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The State of Entertainment

What is the state of local entertainment going into 2016? For those of you that may not know Tony Marinacci of Total Entertainment & Entertainment passed away on September 2, 2015. He was an important figure in the history of the Pennsylvania Rock Show. Tony was instrumental in teaching me how to run a sound board on his own for the live performances that took place in the early years of the show. Tony made suggestions on things such as what bands to play, what equipment to buy, & so much more. But more, much more than that, Tony was Bill’s friend. One of the very last thing’s that Tony asked me to do was to keep his website online for a few years after he passed away. I agreed without hesitation. The State of Entertainment John “The American Hillljack” LaneNow, I bet you’re wondering what this preface has to do with this post. Every year Tony would release a post on the news section of his website about the State of Local Entertainment. I want to pick of the reigns and continue it for him; however, I don’t feel that I am qualified to do it on my own. So I came up with a plan. I have asked a few people the same questions about the local scene. This article will allow you to read their thoughts. I have asked Brian Drusky (Drusky Entertainment), Chip DiMonick (Chip DiMonick Band, Londona, & Helping Hands Rock Reviews), John Klazon (Western Pennsylvania Local Music Scene), and Vinni Belfiore (Musicans Hotsheet), and Michael Stover (MTS Management Group) to help me tackle this in this article. You can also listen to John Lane’s (the Hellfire Club) answers to the questions in this month’s the Pennsylvania Rock Show. [ Read the Article on AK Music Scene ] The Questions at Hand: If you had to grade the local music scene in South Western PA throughout 2015 what grade would it receive and why? What businesses in SWPA that deal with local music do you believe are succeeding with helping to build the scene and why? What venues do you feel best supported local music in 2015? How do you think the local radio stations did with supporting local music in 2015 and are there any specifics that you’d like to mention? What bands that you’ve dealt with do you think epitomized the local scene in 2015? How important do you think pressed cds are in 2015? Are digital downloads more valid in this day and age? How would you grade the major local music scene in our area for 2015 (signed/formerly signed bands that come through here on tour) and why? What non-music related entertainment companies/businesses would you suggest a visitor to SWPA should visit?   Things we talked about: pittpunk.org Ironcityrocks.com skellrocks.com hellfiremusic.com aproradio.com F.U. Entertainment Iron City Rocks Pittsburgh Music Awards

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A Stark Reality

Leeja Stark Band What do Panic at the Disco & Queen have in common? Leeja Stark. Leeja joins us this month for her first visit on the show. We discuss the local scene including bands like Amber Alexis, skell, The Bloody Seamen, & Dethelehem. She talks about the Women of Metal show that the band played with Beyond Eden, Mind Maze, & A Sound of thunder. Leeja spoke about their work with producer Ulrich Wild (Pantera, Otep, Stolen Babies, Emilie Autumn etc) on their latest EP and how they are currently working on writing a new LP with him. She speaks on how the band has handled song writing in the past and how it progressed over the years. Leeja admits not knowing who Alice Cooper was when being told that her band’s song Welcome to the Night and her theatrics that go along with it in the video reminded them of his song Welcome to My Nightmare. @skellmetal @TheBloodySeamen @dethlehem @beyondeden10 @MindMazeband @asotband @iAmUlrichWild Biography Leeja Stark is an American Experimental Rock band from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The band finds influences in rock legends (David Bowie, Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Freddie Mercury, King Crimson, Stevie Nicks, etc). Their sound has progressed from electronic rock to electronic progressive rock over the last 2 EP’s becoming more technical but remaining true to the lyrics and melody of each song. The goal of this band is to write great music. If it’s not about the music why play in a band? In early 2012, Leeja Stark released a concept EP called House of Eyes about a girl caught in the throes of the demon world. It begins with the song Supernatural in which an incantation to release the demon from the body is recited and ends with a chilling ballad Impossible Things that leaves the story to be continued as we find out she is with child. Also in 2012 they released a single, Symptoms of Insanity. The song is a duet featuring screamer Bret Stark. The video received almost 200,000 views in its first 24 hours on Youtube. In another song-writing collaboration, Leeja has co-written the song Charming Arms with producer/musician Christopher Lee Simmonds (Filter, Thought Industry, Good Charlotte, Marcy’s Playground). The message about the agony of drug abuse is written in Simmonds’ music as well as the lyrics. Charming Arms has been released in three forms; the original, a Dis-Honesty mix with an electronic dubstep sound, and the raw Honesty mix highlighting Leeja’s vocals. Most recently (2014-2015) LS has been working with producer Ulrich Wild (Pantera, Otep, Stolen Babies, Emilie Autumn etc) on their EP Cosmic Queen which was released April 9th 2015. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cosmic-queen-ep/id984380388 They also produced a vaudeville-esque music video for the song Welcome to the Night. On the horizon for the band is a 3rd EP, as well as numerous shows throughout the north east for the remainder of 2015. www.leejastark.com www.facebook.com/leejastark www.reverbnation.com/leejastark www.youtube.com/leejastark https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/house-of-eyes-ep/id771371921 Give us some Feedback: Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on iTunes Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on MixCloud E-mail: feedback@buildthescene.com Call Us: 724-568-7018 Join Our Mailing List Submit Your Own Music: Submission Form Book your Band: Booking Form Get our App: iPhone

