So you’re using the internet to look for cool area rock shows, huh? Well, it’s funny because you’ve just clicked on the state’s number one non-bullet form area show roundup blog. It’s not as important as it sounds, but in a way, it is. There are many killer bands playing shows in Charleston, Huntington and Magic Town this weekend, so to find out where, read on — that’s right: you’ve read this much!

FRI 6.5

It’s time for Huntington to get awesome Friday night, as J Marinelli (above) plays the V Club with his good friend Jason Sells (aka Slate Dump) and Huntington’s Browning Automatics.

Marinelli, the Morgantown native now living in Lexington with his angry one-man band, has been doing a steady sting of dates with Sells and if you hear us now Huntington, know this: it’s time to get awesome. Visit Marinelli online to get a taste of his version of Appalachian punk rock and folk. (Marinelli pic: Andy Pickens)

You’re in Charleston Friday night, looking to rock and roll? Well, Thee Drunken Gentlemen are playing the Empty Glass in Charleston’s historic East End Friday night. Made up of Dirt and Guy from the Whippers and Junie from Rose City, the “Gentlemen” have done a few shows between here and Huntington since playing their first show a few months back. They’ll be joined by The Rabble Rousers, so it should be a good time. The Glass is located at 410 Elizabeth St. in Charleston and if you don’t believe us call ‘em at 345.9893.

Do you find yourself wishing today’s music sounded more like it did in the 1920’s or 30’s? You’re in luck, Long Island’s Two Man Gentlemen Band bring their throwback version of rockin’ swing and Americana to Huntington Friday night for a stop at Shamrock’s. Actually this two-man band and Marinelli’s one-man act would be a cool show, from all that we’ve heard. You’d likely wear a pair of shoes out getting down. Shamrock’s is located at 2050 3rd Avenue in Huntington last time we checked.

SAT 6.6

Charlottesville’s Hackensaw Boys play 123 Pleasant Street in Morgantown Saturday night; we know they have a ton of area fans, and had to cancel their last gig up there if memory serves. So don’t miss your chance to catch the rockin’ folk/bluegrass outfit; $12 in advance, $15 @ the door.

Huntington’s Threefold Theory returns to “the fray” of local shows with a new drummer Saturday night at Sharkey’s Fins Cafe in Huntington. It’s amazing that we like Scott, Nik and Pete so much and haven’t been hearing too much about ‘em. Lead singer and guitarist Scott Niles apparently had back problems and has been on the DL, and is back doing acoustic solo shows. Pete Hurt, the original drummer, is sidelined indefinitely with back problems.

Check out all kinds of cool video of 3FT on their MySpace and oh why not listen to their rockin’ tunes like “Hold On” (see the live video) and “The Letting Go” off LoveHateLive (which seems like it was released 10 years ago, not 2006) and their newer stuff, like “Suffocating”and “Into The Fray,” the title of the CD they still have yet to release, which we’d still love to hear. Good to see they’re back.

And late-breaking developments up Magic Town way; no, there will be no Japanese punk rock Sunday as Burning Soul and The Daredevils had to pull out of their now ill-fated planned U.S. tour. (Yes, all dates, apparently). But Pittsburgh punk band Undercover Saints will make the short drive to 123 Pleasant Street to help kick things off with local Magic Town punks The Revisionists and Castle Grayskull (Fairmont metal). And of course we’d like to insert the disclaimer: by clicking on a particular band’s link you waive all right to be offended at something we’ve done.

We’re super stoked about the area shows in this week’s edition of the Weekend Watch. J Marinelli comes back to the Glass, and even though the Black Knots CD release shows for The Guitarmageddon have been canceled (much to our dismay) if you’re looking to rock, whether you’re in Charleston, Huntington or Magic Town, you’ve come to the right place. Read on, you’ve read this much.

THU 5.28

Rockin’ Thursday shows are always awesome, and it’s time for Charleston to get awesome as Morgantown native J Marinelli returns to the Empty Glass with his friends Jason Sells (aka Slate Dump) from Beckley, The Limbs from Colorado, and Electric Zoo. It’s all part of one big tour, as Marinelli, The Limbs, and Slate Dump will be sharing a number of dates over the region over the coming days.

