The snowflakes are flying around, and another holiday season has arrived. We soon close the book on 2025 and find out what awaits us in 2026. I’m looking forward to all the rest, tranquility, fun and smiles that this time of year brings. I wish all of our PA Musician readers, friends and the state’s music community a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year 2026 and joyful holiday season!
I attended and checked out several benefit events in recent weeks, including the Dog Cancer Bites benefit in late October at Altoona’s 4D’s Lounge. Started by Loy Bonsell three years ago after his dog was diagnosed with cancer, Dog Cancer Bites is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that raises funds to help pay for pet cancer treatments. Four bands donated their talents before a large and supportive audience this night; Paper Plants and X’s For Eyes performed before I could get there, but Dead Set – a tribute to A Day To Remember – was under way as I arrived. Loy Bonsell sang lead vocals, flanked by guitarists Zach Piper and Sean Stringer, bassist Pat Lang and drummer Nik Plowman. Dead Set did a wide range of songs from throughout A Day To Remember’s catalog, capturing the group’s style of blending pop-punk melodies with aggressive metalcore choruses. The excited audience clearly knew A Day To Remember’s songs, and were echoing choruses back to the band. Search Party closed out the benefit with their agitated mix of alternative, punk, emo and hardcore sounds. Frontman Jacob Mowery, guitarists Breydon Bremer and Micah Button, bassist Kevin Neely and drummer Justin Burket maintained a brisk pace and intensity through their set as they mixed original numbers with a variety of hard-hitting covers. Search Party introduced several new originals such as “Big Spins Big Wins” and “In My Face,” and kept the dance floor crowd festive and turbulent with numbers from System Of A Down, Bayside, Deftones, Fall Out Boy, Blink-182, Rage Against the Machine and more. With the crowd demanding more at night’s end, Search Party pulled out numbers from Local H, Limp Bizkit and Jet to close out the benefit.
Hate Grenade again organized and hosted their Halloween season Trick Or Feed event at McGarvey’s in Altoona during late October, as they and four other hard-hitting bands donated their talents to raise non-perishable food items and monetary donations toward the Altoona Food Bank for the upcoming holiday season. Food donations were quickly showing up at the door before The BSXpress kicked off the music. Singer and guitarist Brian Walker, bassist Nick Bayer and drummer Dean Kepner mixed punk rock attitude with metal crunch as they performed older and newer original numbers. Some of their new songs included “Blurry,” “F**k Tom Jones” and “Chicken Zombie”; and they also slammed familiar favorites like “This Is Your Life,” “Street Kombat,” “You Make My Eyes Want to Puke,” “Gas Station Chicken Salad” and “Lobbyist” (this night clocking in at 53 seconds)…Next was Grampian, scorching the walls with their brand of metal intensity. Frontman Loy Bonsell, guitarists Will Zimmerman and Sean Stringer, bassist Andrew Meredith and drummer Jeff Glace spotlighted creations from their first full-length album “I Am Grampian” such as “Devour the Foe,” “Crimson Moon Ritual,” “The Muffled Sounds of Gorilla Violence,” “This Must End” and more…Philipsburg’s Assault On 5th continued with their raw, visceral metalcore. Lead throat Corey Read, guitarist Axl Cummings, bassist Julian Yeager and drummer Kenny Bish drilled numbers from their latest EP “Objects for Destruction,” including “From Acts of God,” “No Violence,” “Hammered “Sh*t,” “Pronounced Dead” and others. Assault On 5th unleashed their full fury, with Corey pulling all stops to get the audience involved…From Rochester, New York, Crowndrop kept the rock going with a nu-metal geared sound. Four members strong, they demonstrated their dynamic, explosive sound through original tunes such as “Nothing Left Inside,” “Right Of Passage,” “Alone,” “Children Of The Crown” and more…Hosts Hate Grenade then closed out the show with their scathing nu-meets-rap-metal. Frontman Jeff Glace, guitarist Chuck Lavera, bassist Donny Weissinger and drummer Mike Powers mixed volatile chords and rhythms with elements of hip-hop and Jeff’s sassy vocals to deliver an exciting set. Hate Grenade mixed newer and older original numbers, with an emphasis on their latest CD “iSociety.” Songs this night included “Hollywood,” “Bind,” “My Hell,” a new number called “Reflection,” “R/X,” “Ghosts,” “Chaos Theory,” the title track “iSociety” and others. By night’s end, Trick Or Feed a sizable amount of canned and non-perishable food items to help the Altoona Food Bank help families in need this holiday season. According to Chuck, big plans are in the works for next year’s Trick Or Feed event.
