HOMEGROWN MUSIC LISTINGS

May 2007

May 1 Robb Taylor Band. A resident of Blakeslee, PA, in the Poconos, Robb Taylor is a talented singer-songwriter who also maintains an acting career, having appeared in theater, films and network TV productions. He makes his Homegrown Music debut with an energetic band performing his original songs that range from rockers to ballads.

Robb Taylor (center) and his band recording at WVIA

Walter Prezelski recording at WVIA

May 8 Walter Prezelski. Highly distinctive composer and performer Walter Prezelski, from Uniondale, PA, returns to Homegrown Music with a new collection of his attention-getting songs, performed in his deep-bass voice and in a mostly acoustic setting.

May 14 A Live Homegrown Music Concert with SIMON APPLE and JERRY WAGERS & BETH JENKINS. WVIA's unique live monthly concert-broadcast series continues with a creative rock band and an appealing acoustic duo.

Simon Apple is a musically sophisticated and stylistically wide-ranging Philadelphia-area band that was founded by Jeff Miller and Buzz Saylor in 1998. Vocalist Dan Merrill, from Maine, joined the group in 2001, and three years later they released their current CD River to the Sea, which featured appearances by an impressive list of guest musicians, including King Crimson bassist Tony Levin, Blue Oyster Cult guitarist Buck Dharma, and Supertramp saxophonist John Helliwell. Their music ranges from art rock to appealing pop. The trio makes their Homegrown Music debut with performances of their outstanding original music.

Simon Apple

Jerry Wagers and Beth Jenkins recording at WVIA

Jerry Wagers and Beth Jenkins currently reside in Tunkhannock, PA, but Wagers is a true musical troubadour, having spent time on both coasts performing his first-rate music. Heavily influenced by the Beatles-era British Invasion, Wagers and Jenkins will be performing Jerry's clever, tuneful original pop in an acoustic setting with great vocal harmonies.

The two-hour concert will be broadcast live from the station's Public Broadcasting Center headquarters before a studio audience. WVIA's listeners and members are invited to attend the concert. Free audience seating is available by making reservations at 570-655-2808. (Note: Start time: 8:00 PM).

May 15 Carla Ulbrich. One of the wittiest performers ever to appear on the Homegrown Music series, Carla Ulbrich was beset by a series of serious medical problems a few years ago. She put the time during her lengthy recuperation to good use writing a series of hilarious satirical songs on the indignities of illness and the dealing with the medical establishment. She released many of them on a CD called Sick Humor, but she is heard debuting the songs in this 2004 session, with a special guest appearance by pianist Bob Malone.

Carla Ulbrich at WVIA

Thre Five Percent in the studio at WVIA

May 22 The Five Percent. Based in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, The Five Percent is a superb rock quartet of relatively young, but experienced musicians, including Homegrown Music vetaran guitarist Neil Nicastro (Dick Fawcett Band, Dharma Bums). They have already released two CDs, and are working on a third. But they perform brand-new material in their Homegrown Music debut, highlighting their first-rate musicianship and high-quality writing.

May 29 Pullsh. A young rock quartet from Watsontown, in North Central PA, Pullsh specializes in great original blues rock. They serve it up with class and energy in their Homegrown Music debut.

Pullsh

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