You won’t see this show mentioned on the Glass’ MySpace site, but the show is happening, from all we know. If you’re like us, and you’ve rocked Marinelli’s records like Pity The Party, Keep It Fake, and his Stone Age Kicks series, this is your chance to see the man perform live. You don’t have to believe us though. To make sure, call the Glass at 345.9893, but as we’ve told you before, don’t forget the 304.

Up Magic Town way, The Greens play 123 Pleasant Street. Cool show if you’re up that way.

FRI 5.29

Let’s say you are up in Morgantown, and you’ve just read about Marinelli coming to the Glass Thursday night, and you’ve considered making the short drive down to Charleston. Relax; Marinelli brings the party to Magic Town Friday night, so you can save the gas money as Marinelli does Morgantown one more time.

Closer to home, our punk rock friends in The Concept (insert disclaimer here) play an all-ages show in Hamlin — that’s right, frikkin’ Hamlin — at Paradise Live with FOZ, The Good Fight and Atomic Anarchy Ensemble. Stay tuned for links there. Team THC was s’posed to play one of the Knots CD release shows, but apparently the Knots’ drummer situation is now in a state of flux, throwing what would’ve been the release of one of the more killer local CD releases into complete uncertainty. Paradise Live is located at 7786 Lynn Avenue, any questions? 824.3535 is their phone number.

Out Huntington way, Jeff Ellis will be joined by Huntington’s Americana trio Wilson Creek at The V Club Friday night. Duff McKagan recently wrote in Playboy that playing the venue recently helped him change his outlook on his perceived third world status of our state. Who are we to disagree? Does Playboy have editors? Those are rhetorical questions; you don’t have to answer. Apparently Morgantown’s Billy Matheny will play Club Echo with Huntington’s Ladybird. That’s late-breaking news to the post; check the info to confirm. Matheny rocks. Club Echo is located at 1318 4th Avenue, if you were asking.

SAT 5.30

So you’re a frequent reader of the blog, and you don’t care much for punk rock, bluegrass, country and/or western? It’s good that you swung by then, because Shayar comes back to the Glass Saturday night. It’s confirmed; get your Red Stripe out and get ready to lively up the place with his reggae stylings. Seriously in these days leading up to what apparently is WWIII the world needs more reggae, not less. You know the number.

Our friends in The Demon Beat are playing something called SkullFest out in Martinsburg Saturday. It starts early, so check ‘em out online for more info. This Shepherdstown trio is putting out some of the best rock in the entire state, and you can take that to the bank. Oh, this just in: the bank has entered insolvency. But check out The Demon Beat while you still can.

And up Magic Town way, Thick As Thieves (former TOTGA/Red Bones) play 123 with Depresbyterians, The Sneakies (fronted by Haley Slagle of Billy Matheny’s Frustrations) and Lake and Ocean. 292.0800 is the number, but why call when you can just show up? Thick As Thieves only has a few songs up at this point but if you were a fan of any of the previous incarnations you’ll dig what they’ve got going on.

It’s not our job to promote Tamarack shows. We don’t get a check for promoting the place, and frankly, we’ve just been there once and couldn’t afford hardly any of the fine quality merch.

We’re glad they’re still around, though, and this here post ’splains why: they’ve got a killer, free, all-day show lined up for Saturday with a few of our favorite acoustic, bluegrass and/or alt-country West Virginia acts. Huntington’s Jeff Ellis, Morgantown’s Hillbilly Gypsies and Weedhawks, The Wild Rumpus (Fayetteville Americana), and more will rock the Appalachian Music & Arts Festival starting at 11 a.m., but you already knew that because you’ve noted the conveniently placed flyer above. Kudos to you.

Check out Tamarack Events on MySpace to see more of the acts that will be there and if this kind of thing floats your boat by all means swing by. It’s waaay more Appalachian than you, and, it’s free, so you can put that money towards the cool art and merch.

Heart Holds True releases their debut EP 5.26 @ The Brickhouse

We’ve been cutoff from the internet for about a week or more at this point. We paid our bill, it wasn’t that.

Apparently there are foreign-based trolls who attempt to deny web service to those who want to bring you the real news when it comes to local shows.

Not the lame local weather forecasts (”SET YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON INTERMITTENT, TRI-STATE! 50-50 CHANCE OF LIGHT, SCATTERED RAIN OVER THE NEXT 12 -24 HOURS!!!”), features about some cat rescued from a tree (although we’re always happy to hear about that) or a hard-hitting expose on us not cleaning out the Gatecrasher refrigerator.