The Altoona area community – including a number of bands and musicians – came together early last month to help out popular area singer and keyboardist “Adam D” DiFlaviano, who is battling throat cancer, during a special benefit event at the Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society. Eight groups took the stage throughout the afternoon and early evening, starting with the Backyard Rockers. Singer and acoustic guitarist Rich Dasch; guitarist, harmonica player and singer Pete Wolf; and yours truly on percussion, kazoo and backing vocals opened the event with a mix of classic rock favorites from Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Beatles, The Band, Elton John, Faces and more. Pete’s wife and Firewheel partner Lisa joined in on vocals during our version of the ever-popular “Wagon Wheel” to end the set…The Bomb Cyclones – singer and guitarist Kenny Karlheim, bassist and singer Bill Nusom, guitarist Rich Johnson and drummer Paul Caracciolo picked up the tempo with their blend of hard-rocking favorites; performing numbers from The Refreshments, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Sublime, Tom Petty, David Bowie, Joe Satriani, Stone Temple Pilots and more…Felix & the Hurricanes then took the stage to do what they do best, mixing southern, classic rock favorites and original tunes. Singer and guitarist Felix Kos, bassist and singer Bill Nusom, drummer and singer Bob Watters, and keyboardist and singer David Villani opened their set with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” before doing favorites from Boz Scaggs, Carole King, their original song favorite “Walking A Straight Line,” and finishing with the medley of the Allman Brothers’ “Dreams” into Grand Funk Railroad’s “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”…With guest “Philly Grooves” Wagner filling in for Chris Guerra on guitar, Bone Jacked kept the classic rock going with their mixture of tunes from Tom Petty, Eagles, Stray Cats, Billy Joel, Poison and more. Lead singer and guitarist Kip Woodring showed his guitar prowess through the show, especially on his solo during Dire Straits’ “Sultans Of Swing”…The afternoon then saw a cameo appearance by a new collaboration between singer Troy Earnest, guitarist and singer Rob Kruis and bassist John Scarfone, who blended their talents on an Alice In Chains number…D.D. & the Pub Crawlers then brought the brass, soul and swing. Nine members strong this day including a four-piece horn section, the Pub Crawlers brought the joy as they performed classics from Sam & Dave, Chicago, Spencer Davis Group, War and Louis Prima, as well as The Summer Set and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones…With Joe George sitting in on bass this day, Half Tempted followed with their reliable mixture of hard-hitting classics; doing numbers from Free, Grand Funk Railroad, Thin Lizzy, Kiss, AC/DC, the Scorpions, Wild Cherry, Black Sabbath and more…And 7th Virtue closed out the event with their hard-driving blend of favorites that filled the dance floor. Singer Lynne Deyarmin, guitarists Dale Perino and Rob Lynn, bassist and singer Kelly Montgomery, keyboardist Therese Perino and drummer Randy Deyarmin kept the pace tight as they delivered numbers from Doobie Brothers, Quarterflash, Stevie Nicks, Survivor, Lita Ford, Scorpions, Nena, Loverboy, Pat Benatar, CCR, Sublime, Outfield and more. Not able to be present in person, event beneficiary Adam D sent along an appreciative and hopeful message that was read to the audience, expressing his determination to win his cancer battle. This day’s benefit will help Adam greatly, as the preliminary total raised was more than $7,000 to assist Adam D – great job everybody!
