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WVIA's unique live radio broadcast concert series continues with two folk-influenced performances.
Folk-singer and songwriter Jay Smar has been a regular on Homegrown Music for more than 20 years. Recently, he released a collection of music about coal mining in the region. He'll be performing some of those songs with other original and traditional music in a solo setting.
Hitchin' Cricket are band from around Forest City, PA, who combine rock, folk, and bluegrass influence and feature a flute. The group's principal members spent several years in Oregon, but returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania and restarted the band with new original material. They make their first Homegrown Music live concert appearance.
As usual, WVIA's listeners are invited to attend the two-hour concert, which will take place in the station's Sordoni Theater in the Public Broadcasting Center in Pittston, PA. Free audience reservations can be made at www.wvia.org or by phone at 570-655-2808. Note: Start time: 8:00 PM. - George Graham, WVIA
A spicy mélange of country, blues, rock folk and jazz, the band's "Jay," the band's CD play like a primer of American music over the past century, tossing in everything but the kitchen sink, which I presume isn't there because it just plain wouldn't fit.
This is one impressive collection of songs, folks. Not always because they're all that good as much as they are faithful to the rich bloodlines that clearly course through their compositions.
Like the old saying goes, "If you want to write well, read good writing."
Everything from Woody Guthrie to Howlin' Wolf to the Allman Brothers to Jethro Tull, the Marshall Tucker Band and, of course, The Grateful Dead flavors these tunes, making for the kind of foot-stomping, roadhouse-romping good time best fueled by music made for its own
- Christopher Kelly, The Scranton Times
Discography
Jay
The Effects of Anything
Union Dale
Photos
Bio
Hitchin' Cricket is an American rock band based in the rural hills of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Their live performances generate the kind of buzz and hoopla that only can surround the kind of talent that is on the verge of regional and national success.
Emerging onto the national music scene from their home base in Pleasant Mount, Hitchin’ Cricket has been described as The Marshall Tucker Band by way of Bob Dylan, The Temptations, Hank Williams, Ween and Wilco. Hitchin’ Cricket’s music is not hard to describe. It is pure original yet familiar, fresh rock ‘n’ roll rolled up tightly for all to dance and sing to. Their melodies light up the skies firmly rooted with ingredients which include Americana, 70’s R&B, folk, outlaw country and a touch of soul.
Having begun their career in an old apartment above their landlord’s barbershop, the unscrupulous Hitchin’ Cricket evolved into a clan of cronies forever trying to crack the thick skin of the dirty business of music. They encourage “socials” between all of their songs, keep people humming their sounds for days on end and write music for the common man. With ten years of making music, touring and engulfed working on their 4th studio album, Hitchin’ Cricket is the train engine band we all need in our lives.
Sustaining Hitchin’ Cricket throughout the years, writing and touring incessantly, they have already established a large and passionate following throughout the music and club scene.
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