This is hardcore stuff. And we’re glad to be back with an important post, while the web we we’ve come to know and love is still around.

Huntington hardcore band Heart Holds True — formed out of the ashes of Holden Caulfield and one of the newest acts around — will release a limited edition (aren’t they all?) EP Tuesday at The Brickhouse. After playing their first show there back in February, HHT has recorded tunes, made some merch, posted some pics and are looking to book more shows over the summer.

Give “This Town Can’t Hold Me” and “Long Live The Jewel City” a listen on their MySpace profile. Holden Caulfield fans will love the hardcore sound, but HHT seems to have a more melodic side to them in parts. Frontman Dana White described the new band as “…kind of like Holden Caulfield if we had been listening to a lot of Mastodon.”

So yeah, you can go ahead and say it:

“If you like(d) Holden Caulfield, you’ll love Heart Holds True.”

They’ll welcome Pa. hardcore bands Steel Nation and Unreal City, All Teeth (California hardcore), and Huntington’s hardcore cuss-punk, house-show-playing four-piece Most Ill, which will have recorded songs for a new CD by the time you read this and begun a steady string of shows, according to their own schedule.

The Brickhouse is not in St. Albans anymore, by the way. It’s now at 1271 1st Avenue South in Nitro, so don’t show up at 1271 1st Avenue North and expect to rock.

photo: Back To You Photography

Like April, May is gonna be rockin’ when it comes to area shows. From newer bands getting out there doing house shows to those raising money for charitable causes to more established area rockers releasing CDs in Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown, it’s good that you’ve swung by; now you know where to be, and when.

Read on, you may or may not have read this much!

THU 5.7

FRI 5.8

Tom, Jamie, and Diana of Charleston’s Buckstone just uploaded a few new tunes to their MySpace profile, and, Friday night they’re playing some place in Charleston called Village of Otto (2364 1/2 Pennsylvania Ave.) with Pavlov’s Dogs. Whilst on Buckstone’s page you can listen to “I Do” and “I Quit Drinkin’” so it’s definitely worth it, and oh we found a phone number for the place; 347-9511, show starts at 7 p.m. 

Ashland, Kentucky funk/jam band Genuine Junk Band comes to Charleston Friday night for a show at the Glass. Should be a nice vibe for the place. The Glass is located at 410 Elizabeth St., call 345-9893 for cover info, but don’t forget the 304. And if you like GJB, but aren’t near Charleston, they play Shamrock’s Saturday nite.

Up in Morgantown, ‘85 Flood’s Aaron Hawley will celebrate his 30th birthday Friday night at Gene’s Beer Garden in South Park with Billy Matheny & Haley Slagle, Andy Tuck of The Greens, and of course, ‘85 Flood. Nice lineup for a birthday party, and it’s at a beer garden to boot. Be there around 9 p.m. and bring money. Gene’s is located at 461 Wilson Avenue and you can call ‘em at 292.1147 to check, (don’t forget the 304).

SAT 5.9

Quite possibly one of the best local CDs of 2009 will be released Saturday night when Magic Town Celt Punx The Gentlemen drop Stick To Your Guns at 123 Pleasant Street in Morgantown before going on a show-per-day whirlwind regional tour. If you like bands like Dropkick Murphy’s or Flogging Molly, you’ll love The Gentlemen, and that’s a Gatecrasher promise. The band has just uploaded several songs from the new CD on their MySpace, so instead of sitting there thinking of reasons why we’re not able to say which local CDs are the best, visit their profile and check ‘em out.

Opening for The Gentlemen Saturday night, as the above flyer clearly denotes, will be Morgantown acts It’s Birds, Depresbyterians (a rare show) and The Staggering Cardoons (Irish themed acoustic rock); a nice fit as an opener.

If you’re not up Morgantown way, and think that you’re waaay more punk than your neighbor, there’s a cool house/garage show in Huntington, with Appalachian Terror Unit (not affiliated with any real terrorists), Most Ill, and New Clear Future joining several other punk bands at a house show at what is apparently being called Deadbox (not affiliated with an actual deadbox).