In the mood for some electric blues and blues-rock, I headed to Johnstown’s Southmont Gardens last month to again see Pittsburgh trio King’s Ransom, who first blew me away with their talents back in July when they performed during Johnstown’s AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival. Group namesake Craig King sings and wields a mean guitar, flanked by bassist Jack Rhyner and drummer Glenn Ianaro. Craig eagerly brought the show this night during the group’s selection of blues, blues-rock, classic rock favorites and original numbers. During their version of B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone” during the first set, Craig ventured from the stage area and did a circuit around the room, sizzling out the guitar solo with his left hand while fist-bumping audience members with his right hand! The group’s version of Santana’s “Evil Ways” featured an extended jam with solo displays from both Jack and Glenn, before Craig took his teeth to the guitar strings for another scorching solo. For much of the nightcap set, guest (and Southmont Gardens owner) Mark Middleton joined in on additional guitar, setting the stage for furious guitar jams between the two on the fusion of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” into Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze,” ZZ Top’s “Tush” and more. Craig and his band then showcased some of their original songs, including the George Thorogood-flavored “I’m Bad” and the rowdy “Maniac In A Minivan.” This entire evening was stellar as Craig played every solo with feeling and purpose, and his rhythm section supported him with feisty and powerful backdrops. King’s Ransom regularly visits Southmont Gardens; they’re well worth checking out!
In case you never knew, National Pickle Day is now celebrated on November 14 of each year. This occasion was not lost on proprietor “Father Rich” and McGarvey’s, who hosted a night of pickle-themed drinks and food creations plus live music for folks to celebrate their inner gherkins. I arrived in time to order up a dozen of the house’s Hot Pickle Wings…Kicking off the dinner music for this pickle festivus was acoustic duo The JW Project. Featuring John Brehm on vocals and Wes Shriner on guitar, The JW Project features a unique blend of folk, punk, country, rock and metal elements, with John’s hearty voice belting out lyrics about life experiences and hard living. I arrived toward the end of their set, which closed with one of their original songs, “On the Riverbank”…Wes then donned electric guitar and did some singing with the next band on the bill, hard-hitting punk foursome Take The Hit. This group delivered their punk rock high-velocity and full force as they fired off numerous original songs such as “The Night,” “Worthless Connections,” “Panda Bears Are Terrible at Staying Alive,” “Hell and Above,” “Brain Drain,” “Lick the Pump,” “Smell the Glove” and more. They also did one cover, performing the song “Lonely Road” from former Altoona-based punk rockers Ten Sent Wings…With guitarist Nate Nagle decked out in pickle attire, Maul closed out the night with their brand of original rock. Nate, guitarist Eric Prindible, singer Todd McKeone, bassist Tanner Thomas and drummer David Applas played original numbers that blend elements of 90’s alternative rock, metal, progressive rock and more. Many of Maul’s songs gradually escalate into intense homestretches. Some of their songs this night included “Keep On Spinning,” “Back to the River,” “Stoning Glass Temples,” “The Bridge That You Can’t Burn” and others.