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DiMonick Confessions…

DiMonick Confessions… 3 of the 4 members of Chip DiMonick join Bill to discuss over 10 years of Chip DiMonick. Bill asks them the normal questions so that you can get to know them. And apparently, so that the band can get to know each other as well. Bill asked, “What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you on stage?” That’s when things got interesting and funny at the same time. Learn about this Punk errr rock errr metal band! Aired: December 2015 Length: 1:02:43 Official Website: www.chipdimonick.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChipDiMonickRocks Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/ChipDiMonick/videos Always a band to effortlessly – and sometimes controversially – mash up rock, metal, glam, and punk, Chip DiMonick has been on fire supporting their bombastic fifth album, Uncaged. This year is a milestone year for Chip DiMonick as it has recently claimed its third consecutive win as “Best Punk Band” in the Iron City Rocks Pittsburgh Music Awards and is celebrating 10 years since the release of its debut album, “Bat An Eyelash,” which the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called “the kind of record Tommy Lee would tell a girl to strip to.” READ MORE… The new album, “Uncaged,” is now available! You can purchase the physical CD or digital download from CD Baby at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/chipdimonick13. Digital downloads are also available on iTunes, Google Play Store, Amazon and most other major digital music outlets. Give us some Feedback: Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on iTunes Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on MixCloud E-mail: feedback@buildthescene.com Call Us: 724-568-7018 Join Our Mailing List Submit Your Own Music: Submission Form Book your Band: Booking Form Get our App: iPhone

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John Fox Guitars, Basses, & Pianos…

John Fox joins Bill on the show for his second visit. They discuss John’s history as a musician and songwriter, which includes opening for Foghat! John is currently playing with the cover band Glitz. Glitz Nied’s Hotel Band GODS OF THUNDER – ACE, SLASH, ZOMBIE, TOMMY LEE, & SCOTT IAN Watson’s Awakening Rob Gainor featuring John Fox – When the Lights Go Out Give us some Feedback: Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on iTunes Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on MixCloud E-mail: feedback@buildthescene.com Call Us: 724-568-7018 Join Our Mailing List Submit Your Own Music: Submission Form Book your Band: Booking Form Get our App: iPhone

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Ron Marks, A Subsonic Frost

SUMMARY: In Mark’s own words, “While Celtic Frost is always (and should be) a focal point of my career, Bill and I discussed my future as well. This includes a fantastic relationship with DSNMusic.com (Subsonic Trifecta and Honeycomb releases), a new highly-satirical solo release, and publishing my book Blood Groove. I also hope to host/executive-produce a TV series based upon profiling global music cultures. This interview will also be featured on Mega Rock this Sunday. Please also www.ronmarksmusic.com. Cool…” We also get around to my normal line of questioning about his time in bands like most embarrassing stage issue, favorite venue, first equipment, and more… Websites to check out: Ron Marks on Dean Guitars’ website ronmarksmusic.com celticfrost.com Trifecta on iTunes Give us some Feedback: Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on iTunes Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on MixCloud E-mail: feedback@buildthescene.com Call Us: 724-568-7018 Join Our Mailing List Submit Your Own Music: Submission Form Book your Band: Booking Form Get our App: iPhone

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Tony Marinacci (TME) on the Pennsylvania Rock Show PARS

