Your favorite local bands

Cafe Society
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I don’t mean groups that went on to be nationally known, but rather, good music groups in your area that probably too off-beat and will never break out, but which deserve to be listened to.

My choice is The McKrells, who play – believe it or not – Celtic bluegrass. Kevin McKrell is a fine singer of both ballads and uptempo songs and is backed by some very fine musicians. Their percussonist is a wonder – usually playing without drumsticks. Live, they are as entertaining an act as you’ll ever see.

Second is Doc Scanlon’s Rhythm Boys, who have terrific covers of songs from the Big Band Era to the present day. A set can include anything from Elvis Presley to George Gershwin to the Temptations.

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The Marauders http://www.themarauderspa.com/ are a cool Rockabilly/Punk band from Altoona PA.

The Rolling Stones tribute band, Jumping Jack Flash (formerly Dead Flowers) is pretty great, but they’re known all over the east coast so they probably shouldn’t count.

The band Dragonfire was on national TV, but they sucked.

From Pittsburgh, which is kind of local to me, has a ton of great bands…Silver Tounge Devils, The Cynics and Aus Rotten being the best although they’re pretty well known internationaly in the punk underground.

Jon