It may be dangerous wishful thinking, but I’m cautiously optimistic that despite a well-known groundhog’s prognostication, maybe we are ascending toward an “early” spring. The calendar says three more weeks of winter officially, but the long term forecast I’m hearing suggests warm temperatures arriving early. My fingers are crossed.
Last month’s excessively frigid stretch didn’t thwart my quests to check out live music…On a night when temperatures were plunging below zero, I checked out a unique showcase of area guitar players at the ArtsAltoona Center’s “Grotto” space. The “Triple Threat Guitar Show” spotlighted three area guitar artists, each with his own distinctive style and approach. Bedford’s Devin Sherman led off the show by introducing his experimental and improvisational style of guitar music. Performing on both electric and acoustic guitars, Devin incorporated varying tempos, guitar tones, jazz nuances, loops, varying degrees of silence and more into his creations. He performed several numbers from his latest experimental album, “Tangled Journey” (under his instrumental alter ego ‘Devin’s Mostly Not Blue’), including “Twisted Pines,” “Three Woods Reflected in the Lake,” other recent creations such as “Too Much Tweed,” “Embers Afloat” and more. Devin also discussed his acoustic guitar, the 100th guitar created by Bedford County luthier Mike Shaffer. Huntingdon’s Dylan Miller then introduced his guitar techniques and style. Dylan’s style is informed by classic blues and bluegrass, but he stays open to different influences to keep his angles fresh. He introduced several original creations, plus performed select numbers from Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson and more. Dylan also disclosed that his acoustic guitar was locally manufactured by Huntingdon-based luthier Curtis Rockwell. Bill Ferrell then took the audience into his musical world as he demonstrated his fingerstyle guitar techniques and arrangements. I was amazed at his nuanced presentation as his fingers worked the strings with ease. He put his skills to use as he performed a variety of numbers; including Eric Johnson’s “Song For George,” the blending of the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” and “Yesterday,” “Cavatina” from the film “The Deer Hunter,” Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and others. The show ended with all three guitarists taking the stage and performing together; they first performed the blues number “Going Down to New Orleans” with Devin singing lead, before wrapping up the night with Bill singing lead on the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil.” Despite the frigid weather, a good-sized audience came out to discover and enjoy these talented musicians. Here’s hoping that ArtsAltoona will continue to present more events like this in the future.
After the guitar show concluded, I headed through the frigid cold to Altoona’s 4D’s Lounge. How cold were my hands when I got there? I wrapped my hands around my first adult beverage to keep it cold and from warming up! Fortunately, music would soon warm everyone up as Happy Valley favorites Velveeta struck up the 80s cheese party. Singer and guitarist Brian Kriley, bassist and singer Adam Becker, keyboardist Brent Martin, and drummer and singer John Harper did what they do best, celebrating a variety of 80s hits and classics. Their song list this night included numbers from Men At Work, Violent Femmes, Duran Duran, Eve 6, Van Halen, Soft Cell, Flock Of Seagulls, Kenny Loggins and many more. They threw in some songs from other decades, too, including tunes from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blink-182, Stevie Wonder, Green Day and others. Velveeta kept the music continuous and the vibe happy, and more and more people populated the dance floor as the night went along. Thanks to Velveeta for sending Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” out to me! Celebrating three decades of making music last year, Velveeta is still going strong, performing not just in their State College home base but throughout the state as well.
Altoona’s historic Mishler Theatre brought hot Texas-flavored rock to its stage last month with Detroit-based ZZ Top tribute group ThunderBeard. Two of the three members – singer and guitarist Jason Van Doorn and bassist Lonnie James – had the beards, and sans beard, drummer Bobby D brought the thunder. Through two sets, Thunderbeard delivered a convincing ZZ Top experience. They looked and sounded like ZZ Top, and performed all of the Texas trio’s essential hits and classics. Opening with “Got Me Under Pressure, they instantly won the Mishler audience and quickly had folks grooving in their seats as they celebrated songs from the ZZ Top catalog – such as “I Thank You,” “Waitin’ for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago,” “Gimme All Your Lovin,’” “Heard It On The X” and “Sharp Dressed Man” to close the first set. They also broke out some deeper ZZ classics such as “My Head’s in Mississippi” into “Arrested for Driving While Blind,” “Stages” and “A Fool for Your Stockings.” After the intermission, ThunderBeard delivered more favorites such as “I’m Glad, I’m Nationwide,” “Cheap Sunglasses,” “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers,” “Rough Boy,” “Just Got Paid,” “Tube Snake Boogie,” and to close the second set, the one-two punch of “La Grange” into “Tush.” When the audience called for the encore, the group resurfaced, brandishing fuzzy guitars, to stomp the night home with “Legs.” ThunderBeard sounded tight and powerful, and you could tell this trio was invested in the ZZ Top music they were playing. They kept the mood happy and festive, at one point even getting some folks up and dancing in the aisles. ThunderBeard provided an excellent show, and met and did pictures with audience members afterward.