On September 2, 2015, Tony Marinacci passed away from his battle with cancer. Tony was a huge supporter of the Pennsylvania Rock Show and AK Music Scene. As a way of memorializing him, we put together an montage of all the interview portions from TME appearances on the Pennsylvania Rock Show. Tony’s mark on the Pennsylvania Rock Show and AK Music Scene are unable to be measured. He will be sorely missed. The Shows involving Mr. Marinacci Nied’s Hotel Band 05-11-2005 Tony Marinacci 09-21-2005 JJ Smith 05-19-2006 The Best of TME on PARS 08-04-2006 TME 04-17-2009 SickleEye 02-12-2012 Tony Marinacci 04-12-2012 Tony Marinacci 02-07-2014 Tony Marinacci is a professional producer, songwriter and musician. Currently, he runs an entertainment company – Total Music & Entertainment, multimedia recording studio and BMI affiliated music publishing company. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he is from one of the most accomplished and respected entertainment families to come from the area. Though his experience covers nearly every aspect of the entertainment industry, he has gained the most recognition as an audio engineer for major concerts and a wide range of world-class productions. His services are highly sought after by many live entertainment companies. His extensive studio capabilities also have him in very high demand. He has also been interviewed in MIX and EQ magazines as well as Variety, Billboard and many times in the Pittsburgh media. From the very beginning, Tony has always been around world-class entertainers. His first real experience came when he joined his father who was a Lighting Director for Tony Orlando and Dawn. Also part of that crew was his father’s cousin, John DeSantis, who was already one of the best Production Managers in the biz. Tony has always had excellent instruction and mighty big shoes to fill. Musically Tony learned piano while growing up in Pittsburgh. After his parents divorced he moved to California with his father. Growing up in the business as a 10-year-old kid in 1976, working on the road crew during summers and holidays. Being around professional musicians, he learned several other instruments, before finding his true love, and became an excellent guitarist. However, despite becoming a pretty good player, he realized that it would still be difficult to make a living being just a musician. Taking advantage of the professional entertainment environment around him, he was able to explore other production jobs. He gravitated towards sound and found that he was able to run mixing consoles. Soon, in 1982, he began helping doing sound for Tony Orlando. After moving back to Pittsburgh to graduate high school, Tony went right out on the road. He would soon earn a national reputation throughout the late 1980’s and 1990’s, as a great Audio Engineer while doing sound for many people, including larger Vegas acts, as well as stints with Bon Jovi and U2. This would also lead to mixing experiences in major recording studios including, The Record Plant and Electric Lady Land, among others, and was also the begining to him becoming a great producer. The constant traveling allowed him to be based anywhere, so, he settled back in Pittsburgh, where he had also started TME. Using all the experience and resources he gained doing other tasks on the road, he had turned TME into a growing company – specializing in live entertainment. Next, several local partnership involving major concerts in the area, made TME one of the most resourceful entertainment companies in the region throughout the 1990’s. Doing sound however, did not fulfill his need to be creative. He had begun writing songs as a teenager, and in his early 20’s, began to build his personal studio around an elaborate MIDI setup and a Fostex pro 8-track. A chance meeting in 1990 proved he was writing quality material, when it got him signed to write for a platinum-selling artists’ album on Virgin. The project however, was unfortunately shelved. After it was clear that they were not going to move ahead with any more plans, his contract was bought out. Hooking up with some friends at Geffen, he worked on several unique projects, and other opportunities later lead to work on Nissan television commercials, and some experiences in motion pictures with Disney and Universal Films. Enjoying growing success in both live and studio production put tremendous demand on his time and it soon became clear that he would have to decide between the two. Having already been established in major concerts leaned the decision. However, faced with unsuccessful efforts with recording projects, coupled with his then song writing partner taking material and the project name and releasing it as his own, excluding Tony from any credits or royalties – pretty much made it clear that he should go with live entertainment. Concentrated too much in the concert business was almost fatal when starting in 1997, the entire industry began to decrease tours at a pace of 10-15% a year. TME was not able to evolve as the industry continued to shrink. Then in 1999 Tony suffered a series of personal illnesses. Now, physically hampered, in a demanding industry, made it all but certain it was time to change gears. As TME was on the brink of extinction, Tony was working his way back. Fortunately he had his studio assets as his reputation as a great Audio Engineer had always put him in demand mixing in the studio, where he was also able to acquire software. As he began to assemble what had now become quite a substantial collection, he soon realized he had digital capabilities that were on par with major production facilities. By 2001 he was well enough to work steady in a less physically demanding environment. He also would begin to record various types of projects and work as a producer with local talent. However, lack of a permanent location prevented him from going beyond a project studio status. In 2005 things settled in one spot and Tony refocused the company’s direction by dropping nearly a third of…

