By Matt Grube & Todd M. Judd
In the midst of the July warmth wave in central Philadelphia, we made our technique to Harrisburg’s XL Reside to neglect the place we have been for just a few hours and hopefully transport us in our thoughts to an island within the solar with waves crashing within the background and a breeze coming off the ocean to chill us down simply sufficient. It was my first time at XL Reside, which is within the concrete jungle of Harrisburg, PA. As we strategy the venue, we’re greeted by a good looking and alluring mural of Jimi Hendrix on the aspect of the constructing. There are a number of followers of Ballyhoo! dripping sweat exterior earlier than the venue opens – they’re there for the VIP expertise and the venue decides to allow them to and us inside, the place the temperature is about 30 levels cooler than what felt like standing on the floor of the solar.
After a short wait within the foyer, we’re invited into the membership the place Ballyhoo! has themselves arrange on a row of bar stools poised to play an intimate acoustic set for individuals who bought the VIP package deal. Their stripped-down sound actually showcases Howie Spangler’s vocals, and the band is in unison with the percussion and strings, simply rhythmically setting the tone for an evening of nice music. Somewhat than have a set record for the intimate acoustic efficiency, Ballyhoo! takes requests from the viewers and performs what the followers need to hear, together with Stroll Away, and a particular rendition of Glad Birthday for one of many VIP followers celebrating along with her favourite band.
As soon as the particular acoustic efficiency by Ballyhoo! was completed and earlier than Seashore Fly took the stage, we have been in a position to discover a bit extra of XL Reside. What a cool venue, it seems they’ve an outside stage (fortunately they weren’t utilizing it on this sweltering day), they’ve a cool balcony with a VIP part that’s immediately on high of the stage from the second degree, they’ve an old-fashioned cigarette machine (one I haven’t seen in over 20 years with the pull arms that launch the cigarettes from the machine), a pleasant concession stand, an outside patio with firepits for cooler climate, and three full service bars with actually nice costs (for a live performance venue).
Trying like they only completed a surf session earlier than becoming their finest aloha shirts, Seashore Fly hits the stage. In the event that they weren’t on tour, this may be an actual chance as each “Pops,” and Sven Peltonen shared that their hometowns are Brigantine, NJ (simply exterior of Atlantic Metropolis) which has a pleasant little browsing neighborhood. In actual fact, Sven hung out in Hawaii and surfed some good waves there. Lead singer John DeMari is smiling ear to ear because the band opens their set with Make it Work, and instantly has the eye of the group. The group is swaying backwards and forwards as they’re actually beginning to really feel Seashore Fly’s vibe because the band performs songs like Tall Grass, and Pondering of You. John looks like he’s having the time of his life as he states, “How cool is that this that I get to tour with Dad (Pops) on guitar?!” Pops smiles behind his glasses and rips behind the guitar. In the meantime Sven goes off on the bongos, dancing and simply attempting to tear the leather-based skins off the bongos with the palms of his palms. At one level throughout their set Sven places on a gorilla masks and climbs to the second flooring VIP balcony swinging one leg over the banister to take a seat on the railing whereas banging on a bongo he took to the highest! Backing Sven up on percussion is Jordenn Garcia who is a superb drummer that had beforehand been touring with Vana Lya whereas opening for Pepper’s Small Kine tour. Seashore Fly wraps up their set with their chill tune, Loopy. By the point they’re achieved, they depart an enduring impression on the group that has been driving their wave of power and positivity from the primary chord.
Subsequent up is the Legislation Information label trio Cydeways. Cydeways first caught my ear just a few years in the past at Reggae Rise Up Maryland the place their mix of excessive power hip-hop, reggae, and occasion music made an impression on me and my musical library. I used to be so wanting ahead to listening to them jam once more reside, and I can let you know they didn’t disappoint! Fueled by road tacos Dustin Parks (vocals/guitar) fills the group with the haunting guitar riff from their tune Shadows, to start their set. Casey Kernohan (percussion) and Kevin Harvey (bass) fill out the band and in some way make this threesome really feel like an orgy of sound. Because the present progresses the band performs so lots of their nice songs whereas mixing in some banger covers together with Loser by Beck and Sabotage by the Beastie’s… I’m sufficiently old to have seen the Beastie Boys play Lollapalooza again in 1994 and I keep in mind the Beastie’s enjoying Sabotage and opening up the biggest pit I’ve ever seen. Whereas the pit Cydeways created at XL Reside was nowhere near the dimensions, the power they put out would have the “3 dangerous brothers you recognize so properly,” doing the pogostick – thanks Cydeways for mixing in that cowl! In fact they completed their gritty, fun-loving set with Are You Down, which solely stored the group craving extra of their particular sound!
Bringing it again full circle from the place our night time started, however with that – whiplash you get when taking off on a high-speed curler coaster feeling, Ballyhoo! scorch the start of their set with 3 songs with out interruption – Shellshock, Center Finger, and Clip my Wings… it was a tremendous nice begin to the present! The unique members of the band, Howi (vocals and guitar) and Donald Sangler (drums) have been rocking Ballyhoo! for 30 years, they’re joined by different veterans of the band Scott Vandrey (keyboards) who’s been harmonizing and tickling the keys with the band for 25 years, and bassist Nick Lucera for the final 21 years.
Ballyhoo! out of Aberdeen, has the group singing alongside and dancing to a few of the favorites like Social Drinker, Alcohol, and Stroll Away. For me, the spotlight is listening to Howi and the band play certainly one of my private favorites written by Howi and launched in 2022 – Mixtape, simply has that guitar groove, rhythmic bass and drums, and a few actually tasteful guitar solos to go together with the concord of the tune – I may hearken to all of it day reminiscing of constructing combine tapes for my highschool girlfriend again within the day. Ballyhoo! proved this sizzling night in Harrisburg that after 30 years of enjoying collectively they nonetheless have a love of performing reside, sound nice and as they completed their set with – will not be Promoting Out!
By Matt Grube & Todd M. Judd
Ballyhoo! with Cydeways & Seashore Fly, Harrisburg 2025