If you’re more into James Taylor, and/or haven’t been the same since Simon and Garfunkel broke up, these hardcore punk bands may not be for you, and that’s….okay; you’re way more folk than they are anyway. Call 412.2889 for directions, show starts at 5 p.m., and they’re taking donations from what we hear. Sounds cool; these punks are totally disintermediating the whole “venue” scene.

Huntington’s 40 lb. Snapper will help raise money for next weekend’s Mason County Relay For Life, bringing their blend of Southern and/or classic rock to a benefit at the V Club Saturday nite with as yet unnamed aditional acts. If you’re closer to Charleston, don’t worry, they’re coming to town in the coming days and weeks, and don’t tread on the snapper. Contact the V for cover info. The link is right there, Patrick at the V is very prompt and courteous about getting back with people, at least that was our experience the few times we’ve emailed ‘em.

And how many times have you heard us talk about a show in Beckley? We thought that town fell in The Mystery Hole or something, but Saturday night Huntington’s Jeff Ellis takes his act out that way for a show at The Lost Parrot. This Parrot is located at 314 Neville Street, has its own actual website, and if you don’t believe us you can call them at 929.2621. They’re apparently trying to have shows out there so kudos to them. And we may or may not be remiss to mention that you can catch Ellis on an episode of Mountain Stage this weekend. Check please!

Wednesday shows are becoming more and more common, it seems. As of this typing it is confirmed that Charleston’s punk rock heroes in The Concept are indeed playing the Glass tonite with The Rabble Rousers.

Mike, Ross, Dave and Bryan have recently been playing a ton of far flung regional shows, making fans, and no doubt getting the special rock star treatment at hotels in Louisville. Singer-guitarist Mike Withrow recently said on MySpace that they’ve finalized a batch of new songs, and have a new CD in the pipes. That’s exciting local music news!

Just wanted to get the word out

Someone calling themselves Pang Tubhirun snapped this trippy pic of Demon Beat frontman Adam Meisterhans at The Blue Moon Cafe in Shepherdstown last weekend.

It’s not the first time “Mutton Chop” Meisterhans has made the showpics cut here at Gatecrasher; apparently showgoers from Huntington to Shepherdstown dig his band, or want to document just how his sideburns evolve over time.

Either way, check out The Demon Beat — you’ve read this much!

The cool shows continue this weekend, and is there any other spot where you can get as much local show info as you can here?

Okay, sure, one or two, but those are scientifically proven to be less effective than Gatecrasher in getting the word out. That last statement has not been evaluated by any independent authority.

Read on, you’re already here.

WED 4.22

SPECIAL ALERT: Our friends in The Renfields (Transylvania pogo punk) welcome The Murder Junkies to Morgantown for a show at Club Octane Wednesday night. It’s the first show in a while for Team Transylvania, and is the first area show in as many days for G.G. Allin’s band (read below). We wanted to get this in here because we missed it. Club Octane was once Fuel, and is located at 218 Walnut Avenue, we think, and you can call the bar at 241.4076.

It’s not every Wednesday that there’s a show worth plugging. Well, hold on to your hat Ethel, because tonite Red Velvet frontman Jordan Andrew Jefferson releases High Tide at The V Club in Huntington, as the above flyer clearly denotes.

No, The Red Velvet didn’t dissolve or disband (see below), so calm down. Jefferson’s solo sound is at once distinct from the band he fronts and not too far from a leap from it (Dee Dee Ramone became a rapper at one point!). Check Jefferson out live, or, online at his site or on MySpace. And visit the V for cover, address, yadda yadda yadda.

THU 4.23

Murder Junkies move on to Huntington Thursday night for a stop at Club Echo with Beckley’s A Society Red, Pure Grain (new CD) and The Serpent Handlers of West Virginia, which we can assure readers, have nothing to do with the real serpent handlers of West Virginia.

If you’re closer to Charleston, and have a fear of snakes, South Carolina’s Zach Deputy returns to The Empty Glass in Charleston. Nice sound, nice venue, sounds nice. And no snakes, we assume.

FRI 4.24

New Jersey-based punk and/or rock band Hudson Falcons swings through Huntington with openers Sarasota and Down Goes Frazier at Shamrock’s Irish Pub Friday night.

No, The Dig-Its, after originally being listed on the bill, won’t be there; they had to pull out of the show for some reason. Hmm…the whole thing sounds like a conspiracy against us here at Gatecrasher, trying to trip us up. Either way, it’s still a good lineup.

