I want to once again thank all the bands, venues, and everyone else involved in our incredible local music scene for everything they do. Just a reminder: if you’ve got a show coming up that I should see; make sure to send me an invite, shoot me an email or a message, let me know about it. Venues: please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as well. The majority of the shows that I go and shoot I find out about through invites from all of you or your friends.
Hit me up on facebook: @chrisriderphotography or email: chrisriderphotography@gmail.com, stop me if you see me around and say hi. Until next month…go find some live music and give them and the venue your support, they truly need it more now than they ever did.