Following Thunderbeard’s concert, I headed to McGarvey’s to check out the rocking double-bill of Maul and Walkney. Maul was under way as I arrived, doing their progressive-leaning, hard-edged original songs with surging choruses and dynamic arrangements. Singer Todd McKeone, guitarists Eric Prindible and Nate Nagle, bassist Tanner Thomas and drummer David Applas kept the audience attentive and cheering as they did such numbers as an extended edition of “Keep On Spinning,” “The Light,” “The River” and more. Walkney – this night frontman, guitarist and ringleader Derek Mrdjenovich, and, doing double-duty this night, Nate Nagle on bass and David Applas again behind the drum kit – delivered punchy, melody-geared power pop. Walkney introduced at least one new original song, “All My Fault,” and played established originals such as “Take Me,” “Tourniquet,” “Wallflower” and more. Derek and Walkney again showed the knack of blending hook-laden melodies with edgy arrangements and explosive energy. Both Maul and Walkney provided a quality, hard-rocking evening.
McGarvey’s also battled the cold by hosting a Luau party in late January with Model Citizen providing the music. Before a sizable crowd of Hawaiian shirt and lei-clad revelers, Model Citizen brought a high-powered musical party mix of classic and modern rock favorites, dance and pop hits and more. Singer Rebecca Paige Evers displayed a powerful voice and stage presence up front, flanked by guitarist Toby Mercer, bassist JR “Worm” West and drummer Toby Hunter. Model Citizen filled up the dance floor with songs from Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Led Zeppelin, Guns N’Roses, Pat Benatar, Walk The Moon, Kinks, Britney Spears, Billy Joel, Pink, Fallout Boy and more. Along the way, guest Ryen Beam stepped up to sing lead on The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” Model Citizen kept this crowd festive for the duration, and capped the night by breaking out The Darkness’ “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Model Citizen returns to McGarveys for a pre-St. Patrick’s Day party on March 14.
Rock and country also joined forces for a fun night at McGarvey’s in late January with a triple-bill including Open Ends and K4 Kountry, presented by Railroad City Culture Co. and 39 Tigers. I arrived too late to see opening performer Nathaniel Mowery, but was able to see the last half of Open Ends’ set. This was my first time seeing the group with their new bass player Jude Hudkins, joining singer and guitarist Tyler Bollman and drummer Gino Passanita. Open Ends had the crowd cheering as they rocked the house with songs from Green Day, Staind and Rancid to close out their set. This was the first time I had seen local country rockers K4 Kountry in five years. Lead singer Jason Peterman and guitarist and singer Mike Fox remain the only members still with the band since the last time I saw them; joining them now are bassist Jim Walstrom, pedal steel player Jerry Hodge and drummer Alex Cruse. K4 Kountry delivered a balanced dose of twang and rock during their set, keeping the dance floor populated with favorites from Alan Jackson, the Eagles, Hal Ketchum, the Rolling Stones, Billy Ray Cyrus, Johnny Cash, George Thorogood, Billy Joel, Alabama, Eddie Rabbitt, Big & Rich, Georgia Satellites and more. The group toggled my memory banks when they did “Third Rate Romance,” as it took several moments to remember that the Amazing Rhythm Aces first scored that hit before Sammy Kershaw covered it. K4 Kountry had fun generating their music, keeping the vibe upbeat and playful, and generating more applause as their set continued. Nearing night’s end, the group finished their set with Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places,” and then rewarded crowd calls for an encore with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ever-popular “Sweet Home Alabama.”
The American Mood continues to generate happy times with Altoona area audiences, evidenced by what I witnessed during their monthly first Friday show last month at Molly’s Pub. The husband-and-wife duo of Chanz and Paula Hale pulled the stops with their fun and upbeat music mix. They mixed up lots of favorites, spanning popular hits like Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” Teddy Swims’ “Lost Control,” Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch,” plus songs from Rod Stewart, John Cash, The Spinners, 4 Non Blondes, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Sheboozey, Pink, Tracy Chapman and many more. An unexpected highlight of this night was when popular local musician and singer Adam DiFlaviano (“Adam D”) returned to the microphone after fighting a throat cancer battle during the past six months to sing on renditions of The Who’s “Squeeze Box” and Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away.” Frequent flyers on Altoona area stages, The American Mood brings their party back to Molly’s Pub on March 13.
After The American Mood finished, I headed to McGarvey’s to catch the remainder of this night’s double-bill of Toy (The Band) and Ugmo. I arrived to learn that a dilemma had threatened to flush this show, as a ceiling/roof leak developed over the stage. But the show must go on, and the members of rising jam rockers Ugmo had moved their instruments and gear out in front of the stage, and let the jams fly before an elated crowd. I was pleasantly surprised to hear these guys veer into a fresh-sounding instrumental Steely Dan “Reeling in the Years” jam to close out the night!