I also caught most of a hard-hitting four-band bill at McGarvey’s last month. Openers Man In Reverse had completed their set before I got there, but I got to see much of Nailed To The Cross and their set, as they scorched the walls with their intense thrash and metalcore. Alexander Babal provided the lead roar up front, backed by guitarist Brenden Hunter, bassist Joshua Kulick and drummer Kevin Young. Nailed To The Cross brought a powerful, scathing sound on their set of originals…Supreme Mystic next introduced a unique angle to their world of heavy rock, deemed “Mo Metal Death Rock” as a nod to their home base of Detroit. Bassist and lead singer Chino Noir, guitarist Alfredo Riojas, keyboardist Luis Ulloa and drummer Jeff Shankin mix elements of groove-rooted metal and hardcore with an eastern spirituality presence in their lyrics and overall theme. It results in an intriguing sound and presence on the stage. The group did several songs off their just-released album “Kala Rupa,” including their title song “Supreme Mystic,” “Stealing Beauty” and others; they also did a rendition of Motorhead’s “Evil Eye.” Bringing the metalcore-pocalypse to end the night was Altoona’s SamarA. Although missing a member as Ryan Dunn took over bass duties for the ailing Brian Kennedy, SamarA nonetheless delivered their audiovisual spectacle; merging metalcore brutality with video footage reflecting humanity’s dark side and the savagery of the planet we live on. Ryan on bass, Travis Weidow on vocals, Rvgg Weibley on guitar and Shaun Shumac on drums again successfully brought this intense musical adventure to life on the stage, provoking thought and wonder.
The area music scene was saddened by the loss of two members in recent weeks…Tom Keith passed in late October at age 56. Tom was a familiar face on Altoona area stages in the 1990s and early 2000s as a bass player and acoustic performer. Tom played bass and sang backing vocals with Altoona heavy-rocking juggernaut Korruption during the 1990s, and was half of that group’s acoustic side project Acoustic Brew. Tom also played bass for the band Radio Star and other projects…And Chrissy Keller-Miller passed away late last month. Known for her energetic and cheerful stage presence, Chrissy fronted a number of Centre County-based bands alongside her husband, guitarist Al Miller. Some of those groups included Chrissy and the Heart Attacks, Fat Girl Slim, AC Express and Black Widow…Our thoughts go out to the families and friends of both musicians.
News and notes…The Central Pennsylvania Music Hall Of Fame recently announced its 2026 Induction Class. The inductees will be Harrisburg-based southern gospel performers The Couriers; Reading’s Bill Fisher, who was an original member of Bill Haley and the Comets; York native and founding member of the Dixie Chicks Martie Maguire; Hershey-based nationally-signed indie rock and pop group The Ocean Blue; and Hazleton native and 1960s hitmaker Eddie Rambeau. Harrisburg-based musician, recording engineer and music business professor Jay Kirssin will receive the Hall Of Fame’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award. The inductions will take place during the 2026 Central Pennsylvania Music Awards (CPMA’s), happening on Wednesday, March 4 at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster…The Lee Miller Experience, Nero, the Backyard Rockers, Electric Swamp, Abstentious and Deny Your Negan will donate their talents as part of the 5th annual Toys for Tots Concert & Fundraiser, taking place on December 6 at the Patton American Legion…Bassist Sam Edgar has stepped away from Altoona punk and metal rockers The BSXpress recently, citing personal matters; the group will continue on as a trio, and is working on new music heading into 2026…Wanderlost singer and keyboard player Dustin Rainey recently had the honor of having some of his music used in a Florida high school’s musical production last month. After a friend expressed interest about using Dustin’s music in a project; the friend and his students at Timber Creek High School in Orlando, Florida, rehearsed and presented the production, called “Wanderlost,” which ties several of Dustin’s songs into a narrative musical story. The Timber Creek Thespians Company Ensemble performed the production over two nights…And after more than 25 years serving as a resource for the area music scene, the plug was pulled recently on the Rockpage website. Introduced in the late 1990s by Ron Nearhoof, Rockpage served as a valuable resource for area musicians, where bands and artists could set up home pages and promote their upcoming shows, search for new members and form new bands, sell and purchase instruments and gear, and also converse about musical and other topics of the day. Rockpage saw a fast drop in usage once social media rose in prominence, but still had a handful of users in recent years until the site was dismantled in late summer.
Please send correspondence and recordings to: Jim Price, 1104 S. Catherine St., Altoona, PA 16602. You can also e-mail me at jptheprofessor@gmail.com. And if you’re into social networking, look me up on Facebook. SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
