Hi, everyone. It’s been nice having time off but it’s also great to be back. So many big things have happened since our last issue: such as, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, my vacation. Yep, I took a vacation to Williamsburg and National Harbor and drove all by myself. Guess I’m all grown up now, huh? Well, maybe not ‘cause I still like to go out and hear good music and probably always will.
    The so-called quiet months in Ocean City have still afforded a cornucopia of entertainment for me, including hearing several new bands in my travels. At the benefit for Baby Ava held at The Pour House we heard a couple new groups that hold promise for the future: Michael Sky with his band called Sunny Side Up sounded great and had quite a following there to support him. Veteran players Mike McGrath, Pat Lunga & Chuck Smith were quite impressive as they debuted their band called Easy Action. And new to our area, we have heard Ken Wright playing at the Wed. Open Mic nights at The Pour House. I think we’re going to hear a lot more from him. Ken is quite the guitar shredder with an impressive background. He has played with the likes of Ted Nugent, Guns n Roses (in the ‘80s) and is a former member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He plays with a band called Ear Candy (Ram’s Head) and for Nitro he is their East Coast guitarist. Possibly his favorite is his own blues band called Thunder. Ken is looking to join the music scene here and stop all the touring, so check him out. He and Joey Saah were awesome playing together this past Wed.
    Also new to the scene is our friend Frank DelPiano, Pocomoke H.S. band director, now playing drums with Eric Campbell on bass and Mark Rierson on guitar (Mark is also playing guitar for Old School). They’re calling their band One Night Stand. We heard them last week at Johnny’s Pizza & Pub where they will return on Sat., March 24. They had the audience dancin’ in the aisles with all their excellent classic rock. Johnny’s has become quite the hot spot with some of our area’s finest musicians playing every Fri. & Sat. Coming up they have a group I’m not familiar with called Asphalt Surfers on Fri; then the amazing duo of Rick & Regina on Sat. Classic performers such as Tom Larsen will visit Johnny’s on Fri., Feb. 24, Randy Lee will be back on Sat., Mar. 10 and Rob Fahey on Mar. 23. Plus, fans take note, Danny Dolan (First Class) is slated to play here this summer. After a  long run at The Ocean Club, Danny will be opening new doors this summer.            Speaking of The Ocean Club - one of our finest groups is playing there this weekend. I know I probably sound like I’m gushing all the time about Full Circle, but that’s only because they deserve it. If you watched the Grammys you saw that Adele is the hottest ticket on the international music scene right now taking six Grammys for her hit album 21. Michelle takes on several of Adele’s songs and nails them - dare I say better than Adele herself. The band is so well rounded with Kathy Denk on lead guitar, an awesome vocalist as well, and Dave Wimbrow on keyboards and guitar plus a most excellent voice, too. Jeff Davis on bass and Gary Yokois on drums are the rhythm foundation for this amazing well-rounded group with an incredible range of music in their repertoire.
    It was so good to hear Bird Dog & The Road Kings last week at The Steer Inn. They play such ‘feel good’ music and are such amazing musicians that you just can’t help smilin’ and dancin’. They will return on Sat., March 17 following Tommy (Sir Rod) Edward playing the post-St. Patrick’s Day Parade party. Loud Love will return in all their glorious rock abandonment on Sat. and next week look for the return of Roots Rock Rockabilly with The Bullets on Fri., Feb. 24 and the amazing home-grown classic rock music geniuses, Tranzfusion on Sat. the 25th. New band Groovement played their first gig here last week. We heard a few songs from them at Seacrets for a cancer benefit and knew they had the right stuff. Steve Martin has all the right chops on guitar, Chuck Long is powerful and fun to watch on vocals, pretty Kristen Pantalone adds keyboards and great vocals adding some current songs to their primarily funk rock lineup; and the rhythm section is strong with Ken Luck on bass & Bobby Holmes on drums. Here’s a group you’ll want to catch.
    Just heard that Billy Carder at BJ’s has booked Tranzfusion for a first-time appearance there on Fri., March 2. I know all their many fans will be there to support them. Many thanks to BJ’s for continuing to provide excellent entertainment. The Wed. happy hour bands have kept me groovin’ all month. Be sure to come by next Wed. when Relay For Life will be there at 5pm to raise funds for their annual fight Cancer campaign and the incomparable Teenage Rust & The Fabulous Rustettes will take the stage in the second leg of their 2012 tour. We had a great time with them on Super Bowl Sunday. As always, they so graciously allowed me to sing with them and it was a special birthday for me. Thanks again, guys. Have you heard Maddy sing “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” yet? Come on out Wed. for a real treat.
    Seacrets has a special treat for us Sun. - a free concert from reggae group Three Legged Fox. As Hollie tells us in her Barhopping article, this band tours with SOJA & The Movement, who we all love, so this promises to be a great show. Come early and hear Jon Maurer at the Tiki Bar (he’s there Sat. too). Have you seen the new instrument he plays? It’s called a Harpejji, invented by a guy named Tim Meeks. It sets on a stand like a pedal steel (but isn’t) and sounds just like a guitar complete with whammy bar effects. Now this three-piece trio (amazing keyboards & vocals from Jon, bass & drums) has, in effect, a guitar, too. Jon is the bomb! If you haven’t heard them yet, do!
    Well, that’s gotta be a wrap for this time. See ya next month, March 16th. Party safe!