Check back over the next few days to catch each songs release!Homicide Black’s official video for “End Of Eternity” from “The Road To Hell” EP. Purchase the EP here. Other Releases: Call of the Void, We Will Remain
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You’ve started making waves not only in the Pittsburgh Music Scene, but nationally. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a blues band today? Just starting out takes time, energy, drive, the right chemistry, and faith in what you do! Stay true to your craft! Be loyal to yourself and your bandmates I’m looking to add more Pittsburgh Blues Musicians to our site, who should we and our readers know about? There are so many Pittsburgh blues musicians! I have my favs though. Eugene Morgan, for his down home delta groove, Jimmy Adler for his swing blues style, Tina Daniel’s for her blues rock style, and Dan Bubien for his soulful voice. Can you pinpoint the moment in your life that you knew you were destined to sing the Blues? I knew I was going to sing blues for the rest of my life a year after I started singing with my first band. My mentor, Big Al Leavitt and bandleader told me I needed to find a way to get over my stage fright cause people are going to love what I sing! If there was a fire that destroyed all your music except for one song, which song would you want to survive history? It is hard to say which song! But, If it was one song, it would be Lady Of the Blues. It was written by my dear friend Steve Nestor who passed away Dec 2017. It is a song describing me as this woman who is a lady, but can hold her own, who has been hurt, but who has picked herself up, dust herself off, and keeps going, no matter what. What is one thing about you that would surprise your fans? My fans would be surprised to know I love possums and had one as pet when I was nine! That is a story!
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The Band Jam Grass Roots Music Festival is a weekend long celebration of local music and artists. It was started as a way to commemorate the yearly anniversary of the “Grass Roots Show”, which airs Sunday nights at 7pm on The Rock Station 97.7fm (WLER – Butler, PA), and as a way to showcase the incredible talent featured on this show in a “Live” setting for music lovers of all genres to enjoy. The Festival is held at Cooper’s Lake Campground, located at 205 Currie Rd in Slippery Rock, PA, right off of I-79 Exit 99 (New Castle Rd / US Route 422), and is sponsored this year by: <Contact Us NOW for Sponsorship Opportunities> Cooper’s Lake is the perfect place for a family friendly outdoor music festival, with over 450 acres of wooded areas and mowed fields. Amenities include over 100 electric and water hookup sites, activity areas, campground store, full bathroom facilities including showers, laundromat, picnic tables and pavillions, and a 10-acre lake for fishing and canoeing. Cooper’s Lake is world renowned for such events as Pennsic, The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, and the Pyrotechnics Guild International Convention. The 2018 Band Jam will take place July 13-15, with live music beginning Friday the 13th at 5pm, and beginning again on Saturday the 14th at Noon. There will be plenty of other activities for young and old including fishing, biking, and more… Attendees are encouraged to come camp for the whole weekend, however day pass only admissions will be available. Camping fees must be purchased separately through Cooper’s Lake Campground and can be purchased HERE. Admission Prices $20 Advance / $25 At The Gate Kids 17 and Under are FREE Band Jam Festival Tickets Available Through ShowClix by clicking HERE or by calling 1-888-71-TICKETS Tickets also available through Butler Media Group at 252 Pillow Street, Butler PA or through the bands and Shady Lady Productions Camping Passes must be purchased through Cooper’s Lake Campground and can be purchased by clicking HERE. Please visit their website for more information.
Read More What band(s) are you currently in? Currently I play in Fist Fight in the Parking Lot, Serpent Lord, Staley’s Comet, Captain Doobie and Big Bambu and Mojo Filter. Have been in, in the past? Growing up I never really played in any bands, I would just jam with friends at parties or in garages, but never anything serious. It wasn’t until I was 21 that I started hitting open stages and meeting local musicians. I was probably 22 when I joined my first “proper” band. It was a band called “The Tony Jones Band”. Lots of covers and some originals. We were bad, but it was fun and I met a lot of good friends from playing all over the city. After that band, I formed Mojo Filter and we’re still jamming a few times a year. What is it about the Pittsburgh Scene that keeps you working at your craft? The Pittsburgh Scene has changed so much since I started playing. Lots of great venues are gone now. It’s kind of depressing, but I do see some new places popping up every once in a while. I just try to keep playing wherever will have us. How hard is it to juggle the schedules of your bands and life in general? Surprisingly not as tough as you’d think!! I keep my calendar updated, and it helps that almost all of the bands I’m in share at least 1 member with another band I play in, so it’s rare that my schedule gets screwed up. I think I’ve only double booked myself once in the last 5 years. The hardest part is just getting the stars and calendars to align for rehearsals. Some of my bands don’t need to rehearse as much as others, but I’ve had the same rehearsal schedule for a couple years, and it’s been working out great. The other part that has been tough is remembering all the songs from all of the different bands. I played 4 full sets with 4 different bands in 5 weeks, so it’s definitely been a challenge, but one that I really enjoy. And luckily I have a wonderful family that supports my ridiculous schedule. Can you name 5 unsigned bands from the scene that you absolutely love, and tell us why? Stoneslinger. They aren’t from Pittsburgh, they are from Canton, OH but they are hands down one of my all-time favorite bands period. We played a ton of shows with them over the years, and they are always fantastic. Check out their album Solar Outlaws on iTunes. I play some hot lixxx on a song called “Magnet”. Action Camp. Bengt Alexander is a badass mofo. Great guitar player and songwriter. I love all of their stuff. They don’t fit into any musical box. They play heavy stuff, they play electronic stuff, they play surf stuff, and it’s all great! SuperVoid – Unfortunately these guys are on an indefinite hiatus, but they are still one of my favorites. Killer riffs and grooves from these dudes. Top notch musicians! They are one of those bands that you hope you never have to play after them. Horehound – These guys and girl keep getting better every time I see them. Super doomy riffs and Shy Kennedy has some really interesting vocal melodies. I highly recommend checking them out if you haven’t already. Monolith Wielder – This is one of those bands that I wish would play out more often. They are absolutely crushing when they play live. Their album is insanely good too. When did you know you were destined to be a musician? My parents took me to see my brother’s band play at the Foggy Bottom Inn back in 1985. I was 12 years old at the time, and I’d never seen a live rock band before. The place was packed, it was loud, people were drunk and the bands had big hair….Well everyone had big hair… I vividly remember watching the band on stage and thinking. “I need to do that”. That Christmas I got my first guitar and here we are 33 years later… I never did get to play at the Foggy Bottom.