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11 Years of PARS! Chris Hawthorne

Click the play button at the bottom of the page in the blue bar to hear our Full Radio Shows, including our monthly interviews and tons of great local music! Bill Domiano, John Lane, & Chris Hawthorne celebrate 11 years of PARS. John Lane guest hosts the Pennsylvania Rock show to get to the bottom of how the show got started. He discusses the early years of the show with founder Bill Domiano and Unsigned-Online/Indie band radio owner Chris Hawthorne. They also talk about different bands that have been played over the years and how Chris still plays kaj while he’s cruising Seattle. AND MORE! THIS SHOW IS DEDICATED TO TONY MARINACCI! The other audio players on the page will play the interview only Give us some Feedback: Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on iTunes Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on MixCloud E-mail: feedback@buildthescene.com Call Us: 724-568-7018 Join Our Mailing List Submit Your Own Music: Submission Form Book your Band: Booking Form Get our App: iPhone

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Ed Heads

Ed Roman joins us from his home in Canada to discuss his music and the world as a whole. He is a very interesting musician and also part of the MTS Management Group that includes artists such as Xander Demos, Hicks, Amy Rose, Doug Briney, and more. Ed Discusses his writing process, influences and more. Ed Roman is based in Shelburne, Ontario.  In 2011, he released the critically acclaimed, Oracles And Ice Cream, which featured 22 tracks highlighting the spectrum of Ed’s broad musical tastes and influences. While performing 90% of the music on Letters From High Latitudes, Ed also receives help from notable musicians, Dave Patel (Sass Jordan) on drums and Mike Freedman (Tia Brazda) on electric guitars. Ed is currently being played on college radio across the US and Canada, in more than 100 markets.  Ed is a 2014 IMEA Award Winner, an Indie Music Channel Awards Winner, an AMG Heritage Award Nominee, and an Artists In Music Award Nominee. Official Ed Roman Website MTS Management Group Give us some Feedback: Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on iTunes Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on MixCloud E-mail: feedback@buildthescene.com Call Us: 724-568-7018 Join Our Mailing List Submit Your Own Music: Submission Form Book your Band: Booking Form Get our App: iPhone

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After the Fall: Still Here – Keith Kweder Memorial

This special edition of the Pennsylvania Rock Show, features an interview of Doug Carnahan from After the Fall. We discuss their new album “My Confession” that was just released on July 25th, and especially their song “Still Here” which is a memorial to the late, great Keith Kweder. Keith was the drummer for the bands Skell and Dimwit and a huge supporter of the Rock for Life Concert Series. Doug also dishes on starring in Chip DiMonick’s video for their song “You Ain’t Punk” and more! Mike Ekis – “So Keith got him and me tickets to see Boz Scaggs at the Chevy amphitheater, so we tailgate and head inside. We had great seats with no one in front of us, which is a good thing cause we were singing so loud we would have ruined the show for anyone who wanted to hear Boz sing. It was something we always did whether in our basements or at a venue. He is truly missed every day.”

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Hicks From Sweden by Hayride?

Hicks’ Show Notes Hicks discusses his music background, including how he became a country artist in a country that just doesn’t get country music. We chatted a bit about learning foreign languages, his collaborations, how he became part of MTS Management Group. You’ll find out what a tennis racket has to do with his musical history. Yes, I said a tennis racket. You’ll also learn about his band situation since he plays in Europe and the United States. We talk about why he is doing so many radio and podcast interviews (GUESS WHAT! there is more Hicks Music coming soon!) I got him to do some name dropping, names that even I know, a dedicated rock guy. Release Date: July 2015 Running Time: 0:50:06 Guest: Hicks Hicks’ Links: Purchase Hicks’ Music on iTunes Official Website Facebook MTS Management Reverbnation Twitter Youtube Links to things mentioned: Country Showdown Johnny Horton: Sink the Bismarck Garth Brooks/Chris Gaines Terry Lee Spencer: American Dream Resolution 15 Give us some Feedback: Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on iTunes Subscribe, Review, & Rate us on MixCloud E-mail: feedback@buildthescene.com Call Us: 724-568-7018 Join Our Mailing List Submit Your Own Music: Submission Form Book your Band: Booking Form Get our App: iPhone

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