There are some cool Charleston shows Friday night, as Pavlov’s Dogs open for one of our favorite acts, Charleston’s “Buckersfield” trio Buckstone (never got their CD) at the Parrot, and Shayar and Krooshal Force return to the Glass. Whether it’s rockin’ country and/or Western, or reggae that floats yer boat, you can find it Friday. 

and

SAT 4.25

Huntington electro-rock duo Bad Employees will have the CD release party for their debut CD Looking For Werk at The V Club with The Demon Beat and The Red Velvet opening up Saturday night. Now that’s gotta be a local show lock of the week. We’ve just confirmed that.

Southeast Ohio’s critically acclaimed Southeat Engine comes to Huntington Saturday night for a show at Shamrock’s with Ladybird and one of our all-time faves, Morgantown rock prodigy Billy Matheny, who also rocks in Southeast Engine. As you may or may not have already read here, Southeast Engine has a new CD out and you may or may not be able to get it at the show, as Shamrock’s has been doing quite the cool thing of selling local CDs straight out the bar.

But this show makes Huntington quite busy as far as shows go Saturday night. Choose wisely.

The Davisson Brothers return to the valley for a show at Tomahawk’s Saloon in St. Albans with quite the special guest, former WVU (and now projected Seattle Seahawk starter) fullback Owen Schmitt, who apparently also is a musician in his spare time. That last statement is not a typo; Roadblock, who books bands at Tomahawk’s now, too, has confirmed that.

Maybe your quest to find any online mention of Owen Schmitt playing music as even a hobby will be more fruitful than ours. Maybe you’ll go to the show. If you do do not mention being a Marshall fan. Or wear your Herd merch proudly; don’t let it be said we tell people what to do. Tomahawk’s is located at 5930 MacCorkle Avenue, their phone number as Google Maps says is 201.2070 (don’t forget the 304), and show should start around 9 p.m., with cover being $15 American dollars at the door, $12 in advance.

And oh by the way, up in Magic Town, Karma To Burn plays 123 Pleasant St. with Will Mecum’s new(er) band, Treasure Cat, and Morgantown’s (and West Virginia’s) own WestbyGod, in what will quite likely be dangerously overcrowded, as KTB continues its worldwide tour.

A few rockers might be pulling double duty in this one, as Mecum will play in two bands and we’ll see if Treasure Cat drummer Roy Brewer rocks with WBG, as he did on their recently released CD For Glory or for Flames — check out show details at 123’s site and kudos to Amalgum Unlimited for the KTB flyers.

Here at the Gatecrasher blog we put posts together about area shows, but would like to take a second to talk to you about an important subject: Pawnshop Skateboards’ “King of the Hills” skateboard contest Saturday afternoon in Marmet. Brian Carr, owner and proprietor, and himself a skater, has been putting cool events and merch together at the shop in recent months. And with them having this big of a contest, they only look to keep the ball, or, yes, the wheels, rolling right along.

We wanted to pre-emptively post this flyer about the contest to help get the word out. Let us be clear; there will be no bands at this, but Pawnshop will be hosting bands at future events, we hear. And, even if you can’t make it Saturday, you can check out the contest live on a web stream on what they’re calling Pawnshop TV, or check out their signature line of decks and merch at their website or at the store.

Pretty cool stuff. And no, Pawnshop didn’t pay us to post this; we don’t work for them. All of the details are clearly noted on the flyer, so if anyone’s interested in this get ahold of ‘em or be there Saturday.

End communication.

From Charleston to Huntington to Morgantown, there has been no shortage of cool shows that we don’t go to recently. But a few goons with that Gatecrasher spirit have done yeoman’s work in covering the coolest area bands and shows.

First, our friend/casual acquiantance Jim the local music emperor got some nice pics of Karma To Burn at The Sound Factory Thursday and New Duncan Imperials at Club Echo over the weekend. Check those out in his MySpace pics, and kudos to him for being out late and having a valid driver’s license.

We assume he has a valid license, but regardless, he’s thorough.

Also, Morgantown’s Hovel and Huntington’s electronic rock duo Bad Employees also had showgoers, who, from here on out, we’ll refer to as “rockerazzi’s” snapping pics.