Read More What band(s) are you currently in? Have been in, in the past? Currently I play drums for The Hellfire Club. Some bands I’ve been in have been Aleister Wild, FMA,. Half Cocked, Sunset Riot, Vengeant and Shame What is it about the Pittsburgh Scene that keeps you making the trek back from OH? One thing that keeps bringing me to the Pittsburgh music scene is my singer is from PA. Generally though, the people still go out and listen to music and enjoy it. There’s still a music community. What has been the best night that you’ve had as a musician? Haha !! Man,. Best night is tough to narrow down. In Aleister Wild, We played the DMZ in S Korea on the 4th of July. Pretty cool. In Sunset Riot, like 20 women came in and jumped up on stage and started dancing while we played. Made $2000 that night. Allotta fun nights, but those two stick out a little. What advice would you give to someone trying to start a band today? My advice for bands nowadays…..keep a job and keep honing your craft, maybe one-day someone will notice, What is one thing that you fans would be surprised to know about you? People might be surprised to know I didn’t start playing drums till I was 31
Read More What band(s) are you currently in? Have been in, in the past? I’m currently in Reign of Z. I use to front Echoes Never Lie and River Runs Scarlet What is it about the Pittsburgh Scene that keeps you working at your craft? I focus not necessarily on a specific place, I focus on the bands particular goals. I recognize this is where I’m from so I strive to be the best we can be and hopefully make good relationships and set positive examples. What inspired your stage make-up and how long does it take to get into your character as a whole before the shows? With each project is a reinvention of myself and where I’m currently at. I see this entity as someone whom I wish I could be in daily life she is strong, opinionated, unearthly, daring, and makes people uncomfortable and think if I have to get ready myself it’s two hours if I have my team it’s one. I want to make sure I feel ready. Can you name 5 unsigned bands from the scene that you absolutely love, and tell us why? five unsigned bands….Winter’s Descent not because I’m friends with them I feel Jerry and I push each other to be better through healthy competition, Fire in Elysium these guys have been in the Baltimore scene for a while and they just kill with their merch to their catchy breakdown and hooks and on top of that killer people, it is written love those guys to the moon and back they remind me of a young lamb of god Ken just kills and Darl slays on drums, seventh seal when we played with them down in Baltimore you thought these guys were on tour for ages so seasoned and great stage show and last but not least Dematus Jessica is as sweet as her clean vocals and her growls remind me of old Kittie such a wonderful composition. What is one thing that you fans would be surprised to know about you? one thing people may be surprised I’m very introverted and don’t like socializing….it’s a joke between the Mulligans and me but very true…I get burnt out because of how busy ROZ is and it takes a lot out of me to go out and be in the right headspace to do that
Read MoreCan you tell us about the moment that you decided you wanted to be a musician? I always danced when I was a little kid to terrible pop music and always listened to music of all kinds, I figured when I was about 12 I’d pick guitar up and run people out of rooms. What band(s) are you currently in? Wretched Hive and Ezekiel!! Few other projects pending but we’ll see what happens! What is your proudest moment as a musician? It’s tough to narrow it down because every time I share the stage with the incredible people of the local scene, it makes me realize why I do it. But either Rocktoberfest with Wretched Hive or opening for Byzantine last August. What equipment do you use? I have 7 guitars and a few amps. It’s a dangerous addiction. My amp which is down right now, (Shout out to Greg from Heidi and the Hellcats!!) Is a Peavey 6505mh. I run it through my Marshall vertical 2×12. My pedal board has a Ibanez TubeScreamer mini, tuner, Crybaby from hell, Digitech whammy, crybaby from hell, Line 6 wireless and a boss noisegate. With Wretched Hive I use my Diamond Hailfire ST plus, trans walnut finish, which everyone seems to love and my Wylde Audio Odin. Both of those are tuned to Drop B. For Ezekiel, i gotta get a little more creative. I got my Hardluck kings Wild Bill and Lady luck tuned to drop C. My Hardluck kings southern belle and my Kresiak custom tuned to Drop c# and e flat standard. And my Odin and Hailfire for the drop B stuff. All in all, it’s an expensive set up but I love it and wouldn’t take the cash back! What is one thing that your fans would be surprised to know about you? Probably that I’m a huge blues guy. Absolutely love Gary Moore, Albert King, BB king, Melvin Taylor and even some of the newer guys like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang and Jared James Nichols. Also, Brad Paisley shreds!! photo credit: First Angel Media
Read MoreIt is the mission of Rock for Life to provide financial support to needy individuals residing in Western PA who are suffering from life threatening diseases. Rock for Life sponsors music festivals and other music-related and general fundraising events to raise the monies necessary to support its purpose. [gigpress_shows tour=1]
Read MoreFollow The Rock Station and the Rock Done Right Tour all year long. You can find us rockin’ with the best in local music at the following locations.
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