Lots of people last month attended Valentine’s Day dinners, dances, parties and other events. I got to experience one of the area’s only “anti-Valentine’s Day” parties, courtesy of longtime area “rot-n-roll” purveyors Roadkill, which took place at the Slovak Club in Osceola Mills. This was my first chance to witness Roadkill’s latest incarnation – curmudgeonly group founder, frontman and bassist Greg Majewsky, returning Roadkill alumnus Ryan Dunkle on guitar and vocals, and former XL and Sunset Strip drummer Al Kizina behind the kit. Roadkill focused much of the evening on songs that fit under the “anti-Valentine’s” theme – such as Poison’s “Fallen Angel,” Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Love,” AC/DC’s “Sin City” and “Hell Ain’t A Bad Place to Be,” and even a few of their own creations such as the title song “Roadkill,” “Lost in the Woods,” “Adam Stomp,” and – likely before I arrived – the song that positioned them as anti-Valentine’s Day advocates, their “P.S.A. From the Anti-Valentine’s Day Council.” Roadkill kept the dance floor busy and triggered laughter along the way. Roadkill returns to the Slovak Club on March 22 to donate their talents during a benefit event for cancer patient John Draisey.
Breaking up the doldrums of Facebook one Friday afternoon last month was coming across the ivory-tickling joy of Bellefonte’s John “JT” Thompson, live-streaming his matinee performance before the residents and staff of Centre Care Rehabilitation and Wellness Center near Bellefonte. Upbeat and joyous, John made the audience happy with his enthusiastic piano playing and singing as he performed a variety of pop, rock’n’roll and country standards. His fingers quickly and smoothly danced over the keys as he sang his unique arrangements of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” the Frank Sinatra-popularized “New York, New York,” Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” Bill Haley & the Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock,” Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and more, making each song his own along the way. John also did his upbeat original song “Dance Little Sister Dance.” The audience happily responded after each song, and when they wanted an encore at the end, John rewarded them with Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” John maintains a busy performance schedule around the Centre County region with his solo inceptions as “JT” Thompson and “JT Blues,” and also tickling the keys and singing as a member of Triple A Blues Band, Natascha & the Spy Boys, The Skoal Brothers, TnT, Groove Society and more.
It started in 1973…78 dancers took part in the very first Penn State Dance Marathon, dancing 30 hours and raising more than $2,000. The event, now known worldwide as THON, has grown into the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, every year raising money for Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital to battle childhood cancer. The 2026 edition of THON took place last month at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center, with more than 700 students dancing and standing without sleep for 46 hours, raising a record $18.8 million. Live music again helped to keep them on their feet, as a number of performers from the State College music scene and beyond, plus various student performers, took the stage. THON’s website, thon.org, livestreamed throughout the entire weekend, enabling me to check in several times to see who might be on stage, plus get a stronger sense of the love, energy, dedication and enthusiasm of this event. Some of this year’s performers included national recording group Fitz and the Tantrums, Philadelphia’s Noah Richardson, and area performers Honey Pie, My Hero Zero, Donny Burns & the 3rd Degree, Adam & the Armadillos, Ted McCloskey & the Hi-Fi’s, 3:46 Sunrise, Sarasota, Low Hanging Fruit, Go Go Gadjet and more. The 55th annual THON is expected to take place on Feb. 19-21, 2027.
The area music scene mourned the losses of friends in recent weeks…Paul Stephenson, guitarist and singer for Johnstown’s That Oldees Band, lost his life in a vehicle collision in Bedford County on February 4; he was 70. Paul had played in a number of bands prior to his time with That Oldees Band, which played at venues and events throughout the area. He leaves behind a wife, son, daughter and grandchildren…And our heartfelt condolences go out to area musician Kevin Siegel and the family and friends of his wife, Amy, who passed away unexpectedly on February 18 at age 47.
News and notes…Philadelphia’s The Disco Biscuits and Greensky Bluegrass featuring Holly Bowling were announced last month as the headliners during this year’s AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival, taking place July 24-25 at People’s Natural Gas Park near downtown Johnstown…Organizers have announced that the popular People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts will return to the grounds of the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg after spending the last three years at the Grange Fairground in Centre Hall; this year’s festival happens July 9-12…Altoona nu-metal specialists Hate Grenade will soon be releasing a new album; the group is in the final stages of wrapping up a few songs, have completed the album’s art work, and are setting up music video shoots. Expect the album to be released within the next few months…Pittsburgh heavy metal rockers Skell have signed with Pittsburgh-based independent record label The Vault Records, and will issue new music soon…Area Celtic-flavored rock group Full Kilt will soon be doing jigs and reels to a different drummer, as their current drummer, Jake Yarnish, will step away from the group later this year to pursue other endeavors.
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!
