A lot of people ask: ‘What does it take to get our band’s schedule listed in the “Weekend Watch” series at Gatecrasher? How much do we have to pay?’ To these lines of inquiry we just shake our head. The only thing bands have to pay to get pumped at the Gatecrasher blog is their dues. That, and a cut of your ticket sales. (Note to Editor: Kidding!) But right now, you just need to know where the most killer rock shows in the state are? Yer hot on the trail, so let’s go! (more…)

Jonny from Karen Page gave us the go ahead to post this action shot of them at the 1.26 show with Wilderkin @ Yesterday’s in Wheeling. Lotta cool shows up there, so keep us posted if you can. This drunnkgoggles pic is from a KP fan named Amanda Stoltey. Thanks to her and KP and keep the pics coming!

Many, many good shows to plug this weekend in Charleston and beyond, so let’s get to it.

Friday, Jan. 25
Zen @ The Empty Glass
You say that you love rokin’ jam bands from Elkins that play for 200 hrs. on end without stopping? Zen may be for you, then. Come to the Glass — recently recognized as one of the top 100 bars in the nation by Nightclub & Bar Magazine — and check out Zen if yer into some crunchy grooves. After 10 p.m., bring money.

Threefold Theory w/The Apology @ the Blue Parrot
One of Gatecrasher’s favorite local bands is 3FT, and they come to town for a show at one of their favorite haunts. 3FT recently had their song “The Letting Go” reach #9 at Garageband.com’s Modern Rock Charts, so looks like Garageband has been listening to our advice: 3FT rocks. 10 p.m., probably $5.

The Emergency, Billy Matheny & the Frustrations, and Slop Models @ 123 Pleasant St..
We love the bands we’re plugging this week in Charleston, but this show has to be our out of town special pick o’ the week. Not only do you get Billy Matheny AND his Frustrations, you get The Emergency — one of our, like, top 5 bands in the state. We’ve got their CDs, and we’ve got “The Emergency” tatted up on our left butt cheek. Seriously. If you missed Matheny and The Emergency’s Rob Wherle on U92 Monday night, go to the show. Not to be missed if yer up thRRR.

Saturday, Jan. 26
The Concept w/Meuwl and B-Rude @ the Glass
Our friends in THC are done working on a new CD and welcome their hip-hop friends to town this weekend. Ask them about their trip to High St. in Columbus for a show last weekend. Killer show, this should be, sayeth we. 10 p.m., money.

also…

Hey, cool! We got hooked up with shots of Morgantown’s It’s Birds. The band (they’re a four-piece) is recognized as one of the best up there, according to rockers who are in the know. This is a shot of singer-guitarist Brian Spragg, taken by Nikki Rotunda, and we thank her and It’s Birds for hooking us up. Check out more pics from Rotunda at the band’s MySpace profile.

Oh, the band is also selling some equipment. An Orange AD30 twin channel head ($900) with “sweeeeet” case, Fender HSH Stratocaster ($250) and a Korg AX1G ($50) can be yours, according to their singer, Brian. In the market for stuff? Holler at them…

We’re on the lookout for live music from area clubs, so holler at us.

We got hooked up with a nice shot of Crimson Rising from their recent show at the new Club Echo in Huntington. Lead guitarist Alex Altizer (L) and singer-guitatist Adam Hall are seen here rocking in a pic taken by Kalee Kamer.

This just in! Do you like what is commonly referred to as rockabilly or cowpunk? You’re in luck this weekend. Saturday, Cleveland’s own Whiskey Daredevils come to the Empty Glass with Lords of the Highway and Charleston’s own Buckstone. Below is a pic we snapped of the Daredevils when they came to the Glass earlier in the year with Uncle Scratch’s Gospel Revival.

Gazz uber-editor Douglas Eye informed us this is a best bet for print Gazz, and we agree 100% w/that. 

Here is some other research material for students of live music in local clubs this weekend: (more…)

So yeah we can’t be everywhere. We’re not “Jumper” (in theaters Feb.) or Nightcrawler from the X-Men. And we hate ourselves for it.

But we do keep an eye on stuff that’s show-related. Send us your pics of cool area rock bands or acoustic performers, or at least make us aware of them, we’ll clue people in and link them to you, and YOU CAN BE ROCK STARS LIKE WE ARE! Speaking of pix, we came across some cool pictures of Rose City at the Parrot and Crimson Rising at Club Echo (formerly The Drop Shop/Gumbys) in Huntington.

Check out the pics on their Myspace profiles, and if you get some cool ones hook us up.

Are you olde fashioned? Do you just not like change in general? Well, then if you’re into punk rock, you’re in luck this weekend. Buckhannon thrash-punk outfit False Profit comes to Charleston for a show @ the Blue Parrot Saturday with The Concept and Rose City.

We’ve taken a liking to False Profit’s throwback version of punk rock. No, we haven’t bought the CD. So, whatever. The Concept has just recently posted a remixed version of their song “Better Left Said” on their MySpace profile to rave reviews. And, after a bit of a hiatus, the guys in Team Ramrod are back doing shows for 2008. Good deal.

Parrot shows are normally $5, and this one has our guarantee. The Parrot’s at 14 1/2 Capitol St. Call 342-2583.

To raise more awareness about the most rockin one-man band in this state (West Virginia, for dummies), we’ve re-released a revamped and partially redacted old Q&A with J Marinelli that never really ran in a print mag from Parkersburg that pretty much sucks.

GAZZ: Who influenced you to play rock music and when did you start playing guitar?
JM: (Un)fortunately for me, the bar was raised pretty high for me as a youngster, in that the very best of punk, hardcore — and what would later be known as indie rock — was readily available to me via Morgantown venues such as The Underground Railroad and the Dry House. From 1985-1988, I got to see Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, The Pixies, Naked Raygun, DRI, GBH, The Cro-Mags, DOA, and Fugazi (and … tons more), as well as incredible local bands like Th’ Inbred, Gene Pool, 63 Eyes, and Velez Manifesto. So somehow I knew that if I were to become a musician, I’d have to be somewhat good at it.

Additionally, there were actual record stores in Morgantown that were able to keep themselves afloat by selling underground music. Some of the first albums I really got into were the first Clash LP, the first four Ramones records, and practically everything by Black Flag, Stiff Little Fingers, The Buzzcocks, Minor Threat, Husker Du, Mission Of Burma, and even the Smiths. I could go on… I actually didn’t start out playing guitar. I was a drummer for years before I even picked one of those things up. Maybe drumming influenced my percussive caveman guitar more than any guitarist. You tell me. (more…)

Check this guy out! Gatecrasher spies on J Marinelli at the Glass recently.